HOUSTON – As we have headed into playoff land in baseball I THOUGHT I would spin my one and only yarn regarding VIN SCULLY. It happened to be the same day and night of another yarn involving TOMMY LASORDA.
I tried to remember if any other item of that long ago day popped up to make it a hat trick but I think the SCULLY-LASORDA COMBO is enough. The Dodgers were in Houston for a 3 game series in the Astrodome. The Astros had clubbed L.A. in the opening game and game two of the series was a couple of hours away. I took my spot at a table in the media lunch area. I believe it was called "The Lunching Pad". Damned clever that Judge Hofheinz. Another member of the Ch. 2 crew was with me and I am pretty sure both of us were there for the free fried chicken. There was another guy opposite us so there would have been one open spot at the table for 4.
As our luck would have it, Vin Scully asked if he could take the open seat. Can you imagine if I had said, "No, you're with the Dodgers. We hate your team". We just nodded and hoped we didn't appear to be the dumbest guys he had ever dined with. Realizing the Astros had killed the Dodgers in game one Vin pushed his empty plate toward us and said...as only he could say it..."To the victor go the spoils". I stood and applauded.
Later a guy I know in L.A. called to see if I could interview Tommy after the game. I said yes and went to the Visiting clubhouse. Tommy just came out of the shower and did his interview naked. I can say without question THE SCULLY STORY was much better.