Vin Scully, iconic former Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster, dies at age 94
in Scully, Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, died Tuesday at 94, the team announced.
"We have lost an icon," Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement. "Vin Scully was one of the greatest voices in all of sports. He was a giant of a man, not only as a broadcaster, but as a humanitarian. He loved people. He loved life. He loved baseball and the Dodgers. And he loved his family. His voice will always be heard and etched in all of our minds forever. I know he was looking forward to joining the love of his life, Sandi. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this very difficult time. Vin will be truly missed."
Scully served as the Dodgers' broadcaster for 67 years, including an eight-year stretch in Brooklyn before the franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 1958. His stint with the Dodgers was the longest time spent by a sports broadcaster with any one team.
A native of The Bronx, Scully was the broadcaster for 25 World Series, 20 no-hitters and 12 All-Star Games. He briefly served in the United States Navy before beginning his career as a broadcaster in 1949, when he called play-by-play for college football games.
Scully started broadcasting Dodgers games in 1950, joining the legendary Red Barber and Connie Desmond. He became the youngest man to broadcast a World Series game in 1953, when -- at age 25 -- he replaced Barber for the Fall Classic between the Dodgers and the rival New York Yankees.
Scully has received numerous awards and honors during his famed career. He won the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame for "meritorious service by baseball broadcasters," in 1982 and was named the Top Sportscaster of All-Time by the American SportsCasters Association in 2009.
Scully also received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award, which recognizes accomplishments and contributions of historical significance, in 2014. He became just the second non-player to receive the award, joining Rachel Robinson (2007).
In 2001, the press box at Dodger Stadium was renamed in Scully's honor, and in 2016, the city of Los Angeles renamed a section of roadway running from Sunset Boulevard to Stadium Way as "Vin Scully Avenue."
The Dodgers also honored Scully before their home opener in 2016, his final season as a broadcaster, with a pregame ceremony attended by several of the organization's legendary figures, including Sandy Koufax and Tommy Lasorda.
"I know it's the perfect time," Scully said inside Dodger Stadium before the game on April 12, 2016. "I kept thinking, 'I'll be 89 when the season ends. If you go one more year, you'll be 90.' I don't think that's fair to the listeners. This will be it and I'll be grateful."