Happy 82nd Birthday, Vin!

November 29, 2009 at 6:24 pm | Posted in Vin Scully | 4 Comments

Happy Birthday to the best.

Given the date, and with the lack of news, for the most part, what are some of your favorite Vin moments/stories that stand out?

- Vin

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My “other” job is as a theatre director. With that in mind, if there’s one thing we know about Vinny from listening to him, it’s that he loves musicals, and he frequently references “The Music Man.” A few months ago, I saw that they were reprinting Meredith Willson’s book about his writing of the show, and I figured I’d send Vin a copy, angling for a personal response. Regardless, it was a chance to express my thanks and admiration in a way I was pretty sure he’d read.

So, I sent the book a couple of months ago and left it to chance. The wife and I were on vacation in October, and when I went to pick up the mail, I saw a letter addressed to me on Dodger stationery, so I knew I’d scored.

It’s a Dodgers card, about four by eight inches, dated 10-23-09.

“Hi [Bill] –

“Many thanks for your kindness and thoughtfulness in sending me the Meredith Wilson book.

“The Music Man is permanently in my brain so it means a great deal to me.

“Sincerely,
Vin Scully

“P.S. — Sorry I’m late but the Dodgers kept me busy — VS”

I’ll be framing it and putting it up on the wall.

Comment by Bill Grabarkewitz— November 30, 2009 #

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I don’t have an awesome story, like Mr. Grabarkewitz, but I do remember the moment I fell in love with Vin.

I was probably in 8th grade, so this would have been the beginning of the ’96 season. The Expos were playing LA and the game was untelevized, so I was listening to the game on the radio in my bedroom. I remember distinctly Vin trying explain how Mark Grudzielanek’s name was pronounced. He said something like “It’s spelled ‘grud-zee-ehl-AHN-ek’ but it comes out ‘grass-ehl-AHN-ek’.” Then, after a momentary pause, “It’s a wonder it comes out at all.”

That did it for me.

Comment by gpellamjr— November 30, 2009 #

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Any time I watch the Kirk Gibson homerun. The call followed by silence is incredible.

Comment by Jsaid— November 30, 2009 #

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The thing I cherish about Vin the most is the stories. He is our link to the past. I’m 32 years old, about to turn 33, and yet, I get to hear these first hand accounts of baseball’s “glory days” of the 40′s 50′s and 60′s from a man who watched them happen. We get to share in those memories, as retold by the game’s greatest storyteller.

I also love that he still gets a kick out of things today, even though he’s seen it all, ten times over. The way he giggles like a school boy at Kershaw’s curveball, Furcal’s arm strength or Ethier’s walkoffs… and then, there’s the calls: “a dazzling play by the the O-Dawg!” or “to the track, to the wall, gonnnnnne!”

The man is a gem. Happy Birthday Vin.

Comment by Vegas Blue— November 30, 2009 #

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