Ernie Harwell on Studio 42 with Bob Costas MLB Network

Shortly after announcing his cancer diagnosis, Ernie Harwell appears on Studio 42 with Bob Costas.

[@danacoleman4007]

You know you've lived a really good life when you can be that comfortable about knowing the end! Peace to you always Ernie Harwell!!!

[@johnboehmer6683]

Yes. His established relationship with Jesus had a lot to do with that also.

Being a lifelong Detroiter, there is no man more respected in Michigan that I can think of, than Ernie Harwell. My introduction to the Tigers was as a 7 year old kid riding with my grandfather in his green 1978 Ford F150, listening to Ernie call a game against Baltimore. This is baseball. A kid buying his first packs of baseball cards before seeing a game, only listening. This is baseball. Rest In Peace Ernie. Thank you so much for the memories.

[@weathp]

The most beloved Detroit sports figure in history.

[@retiredusvet4396]

I would add George "Sparky" Anderson as a close second, at least!

[@johnboehmer6683]

Agreed, which is just a striking statement concerning a sports-crazy city like Detroit, with a lot of history. Kaline, Howe, Yzerman, Sanders, Thomas, Greenburg, Gehringer, Dumars, Anderson, Horton, Campbell...so many great talents, many of who were classy also. But, from my estimation of it anyway, we loved Ernie on another level, and deservedly so. Still do.

[@joeyv47]

My voice of summer! Bless those boys!!!!….. GOD I LOVE him……

[@larrygarner4399]

One of the greatest baseball interviews of all time. Filled with humor, wisdom, nostalgic reminiscences, and a devotion to the game of baseball that'll break your heart for what once was.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Well put Larry.

[@kerry4371]

Listening to Mr Harwell with my transistor radio underneath my pillow back in the 70's when I was a teenager was the best part of my Tiger experience- love Ernie so much, their will never be anybody like him ever again!!!!

[@johnboehmer6683]

There was nothing so great as coming out of a typically rough 1970s Michigan winter, and hearing Ernie and Paul for the first time that season, broadcasting from Florida! I really hated winter, and those voices of summer, coming from some far-away nice warm location, was pure euphoria to my little kiddy ears, letting me know that nice weather was coming soon for us too... Just amazing to think about how the Tigers, and Ernie and Paul, were everywhere you went in Detroit, and it's suburbs back then. I'd walk down our street, and keep up with the game, as I moved from hearing it come out of one neighbor's house to another. They were synonymous with Michigan summers, just one reason they were so loved.

[@alvinwagner6085]

This is a MAN! What dignity, what integrity.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Amen!

[@PatrickC63]

One of the best interviews I’ve ever watched. I might be a little biased, but Ernie was the same person in the interview as he was on the radio. I enjoyed hearing him for more than 4 decades!

[@tomsampson8084]

Ernie and I have something in common - we both arrived in Detroit in 1960. I was born there, and he drove from Baltimore. I grew up with a transistor radio in my pocket or under my pillow listening to him call Tiger's games for many years. I used to see him at Tiger stadium and he would always take time to respond if I said something to him. I moved from Detroit to Oregon in, of all years, 1984 for work. One thing I would have loved to do is go through the Hall of Fame with him - back then he knew almost everyone enshrined there! I can only wish/hope that I will be this accepting and calm when I know death is knocking at the door.

[@duanedorman6134]

My transistor, in my pocket and under my blanket, was Herb Carneal.

[@tomacosta85]

If I had one word for Ernie it would be grace.

[@johnboehmer6683]

I'd go with that, good one. Or class. If it's possible to pull off class with humility at the forefront, Ernie did it.

[@michaeln7311]

Words can not express , how much I appreciated this man in my life. Not just in a baseball manner, but in life itself.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Ernie Harwell transcended the game, no question. Quite a thing, considering how humble and mild-mannered he was.

[@garylobo348]

What a humble man. Reminds me a bit of Vin Scully, another God-loving man who did it into his 90s practically. Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Bob Prince in Pittsburgh, Harry Calas in Philly. All the great ones who connected a city to their team... are gone now, but as long as we remember them in our hearts, they live forever. And this KZbin allows us to reminisce with them the classic moments. Thanks Ernie for a life well lived.

[@tomsampson8084]

Vin Scully replaced Ernie when Ernie moved from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the New York Giants. Ernie Harwell and I both arrived in Detroit in 1960. Ernie drove from Baltimore - I was born. I grew up with Ernie. As a kid I had a transistor radio under my pillow listening to Ernie every night the Tigers played. I saw Ernie at Tiger Stadium many times over the years, and he was just a great humble man who would talk to anyone. I remember the night I heard he passed. It sucked the wind out of me and I cried. I miss Ernie the same as I miss my Grandparents. I only hope when my end comes, I can be at peace with it as Ernie and my favorite Grandmother.

[@7425park]

Not at all. Bin Scully was hollywood

[@charleyit]

I grew up with this voice. Thank you for posting this. Thank you

[@paulmccreary1255]

The finest announcer and a great person. I have a voicemail from him that I will never discard. Al Kaline once said that there is no perfect person, but Ernie was close. I wish I had met him, even for a minute. This interview will make you feel better and want to be a better person. Share this with everyone you know.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Great words, so true. Ernie was the real deal man of God, the guy most of us strive to be. I've heard so many accounts of people who met him, who were just struck at how incredibly kind and humble he was, many amazed at how much time he was willing to take with them. I know it's none of my business, but can I ask what he said to you in the voicemail?

[@mikeeverhart831]

Simply the best. I'm not from Detroit but went there in my 20's for work. I quickly became a fan. He had a way of painting the picture of the game in such a beautiful way. Almost poetry.

[@jackdaley2155]

Detroit Tigers fan since the mid 60s, this man was part of the family.

[@Artstar2]

Bob Costas knows he is interviewing Greatness :)

[@ricthornton2958]

You can detect the reverence that he has for the man.

[@michaelnelson1128]

Ernie you were one of the best

[@PallazzoPodcast]

On our baseball show, we use Ernie drops. He is too important to be left to history.

[@jimcoleman598]

We were blessed in Detroit for so many years of 2 of the best play by play announcers baseball has ever known. Ernie on the radio and George Kell on TV, good men as well

[@johnboehmer6683]

Don't forget Paul Carey, no slouch himself. Yup, we were outright spoiled in that era. The Tigers were good for almost all of the 70s and 80s, adding to it. Man, what a great time that was to grow up in, SO grateful to God to have blessed us to do so.

[@jimcoleman598]

@@johnboehmer6683 As a kid I was at a Tiger game getting a hotdog in the corridor, and the vendor said "There's Paul Carey" I turned around and was surprised to see him, and said "Hi" and in his monotone voice replied "Hi son" then joked with the vendor about it being a bad night for hot dogs, he was a good man / announcer too.

[@johnboehmer6683]

@@jimcoleman598 Thanks for your reply Jim, and that account. It just solidifies my image of Paul as a truly humble, kind man, like Ernie. For him to be willing to come down from the booth to be among the people (to get a hot dog?). I bet hearing "the voice of God", as they say, speak to you as a kid, was something!😁

[@jimcoleman598]

@@johnboehmer6683 I should have mentioned it happened before the game started. He had a brief case, probably making his way to the booth.

[@johnboehmer6683]

@@jimcoleman598 Oh, ok. All the best to you this day sir!

[@sandsdude-ni9fr]

Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey the best broadcast team period

[@johnboehmer6683]

Yup, as classy, kind, professional, personable, and so good at what he did as Ernie was, Paul was all those things too. I really prefer the style they did the games with over the modern play-by-play/color commentator format too. They didn't feel as though they had to have someone constantly talking, trading off innings, where one of them would do virtually the whole thing by himself, allowing the sounds and the feel of the game and stadium around them to come through. Loved that they refrained from being the huge homers pretty much all of them are today, also. You knew who they were broadcasting for, but it wasn't obvious. Class.

[@user-dv3do1od2r]

Growing up in Toledo we used to listen to Ernie on the car radio. We was one of the all time Greats.

[@ericjohn8466]

For, lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone The flowers appear on the Earth The time of the singing of birds is come And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land

[@seanodeli7031]

It’s a damn shame so many of his games are gone I’d rather listen to an old baseball game than watch hardly anything in tv Radio as an industry has nearly no impact anymore I spent many a night listening to wjr way back when baseball on tv especially a tiger game was a rare treat I lost interest in baseball after the central division was created but memories of tiger stadium and half of the stadium crowd had little radios w Ernie calling the game Ernie was the voice of the tigers

[@kerry4371]

Once again the final score- the Detroit Tigers 5, the Baltimore orioles 4!! Time to turn the transistor radio off underneath my pillow.

[@johnboehmer6683]

You may already know, but here on KZbin they have about 20 recordings of full Tiger games, most are Ernie and Paul, a few are before Paul come on. I love listening to them, even though I know the outcome after the first listen! The nostalgia quality is strong. But more than that, it's just a beautiful thing to experience a thing done to perfection, like they did.

[@ericjohn8466]

Ernie....all of our's "Forever Tiger"; my earliest (and some of my most favorite) memories were sittin in my Dads backseat with Dad and Dzadzi up front with Ernie calling a game on the radio. Now all three have passed on. RIP Ernie, Dad, and Dzadzi

[@FragranceGame85]

As an Englishman I always love listening to old baseball games. The announcers are always brilliant and call the games with such class

[@warrenwintrode3698]

The Voice of Summer

[@BobSmith-in2gn]

Always a class act. Ernie you are missed and still well loved.

[@user-iq3qm4mc3u]

One of my favorite calls on a strike out "And he stood there like the house on the side of the road" All us fans know it is the greatest game EVER!!!!

[@duanedorman6134]

I used to listen to him on the CBS Radio Game of the 'Week. I think I was more interested in the broadcast than the game itself. To this day, I listen to a game based on the radio broadcast. Thanks to Ernie and Herb Carneal and John Gordon. To steal a comment aimed at Vin Scully from Kevin Costner, " You were a teacher, a historian, a storyteller and a friend." Thanks for the memories, Ernie. I know that angels gather around you to hear your stories.

[@jamesoconnor3562]

The definition of class. He and Vin Scully in a league of their own ...

[@tomsampson8084]

Many people don't know or, at least it isn't spoken of much, but Vin Scully replaced Ernie when Ernie moved from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the New York Giants.

[@johnboehmer6683]

I got familiar with Vin when he did the nationally-televised games in the 80s, I think it was NBC. He had that kind of sing-song manner of speech, it kind of got on my nerves a bit. Also, he would fairly regularly give, what seemed to me, just inane little blurbs of info to fill the gaps that didn't seem to have relevance to the game. I didn't know until much later that he was considered a legend, and I was really surprised. He wasn't bad, I was just really surprised at how revered he was. I'll take Ernie any day.

[@user-hq6xq8ep7f]

Ernie ......... For Me .....The Best .......... Among Many ...........

[@michaelnelson1128]

Vin And Ernie that's it folks the best ever!!!!

[@danmac5497]

I’ve been looking for this thank you!

[@user-hq6xq8ep7f]

Michigan and Trumbull ......... " that Fall Ball Was Caught ByA Young Man From Bad Axe Michigan " Simply The Best ............ thanks ernie ....for the memories

[@johnboehmer6683]

One more Harwellism, "here's a bounding ball to shortstop, Trammell has it on the short hop, aaaaand he got em..." I never heard anyone else call a grounder a bounding ball. Ernie Harwell was simply the best. Not for that of course, but the best.

[@jp77571]

Ernie or vin ? The sounds of baseball . What a dude. 😊

[@7425park]

Ernie, George Kell, Ray Lane were the best for a Detroit kid.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Paul Carey and Bruce Martin also. We were really spoiled to have so much class and talent then. Now, we've got guys that can't even refrain from fistfights in the booth, to broadcast for just a couple hours.

[@whotrynaball]

I love you for you're channel

[@whotrynaball]

Thank you

[@whotrynaball]

@VoiceOfTheTurtle

[@timothymeehan181]

Bo Schembecler wasn't half the man Ernie Harwell was, and showed how small he was after the dust settled on that debacle. Bo was pure ego and Ernie was pure character...

[@christopheradams318]

Classic erie r.i.p

[@johnboehmer6683]

I liked Bo Schembechler for the winner he gave us for many years with U of M (despite the woeful Bowl record), but wow, did he take a wrecking ball to his legacy in firing Ernie Harwell. The story Ernie tells here of trying to shake Bo's hand, and Bo just being dismissive, makes it even worse. By that time, Bo had been flooded by thousands of angry Detroiters voices because of his inexcusable, horrible decision. You would think he would have realized the terrible mistake he made as a result, and thus would have been anxious to be kind to Ernie, but no. He seems to have been the exact opposite of Ernie Harwell, classless and aloof.

[@tomking1890]

Bo was a prick. I never liked him.

[@MalEvansUSA]

An absolute annoying man who didn’t know when to leave. The tigers had to fire him because he was falling asleep in the announcers booth. A boring man who over stayed his welcome

[@johnboehmer6683]

I don't have the words to express how repulsive yours are. I'm guessing you're just desperate for attention, slinging mud to do so, on one of the kindest people to ever walk the earth. Why would you even check out this interview if you've got such disdain?

[@johnboehmer6683]

What do you find "absolutely annoying" about Ernie Harwell?