It was about three years ago. I had taken my son to a game at Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit, not knowing that anything special was scheduled for that nights’ game. About 30 minutes before game time the Tigers honored several former players by loading them into Ford Mustangs (I think) and driving them around the warning track. I can’t even remember why.

The car carrying a fragile George Kell pulled up and stopped between third base and the outfield, right where I was standing with my son. I’m certain the expression on my face conveyed the joy in my heart at for the first time being within touching distance of a man I grew up hearing giving the television play by play for Tiger’s games.

Our eyes locked briefly. Kell smiled widely at me and waved with a sort of boyish shyness. I was shocked when he leaned far out of the car and extended his hand toward me and said, “Hello, I’m George Kell. What’s your name?”

To this day I haven’t forgotten how I felt as I walked out of the ballpark that night. It was a dandy.

Baseball play-by-play was diminished when Kell retired in 1996. Today it has suffered an irreparable loss with the silencing of the voice of George Kell.