My grandpa, Ernie Harwell went to be with the Lord this evening. It’s a sad moment, but I’m comforted by the fact that he is with his savior and out of his pain. There were so many things about him that were inspiring to me and he will greatly missed, but I know he is rejoicing in heaven tonight.
I have loved the game of baseball for as long as I can remember. About this time every year I start to get the itch for spring training because I know that means the start of the season is just around the corner. There are so many things I love about the game… the smell of a freshly cut field, the way the shadows creep along the infield at late afternoon game, the crack of the bat, the heckling patrons, roasted peanuts, and the organ as it grinds out it’s familiar anthems.
I guess what I love the most about the game though is all the memories of my childhood and the connection it has for my family. My grandfather, Ernie Harwell, had the privilege of calling the Detroit Tiger games for 42 years, so I grew up listening to him, going to games with him and loving all things baseball. My dad Gray Harwell was also chaplain for the Tigers in 1984, the year they won the World Series. He would always play catch tirelessly with me and my brother in our yard. He even coached my older brother Jeremy’s little league team, and I was the unofficial mascot/bat boy. I remember reliving the last play made from the 84 World Series over and over in my backyard and pretending it was me catching the final out instead of Larry Herndon. The crowd always went wild, and then I was, of course, mobbed by my teammates! So baseball really feels like a part of who I am.
One of the many perks of my baseball family is that Grandpa was always giving us baseball related items that he received. One such item was the album Terry Cashman’s Talking Baseball. My brother and I listened to this for hours on end, and I can still sing you most of the songs word for word.
You see, wedged in between all the wonderful baseball songs on this album was my Grandpa reading his definition of baseball. (I can also still quote this… just ask my wife!) I loved listening to this poem/essay, and this summer when Grandpa was diagnosed with inoperable cancer I instantly knew I wanted to make a piece of art from that essay as a tribute to him.
I really enjoyed creating this piece of art. It was a privilege to create something special for a man who is always giving of himself to others, and I put all of my heart and soul into it. I really debated about offering this poster for sale, but I decided that in the end it was something I wanted to share with all those who loved baseball and my Grandpa. He enjoyed sharing his life and love of the game with everyone, so a poster in tribute to him should be about just that.
The 18 x 24 poster is pictured in the heading of this post. It’s limited first edition signed and numbered by myself and printed on 80# cover. If you are interested in purchasing one you can find them on my Etsy site.
My grandpa has written articles for the Detroit Free Press for many years, but they have always been sports related. Recently he was given the opportunity to write about more than just baseball, and I loved his latest article. It’s about his time at Emory University and hustling Tommy Dorsey to visit his fraternity. This was the first time I had ever heard this story, and it has me anticipating what next week’s article will bring.
I want to wish my Grandpa a very special 92nd birthday today! I feel so blessed to have such a great example of class, kindness, hard work ethic, generosity and genuine love for others. It was grandma and his gift of a computer to me on my 13th birthday that launched me into the career I have today!
Thanks for being such a wonderful Grandpa and I hope this birthday is your best one yet!
