Heaven Must Need a Shortstop

A message from Mike Shields (aks 4 for 4, aka Hitting for the cycle Shields):

This is a hair post dated (the frekin blog wouldn’t let me…um blog) but it’s never a bad time to commemorate. A melancholy happy trails to one of the finest shortstops in Yankee/baseball history, one of the finest/funniest commentators of ours or any generation, and a hell of a man.

I have never hid the fact that I listen to sports radio. The day Phil Rizzuto died one of my favorite talking heads from the windy apple challenged the listeners and guest to recite negative story about Phil.
Obviously it was impossible and the stories that were to follow were both funny and heartwarming.

Phil, at 5’6”, was told his whole life he wouldn't cut it in the game.
Steigal told him to grab his shinebox when he came to try outs for the Yankees. Howard Corsel told him with a face like Ed Burns and a voice like Groucho Marx he would never make it in broadcasting. Looking back at that seems ridiculous since Phil went on to play 13 seasons (winning 7
series…SEVEN) and spending 40 (FORTY) years in the booth. That’s 53 years spent with the game he so loved.

Phil was funny and child like in the booth. “For those keeping score at home that is a WW”…meaning, of course, he wasn’t watching. Phil was underrated as a player…a master of the bunt who would do whatever it took to win…leading the league in sacrifices year in and year out.

Phil was part of me falling in love with the game. I spent too many summers of my youth inside in front of the boob tube. (which was probably a good place to keep me since when I was unleashed upon the neighborhood it wasn’t pretty). During those days I was tuned into MSG watching the Yankees “dynasty” of the 80s and, more importantly, listening to Phil. These talking heads today can’t hold a candle to Phil.

During his final years Yogi Bera would visit the assisted living facility where Phil was and play Bingo with him three times a week. I have one word for that: boys. I can almost hear Phil say Holy Cow as B12 popped up, giving Phil yet another victory.

Phil will be missed. Like George said…”Heaven must need a shortstop”