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Vin Scully called more baseball games than any announcer in the history of the game. Starting in Brooklyn in 1950, moving to Los Angeles with the team eight years later, Scully remained with the Dodgers until 2016. It was a record 67 years, all with one club.

Along the way, the redhead received many awards and accolades. Among the most prestigious is the William J. Slocum Award. Inaugurated in 1930, the honor was bestowed on no less than 50 members of the Hall of Fame. Recipients in the 1930s include the likes of Babe Ruth, John McGraw, Walter Johnson and Connie Mack.

Growing up in Washington Heights section of Manhattan, Scully was a Giants fan in his youth. His favorite player was Mel Ott who received the Award in 1942.

Legendary General Manager Branch Rickey received it for his work in developing the farm system with the Cardinals. Three years after he was so honored, Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to contract with the Dodgers to break the color barrier.

Some of the best players of the next three decades went to New York to receive the prestigious Slocum Award. The list includes Stan Musial (1962), Yogi Berra (1967), Al Kaline (1973), Willie Mays (1974), Carl Yastrzemski (1980), Johnny Bench (1984), Pete Rose (1986), Reggie Jackson (1988), Tom Seaver (1989), George Brett and Nolan Ryan (both in 1994).

Then in 1995, Vin Scully made the pilgrimage to New York to join the most influential men in baseball history to receive the William B. Slocum Award.

In the collection is the plaque Scully received from the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers.

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Vin Scully announced 28 World Series and 21 no-hitters, none of which included his personal favorite play call. That came in a 14-8 Dodger win on May 13, 1952.

To understand the magnitude of the otherwise nondescript game, we have to back to Scully’s time in high school. A conversation in the Fordham Prep auditorium with a classmate set the stage.

Scully and his friend Larry Miggins were sharing their dreams, mapping out a future that would one day come true. In the collection is Miggins’ recollection of the story that Scully often told.

“Vince Scully and I were attending Fordham Prep in 1943…At a school assembly he was sitting behind me, grabbed me by the shoulders and said, ‘Larry someday you will be in the big leagues and the first time you hit a home run, I will be the announcer and tell the world about it.’

“Sure enough it happened in 1952. I was with the Cardinals and the first time we played in NY – my home town – Eddie Stanky put me in left field and I hit a home run (my first) off of Preacher Roe and beat him for the first time in two years. Scully had joined Red Barber on radio broadcasts and he actually told the whole world what happened in 1943.”

Scully called Major League Baseball games for 67 years. He saw some of the greatest moments in baseball history. Through it all, he still holds the Miggins’ home run as his favorite moment in baseball.

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Vin Scully began his big league announcing career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950. Little did he know that he’d stay with the team for 67 years.

One of Scully’s favorite Brooklyn players was the great Gil Hodges. The Dodger announcer always maintained that the first baseman deserved a plaque in Cooperstown, and no wonder. Hodges led all Major Leaguers at his position in hits, runs, total bases, homers and RBI during the 1950s, Scully’s first decade in baseball.

In the collection is this photo of Scully and Hodges chatting away before a ball game at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. Because of the ’55 World Series ring on the ring finger of Scully’s right hand, the image dates to 1956 or ’57.

This photo was signed in 2016 by Scully at age 88 in his final season behind the mic. Scrolling down the this page you can see photos signed 15 years earlier with a steadier hand.

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Giants announcer Jon Miller declared Vin Scully’s call of Henry Aaron’s 715th homer, “…the greatest call in the history of baseball broadcasting”.

Aaron came to bat against Dodger lefty Al Downing in the 4th inning on April 8, 1974. Tied with Babe Ruth for the most home runs in baseball history, Aaron swung at the second pitch.

Vin described the action.

“Fastball there’s a high drive into deep left-center field. Buckner goes back…to the fence…it is gone!” Vin then stayed silent for 36 seconds as Aaron circled the bases.

Scully’s Dodger broadcasting colleague Ross Porter the scene. “…this was a typical Vin Scully moment. When he called the home run and the ball had cleared the fence, he got up, left his desk, left the microphone, walked to the back of the booth in Atlanta, poured himself a glass of water, sat down, and continued the play-by-play.”

After taking a sip of the water, Vin returned to his chair and summed up the moment’s historical impact.

“What a marvelous moment for baseball, what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia, what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol and it is great moment for all of us and particularly for Henry Aaron.”

Shown here is a telegram from the day after Aaron passed the Bambino to become baseball’s career home run leader. Dated April 9, 1974, it reads, “Congratulations on number 715”. Aaron has signed the bottom right of the telegram.

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On April 21, 2001 the Dodgers named their press box in honor of the greatest baseball announcer of all time, Vin Scully. Shown here is a press release announcing the ceremony.

A luminous sign that reads “Vin Scully Press Box” was erected near the door to the box. As part of the ceremony, the Dodgers also unveiled the “Wall of Fame” in the hallway from the entrance to the seating area of the pressbox.

The following two pictures show Scully on that magical day.

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Vin Scully is shown here touching the sign that bears his name near the entrance of the Dodger Stadium press box. The event took place on April 21, 2001 with the then-73 year old Scully climbing a ladder to pull off a curtain and reveal the sign.

Scully has signed and dated this photo. It is personalized to Will Smiley, the son of CooperstownExpert.com collector Jim Smiley. Two months shy of his second birthday at the time, the younger Smiley grew up around baseball.

As a sophomore in high school, he threw the first no-hitter at the newly renovated field where Jackie Robinson prepped. The previous season, the field was overgrown with weeds. The Dodgers pitched in more than a quarter of a million dollars to transform the field into a palace.

In an interview after the game Smiley said, “Jackie Robinson’s number is retired by every Major League team. It’s pretty neat to say that we played against the high school that he played for and it’s even better to come away with a win.”

Pressed to talk about his dominant performance, Smiley insisted on seeing the bigger picture.

“As an athlete we all want to compete against players and teams better than us,” Smiley continued. “Muir baseball is on the rise and that’s good for everyone. We were focused on winning the game. It’s great throwing a no-hitter but the real thrill is playing on the same field as Jackie Robinson.”

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In addition to naming the Dodger press box, the team also unveiled the “Walk of Fame”. It is located in the hallway that leads from the entrance of the press box to the main seating area.

In the collection is this picture of Vin Scully on the day of the Walk of Fame dedication. The Dodger announcer is looking at the framed artwork of himself as seen in the reflection. This image captures Scully’s first glimpse of the newly adorned walls.

Scully has signed and dated the photo to commemorate the day.

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Shown here and in the next two images is the Dodger press release announcing Vin Scully’s return for his 63rd season. Lifelong baseball man Don Zimmer pens his thoughts at the bottom of the release.

Zim writes, “To think that Vinny and I started out in Brooklyn all those many years ago and he is still the announcer of the Dodgers is unbelievable!?! He’s not only a Hall of Fame announcer but a dear friend. Many many fans around the world have been touched by his broadcasting. We all are looking forward to his 63rd season in the booth for the Dodgers!?! Sincerely, Don Zimmer.”

When Scully left the broadcast booth in 2016 he released a statement saying, “You and I have been friends for a long time, but I know in my heart that I’ve always needed you more than you’ve ever needed me, and I’ll miss our time together more than I can say. But you know what? There will be a new day and eventually a new year. And when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, rest assured, once again it will be ‘time for Dodger baseball.’ So this is Vin Scully wishing you a very pleasant good afternoon, wherever you may be.”

 

 

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Here Brooklyn hurler Carl Erskine compares Vin Scully to the announcer’s mentor Red Barber.

Erskine writes, “I first met Vince Scully in 1950 – he was fresh out of Fordham Univ. I immediately looked at his red hair and said, ‘This kid is a pup out of Red Barber.’ How prophetic. In fact, Vin has been all that Red Barber was and more. I always felt Vin’s poetic mission & description of baseball was learned at the feet of Red Barber…”

Erskine signed the bottom of the letter adding, “Dodgers 1948-1959”.

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Twelve-year big league veteran Tommy Hutton signed with the Dodgers as an 18-year old 1964. Tommy Lasorda, then a scout for the team, took a look at Hutton based on a tip from a parking lot attendant.

Hutton grew up in South Pasadena, just a few miles from Chavez Ravine. The parking lot attendant was a friend of Hutton and Lasorda see his buddy play.

It worked out well for Hutton who played nearly 1,000 big league games for four teams from 1966-1981. After hanging up his spikes, Hutton remained in the game as an announcer for more than 30 years.

Here, Hutton reflects on Vin Scully in 2011.

“Having grown up in Los Angeles and listened to Vin Scully from 1958 till I signed with LA in 1964, it was a thrill to actually have him call some games I played in. Thanks to XM radio when I drive home from [announcing] a Marlins game, many times I check in on Vin Scully & the Dodgers for a trip down memory lane on my 1 hr. drive home.”

Hutton added his signature to the bottom of the page.

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CooperstownExpert.com’s Jim Smiley covered the Dodgers for 23 years. In that time he got to know Vin Scully. The Dodger announcer was as kind in person as he seemed on the air.

How well did Scully know Smiley?

“Vin was always so friendly and approachable to everyone in the press box,” Smiley said. “Despite that, the first 16 years I covered the Dodgers Vin didn’t know my name.”

Smiley changed that before in 2009 by giving Scully a Wheaties advertisement featuring the announcer’s favorite childhood player, Mel Ott.

Before each game Smiley enjoyed dinner in the press box with stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley. Scully often came by to visit with Hefley.

“I wrote a letter to Vin about how important our favorite player is in our youth. We can still picture him batting no matter hold old we get,” Smiley said. “Part of our childhood dies when our favorite player retires. Luckily for me, my favorite Dodger was Vin.”

When Scully came by one night to visit the organist, Smiley handed him the letter and the Wheaties ad. Scully was cordial in accepting it and the two went about their business.

“After dinner I was sitting in my seat in the press box and all of a sudden I hear Vin yelling my name. It might sound funny, but that was a thrill”

Scully was so touched after reading the letter that he invited Smiley into the TV booth. The two shared conversation for a half hour.

“From then on, Vin called me by name. It took me 16 years, but boy was it worth it!”.

In the collection is this signed photo of Scully and Smiley in the press dining room.

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While covering the Dodgers in 1997, Jim Smiley took his five-month old son to his first base game. This picture shows son Jimmy and wife Mashitah at that September 21st, 1997 contest.

Scully loved children. When Smiley and his wife came in with their son, Scully asked, “Would you mind if I held that beautiful baby?”

Smiley gleefully agreed and snapped this photo.

Scully has signed and dated it as a keepsake for the younger Smiley.

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Jimmy Smiley got his first taste of baseball at Dodgers Stadium as a five-month old infant. Soon he developed a lifelong love of baseball.

Smiley and his brother Will grew up surrounded by the game, playing it since they were four years old. Both boys starred in high school.

After graduation, Jimmy attended Whitman College in Walla, Walla, Washington. An injury wiped away his freshman season. Smiley played the next two years for Whitman where he was captain and an All-Conference starting pitcher.

Smiley graduated in three years with a physics degree. With two years of eligibility remaining, Smiley was admitted to the Ivy League’s Columbia University.

After successfully walking on to the baseball team, Smiley became an integral part of the Lions’ bullpen. In his first season he went 3-0 with 2 saves.

His overall collegiate record was 10-3 with 4 saves.

Here is his biography from BaseballReference.com.