Vin Scully graciously declines Joe Buck’s invitation

Vin Scully could have wished us all a very pleasant good afternoon, on national television.

Joe Buck, the lead announcer for Fox Sports, wished aloud on Saturday for Scully to join him on the air when the National League Championship Series returns to Dodger Stadium this week.

Scully said Sunday he would respectfully decline.

“I don’t want to just take a bow,” Scully told The Times. “I just don’t feel right doing that.”

Buck has all but handed Scully an evergreen invitation to share the Fox booth during All-Star and World Series games.

“It would be an honor to get up, take the headset off, sterilize it and hand it to Vin,” Buck told The Times in 2016.

That was Scully’s final year. Buck delivered a tribute to Scully on his final day on the job.

Scully, 90, has stayed true to his vow not to return to a broadcast booth after his retirement. He is an admirer of Buck and his Fox partner, John Smoltz.

As the Dodgers and Brewers played Saturday in Milwaukee, Buck welcomed Brewers broadcast legend Bob Uecker into the Fox booth to share stories, then said he would love to do the same with Scully in Los Angeles.

“It’s not false modesty,” Scully said. “I just think I don’t belong there.

“Those fellows have been broadcasting all year. I don’t want to get into their spotlight in any way, shape, or form. I think they’re doing a wonderful job.”

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

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