Column: Dodgers' Vin Scully loses one golden ring in holiday loop around Costco

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Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully looks over Dodger Stadium before a game on July 3, 2012. Scully has worked as an announcer for the Dodgers organization for more than six decades. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully, with wife Sandi at his side, waves to the crowd during a ceremony honoring the Dodgers broadcaster before the game Sept. 23, 2016, at Dodger Stadium.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully and Hall-of-Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax embrace during the pregame ceremony honoring the Dodgers broadcaster on Sept. 23, 2016.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts (30) joins MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, right, in presenting a check to Vin Scully to be donated to the Dodgers broadcaster’s favorite charity during a pregame ceremoney Sept. 23, 2016.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully speaks to family, friends and fans during a pregame ceremony honoring the legendary Dodgers broadcaster Friday night. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Fans wipe away tears during the pregame ceremony honoring Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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A fan holds a letter from Vin Scully that was given out before the Dodgers game on Friday night. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully stands in front of street sign marking “Vin Scully Way” at the Dodgers’ spring training complex in Vero Beach, Fla., in 1985. (Jayne Kamin / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully with Jerry Doggett in the announcer’s booth at Dodgertown during spring training in Vero Beach, Florida on April 8, 1985.

(Jayne Kamin / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully, center, poses for a photo with Dodgers pitching greats Don Drysdale, left, and Sandy Koufax during spring training in Vero Beach, Fla., in 1985. (Jayne Kamin / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully speaks to Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser, left, as Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson listens during a November 1989 charity benefit. (Steve Lowry / Associated Press)

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Vin Scully sits in the broadcast booth at Dodger Stadium in September 1999. Scully’s talents have landed him speaking roles in several baseball-themed movies and television shows. He even served as a game show host. (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times)

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From left, longtime Kings announcer Bob Miller, legendary Lakers announcer Chick Hearn and Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully talk before a show for Fox Sports in December 2000. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully has broadcast Dodgers games since before the team moved to L.A. in 1958.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully speaks during manager Joe Torre’s introductory news conference at Dodger Stadium in November 2007. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully acknowledges the crowd after receiving a standing ovation before a game between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox at the Coliseum in March 2008. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully listens to legendary UCLA coach John Wooden at an interview in June 2008. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully announces, “It’s time for Dodgers baseball,” before the team’s season opener against the San Francisco Giants in April 2009. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Hall of Fame Dodger announcer Vin Scully before the start of a Dodgers - Reds game at Dodger Stadium on August 22, 2010.

(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully looks at a Sandy Koufax bobblehead doll while in the broadcast booth on Aug. 7, 2012. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully acknowledges the cheers of the crowd during his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium on July 25, 2013. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Vin Scully waves to fans as he rides in a car with his wife, Sandra Hunt, while serving as the 2014 Rose Parade Grand Marshal. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers announcer Vin Scully takes the stage to speak about his decision to come back for a 66th season in the broadcast booth during a news conference at Dodger Stadium on July 30, 2014.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Vin Scully is applauded on the field at Dodger Stadium, by family members, as he is recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the “longest tenured sports team employee” on September 23, 2015.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Bill Plaschke

Columnist

Dec. 18, 2014 7:29 PM PT

Vin Scully can find his way into our hearts even during the gloomiest winter afternoons, as he proved again Thursday when he unwittingly starred in his own holiday movie.

The Ribs That Saved Christmas.

“I feel like such a dummy,” Scully said with a laugh. “Only Scully could lose a ring while putting meat in a bag.”

Our story begins with the legendary Dodgers announcer doing some last-minute Christmas shopping with his wife, Sandi, at the Costco in Westlake Village

The boutique of baseball voices loves Costco.

“There’s so much stuff there, stuff everywhere, the first couple of times I was a little intimidated,” he said. “But it’s become my home away from home.”

Sandi does the shopping, Vin works the cart.

“I’m the donkey, but I’m really very good at it, I can cut all kind of corners with that cart,” he said. “I tell Sandi, ‘Stay out of the way so I don’t run this truck over your heels!’ “‘

Their system is always the same. Sandi points to packages the approximate size of small homes, and Vin topples or shoves or simply drags them into that cart.

“We fill that sucker up, we pile that heap as high as possible,” he said.

He stacks the items so high, and cuts the corner so close, that once a fellow shopper asked him what was more exciting, going to a ballgame or Costco.

“I told him, it’s Costco, because the outcome is really in doubt,” Vin said.

On Tuesday, they were walking past the meat department when Sandi pointed at some ribs. With five grown children and 16 grandchildren to feed during the holidays, we’re talking Fred Flintstone-sized ribs. Vin grabbed the packaged meat, stuffed it into plastic bags, and piled it on top of the overflowing cart. Eventually the couple navigated the extravaganza past the cashier, past the hot dog and pizza stand, and out to their SUV in the parking lot.

Once they had loaded the trunk, Scully climbed into the front seat, glanced down at his Costco-weary hands, and noticed something missing.

His 1988 World Series ring had disappeared from his finger.

“I said, ‘Oh my God, I’ve lost my ring,’ ” Vin said.

The ring is one of six earned by Scully during his 65-year Dodgers announcing career, but the only one he has not given to his children, and the one that represents perhaps his most famous home-run description, “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!”

“I kept telling myself, ‘A ring is only a thing, it’s only a thing,’ ” Scully said. “But I felt so terrible.”

Scully immediately walked back into the store and informed assistant general manager Elias Rahhal, who acted as if he had lost his own ring.

“I went into a panic, I assured him we’d do everything to help find the ring, Vin is like family to us,” said Rahhal, who printed out Scully’s receipt and began a painstaking retracing of Scully’s steps through the tower stacks and free food samples. Meanwhile, Vin called the Dodgers publicity sage Steve Brener, who immediately sent out a tweet informing the nation that Scully had lost the ring and asking anybody with information to call the Dodger Stadium switchboard. Then Vin and Sandi drove home while Vin continued to remind himself it was only jewelry and paled in comparison to the large and loving family that awaited his 88th holiday celebration.

“You know, maybe God heard me say that,” he said.

Sure enough, while Vin was unloading the stacks of items, he heard a cry from inside the house. While emptying the ribs, Sandi found the ring at the bottom of the bag.

“I’m still laughing about it,” said Vin. “But you know, I think I’ve been laughing about things all winter.”

Scully phoned Costco’s Rahhal and wished him Merry Christmas. He phoned the Dodgers’ Brener and wished him Merry Christmas.

“This time of year just blows me away,” said Vin.

Of course, this could not be a Christmas story without a Grinch, as Brener later discovered two people actually called the Dodgers and claimed they had the ring.

Meanwhile, Scully, still laughing, said he has unique celebration plans to honor the Ribs That Saved Christmas.

“We’re going to use them for a small family dinner,” Vin said.

And, oh yeah, he unwrapped the gift he is giving his city, confirming he will work every home game and road games in Anaheim and San Francisco next season, which means 95 more chances to spend a few hours with a treasure.

Merry Christmas to us.

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Twitter: @billplaschke