2009 Season

Tom Gage gets it right about Ernie Harwell

7 Comments

Tom Gage pens a marvelous column about Ernie Harwell and tonight’s events. The itinerary is that Harwell will meet with the team, and then the media, and then take in the game from Mike Ilitch’s suite. In the 3rd inning he will head down to the field, get behind the microphone, and address the fans. Those are the facts, but I highly encourage you to click through to the article below. Gage was masterful in expressing his thoughts and those of thousands. I quoted the end of the article, but really, read the whole thing. I mean it.

Thank you, too, Ernie | detnews.com | The Detroit News

You all, of course, have shown what Ernie means to you. You’ve shown it with your letters to him, your notes, your e-mails, your thoughts, whatever you’ve directed toward him for years — but specifically lately.

Now you’ll be required to make a difficult adjustment when facing the thought of losing him.

Don’t be sad.

He’s not.

He’ll be out there on the field, in front of all of us, celebrating the magnificence of a relationship.

We won’t be entirely successful in not being sad, of course. As Marc Antony said in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.”

And tears will be shed, no doubt.

But, otherwise, cheer yourself hoarse.

That’s what you do at celebrations.

Cheer — and be happy that you’ve known such a friend.

7 thoughts on “Tom Gage gets it right about Ernie Harwell”

  1. Tickets for tonight’s game are very cheap on StubHub right now. I picked up five in Section 339 for a total (including fees) of $32.90.

  2. Great article. I liked that he used my city in his “He won’t tell us a man from Portage caught that foul ball” line.

  3. I’ll be there.

    Having met Ernie a couple times, I’m amazed that everyone who has ever had the pleasure of an encounter says the same thing, “he’s a genuinely nice and humble man.”

    Cheers and “Go Tigers!”

  5. Remember in the 2006 playoffs when Kenny Rogers pitched his gem against the Yankees? The game was on ESPN and Ernie joined the booth for about an inning. He didn’t get to shout “Looong Gone!” but I think there might have been a mention of “stood there like a house on the side of the road” or “two for the price of one.”

    It sure was great to hear him in the booth one last time even if it was just for a little bit.

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