Fans invited to Comerica Park to pay final respects to beloved Tigers broadcaster Harwell

Fans fondly remember Detroit broadcaster Harwell

DETROIT — After more than eight hours waiting, Bud Sommerville entered Comerica Park’s front gate Thursday morning and approached the open casket of cherished Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell. He took some pictures, then removed his cap and placed it on his heart in a solemn farewell.

“I met him for the first time at the ballpark,” Sommerville, 54, said as he held back tears. “I guess the last time I will see him is at the ballpark.”

The suburban Detroit resident was the first of hundreds to enter the baseball stadium to pay their final respects to Harwell, considered by many to be the voice of summer. Harwell died Tuesday of cancer at age 92.

Hundreds of fans lined up overnight to view the casket bearing Harwell — dressed in his signature hat — that was positioned behind metal barriers and surrounded by large portraits and bouquets. The casket was placed near a life-sized statue of the Hall of Fame broadcaster, microphone in hand, with the inscription, “The Tigers’ broadcasting legend and masterful storyteller for 42 seasons.”

Sommerville, who lives in Westland, said he arrived at the ballpark before midnight to ensure he’d be first in line to send off the man he said “treated you like he knew you forever.”

“I felt I had to be here to say goodbye,” said Sommerville, adding that he met Harwell “hundreds of times” at games and events.

He fondly recalled one meeting in 1999, when Sommerville and his two sons were invited into Harwell’s broadcast booth at Tiger Stadium — the team’s former home — just before his oldest son was shipping off to Saudi Arabia with the Air Force.

Sister Deborah Ciolek, a 56-year-old nun with the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, said she came to honor Harwell’s memory and that of her father, who passed along to her his love of baseball.

“I was one of the guilty ones who had the radio in the bed listening to the West coast games at night, even falling asleep,” Ciolek said.

She said Harwell’s “soothing, gentle voice” reminded her of her dad and she praised the broadcaster’s love of God, family and the game.

He was “truly an inspiration,” she said. “The voice of summer, the voice of the Tigers — I guess we can say that Ernie is our Tiger.”

Across the street, the marquee of the Fox Theatre read: “Thanks for the memories Ernie.” Other venues nearby had similar public messages.

Inside the ballpark, some mourners knelt, others made the sign of the cross, while many snapped photos and removed their old English “D” caps while standing in front of the casket. Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski greeted mourners after they paid their respects.

“You can see that it didn’t make a difference what age, what color, what religion — you were touched by Ernie,” Dombrowski told reporters.

“There were so many people that said, ‘I never met him but I knew him.’”

Dombrowski said he heard many great Harwell anecdotes from fans on Thursday, but one stood out: A man too shy to ask his girlfriend to marry him told Dombrowski that Harwell proposed for him over dinner.

Dombrowski said planning for the event began in September, after Harwell was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Harwell’s attorney and friend Gary Spicer invited Dombrowski and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch to Harwell’s home. Dombrowski said Harwell requested holding the viewing at Comerica Park so fans could come.

“Ilitch basically said, ‘Whatever you want — we’ll do whatever you want,’” Dombrowski said.

A half hour after the viewing began, the cool morning air was filled with plaintive tones of a trumpet outside the stadium, pointed in Harwell’s direction, playing taps.

“I’ve been listening to him forever. I just felt like I needed to do it,” said Bill Ebbitt, 58, of Garden City.

The Tigers said the viewing would continue until the last fan had said goodbye.

Family members will hold a private funeral service.

The Tigers plan a tribute to Harwell before Monday’s game against the New York Yankees.