May 3, 2017
Hall of Farner Vin Scully was the voice of the Dodgens for a MLB-record 67 seasons. His "It's Time for Dodger Baseball" greeting remains the signal for players to run from the dugout to their positions for the upcoming game. The stadium address: was renamed "Vin Scully Avenue" in 2016.
November 29, 1927
The voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers for a MLB-record 67 seasons from 1950 to 2016, inviting generations of fans to "pull up a chair" and listen to vivid play-by-play descriptions mixed with colorful stories. Scully's "It's Time for Dodger Baseball" broadcast greeting became a popular phrase at the ballpark and remains the signal for the starters to run out of the dugout to their positions for the upcoming gume. Scully was behind the microphone for countless memorable moments, including Brooklyn's only World Series title in 1955; Sandy Koufax's 1965 perfect game and Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series home run. The Fordham University graduate was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 and was named Most Memorable Personality in Los Angeles Dodger history by Dodger fans in 1976. The stadium address was renamed "Vin Scully Avenue" in 2016.
And once again, a standing ovation for Henry Aaron.
[Scully stopped talking for 11 seconds, letting the crowd noise fill the void]
So the confrontation for the second time. Aaron walked in the second inning. He means the tying run at the plate now. We'll see what Downing does. Al at the belt, delivers, and he's low; ball one.
[Crowd boos]
And that just adds to the pressure. The crowd booing. Downing has to ignore the sound effects and stay a professional and pitch his game.
One ball and no strikes. Aaron waiting. The outfield deep and straight away. Fastball.
[Scully's voice rises in excitement]
There's a high drive into deep left-center field. Buckner goes back to the fence. It is ... gone!
[Scully stopped talking for 1:45, so listeners could hear the cheering crowd and fireworks, the first sign for listeners Aaron had just broken the record]
What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us and for particularly for Henry Aaron, who has met at home plate, not only by every member of the Braves but by his father and mother. He threw his arms around his father and as he left the home plate area, his mother came running across the grass, threw her arms around his neck, kissed him for all she was worth.As Aaron circled the bases, the Dodgers on the infield shook his hand. And that was a memorable moment.
Aaron is being mobbed by photographers. He's holding his right hand high in the air and for the first time in a long time, that poker face of Aaron's shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must've been like to live with for the past several months. It is over. At 10 minutes after nine in Atlanta, Georgia, Henry Aaron has eclipsed the mark set by Babe Ruth. You could not, I guess, get two more opposite men. The Babe: big and garrulous and oh-so-sociable. And oh so-immense in all of his appetites. And then, the quiet lad out of Mobile, Alabama: slender and stayed slender throughout his career.
Ruth, as he put on the poundage and the paunch, the Yankees put their ballplayers in pinstripe uniforms because it made Ruth look slimmer. But they didn't need pinstripe uniforms for Henry Aaron in the twilight of his career. He looks almost the same as he did when he first came up 20 years ago.
And so it was a memorable moment before the game. And now what a sweet moment it is here in the middle of the game.
So Henry and the Babe, the two greatest home-run hitters that have over lived. And it's a marvelous, wonderful, enjoyable moment here in Atlanta. We're so happy, too, that it could be seen all over the United States, that it will be duly reported all around the world. And I'm sure films of it will be seen around the world, and you can hear Georgia around the world.
Henry Aaron is now at the microphone.
[Listeners could hear Aaron talking, but the words are indistinguishable]
Henry sums it all up by saying. "I thank God it's all over with." And I'm sure he has thanked God many times, that he had to do it to get it all over with, as he becomes the greatest home-run hitter in the history of baseball
Vincent Edward Scully (November 29, 1927 – August 2, 2022) was an American sportscaster. He was best known for his 67 seasons calling games for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning in 1950 (when the franchise was located in Brooklyn) and ending in 2016.Vin Scully:
- Scully's tenure with the Dodgers was the longest of any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history, and he was second only to Tommy Lasorda (by two years) in terms of number of years associated with the Dodgers organization in any capacity. [https://www.eatlife.net/dodger-stadium/tommy-lasorda.php]
- He retired at age 88 in 2016, ending his record-breaking run as the team's play-by-play announcer.
- In his final season behind the microphone, Scully announced most Dodgers home games (and selected road games) on SportsNet LA television and KLAC radio.
- He was known for his distinctive voice, lyrically descriptive style, and signature introduction to Dodgers games:
Vin ScullyIt's time for Dodger baseball! Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good (afternoon/evening) to you, wherever you may be
- He is considered by many to be the greatest baseball broadcaster of all time, according to fan rankings, Bleacher Report and Fox Sports.
In addition to Dodgers baseball, Scully called various nationally-televised football and golf contests for CBS Sports from 1975 to 1982, and was NBC Sports' lead baseball play-by-play announcer from 1983 to 1989. He also called the World Series for CBS Radio from 1979 to 1982 and again from 1990 to 1997.
Vin ScullyFinal Message
You and I have been friends for a long time, but I know in my heart that I've always needed you more than you've ever needed me, and I'll miss our time together more than I can say. But you know what? There will be a new day and eventually a new year. And when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, rest assured, once again it will be "time for Dodger baseball." So this is Vin Scully wishing you a very pleasant good afternoon, wherever you may be.
