One of, if not the, most famous broadcasting voices of all-time, Vin Scully, has passed away at the age of 94. The Dodgers great not only inspired hundreds of young baseball fans into future broadcaster, but also millions of regular sports fans around the world to liking baseball. The world of baseball has lost a true legend.
When one thinks of baseball and broadcasting, the first name that comes to mind every time is Vin Scully. The longtime (and that’s putting it lightly) broadcaster was a part of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization for 67 years before he retired in 2016. Yeah, he was broadcasting all the way back when the Dodgers were playing out of Brooklyn. That’s a major throwback.
Anyway, some of Scully’s most famous calls came in the 1980s’, where he announced the Bill Buckner error (yes, it still hurts to watch as a Red Sox fan) in the 1986 World Series against the eventually champions, New York Mets, and the Kirk Gibson’s hobbled, walk-off home run in Game 1 vs. the Oakland Athletics in the 1988 World Series for the eventual champions, his Los Angeles Dodgers. Yet, that was not the only famous sports games and calls he is known for.
Due to being employed by CBS during 1975-83, Scully was also responsible for calling NFL games. Thus, he was the man in the booth who called the most famous play in the most famous game in the 1980’s, Dwight Clark’s The Catch. This man called three of the most famous sports moments in the 1980’s. What an icon.
Anyway, what made Scully truly special was his connection with the fans. His solo-call games were some of the best moments of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ seasons during his time. The way he was able to naturally integrate his stories, personality, humor, and the spectacle of the game into a A+ caliber broadcast is still unprecedented in the world of sports. There were and are very few broadcasters across the entire sporting globe, let alone baseball, that were able to initiate the audience into the game, while also maintaining an aura of professionalism and credibility like Scully.
Perhaps only Al Michaels (NFL/NBC mainly), Mike “Doc” Emerick (NHL/NBC mainly), and Pat Summerall + John Madden combo (NFL/CBS mainly) can be compared to the legendary Vin Scully, though even that might be stretching the comparison a bit. That was just how good and reliable the former Dodgers broadcaster was.
Vin Scully may have called his last game over six years ago now, but his voice and legacy will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything, Vin!
Images Source: Featured Image: (Wikimedia Commons Creative Commons License/Author: Floatjon) (File:Scully GM.JPG – Wikimedia Commons)
