Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, 88, has embarked on his final season with the Dodgers, for whom he’s been broadcasting games since 1950 – when the club was in Brooklyn. Known for his dulcet voice and poetic touch, Scully is the longest-tenured broadcaster – 67 years - with a single club in professional sports history.
He’s also lent his voice to iconic moments beyond Brooklyn and Los Angeles, from World Series calls to a dynasty-launching Catch on the gridiron.
Throughout 2016, USA TODAY Sports will share some of Scully’s greatest and memorable calls.
April 1, 2013: An Opening Day to remember: Clayton Kershaw's home run.
April 8, 1974: Scully calls Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run to break Babe Ruth’s all-time record.
Oct. 15, 1988: Scully calls Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit, walk-off home run off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
May 12, 2016: 'Thor' goes deep - twice - at Chavez Ravine
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TODAY: Scully discusses the history of Friday the 13th
Date: Sept. 13, 2013
Call: "It's pretty hard to figure out, and in doing a little research about why and how Friday the 13th became such a superstition.
"You have to go back to an 1869 biography of a musician, where they referred to it as a bad day -- the pitch to A.J. (Ellis) is low -- in numerology, the No. 12 is considered completeness. You know 12 months of the year, 12 hours on the clock, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 apostles of Jesus, the 12 successors of Mohammed in Shia Islam, the 12 signs of the Zodiac, for that matter as well.
"The 2-2 pitch is on the way is inside, ball three.
"The number 13 is considered irregular. You might not know it, I never did, in Spanish speaking countries, instead of Friday, Tuesday the 13th is considered a day of bad luck. Tuesday the 13th. I never knew that.
"The throw to first not in time. (Scott) Van Slyke diving back.
"And they tell me the Greeks also consider Tuesday, especially the 13th, as an unlucky day. They said it was dominated by the influence of Ares, the God of War.
"3-2 the count, the runner goes, the pitch is high for ball four. There will be two on with two out as A.J. Ellis trots to first. Van Slyke advance to second and Mark Ellis will be coming up.
"You know another interesting note about it, while we are waiting for a little action.
"In Italian popular culture Friday the 17th is a bad day. In Italy, 13 is generally considered a lucky number. So take your pick.
"They also did a survey out of NC, and they said anywhere from 17 to 21 million people in the United States are frightened to death about Friday the 13th.
"Alright, here is Mark Ellis who fortunately wears 14. Mark swings and fouls it back and the count 0-1.
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