When it comes to baseball announcers, there's no one more legendary than Vin Scully. For 67 years he was the voice of the National League Los Angeles Dodgers and a beloved figure in baseball history. A baseball fan cannot walk into Dodger Stadium without thinking of Vin Scully.

He has the most famous walk-off home run call ever (Kirk Gibson in the World Series). But who is Vin Scully? How did he become so well known? Let's take a look at his remarkable career and explore why he earned such a special place in baseball fans' hearts around the world.

Vin Scully's Early Life

Vin was born in The Bronx in 1927 and as a child grew up with a love for sports. As a child, he would often listen to radio broadcasts of baseball games from all over America. By the time he was in high school, he knew that this was what he wanted to do for a living.

After graduating from Fordham University with an English degree, Scully got his start as an announcer on an NBC station in New York City. But it wasn't long before his talents caught the attention of someone else—the Brooklyn Dodgers' president Branch Rickey invited him to be part of their team as their lead announcer.

Married Life

Vin's married life and kids are both parts of a story of courage, risk, and determination. For over 60 years, Vin Scully has been one of the most beloved sports announcers in history. He married Sandra Hunt in 1973 and was the father of two children: Michael and Catherine.

Michael has followed his father's footsteps into the world of baseball broadcasting, while Catherine works as an elementary school teacher. Scully's family was dealt a tragedy when his son died in a helicopter crash in 1994. The shock and pain experience made Vin determine his future put his family first and provide them with all the access he could afford to watch games from the comfort of their home.

With tremendous courage, Vin returned to work shortly after the accident. Despite having the support from his wife, it was still a struggle for him to find time to be with his family during a time when he had become one of the most popular baseball announcers in MLB history - especially since he had been covering games since April 1950!

The peak of his career came between 1983 and 1989 when he served as an announcer for NBC Sports' hallowed "Game Of The Week" program which he called NFL games and PGA events. Through it all though, Vin still managed to make time for what really mattered: His wife Sandra and his two children who were growing up in Southern California by then.

In addition to providing them with full access to various sports events through different vehicles such as rental cars or club programs offered by teams like the Dodgers; Vin also showed them how important it is to live what you love doing – something that’s become even more apparent since his retirement from broadcasting after six decades with MLB emotional goodbye in 2016 at Dodger Stadium (where else!).

Career

For 67 years, Scully worked as the voice of the Dodgers (at Dodger Stadium) through the struggle—including championships and heartbreaking losses—and through changes in ownership, location (from Brooklyn to Los Angeles), and players (from Sandy Koufax to Clayton Kershaw). His commentary style was unique; while some announcers went for loud excitement or technical details about each play, Vin kept things conversational and personable.

A lot of times in the fourth inning he would tell stories about each player's life off-field, giving listeners insight into what made them tick and helping us understand why we should care about them as people beyond just their stats on paper. He also had a knack for calling some of baseball's most iconic moments—like Kirk Gibson's famous home run during Game 1 of the 1988 World Series—with perfect timing and enthusiasm that made you feel like you were right there watching it happen live.

Hall of Fame

Vin Scully, the famed baseball announcer for the Dodgers, has a long and decorated career in professional sports. In 1982 he was awarded the Ford Frick Award for his contributions to broadcasting. This award honors broadcasters for their excellence in baseball coverage and is presented each year by the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Scully’s influence on the World Series broadcasts extended far beyond the boundaries of Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, middle of the country. His enthusiasm quickly captivated audiences all over the globe who tuned in to his broadcasts regularly as he provided unique insights into some of the most iconic moments in Major League history.

He had an incredible ability to transport listeners back to those crucial moments in time with vivid descriptions that made fans feel like they were right at the game alongside him. Furthermore, Scully had a knack for showing announcers how to deal with capturing special stories and anecdotes surrounding players during the season that other broadcasters would have been confused about or overlooked, further cementing his legacy as an extraordinary announcer.

His accomplishments landed him a spot in Cooperstown when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame during its annual induction ceremony in 1982. To honor him further, Vin Scully Avenue was built outside Dodger Stadium as a tribute to his decades-long career as an American sporting innovator and hero.

With his contributions to broadcasting and beloved status among fans worldwide, it is no surprise why he was chosen to receive both the Ford Frick Award and induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame - two honors that are a testament to his lasting legacy in sports broadcasting history.

Famous Quotes

But perhaps one of the most remarkable things about Vin is how much joy he brought people outside of baseball too—from inspiring quotes like “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” To poignant reflections on life “You can’t appreciate home until you’ve left it…you can never go home again but still, it pulls at your heartstrings…”

It's clear that Vin wasn't just talking about sports; he was talking about life itself. Sometimes he would even be singing during the game as You call it running I call it escaping" And that’s why even after retiring from broadcasting in 2016 following his final year with the Dodgers, people continue to remember him fondly today as an icon who touched lives both on and off the field.

Vin's final home game was September 25, 2016, where at Dodger Stadium the Dodgers clinched the NL West title against the Colorado Rockies with a walk-off homer.

Final Thoughts

Although Vin Scully lost his life on August 2, 2022, he will always be with us. No matter what team you root for or where you're from geographically if you're a fan then chances are you know the body of work that Vin did—and that's because, throughout his 67 years as an announcer, he managed to capture something larger than himself; something universal about America's pastime that continues to resonate with fans worldwide even today.

He may have retired from announcing but his legacy will live on forever as one of baseball’s greatest storytellers whose work transcended sports journalism into something much bigger than himself or any team could ever be. Thank you for everything Mr. Scully - rest easy knowing your legacy will always be remembered!

Your Baseball History Guru,

Ray

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