Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Olbermann: Yanks Almost Had Vin Scully

In an article for MLB.com, Keith Olbermann describes a time about "a decade ago" when the Yankees went out to Los Angeles for and exhibition game against the Dodgers. Michael Kay and Olbermann are friends and met up at Dodger Stadium before the game. When they met Kay explained how nervous he was about meeting legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. Olbermann tried to ease Kay's nerves and eventually introduced the two.
As Michael began to hyperventilate, I made the introductions. Vin asked about Fordham, about Mike's youth, about his newspaper career, about the Yankees. And then came the story: "Michael, did you know; Keith, I don't even think I told you this -- I nearly became the Voice of the Yankees?"

Absolute silence for two or three beats, and then, from Kay and Olbermann, a joint "Whaaaat?"

"When the Yankees let Mel Allen go in 1964, I got a phone call from the man who they had brought in to run their broadcasting operation, Craig Smith," Vin began. "He had been in charge of the World Series broadcasts forever, so I'd known him about 10 years by then. And he asked me if I'd like to come home to New York and become the lead announcer. He offered a very handsome salary, and a long contract.

"Well, I was amazed, as you can imagine. I'd found a wonderful home here in Los Angeles, but remember, this was only seven years after the Dodgers left Brooklyn. I was still a New Yorker through and through. Plus, here was a chance to work again with Red Barber. And recall, too, that this was just before the Yankee dynasty collapsed. As much as Mr. O'Malley had done here and in Brooklyn, the Yankees were still the marquee name in sports. If it had been 1958 or 1959, when I still missed New York so, I would've said yes before he hung up the phone.

"So, I thought long and hard about that one. But I had a young family, and I think we had all just truly adjusted to living here -- takes just about seven years, I think -- and in the end I turned it down."
Geeez, how great would it be to have had Vin Scully doing Yankees games for the last 40+ years?

If you want to get a feel for what we've been missing out on, check out the clip below from game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

12 Comments:

SteveB said...

Hmmmmmm....... Scully & Scooter?

Do you think that would've worked? It makes me think of comedic teams for some reason- Abbot & Costello, Martin & Lewis, Laurel & Hardy.

The Yankees did well when they hired Frank Messer around 1967, and then Bill White joined them around 1972. Rizzuto-Messer-White was a great team, and for a lot of years too.

Greg Cohen said...

I'm a little young to remember Messer and White. I only know their voices from highlights, but yes they were good.

I grew up listening to Scooter, though. I think he has Scully would have worked. Scooter would have probably had him cracking up a lot of the time.

Anonymous said...

What... and miss out on that great duo of John Sterling and Susanne Waldman.

Anonymous said...

oh man...too bad it didn't happen...that would have been amazing...

Anonymous said...

I'm suprised Olberman didn't blame Bush for this not happening. Messer/ White and Rizzuto were tremendous. Don't think Scully would have endured an entire Steinbrenner era

Danny said...

I could've had a childhood of Scully and Rizzuto in the 80's?!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Scully is probably the most boring announcer in baseball right now. I can't stand watching Dodger games sometimes.

crossfire said...

Messer, White and Rizzuto were a great part of growing up that I wouldn't trade even for the great Vin Scully.

Anonymous said...

rizzuto, messer and white were funny and good together. phil brought the humor intentionally or not, messer was button down and straightlaced, and white played off rizzuto very well, could be comical, funny, but also knowledgable. they were fun to listen to. Olbermann is a loser, but i cut his some slack because he is a big Yankee fan.

Scott_in_Sacramento said...

I don't think the team of Scully and Scooter would have worked, but Vin is an awesome announcer. If you want a treat, watch Don Larsen's perfect game on MLB Network Friday @ 2:00 EDT. I watched it the first time they aired it, and it is refreshing. Vin talks just enough. It really makes you notice how much asshats like Michael Kay and Tim McCarver talk just to hear their own voices.

Scott_in_Sacramento said...

crossfire...

I agree 100 %, as great as Vin Scully is, I wouldn't trade him for the team of Messer, White, and Rizzuto.

Anonymous said...

Besides the Yankees, Vin Scully is the best reason to have the MLB Extra Innings package. It is an absolute treat to listen to Vin call Dodger games as I drift off to sleep. If only he'd taken the job. A pretty cool what if.

To Anonymous above - This quote is wrong on soooooooo many levels. I don't even know where to start.

- "Scully is probably the most boring announcer in baseball right now. I can't stand watching Dodger games sometimes."