Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell, whose name is synonymous with Tigers baseball, applauds Detroit’s efforts against the White Sox at the end of an otherwise dismal season in the Motor City.
“Maybe the Tigers will leave a little better taste in the mouths of their fans because it has been sort of a sad season for the Tigers,” said Harwell, who retired from the broadcast booth three years ago after 55 years in the business.
Harwell, who remains close to beleaguered Detroit manager Alan Trammell, hopes the Tigers’ late resurgence will salvage Trammell’s job.
“Paul Richards used to tell me that when a team is out of the race, they think they are playing hard, but there is something subliminal that sets in,” Harwell said. “It’s important these Tigers are playing hard.”
Harwell, who was the 1981 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, says his most memorable game was the one in 1951 in which Bobby Thomson (“Shot Heard Around The World”) hit a home run to win the pennant for the New York Giants. Harwell was on NBC-TV and his partner was Russ Hodges.
“He and I alternated on radio and TV and it turned out to be my time on TV,” Harwell said. “Of course [Hodges] made the most famous call of all time (“The Giants win the pennant! . . . ) because it was recorded and nobody made a record or had any replays of the TV. And only Mrs. Harwell and I knew it was on that afternoon. That was a big thrill for me.”
“I like the wild-card playoff setup,” Harwell, 86, said. “I think it keeps so many more communities interested. I can remember the days when we would come to the first of September and the Yankees would have a 25-game lead. It was certainly playing out the string and nothing more back then.”
Harwell compares the 2005 White Sox to the 1984 Tigers, who started the season with a 35-5 record.
“Everything they touched turned to victory,” he recalled. “But when you play 162 games, things always level off.”
Overheard
Bears wide receiver Bobby Wade, talking about rookie quarterback Kyle Orton blaming himself for the Bears’ loss to the Bengals last Sunday because he threw five interceptions: “It’s a sign of a man of great character to be your own hardest critic. I blame myself too. I think everyone in here will point at himself before they point to anyone else.” . . .
The 64-year-old Ken “Hawk” Harrelson responding to when he plans to retire after 18 consecutive seasons in the White Sox television booth: “I’ll tell you when I will retire . . . when I stop hurting when we lose a ballgame. This is the type of ballclub that keeps you young.”
Sights seen
If the Sox, who won their 95th game Wednesday, win 96 games, it will mark the third-most victories in franchise history. The Sox won 99 in 1983 and 98 in 1964.
Local attractions
Former Cubs shortstop Len Merullo, 88, and outfielder Andy Pafko, 84, are scheduled to join author Charles N. Billington at AU Sports Memorabilia (5129 Dempster St.) in Skokie for a reunion appearance from noon to 2 p.m. on Oct. 8, 60 years after the men played in Wrigley Field’s last World Series. Merullo and Pafko will autograph memorabilia and reminisce about their seven-game series with the Detroit Tigers, while Billington will sign copies of his new book, “Wrigley Field’s Last World Series: The Wartime Chicago Cubs and the Pennant of 1945.” . . . Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will be teaming with Oak Brook-based Sharpie at 2 p.m. Friday to play host to a special school assembly at Francis Parkman Elementary School (245 W. 51st St.) as part of a national program called “Autographs for Education.” Rivera will ask the students for their autographs in exchange for $10,000 in funding and school supplies. He also will offer some football tips and talk about the value of staying in school. . . . The second Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, featuring the top golf programs from both conferences, is set for The Glen Club in Glenview. The 14 teams will play 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes Tuesday. . . . Comcast SportsNet will provide a look back at the 2005 season, along with a preview of the playoff picture in the special “White Sox Drive in ’05,” hosted by Kerry Sayers and White Sox Post Game Live studio analyst Bill Melton at 7 p.m. Monday from U.S. Cellular Field. Chuck Garfien will introduce numerous player interviews and features, along with a special feature on manager Ozzie Guillen. . . . Mike Ditka will sign copies of his new book, “Reflections on the 1985 Bears and Wisdom from Da Coach,” on Tuesday at Mike Ditka’s Restaurant. Ditka and the book’s co-author, Rick Telander of the Sun-Times, will sign for fans from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the restaurant located at 100 E. Chestnut St.
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fmitchell@tribune.com
