Angels honor Scully, present him with gifts

Dodgers broadcaster calls final game in Anaheim

May 20th, 2016

ANAHEIM -- Throughout Major League Baseball, few voices, if any, resonate quite like that of Vin Scully.
On Thursday, the Angels honored Scully, who is in his 67th and final season as the Dodgers announcer, before Scully called his final game at Angel Stadium.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia, center fielder Mike Trout and right-hander Jered Weaver were among those who presented Scully with a variety of gifts and mementos from throughout his broadcasting career, which included several games in Anaheim.
"This is no fanfare," Scioscia said as he surprised Scully in front of a small group consisting of former players, coaches and members of the Angels organization. "All the words have already been said about you and your career."

Mixed in with a flood of stories and nostalgia, the Angels organization honored Scully with the following:
• A shadow box containing several pieces of memorabilia from the 1989 MLB All-Star Game in Anaheim, which Scully called. It included the scorecard from the game, a photograph with former President Ronald Reagan (who was in the booth with Scully for the first inning of the game) and a baseball autographed by the game's MVP, Bo Jackson.
• A microphone from his first job as a part of CBS Radio with WTOP in Washington, D.C., which included an inscription of the score from the first game Scully called for the network.
• A letter from the Angels organization, thanking him for his contributions to baseball.
"Your passion has elevated a career that's spanned 67 years and made you one of the most memorable personalities in sports history," the letter read. "Your dedication has impacted not only Dodger fans, not only fans throughout Southern California, but across the country."
• A silver platter displaying the letterhead from Scully's first job in New York in the "silver room" at the Hotel Pennsylvania, when he was 16.
"It was the worst job I ever had, but I must tell you it was the best job I ever had," Scully recalled. "That's why I never complained about a doubleheader."
• Hats and sweatshirts from Scully's time at Fordham Prep, each of which was autographed by Trout and Weaver.
Scioscia spoke fondly of Scully, who called most of his games throughout his playing career when he was a catcher for the Dodgers.
"I've never considered myself a neighbor," Scioscia said. "I've always considered myself a part of the Dodger family."
Scully said he was honored by the tribute, a landmark of his impact on the game.
"I love this game," Scully said. "I tried to play it. I played in high school, played in college. I played against [former president] George H.W. Bush. … Somewhere along that way, I decided that I needed to learn to talk a good game instead of trying to play. That's what's got me here."