Throughout his illustrious career, longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has been a patriot, a historian, a true American hero, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade, a Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award winner and -- most of all -- a storyteller.

Scully has spent nearly seven decades calling games for the Dodgers. He started in Brooklyn and made the move to Los Angeles with the club in 1957. He's called no-hitters, perfect games and World Series clinchers, all with the expertise of a player and the grace of a poet.

The Dodgers recently announced that Scully would return to the booth in 2016 for an astonishing 67th season with the team. And if that news doesn't have you giddy with excitement, Scully's best stories from the 2015 season certainly will.

About the emergence of beards in baseball

Trends come and go, but what's old will always eventually be new again in the world of fashion. And so, here's Scully commenting on the recurring trend of growing hair on your face while playing professional baseball.

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About the history of the defensive shift

Defensive shifts are all the rage in 2015, and Scully knows all about the origins of that philosophy.

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About that time Satchel Paige threw a baseball through a small hole to settle a bet

Not many of today's working broadcasters have stories up their sleeves about Hall of Famer Satchel Paige, who wasn't offered an MLB contract until very late in his incredible career. Here, Scully divulges one of Paige's more impressive moments.

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About that time Jonny Gomes survived a wolf attack

Sometimes Scully's knowledge and prose meander into sectors of human history otherwise unexplored in sports broadcasts. Take, for instance, his story about the time a young Gomes tried to pet a wolf and survived a subsequent attack.

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About J.D. Salinger's heroic exploits on D-Day

And Scully specifically pointed out the courage exhibited by Salinger, the author of the classic American novel Catcher in the Rye. Salinger landed on the shore of Normandy with the first six chapters of his now famous novel tucked away in his pocket.

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About the history of the American flag

Of course Scully could educate viewers on the history of Old Glory to celebrate the nation's birthday.

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About the forthcoming extinction of redheads

Scully identifies as a redhead and -- on a day when fellow redhead (and Dodgers utility man) Justin Turner selected a young red-headed boy to throw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium -- he explained that he was told that there is a finite number of redheads on the planet, and that they might be extinct by 2030.

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About the time Yogi Berra wore his catcher's mask during a brawl with the Royals

Sadly, baseball lost a legend in 2015 as Hall of Famer Yogi Berra passed away. After Berra's passing, Scully recalled how fondly he'd be remembered ... except for maybe that time he brawled with the Royals while wearing his catcher's mask for protection.

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About that time Maury Wills broke Ty Cobb's record

Part of the benefit of having Scully in the booth is that his longevity means he's seen it all. And, even at 88, his memory is as sharp as ever. In September, he recalled the time that Maury Wills broke Ty Cobb's steals record in a game that the Dodgers lost, despite throwing Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax.

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About that time he played against President George H.W. Bush in a college baseball game

Scully was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame this year and -- at the ceremony in his honor -- he recounted the time he competed against the future leader of the free world.