Vin Scully dies at 94: MLB world remembers legendary Dodgers broadcaster, best calls

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David Suggs
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• 6 min read
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Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, the voice of the Dodgers for 67 years, has died. He was 94 years old.

The Dodgers announced Scully's death on Twitter late Tuesday night.

Scully was the voice of baseball for so many; from Brooklyn to the Chavez Ravine and everywhere in between, Scully was there, following the Dodgers.

He covered a host of the sport's finest players, including Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson and Clayton Kershaw. With a soothing voice, a wry sense of humor and a collection of catchphrases like no other, Scully brought the game to living rooms across the country. A man known for his impeccable timing, knowing exactly when to step back and allow the crowd to carry the moment, Scully transformed broadcasting.

In his career, Scully called: 

  • 25 World Series
  • 12 All-Star Games
  • 3 perfect games
  • 18 no-hitters

MORE: Vin Scully's greatest calls

History of Vin Scully's career

Scully started his career with the Dodgers in 1950. At that time he was just a fresh-faced 22-year old then, calling games when the Dodgers played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. When they left for L.A. in 1958, Scully did, too.

He was present for nearly every memorable moment that happened at Dodger Stadium. Championships, no hitters, perfect games, walk-off home-runs — Scully was there.

Not only did he call Dodgers games, he told stories. Scully brought you into the booth with him, providing guided imageries while sitting in his booth from Chavez Ravine, which overlooked downtown LA.

Scully became the standard-bearer for announcers in the sport. And as his career went on, he began to rack up the accomplishments. Scully won numerous Sportscaster of the Year awards, was inducted in the National Radio Hall of Fame and NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2016, Elysian Park Avenue — a road right outside Dodger Stadium — was renamed Vin Scully Avenue in his honor. That same year, Scully received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive.

He also won the Commissioner's Historic Achievement award in 2014, the perfect accolade to go with his 1982 induction into Cooperstown as a Ford C. Frisk award recipient.

When did Vin Scully retire?

In 2016, Scully announced his intention to retire. He called his last game on September 25th of that year. In typical Scully fashion, it was dramatic — Charlie Culberson smacked a walk-off blast in the Dodger Stadium bleachers to give the Blue Crew a victory.

Even after his retirement, Scully remained involved with the franchise. Scully even helped announce that Dodger Stadium was hosting the 2020 All-Star Game.

Baseball world reacts to Vin Scully's death

The baseball world came together to mourn the loss of Vin Scully on Tuesday night:

Vin Scully's greatest calls

Vin Scully accomplishments

  • Ford C. Frick award winner (1982)
  • Commissioner's Historic Achievement award (2016)
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016)
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame star
  • "Microphone" retired with the Los Angeles Dodgers
  • 3-time National Sportscaster of the Year
  • National Radio Hall of Fame
  • NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame
  • American Sportscaster Association Top Sportscaster of All-Time (2009)
Author(s)
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David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News.

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