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The Dodgers are playing as we speak in San Diego. Baseball is upon us. To welcome the new season, here's an audio clip of Vin Scully from early in the 1981 season. It's a gem, courtesy of author Paul Haddad, who recorded Dodger radio broadcasts growing up and has a new book out: "High Fives, Pennant Drives, and Fernandomania: A Fan's History of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Glory Years (1977-1981.)"
It's just April 27, a few weeks into the season. But it's a playoff party atmosphere at Dodger Stadium. A 20-year-old pitcher named Fernando Valenzuela has begun the season with an amazing string of shutout games (and big hits) and charmed the city, along with much of the baseball world. Bottom of the 9th inning, two outs, the last batter comes up for the Giants. And Vin Scully is telling stories between pitches, painting the sky with words.
Time doesn't mean a darn thing here tonight...Just one game, but what a game to remember.
Ladies and gentlemen, Fernandomania (MP3 file)
Haddad has recordings from several seasons at his website, including the voices of longtime Scully partners Jerry Doggett and Ross Porter. Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts wrote the foreword to the book.
Recommended recent Dodgers reading:
When Al Campanis said what he said about blacks in baseball (ESPN)
Decades later, bitter memories of Chavez Ravine (LA Times)
Fernando Nation (Native Intelligence)
