Opening Day with Vince Scully
Opening day with Vince Scully has been a Dodger tradition since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and had its first season in 1958. For fifty years his golden voice has been the heart beat of the Dodgers. From Sandy Koufax’s no-hitters to Steve Sax’s no-throws to first base, he has told it all. One of the last of the old-time baseball announcers, he grew up in an era where the story was more important than the action on the field. While baseball can be seen on TV, in many ways it is best experienced on radio. As a kid there was nothing like settling down for the evening as I heard Scully’s voice reverberate with reference and passion as he decribed the game that was bigger than life.
Many have wondered what unites Los Angeles, the huge metropolitan area that is bursting at the seams with millions of fans from around the world. Baseball is now more than Americas game — it is truly international with some of its best players coming from Japan, Korea, and the Dominican Republic. The team that brought Jackie Roberston to the field of play, the first American-American allowed into professional baseball, has a roster that spans the globe. At 1:00 pm Pacific Time, Dodger fans across the world, whether in offices in Century City, or cars on the 101, or in Internet cafes in Tokyo will know the boys of summer are in action when they hear Scully announce the game. While politicians, preachers, and stars have risen and fallen, one voice has remained a constant, making baseball more than just a game — in Scully’s hands it comes with parables about life.
One aspect of this can’t be ignored, this 80-year-old announcer has a lot to say to kids of all ages. We may think that those over 70 have little to offer. But in fact, when Scully reflects on the plays and players he has seen over the days of his career, he puts today’s game into a context that gives it meaning and purpose beyond the slide into second base or the single that sends home the winning run. There is something to be said for those around us who can put our daily existence into a larger context of history and perspective. So as you relish the opening day of the season, look for those around you who have lived a long life for they may have something to say to you that will put your life into perspective. Words of wisdom, from whatever the source, should be cherished and held tight.