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Vin Scully Will Return to Dodgers Broadcast for 2015 Season

The most famous voice in baseball history will be returning for its 66th season. During the second inning of Tuesday night's game against the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will be returning for play-by-play duties in 2015.

Jon Weisman of the Dodgers' official blog reported the news following a montage that played at Dodger Stadium.

“It is very difficult to say goodbye,” Scully said. “God willing, I will be back next year. Over the years I have been blessed to have so many friends, including those that sit in the stands and listen, as well as those at home who listen and watch. It is just too hard to say goodbye to all these friends. Naturally there will come a time when I will have to say goodbye, but I’ve soul-searched and this is not the time.”

MLB.com provided video of the announcement:

Scully, 86, has been the Dodgers play-by-play announcer since 1950. He's stayed with the organization through its move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, the highs of six World Series championships and numerous different management teams and ownership groups.

Scully has been the voice of NBC and CBS national broadcasts while rising to become perhaps the most recognizable voice in sports. He was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995, and his work earned him a lifetime achievement Emmy. He's also received numerous other accolades within the business—most notably a Sportscaster of the Century honor from the American Sportscasters Association. 

Through it all, he's been a mainstay with the Dodgers, eschewing most national opportunities the last couple of decades to focus on his day-to-day coverage in Los Angeles. Despite his advanced age, Scully remains smart as a whip, able to pull references from a seemingly never-ending trove of memories accumulated over the years. 

“I’m obviously not alone in saying that I’m overjoyed Vin will be coming back to the booth in 2015,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said, per Weisman. “Our fans deserve the very best and Vin’s voice, knowledge, experience and passion for broadcasting Dodger baseball are second to none.”

Scully's broadcasts are typically featured on SportsNet LA, which is partially owned by the Dodgers and Time Warner Cable. The joint venture allows Scully to keep a limited schedule, whereby he announces home and semi-local road games but does not make cross-country trips.

While it's fair to wonder why Scully keeps working well into a stage of life when most would have been long retired, it helps that the Dodgers remain decidedly relevant. Los Angeles came into Tuesday night holding a two-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. There are also the little moments that keep the game fresh, like Clayton Kershaw's scintillating no-hitter last month or Yasiel Puig, well, doing everything Yasiel Puig does. 

Built partially on money made from the network deal that also pays Scully's salary, the Dodgers have compiled a war chest of high-priced talent designed for a title run. Maybe Scully wants to ensure he's around to see his seventh title in person.

But even if that doesn't happen, Dodgers fans—and baseball fans in general—will be thankful to still have him along for the ride.

 

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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