Los Angeles

Vin Scully Delivers, and Then Calls in a Left-Handed Reliever

He retired last year after a remarkable and unprecedented 67 years as the Dodger broadcaster.

And at Game 2 of the World Series, Vin Scully was back. This time not in the broadcast booth, but on the pitcher's mound.

"You know what I’m thinking right now?" Scully said while holding a microphone along with a baseball.  "Somewhere up in heaven Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Gil Hodges are laughing their heads off. Look at who’s throwing out the first ball at the World Series." 

Greeted by a standing ovation with fans chanting his name, Scully pointed out for the ceremony to take place, he needed a catcher.

Out came Steve Yeager, a Dodger catcher for 14 seasons and the MVP of the 1981 World Series. Scully said he had been practicing all week in an effort not to disappoint.

"I must warn you Steve … my fastball is the same as my changeup," he said.

But as the 89 year-old Dodger legend started his wind-up … he stopped. Scully, feigning injury, said he needed a left handed reliever to take his place.

Fernando Valenzuela … the phenomenal screwball throwing left hander who sparked "Fernandomania" during his years with the team and its championship runs in ’81 and ’88, popped out of the dugout.

Then, following the ceremonial first pitch, Scully called on the throng at Dodger Stadium to join him in another tradition. In unison, 50,000 voices proclaimed together: "It’s time for Dodger baseball!"

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Following Tuesday’s pre-game ceremony, he retired to his seat next to wife Sandy to take in the game.

The Hall-of-Fame announcer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom first started working for the Dodgers in 1950 while the team was in Brooklyn.

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