Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Author: Jon Weisman (Page 27 of 379)

The final broadcast

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By Jon Weisman

Over the past several weeks, I have written stories, edited stories, read stories, looked at photos old and new, watched video, heard calls from the 1950s to the present, all trying to capture Vin Scully before he bids us, his audience, farewell.

The comfort is that there will be no shortage of ways to remember Vin, to relive and revive our keepsakes of him. You’d often come away from a Vin Scully broadcast with a wonderful story or some remarkably clever one-liner — much of which has been preserved, especially in recent history.

It’s the sensory experience of Vin in the present that will be gone forever. Sharing the moment in time with him.

His lack of attention to his own departure has reinforced that. His focus on what’s in front of him, rather than what’s moving past and behind him. Vin himself lives so in the moment, that riding on his airwaves becomes something of a spiritual journey. I’m cringing a bit as I write those words, fearing they sound far too over the top, but I don’t know that there’s a better description of his effect.

Vin has touched me in a way no one else has.

In the remaining few hours we have with Vin, do nothing more than just enjoy this connection we have had. Because this moment will pass, even if the memories will always remain, and the spirit will never die.

Andre Ethier to be on NLDS roster

LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT SAN DIEGO PADRES

Dodgers at Giants, 12:05 p.m.
Howie Kendrick, LF
Justin Turner, 3B
Corey Seager, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrián González, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Joc Pederson, CF
Chase Utley, 2B
Kenta Maeda, P

By Jon Weisman

Andre Ethier will be on the Dodgers’ roster for the National League Division Series, Dave Roberts said before today’s regular-season finale at San Francisco.

Ethier joins fellow outfielders Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Josh Reddick, Andrew Toles, Howie Kendrick, Kiké Hernández, though Ethier’s role would primarily be off the bench. Roberts praised the quality of Ethier’s at-bats since his return in September from six months on the disabled list.

With Ethier on the squad, that leaves at most one more opening for a position player. Right now, Charlie Culberson seems to be the leading candidate, if that slot doesn’t go to an extra pitcher. Potentially, Hernández’s spot would also be in jeopardy, which would be surprising given his presence in the big leagues essentially all season.

Vinathon: The Legends’ Legend: Vin Appreciation Day

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Carl Erskine. Don Newcombe. Jamie Jarrín. And more, and more — all talking about Vin.

For our Dodger Insider tribute to Vin Scully, we presented numerous remembrances and tributes, offered in two different collections in the magazine.

The Legends’ Legend

Vin Appreciation Day

Please click each link above to read the full stories.

— Jon Weisman

Originally published September 28, 2016

Vinathon: Vin Scully’s Dodger Stadium farewell is a lovefest

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By Jon Weisman

High above the champagne party in the Dodger clubhouse, the booth sits empty now. And yet it feels so full.

Vin Scully clocked in at Dodger Stadium for the final time today, a day that encapsulated so much of what made him baseball’s premier voice.

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Vinathon: Vin Scully has always been Easternmost in quality, Westernmost in flavor

Vin Scully gave us more than just Dodger games, of course. His indispensable Farmer John endorsements, his work in other sports and entertainment — it was all part of the Vin Scully Experience. Read more from Mark Langill and Cary Osborne below, via our Dodger Insider tribute to Vin Scully.

— Jon Weisman

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Vinathon: Vin Scully sings at seventh-inning stretch

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Vin Scully had a surprise for Dodger fans — his own personal rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the seventh-inning stretch. This one’s a keeper.

— Jon Weisman

Originally published September 23, 2016

Vinathon: ‘Welcome to my Thanksgiving’: In moving ceremony, Los Angeles begins its final farewell to Vin Scully

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By Jon Weisman

We might need time. We might need 67 years to get over this one.

Emotionally charged from the opening video salute to the final blue-carpet walk lined by Dodger players and coaches, tribute was paid to Vin Scully tonight, in an hour-long ceremony infused with heartstopping thoughts from guest speakers and heartwarming words from the man himself.

It was a valediction for Vinny, and a validation of our love.

In an evening that would conclude with John Williams conducting members of the Los Angeles Philarmonic in the National Anthem, so many moments played like perfect notes in a symphony.

“Vin is that favorite sweater of yours that you can’t wait to put on on a chilly day,” said Dick Enberg in the video.

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Vinathon: #VinTop20: No. 1, ‘She is … gone!’

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In the Vin Scully Appreciation Day pregame ceremony this evening, the Dodgers finished revealing the results of the fan vote ranking Scully’s top 20 Dodger calls of all time. And here it is, No. 1: Kirk Gibson’s 1988 World Series home run.

— Jon Weisman

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Previously:
No. 2, Koufax’s perfect game
No. 3, Henry Aaron’s 715th
No. 4, Returning after 9/11
No. 5, ‘If you have a sombrero …’
No. 6, Roy Campanella tribute
No. 7, Don Larsen’s perfect game
No. 8, Monday captures the flag
No. 9, ‘We go to Chicago!’
No. 10, Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter
No. 11, Joe Ferguson’s throw
No. 12, Fernandomania begins
No. 13, ‘The Squeeze!’
No. 14, Nomo’s No-No
No. 15, the 4+1 Game
No. 16, Don Drysdale’s streak stays alive
No. 17, Mike Piazza, Giant-slayer
No. 18, Yasiel Puig’s first slam
No. 19, Manny’s Bobbleslam
No. 20, Mark McGwire hits it way, way out

Originally published September 23, 2016

Vinathon: Vin Scully’s letter to the fans: ‘I needed you more than you needed me’

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Dodger fans attending tonight’s Vin Scully Appreciation Day game at received this beautiful letter from Vin Scully. Click the image above to enlarge.

— Jon Weisman

Originally published September 23, 2016

Vinathon: The two words we all want to say to you, Vin

Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

By Cary Osborne

All of my baseball memories begin in 1986.

I recall my older brother Ryan’s baseball team that year — the Pinto Astros. It was his first year playing organized baseball. I remember opening my first pack of baseball cards, those unimaginative Topps cards with the black and white border that carried the scent of a chalky stick of stale pink gum with them. And I can actually pinpoint my first memory of listening to Vin Scully.

It was October 25, 1986. I was barely 6 years old, but the memory has stayed with me for 30 years. I can hear it now …

Little roller up along first. Behind the bag! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight, and the Mets win it!

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Vinathon: Vin His Own Words: An extended 2014 interview

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Before the 2014 season, Vin Scully gave us an extended interview about his life and career that we presented over 21 pages in the commemorative 2014 Dodger Yearbook. Here, for the first time online, are those pages: Vin His Own Words. Click either image, and enjoy.

— Jon Weisman

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Originally published September 22, 2016

Vinathon: ‘I just want to be remembered as a good man’

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The Man. The Voice. The Stories.
ESPN unveiled a wonderful collection of thoughts from around the baseball and broadcasting world on Vin Scully this morning. Click here.

By Jon Weisman

Two days ago, we gave you a selection of thoughts from Vin Scully on the Dodgers-Giants rivalry that came from his final conference call with reporters. Here are some more excerpts from that call (which you can hear all of above), looking back as well as looking ahead his retirement.

On what concerns he had about moving to Los Angeles with the Dodgers:

Well, I think the first emotion was, it was somewhat bittersweet. Maybe that’s not the proper word. But the thought of leaving New York was somewhat overwhelming. All my friends, my relatives, my high school, my college, everything was back in New York, and it was a little scary. But the other side was, “Oh, thank God I’ve got the job,” because there was a fear — and I was told this for sure — there was considerable pressure on (Walter) O’Malley that the people in Southern California wanted him to employ the announcers out here. And I’m sure for good reason. But Mr. O’Malley being the way he was, he prided loyalty, and Jerry (Doggett) and I were extremely loyal to him. We would have done anything he wanted. So there was tremendous relief that, “Wow, at least I’ve got the job.”

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Vinathon: Sandi Scully: The wind beneath Vin’s wings

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If there’s no one whom we’re bigger fans of than Vin Scully, there’s no bigger fan of his than his wife, Sandi. For our Dodger Insider tribute to Vin Scully, Mark Langill provided us with this feature on the First Lady of the Vin Scully Press Box.

Click here to read the entire story.

— Jon Weisman

Originally published September 20, 2016

Vinathon: Vin Scully on the Dodgers-Giants rivalry

vin-1961By Jon Weisman

This morning, Vin Scully spoke on a conference call with the national media. Given the series beginning tonight at Dodger Stadium and the fact that he will call his final game October 2 in San Francisco, several questions circled around the Dodgers-Giants rivalry.

Here’s a sampling of what he had to say …

Sharing a memory of Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges:

With Russ, when I was back in New York, I can actually remember one night in his kitchen harmonizing with Russ and Ernie Harwell, one of the beautiful memories in my entire life.

On broadcasting Dodgers-Giants games in San Francisco, starting in 1958:

First of all, when we arrived at Seals Stadium, they did not really have any kind of a radio booth. We didn’t televise. So we actually were one row behind the regular fans, and once they realized that we were doing, for instance, a beer commercial live, why, they’d start hollering, just good-naturedly, but they’d start hollering the names of all the other brands of beer that they could possibly think of. So that taught us to record all the commercials rather than be heckled by the fans. And (also), in all honesty, I’d be doing the game at Seals Stadium, and a fellow would turn around and just say to me, “Do you have a match?” It was that informal and that close. So that was an experience. But it was new, it was exciting, and the fans were fun.

At Candlestick, the wind was a nightmare, but I also thought that the surroundings affected the personality of the audience. I could be completely wrong, but it was cold and raw, windy, and I think the people in the stands were unhappy and sometimes would take their unhappiness out. I mean, we actually had one or two players, if I remember correctly, go up into the stands over somebody making some terrible remark.

But once they moved to AT&T Park, it’s completely different. The fans are good-natured, they’re happy, they’re fair, they’re wonderful. And although I certainly know nothing about mass psychology and all that stuff, I think the weather at Candlestick kind of embittered the fan, and the weather at AT&T has made it a wonderful party atmosphere. No meanness at all.

On the essence of the Dodgers-Giants rivalry:

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Vinathon: In a career so improbable, the impossible has happened: We have to bid Vin Scully farewell

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Our Dodger Insider tribute to Vin Scully hits the Dodger Stadium stands tonight — distributed free at the autogates (one per vehicle) and at Fan Services booths (for those who arrive via alternate transportation) through September 24, and then to every fan with the special commemorative cover on Fan Appreciation Day, September 25.

To lead off our salute to the beloved broadcaster during his final homestand with the Dodgers (sigh), here’s my piece trying to capture what he has meant to his listeners for the past 67 seasons — and what happens for us now, as we confront the reality of his upcoming departure.

Click here to read the entire story.

— Jon Weisman

Originally published September 19, 2016

Page 27 of 379

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