Longtime Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully and Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be among 21 individuals who will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced Wednesday.
"The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation's highest civilian honor — it's a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better," President Barack Obama said in a White House news release. "From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way."
The other recipients are:
- Native American advocate Elouise Cobell (posthumous)
- Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres
- Actor Robert De Niro
- Polymath physicist Richard Garwin
- Billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates
- Architect Frank Gehry
- Mathematician and computer scientist Margaret H. Hamilton
- Actor Tom Hanks
- Computer scientist Grace Hopper (posthumous)
- NBA star Michael Jordan
- Artist and designer Maya Lin
- TV producer Lorne Michaels
- Educator Eduardo Padron
- Actor Robert Redford
- Singer and actress Diana Ross
- Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen
- Actress Cicely Tyson
The ceremony will take place at the White House on Nov. 22.
Scully, the voice of Dodgers baseball for 67 seasons, retired this year. He called numerous key moments in baseball history over the course of his storied career, including Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series and Hank Aaron's record-shattering 715th home run in 1974. Scully was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
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Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, 19-time All-Star and six-time MVP, led the Lakers to five championships in the Showtime era. At UCLA, he led the Bruins to three consecutive titles. Outside of basketball, he has advocated for social justice.
