Scully Celebrates 60th Anniv. of Joining Dodgers
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.
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Goodonya Vin!! At this point, you have to be the concensus #1 baseball sportscater in the WORLD. May you live long and prosper.
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
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 schully one of kind ….arguably the best announcer of all time.
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 Karras 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.
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.
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 LISTERN TO AND A REAL CLASS ACT.
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!!!!
I didn’t watch baseball for 20 years since I moved to Europe and just last year we got a sports cable channel with baseball and after a week ,there it was, PERFECT, sunny home game, Dodger Stadium, and as always,ELEGANT Mr. Vince Scully – It doesn’t get any better r than this I thought.
Great feeling!!
I thank you and salute you
Best regards & all the best.
I wish you another 60 and us watching you!