Dusty Baker, the former Dodgers outfielder and current Washington Nationals manager, was asked to share his memories of Vin Scully growing up in Riverside. Here was Baker’s riff:
Vin Scully is who I grew up with as a kid, listening to every game. IO’d be in the backyard working, have my radio in the window. I even went to a concert one time, I think it was an outdoor opera in San Bernardino. I listed to a Dodger game — I had it wired up on the other side of my mother, the transistor radio, so I could listen to the game. But my mom said, I was having such a good time — maybe she knew what I was doing — she said ‘maybe we’ll go next week too.’
Vin Scully, he would paint the most vivd picture ever. He never stuttered or stammered or used the wrong names. He’s (88) years young. When I got to the Dodgers it was a dream come true to me to be around Vinny. It was Vinny and Jerry Doggett then. Then it was Vin Scully and Ross Porter, and now it’s just Vinny. I hope I get a chance to see him tomorrow. He has a sore throat today, which is — boy, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a sore throat. He’s a young-looking man. He takes care of himself and I’m certainly going to miss him. Everybody imitated Vin Scully’s calls, his diction, his storytelling, but there’s only one.
Scully is indeed day-to-day with a sore throat.