Detroit Free Press Rochelle Riley column: Why not name a field after Ernie?

Nov 04, 2009 (Detroit Free Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- CMA | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The Detroit Tigers play baseball at Comerica Park. What if they also played on Ernie Harwell Field?

That's the idea of a west Michigan firefighter who grew up in Detroit, and was in the fourth generation of his family to listen to Harwell during his 42 seasons as the Tigers' radio broadcaster. Kevin McNutt has launched a cause page on Facebook to add Harwell's name to Comerica Park. The idea already has more than 16,000 backers.

Harwell, 91, disclosed in September that he has inoperable cancer and received a huge ovation on a special tribute night at the stadium. With characteristic modesty, Harwell says he's flattered by the naming idea but, "it's a little too much."

Really? For a guy who was the voice of summer for so many years around here?

For a guy who was so outstanding in his field, why not the field?

Love for Harwell spurs Facebook cause

You never know how many lives you've touched until people show you by their actions.

When you're Ernie Harwell, they tell you in more than 8,500 cards and letters when they hear that you're sick.

When you're Ernie Harwell, everybody, including sports superstars, wants to interview you. Harwell did Frank Deford's HBO special a week ago and a Bob Costas interview on Monday. Even at 91, he is trying to grant 23 other requests.

But that's Harwell. A gentleman, a legend, a humble servant of the sport of baseball. His idea of slowing down means skipping parades or marathons, but, until recently, he was still signing autographs.

That's why, when you're Ernie Harwell, thousands cheer as you stand on the field at Comerica Park.

And that's why the announcement that Harwell, the beloved Detroit Tigers broadcaster, has inoperable cancer moved a Grandville firefighter to action.

Good fit for the field

Kevin McNutt, a 42-year-old father of four boys and "big Tigers fan," decided to honor Harwell by starting a Facebook page for a cause: to change the name of Comerica Park to Ernie Harwell Field. Actually, McNutt said Tuesday in a phone interview from the fire station, he'd like Comerica and Harwell to share the name of the complex: Ernie Harwell Field at Comerica Park, although that is not reflected on the page, where the number of participants is growing by leaps and bounds.

Harwell, reached at home, said Tuesday, "That's awfully sweet. I'm really flattered and overwhelmed."

"It's a little too much," said Harwell, who also has received more than a 1,000 requests to sign memorabilia and hundreds of letters from nutritionists, health professionals and alternative-medicine specialists since disclosing his condition.

McNutt, who grew up in Detroit, said his idea "started one day on the Free Press Web site. I saw a little blip about Ernie Harwell having incurable cancer and I said, 'Oh no, not Ernie.' "

He and friends talked about ways to inspire someone who had been like a part of the McNutt family through four generations. His great-grandfather Adam, his grandfather Adam Jr. and his father, Adam III, "were huge sport fans and Tigers fans," said McNutt, whose middle name is Adam.

So, the firefighter created the Facebook cause page to honor his dad and grandfather, who died within six months of each other two years ago, and to honor Harwell, who had brought them so much joy.

He tapped into big Ernie love. Here's how he knows: The site, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, already had 16,623 people enlisted for the cause.

"It seems to be growing a thousand every two to four days," McNutt said. "I had no idea where this would go and how many people would respond, all the love for Ernie.

"I started it to show my support," he said. "It's what I could do from my position, just who I am."

Furthering the cause

But that wasn't all McNutt did.

He e-mailed the Tigers organization and Comerica Bank to let them know what he wanted. The Tigers responded that the media center at the park already is named for Harwell; McNutt hasn't heard back from Comerica Inc., which agreed in December 1998 to pay the Tigers $66 million for naming rights for the park.

Harwell's attorney, Gary Spicer, said that "there have been a number of blogs" dedicated to Ernie Harwell, "and Mr. Harwell appreciates the loyalty of his fans. But he's very satisfied with what the Tiger organization and the Ilitch family have done for him, and he would not want to get a movement started that would be a distraction."

McNutt said Tuesday that he has no political motives, no animus toward Comerica and no goal at all, except to help create a lasting legacy for Ernie Harwell.

"I love Ernie because of the memories and growing up and listening to him on the radio," he said. "There's a lot of people in the world described as 'awesome' but to me, he's genuine. I've never met him. But he has impacted everyone from baseball fans to -- you name it. He's such an inspiration."

From a firefighter in the west Michigan city of Grandville who loves Detroit to a Southern tomboy-turned-city girl who loves the Tigers as if I'd been here all my life, we all want to honor Ernie Harwell.

So on behalf of Kevin McNutt, and in honor of Harwell, I'm joining the Facebook cause page "Change Comerica Park to Harwell Field to support the name Ernie Harwell Field at Comerica Park."

I'm No. 16,762.

To join the cause, go to www.causes.com/changecomericaparktoharwellfield

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