Phil Rizzuto dead at 89
Hall of Famer. 1950 AL MVP. Five-time All Star. Slick fielder. And, most memorably for those of us under 60, stalwart announcer, who began on TV with Mel Allen and Red Barber as his broadcast booth teammates. Not a bad way to begin.
But Howard Cosell, then a radio announcer, gave him no chance: "You'll never last," he said. "You look like George Burns and you sound like Groucho Marx."
His stats don't pop out at you, especially for someone in the Hall. But Rizzuto was certainly quotable.
A rapper, of sorts.
And, of course, poet. From O Holy Cow! The Selected Verse of Phil Rizzuto, this short and sweet composition:
"My Secret"When I'm driving
To Yankee Stadium and back,
I do it so often.I don't remember passing lights
I don't remember paying tolls
Coming over the bridge.Going back over the bridge,
I remember ...--August 19, 1992
Oakland at New York
Mike Moore pitching to Mel Hall
Fifth inning, one out, bases empty
Yankees lead 4-1
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