Shortstop for the
New York Yankees during the late
40s-mid
50s glory years. From what I
understand (never having seen him
play, you know) he's my
kind of
ballplayer - great
glove, a (just) good enough
bat to keep
people interested. Didn't have any great
physical attributes - 5'6, no
cannon for an
arm, good (but not true
basestealing)
speed - he made up for it with
intelligent play. Made all the
routine plays with a minimum of
errors, and the occasional
flashy play too. Not that great of a
batsman, but you didn't
want him
hitting while someone was
on-base - he was a
hell of a
bunter (hey, it's an important
skill!) and he usually led the league in
no-glory sacrifice hits.
He spent most of his playing career overshadowed by crosstown rival Pee Wee Reese, who was as good a fielder and a much better hitter. Even when both men were in the Navy during WWII, Reese was shortstop of the official Navy team - Rizzuto was moved to third base. Rizzuto did one-up Pee Wee once - in 1950, after a (totally out-of-character) incredible offensive year (.324, 200 hits), he won the AL MVP. Reese never won the MVP - he was a perennial also-ran.
Later kicked upstairs to the announcement booth, where he alternately dazzled and dulled listeners for years.
Elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee after 11 years on the ballot - he got little respect from the writers.
"I heard the doctors revived a man after being dead for four-and-a-half minutes. When they asked what it was like being dead, he said it was like listening to New York Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto during a rain delay."
- David Letterman