Fans bid farewell Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell

WKAR Public Media

Published May 6, 2010 at 5:55 AM EDT

By AP

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-900503.mp3

DETROIT – Thousands of Detroit Tigers fans have swarmed to Comerica Park to give beloved broadcaster Ernie Harwell the send-off he wanted.

The fans paid their respects Thursday, shuffling past his casket and swapping their favorite memories of the Hall of Famer.

Harwell died of cancer Tuesday night at age 92. Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said planning for the public viewing began in September after Harwell was diagnosed.

Tigers spokesman Rick Thompson says more than 10,000 fans walked past Harwell's open casket between the time the stadium opened at 7 a.m. until the last person said goodbye around 12:30 a.m. Friday.

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