This day in Los Angeles Dodgers history saw legendary broadcaster Vin Scully call the final game of his illustrious career, Steve Finley clinch the 2004 National League West title in grand fashion, four players reach 30 home runs and Sandy Koufax dominate in the 1963 World Series.
Having decided to retire after the 2016 season, Scully made an exception to his schedule and traveled with the team for their road series against the San Francisco Giants. It was a fitting end to Scully’s 67-year career, as Oct. 2 marked 80 years to the day from when he first became a self-proclaimed “rabid Giants fan.”
Scully’s affinity for baseball and the then-New York Giants began when he was walking home as a young child and saw the box score of the New York Yankees shellacking the Giants, 18-4, at Polo Grounds in Game 2 of the World Series.
The Dodgers were swept by the Giants, who clinched a spot in the National League Wild Card Game. L.A. had wrapped up the NL West one week prior — thanks to Charlie Culberson’s walk-off home run during Scully’s final home game — and the weekend in San Francisco was very much about celebrating the voice of the Dodgers.
Vin Scully says goodbye
There were multiple tributes throughout the series, and Giants legend Willie Mays visited Scully in the television booth. Scully had referred to Mays as his favorite player on multiple occasions, and relayed that to him during their conversation, adding, “even though you wore the wrong uniform.”
Fans in attendance for the series finale received a placard that read, “Thank You Vin,” albeit in Giants’ black and orange coloring.
After calling the final play of the game — a Chris Taylor groundout — Scully gave his final sign off, closed up his book, and walked out of the booth a final time.
Dodgers clinch in grand fashion
On October 2, 2004, the Dodgers hosted the Giants in their penultimate game of the season. They were trailing 3-0 when the bottom of the ninth inning began and mounted an improbable rally to clinch the NL West.
It was punctuated by Finley’s walk-off grand slam that gave the Dodgers an NL-best 53rd comeback win of the season, setting a franchise record that was previously held by the 1953 Brooklyn team (52).
It put them in the postseason for the first time since making it as a Wild Card in 1996. The Dodgers won the NL West the year prior to that.
Dodgers 30-homer club
In his final at-bat on October 2, 1977, Dusty Baker hit a home run to give him 30 on the season. He joined Steve Garvey (33 home runs), Reggie Smith (32) and Ron Cey (30).
The Dodgers became the first team in MLB history with four players to hit at least 30 homers in the same season.
First high-five
Baker’s 30th home run also made history in that it’s believed to have led to the first-ever high-five when rookie Glenn Burke met him at home plate for the celebration.
Koufax dominates
Facing the two-time defending champion New York Yankees, the Dodgers got off to a great start in the 1963 World Series thanks to Koufax.
He finished with 15 strikeouts in a complete-game effort and the Dodgers went on to sweep the Yankees.
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