Game 2 of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers at Miller Park saw legendary Brewers radio play-by-play announcer Bob Uecker join the Fox broadcast booth to call an inning alongside color commentator John Smoltz.
Joe Buck, who otherwise holds play-by-play responsibilities next to Smoltz, stepped out of the booth for the time being and allowed Uecker, now in his 47th year of calling Brewers games, to grace the spotlight in front of a national audience.
Buck again proposed a similar opportunity to Hall-of-Fame Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully on Saturday, inviting him to return to the booth and call an inning of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium.
Scully, however, graciously declined Buck’s invitation because he doesn’t want to take away any opportunties from the normal Fox broadcast team, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“It’s not false modesty,” Scully said. “I just think I don’t belong there. “Those fellows have been broadcasting all year. I don’t want to get into their spotlight in any way, shape, or form. I think they’re doing a wonderful job.”
Since his retirement at the conclusion of the 2016 season, Scully has remained adamant that he doesn’t plan on ever returning to the broadcast booth.
He similarly declined an opportunity to call an inning of the 2017 World Series, which marked the Dodgers’ first appearance in the Fall Classic since 1988.
