Ernie Harwell

Everybody we meet has an influence on us and an impact - good or bad. And I think that's why we have to be careful with the way we handle people because what we're doing is making an impact.

Baseball is a spirited race of man against man, reflex against reflex. A game of inches. Every skill is measured. Every heroic, every failing is seen and cheered, or booed. And then becomes a statistic.

Whatever happens, I'm ready to face it.

Baseball just a came as simple as a ball and bat. Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. A sport, a business and sometimes almost even a religion.

In baseball, democracy shines its clearest. The only race that matters is the race to the bag. The creed is the rule book. And color, merely something to distinguish one team's uniform from another's.

I've been lucky to broadcast some great events and to broadcast the exploits of some great players.

In radio, they say, nothing happens until the announcer says it happens.

With the Giants I broadcast the debut of Hall of Famer Willie Mays.

Also I'm a part of the people that I've worked with in baseball that have been so great to me, Mr. Earl Mann of Atlanta, who gave me my first baseball broadcasting job.

But most of all, I'm a part of you people out there who have listened to me, because especially you people in Michigan, you Tiger fans, you've given me so much warmth, so much affection and so much love.

God blessed me by putting me here for thirty-one years at Michigan and Trumbull.

I love what I do. If I had my time over again, I'd probably do it for nothing.

I praise the Lord here today. I know that all my talent and all my ability comes from him, and without him I'm nothing and I thank him for his great blessing.

I think I owe thanks to the people who have listened to me over the years, who tuned in on the radio. They have given me a warmth and loyalty that I've never been able to repay. The way they have reached out to me has certainly been the highlight of my life.

I'd like to be remembered as someone who showed up for the job. I consider myself a worker.

If I walked back into the booth in the year 2025, I don't think it would have changed much. I think baseball would be played and managed pretty much the same as it is today. It's a great survivor.

That other saying, I'm a part of all that I have met, I think that would have to begin with my wonderful parents back in Atlanta when I was a youngster five years old I was tongue tied.

When I went to Brooklyn in 1948 Jackie Robinson was at the height of his brilliant career.

I have a great faith in God and Jesus.

It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.