Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully will receive a lifetime achievement award Thursday from the Los Angeles Sports Council in an awards ceremony that will also honor recently suspended Clippers star Blake Griffin as its Sportsman of the Year.
Scully, 88, announced in August that he plans to return for the 2016 season, which will be his 67th — and likely his last — with the team, the longest time any broadcaster has been with a single professional sports team.
During the regular season, he only announces home games, along with road games in San Francisco and Anaheim.
“I can’t think of a person more deserving of this recognition,” Sports Council President David Simon said. “Even more remarkable than his longevity is the consistently high quality and integrity his announcing has represented over the years.”
Scully will be presented with the award by former Dodger President Peter O’Malley.
Also during the ceremony, the World Cup-winning U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will be honored as the Sportswomen of the Year; 2015 Special Olympics World Games President/CEO Patrick McClenahan will receive the Sports Executive of the Year Award; and USC football Coach Clay Helton will be honored as Coach of the Year.
The Sports Council announced in January that it had chosen Blake Griffin as its Sportsman of the Year, and spokesman Mark Meyers said that honor will not change in light of Griffin’s recent altercation with a team employee that led to his suspension.
The awards will be presented at the Beverly Hilton.
—City News Service