Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Vin Scully, on Villains

Vin Scully, from last night's telecast:

I was talking to Bill Shaikin, the fine writer at the LA Times, and he's going to write, I think, an article about the Giant-Dodger rivalry.

And we both agree something is missing.

The problem is, there are too many nice guys involved in the game.

No villain. Not yet, anyway, but no villain.

Oh and two.

You know, Barry Bonds was definitely a villain, Juan Marichal was a villain, Don Drysdale was a villain.

Leo Durocher was a villain, Tommy Lasorda was a villain, depending on where each name mentioned was as a visitor.

Jackie Robinson was a villain.

But it's different right now.

I can remember one day before a Giant-Dodger game in the old Polo Grounds in New York. I was in the clubhouse, which was about four hundred and eighty feet away from home plate. And as each Dodger came out of the clubhouse, the crowd would boo.

And all of a sudden it dwindled down, there were only two players, and me, in the clubhouse: Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson.

And Pee Wee said to Jackie, I'll bet you I get more boos than you do.

And Jackie said, you gotta be kidding.

So Reese opened up the door as he started down the wooden steps. I mean they booed him out of the ballpark.

And Robbie sat there in the dressing room laughing.

And finally he said to me, Now watch this. He said, I'm sure that the Giants fans check off the name of each Dodger player who has left the clubhouse. I'll guarantee you they know I'm the only player left in the clubhouse.

And I swear to you, the door didn't crack open six inches — you couldn't see who was coming out — but the crowd knew it was Robinson.

And they went wild.

Two and two.

So, right now we're missing it, but in a tough pennant race, there might be a knock-down pitch, there might be something where both benches empty, the guys running from the bullpen, but something will happen, I am sure — or, if not, I will be completely surprised — between now and the end of the season.

Three and two....

9 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Orel, thanks for transcribing Vin chilling' with the villains!

Franklin Stubbs said...

If we all had to go through the psychological trauma of having to learn to like Victorino, the least he can do is find some way to really piss the Giants off like he used to do to us.

Dusty Baker said...

Yeah we need a Victorino head butt of Oyster Pubes as a final initiation into our team.

Fernie V said...

Orel, Thanks I grew up listening to vin, because of KTLA, but all I have are these little nuggets.

Thank you,

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty: how about a Victorino ankle slide into Oyster Pubes?

Too soon?

Orel said...

Fernie, have you checked out the SoSG Vin Scully Repository?

Paul said...

I no longer dislike or like The Vicster. He is above Urine and A. Jones and right around Jeff Kent. Jeff produced on the field but man he was a dutch bag.

Dusty Baker said...

@Sax

No, not too soon.

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty

It is curious to me how far out Oyster Pubes sets up for a throw to home. He may as well play first if he's going to be that far up the line.

We should drill him anyway.