Growing up in the projects of Los Angeles in the 1960’s, somedays life was hard. No, we didn’t have Oprah or Dr. Phil to help us navigate through life’s rough patches. My therapy came through the 2-inch speaker of a transistor radio. Hearing Vin’s voice melted all of my troubles away and the world was perfect for a few hours.
My friend Tom who now lives on the east coast, recently told me, “ I dearly miss a summer evening in Chavez Ravine, at dusk, in Dodger Stadium with the San Gabriel’s out over the centerfield fence . . . is this heaven?”
Below are tributes from ordinary people and longtime Dodgers fans:
“Sitting in our living room with my dad listening to Vin as Don Sutton took another no hitter into the late innings that would inevitably not come to pass, Vin calling the world series against the A’s and the Yankees, Rick Monday saving the flag, Fernandomania, Gibby’s Home Run; those are the memories of my childhood and Vin is in all of them. May he rest in peace.”
“As a child I fell asleep next to my father’s side, and the lullaby of baseball and Vin Scully.”
“I started listening to Vin Scully when I was 7 years old when I fell in love with the Dodgers! He had a gift, the gift was when he was describing Dodger baseball and telling his amazing stories like only he could, Vinny was talking ONLY TO ME!! ONLY ME!! That is a gift that can’t be taught! We all new this day would come, but it hurts none the less. I am now 63 years old now and I can’t believe he is gone! Vin Scully will always be the SHINING STAR in the City of Angels!”
Vin was my favorite since I was ten years old in Brooklyn. He was amazing and was the Dodgers voice. We loved that he was a lip reader and would tell what was being said during screaming matches between umpire vs manager. “Fertilizer!” Instead of “Bull–it!”.
REST IN PEACE Vincent Edward Scully.
Oh, and Tom, the next time I’m sitting down the first baseline in the setting sun and surrounded by Vinny’s majestic voice saying “It’s time for Dodger baseball. Hello everybody and a pleasant good evening to you,” I’ll raise my glass and smile, knowing exactly where its coming from.