Chicago Cubs: Vin Scully voiced defining Cubs moments

Sunday afternoon will mark the end of an era. Legendary announcer Vin Scully will broadcast his final game at Dodger Stadium after 67 years behind the mic. Scully has been present for some of the greatest moments in sports history. For all of Scully’s memorable soundbites, Chicago Cubs fans will remember him for two defining moments for their franchise.

September 9th, 1965 is a date that the Chicago Cubs would like to forget. After all, who would want to remember being on the wrong end of a perfect game? Despite the dominance of Sandy Koufax that night, this game is remembered for a variety of reasons.

Fans were delighted to the sixth perfect game thrown in the modern era, but it could have been more. Cubs pitcher Bob Hendley matched Koufax nearly pitch for pitch. Hendley surrendered one hit on a weak double in the seventh inning.

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Baseball historians have concluded that this game may have been the greatest pitching performance in Major League history. As a result, Cubs fans shouldn’t harbor shame in being bested in a tightly contested game. Consequently, the one base hit in the game didn’t have a direct result of the lone run scoring in the 1-0 Dodgers victory.

Bob Hendley would get his revenge a week later when he outdueled Koufax in a 2-1 victory at Wrigley Field.

Sandy Koufax’s perfect game was the beginning of an impressive streak for the Cubs. On July 25th, 2015, the Cubs were no-hit by Cole Hamels. The Cubs ended a streak of 7,920 games without being no-hit, the most by any team in baseball history.

When Rick Monday scooped up an American flag doused in gasoline, he never thought the action would be preserved in our memories.

On April 25, 1976, Cubs outfielder Rick Monday demonstrated how baseball transcended the sports world.

Monday was warming up for the bottom of the fourth inning when he came upon two men kneeling over a fuel-soaked American Flag. Political views aside, Monday didn’t want to stand by as the symbol of our nation went up in flames (literally).

Vin Scully effortlessly provided the play-by-play to what many people consider the “greatest play” in baseball history. Rick Monday’s gesture was only elevated by the genuine excitement and drama that Vin Scully provided the viewers.

Baseball has always been stitched within the fabric of our nation. Vin Scully has simply provided the soundtrack to generations of sports fans. He personifies Americana.

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Scully may not have been a Cubs announcer, and it would be senseless to think he didn’t leave a mark on this franchise. Two of the greatest moments in baseball history, narrated by the best of all time. After next week, the game will never sound the same.