Due Up as Rose Parade Grand Marshal: Dodgers Broadcaster Vin Scully

The legendary 85-year-old broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers will be joined by his wife

Beloved Dodgers baseball announcer Vin Scully thanked the sports fans of Southern California for their support Thursday and said he was "humbled" to be named the grand marshal for the 2014 Rose Parade in Pasadena.

List: Tournament of Roses Grand Marshals

The legendary 85-year-old broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers will be joined by his wife, Sandi, for the ride down Colorado Boulevard on Jan. 1.

Scully told The Associated Press that his first reaction to being selected was, "Wow.''

"I am deeply humbled and greatly honored to be the grand marshal of the 125th Rose Parade," said Scully. "I look forward to sharing this wonderful moment with my wife, Sandi, and the millions who will be watching."

Scully -- he has called 25 World Series games during his career -- was introduced as grand marshal on Thursday at Tournament House in Pasadena. Scully also will participate in several Tournament of Roses events throughout December.

The theme of this year's Tournament is "Dreams Come True" -- appropriate for a master storyteller with a storied career. He first entered broadcasting in 1950 and became the youngest person to ever broadcast a World Series game three years later when he was just 25.

"Vin Scully is incredibly accomplished and yet still so down to earth," said R. Scott Jenkins, Tournament of Roses president. "His own life is one in which many dreams have come true, and even more importantly, he has been at the microphone describing for listeners everywhere the dreams of others coming true. I couldn't be happier that he accepted my invitation to be the grand marshal. I know his fans everywhere are cheering right now."

Earlier this year, Scully announced that he would be rejoining the Dodgers -- atop the National League West at 83-56 -- for a 65th season in the broadcast booth. The Dodgers held a 12 1/2-game lead over Arizona entering Thursday.

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"Timing, they say, is everything," Scully said after a roar of applause during the Rose Parade announcement. "In 1992, for instance, the Dodgers lost 99 games. You could imagine if I were the marshal of that year."

He was inducted into the broadcaster's wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Scully also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and, in 2001, the Dodger Stadium press box was named in his honor.

Scully follows British primatologist Jane Goodall (2013), actor J.R. Martinez (2012), embattled celebrity chef Paula Deen (2011) and "Miracle on the Hudson" pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger as grand marshal. Click here for a full list of Tournament of Roses grand marshals, dating to 1890.

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