FanPost

A fan's letter to Vin Scully


Three years ago on the 4th of July, I did something I'd never done before: I wrote a fan letter. As rumors of Vin Scully's impending retirement were circulating at that time, and as I wanted Vinny to know how much he'd meant to me through the years, I put pen on paper and mailed him the following letter:

4th of July, 2007

Mr. Vin Scully

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles

Dear Mr. Scully,

On a career-counseling questionnaire I took a long time ago, I was asked to name the four most influential people in my life. Your name appeared as #4 on my list, behind JR Richards, my summer camp mentor, Danny Kaye, and Deb Johnson, my best friend.

"What could a summer camp director, an actor, your best friend and a sports announcer have in common?" the counselor asked me.

"They’re all great storytellers." I answered, realizing only at that moment that my destiny lay in writing and storytelling.

Mr. Scully, I don’t know how much longer you’re intending to broadcast the Dodgers’ games but I do know that I’ve always wanted to tell you how much I’ve learned from you.

I grew up in Santa Barbara, you see. I remember weekend gardening with my dad, the radio tuned in to the Dodgers’ game. I remember secretly listening to you, buried under my blankets, when I was supposed to be asleep. I remember attending the Sandy Koufax no-hitter in ’65, wondering how on earth Dad could hear you on his radio’s earplug over the deafening roar of the crowd. I remember wanting to try Farmer John pork, even though I’m Jewish, because you made it sound so tasty. (‘The easternmost in quality and the westernmost in flavor"). Most of all I remember loving your anecdotes so much that I didn’t care what happened on the next play, so long as you’d return to the story.

Please know I am listening to you, still, way over here in Israel, thanks to the wonders of Internet and MLB.TV.

With gratitude,

This is a fan-written post that is in no way affiliated with or related to any of the authors or editors of True Blue LA. The opinions reflected in this post do not necessarily reflect those of True Blue LA, its authors or editors.