Vin Scully gets his voice back, and so do Dodgers

Vin Scully was back in the press box, back telling stories, being modest, laughing, delighting.

After being out all week because of a cold so severe he was told it was “one click from pneumonia,” Los Angeles’ great civic treasure returned to the broadcast booth Sunday.

Scully missed five games, the last four played in chilly weather. Now that warm blanket on a cold night for Dodgers fans was back, saying he was humbled by all the attention his absence caused.

“It was very, very touching and memorable and humbling,” Scully said. “You get something like that, you don’t stand up and beat your chest. You lower your head. It’s amazing.”

Scully, 84, said he first felt ill during the April 7 game in San Diego.

“I did the game, couldn’t stop coughing and could not sleep a wink, and I knew I was in a lot of trouble,” Scully said.

By Tuesday’s home opener, Scully had been knocked out by his illness. His voice was gone from constant coughing. He was weak and tired, and mad.

It would be only the second home opener he had missed in his 63 seasons, and this one would salute the 1962 Dodgers team that opened Dodger Stadium 50 years ago.

During the ceremony, his absence was noted and he was saluted while his image was beamed on the video board. The sellout crowd gave him a standing ovation.

“I felt, my gosh, they’re opening up a season and here they are saluting an announcer,” he said. “I was overwhelmed. I had all kinds of emotions, many of which were humility, thinking I’m just another guy. I’m the most ordinary person you ever met.”

Scully said he was now in good health, if still somewhat weakened by antibiotics, and glad to return on baseball’s annual Jackie Robinson Day.

“In my own private little world, this is my opening day,” Scully said. “I have [Clayton] Kershaw, he ain’t no bad crowd to hang around with. I’m not going to be serving Baccarat crystal and the way they dressed up on opening day.

“My little opening day will be a used jelly glass with some water in it. Hopefully I’ll have some fun, stop feeling sorry for myself, and get back to work.”

Dick Enberg, currently the Padres’ play-by-play announcer, said Los Angeles has been blessed to have Scully all these years.

“There never will be another like him,” Enberg said. “Walter O’Malley, in his consummate wisdom, got it right when he said my best player isn’t anyone in uniform. It’s the guy in the broadcast booth.”

sports@latimes.com