Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell never met a stranger, as former broadcasting partner Jim Price put it. If so, the Tigers opened their home to thousands of friends, fans and well-wishers to grieve for their loss and celebrate Harwell’s incredible life.

By the time visitation began at 7 a.m. ET Thursday, about 400 people were in line at Comerica Park to pay their respects to Harwell, who lay next to the statue erected for him inside Gate A. By noon, that line wrapped around to Montcalm Street and nearly to the administrative entrance to the park. Several hundred fans and friends from all walks of life, many likely on their lunch hour, stood in line to see Harwell one last time.