Vin Scully, the Dodgers’ Hall of Fame announcer in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, died Tuesday at age 94, the team announced.
“We have lost an icon,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement. “Vin Scully was one of the greatest voices in all of sports. He was a giant of a man, not just as a broadcaster, but as a humanitarian. He loved people. He loved life. He loved baseball and the Dodgers. And he loved his family. His voice will always be heard and etched in all of our minds forever. I know he was looking forward to joining the love of his life, Sandi. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this such a difficult time. Vin will be greatly missed.”
Scully was the Dodgers’ broadcaster for 67 years, including an eight-year stint in Brooklyn before the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1958. His tenure with the Dodgers was the longest by a sports broadcaster with any team.
A native of the Bronx, Scully was the broadcaster in 25 World Series, 20 no-hitters and 12 All-Star Games. He served briefly in the United States Navy before beginning his broadcasting career in 1949, when he called play-by-play for college football games.
Scully began broadcasting Dodgers games in 1950, joining the legendary Red Barber and Connie Desmond. He became the youngest man to broadcast a World Series game in 1953 when, at age 25, he replaced Barber for the Fall Classic between the Dodgers and the rival New York Yankees.
Scully has received numerous awards and honors during her illustrious career. He won the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame for “meritorious service to baseball broadcasters,” in 1982 and was named the greatest sportscaster of all time by the American Association of SportsCasters in 2009.
Scully also received the Commissioner’s Historical Achievement Award, which recognizes achievements and contributions of historical significance, in 2014. He became the second non-player to receive the award, joining Rachel Robinson (2007 ).
In 2001, the press box at Dodger Stadium was renamed in honor of Scully, and in 2016, the city of Los Angeles renamed a section of the road from Sunset Boulevard to Stadium Way as “Scully Avenue Wine.”
The Dodgers also honored Scully before their home opener in 2016, his final season as broadcaster, with a pregame ceremony attended by several legendary figures in the organization, including Sandy Koufax and Tommy Lasorda.
“I know it’s perfect timing,” Scully said inside Dodger Stadium before the game on April 12, 2016. “I kept thinking, ‘I’m going to be 89 when the season is over.’ If you go one more year, you will be 90.’ I don’t think it’s fair to the listeners. That’ll be it and I’ll be grateful.”