On This Day

Phil Rizzuto

baseball player

Born: Died: American

Philip Francis Rizzuto (September 25, 1917 – August 13, 2007), nicknamed "the Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career with the New York Yankees (1941–1956), and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.

A popular figure on a team dynasty that captured 10 AL titles and seven World Championships in his 13 seasons, Rizzuto holds numerous World Series records for shortstops. His best statistical season was 1950, when he was named the American League's Most Valuable Player. Generally, Rizzuto was a "small ball" player, noted for his strong defense in the infield and as a great bunter. When he retired, his 1,217 career double plays ranked second in major league history, trailing only Luke Appling's total of 1,424, and his .968 career fielding average trailed only Lou Boudreau's mark of .973 among AL shortstops.

After his playing career, Rizzuto had a 40-year career as a radio and television sports announcer for the Yankees. He was known for his idiosyncratic, conversational broadcast style, and for his trademark expression "holy cow!"

Notable For

American baseball player

Phil Rizzuto's Historical Timeline

  1. To make room for Enos Slaughter, the NY Yankees release Phil Rizzuto

    Philip Francis Rizzuto (September 25, 1917 – August 13, 2007), nicknamed "the Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop.

  2. Phil Rizzuto signs as NY Yankees radio-TV announcer

    Philip Francis Rizzuto (September 25, 1917 – August 13, 2007), nicknamed "the Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop.

  3. Phil Rizzuto dies

    Phil Rizzuto, American baseball player, known for american baseball player, died on 2007-08-13.

Associated Historical Events

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Phil Rizzuto born?
Phil Rizzuto was born on 1917-08-13 (American).
What is Phil Rizzuto known for?
American baseball player
What historical events involved Phil Rizzuto?
Phil Rizzuto was involved in 3 recorded historical events, including To make room for Enos Slaughter, the NY Yankees release Phil Rizzuto, Phil Rizzuto signs as NY Yankees radio-TV announcer, Phil Rizzuto dies.
When did Phil Rizzuto die?
Phil Rizzuto died on 2007-01-01.

Related Years