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Pro Sports - Phil Rizzuto Yankee Legend Passes Away
Growing up and following pro sports now for over 40 years, there were always teams that I did not like. One of those teams has always been the New York Yankees, (and in football it was the Washington Redskins, basketball the Boston Celtics). My grandmother, (mother of my father) now deceased for 20 years was always my favorite grandparent. She was a devote Yankee fan for her entire life, dating back to Babe Ruth. Her favorite Yankee was always #7 Mickey Mantle. My grandmother and I would always argue about who was the greatest player - for me it was Willie Mays. She would then proceed to chastise me by saying that no one was as good as Joe D., Joe DiMaggio who roamed centerfield for the Yankees from 1936 to 1951. Anyway, she always tried to convert me, when I was a youngster into being a Yankee fan. She and my grandfather took me to my first baseball game ever around 1964 - naturally to a Yankee game vs. the Red Sox in the Big Apple. She used to always give me her collection of Yankee yearbooks. How stupid I was, back then, for eventually throwing them away. I probably had in my possession, at one time, every single Yankee yearbook from the mid 1950's through the late 60's. But, just like most kids who had baseball cards back in the day, and managed to "misplace them" who knew anything back then about collecting memorabilia? Certainly not an 8 year old kid, as myself back in 1965! Besides, for whatever reason that I had come up with in my mind, (probably because the Yankees won every year and my grandmother would have this big grin on her face, telling me "I told you so") I came to dislike the team. The saying back then was rooting for the Yankees to win year in and year out as they did was like cheering for US Steel! One of the legends of Yankee lore, Phil Rizzuto passed away yesterday at the age of 89. People today consider the great Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter to be a winner - having won 4 World Series rings so far in his career. That total is nothing compared to Rizzuto who during his career from the early 1940's until his release from the team mid-way through the 1956 season, won 7 World Series rings, and competed in 9 Series total with the Bronx Bombers. Rizzuto was not like the power hitting shortstops prominent in baseball for the last 15 years or so, (Cal Ripken being the first, then A-Rod who played the position before his trade to NY several years ago, Nomar Garciaparra for years up in Boston, and even Jeter who has hit close to 25 home runs a few seasons); the same cannot be stated about #10, the Scooter. Rizzuto was known as a slap hitter who batted at the top of the Yankee lineup. His goal was to get on base, and set the table for the power hitters that followed him in the lineup - DiMaggio and Tommy Heinrich in the 40's and later Mickey Mantle and Hank Bauer. Rizzuto was probably the most adept ever at laying down a bunt to get on base, or moving runners over into scoring position. Rizzuto's best season was in 1950, when he batted .325, led the league in hits and was the American League MVP. The Yankees that season were in the midst of the most dominant streak ever in baseball, winning their second of five consecutive World Series titles - 1949 through 1953. Rizzuto's playing career came to an abrupt end midway in 1956 when the Yankee manager, Casey Stengel deemed the soon to be 39 year old Rizzuto, too old to be counted on to contribute positively to the team. It is interesting according to lore that Phil Rizzuto, probably one of the most likable people on earth who enjoyed and respected all human beings, came to despise Casey Stengel not only for that: but also years early as a 16 year old when Phil tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The manager then was Casey Stengel who rudely dismissed the teenager as unworthy athletically and too small, (Rizzuto stood 5'6'', and weighed about 150 lbs even as an adult) to be seriously considered as a pro baseball prospect. This only motivated Rizzuto even more to succeed, and several years later some very wise Yankee scouts saw the ability in this kid and signed him. The end of Phil Rizzuto's playing career only opened the door to one which lasted almost 40 years, and kept his Yankee connection intact. He became a much beloved broadcaster for the team. It was Phil Rizzuto who had the call on Oct. 1st, 1961 when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's then single season home run record. Rizzuto became a unique announcer within the industry. First, Phil when calling the play-by-play, did not hide the fact that he openly rooted for his Yankees to win, against any opponent. Secondly, Phil was known to bring up other subjects during the broadcast besides baseball. Many a time he would take the time to wish a broadcast listener a personal happy birthday, or mention the fact that a certain person was under the weather; all in the hopes of making that person feel special. This endeared him tremendously to loyal Yankee fans. Often, when visiting my grandmother, she would have the Yankee game on the radio, and there was Phil Rizzuto on-air discussing the wonderful food, (cannolis and pasta being his favorite) given for him to taste by a fan - even in the midst of the Yankees' rallying to catch an opponent. Rizzuto teaming up with Fran Healy or Bill White during broadcasts, would even discuss the need for him to leave a game he was broadcasting early to get across the GW Bridge and get home before all the NYC traffic. Phil would say that his beloved wife, Cora was expecting him home in time for supper. Often the game became secondary to whatever Rizzuto wanted to discuss during the broadcast. His favorite saying was "Holy Cow" when something special occurred during a game, (this phrase was heard several times just with his call on Maris' record setting home run). Also whenever he was upset at someone, Rizzuto, (who legend has it almost never uttered an obscenity at anyone) referred to the person as a "Huckleberry". Examples: When an opposing pitcher threw a tight pitch to get a Yankee batter off of the plate, Phil would usually state on air, "Gee, what a Huckleberry that pitcher is. He didn't have to throw at Reggie Jackson". Or, "Bill White, (his on-air partner) what a Huckleberry you are. You mean to tell me that this is not the best linguine sauce you've ever tasted?" (right in the middle of a Yankee game). It made for entertaining listening. The world has lost not only a former athlete who graced his position for many years, but more importantly a decent, and caring human being. Even a non-Yankee fan as myself would be remiss in not stating that Phil Rizzuto was nothing but class personified! I welcome any comments to this post! To read other posts in this blog please visit my site at: http://Jeffmansports.blogspot.com Pro Sports Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com |
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