Ernie Harwell

From the sandy shores of Lake Michigan to the rugged streets in Flint, they listened to Ernie Harwell tell the Tigers' tales for more than 40 years.

Beloved by generations of baseball fans who grew up enraptured by his rich voice, Southern cadence and quirky phrases on the radio, Harwell died Tuesday after a monthslong battle with cancer. He was 92.

Harwell called Orioles games from 1954 to 1959, but he spent 42 of his 55 years in broadcasting with the Tigers.

He announced Detroit games on radio from 1960 to 1991, in 1993 and from 1999 to 2002. He broadcast games on television from 1960 to 1964 and 1994 to 1998.

"What a voice," said longtime Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell, the World Series MVP the last time the Tigers won it all in 1984. "He did it with class, he did it with dignity. We shed a tear tonight, that's for sure."

Harwell's big break came in unusual fashion.

Dodgers radio broadcaster Red Barber fell ill in 1948, and general manager Branch Rickey needed a replacement. After learning that the minor league Atlanta Crackers needed a catcher, Rickey sent catcher Cliff Dapper to Atlanta and Harwell joined the Dodgers.

Harwell called more than 8,300 major league games, starting with the Dodgers and continuing with the Giants and Orioles before joining the Tigers. He missed two games outside of the 1992 season: one for his brother's funeral in 1968, the other when he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1989.

The Baseball Hall of Fame honored Harwell in 1981 with the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball.

A life-sized statue of Harwell stands at the entrance to Comerica Park and its press box is called "The Ernie Harwell Media Center."