Since announcing the 2016 season would be his final in the broadcast booth, Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully has been honored whenever possible. It began earlier this year when the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to rename the street leading into the main entrance Dodger Stadium.
Visitors now driving on the portion of Elysian Park Avenue that runs from Sunset Boulevard to Dodger Stadium Way can say they entered on Vin Scully Avenue. Of course, the humble voice of the Dodgers would much prefer if a fuss wasn’t made over his final year.
The Dodgers distributed Vin Scully Ave. t-shirts on May 10, and added Vin Scully Appreciation Night, set for Friday, Sept. 23, to their promotional calendar. What’s more, a Scully bobblehead will be distributed on Sept. 20.
On Friday, Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), as acting governor, declared July 8, 2016, “Vin Scully Day” in California. A portion of the proclamation de León reads:
As he nears his announced retirement at the end of this season, I urge all Californians to take time to appreciate the treasure that is Vin Scully as not just an announcer but, as former baseball Commission “Bud” Selig put it, “the embodiment of the goodwill that our game inspires” and a reminder of why baseball is “forever the national pastime.”
While Scully has accepted various honors and accolades, he politely declined the opportunity to call the 2016 All-Star Game at Petco Park. He also elected not to accept an invitation from the New York Yankees to visit Yankee Stadium with the Dodgers during a September road trip.
Scully previously said he hopes to visit AT&T Park for the Dodgers’ final regular-season series. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim presented the 88-year-old with several mementos prior to his final game at Angel Stadium.
