Legendary baseball broadcaster Ernie Harwell, 92, died Tuesday at his home, 10 months after he was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer in his bile duct.
A member of the Baseball and Sportscasters Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting in 1981, Harwell is best known for his work calling Detroit Tigers games, which he did for 42 years until retiring in 2002.
"All of Major League Baseball is in mourning tonight upon learning of the loss of a giant of our game, Ernie Harwell. This son of Georgia was the voice of the Detroit Tigers and one of the game's iconic announcers to fans across America, always representing the best of our national pastime to his generations of listeners," said commissioner Bud Selig.
Said Tigers owner Mike Ilitch: "Ernie Harwell was the most popular sports figure in the State of Michigan. He was so genuine in everything that he did -- from his legendary broadcasting to the way he treated the fans and everyone around him. He was truly a gentleman in every sense of the word. Ernie has a special place in the hearts of all Detroit Tigers' fans and the memories he created for so many of us will never be forgotten. Baseball lost a legendary voice this evening and we have all lost a dear friend."
"Ernie is probably the most beloved person who has ever been in Detroit with the Detroit Tigers," Tigers Hall of Fame outfielder Al Kaline said upon the announcement that Harwell would retire in 2002. "He is loved by everybody and rightfully so. He's a great broadcaster but even a better person. That comes across on his broadcasts."
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