Dodgers Blue Heaven: Aug 29, 2013

Since hearing the news that Vin Scully would be staying in the Dodgers broadcast booth for another year, I just haven't been able to wipe this smile off my face. Heck, even as the Dodgers play less-than-par Baseball my grin just gets wider.

So, in order satisfy my Vin Scully addiction, I thought I would go through a checklist of the various Scully cards and memorabilia items available in the marketplace. I'll go through the known cards (at least to me) and other collectibles below. I will refrain from showing the two recent bobbleheads since we already know about those, and the various records that exist (save one Union Oil set). Also, I can't claim that this is a totally complete comprehensive list (there's likely more out there than I'm aware of), so please let me know if I missed anything.

To start with, I'll feature the known memorabilia items. Then, I'll move on to postcards featuring Vin Scully. Lastly, I'll show you the handful of trading cards with Vin Scully on them. Click on any pic to embiggen.

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(1958-60 Volpe)

The earliest Vin Scully collectible I am aware of is the 1958-1960 LA Dodgers Premium Picture shown on the left. (UPDATE: It's now the 2nd oldest Scully item I know of - see update below featuring a 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers broadcasters postcard) Originally drawn by Nicholas Volpe, it is a pencil-style portrait of the Dodgers broadcast team: Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett. It measures 8.5" x 11" and were sold as a complete set of 16 portraits (15 of which are Dodger players) at souvenir stands at the Coliseum.

This set is fairly scarce. Even when considering that they were sold over a three year period, complete sets, let alone individual pictures, are very rarely seen. In fact, I can't recall ever seeing a complete set of 16 for sale. The last time I saw the Scully/Doggett for sale was in 2008 on eBay, and it sold for a little over $52.00. On reflection, that price might have been a steal.

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The Dodgers connection to Union Oil is well known to a lot of us old-timers. At one time, beyond centerfield in the Dodger Stadium parking lot, stood a Union 76 gas station to help fans with their gasoline needs. On top of that, just about every summer you could count on Dodgers promotional give-aways at Union Oil.

(1960 Union Oil booklet)

In 1960 Union Oil teamed up with the Dodgers to create and distribute Dodger Family Booklets. These were 5.5" x 7.5" little books with 16 pages devoted to the individual featured. There were 23 different books made in 1960, and Dodger broadcasters Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett had one of them. See it on the right.

(1961 Union Oil)

The following year (1961) Union Oil issued a second series of booklets featuring the Dodgers, and Scully/Doggett again received their own book. See it on the left.

These booklets are rather plentiful, but (for whatever reason) do not show up very often on eBay. I recall going to the last National Sports Collectors Convention in Anaheim and seeing a dealer with large stacks of complete sets for sale. So, I know there are stockpiles of this stuff sitting somewhere.

The Vin Scully/ Jerry Doggett booklet is likely to sell anywhere between $10 to $20 a piece, depending on how many collectors happen to notice it. Below are a couple pics of the inside of a 1961 booklet. (UPDATE: Check out a complete scan of every page of the Scully/Doggett booklet here.)

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I wasn't sure if I should include this next item in this checklist, but I figured that since Vin's mug is displayed it was worth mentioning. In 1966 Union Oil issued a series of 33 1/3 records featuring Vin Scully interviewing several Dodger players and staff. As you can see below, a small portrait of Vin Scully is on the corner of the record sleeve. The drawings were originally drawn by Nicholas Volpe. I am unsure exactly how many different records exist in the set.

(1966 Union Oil Record)

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This next item looks like a postcard, but it's not. In 1971 Ticketron issued a set of 20 postcards-sized schedule cards of the Dodgers, and one of them featured Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett. See it below.

The reverse of the card includes a schedule, promotional dates and an advertisement for their ticket service. They measure 4" x 6". The Scully/Doggett card can be purchased for about $5.00, and a complete set of 20 recently sold for $41.52.

(1971 Ticketron Dodgers)

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This next item might be the most well known of all Vin Scully collectibles in the market. Produced as an promotional item for Union Oil, a pastel portrait, originally drawn by Nicholas Volpe, of Vin Scully was created. They measure 8.5" x 11", and feature a biography of the artist and Vin Scully's Hall of Fame Induction speech on the reverse. These portraits are very affordable. You should be able to pick up a Scully for just a couple of bucks.

In my mind, this is a must have for any Vin Scully fan. I've included a pic of both the front and reverse in the photos below.

(1982 Union 76 Volpe Prints)

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DODGERS POSTCARDS

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UPDATE:
I was just notified of an very early Vin Scully postcard that would probably rank as his rookie card. Heck, it also happens to be a rookie card for Hall of Fame broadcaster Red Barber. See it below.

(pic via Old Cardboard)

It is an 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers broadcasters postcard with Red Barber, Connie Desmond and Vin Scully. Wow!

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This next section deals with the various Dodgers issued postcards of Vin Scully. Unfortunately, I was a little unclear whether a couple of the postcards examples I have where actually made for the Dodgers (and not an outside source), so if you happen to have more information please pass it along. Postcards are typically very affordable. You should be able to get any one of the postcards shown below for about $10 to $20 a piece.

(1962-63 LA Dodgers Postcard)

The post card above was issued by the Dodgers both individually and as a postcard folding booklet from 1962 to 1963. They were printed by Plastichrome and distributed by Mitock and Sons. The folding booklet postcard has a white border. The Scully/Doggett postcard has a designated number of P49774. Postcards with an facsimile autograph of both Scully and Doggett on the reverse also exist.

For the first time, in 1966, the Dodgers issued a postcard that only featured Vin Scully. See it below. It has a designated number of P69885 that is located in the stamp box at the upper-right of the reverse.

(1966 LA Dodgers Postcard)

(Reverse of the above postcard)

Below is the 1967 Dodgers postcard of Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett. It It has a designated number of P70454 that is located in the stamp box at the upper-right of the reverse. There are facsimile autographs of both Scully and Doggett on the reverse.

(1967 LA Dodger Postcard)

This is where my knowledge of postcards gets a little shaky.

I believe the below post card is from 1973.

And I believe the postcard below of Scully, Doggett and a sliding Willie Crawford is from 1975.

UPDATE: I have come across two new NBC-related postcards featuring both Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola. Unfortunately, I do not know the date of issuance. Check them out below.

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BASEBALL CARDS

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Unfortunately, there are very few Baseball cards of our Hall of Fame broadcaster. In fact, it appears that it has only been in the past couple of years that the card manufacturers even saw it fit to make one of him. See them below. (Update: I have since added a 2004 Fleer card I was not previously aware of) All of the autographed cards can sell for hundreds of dollars.

2004 Fleer Greats of the Game

Announcing Greats Insert

#2 -- Vin Scully & Steve Garvey

2012 Panini National Treasures Baseball

#8 Vin Scully /20

2012 Panini Cooperstown Baseball - Cooperstown Signatures

#76 Vin Scully – Announcer /100

The below card, unlike the other cards shown here, is very affordable. As a regular issued insert card it can be purchased for a couple of dollars, at most.

2012 Panini Cooperstown Baseball - Voices of Summer inserts

#9 Vin Scully

2012 Panini Prime Cuts - Significant Signatures

#60 Vin Scully /49

UPDATE: I should add that Panini just released a new Vin Scully Baseball card this week in their 2013 Panini Cooperstown Baseball set. A~~t this moment I do not have a photo, but once I nail one down I will share it here.~~

Here is a pic of the Vin Scully base card to the 2013 Panini Cooperstown Baseball card set. For the very first time Vin Scully has a card within a base card set. As a result, there are numerous parallels available. Featured below is the "Blue Crystal Shard" parallel card numbered to just 499 copies. I might just have to chase them all down. UPDATE II: Go to this post to see all the different Scully 2013 Cooperstown parallel cards I've gathered.

#65 Vin Scully

UPDATE II: Topps has just released their very first Vin Scully Baseball card. It's in the 2016 Topps The Mint set and it is a part of the GEM 10 Autographed insert set. Unfortunately, it's available only through a redemption. See an example of what that looks like below. As soon as the actual cards come to light I will include it below.

UPDATE III: And now, below is the Vin Scully "The Mint" autographed card:

#G10A-VS Vin Scully

Additionally, Topps issued a second Scully autographed card during the 2016 season. A redemption card can be found in packs of 2016 Topps Five Star. See it below:

#FSA-VS Vin Scully

UPDATE IV: There is now a third Vin Scully autographed card available from Topps in 2016 . It can only be found in 2016 Topps Transcendent. Check out what it looks like below.

#TCA-VS Vin Scully

UPDATE V: Leaf Trading Cards gave away a Vin Scully promo card as part of the 2017 National Sports Collectors Convention VIP program. Every VIP attendee received the below card.

#VIP-01 Vin Scully

UPDATE VI: Panini has just released a Vin Scully card as a part of their 2019 Panini Diamond Kings brand. Check it out below.

#DKS-VS Vin Scully

UPDATE VII: Panini has just release another new Vin Scully card. This time it's a part of their 2019 National Treasures set, and it's the very first Vin Scully booklet card. See it below.

Cut Signature Booklets

#1 Vin Scully (#/6)