There are very few Dodger fans who can say that Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully has not been the only Dodger broadcaster they have ever known. To do so they would, of course, have to have been born before Scully began his illustrious broadcasting career with the Dodgers in 1950.

But there is one man – one of very few, in fact – who has been around longer than the entire duration of Vin Scully’s historic career – 90-year-old Dodger legend Don Newcombe.

“If you really think about is, it’s hard to explain in words because it’s been such a long time,” Newcombe said, during a recent interview with ThinkBlueLA. “It’s been part of the life of a great guy and what he’s done for other people, what he’s done for baseball players, what he’s done for the Dodgers, what he’s done for Los Angeles, what he’s done for the state of California and what he’s done for this country. I can’t say enough about Vin Scully because he’s just been one wonderful person.”

Don Newcombe had already been a Dodger for a year when rookie broadcaster Vin Scully called his first game with the Dodgers. They have remained very close friends ever since.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

What many Dodger fans may not know is that the relationship between Newcombe, the only man to win a National League Rookie of the Year title, a Cy Young award (the very first one, in fact, when there was only one in all of baseball) and a National League MVP title, and Vin Scully, the undisputed greatest broadcaster of all time, is that it is a very close and personal one.

“I’ve known him all these years now, since 1950 I met Vinny. I started with him when he was a young rookie,” Newcombe recalled fondly. “He didn’t have a car as a young guy. I used to drive him to the airport in New Jersey and drop him at the train station so he could get the train to go see his mom in New Jersey where I lived, I lived in New Jersey. So I would take him to the airport over to the train station with me and we got a lot of chance to talk. Vin was always a gentleman and always a first class guy, and that’s what I care most about him. He’s such a classy guy.”

To this day Dodger legend Don Newcombe attends nearly every Dodgers home game. He is absolutely revered by everyone, including fellow Cy Young award winner and NL MVP Clayton Kershaw.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Just like the rest of us trying to cope with the harsh reality that Scully is into his final week as the Dodgers broadcaster … as our broadcaster and the only Dodgers broadcaster that most of us have ever known, Newcombe is very well aware of the impact that Vin Scully’s retirement will have on all of us.

“The Dodgers are going to miss him. The fans of Los Angeles are going to miss him. The whole world is going to miss him,” said a very sincere Don Newcombe. “But he gave his all and I want you to know I love him.”

We do too, Don.