My Baseball-Themed Vacation in the Los Angeles Area - A Thrilling Week

My wife and I recently had the privilege of a week in the Los Angeles area, a vacation with a focus on our passion for professional baseball.

We attended three games at Dodger Stadium, including two with the Pirates, and took a behind-the-scenes tour of this iconic and beautiful facility, which was built in 1962, and which underwent $100 million in improvements in the off-season, including an upgrade that created two magnificent, high-definition scoreboards.

Dodger Stadium has survived more than a half century beautifully.

The most memorable part of our visits was the ability to enjoy in person the incomparable Dodgers broadcaster, Vin Scully, who is in the midst of his 63rd season with the club, a record that is most unlikely to ever be replicated.

I find it interesting and gratifying that in this era of popular culture and coarseness, a refined, dignified, suit and tie gentleman like Mr. Scully is universally revered by Dodger fans and fans of other teams.  A roar is heard when he appears on the "Jumbotron" scoreboard to welcome the fans, as he does in advance of every game.  His voice is heard over the public address system at the conclusion of the game as he expresses the hope that fans had a great time at the ballpark, directs those departing to drive carefully, and asks them to be respectful of stadium neighbors as they depart. 

We caught a glimpse of Mr. Scully when he waved to the crowd during the seventh inning stretch, a thrill.

There is one and only one Vin Scully.  The memory of him at Dodger Stadium shall stay with us always.

The Pirates lost the games we attended as they were swept by the mighty Dodgers, but it did not diminish our experience one bit.  We had a ball, pun intended.