Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper honors late Dodgers legend Vin Scully.
Having grown up in the Las Vegas area, there was a good chance Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper would catch a Los Angeles Dodgers game when turning on the television or radio. On the airwaves, Harper would undoubtedly hear the iconic voice of the late Vin Scully.
One of Major League Baseball’s best players — a two-time Most Valuable Player and seven-time All-Star — has not kept secret his admiration for one of the game’s all-time great broadcasters. Harper recently honored Scully — who passed away on Tuesday at 94 — with a short, but sweet “Thank you Vin” tribute on social media.
Harper met Scully while a member of the Washington Nationals in June 2016 — Scully’s last season in the broadcast booth before retirement. Afterward, Harper shared a photo of them together, praising Scully for not only talking about players’ statistics on the airwaves, but also life stories beyond the game.
Guess who walked up 2 chat w/ Vin Scully? Long convo. @Bharper3407. He's more than bat flips #bryceharper #dodgers pic.twitter.com/QkRCA1tGrx
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) June 22, 2016
Harper added that Scully will not only forever be part of the Dodgers organization, but also the entirety of the game of baseball. Fast-forward more than six years later, and surely Harper’s sentiments remain the same.
Scully coincidentally began his 67-year career as the voice of the Dodgers in an Opening Day game against the Phillies in 1950.
What is even more amazing, however, is that when Harper made his big-league debut with the Nationals in April 2012, the National League East club faced no other than the Dodgers. That means Scully was there to call one of his biggest fan’s first plate appearance in “The Show.”