This Day In Dodgers History: Vin Scully Calls His First Dodger Game
April 18 not only marked Opening Day for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950, but it also was the first Dodger game legendary broadcaster Vin Scully called in what’s become an illustrious career, now in his 66th season with the organization.
Scully’s first game pitted the Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Park with Don Newcombe taking the mound for the Boys in Blue. Newcombe pitched into the second inning, but didn’t record an out and was lifted after giving up four runs in one inning.
The Dodgers went on to lose, 9-1, with Jackie Robinson scoring the team’s only run in the seventh inning when the Phillies held a comfortable lead. Although the Dodgers did not come out on top, the day marked the beginning of one of the most acclaimed broadcasting careers in all of sports.
Scully was just 22 years old when his life with the Dodgers broadcasting team began and he went on to become the team’s primary announcer just three years later. The 87-year-old broadcaster has collected numerous honors since that point.
Scully has been inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, awarded Sportscaster of the Year three different times, earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was most recently awarded the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award by Bud Selig in 2014.
When Scully announced last year that he was returning for the 2015 season, the Dodgers organization and Major League Baseball alike rejoiced over the prospect of another year of hearing the famed announcer call games. Now, the Dodgers family anxiously awaits for the broadcaster’s decision on whether or not he will return for the 2016 season.
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True one of a kind. Grew up listening to him.