Career Timeline of Vin Scully: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Vin Scully built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Vin Scully was a legendary American sportscaster, renowned as the voice of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for an unparalleled 67 years (1950-2016). Widely regarded as the greatest sports broadcaster ever, Scully's poetic and insightful commentary captivated generations of baseball fans. His career spanned numerous iconic moments in baseball history, and his distinctive voice became synonymous with the Dodgers franchise. Scully's storytelling ability and knowledge of the game made him a beloved figure, transcending the sport itself.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

November 1949: Scully Impressed CBS Radio Network

In November 1949, Vin Scully impressed Red Barber and the CBS Radio Network with his coverage of a college football game from Fenway Park.

1950: Joined Dodgers' Broadcast Booth

In 1950, Vin Scully replaced Ernie Harwell in the Dodgers' radio and television booths, joining Red Barber and Connie Desmond.

1950: Began broadcasting for the Brooklyn Dodgers

In 1950, Vin Scully started his 67-year tenure as the play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1950: Hired by the Brooklyn Dodgers

In 1950, Vin Scully was hired by the Brooklyn Dodgers after being mentored by Red Barber.

1953: Broadcasted World Series on NBC

In 1953, Vin Scully took Red Barber's spot in the NBC television booth for the World Series due to a salary dispute and became the youngest person to broadcast a World Series.

1954: Became Team's Principal Announcer

In 1954, after Red Barber left the Dodgers, Vin Scully became the team's principal announcer.

1955: Announced Dodgers' Championship

In 1955, Vin Scully was in the booth when the Brooklyn Dodgers won their only championship in Brooklyn.

1956: Began Solo Innings

In 1956, Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett began calling their innings solo, rotating between radio and television.

1957: Last Year in Brooklyn

In 1957, Vin Scully announced Dodgers games in Brooklyn for the last time before the club moved to Los Angeles.

1958: Moved to Los Angeles

In 1958, Vin Scully accompanied the Dodgers to Los Angeles and became popular, with fans bringing transistor radios to games to hear him.

1958: Moved to Los Angeles with the Dodgers

In 1958, Vin Scully moved with the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles.

1962: Move to Dodger Stadium

In 1962, the practice of bringing transistor radios to games to hear Scully continued after the team moved to Dodger Stadium.

1964: Declined Yankees Offer

In 1964, Vin Scully declined an offer from the New York Yankees to replace Mel Allen, choosing to remain with the Dodgers.

1965: Recording Spoken Word Songs

In 1965, Vin Scully recorded two spoken word songs, "What Is A Dodger?" and "The Story Of The L. A. Dodgers", as part of the album "The Sound of the Dodgers".

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1966: Called World Series

In 1966, Vin Scully called half of each game for the World Series as part of an arrangement between the Gillette Company, the Commissioner of Baseball, and NBC television, but was unhappy with the arrangement.

1967: Co-hosting Tournament of Roses Parade

In 1967, Vin Scully co-hosted the Tournament of Roses Parade with Elizabeth Montgomery for ABC.

1970: Rejection of Monday Night Football Offer

In 1970, Vin Scully rejected an offer from ABC Sports to call play-by-play for the then-new Monday Night Football games, citing his commitment to the Dodgers.

1973: Hosting "The Vin Scully Show"

In 1973, Vin Scully hosted "The Vin Scully Show", a weekday afternoon talk-variety show on CBS.

1975: Became Number Two Announcer for CBS

In 1975, Vin Scully became the number two announcer for CBS, calling games alongside Hank Stram.

1975: Joined CBS Sports

In 1975, Vin Scully began calling football and golf contests for CBS Sports.

1975: Began CBS Golf Coverage

In 1975, Vin Scully began contributing to CBS's PGA Tour golf coverage and the Masters Tournament.

1975: Joined CBS Sports for NFL telecasts

In 1975, Vin Scully began his employment with CBS Sports, calling National Football League (NFL) telecasts.

1977: Ross Porter Joined Broadcast Team

In 1977, Ross Porter joined Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett, continuing the practice of each announcer calling their innings solo.

1977: First CBS Radio Stint

In 1977, Vin Scully began his first stint calling baseball for CBS Radio, broadcasting the All-Star Game with Brent Musburger.

1977: Hosting 'Challenge of the Sexes'

In 1977, Vin Scully hosted the prime-time 'Challenge of the Sexes' for CBS.

1977: Missing Home Opener

In 1977, Vin Scully missed a Dodger Stadium home opener to broadcast the Masters golf tournament for CBS. This was the first time he missed a Dodger Stadium home opener in his career with the team.

1979: Madden Hired by CBS

In 1979, John Madden was hired by CBS and called games alongside Frank Glieber and Gary Bender.

1979: Called World Series for CBS Radio

In 1979, Vin Scully began calling the World Series for CBS Radio alongside Sparky Anderson.

January 10, 1982: Called NFC Championship Game

On January 10, 1982, Vin Scully called Dwight Clark's touchdown catch in the NFC Championship Game, his final NFL game.

January 24, 1982: Summerall calls Super Bowl XVI, Scully assigned consolation game

On January 24, 1982, Pat Summerall was chosen to call Super Bowl XVI, leading to Vin Scully being assigned the NFC Championship Game as a consolation, feeling insulted by the decision.

1982: End of First CBS Radio Stint

In 1982, Vin Scully's first stint calling baseball for CBS Radio concluded.

1982: End of CBS Golf Coverage

In 1982, Vin Scully's tenure covering the Masters Tournament for CBS concluded.

1982: Left CBS Sports

In 1982, Vin Scully's tenure with CBS Sports ended after he called football and golf contests for the network.

1983: Joined NBC Sports

In 1983, Vin Scully became the lead baseball play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports.

1983: Joined NBC for baseball coverage

In 1983, Vin Scully left CBS for a job calling baseball games for NBC following a dispute over assignment prominence.

1984: Called World Series for NBC

In 1984, Vin Scully called the World Series for NBC.

1985: Called National League Championship Series

In 1985, Vin Scully called the National League Championship Series for NBC.

1986: Called World Series for NBC

In 1986, Vin Scully called the World Series for NBC, including Bill Buckner's error in Game 6.

1987: Doggett's Retirement

In 1987, Jerry Doggett retired after a long career alongside Vin Scully, and was replaced by Don Drysdale.

1987: Called National League Championship Series

In 1987, Vin Scully called the National League Championship Series for NBC.

August 9, 1988: First official night game at Wrigley Field

On August 9, 1988, Vin Scully, alongside Joe Garagiola, was present to witness and broadcast the first official night game in the history of Chicago's Wrigley Field for NBC.

1988: Called World Series for NBC

In 1988, Vin Scully called the World Series for NBC, including Kirk Gibson's famous home run in Game 1.

June 3, 1989: Broadcasting 23 Innings in Two Cities

On June 3, 1989, Vin Scully called 10 innings for the NBC Game of the Week in St. Louis. After arriving in Houston, he picked up the play-by-play for the Dodgers, broadcasting the final 13 innings of a 22-inning game, totaling 23 innings in one day in two cities.

1989: End of NBC Sports Tenure

In 1989, Vin Scully's role as the lead baseball play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports concluded.

1989: NBC Loses Baseball Television Rights

In 1989, after the National League Championship Series, NBC lost the television rights to cover Major League Baseball to CBS, ending NBC's baseball coverage since 1946. Scully expressed sadness over the loss of this American tradition.

1989: Scully Leaves NBC

In 1989, after the National League Championship Series, Vin Scully's contract with NBC was up, and he decided to leave in order to focus primarily on his duties with the Dodgers.

1990: Return to CBS Radio

In 1990, Vin Scully returned to CBS Radio to call the World Series again, continuing until 1997.

1997: Final World Series Game

In 1997, Vin Scully called the Game 7 of the World Series between the Florida Marlins and Cleveland Indians. This was the final World Series game that Scully called, as he declined a continued play-by-play role with ESPN Radio the following year.

1997: End of CBS Radio World Series Broadcasts

In 1997, Vin Scully concluded his second stint calling the World Series for CBS Radio.

1998: Scully Declines ESPN Radio Offer

In 1998, after ESPN Radio acquired the World Series radio rights from CBS, Vin Scully was offered a continued play-by-play role but declined the offer.

1999: Master of Ceremonies for MLB All-Century Team

In 1999, Vin Scully served as the master of ceremonies for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team presentation before Game 2 of the World Series.

2004: Ross Porter's Departure

In 2004, Ross Porter left the Dodgers broadcast team, where he worked alongside Vin Scully.

2005: Retirement from Video Game Announcing

In 2005, Vin Scully retired from announcing for video games after MLB 2005, a Sony PlayStation-exclusive MLB video game series by 989 Sports.

April 15, 2012: Scully Returns to Announcer's Booth

On April 15, 2012, Vin Scully returned to the announcers' booth after missing most of the Dodgers' opening homestand due to illness. This day marked the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier in baseball.

August 28, 2015: Announcement of Return for 2016 Season

On August 28, 2015, the Dodgers announced that Vin Scully would return for the 2016 season, his 67th with the team.

January 31, 2016: Announcement of Retirement

On January 31, 2016, Vin Scully announced his plans to retire from broadcasting after the conclusion of the 2016 season. His final game was the team's October 2 finale in San Francisco.

September 25, 2016: Final Regular Season Game at Dodger Stadium

On September 25, 2016, Vin Scully's final regular-season game broadcast from Dodger Stadium took place.

October 2, 2016: Final Game Broadcast

On October 2, 2016, Vin Scully's final game was broadcast from Oracle Park in San Francisco.

2016: Scully narrated an audio recording of the Rosary for Catholic Athletes for Christ

In 2016, Scully narrated an audio recording of the Rosary for Catholic Athletes for Christ in which he recites the Rosary mysteries and leads a group of responders.

2016: Retired from broadcasting

In 2016, Vin Scully concluded his 67-year broadcasting career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2016: Final Season

In 2016, Vin Scully indicated it would likely be his final year as a broadcaster.

2016: Retired at age 88

In 2016, Vin Scully retired at the age of 88 after the season ended, marking the end of his long broadcasting career.

2020: Narrating Championship Documentary

In 2020, after the Dodgers World Series win, it was announced that Vin Scully would narrate the team's year-end championship documentary.

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