Los Angeles and the world mourned the passing of Vin Scully, the legendary sports broadcaster. Scully passed away on Tuesday; he was 94 years old. He was the voice of the Dodgers, the play-by-play announcer from 1950 to 2016.

“We have lost an icon. The Dodgers’ Vin Scully was one of the greatest voices in all of sports. He was a giant of a man, not only as a broadcaster but as a humanitarian. He loved people. He loved life. He loved baseball and the Dodgers. And he loved his family. His voice will always be heard and etched in all of our minds forever. I know he was looking forward to joining the love of his life, Sandi. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this very difficult time. Vin will be truly missed,” stated Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten.

“Vin Scully’s unforgettable voice was heard by generations of County residents. His work ethic was on display for decades, as was his integrity. But what struck me most about Vin was his remarkable humility. We all know what a treasure he was, but he remained grounded and never displayed behavior that reflected his celebrity status. He is irreplaceable, and will be greatly missed,” stated LA County Supervisor Katherine Barger.

“Vin Scully was a master of his craft. A native son of New York, his unmistakable voice will forever be synonymous with Los Angeles. When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn in 1958, Vin came with them. For more than six decades, he provided the soundtrack for generations of baseball fans. He was a master storyteller whose calls had an unparalleled musical quality that was a source of comfort for millions.

“Over his remarkable career, Vin consistently demonstrated the remarkable ability to improvise poetry, a true artist whose love for the game rang through every Dodgers broadcast. He was quite simply the greatest of all time, and will be sorely missed not just by his family and friends but by millions of baseball fans,” stated Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Scully was synonymous with the Dodgers and in his final sign-off on Oct. 2, 2016, he reflected on not just his team but those who he reached through his broadcast.

“You and I have been friends for a long time,” he told his audience, “but I know in my heart that I’ve always needed you more than you’ve needed me, and I’ll miss our time together more than I can say.”

By Mary O’KEEFE