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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - News of Vin Scully's death came in the middle of Tuesday night's game between the Los Angeles Dodger and San Francisco Giants. Dodger broadcaster Joe Davis, who succeeded Scully as the team's play-by-play announcer in 2017, said during the game, "We lost the greatest ever to do it. Vin Scully was and is and always will be the Dodgers. His voice will always be the voice of baseball."
Former Dodgers players and announcers shared their memories of Scully during the game Tuesday night. Orel Hershiser, who played on the 1988 World Series champion Dodgers team and is part of the TV broadcast team for the Dodgers, said on the Spectrum SportsNet postgame show, "I think of the melodic tones, I think of his integrity, I think of him as being a role model."
Hershiser added that people say he was a soundtrack, but Scully's voice was from "our highlight film of life."
"He was not one to preach, he was not one to explain, he was one that just lived his life in front of you, as a Dodger and as a broadcaster and as an icon and as a friend," Hershiser said. "Some fans saw him as a father, grandfather and a friend, but it was someone they never met. They just heard him and saw him on TV but he became their friend. For us that got to shake his hand and be with him, he was one of the most impactful people that you will ever meet."
Former Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey told Fox 11 upon learning of Scully's death, "It wasn't a shock. It was almost a moment of reflection."
"He was always very kind to me. He was your best friend, your brother, he was your father, he was your grandfather," Garvey said.
Dodgers manger Dave Roberts, in a post-game interview Tuesday night with Spectrum SportsNet, said, "He was family."
"I'm so proud to say he was my friend," Roberts said.
Commissioner Rob Manfred called Scully an extraordinary man whose gift for broadcasting brought joy to generations of Dodger fans.
"In addition, his voice played a memorable role in some of the greatest moments in the history of our sport. I am proud that Vin was synonymous with Baseball because he embodied the very best of our National Pastime. As great as he was as a broadcaster, he was equally great as a person," Manfred said in a statement.
"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Vin's family, friends, Dodger fans and his admirers everywhere."