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This Day In Dodgers History: Vin Scully Wins Ford C. Frick Award, Elected Into Hall Of Fame

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Michael O'Bryon/Sports Illustrated

On this day in Los Angeles Dodgers history, iconic broadcaster Vin Scully was named the recipient of the 1982 Ford C. Frick Award and elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He became just the sixth announcer at the time enshrined at Cooperstown, N.Y.

The accomplishment was celebrated with a press conference at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 5, 1982, which featured a phone call between Scully and President Ronald Reagan, who was at the White House.

Former Dodgers manager Walter Alston and former broadcaster Red Barber were among those to record congratulatory messages for Scully. He additionally received a plaque from the city of Los Angeles, and speakers included former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, and franchise greats Duke Snider and Roy Campanella, along with then-manager Tommy Lasorda.

Scully began his illustrious career while the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn. He of course accompanied the team on their relocation to Los Angeles in 1958 and went on to receive several awards and honors.

Scully was just the sixth-ever recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, which has been given annually since 1978. Al Michaels was among the latest to receive it and Scully congratulated him on the honor.

In addition to serving as voice of the Dodgers, Scully handled play-by-play duties for more than 10 World Series and All-Star Games, along with being on the call for national broadcasts of college basketball, professional football and golf.

Scully retired in 2016, fittingly calling his final game when the Dodgers faced the San Francisco Giants at what was then AT&T Park. The New York native traced his affinity for the Giants back to Oct. 2, 1936.

The Giants set the rivalry aside as they held an in-stadium tribute for Scully and a simulcast of his call of the third inning on radio and television.

Dodgers honor Vin Scully in retirement

Prior to Scully retiring, the Dodgers renamed a portion of Elysian Park Ave. after him. Then in 2017, Scully was added to the Dodger Stadium Ring of Honor.

Scully passed away in August 2022, and upon returning to Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers celebrated his memory during a ceremony that involved players taking the field.

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com