Dodgers Honor Vin Scully After 67 Years In The Booth

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — He has been the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers for longer than most of their fans have been alive. Vin Scully is retiring after the 2016 season, and the team honored his career with a pregame ceremony about an hour long.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, star pitchers Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and actor Kevin Costner were among the speakers. But the main attraction was Scully himself, who began his speech with one of his signature lines.

“Hi everybody and a very pleasant good evening to you,” he said as the crowd roared.

Bringing his conversational style from the broadcast booth down to the field for a while, Scully made sure to thank the countless people with whom he’s crossed paths over the years, but gave special thanks to the fans.

Scully spent 67 years behind the microphone for the Dodgers, acting as the narrator for three perfect games, and five Dodgers World Series Championships. His voice was the backdrop to indelible memories, including Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run, Bill Buckner’s immortal World Series error, and Kirk Gibson’s momentous home run in Game One of the 1988 World Series.

He talked about growing up enthralled by the roar the crowd and his plans for the future.

“If you’re 65 and retire, you might have 20 years left of life or more and you better have some plans,” he joked. “When you’re 89 and they ask you what your plans are…I’m trying to live.”

But the legendary broadcaster made sure to sign off with another of his famous lines exclaiming, “It’s time for Dodger’s baseball!”

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