DETROIT – Seventeen years ago, a familiar voice returned to Comerica Park one last time.
For generations of fans, Ernie Harwell was more than the voice of the Tigers. He was the soundtrack of summer -- a storyteller who made every inning feel like a memory in the making.
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Harwell had already retired after 42 seasons calling Tigers baseball. But after revealing he had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer, he returned to Comerica Park on Sept. 16, 2009, to thank the fans who had welcomed him into their homes for generations.
“I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they have. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all.”
He saw us at our best and our worst. But his words were always gentle. They were creative, memorable and unmistakably Ernie.
The game has continued without him, but Harwell is still remembered as the man who taught us that baseball could sound like home.
