VIDEO: Bill Bonds gets angry over Ernie Harwell's 1990 firing

Bill Bonds was angry when the Detroit Tigers fired legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell in 1990, and he went off with a commentary. "I have never seen a worst decision handled so badly, so ineptly, so insensitively. I've never seen such and heard such white-hot anger from so many people," Bonds started the commentary with.

[@DL-cd7ew]

In 2024, I'm still pissed at that decision

[@kazilziya830]

I admired Bill Bonds for many reasons, but mainly, Bonds epitomized the grit and toughness , and how Detroiters love their own because we get piled on so much. R. I. P mr Bonds. Much love.

[@MarcRichard-b1u]

I miss Bill Bonds…

[@stevebaynham4148]

Thre will never be another bill bonds...great guy...honest and outspoken...love it

[@nicksloane558]

I had the chance to meet Ernie once. Not knowing where he lived I knocked on his door doing a scavenger hunt. He was very generous. This was somewhere in the early ‘60’s. Now of course I’d be arrested or worse. Great play by play man. Miss him

[@johnnyblade9272]

Bonds battles over the years with Coleman A Young were legendary, but his love for Detroit and the little guy is what endeared him with the public. This is just another example of what made Bill Bonds the best anchor in the Detroit market.

[@grumpyoldgraymetalhead2441]

Red Sox fan here . Back in the days of AM radio when you could pick up all kinds of stations at night, I caught a Tigers game and that’s when I first heard the great Ernie Harwell. He had a presence, a distinct voice and he truly was one of the greatest ever.

[@SanchoKobe]

Man...Ernie Harwell, Bill Bonds...he mentioned Bob Talbert at the end there. Those guys and JP McCarthy were Detroit, and I don't think anyone else has come close to filling their shoes.

[@davidthompson4649]

Good to hear Bill go off.....Ernie is a legend

[@richardhavercroft7065]

To this day I will NOT eat a domino's pizza

[@SteveAJonesEntertainment]

Certainly, Tom Monaghan was complicit, but it was WJR executive Jim Long who pushed for the quick, no severance pay removal of Harwell.

[@AmericanPatriot-q6h]

Not many voices are so recognized as Ernies. You KNEW his voice. In our hearts and memories forever.

[@stephensdygert7600]

I was born in Detroit 1957 Grew up in Farmington hills. Neighborhood was off a 11 mile between orchard lake and Middlebelt. I was there in 1968 when the Tigers beat St.Louis in the Word Series. I was 11 at the time.

[@leilanirocks]

This was a legendary blunder by the Tigers, WJR and Schembechler and they could have reversed it but instead they just doubled down on their stupidity. Bonds definitely spoke for me and everyone I knew at the time on this matter.

[@paganjew0108]

I could hear WJR, growing up in Baltimore. Hearing Ernie was always a pleasure

[@paganjew0108]

The Orioles never fired Chuck Thompson or Bill O'Donnell

[@thomaswearing656]

Bill didn't pull any punches.

[@robertrankin6134]

The first to make 1 million a year He was GREAT miss you Bill

[@matthewdubay1180]

This commentary epitomizes how Michiganders connect with their sports teams and with the announcers, with who'm we anxiously hang on their every word. I am not capable of being as poetic or precise as Mr. Bonds was on this occasion. He cuts right to the heart of the matter. Go Tigers!

[@tedcantu1]

When Bill Bonds good....he was friggen great

[@carlosfryer3887]

I love the passion in Bill Bonds

[@macman3175]

Bill was the greatest anchor in the country, Should have gone to ABC New York. Wish he would not have had the addiction , loved him. - (Radio news anchor @ WWJ)

[@TheManny717]

He actually did...and hated working there.

[@SteveAJonesEntertainment]

@@TheManny717 Becoming a small fish in a big pond will do that.

[@kalexander20]

Bill said Hookers were angry. I bet he knew first hand. Lol.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

I used to watch ⌚ Bill from London Ontario ...WXYZ ❤😊

[@josephkool8411]

Bill and Ernie are Legends

[@RoofDoctorsJoanne]

Lol...I remember my Dad getting really pissed off at Bo for that one! They brought him back a year later or something?

[@YouDummy]

Bad or good, what an amazing time that was. The anger was so palpable

[@joeyv47]

Ernie was the best!!! Nobody was better!!!

[@ryanellis4474]

Nice rug… Hahaha Well-written editorial Guy Gordon was so young in that clip! I will pray for America. Please pray for me. God Bless you.

[@Petermanchannel9]

What Bill said was true poetry. Also may god mercy on the soul of the person who fired an absolute legend.

[@arthuridis]

You can tell he was mad right at the start. Can you find the rest of this broadcast? We'd like to see the other interviews and stories related to it.

[@sandsdude-ni9fr]

Ernie and Bill 2 detroit legends RIP gentlemen

[@horaceball5418]

My toupee is better than Mr. Bond's wig!

[@thewkovacs316]

how in the world can one fire the legendary ernie harwell?

[@newtonbrook]

One legend defends another.

[@stevebaynham4148]

That ball is LO N G...gone...ernie.harwell...class act.the voice of the tigers

[@dannaphys5008]

What a rug!

[@monabiehl6213]

Who announced Ernie Harwell's firing? If he was told privately he was not getting a contract for the following year, this gave Ernie the opportunity to announce that he was retiring. This is respectful, although I don't agree with the decision. If someone other than Ernie announced the firing, then this is a terrible way to treat him.

[@SteveAJonesEntertainment]

WJR executive Jim Long pushed the quick, no severance pay removal of Harwell.

[@davekraszewski8]

I miss Bill Bonds

[@hobowithawaterpistol9070]

When the truth gets under your skin, this is what you get!

[@AmericanPatriot-q6h]

Ernie Harwell is a Detroit Tiger legend. That was absolutely shameful.

[@cynthiasmith4130]

Bill was The Man!!!! Loved Ernie.. He was so great!!

[@davidaretha8480]

I'm still upset about this. 😢

[@timothymeehan181]

Bo showed his true colors, and what a small, petty man he truly was compared to the honor & dignity that Ernie represented...

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

❤❤❤ "Be exactly who you are" 😊

[@KCCardCo]

Bill had the best evening broadcasts, even if it was a rough story it was relaxing to watch.

[@glennhubbard5008]

Monaghan: Hey now! We were going to kill him, but didn't! Give me some credit!

[@millardhale85]

Inexcusable

[@lesevesel2898]

Man, just listen to Ernie's voice. It IS made for baseball. Yeah, I remember this outrageous firing because I was absolute shock. I thought the man would die in the booth calling Tigers games. I like Bo Schembechler, but this was absolute dog fart on his part and Monahan's as well.

[@stevebaynham4148]

Dan dickerson...the new voice of the tigers...wtgv...97.7

[@bryanlosen3262]

Bill was a drunk but right about Ernie...

[@vernwallen4246]

Didn't Bill challenge someone too a man to man fist fight on tv?.

[@JimmySand9]

@@vernwallen4246 Yes, Mayor Coleman Young.

[@mikeryan2838]

​@@JimmySand9I saw that live in the air. My grandfather and I were cracking up.