“It’s time for Dodger baseball!” (Vin Scully catchphrase)

New York City-born sportscaster Vin Scully (1927-2022) broadcast Brooklyn Dodgers games in 1950 and continued with the Dodgers for 67 years, ending with a Los Angeles Dodgers broadcast in 2016. “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” was Scully’s catchphrase for introducing a baseball game, and this has been printed on many images.
 
“It’s time for Dodgers baseball”—“Dodgers” instead of “Dodger”—is a frequent version of the saying. Scully would also add, “Hi everybody, and a very pleasant good afternoon/evening to you, wherever you may be.”
 
It’s not known when “It’s time for Dodger baseball” originated. There is a YouTube video where he used it on May 26, 1990.
 
“Hi, everybody” or “Hello, everyone” has appeared in many pre-1990 articles about Vin Scully, and dates back to the 1950s. “That was when the familiar voice of announcer Vin Scully said, ‘Hi, everybody’” was printed in The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA) on October 3, 1959. “We have memorized his familiar preamble to any Dodgers game: ‘Hi everybody, and a pleasant good evening (morning/afternoon) to you wherever you may be’” was printed in the Los Angeles (CA) Times on July 11, 1976. “Scully’s familiar ‘Hi everybody! And a very pleasant good evening (morning or afternoon) to you wherever you may be’” was printed in the Long Beach (CA) Press-Telegram on June 26, 1977. “Hi everybody and a pleasant good evening to you wherever you may be…” was printed in the Los Angeles (CA) Times on September 10, 1978. ““Hello everyone, and a very pleasant day to you, wherever you may be” was printed in the Los Angeles (CA) Times on March 20, 1988.
   
[This entry was assisted by research from Ben Zimmer.]
   
       
Wikipedia: Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully (November 29, 1927 – August 2, 2022) was an American sportscaster. He was best known for his 67 seasons calling games for Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning in 1950 (when the franchise was located in Brooklyn) and ending in 2016.
 
Scully’s tenure with the Dodgers was the longest of any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history, and he was second only to Tommy Lasorda (by two years) in terms of number of years associated with the Dodgers organization in any capacity.
 
Wikiquote: Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully (November 29, 1927 – August 2, 2022) was an American sports announcer.
 
Quotes
It’s time for Dodger baseball!
. His iconic opening quote
 
Newspapers.com
3 October 1959, The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA), “High and Inside” by John McKone, pg. C-1, col. 1:
That was when the familiar voice of announcer Vin Scully said, “Hi, everybody.”
 
Newspapers.com
11 July 1976, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Radio: Ninth Inning for Scully Fans?” by James Brown, Calendar sec., pg. 81, col. 2:
We have memorized his familiar preamble to any Dodgers game: “Hi everybody, and a pleasant good evening (morning/afternoon) to you wherever you may be.”
 
Newspapers.com
26 June 1977, Long Beach (CA) Press-Telegram, “If you don’t like Scully, you don’t like baseball” by Kris Sherman, pg. S-3, col. 4:
Nevertheless, there is a lingering sense of loss among many Dodger fans, who miss Scully’s familiar “Hi everybody! And a very pleasant good evening (morning or afternoon) to you wherever you may be,” when the team is on the road.
 
Newspapers.com
10 September 1978, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Radio: L.A.‘s Sportscasters Touch ‘Em All” by James Brown, Calendar sec., pg. 92, col. 1:
The incomparable Scully—part monologuist, professor, ringmaster, manager and director—is a congenial host. “Hi everybody and a pleasant good evening to you wherever you may be…”
       
Newspapers.com
20 March 1988, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Stars in Their Eyes Blinded TV Crews to the Bigger Story” by Randy Lewis, Calendar sec., pg. 53-B, cols. 1-2:
If I drew up a list of moments that make life worth living—like woody Allen did in “Manhattan”—somewhere near the top would be that first Dodger spring training game each March when Vin Scully’s resonant baritone brings us out of the long, cold, baseball-less winter with a resounding: “Hello everyone, and a very pleasant day to you, wherever you may be.”
 
YouTube
Vin Scully and Don Drysdale at St Louis, May 26, 1990
Apr 14, 2020
RayHoffmanOnAir
13:00
“It’s time for Dodger baseball!”
     
Google Groups: alt.sports.baseball.la-dodgers
Dodger WAV
GPAULL
Apr 15, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
Does anyone know where we can get Vin Scully’s “It’s time for Dodger baseball!”
in a WAV format? I’d love that for my start-up sound for my computer!
   
Google Groups: rec.sport.football.fantasy
Most frequently misspelled FF names?
Cary Pont
Dec 2, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
The legendary sweet story telling voice of the great Vin Scully. It’s time for
Dodgers baseball. Pull up a seat and join us for awhile, won’t you
     
Newspapers.com
22 April 2001, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “The Inside Track: Scully Should Be Heard When Talk Is of Greatness” by T. J. Simers, pg. D2, col. 3:
There is no question that there aren’t many better sounds in a day than the voice of Vin Scully telling everyone, “It’s time for Dodger baseball.”
         
Twitter
Ben Ackerman
@benackerman
Its time for dodgers baseball!
9:20 PM · May 20, 2008·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Colin Durant
@CGDurant
awaiting the wonderful sound of Vin Scully saying, “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” and I HATE the Dodgers
12:47 PM · Mar 31, 2008·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
ITFDB
@wsoller
Hi everybody and a very pleasant good afternoon to you wherever you may be.  It’s time for Dodger baseball!
7:04 PM · Apr 6, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Matt Foster
@fostermatt
IT’S TIME FOR DODGER BASEBALL!“Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good afternoon to you, wherever you may be.” - Vin Scully
7:09 PM · Apr 6, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
🇺🇦Kevin O’Keefe
@kevinokeefe
RT @wsoller: Hi everybody & a very pleasant good afternoon to you wherever you may be. It’s time for Dodger baseball. (Vin Skully’s 59th yr)
7:13 PM · Apr 6, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Jon Weisman
@jonweisman
‘It’s time for Dodger baseball’: “Hi everybody, and a very pleasant Thursday evening to you, wherever you may be.. http://tr.im/kNof
10:32 PM · May 7, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Lily
@turtledip
Hi everybody & a very pleasant Tuesday evening…where ever you may be. It’s time for #Dodgers Baseball! #VinScully
10:02 PM · Sep 15, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
YouTube
Vin Scully It’s Time for Dodger Baseball!”
Mar 30, 2014
Francisco Flores
Vin says the five words that every Dodger fan loves to hear!
 
Twitter
Juan Toribio
@juanctoribio
Vin Scully delivers a virtual “It’s time for Dodger baseball” to get Game 3 started.
5:03 PM · Oct 19, 2021·TweetDeck