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Ernie Harwell Quotes

Powerful Ernie Harwell for Daily Growth

About Ernie Harwell

Ernie Harwell, affectionately known as 'The Voice of God' in the baseball world, was born on February 25, 1918, in Muskegon, Michigan. His love for baseball and storytelling was cultivated early, listening to games on the radio during his childhood. This passion led him to a career in broadcasting that spanned over five decades. Harwell's professional journey began in 1948 with the minor league team, Muskegon Clippers. He moved to the Detroit Tigers in 1960, where he would spend the most significant part of his career. Known for his rich baritone voice and poignant storytelling, Harwell's broadcasts became synonymous with summer evenings in Michigan. His broadcasting style was marked by a deep respect for the game and a knack for weaving vivid narratives around the action on the field. One of his famous quotes, "It's only a game, but don't ever tell that to a player on either side," encapsulated this sentiment perfectly. Harwell was instrumental in popularizing the game of baseball in Detroit and beyond. His annual Opening Day broadcast, a cherished tradition for generations of Tigers fans, was a testament to his enduring influence. In 1980, Harwell was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, followed by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. Despite battling Parkinson's disease towards the latter part of his career, he continued to work, retiring in 2002 after 54 seasons in professional baseball broadcasting. Ernie Harwell passed away on January 10, 2010, but his legacy lives on. His voice, his stories, and his love for the game continue to resonate with fans of baseball and storytelling alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Ask not where the ball is hit, ask where it's pitched."

Ernie Harwell's quote emphasizes the importance of understanding the context or origin before focusing on the outcome in a game or situation. In baseball, pitching (the action of throwing the ball) sets up the play, just as the initial move or strategy determines the possible outcomes in many aspects of life. To achieve success, it is essential to focus on the fundamentals and prepare thoroughly rather than solely reacting to external events.

"It's life, a gift, and it offers us the possibility of glory."

Ernie Harwell's quote, "It's life, a gift, and it offers us the possibility of glory," emphasizes that life is a precious commodity to be cherished and appreciated. By acknowledging its inherent worth, we are reminded of its potential for greatness, growth, and achievement – in other words, the opportunity for individual glory. This quote encourages us to embrace life's challenges and celebrate its successes, acknowledging that our choices and efforts can bring us closer to realizing our personal aspirations. In essence, life is a gift that holds the potential for greatness within each of us.

"There are two seasons in Detroit - winter and baseball."

This quote by Ernie Harwell beautifully encapsulates Detroit's enduring love for baseball. In essence, it suggests that for residents of Detroit, there are essentially only two distinct seasons - the colder, snow-filled winter months and the warmer, vibrant season when baseball is played. It underscores the city's deep connection with the sport, making baseball an integral part of their cultural identity and everyday life.

"Baseball is a game that's played on a field, but it's played in the heart."

This quote by Ernie Harwell emphasizes that baseball is more than just a sport played on a field; it's an emotional experience that resides deeply within people. The game of baseball, with its strategies, rules, and moments of triumph or defeat, creates profound connections and stirs up intense feelings in those who play and watch it. In essence, the heart represents the passion, dedication, camaraderie, and love for the game that transcends its physical boundaries.

"A lot of people say, 'How do you want to be remembered?' I don't want to be remembered for just my voice; I want to be remembered as a storyteller."

Ernie Harwell, the legendary sportscaster, desired to be remembered not only for his distinctive voice but also as a skilled storyteller. He wanted his legacy to transcend the auditory experience, encompassing the ability to captivate audiences through compelling narratives that brought sports events to life. This quote encapsulates the essence of a communicator who uses their craft to create immersive experiences and evoke emotions in listeners, ensuring their stories resonate long after the game is over.

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

- Ernie Harwell

Moving On, Think, New, Say

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.

- Ernie Harwell

My Life, Been, I Think, Warmth

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Love, Michigan, Given, Warmth

Baseball is a lot like life. It's a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life.

- Ernie Harwell

Ups And Downs, Like, Downs, Baseball

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Think, Be Careful, Everybody, Handle

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Business, Sometimes, Almost, Bat

Why the fairy tale of Willie Mays making a brilliant World Series catch, and then dashing off to play stickball in the street with his teenage pals. That's baseball. So is the husky voice of a doomed Lou Gehrig saying, 'I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.'

- Ernie Harwell

Voice, Play, Why, Luckiest

There's a man in Mobile who remembers that Honus Wagner hit a triple in Pittsburgh 46 years ago. That's baseball.

- Ernie Harwell

Mobile, Pittsburgh, Wagner, Triple

A tall, thin old man waving a scorecard from the corner of his dugout. That's baseball.

- Ernie Harwell

Old, Thin, Waving, Dugout

Baseball is the president tossing out the first ball of the season. And a scrubby schoolboy playing catch with his dad on a Mississippi farm.

- Ernie Harwell

Tossing, Dad, Schoolboy, Season

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

- Ernie Harwell

Debut, Broadcast, Willie, Giants

Nicknames are baseball, names like Zeke and Pie and Kiki and Home Run and Cracker and Dizzy and Dazzy.

- Ernie Harwell

Home Run, Like, Dizzy, Cracker

In my almost 92 years on this earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey.

- Ernie Harwell

Journey, Lord, Almost, Good Lord

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Nothing, Here, Lord, Blessing

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Race, Shines, Clearest, Creed

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Think, Other, Tied, Youngster

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Game, Measured, Statistic, Reflex

The best thing anyone can do is be himself. Everyone was made different by God, and that's the way it should be. And if I were a writer or an announcer starting out, I don't think I'd imitate anybody. I'd try to be whatever I am.

- Ernie Harwell

Best, Anybody, Announcer, Starting

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

- Ernie Harwell

Lucky, Some, Broadcast, Exploits

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

- Ernie Harwell

Career, Brilliant, His, Height

Baseball is a tongue-tied kid from Georgia growing up to be an announcer and praising the Lord for showing him the way to Cooperstown. This is a game for America. Still a game for America, this baseball!

- Ernie Harwell

Game, Still, Announcer, Georgia

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Been, Part, Mr, Atlanta

Baseball is a rookie, his experience no bigger than the lump in his throat as he begins fulfillment of his dream.

- Ernie Harwell

Begins, Throat, His, Lump

I've found that if you wear a beret, people think you're either a cabdriver or a producer of dirty movies.

- Ernie Harwell

Think, Dirty, Wear, Producer

I knew that everybody could be replaced. Nobody lasts forever. And if you work for somebody, he's certainly got the privilege and the right to fire you.

- Ernie Harwell

Everybody, Lasts, Certainly, Replaced

What happens with any announcer when he comes into an area, if he stays four or five years and does a fairly decent job, people accept him and he becomes part of the family.

- Ernie Harwell

Area, Announcer, Fairly, Five

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

- Ernie Harwell

Nothing, Say, Announcer, They Say

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

- Ernie Harwell

Remembered, Someone, Like, Worker

I have great faith that Heaven's there and I'll see my brothers and my mom and dad when I get there.

- Ernie Harwell

Brothers, Mom And Dad, Dad, Heaven

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.

- Ernie Harwell

Think, Pretty, I Think, Walked

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