Scully named grand marshal of 2014 Rose Parade
PASADENA, Calif. -- Vin Scully, the Hall of Fame voice of the Dodgers, was named grand marshal of the 2014 Tournament of Roses on Thursday.
Scully will ride in the 125th Rose Parade presented by Honda, and he will toss the coin at the start of the 100th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO on Jan. 1, 2014. He will also participate in tournament-related events during December.
"I am deeply humbled and greatly honored to be the grand marshal of the 125th Rose Parade," said Scully. "I look forward to sharing this wonderful moment with my wife, Sandi, and the millions who will be watching."
Scully's selection was announced by Tournament of Roses president R. Scott Jenkins during a news conference held at the Tournament House in Pasadena. The theme of this year's Tournament is "Dreams Come True."
"Vin Scully is incredibly accomplished and yet still so down to earth," said Jenkins. "His own life is one in which many dreams have come true, and even more importantly, he has been at the microphone describing for listeners everywhere the dreams of others coming true. I couldn't be happier that he accepted my invitation to be the grand marshal. I know his fans everywhere are cheering right now."
Scully has been voice of the Dodgers for 64 years and recently announced he would be returning to broadcast the club's games in 2014.
The Dodgers are currently in their 53rd year in Los Angeles, and Scully has been the voice and the face of the organization since it arrived. He joined Red Barber and Connie Desmond on the Brooklyn Dodgers' broadcast team in 1950, one year after graduating from Fordham University.
In 1982, Scully was inducted into the broadcaster's wing of Baseball's Hall of Fame as winner of the Ford C. Frick Award and also had his star placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2001, the Dodger Stadium press box was named in Scully's honor.
During his unmatched career, Scully has called three perfect games, 25 no-hitters, 25 World Series and 12 All-Star Games.
Iconic moments called by Scully include Kirk Gibson's miraculous Game 1 home run in the 1988 World Series, Dan Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, Hank Aaron's record-setting 715th home run, Sandy Koufax's four no-hitters (including a perfect game) and the scoreless-innings streaks of Dodgers greats Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser.
When Scully began broadcasting, the Dodgers had yet to win a World Series. Three years later, at the age of 25, he became the youngest person to ever announce a World Series game. In 1955, Scully had his most memorable moment behind the microphone, as he called the Dodgers' first and only championship in Brooklyn.
In Los Angeles, Scully has called Dodgers World Series championships in 1959, '63, '65, '81 and '88. He was elected the top sportscaster of the 20th century by the nonprofit American Sportscasters Association in 2000.
In addition to his legendary career in baseball, Scully has called play-by-play of the National Football League and PGA Tour events.