What Vin Scully meant to us

Vin Scully was more than just a broadcaster; his impeccable storytelling often drew in sports fans from different generations. Scully was the Dodgers play-by-play broadcaster for 67 years, beginning in 1950 and retiring in 2016, the longest tenure for any sports broadcaster ever. Scully was not just baseball history. He is the epitome of baseball history. In remembrance of the great Vin Scully, as a team, we wanted to share some of our favorite memories and the impact this person had on our lives.

Leo – Dodger fan 

“Don’t be sad because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Those are some of the last words Vin the G.O.A.T. said on this last broadcast as the iconic voice of the Dodgers. And they describe perfectly how I feel right now.

I was seven, and my grandpa was one of those who found a way to hack the parabolic antenna system to watch the original LA broadcast of the Dodgers. So even when we were in a different country, we saw this moment live, together.

 

 

My grandpa brought me close to Scully and Valenzuela and told me many amazing stories about what bleeding blue meant to him. And today, I’m smiling because Scully happened to me as part of my deepest fandom. Even when I was not in LA, now I am, and I’ll surely miss him as I bleed blue for life.

Jesus – Dodger fan

Growing up in L.A. as a sports fan, I have to admit, I’ve been pretty spoiled. I have seen some of the most iconic teams (Lakers and Dodgers) and players (Magic, Shaq, Kobe, Fernando, Guerrero, Kershaw.. Too many to name)  performing at the very top of their sports. But I’ve also been blessed with some of the most iconic voices ever to cover the game, like Chick Hearn and Vin Scully. And sure, everyone can make the argument for their iconic personalities. But I must tell you, if you grew up hearing these two voices, there is no comparison. 

This is why upon hearing the news of Vince’s passing, my reaction is both one of sadness but also gratitude. Sadness for the obvious, as I wish his family the best in this challenging moment.  But more than anything, gratitude. Gratitude to a voice that, at least in my house, rang through the day in and day out, with an ability to tell stories and bring levity, humor, and delight to a game that I fell in love with as a kid. There is something contagious about seeing someone excel in something they genuinely love. It makes you appreciate it and want to be part of it. And that’s what I think Vince did; for generations of Angelenos like me, he made us fall in love with the game. It’s a gift that I’m thankful for. 

So in memory of Vin, here is my favorite memory of him, making the call and elevating the moment for one of the most beloved Dodger players, Fernando Valenzuela. Who, in 1990, became the first Mexican-born pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter in MLB.

Rest in peace, Vin Scully. 

The Fernando Valenzuela no-hitter, June 29, 1990.

The Vin Scully classic calls are endless.

A part of baseball died today.

Just the very best. RIP pic.twitter.com/cw8KBF1GN9

— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) August 3, 2022

 

Christian – Mets fan  

I used to fall asleep to Vin Scully on Sunday afternoons. It’s a well-worn joke that baseball broadcasts are only suitable for making people fall asleep, but I used to seek out Dodgers games on lazy weekend days for this specific purpose. I would watch fifteen minutes of a game, fall asleep for about an hour, and then wake up again to Scully’s voice. I would often finish the game once I woke up, even though I’m not a Dodgers fan and rarely interested in the outcome.

What amazed me most about Scully was his ability to do his job seemingly by himself. Of course, that wasn’t true, as he had an entire team of researchers, producers, and engineers supporting him, but it felt like a solo job. And in an era where baseball booths invite two, three, and sometimes four guests for commentary, Scully had enough to fill by himself for over 60 years. That’s nuts to me.

My two years of broadcasting in college hardly count as enough professional experience to know everything about what Scully did, but it’s enough to know that his job is much harder than it sounds. It was also enough time to see that it’s just about the greatest job in the world. To think that Vin Scully was able to do the greatest job in the world at the highest level possible makes him one of the most enviable men I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. I sincerely hope he felt the same way while he was alive.

.@Joe_Davis shares the story of his first interaction with the legendary Vin Scully. pic.twitter.com/Mih4u47yq1

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 3, 2022

 

Tyler – Dodger Fan

I am a third-generation Dodgers fan, and Vin Scully, to me, was the true ambassador for the organization. He is one of my favorite sports broadcasters, next to John Madden and Chick Hearn. Watching or listening to Vin was always a treat because his commentary style felt more like a conversation between the audiences rather than the usual call-out of plays. Even when the topic was not baseball related, it was fun to listen to. His kindness and positive energy were impactful to fans. It gave us optimism and hope when things were looking down on the team. One of my favorite stories Vin would discuss during a game was Socrates. Comparing baseball and philosophy gave me a different perspective on sports. It is more than physical action but a social commentary on culture and current events. Vin’s last broadcast in 2016 was complex for me because instead, I was at home or the stadium, and I was not going to hear him saying, “It’s Time for Dodgers Baseball” again. However, his later appearances and social media presence until his passing always kept me in a good mood. I am happy Vin and Tommy Lasorda was alive to see the Dodgers win a World Series again.

RT @RyanWaltonVBN: Great picture of Vin Scully and Tommy Lasorda in the Dodgers 2014 Media Guide pic.twitter.com/ByW1VaX89w

— DodgersBeat (@DodgersBeat) March 11, 2014