RIP Ernie Harwell
Ernie Harwell, famed sportscaster who called Detroit Tigers games on TV and radio for 42 years, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92.
I'm sad that he's gone. Like many other people from the metro Detroit area, I grew up hearing his voice. I've read several articles about him in the past few days and they reminded me of something about him, something I knew but not consciously so: One of Ernie's hallmarks was that he would stop talking from time to time and let the sounds of the game dominate the airwaves. I remember that, now. We'd have the game on TV in the spring and summer while Mom ironed laundry (or whatever) and we'd hear the sounds of the crowd, the vendors, the ump, the quintessential crack of the bat as often as we'd hear Ernie. He believed the game was important, not the sound of his own voice. I wish more sportscasters (especially in hockey!) were more like that.
There are rumblings on the internet that Comerica Park should be renamed Harwell Field, or something similar. I would *love* that. It won't happen in this day and age of slap-a-sponsor-on-everything...but it sure would be nice.
I'm sad that he's gone. Like many other people from the metro Detroit area, I grew up hearing his voice. I've read several articles about him in the past few days and they reminded me of something about him, something I knew but not consciously so: One of Ernie's hallmarks was that he would stop talking from time to time and let the sounds of the game dominate the airwaves. I remember that, now. We'd have the game on TV in the spring and summer while Mom ironed laundry (or whatever) and we'd hear the sounds of the crowd, the vendors, the ump, the quintessential crack of the bat as often as we'd hear Ernie. He believed the game was important, not the sound of his own voice. I wish more sportscasters (especially in hockey!) were more like that.
There are rumblings on the internet that Comerica Park should be renamed Harwell Field, or something similar. I would *love* that. It won't happen in this day and age of slap-a-sponsor-on-everything...but it sure would be nice.