[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6243-S6244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 52--HONORING VINCENT EDWARD ``VIN''
SCULLY, THE UNITED STATES BASEBALL BROADCASTER WHO HAS MAGNIFICENTLY
SERVED AS THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER FOR THE BROOKLYN AND LOS ANGELES
DODGERS FOR 67 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASONS SINCE 1950
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary:
S. Con. Res. 52
Whereas Vincent Edward ``Vin'' Scully was born in the
Bronx, New York, on November 29, 1927;
Whereas Vin Scully was raised in the Washington Heights
neighborhood of Manhattan, New York;
Whereas when Vin Scully was 8 years old he decided he
wanted to become a sports announcer;
Whereas in 1950, at the age of 22, Vin Scully joined the
radio and television broadcast team for the Brooklyn Dodgers;
Whereas in 1953, at the age of 25, Vin Scully became the
youngest individual to announce the broadcast of a World
Series game;
Whereas Vin Scully announced Brooklyn Dodgers' games
through 1957, after which he moved with the Dodgers to Los
Angeles as the first team in Major League Baseball to play in
Southern California;
Whereas Vin Scully is credited with teaching the game of
baseball to Los Angeles;
Whereas since 1950, Vin Scully has announced more than
9,000 Major League Baseball games and almost \1/2\ of all Los
Angeles Dodgers games ever played;
Whereas Vin Scully has announced numerous iconic moments in
baseball history, including--
(1) on September 9, 1965, Vin Scully announced Los Angeles
Dodgers' pitcher Sandy Koufax's perfect game against the
Chicago Cubs, concluding, ``Sandy Koufax, whose name will
always remind you of strikeouts, did it with a flourish. He
struck out the last 6 consecutive batters. So when he wrote
his name in capital letters in the record book, that `K'
stands out more than the `oufax'.'';
(2) on April 8, 1974, Vin Scully called the 715th homerun
by Hank Aaron to break Babe Ruth's longstanding homerun
record, stating, ``What a marvelous moment for baseball, what
a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the State of Georgia, what
a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man
is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking
a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great
moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron.'';
and
(3) on October 15, 1988, during Game 1 of the 1988 World
Series at Dodger Stadium, Vin Scully announced a game-
winning, pinch hit homerun by injured Los Angeles Dodger Kirk
Gibson against Oakland Athletics' reliever Dennis Eckersley,
declaring, ``High fly ball into right field. She is gone . .
. In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has
happened.'';
Whereas Vin Scully has described the exploits of some of
baseball's all-time greats, including Jackie Robinson, Roy
Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Duke Snider, Don
Sutton, Fernando Valenzuela, Tommy Lasorda, Orel Hershiser,
Mike Piazza, and Clayton Kershaw, among many others;
Whereas Vin Scully has been nicknamed ``The Shakespeare of
Baseball'', ``The Voice of the Dodgers'', and ``The Voice of
Summer'';
Whereas Vin Scully has been awarded the honors of--
(1) National Sportscaster of the Year from the National
Sports Media Association in 1965, 1978, and 1982;
(2) Ford Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of
Fame in 1982;
(3) induction into the National Sports Media Association
Hall of Fame in 1991;
(4) induction into the American Sportscasters Association
Hall of Fame in 1992;
(5) Life Achievement Emmy Award for Sportscasting in 1995;
(6) induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995;
(7) Sportscaster of the Century from the American
Sportscasters Association in 2000;
(8) induction into the California Sports Hall of Fame in
2008;
(9) induction into the National Association of Broadcasters
Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2009;
(10) Ambassador Award of Excellence from the Los Angeles
Sports & Entertainment Commission in 2009;
(11) Top Sportscaster of All-Time from the American
Sportscasters Association in 2009;
(12) Baseball Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award in
2014; and
(13) 32-time California Sportscaster of the Year;
Whereas, on September 23, 2016, during a pregame ceremony
at Dodgers Stadium to honor Vin Scully for his iconic life
and contributions, he was likened to Norman Rockwell and film
character George Bailey; and
Whereas Vin Scully will announce his final game on October
2, 2016, when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the San Francisco
Giants: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress--
(1) honors the life and legendary career of Vincent Edward
``Vin'' Scully, whose character, artistry, and storytelling
as an announcer for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers has
set the standard for sports announcing; and
(2) wishes Vin Scully a fulfilling retirement as he bids
farewell to the broadcast booth following the 2016 Major
League Baseball season.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to submit a concurrent
resolution to honor the great Vin Scully--a magnificent baseball
announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the past 67 Major League
Baseball seasons.
Days ago, Scully announced his final game at Dodger Stadium.
It was a game won by the Dodgers on a walk-off homerun, in dramatic
fashion, to clinch the division.
It was a fitting end to Scully's storied career calling baseball
games in Los Angeles. When the homerun was hit, he exclaimed, ``Would
you believe a homerun? And the Dodgers have clinched the division, and
will celebrate on schedule.''
Seconds later, in true Scully-form, he remained silent, letting the
roar of Dodgers fans take over the microphone.
Scully's storytelling over the microphone has captured the
imagination of not just those who have grown up in Southern California,
but all over America.
In fact, so many Americans recall watching Game 1 of the 1988 World
Series when Kirk Gibson famously hit a walk-off homerun against Dennis
Eckersley.
After Scully called the homerun shot, he paused to proclaim, ``In a
year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened.''
The call was a harbinger of things to come, because the Dodgers went
on to win the series against a heavily favored Oakland Athletics team.
Scully first fell in love with baseball and broadcasting as an 8 year
old boy growing up in New York in 1936.
He recounted this beginning in a deeply personal letter he wrote to
fans recently, stating, ``God has been very generous to that little
boy, allowing him to fulfill a dream of becoming a broadcaster and to
live it for 67 years . . . You were simply always there for me. I have
always felt that I needed you more than you needed me and that holds
true this very day.''
We too are immensely fortunate to have witnessed Scully's life-long
devotion to the game of baseball.
Scully has announced more than 9,000 Major League Baseball games, and
almost half of all of the Dodger games ever played.
He is credited with teaching the game of baseball to Los Angeles.
He vividly brought to life the feats of all-time Dodgers greats such
as Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Duke
Snider, Don Sutton, Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershiser, Tommy Lasorda,
Mike Piazza, and Clayton Kershaw.
This is why his voice evokes so many memories for so many people.
But even beyond his artistic accomplishments, Vin Scully is about as
fine a person as you will meet. Those who know him closely remark of
his character and humility. They speak of his desire simply to be a
decent man, a good husband, father, and grandfather.
This humility and grace was reflected in his broadcast style. He was
never one to rush, and did all he could to enhance the game he loved.
Often times, he let the roar of the crowd speak for itself.
[[Page S6244]]
I want to thank Senator Boxer for cosponsoring the resolution to
honor Scully, as he takes his final curtain call from the broadcast
booth next week.
I also want to express my thanks to House Democratic Caucus Chairman
Xavier Becerra for leading the House effort on this resolution.
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