Early Christmas for LA Dodger fans: Vin Scully plans to return to the booth in 2013

It seems there is no stopping the avalanche of good news that keeps pouring out of Chavez Ravine lately.

Frank McCourt is now a distant memory. Bookish and incompetent Paul DePodesta and his Triple A-caliber roster now seem a lifetime removed.

Moreover, the ink is just now drying on the Guggenheim group's most recent blockbuster deal, this time for slugger Adrian Gonzalez.

But in perhaps the best news of all, Vin Scully, the team's iconic broadcaster, has decided to return to the booth in 2013 for another season of syrupy-smooth play-by-play calls.

The Hall of Fame broadcaster plans to complete an unprecedented 64th season in 2013 in which he will again call all Dodger home and road games in California and Arizona.

An important factor in Scully's decision has been the new ownership's recent commitment to winning demonstrated in several recent trades for pricey talent.

“The new ownership of the Dodgers has revitalized the city, the team, the fans and myself,” Scully said. “I am so convinced of their great purpose and leadership that I eagerly look forward to joining them in pursuit of the next Dodgers championship.”

Widely regarded as the finest sportscaster of all time, Scully’s 63 years of service mark the longest tenure in his field.

“It was a treat to be able to listen to Chick Hearn through my years with the Lakers,” said Dodger owner Earvin Johnson, “and it’s been great to be able to listen to Vin work his magic in the broadcast booth since I came to Los Angeles in 1979. Generations of Angelenos have been blessed to have these Hall of Famers in their midst.”  

Scully began his professional baseball broadcasting career in 1950 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Memorable moments called by Scully include Kirk Gibson’s miraculous Game 1 homer in the 1988 World Series; Hank Aaron’s record-setting 715th home run; Sandy Koufax’s four no-hitters, including a perfect game; and the scoreless-inning streaks of Dodger greats Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser.

When Scully began broadcasting, the Dodgers had yet to win a World Series. Three years later, at the age of 25, he became the youngest person to ever broadcast a World Series game. In 1955, he had his most memorable moment behind the microphone, as he called the Dodgers' first and only championship in Brooklyn.

In Los Angeles, Scully called Dodger World Championships in 1959, ’63, ’65, ’81 and ’88 and he was elected the top sportscaster of the 20th century by the non-profit American Sportscasters Association.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald and news services