Vin Scully is a wordsmith unlike any other. And after his 67th year of broadcasting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he is hanging it up. But a man with his gravitas deserves to go out with a tribute befitting the voice of baseball.
Before the game on Friday against the Colorado Rockies, the Dodgers honored Scully with a pregame tribute on the field. Present were MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, and the Dodgers’ Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin.
The Dodgers counted down Scully’s greatest calls leading up to the event and announced the top two during the ceremony. Was there ever a doubt that Kirk Gibson’s homer in the 1988 World Series would get the top honor?
The No. 1 call. #VinTop20 pic.twitter.com/HrsQJdEthJ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2016
Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax and current ace Clayton Kershaw also thanked Vin for his six decades of announcing. And it wouldn’t be Los Angeles if this tribute didn’t have a bit of a Hollywood theme to it. Kevin Costner, with the help of dramatic background music playing, delivered a speech fitting of a Hollywood actor. Vin was glass-eyed throughout.
The speeches ended with the man himself, who kept his appreciation for the moment brief.
And even when tens of thousands of Dodger fans’ eyes swelled from the heartfelt speeches they just heard honoring Vin, the man himself still managed to maintain his composure with his always-reassuring tranquility. “"Aw come on; it’s just me," he joked before beginning his speech.
He even managed to throw in a joke about what he’ll do once he’s retired.
#VIN pic.twitter.com/G8MbDwOkuc
— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2016
As a final tribute, the national anthem was performed by composer John Williams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
And to top it all off, Scully walked back to his desk on a Dodger blue carpet with his wife Sandi.
#VIN. pic.twitter.com/VeiaDhZ5eI
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 24, 2016
No, YOU’RE crying. Thank you, Vin.