Remembering Vin Scully: ‘The Renoir of Broadcasters.’ | Story | insideradio.com – Inside Radio
The passing of legendary Dodgers radio play-by-play announcer Vin Scully, who died earlier this week at the age of 94, has resulted in an outpouring of tributes and memories of the longtime sports broadcaster.
New York Yankees TV play-by-play announcer Michael Kay, who hosts afternoons at Good Karma Brands “ESPN NY 98.7” WEPN-FM New York wrote a column for the New York Post detailing his first meeting with Scully.
“Scully made me feel as if he had known me for years. He would not accept being called ‘Mr. Scully,’ insisting you call him ‘Vin,’” Kay recalled in the piece. “He immediately disarmed me with stories and spoke about our connection, having both gone to Fordham. In a moment, he was a friend, and his demeanor told you that he was happy to meet you and actually was delighted to spend time talking.”
Regarding Scully’s talent as a radio broadcaster, Kay wrote, “Scully had an amazing way to weave incredible stories throughout a baseball game while still keeping the focus on what was happening on the field. His use of words was precise, and his presentation was free of gimmicks or signature calls. His broadcast style was one of grace and elegance, and his calls were laced with a poetic style that seemed lyrical. In truth, if you put music to some of his iconic calls it would sound like a joyous baseball anthem.”
Howie Rose, who calls games for the crosstown New York Mets posted to Twitter, “It was an honor just to know him. He demonstrated that language still matters and forged an intimate bond with his listeners that the rest of us can only strive to achieve. The Renoir of broadcasters.”
Jason Gay, sports columnist at The Wall Street Journal also recalled meeting Scully and asked if he felt lucky to start broadcasting the game at the time when he did.
“Oh, no, not lucky,” Scully answered. “Lucky is too cheap a word. I really feel blessed. I truly believe God has given me these gifts. He gave it to me at a young age, and he’s allowed me to keep it all these years? That’s a gift. I say this because I believe it: I should spend a lot more time on my knees than I do.”
Gay described Scully as “one of a handful of announcers whose voices became synonymous with entire regions. Broadcasting, especially on radio, has an intimacy–how many of us sat up late in bed, mini transistor on, wanting to see how extra innings shook out–and it creates an unusual bond. There are Brooklynites who still remember Scully live from Ebbets and Angelenos who can trace their love of a growing city to him,” Gay wrote.