He was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame 32 years ago and he’s still going strong. Vin Scully is generally considered to be the greatest announcer in the history of professional baseball in America. He certainly holds the record for longevity.
Vin Scully has got to be the greatest baseball fan in the history of the game, and Mr. Scully has lots and lots of fans of his own. How many folks get home late from work and settle into an easy chair just to listen to the soothing, oh-so familiar sounds of Vin Scully calling a Dodgers game? How many Dad’s turn on the radio so that their sons and daughters might become familiar with the very soul of baseball? The veteran announcer is a national treasure.
Scully himself had hinted that this might be his last season up in the broadcast booth for the Dodgers, his 65th! The thought of a Dodgers home game without Vin Scully was, and still is… a bleak prospect to ponder. Thankfully he’s coming back for number 66!
The Dodger’s organization made good theatre out of announcing Scully’s plans. First there was a flashing ‘Breaking News’ across the jumbo screen causing flurries of excitement throughout Dodger stadium because of all the pending trade rumors flying around town.
Then Hyun-Jin Ryn stepped up to the mike and made a short announcement in Korean, to slight applause. Next Yasiel Puig rose and said something in Spanish and there were ripples of applause around the ballpark. However, when Justin Turner said his piece in English, the entire 50,000 fans in attendance that evening rose as one in heartfelt celebration.
Turner had just told them that their beloved Vin Scully would be back with the Dodgers again next year. It was an emotional scene which will surely go down as one of the greatest moments in sports this year, for Vin Scully, at age 87, is as much a part of the Dodgers as any other member of the team or staff.
When making the announcement, Mr. Scully said, “It is very difficult to say goodbye. God willing I will be back next year. Over the years I have been blessed to have so many friends including those that sit in the stands and listen as well as those at home, who listen and watch. It is just too hard to say goodbye to all these friends. Naturally there will come a time when I will have to say goodbye, but I’ve soul-searched and this is not the time.”
