Here's some sad news. Phil Rizzuto died last night at the age of 89. He's the baseball announcer known for his famous phrase: "Holy Cow"! Here's an article:
Yankee player, broadcaster Rizzuto dies
Kevin Kernan / New York Post
Posted: 29 minutes ago
Phil Rizzuto, Hall-of-Fame shortstop and sparkplug for the great Yankees dynasty of the late 1940s and early '50s, died early this morning in New Jersey. He was 89.
A consummate winner on the field and an inimitable personality off it, Rizzuto was a beloved New York icon.
(For more Rizzuto coverage, go to www.nypost.com/.)
Although he made his name as a 5-foot-6 scrappy middle infielder on some of the all-time great baseball teams, Rizzuto became perhaps better known and loved as a Yankees announcer. With his folksy style and bumbling sense of humor, he endeared himself to his listeners. Scooter, as he was widely known, became a term of affection, synonymous with Yankees baseball.
The Yankees reached the World Series in Rizzuto's first two seasons, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941 and losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in '42.
Rizzuto missed the next three seasons serving overseas in the military, returning to the field in 1946 and helping the Yankees end a three-year post-season drought when they again beat the Dodgers in seven games in the '47 Series.
Rizzuto entered his prime just as the Pinstripes began a record run of five consecutive Fall Classic crowns under manager Casey Stengel from 1949-53.
During his 13 years in The Bronx, the Bombers won seven World Series and nine pennants. Rizzuto is among the leaders in many World Series offensive categories, including hits, walks, stolen bases and runs scored. He led the league four times in sacrifices and never struck out more than 42 times in a season, despite consistently logging more than 500 at-bats a season.
Rizzuto finally made it to Cooperstown in 1994 as a selection of the Veterans Committee, ending a long, and at times contentious, campaign aided by long-time teammate and friend Joe DiMaggio, to get the popular Yankee inducted. Of the arduous path to enshrinement, Rizzuto quipped: "I'll take any way to get into the Hall of Fame. If they want a batboy, I'll go in as a batboy."
Rizzuto overcame his lack of size to become an excellent contact hitter, outstanding bunter and a sure-handed fielder who never shied away from contact while turning double plays.
His range at shortstop earned him the nickname "Scooter" and once prompted teammate Vic Raschi to say, "My best pitch is anything the batter grounds, lines, or pops in the direction of Rizzuto."
Rizzuto burst onto the scene in 1941, taking over the job from long-time shortstop Frank Crosetti and hitting .307 in his rookie season. The following year, in the midst of posting a career-high 68 RBIs, he was named to the All-Star team for the first of five times.
Rizzuto then began a three-year tour in the Navy during World War II where he played on the baseball team alongside Pee Wee Reese, the Brooklyn Dodgers' shortstop to whom he was often compared.
Rizzuto'ts career hit new heights when he became the Yankees' leadoff hitter in 1949, scoring 110 runs and stealing 18 bases on a team known more for its power than base running.
His greatest season came in 1950 when he won the American League Most Valuable Player award. That year, Rizzuto posted career highs in batting average (.324), hits (200), walks (92), runs (125) and doubles (36).
After his playing days ended, Rizzuto joined Hall of Fame announcers Mel Allen and Red Barber in the TV and radio booths, broadcasting Yankee games for the next 40 years. He was behind the mike for such memorable moments as Roger Maris' 61st home run, punctuating the record-setting 1961 blast with his trademark "Holy Cow!" call.
Playing the part of the prankster, Rizzuto often left the booth before games ended to beat the traffic across the George Washington Bridge and frequently called players huckleberries for making obvious mistakes. He also invented many of his own symbols for keeping score of a game, the famous of which was "WW" for "wasn't watching."
Rizzuto was the first mystery guest on the popular TV game show "What'ts My Line?" in 1950 and his signature voice is featured in the classic Meatloaf track "Paradise by the Dashboard Light."
Rizzuto's number 10 was retired at the Stadium in 1985 and he remained an integral part of the Yankees organization in the twilight of his life.
The Scooter was admired for his work in his New Jersey community, in particular his fund-raising efforts for the St. Joseph's School for the Blind.
Born Fiero Francis Rizzuto in Brooklyn on Sept. 25, 1916, his date of birth is often reported as 1917, but Rizzuto admitted in later years that he fibbed on his first contract negotiations to appear younger.
He is survived by his three children and his wife, Cora.
14 Aug 2007, 5:54 pm
