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Dodgers announcer Vin Scully has four games left of the regular season before retiring after 67 years behind the microphone. We, like literally everyone, are incredibly sad to see him go. (P.S. Did you read Keith Olberman's tribute? Do it now, we'll wait.)
Today will be an especially bittersweet occasion, as it's his final game at Dodger Stadium; he'll be calling his final three games in San Francisco next week. All of the remaining games are blessedly being broadcast on KTLA, which the majority of Angelenos with basic cable should have access to. And there's another fortuitous twist to today's game: if the Dodgers win, they'll be crowned the champs of the N.L. West division. That would be quite a way for Vin to leave Dodger Stadium, wouldn't it?
Vin started his career when the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn in 1950, and came with the team when they moved to Los Angeles eight years later. Of course, he called the first game to be played at the new stadium on April 10, 1962. Of the stadium, Vin said, "I remember there was one complaint. (Los Angeles Times sports columnist) Sid Ziff couldn't find a water fountain. It was like going to the Taj Mahal and saying there was a window open."
Here's a great tidbit from today's L.A. Times:
On Sunday, for the last time, Scully can follow his Sunday routine at Dodger Stadium. In the morning, several hours before game time, he takes an elevator to the lowest level of the stadium and walks into a room normally reserved for news conferences. Catholic Mass is offered for team employees there, and Scully always participates, the announcer in the suit and tie shoulder to shoulder with the stadium workers in the lime green jerseys.
Naturally, some of Vin's most legendary calls have happened at Dodger Stadium. Here's a classic:
