Legendary Tigers announcer (Ernie Harwell) has incurable cancer

[The Straight Story]

Legendary Tigers announcer has incurable cancer

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Ernie Harwell, who spent more than a half- century announcing baseball games for four different teams, told the Detroit Free Press he has terminal cancer.

Harwell, 91, spent 42 of his 55 years as a broadcaster with the Detroit Tigers and said he does not know how long he has left to live. He was diagnosed with a tumor that obstructs his bile duct in mid-August.

Beginning his major league broadcasting career in 1948 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Harwell eventually moved on in 1950 to the New York Giants, where he famously called Bobby Thomson's "shot heard 'round the world" in the 1951 playoff game that determined the winner of the National League pennant.

From there, he moved on to the Baltimore Orioles in 1954 and eventually the Tigers in 1960, where he would remain until his retirement -- missing only 1992 due to his being fired before returning. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 1989.

http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=263802

[parasim]

1. Sad news.

I grew up listening to Ernie.