Vin Scully’s legendary broadcasting career was honoured Tuesday by Baseball Digest, who presented the 94 year old with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award is in its second year of existence, having been presented to Willie Mays in 2021 at the inaugural ceremony. Scully, who spent 67 years in sports media, was renowned for his announcing duties with the Dodgers, dating all the way back to when the franchise was still in Brooklyn.
“Vin Scully was not only the voice of the Dodgers, but was also the soundtrack of our national game for an incredible seven decades,” Baseball Digest publisher David Fagley stated. “We are honored to recognize his iconic career both as a broadcaster and as a wonderful ambassador for the sport he loves so much.”
Born in the Bronx, NY, Scully began his career in broadcasting at Fordham University, where he majored in English. Upon graduation, he would join the Brooklyn Dodgers radio and television booths in 1950 where he would serve as the team’s announcer until 1957 when the franchise relocated to Los Angeles.
Out on the west coast, Scully would become a regional, and then national sports icon as he called some of the most memorable moments in Dodgers history. His popularity would lead to him calling games for the NFL and PGA Tour as well after joining CBS in the 70’s and NBC in the 80’s.
Scully would remain active until 2016 after which the Dodgers honoured him by “retiring” his microphone for his decades of service. Along the way he would be recognized by his peers for outstanding achievement and was subsequently awarded the Ford C. Frick Award in 1982, Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award in 2014, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, and a star along the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Fordham Alum beat out a list of candidates that included Bobby Cox, Sandy Koufax, and Joe Torre among others for the Lifetime Achievement Award this year.