The term job hopper was popular due to the shifting behaviors of the younger generation, who believe it is pointless to hold on to dead-end jobs for years.
However, that was not the case for Vin Scully, who started and ended his career as the Dodgers announcer for over 67 years.
What is the story behind the longtime Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster? Find out on Main Stand.
It was love at first sight
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." is the quote that suits the life of Scully.
There was an assignment he wrote when he was eight years old showing that being a sports broadcaster was his dream job.
"All I can think of," he recalled his childhood to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
"All we had was an old radio on four legs with a crosspiece under it for support, and the only thing that was really on the radio in those days was college football.
"(And) I used to take a pillow and crawl under the radio, put the pillow on the crosspiece, maybe have some saltine crackers and a glass of milk, and I would listen to some meaningless game. I mean, Alabama and Tennessee meant nothing to a kid in Washington Heights in New York," he said.
"But I would listen, and my head would be directly under the little speaker, and the crowd noise would come down like water out of a shower head, and I would get goosebumps. I used to think, 'Oh my gosh; that must be great.'"
Not long after, Scully fully embraced baseball into his heart. The beginning of this love of his was from the World Series, the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in a match between New York Yankees and New York Giants (San Francisco Giants in the present).
Even though it was the match between the teams from the same city and New York Giants lost that day, Scully sympathized with the team and eventually became their rabid fan. In addition, Polo Grounds, the team's home stadium at that time, also resided in Washington Heights, Manhattan, making it even easier for Scully to watch the game live.
Eventually, his love for the sport made his dream job come true, albeit not for his favorite childhood team.
Tough mentor
After serving in the navy for two years, Scully studied in the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University. He was also the university's baseball athlete.
After graduation, he had to find a job like every graduate. His resume records his experience as the announcer for the college's team. Still, from 150 radio stations he sent out his letter to, only one station from the entire east coast of the country accepted his letter, and that station was CBS Radio, of which Red Barber was their sports program chief at that time.
So although Scully's Interview with CBS went very well, no position was still available.
But luck was on Scully's side when one day, Barber wanted someone to report on college football immediately, so he called Scully to do the task as a trial for his job.
Scully then hurried to Fenway Park in Boston, and because the press area was packed, he went on to report from the arena's roof despite extreme wind throughout the race. When Barber acknowledged this, he was very impressed.
In 1950, another opportunity came his way when Ernie Harwell, the broadcaster for Brooklyn Dodgers, resigned from his position to announce for the New York Giants instead. So Red Barber, also the commentator for the Dodgers at that time, invited Scully to take this position.
Scully had the chance to announce one of the most successful baseball teams ever, but it was no easy job. Red Barber was an absolute perfectionist. He wanted everything to leave no room for any mistakes, so he put himself to his very limit and expected the same from his colleague.
In Scully's first game, Barber had briefed him very clearly that Scully would be the third broadcaster who had to announce anything that Red Barber, the leading host, and Connie Desmond, the second, didn't want to say.
Barber kept his eyes on Scully and immediately announced his mistakes to the entire audience, which was humiliating.
Not only that, but Barber kept his eyes on Scully's behaviors behind the scene too.
When Scully drank some beers before the match, Barber instantly said to him, "don't do this again."
Even though Barber himself truly loved beer, he separated his pleasure from the work because, for him, alcohol can lead to mistakes at any moment in the long match.
The apprenticeship with Red Barber was arduous. One time, Scully told Barber that there was one of the Dodgers' regulars missings from the lineup, Barber asked him why it was so, but he couldn't give Barber the answer, making Barber very furious.
Scully knew he needed to find the answer to it and immediately went to the team's manager and the players to understand what he had to learn to broadcast the game.
The relationship between Barber and his understudy was rough. Still, Scully gave all the credits to Red Barber, who passed along everything he needed to become the professional announcer he was.
"The greatest virtue of Red as a mentor was that he cared. I wasn't just another kid in the booth, just another announcer. He made sure that my work habits were good, and he rode me if I drifted away from his ideal of the right way to work," said Scully.
A legend who won't accept compliments
Scully and his mentor had the chance to work together for only a few years due to Barber's issue with the Dodgers about his pay rate, making him abandon his booth in a World Series match between Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees in 1952.
It became the moment all the lights were pointed to Scully when the team offered him the spot.
Even though he did not need to ask for his mentor's approval, he did it anyway. Barber felt appreciated, making him decide to move to announce for New York Yankees the next season and passed on the baton to Scully with no hesitation.
From 1953, Scully became "the voice of Dodgers" in every home game and some away games.
Everybody remembered him from his catchphrase, "Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good afternoon/evening to you wherever you may be. It's time for Dodger baseball."
He had been through everything with the Dodgers. From his first World Series with them in 1955 and the following five times in 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988.
He was there for the move from New York to Los Angeles, which made the team change its name from Brooklyn Dodgers to LA Dodgers in 1958, to the record-breaking home run of Hank Aaron in 1974, which happened in the away game he announced in Atlanta.
He also witnessed the rise of stars such as Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, a man who broke the race wall in baseball, and Clayton Kershaw.
The question is, how can Scully do the same job over and over again throughout a period that could equal the entire lifespan of someone?
"I guess when you're doing what you love to do, it flies by," he said
"Many times I have felt, in retrospect, that I was sitting on a mound, like at a golf tournament, and a parade of people went by ... that it kind of overwhelms you that you've been allowed to have this parade.
"I was sitting in the hotel room, and I thought I don't want to be here," he said.
"That's when I knew I should get out of that ... When you get that feeling, you should take a hike."
Although he said that he would keep working as long as it gave him joy and his body could do it. Eventually, with God's command, Scully retired after the 2016 MLB ended.
It was a difficult decision for him. Even though the Dodgers could compete in the World Series later in 2017 and 2020, he still wouldn't come back to broadcast as the fans wanted.
But After all, he still came back to narrate the documentary about Dodger's journey to the 2020 World Series.
Vin Scully passed away on 2 August 2022 at 94, ending his legendary career with praises.
I'll never forget his smooth broadcasting style. He had a voice and a way of storytelling that made you think he was only talking to you. His Hall of Fame career is to be admired.
"Scully was the most excellent and sweetest man outside of the booth and was beloved by all of our Dodgers family," praised Magic Johnson, legendary basketball player of the LA Lakers.
If you have the chance to go to the Dodgers Stadium, you will see Scully's banner among the names of the superstars like Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson.
Some even praised him as the most precious member of the Dodgers baseball team ever.
All these compliments meant nothing to Scully because, for him, he was doing what he truly loved.
"I dismiss it. It's very complimentary, it's very nice, but it doesn't mean anything. You don't think to yourself that I'm bigger than this. No way."
References
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34338705/vin-scully-iconic-former-los-angeles-dodgers-broadcaster-dies-age-94
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34341677/remembering-vin-scully-long-los-angeles-dodgers-announcer-beloved-voice-baseball
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/vin-scullys-lasting-legacy-the-greatest-storyteller-ever
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/vin-scully-reflects-80-year-love-affair-baseball-article-1.2628610
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/legendary-dodgers-broadcaster-vin-scully-dies-94-2022-08-03/
