Sportsfrog.com

As a child growing up in the NYC area Phil Rizzuto was my introduction to baseball. I remember at age 7 being able to watch the first inning or two of each Yankee game before I had to go to bed. (Thanks Mom.) Rizzuto taught me about the game of baseball and the Yankees in particular.

Phil also taught me about a lot of other things too. Pretty much whatever he felt like babbling about. I distinctly remember one night as the game was being broadcast to Tampa (King George’s hometown and pre- Devil Ray era) and he kept going on about how delicious the Cuban food was at the Columbia Restaurant, located in Tampa. Bill White kept trying to redirect him back to the game on the field, but Phil wasn’t having any of that.

“White,” he said. “You just don’t understand how good this food is.”

And that sums up the Scooter to me. Whatever the subject, usually baseball, he passionately wanted us to understand. He never let facts get in the way of telling a wonderful story, but you could tell he absolutely loved the game of baseball. In some ways to me Phil was like a strange uncle who taught me about baseball. Phil not only were you one of a kind, but I know I will miss you.