'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Mark, Dunkirk. NY — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:51:48 GMT

Growing up thirty years ago, in one of the parts of New York State that is farthest west of NYC and when local radio stations could afford to carry the broadcasts, I had the opportunity to listen to Scooter and his fellow broadcasters in the mid and late 70's. Scooter had a unique style and was a treasure. He should be in the hall as a broadcaster as well. Those that broadcast all those years on radio, will never be forgotten, and it really doesn't matter what the team was.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Todd Chillicothe Ohio — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:51:00 GMT

I never once saw Phil play ball, I've seen many a picture of him in uniform, But I did grow up listening to him call many a yankee game, and the "holy cow" and "huckleberry" bring a smile to my face. Phil "scooter" Rizzuto made me a yankee fan, and a baseball and his legend will carry on for ages to come. Guess god need a short angel to fill in at shortstop on his all heaven team, he picked the best, Here's to you phil, and to you to Mike for a great column. thanks for all the memeories.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

M.J. Riley, Neptune, NJ — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:53:32 GMT

Mr. Celezic, this was a great touching article, thank you very much. I, too, grew up in New Jersey and listened and watched the Scooter doing Yankee games, commercials for the Money Store, etc. Although not a Yankee fan I always appreciated the fact that he was geniune and a character rolled up into one! Thanks again for writing a beautiful piece on this great person of baseball!

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Grace McAndrew — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:10:47 GMT

Mike,

I loved Scooter. I remember hearing him call games for the Yanks when I was a kid. He was great. He always seemed so genuine and kind. He will be sorely missed by not only the Yanks but all the sports community. He was a man of true character in sports. There are not many of those left today..well Jeter is pretty darned good. Thanks for the article Mike. Good write

Grace

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Don Hansen, Green Cove Springs, FL. — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:42:47 GMT

I remember listening to Yankees games as a child )I was born and raised in Staten Island)and listening to Phil call a game was so much better than being there! Phil was too entertaining to not listen to a Yankees game. He was pure class!!!

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Dick Dahoney, Carmel, IN — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:32:31 GMT

Mike,

Great article about Scooter.

I've been to "The Stadium" a few times - not recently, unfortunately (grew up in NJ) - and had the pleasure of one of Scooter's good bunts (was there ever a bad one?) on most of those occasions. Definitely one of the game's class guys.

Too small for Casey in Brooklyn, but the Ol' Perfesser sure didn't mind him when he won five in a row!

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Chris Sarpa, Charlotte, NC — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:49:35 GMT

Nice article, Mike. I'm 37 and grew up a Yankee fan in north Jersey, so I remember you from The Record. T o me, the voices of Phil Rizzuto calling the games and Robert Merrill (with that voice of God) introducing the players are inextricably tied together with those great late 70's teams.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Vincent Giannotti, Burke, VA — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:50:20 GMT

As die-hard Yankee fan growing up in Bridgeport, CT in the fifties and sixties, I literally grew up listening to the Scooter's broadcasts on WPIX Channel 11. To this day, he and Bill White and the late Frank Messer are still my favorite broadcasting team of all time. Although I never met him in person, I always thought of Phil Rizzuto as my "second father."

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Rod Mullins, Wise, VA — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:41:01 GMT

"Scooter" was a one of a kind. Thinking back on former announcers, Rizzuto brought a style to the mike that few have mastered since. Baseball was baseball with Rizutto, Dizzy Dean and others calling the action. Instead of hearing stats and stupid facts, couldn't we just get to know baseball again like sitting down and talking with friends? Rest in Peace Scooter. Baseball just won't be the same again without you.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Walt O'Connor — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:46:38 GMT

Bill White & Phil were the best announcing team ever.Phil was always angling for a way to beat the traffic over the GW Bridge and as night games got into the 7 th and 8 th innings , he would be 1/2 way out of the booth .Finally , all you would hear was White , as Phil always called him , alone trying to cover for his buddy who was heading for Montclair ,NJ."White " , who was Black , never complained .The surest sign that Phil was color-blind was the fact he called his partner "White".It never even occurred to him that calling a Black man "White" was highly ironic or anything else for that matter.A true gentleman and one of a kind.The world will not soon again see one like him .

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Paul, Clearwater, Fl. — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:52:53 GMT

I grew up in Jersey and used to faithfully turn to channel 11 (WPIX) to listen to Bill & Phil and watch the Yankees. As a kid I somehow felt that Phil was talking directly to me. I used to love the "Holy Cow & Huckleberry" comments and the canoli stories. I remembering bowling at Rizutto-Berra lanes on Rt. 3 The Yankees have lost one of their all time greats and I for one will definately miss "The Scooter".

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Michael Betz West Haven, CT — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:23:09 GMT

Mike

I am a long time Yankee fan; got to be one in 1956 at 10 years old. (the Mickey Mantle thing.} There's always been the 'Scooter' in my life. Great broadcast Yankee icon. It was a thrill to meet him in the broadcast box in Shea Stadium in 1975? when the Yanks were there for Stadium refurbshing year(s) period. I had organized a Conn local community day trip for local fans to NYC and was introduced to him by someone in the front office. When I told told of my last name he tried to repeat the name and connect with me and but fractured the name and said a similar name, saying he played minor league ball with someone in Rochester with the same name. ( Wrong) Trying to correct him he continued 2 more times telling me what a great guy the player and asking me if I was related. It was very light when he finally resolved it we had a nice laugh. He was what I had thought to be a warm, alive, genuine funny man, and I am honored that I had met him. The Yankee fan's world can never be the same, but we had him for a long time.

Thanks for the article.

Mike

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Dominic D., Rockville, Md. — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:49:13 GMT

I grew up in Syracuse, NY. and watched the Yankees on WPIX with the "Scooter" calling the games in the late 70's early 80's. I'll never forget him as I also am Italian and loved to hear him talk about his favorite canoli's and italian foods. I grew up a Yankee fan and Mr. Phil Rizzuto was a big reason why, always cheering the team and calling the game as he saw it. Also giving the quick story about Joe D. or the Mick. Class, dignity, sportsmanship, never forgetting what it meant to be a NY. Yankee. Ti Saluto, Dio Benedici la famiglia Rizzuto.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Juan Villarreal, Corpus Christi,Texas — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:24:17 GMT

I grew up in Falfurrias,Texas so darn far from New York but because of my Dad's love for the Yankee's and "The Mick",and Mr. Yankee "Yogi" what a class act Scooter was. He loved the sport and while we waited for years for his induction to "The Hall of Fame" never did we hear any sour grape responses from "Scooter" through those years of rejection. A Class Act lives the Yankees to join the Lord in the Greatest of all Halls of Honor The Lord's "Kingdom". Another,Class Act stays behind named "Jeter" to play the game day in and day out as Scooter did,and so that the mystique of the Yankees continues to live on,so that some kid from Texas,Oklahoma,N.Carolina or the Dominician Republic can dream to wear the "Pinstripes". Thanks for the "Memories" Scooter,Go Yankees.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Phil Frandino, Folly Beach, S.C. — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:55:17 GMT

Mike, Great write. My grandfather first took me to the Yankees, saw Whitey pitch and Mickey hit a homer in the first game (a doubleheader) I ever saw. He took me to Shea to see the 24 inning game between the Giants and Mets...saw the Amazin's many a time during that great year. But, Scooter kept me interested in da game the rest of my life....He had the PASSION in his voice in his LOVE of LIFE and his LIFE was BASEBALL. Thanks Phil for every thing.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Mark W — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:17:15 GMT

Outside of NY and the east coast, Rizzuto is thought of as an over-hyped SS...classic boo-ya journalism.
May not be reality but that is the sentiment.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Susan, Long Island, New York — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:21:42 GMT

I was a Yankee Brat. Lucky enough to hang out a Yankee stadium due to a relative who worked in the Yankee organization. I parked in the lot with all the players. Scooter was the first one out of the stadium after a game. He FLEW to the lot. I was amazed at how fast he could run, even in his later years. I met him quite a few times and he was always smiling! He will be missed BUT never forgotten!

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

bernie brady — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 22:33:53 GMT

The Scooter, in his day as a player, was under appreciated by most. There was always a "better"middle infielder, much as Derek Jeter is under appreciated today.In his prime nobody much stole bases and he did. Everybody had learned how to bunt and he was considered the BEST in the game. He was a great 8th place or second place hitter in your lineup, probably the best eighth place hitter when called on. He could hit a homerun everyonce in a while.

He was a gentleman and a gentle man. His hometown in northern New Jersey is replete with stories about Halloween autographed baseballs--NO CHARGE, by the way.

He spanned the Yankees greatest eras--The Joe McCarty Yankees, Bucky Harris and Casey Stengel.

He hung with Dimaggio, Berra, Mantle, Martin and Meatloaf. He died a legend in his own time as they did.

'Holy Cow!' -- what a treasure

Big Tom, Fort Laudedale, FL — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:19:08 GMT

I was not a Yankees fan but could not love "scooter". I lived in Waterford, CT as a kid and was able to raise WPIX even though it was 125 miles away. Loved the "Holy cow" and Phil chatting able he life in the minors.