One of the most beloved alumni in the storied history of Fordham University, Vin Scully, FCRH '49, has made one final gift to his alma mater. On Oct. 31, Fordham President Tania Tetlow accepted a posthumous donation of $1 million from the broadcasting legend's estate. Scully also gifted $1 million to Fordham Prep.
Scully, who passed away in August at the age of 94, served as the play-by-play announcer of the Los Angeles Dodgers for 67 years before retiring in 2016. The dulcet tones of his unmistakable voice provided the soundtrack by which generations of baseball fans grew to love the game. Not only a master of the spoken word, Scully was also a consummate gentleman. He inspired countless young broadcasters, including those from WFUV, where he honed his craft as a student during the station's early days.
"Vin Scully was more than just a voice; he was an institution and a true master of his craft," said Athletic Director Ed Kull, who was also on hand to accept the donation. "The impact he made on not only baseball, but the entire sports media industry, is humbling. His story, with his Fordham and Bronx roots, continues to inspire our Rams and the entire Fordham family."
Shortly after, Kull made public his plans to honor the legacy of a true Fordham legend.
The press box at Houlihan Park at Jack Coffey Field, the baseball home of the Rams, will be dedicated this spring as the Vin Scully Memorial Press Box. Scully played outfield for Fordham before beginning his broadcasting career.
In the Rose Hill Gym, the University will establish the Vin Scully Ring of Honor, a permanent installation that will recognize Fordham alumni who have excelled in the fields of sports broadcasting and journalism. Scully will be the first inductee.
Fordham will also create the Vin Scully Memorabilia Museum, which will display items from his life and career that touched the lives of so many.
These will be far from the first celebrations of Scully on the Rose Hill campus. Scully was inducted into the Fordham Hall of Honor, which recognizes members of the Fordham community whose lives have exemplified and brought recognition to the ideals to which the University is devoted, in 2011. He also earned induction into the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame and was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2016.
