Goodbye Ernie Harwell

Here's a re-post of the blog I wrote in September, 2009. It is fitting as Ernie passed away last night.


“Eat ’em up Tigers, eat ’em up!” The African American man is an icon to the Detroit Tigers’ fans. He serenades my son and me as we hurry to Comerica Park to watch our beloved team play another game in their quest for the Pennant. He appears to be in his late fifties or early sixties with hair slightly graying and a wrinkled but always smiling face. He lacks the faraway gaze of a drug addict or the swagger of a drunk. He appears to be homeless, but his clothes do not draw your attention. You focus on his face and the big plastic blue fist he wears with the old English D. In the fist he holds a plastic disposable cup. He shakes the cup up and down and the coins inside provide the rhythm for his song, “Eat ’em up Tigers, eat ’em up.” As far as we know he has made up the ditty but it’s rather catchy. We are in a hurry on the way into the game, so I mention to my son that I will give the man some change on our way out. We know he will be there. He always is. My 10-year old son Matt calls him the “Eat ’em up Tigers guy.”

We get to the game just in time to watch the B-17 aircraft fly overhead. Then the game starts. Ernie Harwell is there to give his farewell speech. Just last week, Ernie was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is 91. They say the cancer is inoperable and he has chosen not to receive treatment. Ernie is another icon in Tiger’s history. A broadcaster for the Tigers longer than I’ve been on this earth, he is known in Detroit as the Voice of the Tigers. He comes out, and in typical Ernie fashion quiets the crowd by holding his hands up. His humility is evident as he thanks the Tiger’s organization and the crowd over and over again. He makes no mention of his career or what he has accomplished, not even a hint. All he wants to do is thank us. Wait a minute; don’t we owe the thanks to you Ernie? For years of displaying integrity, honesty, loyalty, love, dedication, and good humor. Ernie taught us how to laugh even when times are tough. He showed us how to hang in there and how to always support our team. The fans in Detroit do not boo their own players. We respect our team and we owe Ernie for this attitude.

The Tigers are losing for most of the game, but make a come-back in the late innings to take the lead. It’s getting late and it’s a school night so Matt and I head out. Even though the game is not over, Eat ’em up Tigers guy is there, just as we knew he would be. I observe a fan conversing happily with him. Perhaps the fan is telling him how it pleases him to see him there every game and how he respects him for his quiet way of entertaining the crowd but never begging for applause. Kind of like Ernie. I get out some coins and my son does the same. Matt asks me to put his change in. I drop all the money in the cup.

Eat ’em up Tigers guy looks me in the eyes and says, “Thank you.”

I want to say, “No thank you,” but I don’t. Next time I will say it because you never know when the last time might be that you see someone.

As we say goodbye to Ernie, let us look around at the examples of humility and love right in our midst. I suggest we use that respect Ernie taught us and show it to all those we meet today. Let us not judge, scold, or criticize anyone. Instead, let’s appreciate all of our God-given talents and use them to spread a little joy, like Ernie did.