Vin Scully era comes to a close at Dodger Stadium today

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In an era when the next new thing is promoted weekly, almost daily, Dodger fans have found some warm comfort in knowing that the guy calling the play-by-play on the radio and television has been Vin Scully. For 67 years Vin Scully has been the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Vin Scully Press Box at Dodger Stadium
Vin Scully Press Box at Dodger Stadium

In later years it was just the home games, but that was enough for the Dodgers fans. There are 81 home games per year, plus the postseason, although last year Scully missed the playoffs due to “having a little work done,” as he put it. The work was a medical procedure.

During a Spring Training press conference Scully said “they,” meaning the Dodgers organization, would have to talk about Scully calling any postseason games if the team made it that far. With the Dodgers’ magic number at one, it is all but assured they will play into October and possibly November. No word has been announced on whether Vin would be sitting in the Vin Scully Press Box when the Dodgers play at home against the Washington Nationals.

Scully loved the Dodgers fans, he said, “The roar of the crowd has always been the sweetest music. It’s intoxicating.” In his farewell address on Friday Night, he added, “When you roar, when you cheer, when you are thrilled, for a brief moment I’m eight years old again.” He told the packed house crowd, “You really and truly have been the wind beneath my wings. I owe you everything.”

Scully told the crowd he won’t have trouble finding something to do in retirement. His wife Sandra, his five remaining children (His son Michael died in a helicopter crash in 1994), 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren will keep him busy.

Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax

Currently the Nationals are a game ahead of the Dodgers in the standings, which means if it stays that way through the end of the season, which will be Sunday, October 2 in San Francisco against the Giants for the Dodgers, Washington would have home field advantage in the NLDS 1 series. It’s imperative Los Angeles wins all their remaining games, which will include today’s game against a strong Colorado team — despite the 14-1 beat down they took in Saturday’s game.

Monday the Dodgers make the trip to San Diego to face the Padres for three and then up to San Francisco for three more. Both teams possess the ability to make the final week of the season difficult for the boys of Chavez Ravine.

The chance for the Dodgers to open the post season at home, in Dodger Stadium — and possibly facilitate the wishes of the Dodgers Nation to hear Vin Scully a couple more times — could be the best news for the fans who would love to hear Vin Scully announce, once again, “Hi everybody and a very pleasant good evening to you.”

Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw

You can hear some of his remarks from Friday night, along with those of Charley Steiner, Kevin Costner, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Dodger great Sandy Koufax in Claudia Gestro’s video report (below). Included are some of Vin’s comments from a Spring Training press conference held at Camelback Ranch, in Scottsdale, AZ.

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In related news: In what can only be described as a great tragedy for baseball, The Miami Marlins, the people of Cuba and the immediate family and friends, 24-year old All-Star pitcher José Fernández died in a boating accident off Miami Beach, FL. The U.S. Coast Guard found a 32-foot boat crashed onto a jetty and then found three victims in the water; one floating and two trapped underneath the boat.

jose-fernandez2In a press conference this morning, Miami police and the Coast Guard said the boat was owned by a friend of Fernández and the spokesman for the Miami police said the pitcher probably wasn’t piloting the boat. The investigation is ongoing.

Fernández was scheduled to pitch Monday, but the game between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins that was scheduled to get under way in a few hours has been cancelled. The Marlins will pick up their schedule Monday against the New York Mets.

Fernández has a very compelling story. The young pitcher tried defecting from Cuba three times, and spent time in a Cuban prison before making it to America. While making the crossing from Cuba to Florida his mother fell off the boat and Fernández jumped overboard to save her.

José Fernández leaves behind his family and a girlfriend who is pregnant.

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UPDATE: The Dodgers won in the 10th inning with a walk off homerun by Charlie Culbertson, but it was Corey Seager who put the Dodgers in a position to win over the Rockies in the 9th inning.

Corey Seager
Corey Seager

In the top of the 9th David Dahl shocked Dodger Stadium when he hit a home run to center left off of Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, putting Colorado head in the game.

In the bottom of the 9th, with Colorado leading, Adam Ottavino took the mound for the Rockies pitching for the Rockies. He had retired Andrew Toles and Justin Turner — both strikeouts. Just when it looked like the Dodgers would have to play at least one more game to win the National League West Division, Seager took the batter’s box and then put the ball over the right field wall.

With the game tied, Joc Pederson got a walk, but Adrian Gonzalez flied out to left.

Joe Blanton took the mound in the top of the 10th, keeping the Rockies from scoring, despite two men reaching base.

Charlie Culberson
Charlie Culberson

It was in the bottom of the 10th, with Boone Logan pitching for Colorado, that Culberson hit the 6th homerun of his career. There were two outs when his solo shot landed along the left field line beyond the wall. The entirety of Dodgers Stadium erupted as the Dodgers stormed home plate to celebrate winning the game and the division title.

No one left Dodger Stadium, which turned out to be a good thing for the fans and the team. Vin Scully gave a heartfelt thank you and farewell to the fans as the team stood out on the field, in front of the Vin Scully Press Box. He then had the stadium play a recording of Scully singing “You Are The Wind Beneath My Wings.”

It was the end of an era at Dodger Stadium, the 67-year reign of Vin Scully and it couldn’t have finished in better fashion: his beloved Dodgers with yet another walk-off homerun to win a game and the division.

 

Photos and video by Claudia Gestro