I started listening to him when the Dodgers moved to L.A. To me he is what a baseball announcer is supposed to sound like—you can’t tell who is leading the game by the tone of his voice. Growing up with Vinney has spoiled me—other announcers, some quite good in their own right, just don’t make the grade.
His call of Koufax’s perfect game against the Cubs is available on line and is classic. No one seems to remember the Cub’s pitcher threw a one-hitter in that game—and the Dodgers’ run was scored without a hit.
I didn’t realize that, I will have to check it out. What I liked about Scully, was even though he was announcing for the Dodgers, he always managed to bring the other club into the game. Highlighting some of their history and accomplishments in such a natural way, that you as a listener, didn’t realize until the inning was over, that he had hardly mentioned the Dodgers at all.
As a Cardinals fan I just appreciated that element of his broadcast. And he was never shy about giving credit to a player or team if they were better than the Dodgers.
The game itself was bigger to Scully than any team or player.
He will not be replaced.
I remember Vin Scully's call of the ninth inning of Sandy Koufax's perfect game on September 9, 1965. You can listen to it here. Remember, this was a live unscripted description of an on-going event.