View Full Version : Scooter
I'm sure all us oldtimers are aware of Phil Rizzuto's passing. I personally hate to see big pieces of my childhood (long past, admittedly) reaching this stage.
What a magnificent athlete! Only 5'6" tall, probably weighed less than 150 after his biggest meals, yet he held his own on the greatest teams in history during his era.
Any other thoughts from anyone?
Dave Visbeck
08-14-07, 10:37 PM
I'm sure all us oldtimers are aware of Phil Rizzuto's passing. I personally hate to see big pieces of my childhood (long past, admittedly) reaching this stage.
What a magnificent athlete! Only 5'6" tall, probably weighed less than 150 after his biggest meals, yet he held his own on the greatest teams in history during his era.
Any other thoughts from anyone?
This one about a season you'll remember ...
"He hits one deep to right-center! That ball is out of here! The Yankees win the pennant! Holy cow, Chris Chambliss on one swing! And the Yankees win the pennant. Unbelievable, what a finish! As dramatic a finish as you'd ever want to see! And this field will never be the same, but the Yankees have won it in the bottom of the 9th, seven to six!"
Dave Visbeck
08-14-07, 10:40 PM
http://smileyworld.com/dictionary/images/smileys/Sports/Baseball.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:showVote(635);) The guy always had a smile or a good word to say.
Jersey Yankee
08-20-07, 08:27 AM
What I'm still trying to figure out is why exactly the Yanks (was George in charge of this?) insistent that he broadcast the game during Mantle's funeral? It was something like they'd wanted him to represent his ex-teammates during the broadcast, when he'd wanted to be there for his ex-teammate at the services.
That was in 1995 and he'd broadcast for WPIX until 1996. Whatever happeend to Bill White? Did he continue broadcasting, and when did the whole team break up?
penguin4
08-20-07, 09:37 AM
What I'm still trying to figure out is why exactly the Yanks (was George in charge of this?) insistent that he broadcast the game during Mantle's funeral? It was something like they'd wanted him to represent his ex-teammates during the broadcast, when he'd wanted to be there for his ex-teammate at the services.
I got the impression the choice to broadcast that day wasn't as clear-cut as him asking the Yankees for the day off and they saying no and that was the end of it. I didn't see the game, but I do know that -- who was it, Murcer? -- the third guy on the team was already taking the game off to go to the funeral, so if Rizzuto left there'd only be one guy in the booth and no one to do color commentary. He probably could've gotten the day off had he been adamant about it, but I have a feeling it was more of an afterthought to him to skip the game and go, that he didn't realize what a big deal it was that he wasn't there until he actually started broadcasting, which would explain why his "retirement" speech was about "always taking the easy way out" and whatnot.
Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone...
Somewhere in my trivia (which I'm not going to take the time to locate now) I have a picture of the pallbearers at Mantle's fumeral. I remember Hank Bauer (now also deceased) and Yogi (thankfully still with us) were pallbearers, and I believe Murcer and Bill Skowron were as well, but don't recall for sure other than Hank and Yogi.
fredgmuggs
08-20-07, 05:49 PM
I got the impression the choice to broadcast that day wasn't as clear-cut as him asking the Yankees for the day off and they saying no and that was the end of it. I didn't see the game, but I do know that -- who was it, Murcer? -- the third guy on the team was already taking the game off to go to the funeral, so if Rizzuto left there'd only be one guy in the booth and no one to do color commentary. He probably could've gotten the day off had he been adamant about it, but I have a feeling it was more of an afterthought to him to skip the game and go, that he didn't realize what a big deal it was that he wasn't there until he actually started broadcasting, which would explain why his "retirement" speech was about "always taking the easy way out" and whatnot.
Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone... I don't recall the details exactly but I remember Murcer was asked not to attend the funeral as well and he told the executives to take a flying leap and do what they will with him because he was attending his friend's funeral. I think the fact that Murcer stood up to them and went while Scooter did not always bothered Phil.... much to his remorse.
penguin4
08-20-07, 08:36 PM
Somewhere in my trivia (which I'm not going to take the time to locate now) I have a picture of the pallbearers at Mantle's fumeral. I remember Hank Bauer (now also deceased) and Yogi (thankfully still with us) were pallbearers, and I believe Murcer and Bill Skowron were as well, but don't recall for sure other than Hank and Yogi.Bobby Richardson gave the eulogy, if I recall (since he's a minister now). And I'm pretty sure Kubek was there, but I could be wrong.
Bobby Richardson gave the eulogy, if I recall (since he's a minister now). And I'm pretty sure Kubek was there, but I could be wrong.
I think I recall that also, Bobby giving the eulogy. I'm thinking that Whitey Ford was also a pallbearer, but don't remember clearly. Guess I'll have to locate that picture now that my memory juices are flowing.
Jersey Yankee
08-22-07, 03:17 PM
Bobby Richardson gave the eulogy, if I recall (since he's a minister now). And I'm pretty sure Kubek was there, but I could be wrong.
You mean in Scooter's funeral, not Mantle's, right? I think Bob Costas gave Mick's eulogy.
penguin4
08-22-07, 03:30 PM
You mean in Scooter's funeral, not Mantle's, right? I think Bob Costas gave Mick's eulogy.No, I mean Mick's. I'm fairly certain it was Richardson. I was on vacation in Canada with my family at the time and my dad pointed it out on the news, because I didn't have much baseball knowledge (or memory) to go by at the time.
Perhaps Costas was Joe D's?
Toaderly
08-22-07, 07:59 PM
No, I mean Mick's. I'm fairly certain it was Richardson. I was on vacation in Canada with my family at the time and my dad pointed it out on the news, because I didn't have much baseball knowledge (or memory) to go by at the time.
Perhaps Costas was Joe D's?
I believe Costas and Richardson both gave eulogy's at Mickey's funeral.
Come to think of it, I recall reading the text of Costa's eulogy at Mantle's funeral. I know Bobby R. visited Mantle shortly before his death, possibly there was a joint eulogy.
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