RIP Vin Scully

[Kurisu]

It's incredible that an entire generation grew up with Bob Miller, Vin Scully and Chick Hearn. All legends of broadcasting.

Just scrolling through his trending on Twitter it's absolutely incredible how many historical sports moments came through his microphone with silky smooth delivery and inspirational descriptions.

 

[jom]

In heaven for the first time they are hearing: "It's time for Dodger baseball". RIP Vinny.

jom

 

[santiclaws]

Best play-by-play announcer I've ever heard. And I don't even like baseball.

 

[kingrussell]

Best ever!!

 

[F**e_Off]

RIP Mr. Scully. I never heard him announce, but if you guys think he's one of the best he surely must be. I only knew Bob Miller in the commentary box, the greatest ever for me anyway, and I just hope he and his lovely wife are both okay. It must send a chill down your (his) spine when someone so close falls. It makes you realise, whatever age we are, just how precious all the good, often intangible, gifts that true humanity, that is humanity as it should be, gives many of us truly are.

 

[What party?]

*sniff* We are all Dodger fans today. We?ll miss you Vin. You?d be hard pressed to find another person (a stranger even) where they evoke only good memories; Vin was that person for countless people. Super grateful my grandpa took me to games as a short stack and brought his radio (adorable)to listen to the game. Made the world a better place? Checkmark. Congrats Mr. Scully on pitching a perfect game.

When Vin announced his retirement circa 2015-16(?) there was an article about it on Deadspin. Fine. What struck me was in the comments section someone wrote: ?How many people died waiting for that job?? It hit me hard and made me laugh, much like today?s passing. I?m crying and smiling.

 

[salami]

This breaks my heart. Vin was a voice heard throughout the house for my entire childhood. RIP dear Vin.

 

[beedee]

Boy were we blessed to have Chick Hearn, Vin Scully and Bob Miller as our local Play by Play announcers all at the same time. Easily the GOATS in their respective sports.
R.I.P. Vin, he is now chillin' with Chicky Baby. ️����

 

[santiclaws]

Vin's call of Koufax's perfect game. I've never heard it and it's amazing. Once again, Vin knew when to talk and when to shut up (his full minute of absolute silence after Gibson's home run was perfect). That's one area where I've always thought Bob Miller fell short: he talked over the big moments when he should've been quiet and let the moment speak for itself. Vin had that exquisite sense to know when the announcer talking would have taken away from the moment instead of adding to it.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-08-02/vin-scully-sandy-koufax-perfect-game

 

[jom]

Vin's call of Koufax's perfect game. I've never heard it and it's amazing. Once again, Vin knew when to talk and when to shut up (his full minute of absolute silence after Gibson's home run was perfect). That's one area where I've always thought Bob Miller fell short: he talked over the big moments when he should've been quiet and let the moment speak for itself. Vin had that exquisite sense to know when the announcer talking would have taken away from the moment instead of adding to it.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-08-02/vin-scully-sandy-koufax-perfect-game

I agree with your comment on Miller. In addition I was really disappointed in Fox yelling and screaming over Miller's call of the Martinez goal in 2014. It was nothing short of embarrassing.

jom

 

[LAKingSteve]

I grew up listening and watching a lot of Dodger baseball, and I wasn't a Dodger fan...just loved baseball. He was the best there ever was, unlikely to ever be another close to him in the game.

 

[LAKingSteve]

I agree with your comment on Miller. In addition I was really disappointed in Fox yelling and screaming over Miller's call of the Martinez goal in 2014. It was nothing short of embarrassing.

jom

Yes and no. Part of it was the pure joy of a former King seeing his team win a Stanley cup. You've got to expect a little emotion. It's not like Bob was saying anything other than Kings win the cup.

 

[HeadInjury]

Remember also that they weren't announcing the game live to anyone anywhere.

 

[Reg or Rog?]

Vin's call of Koufax's perfect game. I've never heard it and it's amazing. Once again, Vin knew when to talk and when to shut up (his full minute of absolute silence after Gibson's home run was perfect). That's one area where I've always thought Bob Miller fell short: he talked over the big moments when he should've been quiet and let the moment speak for itself. Vin had that exquisite sense to know when the announcer talking would have taken away from the moment instead of adding to it.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-08-02/vin-scully-sandy-koufax-perfect-game

Yep, Vinny knew when to speak and when to shut up.



One of my favorite parts of that video are the visible brake lights on the car leaving the parking lot as the ball leaves the stadium. You can just imagine that poor (child born out of wedlock) listening to the broadcast in his car: "High fly ball into right field..." Whoops.

Another whoops is the fact I had a ticket in the approximate spot the ball landed in the stands, but chose to spend the night at the beach watching the game instead. And they never did recover that ball.

One of my girlfriends called and said she had an extra ticket in the right field pavilion, but at that same moment I got a call from my lifeguard buddy at Leo Carillo. He was housesitting in Malibu and had just pulled his 12' tall Indica plants two weeks before. So it was either the World Series at the stadium, or the World Series in a mansion on the beach with unlimited free beer and top drawer marijuana.

The beach was great, but man I wish I had chosen that ticket.

Still, it was one of the greatest moments in LA Sports History. And Vin's call still gives me chills.

The Lost Ball

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/spor ... dgers.html

 

[Reg or Rog?]

One of the best days of my life was when I got to meet Vin Scully.

One of our contract buildings was the International Jewelry Center in downtown LA (that silver Art Nouveau thing across from Pershing Square). The top floor only had four jewelers, and one of those was Conrad Furlong, a master jeweler that only had a few clients including OJ Simpson, Richard Riordan and Vin Scully. I got to meet all three.

One day I was working on a lower parking level installing some exit lights when a black Rolls-Royce pulled up and parked near my ladder next to the elevator lobby. I figured it was yet another Armenian jeweler parking where he pleased, so I yelled at the guy: "Hey buddy, you see that [fork]ing ladder? You can't park there! Move that POS before I 'accidentally' drop something on it..."

As I was walking away I heard that familiar voice: "I'm so sorry. Do you know where I can park?"

I finally got to meet one of my childhood heroes and the first thing I did was cuss him out. Anyway, after I heard that voice and realized I was yelling at Vin Scully, I apologized profusely and moved my El Camino and let him park in my personal spot. Then I got to ride the elevator up with him and tell him some of my favorite Vin Scully stories, including listening to him call the perfect game at the Van Nuys Drive-In with my mother and father. Instead of watching the movie, we had the transistor radio on and listened to him call the game.

I still have that autograph framed. And by the way, he was the nicest man I ever met in my life.

 

[santiclaws]

Yep, Vinny knew when to speak and when to shut up.

And comes out of the minute-long silence with "In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!!" One of the great sports calls of all time.

Connection between those two Scully calls: The Dodgers' third-base coach in the Gibson video, Joey Amalfatano, was the second batter Koufax struck out in the ninth in his perfect game.

 

[Kurisu]

Connection between those two Scully calls: The Dodgers' third-base coach in the Gibson video, Joey Amalfatano, was the second batter Koufax struck out in the ninth in his perfect game.

And you don't even like baseball. Heh.

 

[HeadInjury]

My 89-year old father was listening to Vin's call of the Koufax perfect game while helping paint a house. He still remembers how great Vin's call was the last two innings where Koufax struck out the side swinging twice. He described it as Vin knowing what was going to happen before it happened.

Edit: Here's the call of the last inning:

 

[Reg or Rog?]

It's incredible that an entire generation grew up with Bob Miller, Vin Scully and Chick Hearn. All legends of broadcasting.

Just scrolling through his trending on Twitter it's absolutely incredible how many historical sports moments came through his microphone with silky smooth delivery and inspirational descriptions.

Easily three of the best in their professions. We are very lucky sports fans in LA. And Dick Enberg for the Rams wasn't bad either.

 

[05/29/93]

Yep, Vinny knew when to speak and when to shut up.



One of my favorite parts of that video are the visible brake lights on the car leaving the parking lot as the ball leaves the stadium. You can just imagine that poor (child born out of wedlock) listening to the broadcast in his car: "High fly ball into right field..." Whoops.

Another whoops is the fact I had a ticket in the approximate spot the ball landed in the stands, but chose to spend the night at the beach watching the game instead. And they never did recover that ball.

One of my girlfriends called and said she had an extra ticket in the right field pavilion, but at that same moment I got a call from my lifeguard buddy at Leo Carillo. He was housesitting in Malibu and had just pulled his 12' tall Indica plants two weeks before. So it was either the World Series at the stadium, or the World Series in a mansion on the beach with unlimited free beer and top drawer marijuana.

The beach was great, but man I wish I had chosen that ticket.

Still, it was one of the greatest moments in LA Sports History. And Vin's call still gives me chills.

The Lost Ball

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/spor ... dgers.html

Not to nitpick, but Scully was calling the game for NBC TV (national television). The poor fellow in the car would have either heard Jack Buck (national radio call) or, more likely, Don Drysdale, calling the game on local radio. Those other two calls are quite impressive, but neither can top Vin's.