Vin Scully‘s presence in Tucson began in the early 1960s, when Los Angeles’ mega-watt KFI (640-AM) could clearly be heard after dark.
Hundreds of fathers and sons sat around the radio listening to Scully and the Dodgers night after night after night.
In 1967, sensing Scully’s popularity, KTUC (1400-AM) began a 25-year run, broadcasting every Dodgers game in Tucson every year. When KTUC switched to the Cubs in 1992, KTKT (990-AM) quickly joined the Dodgers network.
By 1994, KTUC owner Tom Hassey negotiated to get the Dodgers and Scully back on 1400-AM.
“I understand what Vin Scully meant to Tucsonans,” said Hassey, now retired and living in La Jolla, California. “He was gold.”
Linked by Scully, the Dodgers were Tucson’s team for 40 years. I suspect that the No. 1 summer vacation destination of many Tucsonans from 1960-1997 was Dodger Stadium. Scully’s voice was that powerful.
Younger generations probably don’t get it; who listens to the radio at night?
That age of baseball bliss ended when the Arizona Diamondbacks began play in 1998. The Dodgers and Scully disappeared from Tucson radio. Not even the Diamondbacks’ few good seasons filled the void.
This is my Vin Scully story: on a Thursday night in September, 1965, my dad called me upstairs. “Come up and listen to the Dodgers,” he said. “Sandy Koufax has a perfect game.”
My dad and I frequently listened to the Dodgers on KFI, whose after-dark signal was as clear in Northern Utah as if you were sitting in a car on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles.
I sat on the floor. My dad leaned back in a chair.
It was the top of the eighth inning and Scully’s voice seduced me, as it always did.
Koufax struck out Ron Santo, Ernie Banks and Byron Browne. Tension mounted.
“And now we go to the ninth,” said Scully.
I looked at my dad. He didn’t make a sound. It was like being at the center of the biggest event on earth.
In the ninth, Koufax struck out Chris Krug and Joey Amalfitano.
“You can almost taste the pressure now,” said Scully, whose broadcast of the ninth inning is available on youtube.com.
My dad and I, faithful Yankee fans, sat there, wanting more.
“It is 9:41 p.m., on September 9 and there are 29,000 people and a million butterflies in the ballpark,” said Scully. “Sandy is one out away from the promised land.”
Pinch-hitter Harvey Kuenn worked the count against Koufax to 2-and-2.
“Swung on and missed, a perfect game,” said Scully, who then artfully paused for 37 seconds as the roar of the crowd filled my dad’s bedroom.
Best announcer. Ever.
