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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