| Pro Sports | | | | signed him. |
| Growing up and following pro sports now for over | | | | The end of Phil Rizzuto's playing career only |
| 40 years, there were always teams that I did not | | | | opened the door to one which lasted almost 40 |
| like. One of those teams has always been the | | | | years, and kept his Yankee connection intact. He |
| New York Yankees, (and in football it was the | | | | became a much beloved broadcaster for the |
| Washington Redskins, basketball the Boston | | | | team. It was Phil Rizzuto who had the call on Oct. |
| Celtics). My grandmother, (mother of my father) | | | | 1st, 1961 when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's |
| now deceased for 20 years was always my | | | | then single season home run record. Rizzuto |
| favorite grandparent. She was a devote Yankee | | | | became a unique announcer within the industry. |
| fan for her entire life, dating back to Babe Ruth. | | | | First, Phil when calling the play-by-play, did not hide |
| Her favorite Yankee was always #7 Mickey | | | | the fact that he openly rooted for his Yankees to |
| Mantle. My grandmother and I would always argue | | | | win, against any opponent. Secondly, Phil was |
| about who was the greatest player - for me it | | | | known to bring up other subjects during the |
| was Willie Mays. She would then proceed to | | | | broadcast besides baseball. Many a time he would |
| chastise me by saying that no one was as good | | | | take the time to wish a broadcast listener a |
| as Joe D., Joe DiMaggio who roamed centerfield | | | | personal happy birthday, or mention the fact that |
| for the Yankees from 1936 to 1951. Anyway, she | | | | a certain person was under the weather; all in the |
| always tried to convert me, when I was a | | | | hopes of making that person feel special. This |
| youngster into being a Yankee fan. She and my | | | | endeared him tremendously to loyal Yankee fans. |
| grandfather took me to my first baseball game | | | | Often, when visiting my grandmother, she would |
| ever around 1964 - naturally to a Yankee game | | | | have the Yankee game on the radio, and there |
| vs. the Red Sox in the Big Apple. She used to | | | | was Phil Rizzuto on-air discussing the wonderful |
| always give me her collection of Yankee | | | | food, (cannolis and pasta being his favorite) given |
| yearbooks. How stupid I was, back then, for | | | | for him to taste by a fan - even in the midst of |
| eventually throwing them away. I probably had in | | | | the Yankees' rallying to catch an opponent. |
| my possession, at one time, every single Yankee | | | | Rizzuto teaming up with Fran Healy or Bill White |
| yearbook from the mid 1950's through the late | | | | during broadcasts, would even discuss the need |
| 60's. But, just like most kids who had baseball | | | | for him to leave a game he was broadcasting |
| cards back in the day, and managed to "misplace | | | | early to get across the GW Bridge and get home |
| them" who knew anything back then about | | | | before all the NYC traffic. Phil would say that his |
| collecting memorabilia? Certainly not an 8 year old | | | | beloved wife, Cora was expecting him home in |
| kid, as myself back in 1965! Besides, for whatever | | | | time for supper. Often the game became |
| reason that I had come up with in my mind, | | | | secondary to whatever Rizzuto wanted to |
| (probably because the Yankees won every year | | | | discuss during the broadcast. His favorite saying |
| and my grandmother would have this big grin on | | | | was "Holy Cow" when something special occurred |
| her face, telling me "I told you so") I came to | | | | during a game, (this phrase was heard several |
| dislike the team. The saying back then was | | | | times just with his call on Maris' record setting |
| rooting for the Yankees to win year in and year | | | | home run). Also whenever he was upset at |
| out as they did was like cheering for US Steel! | | | | someone, Rizzuto, (who legend has it almost |
| | | | never uttered an obscenity at anyone) referred |
| Rizzuto's playing career came to an abrupt end | | | | to the person as a "Huckleberry". Examples: When |
| midway in 1956 when the Yankee manager, | | | | an opposing pitcher threw a tight pitch to get a |
| Casey Stengel deemed the soon to be 39 year | | | | Yankee batter off of the plate, Phil would usually |
| old Rizzuto, too old to be counted on to | | | | state on air, "Gee, what a Huckleberry that |
| contribute positively to the team. It is interesting | | | | pitcher is. He didn't have to throw at Reggie |
| according to lore that Phil Rizzuto, probably one of | | | | Jackson". Or, "Bill White, (his on-air partner) what a |
| the most likable people on earth who enjoyed and | | | | Huckleberry you are. You mean to tell me that |
| respected all human beings, came to despise | | | | this is not the best linguine sauce you've ever |
| Casey Stengel not only for that: but also years | | | | tasted?" (right in the middle of a Yankee game). It |
| early as a 16 year old when Phil tried out for the | | | | made for entertaining listening. |
| Brooklyn Dodgers. The manager then was Casey | | | | The world has lost not only a former athlete who |
| Stengel who rudely dismissed the teenager as | | | | graced his position for many years, but more |
| unworthy athletically and too small, (Rizzuto stood | | | | importantly a decent, and caring human being. |
| 5'6'', and weighed about 150 lbs even as an adult) | | | | Even a non-Yankee fan as myself would be |
| to be seriously considered as a pro baseball | | | | remiss in not stating that Phil Rizzuto was nothing |
| prospect. This only motivated Rizzuto even more | | | | but class personified! |
| to succeed, and several years later some very | | | | I welcome any comments to this post! |
| wise Yankee scouts saw the ability in this kid and | | | | |