Goodbye Ernie Harwell

I tried to not have tears in my eyes while I was writing this, but it was a battle I lost. Legendary Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell lost his battle with cancer today at the age of 92.
Ernie started his broadcasting career in Atlanta, calling games on WSB radio for the Atlanta Crackers. Harwell became the only announce to ever be traded when he was shipped off to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948.
Ernie joined the Tigers in 1960. Ernie became the voice of the Tigers quickly. He served as the voice of the Tigers from 1960-1991 and 1994-2002. His break in broadcasting resulted from an ill advised move by new Tigers president, Legend Bo Schembechler. When Mike Illitch bought the team in 1993 one of his first moves was to bring the lengend back.
This is one of the saddest days of my life. Ernie represented more than just Tigers baseball to me. He was a little piece of my childhood. 
One of Ernie’s trademarks was to read the Song of Solomon v 2:11-12, at the first spring training broadcast.
¹¹'For behold, the winter is past,
         The rain is over and gone.
¹²'The flowers have already appeared in the land;
         The time has arrived for pruning the vines,
         And the voice of the ^(A)turtledove has been heard in our land.
Ernie you will be missed by millions. Those in heaven can rejoice because the greatest announcer to ever call a game is now doing so in  the big stadium in the sky.