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Vin Scully To Retire After 2010

Bill Plaschke of the LA Times brings us the news that Dodgers' announcer Vin Scully will likely retire after next season:

Scully, 81, said if he continues to feel well he will work past his landmark year and retire after the 2010 season.

"God willing, I will probably come back for one more year," Scully said in a phone interview. "At this moment, my health is excellent, and I'm leaning toward one more year."

And then retire?

"Yes, that makes sense," he said.

Scully has been a part of every Dodger fan's life, perhaps the man more associated with the franchise than any other.  Scully's pending retirement has been something all Dodger fans have had in the back of their mind for some time.  After all, this is his 60th season behind the microphone.  However, knowing the "when" of Scully's retirement is a positive thing.

This gives the Dodgers and their many fans the chance to honor Scully, to let him bask in the ovations he so richly deserves.  The man is so humble that he probably won't want to make a big deal out of his retirement.  But it is a big deal, to all of us who used to hold radios to our ears when we were supposed to be sleeping, to all of us who have had an extra family member in Vin Scully.

I have had the great pleasure to cover the Dodgers this season from the press box.  The Vin Scully Press Box.  No thrill has been bigger than being able to be near Vin.  Hearing the deep timbre of his voice in close range sends chills down my spine.  I have passed him in the dining room a few times, and each time he acts as though its his pleasure to see me.

I hope I can be there to give Vin his proper send-off next season.  I'm certain there will be tears in my eyes, but they will be tears of joy.  For all the joy Mr. Scully has brought into my life all these years.  But, why wait until next year?  Show Vin your support now.  Write him a letter; tell him what he has meant to you.  Cherish every remaining moment you will have with a broadcasting legend. 

After all, as Vin likes to say, "if you want to make God smile, tell him your plans."

Do you have a favorite Vin Scully moment?  Please let us know in the comments below.

0 recs  |  Comment 24 comments |

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recently: When manny hit the boobleslam vin was like this is just like hollywood… wait no its MANNYYY WOOODD

by matthewmafa on Jul 28, 2009 11:31 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

i made that my facebook status i believe it was something like

“Thats even more Hollywood than Hollywood, (pause and a soft chuckle) ya you’re right, its Mannywood” absolutely classic as always

O.A.

by Ollie on Jul 29, 2009 1:09 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

same

the bobbleslam or the steve finley grand slam well i dont know for sure
i wasnt born yet to see the gibson home run and some of his other notable calls

by shaqfor3 on Jul 28, 2009 11:33 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The Finley slam was a great call…if I remember correctly it was something like:

A high fly ball, wherever it lands the Dodgers have won the NL West

or something like that.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 28, 2009 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That picture always makes me think Vinny’s belting out the national anthem or something.

by jaffa on Jul 28, 2009 11:41 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My favorite call in the context of the times was the 4+1 game...

…when Nomar hit that two-run walkoff, and Vin didn’t say shit for like a minute and just let the crowd tell the story.

Nobody does that anymore. They are too busy yelling pointless crap like “AND YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOOARRRRRRRRRRD YESSSSSSSS” and ruining moments.

by kensai on Jul 29, 2009 12:58 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

God this sucks

He should do the games from his bed if he wants. Anywhere. Please don’t leave us with some other douches.

by kensai on Jul 29, 2009 12:59 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I know I may even be in slight minority

but although he’ll never compare to Vin, I personally enjoy Monday and Steiner, they both have more classic and “signature” styles to their voices that for me, are enjoyable

but of course, every moment left with Vin should be treasured, because there will never be another like him.

O.A.

by Ollie on Jul 29, 2009 1:12 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Steiner is like an overly exciteable fan calling the game.

by kensai on Jul 29, 2009 3:49 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

2008 Coliseum Exhibition Game

I absolutely LOVED hearing Vin call this game. All of his wonderful stories about the Coliseum and the Dodgers first coming to L.A. My favorite story of the night was him telling how the “Charge” chant originated in the Coliseum with the Dodgers and has caught on with every team today. I wish this game was available for download or something like that somewhere…

by EthierIsBetterThanKemp on Jul 29, 2009 1:02 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Sad news

I now want the Dodgers to aggressively pursue any options to win now. A World Series without Vin is almost like no World Series.

by dodgerpreacher on Jul 29, 2009 4:42 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The Lakers were never the same for me after Chick Hearn died

I hope Vinny retiring doesn’t have the same effect.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jul 29, 2009 6:41 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Walking by Vinny and Getting a Smile

When I was 13, I was walking by the local park from little league practice and Vinny walked by, saw my Dodgers hat and I just sat there and stared. I didn’t say anything, or get his autograph which I wish I could’ve, but he gave me a smile which was pretty neat.

A few thoughts about Vinny, as I don’t have a favorite call. I left LA for college 8 years ago, and haven’t lived in LA since. I still get a chance to attend a minimum of 2 or 3 Dodger games a year on the road and schedule my visits home around their home schedule. But when I do watch them on TV its either on national TV or on local TV against local teams. I’ve been weened a bit, but it was tough to get used to Dodger games without Vinny there to talk me through it. One nice thing is that local and national announcers almost never forget to pay Vinny some respect.

As Phil said above, those first few games without Chick Hearn were really strange. I never knew my grandparents, and I suppose having Vinny gone will be like losing a grandfather.

Let me repeat the sentiment that Colleti & Co. need to do whatever they can to get the Dodgers to the WS before he retires, even if it screws over our future completely.

by bearface on Jul 29, 2009 7:11 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

“even if it screws over our future completely”

Huh?

by pdotmac1 on Jul 29, 2009 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Take some risks

If he’s gone by 2011, then lets try and do what we can to get in the WS before then. Even if we lose some major prospects.

by bearface on Jul 29, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think Vinny's best attribute is what he doesn't do

He knows when it’s best to let the crowd do the announcing for him.

The highest praise I can give him is that when he addresses his audience as “friends” you really believe him. I’ve never met him, but listening to him, I feel like I’m listening to an old friend.

I’m hoping my husband will be able to get an internship in the LA area next year so that I can take in just a few more games with my friend Vinny.

by bruinbabe2000 on Jul 29, 2009 9:33 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Vin Scully retires

He has been a voice in the background of my life during my whole life. When I think of baseball I think of how much he and my father taught me about the game. I can remember when he used to do the playoffs and the world series. I can not believe that he is going to quit. i think he loves the game as much as I do and it is something he can not do without. All in all, I hope that whatever he chooses that he will be happy. I hope that the dodgers can persuade him to stay on in some way that we will be able to hear his voice periodically. This news saddens me even though I have secretly expected it. Although, he has certainly served long enough to retire. I can’t imagine wo will fill his shoes in the booth.

by Janemiyama on Jul 31, 2009 10:20 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

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2010 Dodger Payroll

Pos No Player 2010 Salary
C 55 Martin $5,050,000
1B 7 Loney $3,100,000
2B 33 DeWitt $410,000*
3B 23 Blake $6,000,000
SS 15 Furcal $8,500,000
LF 99 Manny $7,267,760
CF 27 Kemp $4,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $6,000,000

2B/3B 14
Carroll $1,350,000
2B/3B/1B 3 Belliard $825,000
C 12
Ausmus $850,000
OF 5 Johnson $800,000
SS 60
Hu $405,000*

SP 22 Kershaw $425,000*
SP 58 Billingsley $3,850,000
SP 18 Kuroda $14,100,000
SP 44 Padilla $4,025,000
SP 57 Elbert $405,000*

CL 51 Broxton $4,000,000
LHP 52 Sherrill $4,500,000
LHP 56 Kuo $950,000
RHP 67 Troncoso $425,000*
RHP 54 Belisario $425,000*
RHP 31 McDonald $425,000*
RHP 68 Monasterios $460,000*

Pierre $4,000,000
Andruw $3,600,000
Schmidt $2,000,000
Wolf $2,000,000
Hudson $1,440,000
Nomar $1,250,000
Ohman $200,000
Hoffmann ($50,000)

Others on 40-man roster (total: 40)
LHP 65 Zerpa $60,000*
RHP 64 Guerra  
RHP 37 Haeger  
RHP 74 Jansen  
LHP 59 Leach
RHP 73 Link  
RHP 49 Schlichting  
LHP 50 Stults  
RHP 47 Wade
C 9
Ellis  
C 71 May  
SS 87 DeJesus  
OF 75 Paul
OF 17 Repko $500,000
OF 62 Robinson  

Totals $93,547,760
 
Red = arbitration
Asterisk (*) = estimated
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