Vin Scully wished us all a final good afternoon, wherever we may be last week. The Hall of Fame Dodgers broadcaster, the voice of Los Angeles really, died at the age of 94 on Tuesday. He was the Dodgers broadcaster for 67 years, and so much more. He was there when Los Angeles adopted the Dodgers in 1958, was there for the Dodgers first World Series victory in Brooklyn in 1955, was there for Sandy Koufax’s one and only perfect game and there for Kirk Gibson’s famous home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
Scully was the narrator for many of the great moments in Los Angeles and Dodgers history.
His voice was as reliable and dependable as an old friend, a favorite uncle, a cherished partner.
One night, in 1989, it was the most surprising voice to hear.
The Dodgers were playing the Houston Astros, June 3, 1989. It was a Saturday night. I was 18 years old, and going out with friends. While getting ready, we were watching the Dodgers game, and listening to Vin Scully call the game. It was tied 4-4 and heading into extra innings when we decided to head out.
When we got back home after a night of partying and hijinx, the game was still going on. It finally ended in the 22nd inning, the longest regular season game in Dodgers history. Jeff Hamilton was pitching. Fernando Valenzuela was playing first base. And Scully was still calling the game.
It ended when Rafael Ramirez hit a line drive into right field that scored the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 22nd inning. The ball deflected off Valenzuela’s glove into right field. If he was an inch taller, they might still be playing that game today.
But after seven hours and 14 minutes, the game was over. It was almost 2 in the morning LA time. Almost 4 in the morning in Houston, where the game was being played. And Scully’s voice was crisp, clear and comforting, even in calling the play that cost the Dodgers the game.
For whatever reason, that game stands out for me. Scully’s voice was not the one I was expecting to hear in the wee hours of June 4, 1989, but it was the one that we all fell asleep to that night. It was the voice we all fell asleep to while listening to Dodger games.
I only met Scully once, sort of. I was covering a baseball game at Dodger Stadium and wandered into the press cafeteria before the game started. Scully was in the eating area, sitting at a table, and telling stories to a small group of people. I eavesdropped for a few minutes and then went back to work. Not everyone gets a chance to be in the same room with someone like Scully, and it’s not something that’s easy to forget.
The Dodgers went 7-0 last week, sweeping the San Francisco Giants in four games at Oracle Park and taking three games from those pesky San Diego Padres at home over the weekend.
The Dodgers had a special ceremony to remember Scully on Friday night before the game against the Padres. A banner was unveiled from the press box saying: We’ll miss you.
Los Angeles and baseball will miss Vin, wherever he may be.
The Dodgers have a seven-game winning streak after shutting out the Padres 4-0 on Sunday. The Dodgers outscored the new-look Padres and their shiny new All Star outfielder Juan Soto 20-4. The Dodgers outscored the Giants 25-10 in their four-game sweep earlier in the week.
The Dodgers didn’t need any sort of inspiration, but the team gave Scully plenty of reasons to cheer and smile.
Dodger starters power rankings:
- Tyler Anderson
- Julio Urias
- Tony Gonsolin
- Andrew Heaney
- Clayton Kershaw
The Dodgers (75-33) have a 15.5-game lead over the Padres in the National League West standings. The Dodgers start a two-game series against the Minnesota Twins at home on Tuesday and finish the week with a three-game series on the road against the Kansas City Royals starting on Friday.
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