Sandra Hunt passed away in 2021 from ALS after nearly five decades of marriage. Vin passed away a year later.
Vin Scully was an iconic American sportscaster best known for his remarkable 67-year career as the play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.
Born on November 29, 1927, in the Bronx, New York, Scully began his broadcasting career in 1949 and joined the Dodgers in 1950.
There will never be another Vin Scully. You will be forever missed. 🎙💙 pic.twitter.com/WyTmXsati5
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 3, 2022
Scully’s tenure with the Dodgers is the longest of any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history.
He called games for the Dodgers until his retirement in 2016 at the age of 88.
Beyond baseball, he also covered various nationally televised football and golf events for CBS Sports and NBC Sports.
This moment between Vin Scully and Fernando Valenzuela 🥹💙 pic.twitter.com/30dgftcfWz
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 23, 2024
Throughout his career, Scully received numerous accolades, including the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He passed away on August 2, 2022, at his home in Hidden Hills, California, a year after the death of his wife, Sandra Hunt.
Vin And Sandra Had One Child Together And Multiple From Previous Marriages
Sandra Hunt, later Sandra Scully, was Vin’s second wife.
Born on December 27, 1944, in Cascade, Virginia, Sandra worked as the executive assistant to Los Angeles Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom when she was introduced to Vin by Rams attorney Ed Hookstratten.
The couple married on November 10, 1973, two years after Vin’s first wife of 15 years, Joan Crawford, passed away due to an accidental medical overdose.
Sandra and Vin shared a loving marriage that lasted 48 years until her passing on January 3, 2021, due to complications from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Together, they had one daughter, Catherine.
Sandra had two children from a previous marriage— Todd and Kelly Hunt, while Vin had three children from his first marriage— Michael, Kevin, and Erin Scully.
By the end of their lives, Vin and Sandra were grandparents to 21 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Vin’s Eldest Son, Michael, Died In A Helicopter Crash
On January 20, 1994, Vin’s eldest son, Michael Scully, tragically passed away in a helicopter crash while inspecting a crude oil pipeline for earthquake damage in the Fort Tejon area, north of Los Angeles.
The helicopter, leased by ARCO’s subsidiary Four Corners Pipe Line Co., struck a powerline and crashed. Michael was the company’s engineering supervisor.
Despite the heartbreak of losing his first wife and then his eldest son, Vin coped and bounced back, thanks mostly to his devout Roman Catholic religious beliefs.
In an interview, he said,
Her prayers are more powerful than those of the rest of heaven combined. No one was closer or more devoted to Christ on earth, so it only makes sense to see the same thing in heaven. Now, the Blessed Virgin seeks to help her spiritual children get home to spend eternity with her Son.
Via ncregister.com (archive)
Sandra Was Always Vin’s Biggest Supporter
Sandra was often seen at Dodger Stadium alongside Vin during his broadcasts until she began her battle with ALS.
On September 27, 2016, during Vin’s final game, she sat in the booth alongside her husband as he ended his 67-year run with the Dodgers.
In an interview, Vin said of his wife’s battle,
She is really inspirational. Her faith is extremely important and I think that’s a major reason she’s held up.
Via usatoday.com
Sandra was 76 when she succumbed to the disease in 2021. Vin was 94 when he passed a year later.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Vin Scully holds the record for being the youngest person ever to broadcast a World Series game. He was just 25 years old when he called the 1953 World Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees.
- In addition to his illustrious career in sports broadcasting, Scully also ventured into daytime television. In 1973, he hosted a variety show called “The Vin Scully Show” on CBS, which featured skits, celebrity interviews, stand-up comedy, and even singing.
- A unique tradition in baseball was the nightly salute Vin Scully received from the umpires. Before every game, the umpires would turn towards the broadcast booth and tip their caps to Scully, a gesture of respect that had been a long-standing tradition.
