When discussing the Los Angeles Dodgers and their franchise history, just as it is impossible to leave out several of the icons who have played for the team, that also applies to Vin Scully and his illustrious career in the broadcast booth.
Scully was the voice of the Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers for 67 years before retiring after the end of the 2016 season. He signed his first contract with the Dodgers in December 1949, which was right after he turned 22 years old.
That agreement was recently put up for auction and sold for more than $70,000.
In an interview with Tom Hoffarth of Angelus News, Scully said he saw the contract was auctioned off but downplayed the significance of it to him personally:
I did get to see a copy of it, and although it looks like something I could have typed 70 years ago — “I agree to do this” and “I agree to do that” — I actually didn’t write it. In those days, they called it a letter of agreement. It was likely something one of the secretaries drew up.
It reads as if I was applying for the job, but I had already met [Hall of Fame booth mate] Red Barber a few weeks prior, and he had sent me to Mr. Rickey, and they drew up this letter. So I really had no personal attachment to it. I think I was on the job at least four years before someone actually drew up a formal contract.
While the final purchase price may be a lot to spend on a contract for a sports broadcaster, Scully is unquestionably one of the best to ever do it. He’s revered by not only Dodgers fans but sports enthusiast alike, which further explains the bidding.
Although Scully is synonymous with the Dodgers, he additionally was on the call for World Series even when the team wasn’t playing, as well as Super Bowls, among other sporting events.
Scully is now almost 92 years of age and enjoying retirement with his wife Sandi. Fans have pined for Scully to join the booth for special occasions but he has respectfully declined those opportunities and made limited visits to Dodger Stadium.
He remains the last direct link the Dodgers organization has to the team’s days in Brooklyn.
