Vin Scully Decides to Postpone Retirement (updated)

[Don Mattingly]

Not sure if this is posted elsewhere but this man is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, living broadcaster. I watched the replay of the Manny grand slam from last week--how refreshing it is to not hear somebody filling up all of the space with wasted words. After he called the HR, he just let the crowd and the video do the talking (just like he did when Gibson hit the home run).

Anyway, not sure if you saw this NY Times piece on him or the link to the last innining of the Koufax perfect game. Of course, I don't remember this, but the Gibson HR and the Mookie Wilson grounder were seminal moments for me as a kid.

http://www.doubledogmusic.com/baseba...ax_Perfect.mp3

Here's the NYT piece.

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/0...final-innings/

Enjoy.

[nyyfanatic85]

What a legend. I remember buying my first baseball video game, MLB 97, 12 summers ago. I loved the announcer and later found out it was Vin Scully; I think I'm going to play that game just for old time's sake.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Vin Scully = Legend.

He is a great game caller especially when he does it by himself.

A lot of memorable calls including the 1955 World Series when the Dodgers won their only title in Brooklyn, 1956 WS with Don Larsen pitching a perfect game, 1986 WS with Bill Buckner, Sandy Koufax's 1965 perfect game, the 1988 WS, and Fernando Valenzuela's 1990 no-hitter.

Once he steps down, Vin will be missed.

[leutbneot]

In my mind, Vin Scully IS baseball. He does so many things, so well, and so idiosycratically; his broadcasts are more poetry than prose. He is the master of painting images with words... one of the few people that can make me prefer a radio broadcast of a game to a television broadcast. Honestly, there's no one else like him in sports. Not even close.

I will be heartbroken the day he retires. Losing Vin will be a massive loss for all of baseball, all of sports, and all the generations of children who will never get to hear his majestic calling of a game. His sense of timing, his sense of what constitutes a "great moment", just his overall instincts, are all unsurpassed. Never have I heard anyone else like him.

A huge loss for everyone that loves the game. Do yourselves a favor: wherever you are, tune into a Dodger radio broadcast online sometime this year and listen, just to get a sense of how truly great this man is. You will be missed, Mr. Scully.

[TommyK8]

He is just an incredible legend who has been broadcasting the Dodgers for 60!!!! years. The longevity is just unbelievable. Between so many Dodger great moments and his broadcast of World Series games for years on NBC, this many has described more big moments than any other broadcaster. And his voice and his wit are perfectly intact to this day.

[Soriambi]

That's a shame, but he's certainly earned it if that's what he wants to do. An absolute pleasure to listen to when I got the chance. I wish he was still the voice of the World Series instead of Buck and McCarver.

[kirbivore]

One of my most treasured Yankee possessions is a tape I made off the radio of the final 3 outs of the 1996 WS. Back in 1996 I was away at college and could only get the national radio broadcast. Lucky for me I got Vin Scully calling the final out on tape and not that blowhard John Sterling. Talk about an upgrade.

[JDPNYY]

overrated

[leutbneot]

overrated

You must not live in Los Angeles. The man is the definition of a perfect broadcaster. Knowledgeable, witty, classy, all combined with an incredible sense of timing and history. He always seems to know what moments are the ones that are going down in history, and he uses the perfect combination of his own natural gifts and the innate awe of the game to create a perfect picture in the minds of his listeners. Absolutely a legend, and hands-down my favorite broadcaster of all time. One-of-a-kind.

Why do you think he's overrated? I'm just curious. The man almost single-handedly defined the position of a modern baseball broadcaster and he did it with class, dignity, humility, and charm. I can't see any area where he's overrated. If you could, I'd like to hear you expand on your previous "post" (I didn't think NYYFans allowed single-word posts, apparently I'm wrong).

[JDPNYY]

You must not live in Los Angeles. The man is the definition of a perfect broadcaster. Knowledgeable, witty, classy, all combined with an incredible sense of timing and history. He always seems to know what moments are the ones that are going down in history, and he uses the perfect combination of his own natural gifts and the innate awe of the game to create a perfect picture in the minds of his listeners. Absolutely a legend, and hands-down my favorite broadcaster of all time. One-of-a-kind.

Why do you think he's overrated? I'm just curious. The man almost single-handedly defined the position of a modern baseball broadcaster and he did it with class, dignity, humility, and charm. I can't see any area where he's overrated. If you could, I'd like to hear you expand on your previous "post" (I didn't think NYYFans allowed single-word posts, apparently I'm wrong).

blowhard

[Eldee5]

Wait. Not so quick...

http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/200...ough-2010.html

Turns out that Vin Scully has a little Brett Favre in him.

The legendary broadcaster was expected to retire after this season, with a tidy 60 years in the Dodgers' booth. But Scully now tells Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke he probably will stay on through the 2010 season.

"God willing, I will probably come back for one more year," Scully said. "At this moment, my health is excellent, and I'm leaning toward one more year."

[JDPNYY]

liar.

[leutbneot]

blowhard

Hmmm. I think I just remembered why I stopped posting on this site...

[fredgmuggs]

My only exposure to Vin Scully was when he did the national games for NBC television and he was a bit too verbose for my taste. I thought he was the definition of a guy who you asked what time it is and he ends up telling you how they made the watch.

Having said that, though.... I bet he is great on radio.

[leutbneot]

liar.

Counterproductive and not particularly insightful. Let the rest of us who actually watch and enjoy baseball celebrate one of the most unique and talented people to ever be involved with the sport. I can't imagine you don't have better things to do with your day than sit around this website and post garbage like this.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Counterproductive and not particularly insightful. Let the rest of us who actually watch and enjoy baseball celebrate one of the most unique and talented people to ever be involved with the sport. I can't imagine you don't have better things to do with your day than sit around this website and post garbage like this.

[Young Steinbrenner]

Vin Scully is the man I wish he was our announcer

[roblyo33]

sucks...

[ArodEra]

liar.

Lisa G is a D.

[themgmt]

I really enjoyed him in the Fast and The Furious.

[ArodEra]

I really enjoyed him in the Fast and The Furious.

[BxBomber44]

Hey Vin, we all want you to take Michael Kay's job. Even JDPNYY does, he didn't mean those things.

... You can talk about our four-year female fans and how adorable they are eating the cotton candy. It's better than hearing our guy ramble about the other team and how good they've been.

[False1]

I have to give it to JDPNYY. He's brave enough to be truly objective - not just about players that are built up to be legends, but anyone who is involved with the game. Not many have those types of guts.

He's proving that he wasn't a one-hit wonder when he opened all of our eyes to the selfish approach that Mariano has in tie games. His very clear and concise posts in this thread are pure poetry. I'm just sorry some here don't appreciate this type of insight.

[JDPNYY]

I have to give it to JDPNYY. He's brave enough to be truly objective - not just about players that are built up to be legends, but anyone who is involved with the game. Not many have those types of guts.

He's proving that he wasn't a one-hit wonder when he opened all of our eyes to the selfish approach that Mariano has in tie games. His very clear and concise posts in this thread are pure poetry. I'm just sorry some here don't appreciate this type of insight.

JDPNYY appreciates the kind words.

[pinstripesphanatic]

I really enjoyed him in the Fast and The Furious.

vin seems cool.

[35Knucklecurve]

Vin Scully is and always will be one of the all-time greats. I wish he worked for FOX and/or ESPN to spare us the agony of listening to a game called by Buck, McCarver, Morgan or some of the local team commentators. Listening to Scully on the radio gave you a better picture in your mind than seeing it with somebody who is clueless.

[DontHateOnNumber2]

I haven't heard many of his calls outside of the clips broadcast with replays, but what I've heard is always refreshing. No gimmicks or catchphrases, just someone who was describing the events taking place exactly as everyone else was seeing it. The fact that he's called some memorable moments in great games doesn't hurt either!

[Art Vanderlay]

I have to give it to JDPNYY. He's brave enough to be truly objective - not just about players that are built up to be legends, but anyone who is involved with the game. Not many have those types of guts.

He's proving that he wasn't a one-hit wonder when he opened all of our eyes to the selfish approach that Mariano has in tie games. His very clear and concise posts in this thread are pure poetry. I'm just sorry some here don't appreciate this type of insight.

We don't appreciate his posts because he's clueless. Anyone that states that Marianno is a selfish reliever or that Scully is a bad annoucer cannot be taken seriously. Next topic.

[heater26]

One of my most treasured Yankee possessions is a tape I made off the radio of the final 3 outs of the 1996 WS. Back in 1996 I was away at college and could only get the national radio broadcast. Lucky for me I got Vin Scully calling the final out on tape and not that blowhard John Sterling. Talk about an upgrade.

That's radio gold right there, Sterling is getting on my last nerve.

[False1]

We don't appreciate his posts because he's clueless. Anyone that states that Marianno is a selfish reliever or that Scully is a bad annoucer cannot be taken seriously. Next topic.

Maybe it's just that you refuse to let the words in, to resonate.

"overrated"
"blowhard"
"liar"

So you're seriously saying that doesn't just grab you, and make you think a little?

[leutbneot]

I have to give it to JDPNYY. He's brave enough to be truly objective - not just about players that are built up to be legends, but anyone who is involved with the game. Not many have those types of guts.

He's proving that he wasn't a one-hit wonder when he opened all of our eyes to the selfish approach that Mariano has in tie games. His very clear and concise posts in this thread are pure poetry. I'm just sorry some here don't appreciate this type of insight.

[Bernforever51]

the greatest broadcaster of all time retires. It is a sad day for all of sports

[JL25and3]

I love Scully, but I have to say: good as his call on Gibson's HR was, Jack Buck owns that one.

[CalYankeeFan]

Counterproductive and not particularly insightful. Let the rest of us who actually watch and enjoy baseball celebrate one of the most unique and talented people to ever be involved with the sport. I can't imagine you don't have better things to do with your day than sit around this website and post garbage like this.

You haven't been around here long enough to understand.

[CalYankeeFan]

We don't appreciate his posts because he's clueless. Anyone that states that Marianno is a selfish reliever or that Scully is a bad annoucer cannot be taken seriously.

DING DING DING

Pass the salt.

[Don Mattingly]

Wait. Not so quick...

http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/200...ough-2010.html

I think the blog I had posted said he would retire too after 2010--still that's a date certain and a sad one. My dad was the one that told me about the NYT piece so I posted it up here. I sent my dad a link to the Manny call and he called me again this morning to rave about Scully--he was a Dodger fan from that era, Koufax was his guy so it means a lot to him. Bottom line is that the guy is everything that the modern FOX/ESPN crew is not--smart, eloquent and understated. Why don't people understand that the game is beautiful, without all of that glitz and overanalysis? Anyway, that's my .02.

[JDPNYY]

At least he doesn't have an annoying son, like Jack Buck.

[Bernforever51]

At least he doesn't have an annoying son, like Jack Buck.

thank god

[machphantom]

Living out here in Los Angeles and dealing with morons who berate you for being a Yankee fan is never fun. But I always feel lucky that I can turn on a radio and listen to the master of broadcasting call a game with such precision and yet such grace. If you ever get a chance and have never listened to the great Vin Scully call a game, I beg you do before it's too late. He's as dominant in his craft as Mariano Rivera is in his. Yes I went there.

[JDPNYY]

Maybe the Dodgers should just retire him.

[#1PaFan]

He gone.

[YankeePride1967]

Just heard on XM Radio Vin Scully has decided to return for the 2010 season and will re-evaluate after next season.

[Eldee5]

Vin Scully, the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to media during the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's Newsmaker Luncheon Tuesday Nov. 10, 2009 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Scully says he will continue in the broadcast booth for the Los Angeles Dodgers through the 2010 season, then decide whether he will walk away.

[TheYankee]

overrated

Disagree. His brilliance lies in the fact he knows its not about himself when he's on the air. I don't know how he is on a personal level, but while calling a game, it's about the game.

He's not the most flashy guy, but he's also never going to aggravate me if I'm watching my favorite team play his team, which is more than can be said for the average broadcaster.

[roblyo33]

Disagree. His brilliance lies in the fact he knows its not about himself when he's on the air. I don't know how he is on a personal level, but while calling a game, it's about the game.

He's not the most flashy guy, but he's also never going to aggravate me if I'm watching my favorite team play his team, which is more than can be said for the average broadcaster.

I agree with JDPNYY - overrated.

[JDPNYY]

I agree with JDPNYY - overrated.

...and now he's making a big deal of himself. Having said he was going to retire and now he will gloriously return to the Radio Booth for another season.

Look for future retirement and unretirement statements over the coming months. I know I can't wait.

[YankeePride1967]

The Brett Favre of broadcasting.

[fredgmuggs]

I agree with JDPNYY - overrated.

He really needs someone else in the booth to break up his non stop verbal assault.

[JDPNYY]

He really needs someone else in the booth to break up his non stop verbal assault.

Maybe we could send Suzy over to the Left Coast.

[fredgmuggs]

Maybe we could send Suzy over to the Left Coast.

That might be the only broadcast booth where it would be possible for her to have less air time than she does now.