It's always special when the Dodgers play the Giants, but today is even more special for another reason. From the Associated Press:
The one constant in the longtime rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants has been Vin Scully, who on Sunday will mark the 60th anniversary of his first day in the Dodgers' broadcast booth with Red Barber and Connie Desmond. "I feel only overwhelming gratitude," Scully told the Associated Press. "You feel blessed that you've lived that long, that you've been allowed to do what you love to do for that long, and that my health has held up all those years. It's humbling to think that you've been that fortunate and that God has blessed you with that time. That first team, the so-called 'Boys of Summer,' that was my graduating class. I mean, look at the team then. I had Don Newcombe, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Billy Cox, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Carl Furillo and Carl Erskine. That was such an amazing collection of players, so I guess that was the team that made the most impression on me."
The 1950 season started the same way it ended for the Dodgers: with a loss to Robin Roberts and the pennant-winning Whiz Kid Phillies. Since Scully has joined the Dodgers, he has announced, among other things:
- 25 World Series
- 12 All-Star Games
- Three perfect games (can you name them?)
- 19 no-hitters
- All six Dodgers' World Championships
- The scoreless inning streaks of both Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser
- Hank Aaron's 715th home run, on April 8, 1974
- Kirk Gibson's home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series
Without Vin Scully, the Dodgers simply aren't the Dodgers. Thank you, Vin, for all the wonderful memories, and happy anniversary.