It was 60 years ago today, Vin taught the boys how to play

A quick shout out to Vin Scully, who, unbeknownst to him, celebrated the 60th anniversary of his first broadcast with the Dodgers on Sunday.

Scully said he had no particular memory of his first time behind the mike for the Dodgers, but clearly remembers the first season.

"That first team, the so-called Boys of Summer, that was my graduating class," Sully told the Associated Press. "I mean, look at the team then. I had Don Newcombe, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Billy Cox, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Carl Furillo and Carl Erskine. That was such an amazing collection of players, so I guess that was the team that made the most impression on me."His first game was with the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.

Sixty memorable years later, he’s still with the Dodgers, possibly for his final season.

"I feel only overwhelming gratitude," Scully said. "You feel blessed that you've lived that long, that you've been allowed to do what you love to do for that long, and that my health has held up all those years. It's humbling to think that you've been that fortunate and that God has blessed you with that time."

The Dodgers played a video tribute to him in the top of the eighth inning, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[stan from tacoma]

Vin did tallk about his first broadcast for the Brooklyn Dodgers in an interview with Seattle Mariner broadcaster Rick Rizzs in 2006. I wrote about it at Rich Lederer's Baseball Anaysts website last December. Here is my transcript of Vin's response to Rick's question about Vin's very first broadcast for the Brooklyn Dodgers:

"Well, I think the very first one was an exhibition game and we were playing the Philadelphia Athletics and the manager that year was Connie Mack. Now the next year Jimmy Dykes became the official manager but my first broadcast was with the A's in Vero Beach with Mr. Mack right there in the black suit, and the celluloid collar, and the straw hat. So, I remember in that game I think Ferris Fain was the first baseman and it seems to me there was a triple play which Red Barber called and I remember sitting there thinking, "He made it sound so easy," and I was scared to death."

[mti312]

Laughing at LA
Laughing at LA
Giants fans laugh at LA

But I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Frank McCourt!

Posted by: Tim McCuddahy | 04/18/2010 at 12:13 PM
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Who's laughing now?

[mti312]

I guess the blogs are meant for the manic depressives, pessimists, chicken littles, etc.
Maybe they think they will get more attention being that way. A couple of weeks into the season and it's the end of the world. Pathetic fans.

[oldbrooklynfan]

I was a 12 year old in Brooklyn- where I still reside-when Vin broke in with Red Barber and Connie Desmond (my all time favorite announcer).
Those are wonderful childhood memories, listening watching and rooting for the Dodgers and the Scheafer Beer and Old Gold/ Lucky Strike cigarette commercials. Dems were the days. Then Vinny took us to Los Angeles.
Happy 60th anniversary at the mike, Vinny.