Vin Scully–the best sports announcer there ever was, is, or will be–will return for his 65th season next year in the broadcasting booth. Scully and the Los Angeles Dodgers made the announcement on Friday.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of this season and there is no way I could leave this truly remarkable team and our great fans,” Scully in a statement. “With my wife Sandi’s blessing, I’ve decided I’d like to come back and do it again next season. I love what the new ownership has brought to the team, and the energy provided by the fans, who have packed renovated Dodger Stadium. It reminds me that other than being home with my family, there is no place else I’d rather be.”
Scully not only introduced Southern California to baseball but has had the privilege of calling some of the game’s most iconic moments–Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run, Kirk Gibson’s home run in Game One of the 1988 World Series (Scully’s call was better than Jack Buck’s), Bo Jackson’s home run at the 1989 All-Star game at the “Big A” in Anaheim with Ronald Reagan in the booth. This year, baseball fans were treated to two games in which Scully, while calling the Yankees against the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine, reminisced about many of the classic Brooklyn Dodgers versus the New York Yankees World Series battles. He told the audience about the special 1955 Dodgers, which won the only World Series for Brooklyn.
“The Dodgers are overjoyed to have Vin back with the team in 2014,” said Dodger Chairman and Owner Mark Walter. “Vin IS Dodger baseball. The Dodgers, the sport of baseball and the city of Los Angeles are extremely fortunate to have him in our midst.”
With an uncanny ability to weave in stories and history while calling baseball games–and doing so without a broadcast partner–Scully melodically calls the game with an even-handed enthusiasm. He loves his country and the Dodgers, but will never be mistaken for a homer, and he offers the mainstream media and politicians plenty of lessons. It is often said that a person just turning on the radio to listen to Scully will never know if the Dodgers are trailing or ahead based on his cadence.
There will be many more pleasant good evenings for Dodger fans next year, though Los Angeles fans hope Scully can return next year for what will be an ultimate victory lap if the Dodgers were to win the World Series this year.
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