This morning legendary Yankee Shortstop Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto died at age 89. I unfortunately was not even a twinkle in my Momma's eye when Scooter played for the Yankees from 1941 to 1956. In that time Rizzuto kicked ass with his fellow Yankees winning a total of seven world series championships and appearing in nine total championship games. They won five in a row from 1949 to 1953. In 1994 Scooter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
After retiring from Baseball Rizzuto continued his career as an announcer, and it was at this time, that I got to see the living legend in action. He was warm and funny and was always trying to keep the audience interest in the game. As anyone who watches baseball knows that there are lulls in the game and it's up to a good announcer to keep the people watching. Scooter always did that well. I always enjoyed watching Yes baseball when Rizzuto would guest announce. You could always tell when it was him, with that nasally Brooklyn accent. You knew you were going to get a good show. So we raise one to you Philly, one of the great shortstops, a true hero for the little guy, as you only stood a mere 5'6, "Holy Cow". Yet you towered over your opponents. You were a great Yankee and you will be missed.
Left to right; Phil Rizzuto, Joe Dimaggio, Yogi Berra and Gerry Coleman.July 8, 1950
My Cousin Michael Busch, who like me is a great Yankee fan had this to say about Rizzuto:
There is mourning in the House that Ruth Built (also in Rizzuto-Berra Bowling Lanes between the Parkway and Rt. 46 - yes, the Scooter and the Yogi built and owned it): the Yankee Scooter has died.
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