By: Reese Yan
Vin Scully was an American sports broadcaster. He was best known for his 67 seasons calling games for Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning in 1950 and ending in 2016. Scully’s tenure with the Dodgers was the longest out of any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history. Sadly, he retired at age 88 in 2016. Scully was mostly known for his distinctive voice, lyrically descriptive style, and signature introduction to Dodgers games: “It’s time for Dodger baseball! Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good (afternoon/evening) to you, wherever you may be.” According to fans, he was considered to be the greatest baseball broadcaster of all time. Things that made him so likable were because he was a genial truth-teller, an honest person, beloved because he was reliable, and trusted because he loathed phonies, frauds, and showboats as much as his audience did. He also never ripped the bad guys on the other team, he did not spew gossip, wasn’t a homer, and he loved the Dodgers, to be sure, but he was not one of those announcers on the team coaches loved.
What the coaches didn’t get was that Scully was rich beyond words in the currency they would never understand, the most vital currency of all, trust. He valued his credibility. And fans all sensed it. They sensed that he represented what we really do have in common. Scully united people, maybe not to fight the big battles for freedom or democracy but to be together for the small things. Even though he only told stories about a game, he reminded us that we always have to be who we are and what we want to be.
On his last broadcast, Scully told his audience: “You and I have been friends for a long time. But I know in my heart that I’ve always needed you more than you’ve ever needed me.” Leaving the audience with a prayer that “God gives you for every storm, a rainbow. For every tear, a smile. For every care, a promise, and a blessing in each trial. For every problem, life sends a faithful friend to share.” Unfortunately, Scully died on Tuesday at the age of 94. He was always loved until his last broadcast.
Scully always entertained the audience telling stories about each game and making everything interesting. He was also liked by many baseball players and fans. And being able to be so likable isn’t just something everyone can do. In the end, Scully was very successful, and nobody will ever forget this awesome broadcaster.