Letters

More Than a Voice

Posted

In your May 12 issue, Dan Pietrafesa presented a laudable outline of the achievements of Vin Scully.  I was very pleased to read such a positive review of a man I have admired since I was a 10-year-old living in the same apartment house as he in Washington Heights. Vince, as he was known to us, began his broadcasting career commenting on the myriad variations of Spaldeen games in the Heights. Moreover, he had a pleasant Bing Crosby voice and the physical dexterity of Gene Kelly, both of which he used with evident aplomb as he descended the stairs from his upper floor apartment.

When Vince was first hired by the Brooklyn Dodgers, he displayed the same classic style that characterized him throughout his professional career. He gathered discarded baseballs with torn seams and bats with broken handles but mended with short nails and tape for the use of those boys in the era when baseball was king. What was trash to the Dodgers was cherished treasure to the kids in Washington Heights. He periodically brought a stash of such items to be recycled by the neighborhood kids. Not only were we proud of his performance as a professional announcer, but he subconsciously reminded us that he was one of our own who didn’t forget his roots. Our pride and appreciation were the byproducts of his personal display of style. Those attributes apparently characterized his life, so it was heartwarming to read about his recognition.

Richard O’Prey

Nanue