For half a century, Vin Scully was the voice of the Dodgers (first in Brooklyn and then in Los Angeles). His style and delivery is one-of-a-kind.
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For half a century, Vin Scully was the voice of the Dodgers (first in Brooklyn and then in Los Angeles). His style and delivery is one-of-a-kind.
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LOS ANGELES – If there’s a name synonymous with the Dodgers, it’s not a player, manager or any team official. That’s Vin Scully.
In more than half a century, there hasn’t been a Dodgers game that hasn’t started this way for fans at home or in the stadium: “It’s time for Dodger baseball!“
Vin Scully began announcing games on radio and then on television while the Dodgers were still playing in Brooklyn. He spent more time on a team than any other broadcaster in sports history, before he retired after the 2016 season.
Vin Scully’s death was announced by the Dodgers in a tweet. He is 94 years old.
It’s not just longevity that makes Scully great. It wasn’t his baseball knowledge – that was phenomenal. It is his distinctive voice… alongside his poetry and philosophy, and his talent for creating a personal connection with his listeners.
It was there from the beginning. One memorable moment in 1957, catcher Joe Pignatano geared up for his first plane as a Brooklyn Dodger. During the broadcast, Scully wanted to make sure that the players’ families wouldn’t miss out. “Tell me, I tell you something. You may know Pignatanos. If you know, perhaps his wife is taking care of the baby. [and] and don’t listen to the game. Call her. Looks like Joe’s going to be in the Big Leagues tonight. “
Veteran broadcaster Larry King recalled Vin Scully from his time in Brooklyn and LA. “There’s a comfort zone. You feel at home,” King said, recalling a game a year when the Dodgers were out of contention. . He said the sound of Scully’s voice was mesmerizing. “A pointless game. I’m driving from LA to San Diego. I turn the game on and I can’t turn it off.”
Former LA Dodgers announcer Vin Scully speaks to fans before the second game of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and LA
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Former LA Dodgers announcer Vin Scully speaks to fans before the second game of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and LA
Harry How / Getty Images
Scully is as much a part of the team as the players on the field. You can hear Scully’s voice coming from the radios people bring to Dodger Stadium. Some fans, like Cary Gepner, prefer to play each of his radio shows rather than a TV show without him. “You can hear Vin Scully call a baseball game and you don’t have to watch the game because he paints a better picture than what television can paint. I love him.”
Vin Scully already has baseball stats available. But he doesn’t rely on them. He once said, “Statistics are used like a drunkard uses a lamppost: for support, not for illumination.” Those are the stories he tells. They came from baseball, from Shakespeare, from whatever he was curious about. Here’s an example from an interview with member station KPCC: “We were playing on Friday the 13th and I thought, ‘I wonder why the setting of Friday the 13th, why is it such a thing? such a big deal?” So I looked it up and it goes back to the 1800s and like that”
So between pitches, fans learned something new. When there’s a big moment on the pitch, he conveys excitement. And had many important moments in his career. 1965 — a perfect game about to be released by Sandy Koufax:
“A long shot. Sandy caught up. A perfect game! “
1974 – Hank Aaron’s historical record and record 715th time going home to pass Babe Ruth:
Vin Scully was the announcer of Hank Aaron’s career record 715th game against the LA Dodgers in 1974. Scully recounted some of the most memorable moments in baseball history since he began his career. his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers game in 1950.
Bob Daugherty / Associated Press
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Bob Daugherty / Associated Press
Vin Scully was the announcer of Hank Aaron’s career record 715th game against the LA Dodgers in 1974. Scully recounted some of the most memorable moments in baseball history since he began his career. his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers game in 1950.
Bob Daugherty / Associated Press
“The ball is fast. It’s the driveway deep into the center. Buckner goes back to the fence, it’s gone!” For the next half minute, Scully didn’t say a word. Embrace it as the Atlanta crowd cheers and shouts the milestone. And then, Scully said, exactly what the homerun meant, “What a great moment for baseball. What a great moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a great moment for the country. and the world. A Black man is standing up to a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking the record for an all-time baseball idol. And it’s a great moment for all of us.”
1988 – Inevitability by Dodger Kirk Gibson pinch hit home run in game one in the World Series:
“The ball flew up to the right field. She was. It’s gone!”
For years, he also did network sports for CBS and NBC. He had the famous call in the 1986 Red Sox-Mets World Series game, where Bill Buckner let a ground ball pass his feet in the first base.
“The little roller goes up front, behind the bag. It goes through Buckner. Come and the Mets take it!”
Vincent Edward Scully was born in 1927 in the Bronx. He grew up being a Giants fan. But after graduating from Fordham University, he was recruited by legendary broadcaster Red Barber.
Scully moved to the West Coast with the Dodgers in 1958. Later in his career, he cut back on travel. As a devout Roman Catholic, when he gets older, he will ask God if he will come back in a year. God could have said yes, but Scully was happy to do it. “I’m so happy to be here. I know it sounds silly and maybe I’m a bit silly. But honestly I’m happy and deeply grateful.”
In the end, he decided age had caught up with him. After 67 seasons, 2016 is his last. In front of the last home stand, the whole team held a moving ceremony at Dodger Stadium. Finally, Scully stood up and spoke. He told the crowd that they kept him away every time they roared. And, with his underrated humor, he answered the question “What are you going to do now?” His answer is classic Scully:
“Well, you know, if you’re 65 and retired, you might only have 20 years of your life left and you better have some plans. When you’re 89 and they ask you what kind of person you are – I will try to live …”
Vin Scully once said a player had an injury that made him “every day”. Then he paused and added, “are we not all?”
Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully waves to the crowd after taking the lead in the Take Me Out to the Ball Game singing session against the Colorado Rockies in 2016, his final season.
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Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully waves to the crowd after taking the lead in the Take Me Out to the Ball Game singing session against the Colorado Rockies in 2016, his final season.
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images
