It was the annual announcement that every Dodger fan anxiously awaits around this time of year – whether or not 87-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully would return for one more year or if this would be the year that he would choose to retire to spend his golden years with his wife Sandi and their many grandchildren. But this time there was an air of uncertainty; a feeling that 2015 was going to be it for the Brooklyn native who had personally called more Dodger games than nearly half of today’s baseball franchises have even been in existence.

But amidst all of the anxiety, speculation and even rumors that The Voice of God (as he is often referred) was going to hang up his microphone at the conclusion of this season, the official announcement came during the second inning of Friday night’s Dodgers – Cubs game that Scully would, in fact, be returning to call most Dodgers home games for an unprecedented 67th season – an announcement that was met with a roaring standing ovation by the 44,874 on hand at Dodger Stadium – the house that Vin built (sorry Walter).

“I talked it over with my wife, Sandi, and my family and we’ve decided to do it again in 2016,” Scully said. “There’s no place like home and Dodger Stadium and we look forward to being a part of it with all of our friends.”

Scully, who is widely regarded as the best sportscaster of all time, began his career in 1950 with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the tender age of 25. At the time the then 66-year-old Dodgers franchise (now 131 years old) had never won a World Series title. That all changed in 1955 when the Brooklyn Dodgers finally defeated their crosstown rival Yankees in an exciting seven-game series. Since then, Scully has called all six Dodgers World Series championships, Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series, Hank Aaron’s record-setting 715th home run, Sandy Koufax’s four no-hitters and the scoreless-inning streaks of both Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser.

In 1982 Scully was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame – that was 33 years ago which in and of itself is longer than most broadcasters’ entire careers but less than half of Scully’s. He was named the top sportscaster of the 20th by the American Sportscasters Association among countless other well-deserved awards and honors. He, accompanied by his wife Sandi, was the Grand Marshal of the 2014 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

Vin and Sandi Scully at the 2014 Rose Parade.
(Photo credit – Allen J. Schaben)

Scully will address the media in a press conference regarding his decision to return for his 67th season at 2 pm (PT) this afternoon. The press conference will be aired live on SportsNet LA and on AM570 LA Sports radio.