Vin Scully — dodgerfan.net

Scully to Head to Boston with Dodgers

June 3, 2010 By chris

Pretty cool news to hear that Vin Scully is heading to Boston with the Dodgers. The legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster will call the first game of the series on Friday, June 18. I’m actually a little surprised he’s not staying for the other games after making the long trip, but maybe he doesn’t want to mess up Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday’s routine on the radio (FOX and ESPN have the television rights over the weekend).

Traditionally, Scully does not travel east of Denver for any regular season games, but with Manny’s return, it certainly has the feel of a special series.

Per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

The game, with a 4:10 p.m. PT start time, will be televised on Prime Ticket and broadcast on flagship radio station KABC 790 AM. Scully calls the entire televised version, with the first three innings simulcast on radio.

And speaking of legends, John Wooden, the great forner UCLA basketball coach, is reportedly in the hospital and in grave condition. Send him a good thought or prayer – it sounds like he needs it.

Filed Under: interleague play, Vin Scully Tagged With: John Wooden

Veteran Shares Love for Vin Scully

April 19, 2010 By chris

Yesterday’s 60^th Anniversary of Vin Scully’s first game with the Dodgers inspired a number of fantastic memories from Dodger fans across the country. I wanted to share these with everyone, as I think it’s a great way to honor the influence of the man who truly is the glue between the players on the field and Dodger fans across the country and around the world.

Keep those comments coming, Dodger fans! If you send them, we’ll publish your memories below!

From William Green:

VIN SCULLY, I STARTED LISTENING TO DODGERS BASEBALL, ON ARMFORCES RADIO IN THE SUMMER OF ”55 ON MY SHIP IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, 6MO. ON WATER & 6 MO. IN LONG BEACH , I REMEMBER , GAMES THAT MADE ME FEEL @ HOME BASEBALL, HELPED MY GROW AS A PERSON, BEING 18, NEVER BEING AWAY FROM HOME I LOOKED FORWARD TO THE GAMES & VIN, JERRY DOGGET, WAS GREAT TOO, THEY WERE THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL, THERE HAS BEEN SOME GOOD ONE SINCE BUT SULLY IS THE BEST, HE REARLY PROMOTED THE TEAM , ALL PLAYERS FROM ALL TEAMS, GOT THE SAME NOTICE .UNLIKE SOME OF THE KIDS ON THE MIC’C TODAY , YOU’D THINK THEY WERE , NEXT UP TO BAT, BUT VIN, KEPT IT REAL & THE DODGERS WERE ALWAYS THE BUMS & UNDERDOGS SO I WENT FOR THAT, VINNY, WAS A LOVING FATHER, LOVED HIS KIDS, THRU THICK & THIN HE NEVER LET THINGS BOTHER HIS LOVE FOR THE GREAT JOB HE DOES BEHIND THE MIC, VINNY I WILL MISS YOU ONCE YOU SHUT OFF YOUR MIC FOR THE LAST TIME, I CAN SAY AS A MAN & DODGER FAN, VIN I LOVE YOU MAN.–BILL, DIE HARD FAN OF VIN & DODGERS

From Robert:

vinny is like a great artist who paints a unmatched audio that becomes a clear and interesting picture of a game in your mind. the ultimate experience with baseballs greatest announcer is being at chavez with 50 thousand fans and their transistor radios while vinny describes a sandy k classic shuting down the hated giants…yes indeed,vin scully one of kind ….arguably the best announcer of all time.

From Charlie:

I gave up on the Dodgers when they moved to the coast–up until that time, I would listen to Vin call the games on my dad’s shortwave radio. He was the best in the game then, and remains the best to this day, although the late Harry Caray gave him a run for his money.

The guy has the voice, the love of the game, and as much as he loves the Dodgers, he isn’t all that much of a homer. We are blessed to have him–even if I can’t hear him anymore.

From Ms. Fan:

Goodonya Vin!! At this point, you have to be the consensus #1 baseball sportscaster in the WORLD. May you live long and prosper.

From Jim Jernigan:

Love him or hate him-Vinny is a master at his craft. He is among those who really report the game neutrally and gives credit to both dugouts where and when it’s due. I’ve never lost the impression that he truly feels it is a privilege to have his job. Some complain when he sprinkles his report with events and statistics from the past, but to me it adds color to a game that can be slow at times. In sixty years he has seen the greats and not so greats and tells the stories about them they way all great story tellers do-with an economy of words, yet with vivid eloquence. His style is like the soft easy going summers in which the games are played. Artist? Maybe. All I know is we will be missing part of the fabric of what is good and honest about the game when he is no longer in the booth.

From Harry Schaeffer:

THE YOUNG REDHEAD LEARNED FROM THE OLD REDHEAD, “RED” BARBER. THEY CALLED THE GAMES FROM THE” CATBIRD SEAT” AT EBBETTS FIELD. THE STUDENT LEARNED HIS TRADE VERY WELL. HE BECAME A GIANT IN THE BASEBALL BROADCASTING FRATERNITY. VIN SCULLY, DODGERS, MEL ALLEN, YANKEES, AND RUSS HODGES, GIANTS, MADE GREAT BASEBALL LISTENING IN THE BIG APPLE. VIN’S TENURE HAS BEEN A LIFETIME. VIN STILL IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO LISTEN TO AND A REAL CLASS ACT.

From Joe H.:

You the man Vinny!! I grew up in LA listening to Vin, and had to move with the family to Colo. in 1973. I will never forget Vinny’s call of Kirk Gibson’s improbable home run in 1988 against Oakland and The Eck! “And sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee issssssss gonnnnnnne!” The Dodger’s aren’t the Dodgers without Vin Scully. Many more years and good health to you Vin!!!!

Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2010

Filed Under: Vin Scully Tagged With: Fan Memories

Scully Celebrates 60th Anniv. of Joining Dodgers

April 18, 2010 By chris

The start to today’s Dodgers game against the Giants was just like any other for broadcaster Vin Scully. In fact, when someone went into his booth to congratulate the 82 year-old Scully on the 60th anniversary of calling his first game, he wasn’t aware that he had reached the significant milestone. And in typical Scully fashion, he brushed it off and continued about his business, preferring that all attention be focused on the players on the field, rather than himself.

And, Dodger fans, if you think we have it great now with Scully, imagine back to April 18, 1950 when the rookie Scully switched innings on the radio with Red Barber and Connie Desmond.

Evan Drellich of MLB.com caught up with Joe Torre to get his thoughts on Scully’s career:

“What does that take us to, 1950?” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said of Scully’s first year. “1950, I’m 10 years old. I didn’t think I was ever 10 years old. I think it’s just the steadiness of what he did — I think you appreciate it as a manager when a player goes out there, he doesn’t do spectacular things, but he’s there for you all the time at a high level. And that’s Vin Scully for me.”

And that is really the crux of what makes Vin Scully truly great: he has a fantastic rhythm with his words and, like a patient grandfather, guides the listener through each game, sprinkling in anecdotes and stories from years pasty or the player’s own background. It’s remarkable that he can continue that conversation with his listeners inning after inning, never stumbling and only rarely making a small mistake.

When Scully physically stumbled and banged his head during Spring Training earlier this year, the Dodger Nation held it’s collective breath. But Scully was fine, apologized for all the fuss he had caused and went about his business, calling that evening’s game. I imagine today was much like that Sunday for Vin, quietly acknowledging the event, and then getting back to the business at hand. But it’s moments like this that remind the fans what a true national treasure we have in hearing Vin Scully’s eloquent voice so often during each baseball season.

Filed Under: Vin Scully

Opening Day News and Notes for the Dodgers

April 4, 2010 By chris

Can you feel it in the air? That sense of springtime anticipation when hope springs eternal. It can mean only one thing…Opening day is tomorrow! And it seems so fitting that today is Easter, as we look ahead to the rebirth of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.

Today the team is in Pittsburgh, going through final workouts and preperations before tomorrow’s 10:00 a.m. PT game against the Pirates. Just a few notes before the action kicks off tomorrow morning:

Dylan Hernandez tweets that Garret Anderson has selected No. 9 for his uniform, replacing No. 00. Charlie Haeger will wear No. 49 and Carlos Monasterios will wear No. 37.

Josh Rawitch has a bunch of small updates from Pittsburgh, and reveals that Andre Ethier has a small knee bruise. The injury won’t stop him from playing in the regular season, but it is why he missed the last couple Spring Training games.

Josh also confirmed that the team will purchase Russ Ortiz’s contract on Monday and put Cory Wade on the DL (Wade has been sidelined since surgery in late-March). Per Rawitch, “[Torre] likes having 12 starters, especially without Kuo and Belisario on the active roster.”

And finally, Tom Hoffarth of The Daily News has a great Q&A with Vin Scully. There really can’t be anyone more modest or simply enjoyable than Vin Scully, can there? He reminds me of my grandfather, and I could listen to him read the dictionary. I know this is the most well-known fact of all, but we are SO lucky to have Vin Scully in our lives (a tip ‘ the hat to Jon Weisman for calling attention to Tom’s article).

Photo credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2010

Less than 19 hours to go until the first pitch of the 2010 season!

Filed Under: Vin Scully

Scully’s Back in the Saddle at Camelback Ranch!

March 21, 2010 By chris

I think I speak for all Dodgers fans when I say it’s GREAT to see and hear Vin Scully back in action for the Dodgers. Here are a few images of Vin’s 2010 debut, as well as a few others from today’s game at Camelback Ranch. Enjoy!