Beautifully written. He was the soundtrack of baseball for my whole life. The fact that he was the greatest announcer and an even greater human being make this an even sadder loss. Thank you, Mr. Scully. Rest In Peace.
I feel like I DID know him, but of course it was just radio, and later, TV.
The best games were blowouts, when he was start telling amazing stories. You never wanted the game to end.
For me? He was like my father. My introduction to Vinny was when I was 7 or 8 and my dad would be listening to games in the early sixties in Thousand Oaks. On KFI.
All through tumultuous times—the sixties, Watergate, growing up, having a family—there was always Vinny and his warmth and authenticity.
Ditto. We lived on Arcturus Street in the early 60s. Used to go to the Ravine with a neighbor. I remember falling asleep with Vin in my ear and waking up the next morning with Chuck Cecil.
Wow…! I don’t know Arcturus St., nor do i even know the Ravine. We lived on LaGranada. I guess we led a sheltered life. 🙈 Cool that you have great memories too…!
If Los Angeles is a movie, Vin is the soundtrack. For the first 60 years of my Angeleno life there were only two voices I heard from birth. My dad. Vinny. He lived under my pillow at camp when I was 7 and in my pocket and ear at synagogue on High Holy Days. I can’t believe he’s gone.
Thank you for this Molly. It’s beautifully written. I’m so sad that Vin’s gone even though he lived a long and wonderful life and he’s with his beloved Sandi again. He was such an integral part of LA, the Dodgers and our lives that it’s like losing a family member, even for those of us who never got to do more than listen to him broadcast, or on rare occasion get to say hello in passing in the parking lot after a game. It’s a comfort to know others are as affected as I am. Condolences to you on the loss of your friend and mentor.
Molly…Thank you very much, that was lovely. I first heard Vinny in 1958 when I was 12 and he filled my life until the day he retired. I got to know him a little through my good friend Don Newcombe, he was as warm and nice a person as he was a magnificent announcer. We will never see his like again.
Vin Scully was an institution, a pro’s pro. As a Northern Californian and a Giants fan, I’ve been lucky to have listened to some amazing broadcasters, but there was no one like Scully.
Occasionally I’d find myself in LA, out of range of Giants’ radio. I detest listening to other broadcast crews, but tuning in to Vin was always a pleasure. He was the real deal— a craftsman devoid of hype, ego, or sensationalism. He was the epitome of a gentleman, as your tribute clearly shows. I first heard him over 50 years ago, and he was a veteran even then. It blows my mind that he broadcasted Brooklyn Dodger games, saw Mays as a rookie, and witnessed the shot heard round the world, not to mention Ebbet’s Field, Jackie Robinson, and Koufax.
Scully’s career spanned the golden age of radio to the Twitterverse, and he never missed a beat. There’ll never be another like him.
Public figures come and go; the great ones touch us and live on. Vin Scully was such a man.
I spent many late school nights huddled under the covers listening to Vinny on my transistor radio (Koufax/Drysdale era). Losing this great man really hurts.
Wonderful, wonderful tribute. Vin Scully is the reason I got into baseball in the first place, or at least a big part of it. When he and Joe Garagiola used to host NBC's 'Game of the Week' back in the 80s, it was the absolute best. I'll never forget Saturday afternoons in 1985, listening to them call Mets games in Shea, when Dwight Gooden was at his peak (the 24-4, 1.53 ERA year, long before we knew what we know about him now). Just absolute bliss. Scully will be so sorely missed.
This news brings back so many memories. I was familiar with Vin from his national work, but when I moved to Southern California in my twenties I discovered how wonderful he was, and how much a part of the city he was. One of the first things I did was to go to a game at Dodger Stadium, and the way his voice was floating above the crowd, it was like it was in the air we were breathing.
And I remember how perfect, how graceful, his exit was. In his last game at Dodger Stadium, you probably recall, each of the Dodger players turned to salute him as they were stepping up to bat. It took Vin a few hitters to catch on. And then in the second inning or so he said, “what are the -“ and turned to his producer and asked, incredulously, “Are they doing that for us?”
One of the things that makes baseball special is there are so many games and the fan becomes so attached to the broadcasters. As a Mets fan growing up in New Jersey in the 1970s my childhood was Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Kiner. I honestly had no idea that Vin Scully even existed. I'm sure I had seen Scully on national broadcasts here and there in the early 1980s, but obviously my first clear memory was the 1986 World Series. The greatest moment in Mets history was described by who many agree was the greatest broadcaster of all-time.
"Can you believe this ballgame at Shea! Oh brother, WOO! So the winning run is at second base, two out, 3 and 2 to Mookie Wilson. Little roller up along first...BEHIND THE BAG, IT GETS THROUGH BUCKNER HERE COMES KNIGHT AND THE METS WIN IT!!!!"
As the video showed absolute mania inside Shea Stadium and Ray Knight literally collapsing on the bench from euphoria Scully did not utter a word for nearly two minutes and then put the final brushes on his masterpiece:
"If a picture is worth a thousand words, you have seen about a MILLION words".
You said it so beautifully.
The singular testament to Vin Scully: ALL baseball fans loved him. Remarkable tribute, Molly. Exceptionally well done.
At true loss for all of baseball. Molly I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. May his memory be a blessing.
Beautifully written. He was the soundtrack of baseball for my whole life. The fact that he was the greatest announcer and an even greater human being make this an even sadder loss. Thank you, Mr. Scully. Rest In Peace.
Molly, you were so lucky to have known him.
I feel like I DID know him, but of course it was just radio, and later, TV.
The best games were blowouts, when he was start telling amazing stories. You never wanted the game to end.
For me? He was like my father. My introduction to Vinny was when I was 7 or 8 and my dad would be listening to games in the early sixties in Thousand Oaks. On KFI.
All through tumultuous times—the sixties, Watergate, growing up, having a family—there was always Vinny and his warmth and authenticity.
So long, Vinny.
So good to hear you.
Thank you.
Ditto. We lived on Arcturus Street in the early 60s. Used to go to the Ravine with a neighbor. I remember falling asleep with Vin in my ear and waking up the next morning with Chuck Cecil.
Wow…! I don’t know Arcturus St., nor do i even know the Ravine. We lived on LaGranada. I guess we led a sheltered life. 🙈 Cool that you have great memories too…!
If Los Angeles is a movie, Vin is the soundtrack. For the first 60 years of my Angeleno life there were only two voices I heard from birth. My dad. Vinny. He lived under my pillow at camp when I was 7 and in my pocket and ear at synagogue on High Holy Days. I can’t believe he’s gone.
Thank you for this Molly. It’s beautifully written. I’m so sad that Vin’s gone even though he lived a long and wonderful life and he’s with his beloved Sandi again. He was such an integral part of LA, the Dodgers and our lives that it’s like losing a family member, even for those of us who never got to do more than listen to him broadcast, or on rare occasion get to say hello in passing in the parking lot after a game. It’s a comfort to know others are as affected as I am. Condolences to you on the loss of your friend and mentor.
Molly…Thank you very much, that was lovely. I first heard Vinny in 1958 when I was 12 and he filled my life until the day he retired. I got to know him a little through my good friend Don Newcombe, he was as warm and nice a person as he was a magnificent announcer. We will never see his like again.
Vin Scully was an institution, a pro’s pro. As a Northern Californian and a Giants fan, I’ve been lucky to have listened to some amazing broadcasters, but there was no one like Scully.
Occasionally I’d find myself in LA, out of range of Giants’ radio. I detest listening to other broadcast crews, but tuning in to Vin was always a pleasure. He was the real deal— a craftsman devoid of hype, ego, or sensationalism. He was the epitome of a gentleman, as your tribute clearly shows. I first heard him over 50 years ago, and he was a veteran even then. It blows my mind that he broadcasted Brooklyn Dodger games, saw Mays as a rookie, and witnessed the shot heard round the world, not to mention Ebbet’s Field, Jackie Robinson, and Koufax.
Scully’s career spanned the golden age of radio to the Twitterverse, and he never missed a beat. There’ll never be another like him.
Public figures come and go; the great ones touch us and live on. Vin Scully was such a man.
I spent many late school nights huddled under the covers listening to Vinny on my transistor radio (Koufax/Drysdale era). Losing this great man really hurts.
You are the best Molly! Thank you for writing about the Dodgers
Wonderful, wonderful tribute. Vin Scully is the reason I got into baseball in the first place, or at least a big part of it. When he and Joe Garagiola used to host NBC's 'Game of the Week' back in the 80s, it was the absolute best. I'll never forget Saturday afternoons in 1985, listening to them call Mets games in Shea, when Dwight Gooden was at his peak (the 24-4, 1.53 ERA year, long before we knew what we know about him now). Just absolute bliss. Scully will be so sorely missed.
Beautifully written.
What a beautiful testament to Vin Scully.
This news brings back so many memories. I was familiar with Vin from his national work, but when I moved to Southern California in my twenties I discovered how wonderful he was, and how much a part of the city he was. One of the first things I did was to go to a game at Dodger Stadium, and the way his voice was floating above the crowd, it was like it was in the air we were breathing.
And I remember how perfect, how graceful, his exit was. In his last game at Dodger Stadium, you probably recall, each of the Dodger players turned to salute him as they were stepping up to bat. It took Vin a few hitters to catch on. And then in the second inning or so he said, “what are the -“ and turned to his producer and asked, incredulously, “Are they doing that for us?”
They were doing that for all of us.
One of the things that makes baseball special is there are so many games and the fan becomes so attached to the broadcasters. As a Mets fan growing up in New Jersey in the 1970s my childhood was Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Kiner. I honestly had no idea that Vin Scully even existed. I'm sure I had seen Scully on national broadcasts here and there in the early 1980s, but obviously my first clear memory was the 1986 World Series. The greatest moment in Mets history was described by who many agree was the greatest broadcaster of all-time.
"Can you believe this ballgame at Shea! Oh brother, WOO! So the winning run is at second base, two out, 3 and 2 to Mookie Wilson. Little roller up along first...BEHIND THE BAG, IT GETS THROUGH BUCKNER HERE COMES KNIGHT AND THE METS WIN IT!!!!"
As the video showed absolute mania inside Shea Stadium and Ray Knight literally collapsing on the bench from euphoria Scully did not utter a word for nearly two minutes and then put the final brushes on his masterpiece:
"If a picture is worth a thousand words, you have seen about a MILLION words".
Bravo.