Thank you, Vin

More than anything, I feel grateful that I got to listen to Vin Scully. I’ve already read so many articles today, and they’ve mentioned his numerous legendary calls — Sandy Koufax’s perfect game, Henry Aaron’s 715 home run, Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit home run, the ball squirting through Bill Buckner’s legs in Game 6 — that are indelible to any baseball fan. But what made him so special, at least I think, wasn’t necessarily the big moment; it was flipping on a random game and being met with wonderful stories out of nowhere, filling the summer nights, year after year, for 67 seasons. Those made me so happy, so appreciative to listen to this marvel of not just sports, but history and literature and description and language.

Growing up in New York and New Jersey, there was no way to listen to Vin Scully. But I heard about him from my grandparents, who were diehard fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers, so much so that their house on Long Island had Brooklyn Dodgers artifacts decades after the team left the borough, and that my grandfather still wears a Brooklyn Dodgers cap nearly every single day.

I remember the first time I ever heard Vin. I was home one night from college, and we had just gotten MLB Network. Channel-surfing and I found nothing worth watching but the Dodgers game. I turned it on, and I distinctly remember thinking, “Oh, what the heck, I’ll put see what this Vin Scully guy is all about. I bet he will suck.”

When the game came back from commercial, the camera showed a full moon and he didn’t say anything at first. Finally, after several seconds, he injected, “Can you believe we put a man up there?” And with those nine words, I was hooked forever. It was like discovering plutonium by accident.

I am sad but he was 94 years old, and he lived a full life, a wonderful life, touching so many people.

Vin, as you so perfectly put it in saying goodbye to us, your “friends,” six years ago, we say to you: May God have given you for every storm, a rainbow. For every tear, a smile. For every care, a promise, and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share. For every sigh, a sweet song, and an answer for each prayer.

You and I were friends for a long time. And I’ll miss our time together, more than I can say.