Los Angeles Dodgers television play-by-play announcer Vin Scully will return to the booth in 2015, marking his 66th season behind the microphone in a career that dates back to the days of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers made the announcement in the middle of the second inning of their Tuesday night game with the Atlanta Braves. The message appeared on the Dodger Stadium video board.
The first 40,000 fans in attendance received Vin Scully talking microphones, which, upon activation, play Scully's immortal announcement, "It's time for Dodger baseball."
Lananna quoted the immortal announcer discussing his decision to return for his 66th year. Said Scully,
"It is very difficult to say goodbye. God willing I will be back next year. Over the years I have been blessed to have so many friends including those that sit in the stands and listen as well as those at home, who listen and look. It is just too hard to say goodbye to all these friends. Naturally there will come a time when I will have to say goodbye, but I've soul-searched and this is not the time."
Scully began announcing Brooklyn Dodgers games in 1950. Throughout his career, he has called some of the most significant Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodger moments, including four Sandy Koufax no-hitters (one a perfect game), Maury Wills's 104 stolen bases in 1962, both Don Drysdale's (58) and Orel Hershiser's (59) scoreless innings streak, and -- perhaps the most memorable moment in Dodger history -- Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
Scully also announced the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, which featured the infamous Bill Buckner error, which allowed the Mets to win Game 6.
Scully has called 25 World Series, five them featuring Dodger victories in 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, and 1988. At this point, he has a chance to add another in 2014. The Dodgers lead the A.L. West by three games as of July 30. Scully has also called 12 All-Star games.
In 1982, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Scully the Ford C. Frick award for his already incredible announcing career. He was the sixth announcer to earn the honor.
At age 86, Scully announces mainly the Dodgers' home games and away games close to Los Angeles: Anaheim, San Diego, Colorado, Arizona, and San Francisco. Still, he will enter his 66th year as the Dodgers' announcer, the longest career of anyone in the industry. Congratulations to Vin Scully on a legendary career that is certainly beyond description.