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The Nation's Pulse
Baseball for Grownups
If so, it’s Vin Scully doing the play-by-play.
(Page 2 of 2)
When Koufax got the last out, the Dodgers celebrated their championship, but without all 25 of them rolling on the turf in a scrum like a bunch of junior high school boys just let out of school for the summer. The Dodger players were clearly thrilled they had reached the pinnacle of their sport and showed it. But no psychotic breaks. No manic behavior. They got off the field quickly and into the visitor’s locker room, not showing up the local team and crowd.
There was no spraying champagne in the post-game winners’ locker room, where Scully asked fairly obvious but intelligent questions of the players and of Dodger manager Walter Alston. These worthies managed to answer Scully’s questions in complete sentences without the aid of “you know,” or “like,” or the procession of clichés no athlete interview is compete without today. The word “awesome” was not heard once. No players stalked the guy talking to Scully with a shaving cream pie. The sports writers even wore coats and ties.
So for me Saturday was an afternoon of great baseball and some sobering cultural markers. I’ll doubtless go to the Trop in St. Petersburg a few times this summer to watch and pull for the Rays. But it saddens me a bit that the games will sound a bit like rock concerts (ear plugs are now essential ball-park gear) and cost about the same to attend. Saturday’s nostalgic walk reminded me that within the living memory of millions of Americans is a time when 50,000 grownups could enjoy a baseball game in a civilized setting.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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Craig| 1.13.09 @ 6:33AM
Great article! You had me thinking about smuggling that transistor radio to school to listen to World Series games......
grampa guy| 1.13.09 @ 8:29AM
I used to call him "Numb" Scully because he was a little too pro-Rams back when he called the football playoffs. You remember those endless years when The Purple Gang would always send The Goats home without their supper from a frosty Met Stadium. But , for baseball, Mr. Scully is right up there with Harwell, Carneal and the best of the best. The nuns at my grade school even let us listen on the radio that fateful AFTERNOON in 1965. Thanks for the memories.
Ammo Guy| 1.13.09 @ 9:33AM
Finally...a topic I can sink my teeth into. I grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and was heartbroken (to this day even) to see them leave Ebbets Field behind for the lovely LA Memorial Coliseum, but I continued to follow them thru the 60s until all Brooklyn players were gone. Having watched and played baseball for more than a half century, it is my humble opinion that Koufax was the best pitcher that I've ever seen. His accuracy, velocity, curve ball, gentlemanly behavior, even his adherence to his faith were awesome (sorry Larry, just had to use that word because here it is truly le mot juste). One of the best days of my life was attending a double header at Forbes Field in which Koufax pitched one game and Drysdale the other...just a great memory and I still have the ticket stub to pass on to my grandkids one day. Like Ted Williams before him who lost 5 seasons to military service, I always wondered what sort of numbers Sandy would've put up if he could have pitched for another 5 or 6 seasons. Of course, at 300+ innings a year and throwing mostly complete games, his arm was being severely stressed so we have to treasure those moments we had with him. So, just in case he happens upon this thread...Sandy, thanks for the memories (and I've got a 1964 baseball card of you that I would love for you to sign - call me :o)
Trotter| 1.13.09 @ 9:38AM
Having grown up listening to Vin broadcast my beloved Dodgers as a kid, there simply is no alternative to listening to a baseball game on the radio than Vin Scully. In fact, every time I hear Vin broadcast a game I feel like I'm back at Chavez Ravine watching the Dodgers take on the hated Reds, munching on peanuts, booing lustily each time Pete Rose came to the plate, and letting the gentle breeze cool me off from the weekend sun. Oh man, that was baseball the way it's supposed to be.
Now, there really is no point bringing a radio to a game. The announcers where I live now are horrible, and I can't hear the radio over the racket going on over the PA system.
Alan Brooks| 1.13.09 @ 11:22AM
i miss the Mets twi nite double headers in '69.
and the hot dogs were still affordable. progress?
phooey!
Alan Brooks| 1.13.09 @ 11:24AM
give me a time machine so i can shake Ty Cobb's hand.
Philip Pettus| 1.13.09 @ 1:49PM
I, too, saw the game, and wondered where the tradition of solo sportscasters has gone. When a virtuoso like Vin calls a game, a sidekick would be an intrusion and an insult. I am guessing he is the last of the breed still doing it a capella.
Marc Jeric| 1.13.09 @ 4:59PM
A very nice article; reminded me of my coming to this country some 47 years ago. What a place! Baseball - it was a very strange game to me, but over the years I learned a lot. At McDonalds, the hamburger was 10 cents and the coffee 5 cents - so when you left a quarter it was considered a decent tip. I opened a bank account, got a driving licence, bought a car , foynd a job - and nobody asked me for my ID!
Stuart| 1.13.09 @ 10:03PM
A great piece! I've been away from the year for years now- too many teams, too many relief pitchers stopping the action, too little bunting etc.. But I remember the era you're talking about- and, of course, Scully's word painting.
You're spot on about the low class and just plain adolescent behavior of the players, and the slovenly fans. And the music is appalling.
You have a great line that in the not so distant past the entertainment was the game itself.
Sarah | 1.17.09 @ 5:51AM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
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