Phil Rizzuto Biography

Fast Facts

• in 1994, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame
• Made his major league debut in 1941 against the Washington Senators
• The New York Yankees signed him as an amateur free agent in 1937
• Quote: "I hustled and got on base and made the double play․ That's all the Yankees needed in those days, somebody who could get on base, make the double play and not make too many errors․ The other guys did all the work, all the RBIs and home runs․"
• A shortstop who played for the New York Yankees from 1941 to 1956, his entire MLB career
• Was an announcer for the Yankees for four decades after his playing career ended, and he became known for his "Holy Cow!" expression, as well as his tendency to digress into non-baseball-related topics
• Was an integral member of the successful New York Yankees team of the 1940s and 1950s
• His nickname in the MLB was "The Scooter․"
• Spent three years serving in the Navy after finding a place on the Yankees lineup in 1941
• When the television show "What's My Line" premiered in 1950, he was the first mystery guest