Retired Los Angeles Dodgers Broadcaster Vin Scully won MLB Network Radio’s “Greatest Home run Call of All-Time” Award for his famous call of Kirk Gibson’s walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
Other finalists for the poll were Jack Buck, who was nominated twice, Milo Hamilton, Tom Cheek, Micahel Kay, and Russ Hodges for his “The Giants win the pennant!” call in 1951.
Scully edged Hodges for the top spot with help from the fans, and Gibson’s heroics, too. While Scully is revered for proclaiming, “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!” allowing the Dodger Stadium crowd to first fill the air was savvy.
It's down to the final two.
Scully, "The Impossible Has Happened" vs. Hodges, "The Giants Win the Pennant"
Voting continues until 4:45 PM Eastern on Tuesday. #Giants | #Dodgers
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 25, 2022
You voted. Our hosts voted. And now we have a winner!
The #GreatestHomeRunCall of All Time is… pic.twitter.com/y4SEqoCIHz
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) March 4, 2022
Game 1 of the 1988 World Series was not only one of the most memorable moments in MLB history, but it sparked two of the greatest broadcast calls of all time.
Buck and his “I don’t believe what I just saw” call will stand alongside Scully when footage is shown with Gibson pumping his fist as he rounded the bases. Fans who left the stadium early and were headed home didn’t witness history with their eyes but could hear it with their ears.
Scully no stranger to walk-off moments
Given that Scully was in the Dodgers’ broadcast booth for 67 seasons, there wasn’t much he didn’t experience.
However, even Scully was taken aback over what transpired between the Dodgers and Texas Rangers on June 18, 2015, at Dodger Stadium.
An otherwise ordinary Thursday evening featuring Zack Greinke and Anthony Ranaudo as the starting pitchers ended in unprecedented fashion.
The Dodgers’ balk-off victory won the Esurance MLB Award for Best Call, TV, it was announced on MLB Network. Also at that time, the Dodgers’ video announcing Scully’s return for the 2016 won for Best Video Board Moment.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
