We should all be so lucky to be admired as much as Ernie Harwell, as tributes pour in from around baseball for the former Detroit Tigers broadcaster, who passed away Tuesday at age 92. Some of the best:
- "On radio, we could tell a story about a player's house in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the listener goes to that house. On television, you tell that story and you don't go anywhere, because you see things that don't match the story--the third base coach flashing signs, the pitcher getting ready. On TV, I caption what's being shown. On the radio, it's my story. As Ernie Harwell says, on TV, you get the movie version. The game on the radio is the novel." - Jon Miller, Giants broadcaster, to the Washington Post.
- "He just loved the game so much, he couldn't be around baseball enough because he cared so much about the game, the players and the fans. Ernie always broadcast for the fans. And his idea was to make the game as entertaining and as accurate as you can be. If you've done that, you've done your job as a broadcaster. And that's exactly what he did." - Gary Thorne, Orioles broadcaster, to MLB.com.
- I could never say 'God bless you' to Ernie because God had blessed him indeed. And from what I heard, the last time I talked to him a couple of weeks ago, he was ready to go. He was totally and completely at peace. You and I should be so lucky." - Vin Scully, Dodgers broadcaster, during Tuesday's Dodgers-Brewers game. (Watch and listen to clip, to hear it from Vin.)
- 'It isn't me that people love,' Harwell modestly insisted throughout his half-century-plus behind the microphone. 'It's baseball.' You're wrong, Ernie. It was both. - Jim Hawkins, Oakland (Mich.) Press.
- "In Detroit, in Michigan, in the memories of anyone who turned car radio dials in search of baseball, this is the voice of breezes and lemonade and late evening sunshine and the last days of school. This is the voice that wafts through screen doors and sounds over splashing at swimming pools. This is the voice of Tiger Stadium and a stolen base by Ron Leflore and a line drive off the wall by Norm Cash and a Jack Morris scowl and a Mickey Lolich fastball that would dive into the dirt." - Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated, on his blog.
- "I don't want to look like I'm not respectful, but I look at it like a celebration. I really do. He had a full life. He did so many things. He was so respected. He basically had a chance to say his goodbyes. That's a blessing. And we all had a chance to say our goodbyes." - Tigers manager Jim Leyland, to MLB.com.
- "If baseball could talk, it would sound like Ernie Harwell." - Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press. (Old quote, new obituary.)
Check out this tribute site with several clips of Harwell's calls.
Who is the greatest broadcaster of all-time? You make the call.
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