June: Ralph, we bought a 70-inch high-definition TV just so you could watch sporting events... And now you're telling me you'd rather listen to the baseball game on the radio??
Ralph: It's known as "the vin scully factor."
I grew up listening to Dodger games on the radio. The biggest difference between radio and t.v. is how the game is called. Scully paces himself perfectly during plays so that there is a natural conversational flow vs. most t.v. announcers who will start narrating a play and then once the play is obviously going a certain way, they state the obvious. So annoying if you are a baseball fan!! I have watched more than once with the picture on the t.v. and a radio on calling the game. I’ve done it for other sports too.
Vin Scully is the gold standard. He is the last remaining broadcaster from the old school of sports announcing who does it right.
Muting TV & listening to radio is harder to do now that TV has at least a five-second delay (longer if you’re watching HD). Thank you Janet Jackson & Justin Timberflake.
The sad part is that there are almost NO radio baseball announcers who can describe a game well outside of Vin Scully now. All the ones we know so well—Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Ernie Harwell, and many others—have either passed away or retired. Once Scully retires (likely after next year), the age of legendary baseball radio announcers will be over.
Go Vin – he’s the best! But I love to watch the Phillies but listen to their radio guys, Scott and Larry! Followed them all season that way. I don’t even care if it’s out of sync – those guys are astute and funny as hell, even when (especially when) the Phils crash and burn as they sure did this season!
Listening to Vin Scully and (years ago!) Jerry Doggett you could “see” the game better than being there in person. For years Dodger fans would watch TV with the sound off and the radio turned to Scully and Doggett.
Yes, Vin is the best. Voted by his peers as the #1 sports broadcaster of all time. I’ve been listening to him a long time; I guess next year will be it (and, to be 100% honest, it’s time—his style is as good as ever, but his accuracy is dropping alarmingly). Charlie Steiner is really good; I only wish they would pension off Rick “authoritarian nut job” Monday.
For those that have Cable one and a few other cable channels this is the ONLY way we are going to get. Reminds me of 59 years ago when I use to listen with my day.
I think the issue here is that today’s radio baseball announcers grew up in the age of television, and as such announces a baseball game in a totally different manner than the old-time announcers. If you listen to John Sterling and Susyn Waldman on the Yankees’ radio broadcasts, it has a very different “feel” than what Vin Scully does.
I grew up listening to Skip Caray announce the Braves games- there is nothing that reminds me of my childhood as much as that! Too bad we lost last night… :(
I totally get that. I used to listen to the Saints games on the radio, especially if I wasn’t home to watch on TV. So, with the horrible announcers on TV, I’d watch it on TV with the sound muted. When you have your favorite broadcasters, that are actually fans of your team, it’s more fun to listen.
Mariann Rederscheid Premium Member about 11 years ago
Love this. :)
Z Blair Premium Member about 11 years ago
I grew up listening to Dodger games on the radio. The biggest difference between radio and t.v. is how the game is called. Scully paces himself perfectly during plays so that there is a natural conversational flow vs. most t.v. announcers who will start narrating a play and then once the play is obviously going a certain way, they state the obvious. So annoying if you are a baseball fan!! I have watched more than once with the picture on the t.v. and a radio on calling the game. I’ve done it for other sports too.
Vin Scully is the gold standard. He is the last remaining broadcaster from the old school of sports announcing who does it right.
Z Blair Premium Member about 11 years ago
@Amar7605: Exactly! I posted before I read your comment.
Gator007 about 11 years ago
You can watch your soaps on the new TV.
Five boys about 11 years ago
Loved watching Dizzy Dean back in the day. He knew how to announce a baseball game!
DaveBNM about 11 years ago
Why do we need play by play announcers on TV? On the radio, you couldn’t see what was happening.
YatInExile about 11 years ago
Muting TV & listening to radio is harder to do now that TV has at least a five-second delay (longer if you’re watching HD). Thank you Janet Jackson & Justin Timberflake.
Sacto1624 about 11 years ago
The sad part is that there are almost NO radio baseball announcers who can describe a game well outside of Vin Scully now. All the ones we know so well—Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Ernie Harwell, and many others—have either passed away or retired. Once Scully retires (likely after next year), the age of legendary baseball radio announcers will be over.
marykatie Premium Member about 11 years ago
Go Vin – he’s the best! But I love to watch the Phillies but listen to their radio guys, Scott and Larry! Followed them all season that way. I don’t even care if it’s out of sync – those guys are astute and funny as hell, even when (especially when) the Phils crash and burn as they sure did this season!
xs11e about 11 years ago
Listening to Vin Scully and (years ago!) Jerry Doggett you could “see” the game better than being there in person. For years Dodger fans would watch TV with the sound off and the radio turned to Scully and Doggett.
marykatie Premium Member about 11 years ago
We still do, xs11e – at least to Vin anyway!
jmo328 about 11 years ago
What about Bob Uecker?
Pharmakeus Ubik about 11 years ago
They are a pox upon the land.
edpeters about 11 years ago
A lot of people do that, they also listen to the radio when they go to the games!
markjoseph125 about 11 years ago
Yes, Vin is the best. Voted by his peers as the #1 sports broadcaster of all time. I’ve been listening to him a long time; I guess next year will be it (and, to be 100% honest, it’s time—his style is as good as ever, but his accuracy is dropping alarmingly). Charlie Steiner is really good; I only wish they would pension off Rick “authoritarian nut job” Monday.
Riesart about 11 years ago
For those that have Cable one and a few other cable channels this is the ONLY way we are going to get. Reminds me of 59 years ago when I use to listen with my day.
Sacto1624 about 11 years ago
I think the issue here is that today’s radio baseball announcers grew up in the age of television, and as such announces a baseball game in a totally different manner than the old-time announcers. If you listen to John Sterling and Susyn Waldman on the Yankees’ radio broadcasts, it has a very different “feel” than what Vin Scully does.
Purple-Stater Premium Member about 11 years ago
Big screen, high definition TVs…. what a shame to waste them on sports.
aatkins about 11 years ago
I grew up listening to Skip Caray announce the Braves games- there is nothing that reminds me of my childhood as much as that! Too bad we lost last night… :(
Jaythor over 1 year ago
I totally get that. I used to listen to the Saints games on the radio, especially if I wasn’t home to watch on TV. So, with the horrible announcers on TV, I’d watch it on TV with the sound muted. When you have your favorite broadcasters, that are actually fans of your team, it’s more fun to listen.