Baseball notebook: Fans get final Harwell visit
Thousands of Detroit Tigers fans lined up outside Comerica Park Thursday to give beloved broadcaster Ernie Harwell the send-off he wanted, paying their respects as they shuffled past his casket and swapping their favorite memories of the Hall of Famer.
After waiting for more than eight hours, Westland, Mich., resident Bud Sommerville entered the stadium’s front gate and approached Harwell’s open casket. He took some pictures of Harwell, who was dressed in his signature hat, then removed his own cap and placed it on his heart in a solemn farewell.
“I met him for the first time at the ballpark,” Sommerville, 54, said as he held back tears. “I guess the last time I will see him is at the ballpark.”
Planning for the public viewing began in September after Harwell was diagnosed with an inoperable form of cancer. Harwell asked to have the viewing at Comerica Park so fans could come.
Renteria re-injured
San Francisco Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria re-injured his groin, and this time he may be headed for the disabled list. Renteria already missed four games with the injury.
Uecker heads home
Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker has been released from the hospital after undergoing heart surgery last Friday.
Uecker says in a statement that he’s extremely grateful for all the kind words from Milwaukee Brewers fans, friends and associates and looks forward to returning to the broadcast booth.
Uecker is expected to miss up to three months.
Mauer on the mend
The Minnesota Twins’ Joe Mauer is making progress, but the deep bruise on his left heel still has him on the bench.
Mauer took early batting practice before the game against Baltimore and said the injury is feeling better, but he’s not ready to test his foot with running.
“Step in the right direction, that’s for sure,” said Mauer, who got new shoes with special orthotics that should help his foot feel better.
“We’re going to let Joe tell me when he’s ready to play and go from there,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Right now he’s not running at all, so I would imagine we’re not ready for tomorrow for him to go out there and play.”