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The scooter will be sorely missed, not just by Yankee fans but sports enthusiast from every walk of life. Phil Rizzuto epitomizes the quintessential American dream, from rags to riches in the vane of a Horasio Alger book, or in the framework of a Norman Rockwell painting. Phil was born in Brooklyn in 1916 to a streetcar motorman, came to age during the height of the depression, playing in the sand lot leagues and earning a reputation as a feisty player. The Dodgers would not give him a tryout, Casey Stengel famously telling him to, "Go get a shoeshine box." Phil was deemed too small by Stengel, however his high school coach got him a tryout with the Yankees and he was signed by the Yanks in 1937, ironically helping defeat Stengels Dodgers in three World Series.

During "Scooters" playing years from 1941 to 1956, he anchored the Yankees defense through ten pennants and seven World Series. Phil was known for his ability to bunt, move runners over and his stingy defense as well as a base stealer who often finished in the top five. He was the American League Most Valuable Player in 1950, with a .324 batting average while helping the Yankees win their second World Series Championship. Phil also holds World Series records for games "played" and "double plays" by a short stop.

Phil was a beloved Yankee often over shadowed by the star quality of Joe DiMaggio, the prototype ballplayer Mickey Mantle and the humorous Yogi Berra. Joe Dimaggio said of Razzuto, "People loved to watch me play baseball. Scooter, they just loved."

Phil could not get enough of baseball when his career ended in 1956 and exchanged the batters box for a press box. Again "Scooter" did not inherit a voice suited for a broadcaster, just as he did on the diamond he maximized his talents, relating his experience as a ball player to the audience, illuminating the play on the field to the average fan. Phil's notable moment in broadcasting came early in his career when he made the call from the booth on Roger Maris record breaking 61st home run of the 1961 season over the immortal Yankee Babe Ruth's 60. The "scooter" broad-casted games for the Yankees for 40 years, known as "The voice of the Yankees." His trademark call, "holy cow" will forever be associated with him, a call that expressed his enthusiasm for the love of the game as well as extraordinary play on the field.

"Scooter" became more then just a announcer or a Hall of Fame baseball player on sports greatest dynasty. He became an American icon, lending his voice and broadcast talent to a number one hit by the rock band Meatloaf. The song "Paradise by the Dashboard Light." earned him a gold record with Phil doing the play-by-play account of a young man losing his virginity.

Philip Francis Rizzuto, was 5'6 160lbs, to small for baseball, to raspy to radio or television, but he lived like a boisterous giant.

Learn more about this author, Donald Hutchinson Jr..
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