Scully to call 61st year of Dodgers games

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Vin Scully, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, will call play-by-play of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a record 61st season, the team said Tuesday.

Scully, who turned 82 Sunday, started broadcasting Dodgers games in 1950 when the team was still in New York and this past season completed his 60th season calling games. The Dodgers have announced a plan to honor Scully at a game next season.

"For six decades, Dodger fans have been truly blessed to have Vin Scully on the air and we are honored that he will be back in the booth again next season," Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said Tuesday. "He has been the one constant over the years and I know that our fans will cherish every game he calls."

Scully has been voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Radio Hall of Fame and was named the top sportscaster of all time by the American Sportscasters Associations.

He has been behind the microphone during three perfect games, 19 no-hitters, 25 World Series and 12 All-Star games. He was the announcer during the record scoring-inning streaks of Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser, was on hand for Henry Aaron's 715th home run and record-setting home runs by Bobby Bonds.