“There’s heroes and there’s legends.
Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.”
The Sandlot (1993)
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Vin Scully passed away Tuesday evening, leaving a collective hole in the hearts of Dodgers fans, the city of Los Angeles, and the sport of baseball alike.
Fans were alerted midway through the game as the Dodgers battled against the Giants in San Francisco. The Giants staff were unclear if players were aware and did not want to interrupt the flow, instead opting to save their memorial until after the matchup had completed. Los Angeles ultimately won 9-5 when all was said and done, though many had already lost focus on the actual outcome of the game.
It was a pretty fantastic sight to behold – seeing the impact ‘Vinny’ left on the sport as social media flooded with an abundance of shared memories. The irony of everything playing out during a Dodgers and Giants game could not have been more scripted for the long-time voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Vin Scully touched millions of people over the airwaves throughout his 67 years with the franchise, as evidenced by the scores of tributes posted. He was responsible for bringing baseball into many homes across all demographics from Brooklyn to LA in his time with the Dodgers. Generations of men, women, and children recognize the familiar voice that told vivid stories from the Press Box year after year.
The broadcaster was well-known for speaking to the audiences in the stadium through transistor radios as he called each game. This trend transcends the times – even in an age of cell phones and streaming, the portable transistors can still be heard through the ballpark on any given day. Another timeless gift from Vin to the Dodger faithful.
Whether he was calling the final play in a historic World Series game or describing the sports and cultural implications of Henry Aaron passing Babe Ruth in home runs, Scully set the standard for the sport. Knowing when to add a creative comment or an artful pause, he was a master of language and kept his audience engaged. Not only was he painting pictures of games playing out and telling stories between plays, but his commentary would also teach each new generation the language of baseball.
“I’ve always tried to make the players human beings – individuals – rather than wind-up dolls down on the field running around. So I’ve always searched for the human side of the game if I can possibly find it. That’s the character that I try to paint, the character that the man represents himself. I think that helps, especially when a team is struggling and you have something interesting to say about someone. I think on the other end, a listener might enjoy it.” – Vin Scully
This is the legacy a legend like Vin Scully leaves behind. Always the gentleman, no one ever had a bad word to say about him. He was the voice of Los Angeles, the voice of baseball for generations, and he will forever live in the hearts of both baseball fans and the Dodger faithful alike.
And so, “A very pleasant good evening to you, wherever you may be.”
Vin, you will be with us each time the words “It’s Time For Dodgers Baseball” are uttered at Blue Heaven on Earth. May you rest in peace as we all collectively shed our tears while simultaneously celebrating a life well-lived.