Rest in Peace, Scooter!
NEW YORK (AFP) - New York Yankees Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, who played on seven World Series championship teams in 13 Major League Baseball seasons, died Tuesday. He was 89.
A popular Yankees broadcaster on radio and television for 40 years after his retirement in 1956, the fleet-footed Yankee star nicknamed "Scooter" had been fighting health issues in a retirement home for several years.
"I guess heaven must have needed a shortstop," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said.
"Phil Rizzuto's contributions to the Yankees and the sport of baseball were immense for a period of over 50 years. He was one of the greatest Yankees of all time and a dear, close friend of mine whose loss is enormous to me and to the entire Yankee family.
"He epitomized the Yankee spirit - gritty and hard charging - and he wore the pinstripes proudly."
Rizzuto hit .273 for his career, all spent with the Yankees, with 1,588 hits, 38 home runs and 563 runs batted in over 1,661 games played alongside such icons of the sport as Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.
Rizzuto, who halted his career to serve in the US Navy from 1943 to 1945, was the 1950 American League Most Valuable Player, hitting a career-high .324 with seven homers, 200 hits, 125 runs and 12 stolen bases as the Yankees swept Philadelphia in the World Series.
As a broadcaster, Rizzuto made several enduring calls, including one of Roger Maris hitting his then-record 61st homer in the 1961 season, and made famous his catchphrase - "Holy Cow."
Rizzuto was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994 and before his death was the oldest living member of the US sport honor shrine.
"While Scooter may have been smaller in size than some, he was among the tallest in his stature as a Yankee," Steinbrenner said.
"He was a favorite of fans both as a player and later as a broadcaster. His voice and 'Holy Cow' will be part of baseball for as long as we play the game. No one deserved his place in the Hall of Fame more than Number 10."
NEW YORK (AFP) - New York Yankees Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, who played on seven World Series championship teams in 13 Major League Baseball seasons, died Tuesday. He was 89.
A popular Yankees broadcaster on radio and television for 40 years after his retirement in 1956, the fleet-footed Yankee star nicknamed "Scooter" had been fighting health issues in a retirement home for several years.
"I guess heaven must have needed a shortstop," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said.
"Phil Rizzuto's contributions to the Yankees and the sport of baseball were immense for a period of over 50 years. He was one of the greatest Yankees of all time and a dear, close friend of mine whose loss is enormous to me and to the entire Yankee family.
"He epitomized the Yankee spirit - gritty and hard charging - and he wore the pinstripes proudly."
Rizzuto hit .273 for his career, all spent with the Yankees, with 1,588 hits, 38 home runs and 563 runs batted in over 1,661 games played alongside such icons of the sport as Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.
Rizzuto, who halted his career to serve in the US Navy from 1943 to 1945, was the 1950 American League Most Valuable Player, hitting a career-high .324 with seven homers, 200 hits, 125 runs and 12 stolen bases as the Yankees swept Philadelphia in the World Series.
As a broadcaster, Rizzuto made several enduring calls, including one of Roger Maris hitting his then-record 61st homer in the 1961 season, and made famous his catchphrase - "Holy Cow."
Rizzuto was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994 and before his death was the oldest living member of the US sport honor shrine.
"While Scooter may have been smaller in size than some, he was among the tallest in his stature as a Yankee," Steinbrenner said.
"He was a favorite of fans both as a player and later as a broadcaster. His voice and 'Holy Cow' will be part of baseball for as long as we play the game. No one deserved his place in the Hall of Fame more than Number 10."
