It’s like eating a hamburger without the ham when you watch a Los Angeles Dodger baseball game without Vin Scully pronouncing it! Vin Scully is a legend in the world of sports broadcasting. His 67 seasons and relationship with the Dodgers as their broadcaster, from their days as the Brooklyn Dodgers to their current incarnation as the Los Angeles Dodgers, is the longest by any broadcaster in professional sports history with a single franchise. Scully was intrigued by football broadcasts on the radio since he was a child and aspired to be a sports commentator one day. When he accepted a position as a student broadcaster and journalist at Fordham University, his goal came true. In November 1949, he broadcast his first professional match for the CBS Radio Network, which was hosted by Red Barber. The next year, he was inducted as one of the radio and television booth commentators for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He quickly rose to the position of play-by-play commentator for the team, where he remained until 2016. Surprisingly, what sets him apart from his peers is his broad perspective and comprehensive understanding of both on and off-field happenings. He tried to incorporate his understanding of current events and how they linked to a certain game into his broadcasting. His excellent flair and distinctive signing description, ‘It’s time for Dodger baseball!’ added to the mix.
Childhood and Adolescence
Vin Scully was born in the Bronx, in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, on November 29, 1927. His father worked as a silk salesman, while his mother was a stay-at-home mom.
To make ends meet, he has worked menial jobs since he was a child. In the basement of the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City, he delivered beer and mails, moved clothes racks, and polished silver.
He graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx with a bachelor’s degree.
Surprisingly, he was enthralled when he heard a football broadcast on the radio and dreamed to be a sports broadcaster.
Career of Vin Scully
After finishing his education, he enlisted in the United States Navy for two years.
After being discharged from the navy, he pursued his childhood passion of becoming a broadcaster. He subsequently went to Fordham University to pursue a career as a student broadcaster and journalist.
He multi-tasked while at university. He not only earned a degree, but he also assisted in the founding of the university’s FM radio station, WFUV, and worked as the assistant sports editor for Volume 28 of The Fordham Ram.
At the same time, he was a member of the Fordham Rams baseball team and worked as a radio announcer for the baseball, football, and basketball teams. He applied to nearly every radio station along the Eastern seaboard after gaining experience in sports broadcasting.
In November 1949, he finally got the chance to broadcast a match for the CBS Radio Network, which was hosted by Red Barber. He excelled at the event, fueled by his passion, and pleased his boss right away.
He teamed forces with Barber and Cornelius Desmond as one of the radio and television commentators for the Brooklyn Dodgers as early as 1950. As a result of a squabble over Barber’s compensation with the team’s sponsors during the 1953 World Series, Gillette became profitable for him after Barber left.
He took over as the team’s announcer in place of Barber, becoming the youngest man to ever call a World Series game, a record that still stands today.
His commanding presence, in-depth knowledge of the game, and mastery of the microphone earned him the position of team’s primary announcer. Before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1957, he announced the game in Brooklyn.
He moved to Los Angeles with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became their chief broadcaster. He announced the first game of the 1958 season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had been renamed.
Surprisingly, his on-air play-by-play account of the action was not only listened to by those who missed the game live, but also by supporters on the field who were unable to follow the game due to the massive grounds.
Because of his growing reputation and fan base, he was offered the position as main play-by-play commentator for the New York Yankees. He, on the other hand, elected to stay with the Dodgers and turned down the offer.
He called the entire radio broadcast save for the 3rd and 7th innings throughout the 1980s and 1990s, allowing other Dodger announcers a chance. Jerry Doggett and Ross Porter were his broadcast companions.
He tried his hand at football while his career was at its pinnacle. From 1975 until 1982, he was the announcer for CBS Sports’ broadcast National Football League games. It’s worth noting that he established his worth in football as well.
Apart from baseball and football, he also worked as a tennis and golf event broadcaster for CBS. His growing participation in other games caused him to devote less time to the Dodgers.
He began calling baseball for CBS Radio in 1977 and did so until 1982 for the All-Star Game. From 1979 to 1982, he and Sparky Anderson were the official announcers for the World Series.
While CBS chose John Madden as their star color commentator for the 1981 NFL season, the top two CBS commentators, Pat Summerall and Scully, competed for the position of play-by-play commentator. Due to other commitments, both eventually made up for each other’s absence.
Summerall was named the official announcer for the NFC Championship Game alongside Stram after Summerall was picked over him as the main announcer alongside Madden for Super Bowl XVI.
In 1983, he left CBS for NBC due to a growing rift with the network. Instead, from 1983 to 1989, he served as NBC’s chief television broadcaster. He not only called the Saturday Game of the Week for NBC, but also three World Series, four National League Championship Series, and four All-Star Games during his time there. During his time at NBC, he also witnessed a number of significant events.
During his time at NBC, he never forgot about his time with the Dodgers. Instead, he broadcast Dodgers games on the radio and on the Dodgers television network.
During the 1989 season, his career took a slight turn for the worst. He had laryngitis at first, which prohibited him from taking up the microphone. Later that year, NBC lost the rights to broadcast Major League Baseball to CBS.
His contract with NBC expired the same year as the Dodgers won the National League Championship, allowing him to devote his whole attention to the team. He worked as a national radio announcer for CBS Radio once again. His first assignment in his new role was the 1990 World Series.
He stayed at CBS for seven years in that post. Meanwhile, he hosted the annual Skins Game for ABC from 1991 to 1996. He called the Senior Skins Game for ABC from 1992 to 2000, as well as several golf events on TBS.
He was the Master of Ceremonies for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team for MasterCard in 1999.
His contract with the Dodgers was reactivated in 2006, and he remained with the team through the 2008 baseball season. He currently calls roughly 100 games per season for both KLAC’s flagship radio station and KCAL-TV, Fox Sports West, and Prime Ticket.
The Dodgers confirmed on August 23, 2013, that Scully would return to the broadcast booth in 2014 for his 65th season as the team’s announcer.
Vin Scully’s legendary 67-year broadcasting career for the Dodgers came to an end on October 2, 2016, as he called a Dodgers-Giants game for the final time.
Achievements & Awards
Fans of the Dodgers voted him the’most unforgettable personality’ in the franchise’s history in 1976. He was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with the Ford Frick Award in 1982.
He was honored with the Sportscasting Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The American Sportscasters Association, the National Radio Hall of Fame, the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and the California Sports Hall of Fame have all inducted him into their Halls of Fame.
In 1965, 1978, and 1982, he was named National Sportscaster of the Year three times. He has also been named California Sportscaster of the Year 29 times. In 2000, he was named Sportscaster of the Century by the American Sportscasters Association, and in 2009, he was named to the Top 50 Sportscasters of All-Time by the American Sportscasters Association.
The LA Sports & Entertainment Commission honored him with the Ambassador Award of Excellence in 2009. At 6675 Hollywood Blvd., he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He was chosen Grand Marshal of the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade in 2013.
Personal History and Legacy
Joan Crawford was his first wife, whom he married in 1957. However, due to his wife’s untimely death from an accidental medical overdose in 1972, the relationship lasted for 15 years.
In the following year, 1973, he married Sandra Schaefer, who had two children from her previous marriage. The couple had a son, who died in a helicopter mishap when he was 33 years old.
He is a practicing Roman Catholic.
Estimated Net worth
Vin Scully has a net worth of $25 million as an American sportscaster.
Trivia
He worked as an announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers for 67 years. While introducing the game, he had a signature style: “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” “Hello, everyone, and have a wonderful (day/evening) wherever you are.”