Finn Scully, the legendary Los Angeles Dodgers announcer who died August 2 at the age of 94, is remembered at a Friday tribute at Dodger Stadium as a towering but humble figure whose work has extended beyond the team to becoming a part of the fabric of baseball.
“He wasn’t just a dodger — he loved the baseball we all love and care about,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said during the memorial service leading up to the Blue Crew’s evening home game against the San Diego Padres.
Finn, we’ll miss you,” Roberts said from the field, surrounded by team members. Some players were wearing special hats decorated with an image of an old-fashioned microphone with attached wings.
“We love you. We’ll think of you every day. Every game we come into, every fan who shows up at Dodger Stadium, there’s a reason they’ll always be remembered. It’s Dodger baseball time,” said Roberts.
Roberts ordered the stadium’s 50,000 audience to stand up and shout those five words out loud enough for Scully to hear the start of the game from his seat in Blue Heaven. The crowd responded, many of them with tears in their eyes.
Roberts also had Dodgers anchors Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser unveil a larger banner hanging below the broadcast booth’s photo window that read: “We’ll miss you, Finn.” That was a reference to a similar sign that Scully revealed on his last night at the booth on September 24, 2016. That sign says, “I’ll miss you, Finn.”
The tribute included a video highlighting Scully’s extraordinary life and 67 seasons with the team. It included several clips from Scully’s 2016 retirement party, when fans were assured that baseball would be back in the spring, even if someone else was on the microphone.
Emotions of the moment were evident in the faces of the players and fans, who tip the Dodger hats to the rare public figure who was universally loved and respected.
“You and I have been friends for a long time,” said Scully, in the confident but calm tone that has informed and entertained generations of baseball fans.
“There will be a new day and a new year. When next winter gives way to spring – huh it is – rest assured, it is time for a Dodger baseball game.”
Dear Tweet embedAnd the
I just hope this video does justice to you. You will never be forgotten, the greatest chak ever 💙🙏🏾🐐pic.twitter.com/AzFrKYsXOj
– Eric (@MrErickVazquez) August 6, 2022
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