"CASEY & THE SCOOTER"

1950 American League Most Valuable Player

Served in the United States Navy during World War II

(1917-2007) Born in Brooklyn, New York, and died in West Orange, New Jersey. His father was born in Calabria, Italy, the same town as my Grandfather Michael Rosa. His 13 year MLB career was all played with the New York Yankees, (1941-56).

During his playing days, Rizzuto and the Yankees, won 10 American League Pennants, and 7 World Series Championships. The diminutive shortstop stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighed 150 pounds. Known as a very strong defensive player, a great bunter, and a clutch hitter. Rizzuto had 1,217 career double plays and at the time of his retirement he ranked 2nd place all time in MLB history to Luke Appling. His .968 career fielding average also ranked him 2nd all time at the time of his retirement to Lou Boudreau.

Career Statistics: .273 batting average, 38 home runs, 563 runs batted in, and he represented the American League in 5 All Star games. Nicknamed "The Scooter," this name is attributed to him because of the way he ran the bases. Voted the American League's MVP in 1950, he became the only MVP in history who led the league in sacrifice bunts. Rizzuto had ended the 1949 season as MVP runner up to Ted Williams. He won the Hickok Belt, which is awarded to the top professional athlete of the year, and was named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News. He was also voted the top major league shortstop by The Sporting News four consecutive years (1949–52). Rizzuto batted .320 in the 1951 World Series, won by the Yankees against the New York Giants, for which the New York chapter of the BBWAA voted him the Babe Ruth Award as the Series' top player. Phil Rizzuto had his uniform #10, retired by the Yankees, and a plaque was dedicated to him in Monument Park, Yankee Stadium, on August 4, 1985. Elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1994.

Like many players of the era, he found his career interrupted by a stint in the military, serving in the United States Navy during World War II. From 1943 through 1945, he played on a Navy baseball team alongside Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese; and the team was managed by Yankees great, MLB HOF catcher, Bill Dickey.

After his retirement from playing he went on to be a Yankees radio and television announcer for 40 years! One of his trademark expressions was "Holy Cow," a phrase that was also used by the legendary voice of the Chicago Cubs, Harry Caray. One of Rizzuto's most historic calls was Roger Maris's 61st home run, in the last game of the regular season, on October 1, 1961, off of Boston Red Sox pitcher, Tracy Stallard, breaking Babe Ruth's single season record of 60.

8 x 10, color photograph of Yankee icons, manager Casey Stengel, and shortstop Phil Rizzuto, taken in the Yankees dugout with the pair wearing their famous Yankees pinstripes. Boldly signed in a blue sharpie pen, "Phil Rizzuto." This exact photo was signed for a good friend of mine, in Phil Rizzuto's New Jersey home. I acquired it directly from my friend, and it has been in my personal collection ever since. It will come with a 3 1/2 x 5 color photo of my friend Joe and Phil standing side by side in front of his mantle showing Rizzuto's 1950 American League Most Valuable Player trophy, a framed color photo of Rizzuto in a fielding pose in his home New York Yankees uniform, and a silver award plate. Choice condition.