You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks, if the Old Dog is Vin Scully

Sports

There are few figures more revered in Major League Baseball than renowned Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully (full disclosure, I am a lifelong Dodger fan and would run across a six lane highway to shake Vinnie’s hand — and I know I’m not alone there). To any baseball fan, he is a legend; to Dodger fans he holds the status of a diety.

Scully has been calling Dodger games for 64 seasons. Let’s think about that for a second. Consider all the things that have changed in the game of baseball — and in the world — in the last 64 years to which Scully has had to adapt, just to do his job. His career began when games were only broadcast on radio; we now watch games on our phones or follow the games via Twitter feed. But Vin Scully is a pro, and he can adapt. Just this April, the 85 year-old Scully seemed to have no clue about social media and asked us all “what in the world is a hashtag?” Two months later, Scully was ruling social media as he took over the @Dodgers Twitter feed last night and live-tweeted the second game of the Dodgers double-header against the Yankees.

Scully started off the Tweetcast with his traditional Dodger greeting, and the magic continued all game long. In case you missed it, here are some of the gems Dodger fans were treated to yesterday:

Hi everybody and a pleasant Wednesday evening to you, wherever you may be. -#VinScully

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2013

With a nod to those who know his age and old-school mentality:

I broadcast the Yankee/ Dodger World Series in '53, '55, '56, '63 and '81. No way I could have imagined tweeting a game. -#VinScully

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2013

On playing ball with a future president:

I once played against George H. W. Bush. He played 1B for Yale, and I played CF for Fordham. We both went 0-for-3. #TrueStory -#VinScully

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 20, 2013

As always, Scully’s primary focus was on the game and not on himself:

Upon telling Vin he is already trending in the United States, “Wow! Hot diggity dog. Well, Puig just bunted for a base hit.” -#VinScully

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2013

Proving he is a true reniassance man who knows more than just baseball, Scully predicts the NBA championship game

On the #NBAFinals, "I thought San Antonio would have won it by now, so I'll stay with them." -#VinScully

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 20, 2013

Always a class act, Vinnie refuses to take any credit for his milestone in social media:

In response to all of the ‘thank you’s,’ “Well, I don’t think I really did very much. Thank you all.” -#VinScully

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 20, 2013

After a Dodger win, Scully bid all his followers farewell: