The baseball world, and especially Yankee fans, have lost a legend as Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto died today, August 14, 2007.
Scooter played for New York for 11 seasons before his career was interrupted by his service in World War II. He rejoined the Yankees after his enlistment was over.
In 1950 Rizzuto received the honor of being named the American League Most Valuable Player. In 1994 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and was until his death the oldest living member of the Hall.
"Holy Cow!" was his on-air pronouncement as he followed his baseball career with over 40 years as a broadcaster for the Yankees. He was forever a Yankee, whether on the field or in the broadcast booth.
Phil played along side Yankee greats like Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and many others. It was said that a Rizzuto bunt, a stolen base and a DiMaggio hit made up the scoring trademark of the Yankee's golden era.
When he returned to the diamond after the war in 1946, he went 58 games without an error making 288 straight successful plays. Rizzuto played erroless ball in 21 consecutive World Series games -- phenominal.
A debate always raged as to whether Phil or the Dodger's Pee Wee Reese was baseball's best short stop. You must know where my heart lies with this question.
Scooter tried out for both the crosstown Brooklyn Dodgers and the Yanks when he was only 16. Ironically Casey Stengel, then manager of the Dodgers, told him to "go get a shoeshine box." Rizzuto became one of Stengel's (when he became the Yankee manager) most dependable players.
I can still remember -- almost hear it -- when as a kid listening to the old Mutual Radio Broadcasting System's game of the day and "seeing" in my mind as if I were there Scooter's bunts, hits, steals and fantastic plays. I was proud to be a Yankee fan.
My hope now is that God has that golden diamond in Heaven all ready, and Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto can resume his position as the greatest shortstop major league baseball has ever known.
God bless you "Scooter."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Don't forget he was the play-by-play voiceover for Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Lighs".
"Here's the throw, here's the play at the plate. Holy cow! I think he's gonna make it!"
"Stop right there!"
You are a wealth of information. I now know whom to contact.
I certainly would not have known anything about his connection with Meatloaf -- not one of my favorite people -- didn't he lose some pounds and was sort of half a meatloaf?
In case you are interested, Meatloaf will be at the Grand Casino in Tunica on August 24th -- see you there.
Post a Comment