William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell  Born in Washington, Georgia, on January
25, 1918, sportscasting legend William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was
the play-by-play announcer for more than 8500 Major League games
during his more than 50 year career. Harwell began his career as a
part-time announcer for minor league team the Atlanta Crackers,
before becoming their full-time announcer in 1946. Then midway
through the 1948 season, the Brooklyn Dodgers traded the Crackers a
minor league catcher for Harwell so he could fill in Red Barber.
Harwell stayed with the Dodgers through the 1949 season and then
moved to the New York Giants. While at the Giants, Harwell
announced his first game on television. When the Dodgers did not
renew his contract in 1954, Harwell moved to Baltimore where he
announced Orioles games for six years. Then, in 1960, he landed
with the Detroit Tigers. He would go on to broadcast games for the
Tigers for 42 of the next 43 years, ending with his retirement in
2002. During his time announcing Tigers games, Harwell also
announced three World Series and five All-Star games, and was named
Michigan Sportscaster of the year 19 times. He was also the
recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, 1981, and has been inducted
into a number of halls of fame for his outstanding career. He was
inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of
Fame on April 24, 1989. Harwell died May 4, 2010. |