Broadcaster Ernie Harwell to Receive Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award

By Bill Jordan
Updated: February 17, 2010

: Image by “CAVE CANEM” via Flickr

Many around baseball have heard of Ernie Harwell, the longtime voice of the Detroit Tigers, and he will be recognized on May 5 with another honor to add to his Hall of Fame resume. On that date, Harwell will receive the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award from Fordham’s WFUV Radio Spring Gala. The ceremony will take place on a Wednesday evening at the Gotham Hall in New York City.

Harwell spent 55 years in broadcasting, 42 of those years were spent as the main color person for the Tigers as he sat in the booth in Detroit from 1960 to 2002. Even though he is known for his time with the Tigers, he did spend some time with many other organizations.

His career actually began with a team called the Atlanta Crackers in 1946. After two years, he moved on to the Brooklyn Dodgers. After that stop, he traveled across town to the New York Giants and then went south to the Baltimore Orioles before becoming the voice of the Tigers in 1960. Some of the Awards that have already been thrust Harwell’s way include his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981, an induction into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1998 and an induction into the Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 1989.

Some other awards that are going to be handed out that night are as follows. Multi-time Grammy winner who is remembered for being an exceptional singer, mandolin player and drummer, Levon Helm, will receive the WFUV Sound and Vision Award. Also on stage will be seven time Emmy Award winning television journalist Bob Schieffer to receive the Charles Osgood Lifetime Achievement Award in Broadcast Journalism. One of the main people who are scheduled to attend and speak at the event is New York City Major Michael Bloomberg.

The famed Detroit Broadcaster, Harwell, will be the third recipient of the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports Broadcasting. The first winner of the award was none other than former Dodgers play by play man Vin Scully, who has also been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Last year’s winner was Dick Enberg who has made a name for himself over the years from his work with CBS Sports.

: Image by E Wayne via Flickr

The Gala has attracted some of the most famous names in entertainment and sports. The presenter for Harwell’s award will be Baseball Hall of Famer and former Detroit Tigers outfielder Al Kaline. Harwell will be further honored during the night with a special video tribute that has been narrated by well known sportscaster Bob Costas.

Journalist Charles Osgood will present his own award to Schieffer, the host of CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

WFUV is New York’s Rock and Roots Station and is licensed to Fordham University. Its relationship with the University spans 60 years and the station receives about a quarter-million listeners every week.