September 19th, 2016 at 11:31 am 
by Ron Cervenka Pennant race notwithstanding, this next week – which begins tonight at Dodger Stadium – will be among the most difficult for every living Dodger fan. It is Vin Scully’s final week as the voice of the Dodgers; and make no mistake about it, it will be a very emotional week not only for the Dodgers and their fans, but for every baseball fan around the world.
Scully, who is the undisputed greatest broadcaster of all time, announced earlier this year that he would be retiring at the conclusion of the 2016 regular season. Ironically, the lovable Dodger broadcaster also hinted at a press conference held during spring training 2016 at Camelback Ranch that he may or may not broadcast any Dodger postseason games, should the Dodgers get there.
“You know, we’ll have to talk about that,” said Scully. “It would be hard not to, so perhaps I will. I don’t know by that time.”
Vin Scully at his March 25, 2016 press conference during spring training at Camelback Ranch.
(Click on image to view entire video – Video and video capture courtesy of Stacie Wheeler)
But subsequent to that and on several occasions, Scully said that he did not want to displace anyone from their respective jobs, this in spite of the fact that every broadcaster on the planet would undoubtedly prefer having Scully calling the Dodgers’ playoff games than they themselves. Yes, he is that well loved.
Fortunately, Scully did agree to travel with the team to San Francisco to call the final three regular season games against the Giants, but not for the reason that you might think.
“I grew up in New York and I really grew up in the Polo Grounds in the bleachers when I was about 10, I remember that,” Scully said, during that March 25, 2016 press conference. … “The Giants have just always been a part of me and growing up as a kid idolizing ‘Ottie’ (Mel Ott), I was a rabid Giants fan, and I’ve enjoyed the meetings something special.”
Thankfully, that “something special” will allow Dodger fans – and even more so Vin Scully fans – three more opportunities to watch and listen to Vin.
“I’m going to say goodbye at Dodger Stadium the last game with Colorado,” Scully told LA Times Dodgers beat reporter Bill Shaikin last week. “I will say goodbye in San Francisco. And then that will be it … And then I will go home.”
The good news – great, in fact – is that KTLA has agreed to televise the final six games of Vin’s illustrious 67-year Hall of Fame career in the greater Los Angeles area, this in spite of the on-going dispute between Time Warner Cable and DirecTV.
Although there are many Dodger fans planning to travel to AT&T Park for the final three games of the regular season and the final three of Scully’s career (including the popular Pantone 294 Dodgers fan group), and will forever have bragging rights for having actually been there, those doing so will miss out on watching and listening to the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). That said, you can rest assured that Scully will receive the hero’s welcome he so rightfully deserves from Dodger fans and Giants fans alike (although the Dodgers themselves most assuredly will not).
The bottom line is that the next six games at Dodger Stadium and even the final three at AT&T Park are going to be extremely difficult and even more so emotional for every living Dodger fan. The only thing that we can do is to say “Thank you, Vin” and to thank God that we have been so very very blessed to have Vin Scully as our broadcaster for the past 67 seasons.
In no way is this article about me, but this recent photograph with Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully is among my most precious that didn’t involve my daughter or son. Man, am I going to miss Vin.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
Godspeed to you Vin and Sandi Scully. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
We do indeed love you.
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By the way – there IS crying in baseball. So don’t feel embarrassed to do so over this … as I have on several occasions already.
I went through my PVR last night and have it set to record all 3 games, pre games, post games and evening news.
I also am fortunate that Sportsnet here in BC will be broadcasting two of the 3 in High Def. I have told my wife that if she should cancel these recordings………well that is simply grounds for divorce!
I won’t miss those either. Will mean that my entire Dodger fan career to the moment of Vin’s final good-bye will have been with Vin for 64 years. So many Dodger fans are fortunate to have the same connection.
Life without Vin will not be the same but a new journey awaits him and us. Our memories of Vin will always be with us.
Thank you Vin for a lifetime of Dodger memories.
Even though I knew this time would eventually come, the sadness is as though a good friend of 60+ years is leaving and likely never to be seen again. I will always remember Scully’s ability to objectively report a game while painting a verbal picture for my mind’s eye that magically transported me as a kid from listening to my transistor radio to being in the stands, watching the live action. For me, Vinny did more than just broadcast a game, he taught me the history of the Dodgers and of opposing teams and players, the nuances of MLB that made the game more interesting, and he did so with a command of English like no other announcer I have ever heard, or expect to hear. Dodgers progressing toward its 4th consecutive NL West title but with an air of melancholy mixed in with the joy of team success.
Ford Frick award winners, such as Vinny, are usually called “Hall of Fame broadcasters.” In truth they are not actual members of the HoF.
I’m thinking it’s time, and the first should be Vin Scully. I’d like to see the Veteran’s Committee do a phone vote and make it official October 2. No mention of it ’til then.
OK, now I’m thinking maybe that is in the works.
I was a Dodger fan for only a couple of years when Vin came on the seen. It feels the same as if he was there from the beginning. It’s hard to remember what it was like before that.
Yes for nearly seventy years it’s always been him as the Voice of Dodgers. I think I’ll miss him more than I can image.