April 18, 2016
Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, who's retiring at the end of this season, wants everyone to know that even though Ryan Howard has tied Joe DiMaggio in career home runs, they are hardly the same player.
During Friday night's game against the Giants, the 88-year-old play-by-play man decided it was important to bring up the fact that Howard had hit his 361st home run earlier that night, therefore making it likely that he'll soon pass Yankees legend DiMaggio, who hit as many during his Hall-of-Fame career.
And for whatever reason, Scully decided to make it known that he believes Howard is nowhere near the caliber of player that DiMaggio was. Here's a transcript from hockey writer Andy Merrit:
Here's Vin Scully ethering Ryan Howard during a pitching change. It's the greatest. He's the greatest. pic.twitter.com/faqA8C7KcV
— Andy Merritt (@A_Merritt) April 16, 2016
Here's a question: Was anybody seriously making the argument that Howard is a better player than DiMaggio? DiMaggio was a three-time MVP, won nine World Series rings, and still holds the record for the longest hitting streak.
So why did Scully feel the need to take an unnecessary shot at Howard, someone who's riding out what's likely to be his last season with the team that he's played his entire major-league career? Everyone knows the Phillies first baseman strikes out a lot, and no one was seriously contending that he's on the same level as one of the all-time greats.
Who knows — and frankly, who cares? Maybe he's bitter about the 2008 and 2009 NLCS. Maybe he feels a New York connection from his days calling the then-Brooklyn Dodgers.
It doesn't really matter, so in an effort to defend the "Big Piece" – someone who probably doesn't get the love he deserves from his own fan base, anyway — and in the off chance Scully is reading this, here are a few times Howard hit a home run off the Dodgers. Enjoy:
