OT: Sad News About Ernie Harwell - Old Detroit Shows

[Tim Zwick]

Sad to hear this morning that Hall of Fame broadcasting legend and fellow collector Ernie Harwell has inoperable cancer in the bile duct area. He was always a strong supporting of the early 1970's conventions in Detroit and many times mentioned them on the Tiger broadcasts which helped lead to their rapid growth.

He donated virtually all of his collection to the Detroit Public Library over the years and it is available to view by appointment last I knew. He was and always will be the voice of baseball in Detroit. My thoughts & prayers are with him and his family.

Cards & Letters can be sent to:
Ernie Harwell........c/o S. Gary Spicer Sr........Attorney at Law........16845 Kercheval Ave.,Suite 5.........Grosse Pointe, MI 48230

Attached below are some scans of the program from the 1974 Detroit show in which Ernie and Tigers pitcher John Hiller were guests of honor. The convention history is great reading and please ignore the shameless plug for an ad from a wet behind the ears teenager. Sorry to say, but the 15 cent price list and free gifts are no longer available.

[oldjudge]

As all of you who purchased the Old Judge book know, Ernie wrote the forward. He is a great student of the game and as fine a person as one could ever hope to meet. Lets all pray for a miracle.

Good Luck Ernie---Jay

[D. Broughman]

Tiger fans send there love and prayers to Ernie and his family. I read one of Ernie's book and he was a remarkable man and always had something good to say about everyone. I listened to Ernie for years and loved his broadcasts. He made the game come into your livingroom over the radio. HE STOOD THERE LIKE THE HOUSE BESIDE THE ROAD was just one of his great sayings he had. GOD BE WITH YOU!

[Joe_G.]

Extremely sad news. I've been on the road and just now have an opportunity to chime in.

As Jay mentioned, we were extremely fortunate to receive Ernie's endorsement on our Old Judge book. Ernie is top notch, a true gentleman, with a love for the game 2nd to none. Detroit fans have enjoyed one of the games best broadcasters (in my biased opinion, the best) for 42 years.

My prayers will be with Ernie, Lulu, and family.

Here are some of the interesting tid-bits from his bio:

- Ernie began writing for "The Sporting News" in 1934! and has not stopped, still writing for the Detroit Free Press today. He has also authored several baseball books.
- Served 4 years in the Marines.
- Began broadcasting in 1948 logging a total of 55 years on radio and TV.
- The Brooklyn Dodgers traded their catcher Cliff Dapper for his services in 1948 (only announcer to be traded for a player). What a great team to cover in the late 40's.
- Mr. Harwell would find himself with New York by 1961 and would call Bobby Thomson's "shot heard around the world" on NBC television.
- Ernie would broadcast for the Tigers in 1960 and log 42 years with them.
- Among the many famous personalities Ernie has interviewed, Connie Mack, while still managing the Athletics. Who else can claim they interviewed someone from the Old Judge set?
- Ernie has an amazing baseball collection, largely donated to the Detroit Public Library including an interesting Old Judge collection containing a nice mix of cards including an extremely rare card of Flynn.

Below is a picture of Ernie sharing his collection back in 1959, a cabinet card of Connie Mack (one of Ernie's many interview subjects), and one of Ernie's rarest baseball cards (Old Judge of Flynn).

[FrankWakefield]

The man was passionate about his baseball. I wish him and his family well.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

How can you not love someone of Ernie's magnitude who still frequented card shows as long as he was able? He accomplished so much, but I bet that Harwell would want to be remembered first and foremost as a lifelong fan. The man practically exudes class.

[ethicsprof]

my prayers are with him and his family.

barry

[slantycouch]

My thoughts and prayers are certainly with him. He has always been one of the game's true assets, and a superb man.