Who is Vin Scully
Ranked #1,802 in Entertainment, #19,461 overall
A Silver Tongue from the Golden Age of Radio
Players have come and gone. Legends have played out in the storied ballparks of Ebbets Field and Dodger Stadium. One silver voice has been there to chronicle all the heartbreaks and historic moments: all of the Dodgers' World Series victories (one in Brooklyn, five in LA), Hank Aaron's 715th homer to break Babe Ruth's record, the Kirk Gibson Home Run, and Sandy Koufax's magical no-hitters and perfect game (Site: The Sounds of Baseball).
Recommended Link: Vin Scully Audio Highlights from Jackie Robinson to Kirk Gibson.
Want to Write to Vin Scully? See Vin Scully's Contact Info below.
This article © 2010 Ellen Brundige. Photomanip based on a Vin Scully photo by Jorge Mir, Creative Commons.
Vin Scully, Bard of Baseball
The Voice of the Dodgers Through Six Decades
Vin Scully in the Broadcast Booth by DRal10, Creative Commons
Vin Scully normally works solo, an artifact from a bygone era. Although his broadcast is now for television not radio (simulcasted on radio for the first three innings), and he no longer paints a picture with words so that his listeners can visualize every twist of the game, he still delights Dodgers fans with his verbal poetry, capturing a moment in a metaphor.
I know. I detested professional sports for almost thirty years, burned out by my family's loyalty to the Baltimore Colts during their final miserable seasons before moving to Indianapolis. I spouted the classic complaint about the amount professional athletes are paid versus teachers, firefighters, other public servants. I vaguely resented the fact that sports news was given equal time in news broadcasts with major events impacting millions of people.
And then I heard Vin Scully. Within two years, he had me hooked on baseball and its storied history. As a student of antiquity, I don't use the word "bard" lightly. Scully is the Homer of home runs, but never a "homer".
Ten reasons to love Vin Scully
Vin Scully sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at a game in 2006.
By Annie Mack, Creative Commons.
- He's been the voice of the Dodgers for 60 years.
- He paints a vivid picture with his voice so listeners can "see" the game.
- He starts every broadcast with a warm, "Hello, everybody, and a very pleasant afternoon/evening to you, wherever you may be."
- He teaches you baseball history and makes it FUN.
- He's incredibly humble, insisting that other announcers equally deserve the accolades he receives.
- He's delighted by any good play and gives a balanced assessment of every player and team; he's not a "homer" like so many modern broadcasters.
- "In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened." ~ Vin Scully after Gibson Home Run
- He still sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with gusto, every game.
- He doesn't talk to a color guy. He talks to YOU.
- "And now, it's time for... Dodger Baseball!"
Vin Scully Recaps Dodgers' 2011 Season [9.24.11]
Vin Scully's opinion of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw
Vin Scully Coming Back in 2012!
What apocalypse?
"Every year... a nice lady in Woodland Hills named Mrs. Marti Squires sends me some chocolate-chip cookies. This year when she sent them in the letter it said, 'This is a bribe to get you to come back next year.'
[...] God's been awfully good to me, allowing me to do the things that I've always wanted to do. I asked him, 'One more year at least?' and he said, 'Okay, and be quiet and eat your cookie.'"
- Vin @ Dodgers broadcast 8/26/11
What Vin Scully's Star SHOULD Look Like
An Older Photo from the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Vin Scully's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by Cavalier92, Creative Commons
What Do You Think of Vin Scully?
Tell us why you love his broadcasts... or someone else's!
Is Vin Scully the greatest sports broadcaster ever?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byAbsolutely!
lifelongdodgerfan says:
Sorry Dawn, but nobody talks you through a game like Vin Scully. He is the ONLY broadcaster who never has an ego, never talks about what he would have done on that play, or what they should have done. He just calls the game, no opinions, no criticism, and more trivia, history and stats than all the other broadcasters combined. He can take them all to school. :)
Posted February 04, 2012
Dick Dennis says:
No doubt, he has passed up them all, Mel Allen, Ernie Harwell, even if he passed up the chance tonight to mention that Dodger manager Don Mattingly also hit a home run in eight consecutive games just like Dale Long did. You can be forgiven Vin. Be well.
Dick Dennis
Posted September 17, 2011
June Sheets says:
Yes! I just want to say thanks to Vinny! With all that's going on with the Dodgers I need someone who is true blue in love with baseball as I am.
Grew us listening to the radio as my Mom was big Dodger fan. Vin has been doing baseball broadcasts almost as old as I am. Always bring my radio to the game! God Bless you Vinny! And thanks!
Posted August 27, 2011
Jim says:
He can take ANY sport event and change it from a broadcast to a fine work of art with the whole story attached. There are simply none better.
Posted August 23, 2011
Robert Pierce says:
Vin- I'm a Philadelphia Phillies fan and just listened to you broadcast the 9-8 win by the Phillies. I had the option to listen to the Philly announcers or you.... what a pleasure it was to listen to you!! You are extraordinary and offer so much info about the game and the Phillies.... I learned a ton. thank you so much for being without a doubt the best announcer in baseball.
Robert Pierce
Posted August 10, 2011
He's good, but I think the best sportscaster is...
dawngibson says:
He's among the best, but my heart will always belong to Ernie Harwell. BTW, my friend's dog loves his voice.
Posted June 15, 2011
That's Our Vin
During spring training 2010, Dodger faithful had a scare. Vin Scully was hospitalized overnight for a minor accident. In his next broadcast, he hastened to thank fans and medical personnel and reassure us that he was just fine:
"I'm supposed to cut back on dangling participles, and I'm not allowed to split any infinitives for at least another week."
Some Great Vin Scully Quotes
Heard During the 2006 Season
"Aaron Cook coming out of the game; the Dodgers hit him with four jabs, two to the left and two to the right side."
"Jason takes his lead off second base, Sele's pitch is a ground ball to Saenz. He looks the runner back. I guess you could say that's keeping him at Bay." [Player was Jason Bay, of course]
"There are a lot of married men in the Dodger lineup, but today they're sure living the single life."
"The weather today is so humid that your roll-on would roll off."
"That's the kind of breaking ball you can throw around a corner. Whoa!"
"Earlier in the year, he had everybody talking. Now that he's not hitting, he's talking to himself."
"Lugo is so thin that when he wears a black suit he looks like twelve o'clock."
"Repko came by way of Pasadena and can't make the play."
"Matt Holiday takes a curve ball and straightens it out...you could've watched a movie on that flight."
"Six innings are in the books, and so far Greg Maddux is the author."
Vin Scully and...Samantha of "Bewitched"?!
Promo For 1967 Tournament of Roses
Buy Vin Scully Sights, Sounds and Souvenirs
More Great Vin Scullyisms
From the 2007 Season
"It's pretty hard to hit when a pitch looks like a Polaris missile coming up out of the ground."
"The amazing Livan [Hernandez], throwing soap bubbles and he gets away with it."
"They're going to have to put an ad in the paper to get a run."
"It was a change like a balloon, and Ethier hit it where the string broke."
"Prince Fielder has two long home runs, but chop them up and they're about 90 singles."
"Andre Ethier draws the Dodgers even, and calling to the bullpen is Sweet Lou, who is bordering on the vinegar."
"Chien-Ming Wang, who was the winning pitcher for the Yankees, was a high school buddy of Hong-Chih Kuo. Hong-Chih Kuo grew up playing with Chin-Hui Tsao, who's on the D.L. Chin-Hui Tsao became the third player from Taiwan to appear in a game for the Dodgers, joining Hong-Chih Kuo and outfielder Chin-Feng Chen. But don't ask me to read all that again. I can't handle it."
Vin Scully smiles to fans, June 2007. Photo by Malingering, Creative Commons
Great Vin Scully Interview
Three-part interview with Vin
on 9.16.10:
Vin Scully the Answer Man
Interviewer: David Brown of Big League Stew
The Latest Yahoo News on Vin Scully
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPull Up a Chair: The Vin Scully Story
All-New Vin Scully Biography
Amazon Price: $5.87 (as of 02/16/2012)
"Pull up a chair." Vin Scully always talks on the radio as if he's talking directly to his audience, telling you a marvelous story.
In this brand-new biography of VIn Scully, Curt Smith pins down the self-effacing legend of the airwaves and finally gives us one story that Scully hasn't told: his own.
Another GREAT Vin Scully Interview
Scully fans, you don't want to miss:
Vin Scully Remembers His Greatest Calls
interview in Sep 2011 (despite date on article!)
Yet More Vin Scullyisms
2008-2010 Seasons
"That thing died of exhaustion on the way to short. I mean, you could lose a poodle in that stuff."
"Juan Pierre is going steady with the left field pole."
"Rowand fought the wall, and the wall won."
To some of the older players in an Opening Day ceremony: "There are three stages in life -- youth, maturity, and 'you-look-wonderful.' Gentlemen, may I just say, you look wonderful."
"Have you ever thought of asking, 'Manny, how did your hair get that way?' Maybe I'll get up the nerve to ask him the next time I see him."
"Slow curve-- I'm not sure if they had a speed gun or an egg timer on that one."
[Playoffs in 09] "Eighth inning, a 1-1 tie, 56,000 fans on their feet, and the deuces are as wild as they ever will be!"
"This is a heck of a time for me to be reading this one. The Dodgers invite you to hit, throw, run and swing for the fences--in other words, all the things the Dodgers are not doing tonight."
"His father is six foot eight, but his mother is five foot two. And that would be the long and short of it."
Vin Scully Youtube Videos
- Scully tossing out the first pitch to Joe Torre and giving a brief speech Opening Day, 2009
- Interview of Scully and Jamie Jarrin at Vero Beach, '07.
- "Solitary Vin", a cute animated, musical tribute by a fan
A Few Last Famous Scullyisms
Frequently Heard on Vin Scully Broadcasts...
When the bases are loaded: "Standing room only."
"A 2-2 count, 2 on, 2 out, and the deuces are wild."
When most of the lineup's gotten a hit: "So here is [so-and-so] on the outside of the candy store looking in."
"The ball squirted out of his hand like a bar of wet soap."
"He was out from me to you."
"Slides into second with a bellywhopper!"
"A rainbow curve with a pot of gold at the end."
"[So-and-so] came up with a handful of empty."
"Someday before I leave this mortal coil, I pray to see coaches wear batting helmets."
Vin Scully Announces Passing of John Wooden
Broadcast Live at the Ballpark
A Selection of Vin Scully Audio and Video Clips
Recordings of Vin Scully's Calls, Famous and Not So Famous
1
Hank Aaron's 715th Home Run
April 8, 1974, Turner Field. Vin Scully calls Aaron's 715th to beat Babe Ruth's record during a Dodgers-Braves game.1 point
2
Vin Scully Calls Sandy Koufax's Perfect Game
If you don't know the date on this one, you need to listen to it again!1 point
3
Kirk Gibson's HR, 1988 World Series
Great retrospective telling the story of Gibson HR, using Vin Scully soundclips.1 point
4
'86 World Series, Mets vs. Sox Gm 6: Buckner's Blunder
"It Gets Through Buckner!"1 point
5
Last Pitch 1965 World Series & Scully-Koufax Interview
[10.14.65] Vin Scully calling end of World Series between LA Dodgers and MN Twins, and his postgame interview with Sandy Koufax.1 point
6
"Look Out, There's a Rabbit Loose!"
June 24, 2004. Dave Roberts, then with the Dodgers, gives the Yankees a preview of things to come.0 points
7
O-Dog Hits for the Cycle, Dodgers Opening Day 2009
04.13.09: Not one of Vin Scully's most memorable calls, just a fun moment from this year.0 points
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Vin Scully's Comments on Harry Kalas' passing: For Phils Fans
4.13.09. One Hall of Famer Broadcaster salutes another, breaking the news of Harry Kalas' death.0 points
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Vin Scully during Game 5 of NLCS
MLB.com makes much of an actually rather typical call of Vin Scully, October 2009.0 points
10
Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back Home Runs
[09.18.06] Dodgers hit four consecutive home runs in bottom of 9th against Pads (both went to post-season).0 points
Vin Scully's Commencement Address to Pepperdine
Wise Words from a Lifetime of Joy
Vin Scully Links, Retrospectives and Recordings
- The Quest to Save Vin Scully's Star on the Walk of Fame
- Fan blog VinScullyIsMyHomeboy reported that Vin's star had been covered up by a local business with ugly carpet and tape -- and then it was cracked! Fans rallied and started to pay for its repairs and...well, to make a long story short, here, photos of Vin's Star. [BEFORE | AFTER]
MUCH better! - Vin Scully press conference: August 2010
- Vin had thought he'd retire at the end of 2010, but on August 22, 2010 he gave this humble press conference saying he couldn't give up announcing yet and would be back in 2011. He talks about himself a little more than usual in this recording.
- This Week in Baseball on Vin Scully, 2008
- Great retrospective of Vin, including the famous Buckner through-the-legs call at the 86 World Series.
- Internet Archive's Vin Scully Highlights
- A soundfile montage with short clips of many of Vin's most famous calls.
- Vin Scully's page in the Radio Hall of Fame
- A brief summary of his career with a quick clip of the Hank Aaron 715th call.
- Scully Receives 1982 Ford C. Frick Award
- Another quick summary with a nice picture on Vin Scully's Baseball Hall of Fame page.
- Vin Scully Retrospective on dodgers.com
- A several-part retrospective of Vin's career up through 2000. Career highlights, excer[ts from speeches. and some great pictures of Vin, Red Barber, and others.
- Traces: Smooth Sounds of Vin Scully
- MLB.com does a short on Vin Scully, with a few clips including a Fernando no-hitter, the Dodgers back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers on Sept 18.
- Vin Scully is honored in New York - Video on MLB.com
- 4.30.08 Vin Scully is honored in New York with the Lifetime Achievement in Sports Broadcasting Award.
- Vin Scully Inducted into National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
- [4.21.09] Wait... he wasn't inducted already?! Also see the attached video interview of Scully being modest, saying he didn't deserve to be called Top Sportscaster of All-Time (as voted by the American Sportscasters Association this January).
- Sixty Years in Dodgers' Booth, Scully Still in Awe - NYTimes.com
- [6.25.10] Great interview with Vin Scully in the NYT right before a Dodgers-Yankees match in 2010. Also see interviewer Tyler Kepner's Vin Scully blog entry the day before with more tidbits (and some better ones) from the the same interview.
- "The Voice of Vin Scully" - 1960 Interview
- May 8, 1960: The headline would make any Dodger fan shudder: "Vince Scully Turns Back Pages to Worst Moments Before Mike." The story by The Times' Jeane Hoffman actually was an entertaining conversation with the Dodgers' broadcaster about his career...
Vin Scully Contact Info
Here's where to write to Vin Scully:
Vin Scully
c/o Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium
1000 Elysian Park Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012-1199
You probably won't get a long reply-- Vin gets a lot of fan mail -- but I did receive a signed "thank you" postcard from him when I wrote him a fan letter a few years ago!
Guestbook for Vin Scully Fans
NOTE: VIN SCULLY DOES NOT READ THIS PAGE!
Love Vin Scully? So do I! Feel free to share your thoughts with fellow fans.
Want to write to Vin Scully? Then you need to MAIL him. See the Contact Info above. :)
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vineliner
Oct 2, 2011 @ 3:26 pm | delete
- Being from the Midwest and a lifelong Cubs fan (I still miss Harry Carey), I do catch an occasional Dodgers game on the MLB channel, and I could listen to Vin Scully all day long. What a voice and knowledge of baseball. Great lens you have here!
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connie Snyder
Sep 17, 2011 @ 11:38 am | delete
- Hi Vinny, my name is Connie Snyder, and I started listening to you with my dad when the Dodgers came to the Colosium, I am now 79 years old and wouldn't miss a Dodger game when you are broadcasting. There are a lot of great sportcasters, but you and Chick Hearn bring something to a game, that no one else has achieved. It is so interesting to hear you tell the stories about each player, I don't know how you remember even with the research. Love you, don't stop or baseball will never seem the same to me.
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Sam Dostaler
Jul 25, 2011 @ 10:49 pm | delete
- Live in Connecticut. Big Red Sox and I enjoy listening to the announcer's in my area. But there is nothing like listening to Vin Scully. I normally get to listen to him a few times a year and it is always a treat. As an aspiring announcer I try to soak in all I can about announcing him. Major League Baseball should do us all a favor and put home Dodger games on national TV and let the country listen to Vin because we may never have an announcer like him again.
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karen reilly
Jul 4, 2011 @ 9:58 pm | delete
- Hi Vin..I am a NY Met fan and have the baseball package. I had to write to you to thank you so much for your professional, unbiased, educated, unassuming, knowledgeable TV commentating. You are a pleasure to listen to and a credit to the game of baseball. You put so much time into your broadcasts and are by far my favorite announcer. Thank you for you. Sincerely, Karen Reilly
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Carol A. Brown
May 9, 2011 @ 7:37 pm | delete
- I am sitting here listening to the two TV announcers for the Dodgers (who announce when the Dodgers are out of town) and thinking that If they don't find someone else like Vin Scully who can enunciate and actually call every play instead of droning on and talking amongst themselves, I will be losing a lot of interest in the Dodgers once Vinnie finally retires. I miss "the voice" terribly whenever the Dodgers are on the road without him.
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Vaughn
Jun 28, 2011 @ 7:03 pm | delete
- I agree with Carol. If I were an ambitious young person desirous of a career in broadcasting, I would without a doubt model, myself after Vinny. Why isn't there someone, somewhere, who is doing just that. IF there is, we need them here, learning from the master. How much longer will Mr. Scully be willing to share his time with us?
We learned this week, that McCourt hasn't paid him around $150k. Yet listen to a broadcast and you WILL NOT hear a biased comment about management, not a hidden snipe nor even a hint of the troubled times. Vinny is everything that McCourt is not. HE is the class of the Dodgers that McCourt could never have been. HE is the tradition of the Dodgers that McCourt has leached upon and (seemingly) tried to destroy. HE (hopefully) will talk us through this crisis and into a future of hope and the Dodgers' return to greatness.
I hope somehow, Mr. Scully is aware of the gratitude of all Dodger fans and how important he is to us … yes … everyday, but even more so in our time of Dodgers crisis. Thank you a million times, Vin. Thank you.
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_Joan_
Sep 7, 2010 @ 2:19 pm | delete
- As a lifelong Angeleno, Vin Scully is the only baseball voice I know.
This fantastic bio lens has been Angel-blessed and will be featured at SquidAngel At Your Service.
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Mary Beth
Aug 12, 2010 @ 9:47 am | delete
- Excellent lens....very enjoyable reading!
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ToledoSteve
Jul 12, 2010 @ 11:06 pm | delete
- Your call of Kirk Gibson's 1984 home run off Gossage is what I remember the most as a die-hard Tiger fan. I was 12 years old. With the Tigers winning 5-3 in the 8th the Tigers had runners on 2nd and 3rd. Dick Williams (Padres managers) motions to the Goose to intentionally walk Gibson. The "Goose" convinces Williams that he can strike Gibson out. Well we all know what happens ... and you said it best as Gibson's homer left his bat: "AND THERE IT GOES....." What was so poetic was that after you said "And there it goes..." you didn't speak another word for 2 full batters ... you simply let the crowd take it from there. Honest to God ... poetic. And, then the very next sentence you said was "For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'." That homer finished off the Padres who went down 1-2-3 in the 9th. Thanks soooo much for a memory that I will take with me into eternity. Now, on a final note, as a guy whose youth was in the 1980s ALL of the classic baseball calls that I remember in my youth are from you !! The 84 Tigers, 86 Mets, 88 Dodgers. Erinie Harwell had me on the radio, you had me on the TV. Both of you are pure legends and I thank you for using the gift God gave you to entertain and inspire me. Without your voice those moments would NOT have been the same. Thank you and God bless !!!
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Greekgeek
Jul 27, 2010 @ 5:00 pm | delete
- This is lovely story! But note that this webpage is only seen by FANS of Vin Scully. The great man himself probably doesn't know about this page. If you want to send him your thoughts, please use the contact info above.
I am the author of this webpage, but I'm in no way affiliated with Vin. I'm just a fan, like you. :)
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