Ernie Harwell -
Novi's Most
Worldly Resident
 

One of the greatest trades in baseball history involved an acquisition that would never even come to bat for the team. However, he will go down as one of the most sensational performers in Major League Baseball history and since 2003, he’s made his home right here in Novi. 

In 1948, Ernie Harwell became the only announcer in baseball history to be traded for a player when the Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey, traded catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers in exchange for the broadcasting contract of Ernie Harwell. 

In 1960, Harwell arrived in Detroit and became the ‘voice’ of the Tigers and for the next two generations and he was not only synonymous with Tiger baseball, but his uniquely enjoyable style resonated with fans young and old alike. His dulcet tones would fill the backyard bbq’s in the summer, and provide respite as fall approached and the leaves began to descend to the ground, signifying the closing of yet another campaign. 

But then Spring training would roll around again, hope would spring eternal and Harwell, alas would return. Ernie Harwell was not just a man that would call balls and strikes and play-by-play. For 42 years he became a trusted friend, a confidante and he formed a kindred spirit with Tiger fans, residents of Michigan and of course the entire universe of Major League baseball. 

Nationally, Harwell broadcasted two All-Star games (1958,1961), two World Series (1963, 1968 ) for NBC radio, numerous ALCS and ALDS series for CBS Radio and ESPN radio, and the CBS ‘Game of the Week’ from 1992 to 1997. Currently, Harwell does occasional vignettes on the history of baseball for FNS on Detroit Tigers Weekly. 

Known for his low-key delivery, homespun approach and conversational style, his signature phraseology will forever live in the hearts of Detroit Tigers fans. Here’s a few that I bet you remember, a fee that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face; 

  -After a double play, “It’s two for the price of one for the Tigers”

  -After a called third strike, “He stood there like the house on the side of the road,” or “He’s out for excessive window shopping, he looked at one too many!”

  -Describing a home run, “That ball is loooooooooooong gone!

  -And of course whenever a foul ball traveled into the stands Ernie would exclaim, “That ball was caught by a lucky fan from ______________!” inserting whatever City would come to mind. Ironically, he was right a lot of the time!

Every Spring training, during the initial broadcast of the first game, Ernie Harwell would begin with a reading from the Song of Solomon 2:12: “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land.”

Next January, Ernie Harwell will turn 90 yet he still has more energy and enthusiasm than any three people you’ll meet… He currently serves as a spokesman for Blue-Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and recently he’s been active in consulting what’s best for the final decisions regarding old Tiger Stadium.

In 2004, the Detroit Public Library dedicated a room to Ernie Harwell and his wife Lulu, which will house Harwell’s collection of baseball memorabilia, an amazing collection spanning several decades of Major League Baseball.

It comes as no surprise that Ernie Harwell is member of several ‘Hall-of-Fames: The Baseball Hall of Fame, Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame, and the Radio Hall of Fame.

And of course in 2001, Harwell was honored with the prestigious Ty Tyson Award for excellence in Sports Broadcasting by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.

Welcome to Novi, Ernie. It’s a Grand Slam event for all of us. It’s one of the best acquisitions we’ve had and we didn’t even have to trade anything back.