The LA Dodgers paid tribute to legendary broadcaster Vin Scully Friday night at the Dodgers stadium in their first home game since his death.
Scully was the longest-tenured broadcaster with a single team in sports history, spending 67 years in the booth as the voice of the Dodgers in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles. He died Tuesday at the age of 94.
The ceremony began with the Dodgers and Padres lining up on the baselines before a moment’s silence was held for Scully.
Friday night the LA Dodgers paid tribute to Vin Scully, who died on Tuesday at age of 94
Dodgers Stadium held a moment’s silence for the legendary broadcaster pregame
The Dodgers players and coaches gathered on the filed as they honored Scully
Spectators were asked to turn to the Dodger Vision where a video clip, narrated by Dodgers broadcaster Charley Steiner, commemorating Scully’s life and career was played.
The clip finished with photos of Scully throughout his life as ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ played. The camera panned to the fans, some with tears in their eyes.
A bouquet of white and blue flowers hung next to a plaque bearing his name on the stands, while the same icon – his name above a microphone – was painted onto the mound.
The Dodgers players then gathered infield as head coach Dave Roberts took the microphone to praise the character, integrity and class of Scully before leading Dodger Stadium through his five most iconic words – ‘It’s time for Dodger baseball’.
A bouquet of white and blue flowers hung next to a plaque bearing his name on the stands
The icon of a microphone below his name were painted onto the mound in blue and white
He said: ‘Vin hated the spotlight on him, well this is going to be very uncomfortable for him because this moment right now he really deserves.
‘Vin was a man of character, integrity, class, a true gentleman. He wasn’t just a Dodger, he loved the game of baseball that we all love and care about.
‘Six years ago we saw a video of Charlie going deep, clinching the division for the Dodgers. It was Vin’s last game at Dodger Stadium so it couldn’t be more fitting.
‘And that night, that day, Vin had a banner hung below his booth that said “I will miss you, Vin”. So tonight, Joe (Davis) and Orel (Hershiser) will you do us all the great pleasure of unveiling a new banner.’
The pair lifted back the blue curtain to reveal a banner reading the words, ‘Vin – We’ll miss you,’ on a white banner below his old booth.
A banner reading ‘Vin- We’ll miss you!’ was unveiled in honor of the beloved broadcaster
Two fans wore T-shirts with the same emblem on the back to pay tribute to the late icon
Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin tips his hat on the mound to honor late broadcaster
‘Vin, you will be missed. We love you. We will think about you every day, every game we come to and every fan that shows up to Dodger Stadium there is a reason you will be remembered. You will always be linked to these five words – It’s time for Dodger baseball.’
‘So now, 50,000 Dodgers fans get on your feet, on the count of three yell as loud as you can so that Mr. Vin can hear us from blue heaven.’
Scully worked as the Dodgers’ play-by-play broadcaster from 1950 until 2016, when he retired.
He was hired to broadcast the Brooklyn Dodgers games at the age of 22 and at 25 became the youngest person ever to broadcast a World Series game.
The Dodgers will also honor Vin Scully with a commemorative patch on their uniforms for the remainder of the season.
The black patch has a blue border with a microphone at the center and the word ‘Vin’ inscribed above it in white text.
The umpires tipped their hats towards the broadcast booth during the ceremony
The team will wear patches – pictured on Dave Roberts’ arm – for the rest of the MLB season
On Wednesday, against the San Francisco Giants, a tribute was played to Scully on the big screen at Oracle Park. The Dodgers also held a moment of silence in tribute to him.
At the Dodger Stadium where there is the Vin Scully avenue, flowers, candles and handwritten messages were laid out by fans who took time to remember the man their team described as ‘in so many ways, the heartbeat of all of Los Angeles.’
Along Hollywood Boulevard, tourists and locals paused at Scully’s flower-strewn star on the Walk of Fame.
Los Angeles City Hall was lit in blue Wednesday night. ESPN2 also re-aired Game 1 of the 1988 World Series featuring Scully’s memorable call of Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit, walk-off home run that led the Dodgers to a win over the Oakland Athletics.
A tribute at Oracle Park was played before the Dodgers took on the San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles City Hall, pictured behind the stadium, was lit in blue Wednesday night
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