Culture
Scully created a feeling of participation in the drama three hours that was a Major League Baseball game.
Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
Vin Scully, the voice of Dodger baseball and the sport’s most iconic broadcaster, died yesterday at 94.
Scully began his career in New York. He followed the Dodgers’ journey from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, and served as their radio and television broadcaster. His long and colorful stories were punctuated by pitch-by-pitch statistics. He is well-known for his unique delivery style. He was known for his conversational style, apparent knowledge of the players’ backgrounds and an appreciation of silence, which made games that he called “unfurl” like novels with a sense narrative and direction.
Scully called some of baseball’s most iconic moments, from Hank Aaron’s record-breaking home run to Kirk Gibson’s hobbled walk-off shot in the 1988 World Series. He sprinkled his play-by-play coverage with bits of wisdom and humorous witticisms.
“Andre Dawson has a bruised knee and is listed as day-to-day,” Scully said in 1991. Aren’t we all ?”
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His style of broadcasting was suitable for both television and radio. Radio listeners were able to see vivid images through his descriptions. Television viewers are drawn in by the dramatic pauses and Scully’s description. Scully created a feeling of participation in the drama that was a Major League Baseball game.
Scully called his last game for the Dodgers in 2016, and that year was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.
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While he had been in declining health since his retirement, Scully’s sudden death shocked fans and players alike. Justin Turner, a Los Angeles third baseman, said that Scully was the Dodgers’ “greatest player,” and added that the news of his death caused “a lot” of grief in the dugout. Dave Roberts, manager of the Dodgers, said that Scully was “in our living rooms for many years.” His life was extraordinary, and his legacy will be remembered .”
Above all, Scully is a Catholic devout. His faith often found its way into the booth; riffing on the impressive performance of then-Giants pitcher Matt Cain, Scully quipped that “today, Cain is able.” He narrated a six-disc collection of the Rosary, reciting the sacred mysteries with characteristic grace. His faith was what gave him strength in the face death.
“Being Irish, being Catholic, from the first day I can remember, I was told about death,” Scully said in 1986. “Death is an ever-present companion to our faith. “