Listening to Vin Scully

[Brock Beauchamp]

I have to create a thread like this every year.

 

Scully is losing his touch but I'll cut him some slack, as he's roughly 1,946 years old in dog years.

 

But Jesus Christ, if you haven't listened to at least 20 Scully games in your life, you've missed out on one of the most beautiful things to ever happen to the sport of baseball. I listened to Buck (could catch Cards games over the radio) growing up and he was fantastic but for my (non) dollar, Vin Scully is the greatest announcer in the history of sports and it's not even close (I love you Costas but even you'd admit you're no Scully).

 

I don't know when Scully might call his last season but doggonnit, it's basically September and if there's a Dodgers game on MLB.tv, you need to lull yourself to sleep with his dulcet tones because he won't be here forever. I can't count how many nights I've dozed off to the sound of his voice articulating a story how Edwin Jackson drew allusions to Sandy Koufax and they both commiserated over their time in DodgerTown. The man isn't rich with story, as that's an disservice to his 60+ years of calling the game. Vin is saturated with story; most you didn't realize you wanted to hear until the story had permeated your brain and moved something in you; something that fires the neurons why we love the sport.

 

So, take some time this September and listen to ol' Vin. You won't witness the best of the man but you'll get enough of a glimpse to make you realize just how good announcing can be with a truly sincere man behind the mic.

 

Vin Scully is one of the rare men who I actively brace myself in preparation of his death because it will so impact me on a fundamental level. Somewhere deep inside me, summers will remain unfulfilled when Scully leaves the earth. He's that good. Or, at least, he was that good.

 

But you can still catch a glimpse of that greatness and I suggest you take a few minutes to hear it because it will be soon be gone.

 

Just now he said "And it's a 4-4 tie! Of course it is, it's the Giants and the Dodgers!"

 

And there isn't even a lick of false suspense or intrigue in that statement. It's the earnest weight of 60 years of historied rivalry and it's a beautiful thing, a fragment of why we're drawn to this sport in the first place.

[Shane Wahl]

Absolutely true. You can never imagine ahead of time how much information and how unique the stories will be. It's just so, so different than other broadcasts. All of them.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Absolutely true. You can never imagine ahead of time how much information and how unique the stories will be. It's just so, so different than other broadcasts. All of them.

I can't articulate how true this post is.

 

I swear I've launched a one-man campaign over the past 15 years since Extra Innings/MLB.tv launched:

 

Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully.Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully. Listen to Scully.

 

He's not the man who made me like baseball but he's the man who made me love it in a way I didn't previously believe possible.

[Willihammer]

Scully announced recently that next year will be his last season. It would be a 67 year run. The man is a walking encyclopedia of baseball stories and history.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Scully announced recently that next year will be his last season. It would be a 67 year run. The man is a walking encyclopedia of baseball stories and history.

Good to know. I'm going to listen to a lot of Dodgers games next season.

 

Given the time difference, my wife will... not be pleased.

[Brock Beauchamp]

One thing Scully knows better than any announcer is silence, which is slightly ironic given his amazing voice and ability to weave a story.

 

He lets the game carry the weight. Watching the ninth inning of tonight's game was wonderful. He barely spoke.

[Bark's Lounge]

 

I have to create a thread like this every year.

 

Scully is losing his touch but I'll cut him some slack, as he's roughly 1,946 years old in dog years.

 

But Jesus Christ, if you haven't listened to at least 20 Scully games in your life, you've missed out on one of the most beautiful things to ever happen to the sport of baseball. I listened to Buck (could catch Cards games over the radio) growing up and he was fantastic but for my (non) dollar, Vin Scully is the greatest announcer in the history of sports and it's not even close (I love you Costas but even you'd admit you're no Scully).

 

I don't know when Scully might call his last season but doggonnit, it's basically September and if there's a Dodgers game on MLB.tv, you need to lull yourself to sleep with his dulcet tones because he won't be here forever. I can't count how many nights I've dozed off to the sound of his voice articulating a story how Edwin Jackson drew allusions to Sandy Koufax and they both commiserated over their time in DodgerTown. The man isn't rich with story, as that's an disservice to his 60+ years of calling the game. Vin is saturated with story; most you didn't realize you wanted to hear until the story had permeated your brain and moved something in you; something that fires the neurons that make us love the sport.

 

So, take some time this September and listen to ol' Vin. You won't witness the best of the man but you'll get enough of a glimpse to make you realize just how good announcing can be with a truly sincere man behind the mic.

 

Vin Scully is one of the rare men who I actively brace myself in preparation of his death because it will so impact me on a fundamental level. Somewhere deep inside me, summers will remain unfulfilled when Scully leaves the earth. He's that good. Or, at least, he was that good.

 

But you can still catch a glimpse of that greatness and I suggest you take a few minutes to hear it because it will be soon be gone.

 

Just now he said "And it's a 4-4 tie! Of course it is, it's the Giants and the Dodgers!"

 

And there isn't even a lick of false suspense or intrigue in that statement. It's the earnest weight of 60 years of historied rivalry and it's a beautiful thing, a fragment of why we're drawn to this sport in the first place.

Wonderful words, It could not be phrased any better than that.

[biggentleben]

I'm blessed to be the fan of a National League team. Any time the Braves play the Dodgers, I tune into MLB.tv and watch the Dodgers feed. It's always well worth my time. My wife even remarked this summer how she liked Vin's stories during games as she wasn't even watching the game, but she was working in the kitchen and heard his announcing.

[USAFChief]

A HOFer for sure.

 

 

[TFelton]

Thanks for the post.  I tell my wife nightly that there is no one better.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The Vin Scully lexicon: try to read these without hearing his voice

 

http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/03/decoding-dodgers-announcer-vin-scully.html

[zenser]

All the statements here about him are so true.  I have had MLB audio for the past few years and previously had MLB extra innings.  He truly paints a picture with his words and it is a joy to listen to him work.  You always know the situation and what is going on. 

 

The Dodger fans are truly blessed.  Not only do they get Scully, they also have Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday.  Those two are great as well.

 

This reminds me of a story I heard (I think it was when they dedicated a statue of Joe Buck in St Louis).  A man took his son up to the statue and was taking it all in.  The son asked the dad who it was and if he knew him.  The dad replied, I never met him but I knew him well.  Every night he came on the radio and he told us all about the game going on.

 

If you get a chance, I would recommend the audio package to anyone.  There are some great broadcasters out there.  Scully, Denny Mathews in KC, Jon Miller in SF, Pat Hughes for the Cubs (with Coomer as the color man).  I haven't listened to any Cincy games this year but they used to have (not sure if they still do) Thom Brennamann who was great to listen to.

 

Probably my favorite call of his isn't even a Dodger call, the Buckner play in '86.  It doesn't get any better than that.

[jimbo92107]

You know who else is a great announcer? Jim Kaat. Still works for MLB Network, I think. Kaat is one of those guys that makes announcing seem so easy, anybody could do it...until you try to do it as well as Kaat.

[Monkeypaws]

He ain't Vin Scully, but i was pleasantly surprised to listen to the Cubs on MLB tonight and discover their color guy is our old friend Ron Coomer. Always liked his commentary.

 

But yeah, I've listened to Dodger games just for this reason. Piece o history there.