A Spirit of Radio

Today, Ernie Harwell, beloved broadcaster of the Detroit Tigers has passed away. He died at home after a long bout of cancer. Ernie Harwell was the voice of the Tigers for over 30 years. Those are the simple facts of an amazing individual. I did not know Mr. Harwell personally, but he played an important part in my childhood.

When I was a young lad, I played Little League Baseball. As a matter of fact, I was baseball crazy in the late seventies until I got into high school in the eighties. I collected baseball cards, I played organized ball and I spent countless summer afternoons playing in the back yard. During that time, I listened to the radio to catch every single game that was not on Television.

Ernie Harwell was right there, in my ear every night and on long summer afternoons. I would stay up late to catch the west coast games when the Tigers played the Angels or the A's. As a kid, I loved baseball and baseball was that distinctive voice of Ernie, every night. Until I saw my first game at Tiger Stadium, I had Ernie and the games I could catch on TV.

It was during that first game, that I truly understood the power of radio.

We were sitting behind home plate and it was a cold spring Saturday afternoon. The Tigers were playing the Orioles and I was in awe of everything. The field was huge, the stadium an old, damp concrete structure that seemed ready to fall down any minute. The grass was perfect, the uniforms crisp and white. There were the vendors selling peanuts and big hot dogs smothered in yellow mustard. It was heaven to a baseball kid like myself.

Then there was this guy sitting a couple rows over, not too many seats were taken behind the plate and I could see him fiddling with something. He kept adjusting a set of earphones and then I saw him start moving an antenna, back and forth. He was trying to get reception on his radio. I was amazed! Why would he listen to the ballgame on the radio when the game was right there in front of him? It was strange, but I went back to keeping my box score that I got when we entered the stadium, caught up in the game.

I kept an eye on the guy though, he was strange, and I have to admit, fascinating. He must have caught me peaking at him because he stood up and came over a couple of seats and said hello. Not so strange in '78 and we, the family, said hi back. But, he was looking at me while he adjusted his antenna.

Well I could not keep quiet, even at 12 yrs old. So I asked him. 'Why you listening to the radio when the game is right there, you can see everything.'

He looked at me and smiled. 'Don't you listen to Ernie on the radio?'

I nodded yes and he smiled. 'What can be better then listening to the game on the radio AND watching it at the stadium. No one can call a ball game like Ernie.'

He went back to his ear phones and we all watched the rest of the game. I did not really appreciate the wisdom I was handed that day. I knew, deep down, what he meant about listening to the game on the radio, but it took many years to really understand. I figured it out when I was a decade older, and he was right.

Thank you for being a voice in my childhood. Thank you for whispering in my ear of baseball dreams and telling bedtime stories as I fell asleep, all those years ago. I never met Ernie Harwell, but I will carry his memories always. That was the power of radio, and that, my fellow wanders, was the power of Ernie Harwell.

Comments

[Nicole]

It's always sad to lose someone that impacted your life in someway, especially if that person left such a mark on your childhood. There are a few people like that for me, as well.

[Jenny Beans]

What a great story. I know people who still listen to games on the radio, rather than watching them on television because of the impact it had on their youth. Sad to see an icon from your past pass on into the great beyond. The fact that he inspired you so much is beautiful and touching. Maybe you will write a story inspired by his memory?

[vange]

He had a great voice; a Detroit legend. RIP.

[Veronica]

There are some voices who just -make- a game and bring the experience of sport alive. He was definitely one of them, a true legend.

[Drew Beatty]

Wonderful story. Too bad I never heard him up in Canada. I don't think we have an announcer that will be remembered in quite the same way. We just have people like Don Cherry.

[Edward G. Talbot]

I knew people who did that with Johnny Most and the Boston Celtics too. Great post.

[Jim Ryan]

It's been a LONG time since I've been to a game and listened to the play-by-play for it at the same time -- heck, it's been a long time since I've been to a game period -- but I can vaguely remember doing it with my parents when I was a wee lad. Much fun. :)