'Wherever You May Be'

(It's spring and baseball time, so in honor of my friend and longtime Daily Mail Sports Editor, Kelly Bradham, who loved BASEBALL)

The title of this story is taken from some very memorable words, that every LA Dodger baseball fan, knows by heart. The full sentence is repeated every time that the legendary "voice" of the Dodgers, "Vin Scully," begins one of his baseball broadcasts.

The full greeting by Scully is, "It's time for Dodger baseball! Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good (day/evening) to you, wherever you may be." From that point onward, listeners are treated to the pure magical talent that is Vin Scully.

Over the weekend, I watched the Dodgers versus their decades long rivals, the San Francisco Giants, on the MLB Channel. Once again, I listened in amazement, as this "dean" of all sports broadcasters, effortlessly rendered his insightful play-by-play broadcast.

As I listened, I was assailed with emotion. My first sentiment was the bittersweet acknowledgment, that this was the final season for Vin, as the voice of the Dodgers.

This 88-year-old golden voiced broadcaster has been the play-by-play announcer, for the past 67 years. An entire generation has grown up during his tenure. It hit home for me, when I realized that Vin Scully, became the voice of the Dodgers, when I was barely a year old, in the spring of 1950!

I first became familiar with Vin Scully, in the early 1960s. In the past, I have written about my first great baseball hero, Roy "Campy" Campanella. He was the catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, during their very successful years of the late 40s through the 50s. Campy was one of the first black baseball players to join Jackie Robinson on that Dodger team.

Because I was such a fan of Campanella, I also became a fan of the Dodgers. Back then, I only had the opportunity, to see them play on television, on one of the rare Saturday nationally televised games, and when they were in the World Series. I had never heard of Vin Scully, and there was no way in Missouri, to hear his radio broadcasts.

A quick note about radio coverage of baseball games. In today's world we are lucky. The two regional baseball teams, The Royals and the Cardinals, have all their games televised. Many of the other teams are also available, on satellite television daily.

I rarely miss watching my Royals, but there is something a bit lacking during their broadcasts. The television broadcast rarely includes Denny Mathews, the radio voice of the Royals, since their inception in 1969. Like his fellow broadcaster Scully, Denny Mathews, can draw pictures of a game, with only his words.

Baseball radio broadcasters are somewhat of a dying breed, in this era of televised baseball. That is sad, because their unique use of the English language is without question, an art form. I can't tell you how many times over the past 47 years, I've listened to one of Denny's broadcasts.

My introduction to Vin Scully would not occur until the early 1960s. Scully moved with the team to Los Angeles, before the beginning of the 1958 season.

My father's brother, "Uncle Chester," lived in the Las Angeles area. In 1963, we went to visit him and his wife for our summer vacation. I was enthralled to discover, that Uncle Chester was a "dyed-in-the-wool" Dodger fan, just like me.

Each night during our stay, we listened to the radio broadcasts of the Dodger games. That was the first time I had ever heard Vin Scully. One thing I can tell you with certainty is that he sounded exactly the same then, as he still does today.

On that trip, we visited several of the famous LA tourist attractions, but the absolute highlight of the trip, was when we went to watch a Dodger game. Dodger Stadium was only in its second year of operation. This was in the period when the Dodgers were perhaps the best team in all of baseball. They won several World Series, led by Hall of Fame pitchers like, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

In the early 70s, I lived and worked in the LA area for a time, so I was reintroduced to the radio broadcasts by Scully. By that period, many of the Dodger away games, were carried on local television networks. That allowed me to not only hear Vin Scully, but to also see him broadcast.

There will be many accolades offered about Vin Scully, over the next few months. His career and the awards he has received will likely never be equaled again. For me, and I am sure for a multitude of fans in Southern California, we won't remember him for his awards, but rather for the simple pleasure of listening to him, these many years.

Vin Scully is the last of a breed that was part and parcel of the "American Pastime." That group included many other broadcast legends. For millions of fans, these men were like family.

Besides Scully, here is a list of the other members of the top 10 of all time baseball broadcasters. Ernie Harwell was the voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 years. Mel Allen announced New York Yankee games from 1938-69.

Preceding Scully with the Dodgers was Red Barber from 1934-66. Jack Buck was the beloved voice of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1954-01. Harry Caray broadcast for several teams. His daily rendition of "Take me out to the Ballpark," and use of the phrase "Holy Cow," were familiar to everyone.

The final men on the list include -- Bob Uecker (Milwaukee), Jon Miller (ESPN), Russ Hodges (Giants- 1929-90), and Joe Garagiiola (NBC 1954-90). Only Scully, Uecker and Miller are still with us today.

I can't imagine baseball in Southern California without Vin Scully. For that matter, when Denny Mathews finally hangs it up, my Royals will never again, be quite the same. Play-by-play baseball, Vin Scully, and the others, will never be forgotten, "wherever you and I may be!"