(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...Vin Scully...
(1927 - 2022)
(Los Angeles Dodgers publicity photo) |
 Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, the Voice of the Dodgers, passed away
Nederlands
 HIDDEN HILLS, California (USA) -
Vin Scully, the legendary broadcaster, who was 'The Voice of the Dodgers' for 67 years, passed away on Tuesday-evening (August 2) at the age of 94.
Scully became the longtime TV/Radio-announcer of the Dodgers in 1950 when the club still played in Brooklyn.
He then moved with the club to Los Angeles after the 1957 season.
There, he retired after the 2016 season at age 88, having been calling games for a record 67 years.
Vincent Edward Scully was born on November 29, 1927 in The Bronx, New York.
There, Scully grew up and became a fan of the New York Giants at a young age.
The Scully-family lived near the famous Polo Grounds, the home of the Giants, where he attended many games.
Scully studied journalism at Fordham University.
There, he founded the school's radio station WFUV.
He also played in the baseball-team of the University and did radio broadcasts for the school's baseball-, football and basketball-teams.
Vin Scully went on to work for CBS Radio Network in Washington, DC.
While covering a college football-game under cold winter-conditions in Fenway Park in Boston, the young Scully impressed his boss, Red Barber, who himself was a legendary sports announcer, mostly baseball.
Barber was the play-by-play announcer for Cincinnati Reds (1934-1938), Brooklyn Dodgers (1939-1953) and New York Yankees (1954-1966).
Barber became the mentor of Scully and taught him how to call a game.
Vin Scully became one of the radio/TV-announcers of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950.
In that year, he joined Barber and Connie Desmond.
Three years later, Scully succeeded Barber at NBC-TV for covering the World Series.
In that year, Scully became the youngest person to be an accouncer during the World Series, a record that still stands.
After the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Vin Scully did many broadcasts for radio and TV together with Jerry Doggett (1956-1987).
Vin Scully became very popular and became a fan-favorite.
In 1964, Scully rejected an offer to become the play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees
Scully stayed with the Dodgers and continued to do so until 2016.
In later years, Scully was the lone announcer for the Dodger-games, doing both the play-by-play and the color commentating.
In his 67 years of covering the Dodgers, many generations grew up listening to Scully's voice.
Generally, Vin Scully is named the best broadcaster ever.
In the seventies and eighties, Vin Scully also was the announcer for CBS Sports, covering the National Football League (NFL).
He also covered tennis and golf and also worked baseball-games for NBC-TV for whom he covered several World Series.
In these years, Scully was the announcer during the wellknown 1986 World Series between New York Mets and Boston Red Sox in which Game 6 was decided by the 'famous' error by Boston-first baseman Bill Buckner.
In 1988, it was Scully who spoke more memorable words when Kirk Gibson (Dodgers) hit his famous homerun in Game 1 of the World Series.
In that game against Oakland A's, Gibson was injured but then was inserted as pinch-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning.
Gibson then hit a 2-run, walk-off homerun off of Dennis Eckersley and Los Angeles won 5-4.
It was Gibson's lone at bat during that Series, but Los Angeles went on to win in five games to capture the title.
On April 8, 1974, Scully also was behind the microphone when Hank Aaron hit his record-setting 715th homerun, breaking the record of Babe Ruth, when he played for Atlanta Braves against the Dodgers.
He also was the announcer when Don Larsen of New York Yankees threw his Perfect Game during the 1956 World Series.
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...Vin Scully remembered by MLB Network... |
In his long career, Vin Scully covered many memorable moments.
Besides the above mentioned moments, he also called 25 World Series, 12 All Star Games, 18 No-Hitters, three Perfect Games and of course, he covered the career of legendary Jackie Robinson, the first African-American player in the Major League.
Robinson played for the Dodgers in 1947-1956.
Vin Scully always was very driven and passionate in covering the Dodger-games and was always well prepared.
At most of his games, Scully was accompanied by his wife Sandra (Sandi), who passed away in January 2021.
Since 2005, Scully didn't work all games anymore, limiting his season to some 100 games, which he would through his final season in 2016.
He worked most home-games, as well as games played by the Dodgers in San Francisco, San Diego and Anaheim.
Scully announced in January 2016 that he was retiring after that season.
And so, he indeed did, having been the broadcaster of more than 9,000 Dodger-games.
Joe Davis, was already was calling games during the 2016 season, succeeded Scully in 2017 as the full-time announcer.
Davis is joined by former pitcher Orel Hershiser.
After having retired, Vin Scully remained a frequent visitor of Dodger Stadium, but didn't return behind the microphone, despite many Dodger-fans asking for his return.
But after Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2020, Vin Scully did the commentary for the championship-documentary.
His 67 years as announcer is the longest period of any broadcaster in any professional sports history.
Despite his illustrious career, Scully always remained friendly to everyone and never put himself above someone.
With his 67 years working for the Dodgers, Vin Scully was second only to another club-legend, Tommy Lasorda.
The longtime player/coach/manager/advisor, who passed away in January last year, worked two years longer for the Dodger-organization.
During his career, Vin Scully was honored many times.
In 1982, he received the Ford C. Frick Award of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1991, Scully was named to the Hall of Fame of the National Sports Media Association.
The following year, he was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame.
In 1995, he got the Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award for sportscasting.
That same year, Scully was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Two more Halls of Fame inductions followed in 2008 and 2009, respectively in the California Sports Hall of Fame and the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
He also was named sportscaster of the year multiple times.
And in 2017, Vin Scully was inducted into the Dodger Stadium Ring of Honor.
Vin Scully also has a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and the press box in Dodger Stadium has been named after him.
In January 2016, the official address of Dodger Stadium was changed to 1000 Vin Scully Avenue.
In November of that year, Scully received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Barack Obama.
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...Los Angeles Dodgers remembering Vin Scully... |
During Vin Scully's long career with the Dodgers, many wellknown players played for the club.
To name a few of them: Dusty Baker, Cody Bellinger, Adrián Beltré, Ralph Branca, Roy Campanella, Roy Cey, Tommy Davis, Willie Davis, Don Drysdale, Carl Erskine, Carl Furillo, Éric Gagné, Steve Garvey, Kirk Gibson, Jim Gilliam, Pedro Guerrero, Orel Hershiser, Gil Hodges, Burt Hooton, Steve Howe, Kenley Jansen, Tommy John, Eric Karros, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Sandy Koufax, Davey Lopes, Ramón Martínez, Don Mattingly, Andy Messersmith, Rick Monday, Raúl Mondesí, Manny Mota, Don Newcombe, Hideo Nomo, Claude Osteen, Wes Parker, Ron Perranoski, Mike Piazza, Johnny Podres, Yasiel Puig, Pee Wee Reese, Jerry Reuss, Jackie Robinson, John Roseboro, Bill Russell, Steve Sax, Mike Scioscia, Corey Seager, Reggie Smith, Duke Snider, Don Sutton, Justin Turner, Fernando Valenzuela, Bob Welch, Maury Wills, Jimmy Wynn and Steve Yeager.
And of course, longtime Managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda.
When Vin Scully joined the Dodgers in 1950, Walter O'Malley had just became the new owner of the club.
O'Malley was the owner through 1979 and moved the club from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.
When Walter O'Malley passed away in 1979, his son Peter O'Malley became the new owner.
He led the club through 1998.
,,It's Time For Dodger Baseball!''
This was the signature opening sentence when Vin Scully began his broadcast of the games of Los Angeles Dodgers.
That was immediately followed by the following sentence:
,,Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good afternoon/evening to you, wherever you may be''.
When you watched or listenened to a game of the Dodgers and Vin Scully was doing the play-by-play, you were always treated on something special.
Not only did Scully cover what happened on the field brilliantly with a great choice of and way with words, he always had numerous historical stories, anecdotes and storytelling.
Regarding the Dodgers, players, opponents or baseball in general.
And being a baseball/softball-historian myself, I always loved to Vin Scully's great commentary and his very recognizable (and trusted) voice.
In the seventies, besides working for the Dodgers, Scully also was the radio-commentator for CBS Radio covering the World Series.
It was then that I first got acquainted with Scully's commentary.
Since the seventies, I've listened to numerous broadcasts either by radio or via TV with Vin Scully being one of the broadcasters through his final season in 2016.
Regularly, I play back old games, just to listen to the great stories of Mr. Scully.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, issued the following statement after the passing of Vin Scully:
,,Today, we mourn the loss of a legend in our game.
Vin was an extraordinary man whose gift for broadcasting brought joy to generations of Dodger fans.
In addition, his voice played a memorable role in some of the greatest moments in the history of our sport.
I am proud that Vin was synonymous with Baseball because he embodied the very best of our National Pastime.
As great as he was as a broadcaster, he was equally great as a person.
On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Vin’s family, friends, Dodger fans and his admirers everywhere''.
Stan Kasten, President and CEO of Los Angeles Dodgers, said:
,,We have lost an icon.
The Dodgers' Vin Scully was one of the greatest voices in all of sports.
He was a giant of a man, not only as a broadcaster, but as a humanitarian.
He loved people.
He loved life.
He loved baseball and the Dodgers.
And he loved his family.
His voice will always be heard and etched in all of our minds forever.
I know he was looking forward to joining the love of his life, Sandi.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this very difficult time.
Vin will be truly missed''.
Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, said in a statement:
,,Vin Scully’s voice connected generations of fans over an incomparable 67 years behind the microphone and is synonymous with our national pastime.
The Museum was honored to present him with the 1982 Ford C. Frick Award for broadcast excellence.
On behalf of our Hall of Fame members and all of us in Cooperstown, our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, friends and the millions of fans around the world who loved him and were devoted to his broadcasts''.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Vin Scully's family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(August 3)
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