Detroit pays tribute to Harwell

Fans lined the sidewalk outside Comerica Park in downtown Detroit Thursday to pay their final respects to cherished broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who many Tigers fans consider the eternal voice of summer.

Hundreds of fans lined up overnight to view an open casket bearing Harwell — dressed in his signature hat — that was positioned behind metal barriers just inside the stadium's front gate.

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." Several large portraits and memorial bouquets also were set in place.

Harwell died Tuesday of cancer at age 92.

Bud Sommerville, 54, of the Detroit suburb of Westland, who was wearing a blue Tigers jacket, arrived at the ballpark before midnight to ensure that he was first in line to pay his final respects to 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

"I met him for the first time at the ballpark. I guess the last time I will see him is at the ballpark."

Sister Deborah Ciolek, a 56-year-old nun with the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, said she came to honour 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 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 Dombrowksi greeted mourners after they paid their respects.

"You can see that it didn't make a difference what age, what colour, 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 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," said Bill Ebbitt, 58, of Garden City. "I just felt like I needed to do it."

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

Family members will hold a private funeral service.