Friday, September 04, 2009

Ernie Harwell Announces He Has Terminal Cancer

It has been a rough year for the city of Detroit and the announcement from beloved Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell that he has inoperable cancer doesn't make it any easier for Motown sports fans. In a year that has seen the deaths of Pistons owner Bill Davidson and Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly, former Tiger All-Stars Mark Fidrych & George Kell, and the wife of hockey legend Gordie Howie, Colleen, Harwell's announcement seems surreal.

Harwell, who has been a major league announcer for over half a century, has spent the better part of four decades with Tigers. For Tigers fans like myself, Ernie Harwell is the voice of the Tigers and always will be. The sound of his voice calling a Tigers game conjures up pleasant and peaceful memories of youth. It reminds me of playing baseball all day long in the summertime and a magical '84 Tigers squad.

Detroit fans are well familiar with his common phrases like "he stood there like the house by the side of the road", "the payoff pitch" and "two for the price of one." What some fans may not be familiar with is his strong Christian faith, which will sustain him through whatever time on earth that God allows. As he says,
"And also, I think that when I heard the news, that I had this cancer, that I had a feeling of security and serenity ... but I had a feeling of acceptance because of my belief in Jesus and the Lord."
And that, my friends, is one for the books. Thanks for all the memories, Ernie.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Although he passed away today, my consolation is that this man knew Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior. The Bible says to live with Christ and to die is gain. He gained eternal life on today. The most that his fans can take from his long life is that at the end of the road, we want to see Jesus' face in peace and hear him say "well done thy good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord!" What a day!

Anonymous said...

Amen! I didn't know much about Ernie until I heard of his passing.. hopefully people will not only realize what a great broadcaster he was, but what an outstanding man he was for believing in our Savior Jesus

Erin said...

His marriage is a great testimony!

http://www.cadz.net/tony.html