Rizzuto, Phillip F.
Baseball
b. Sept. 25, 1918, New York, NY
Nicknamed the "Scooter" for his speed and defensive range, the 5-foot-6, 160-pound Rizzuto was the American League's most valuable player in 1950, when he batted .324, scored 125 runs, had an even 200 hits, and led league shortstops in fielding percentage for the second year in a row. In the course of the season, Rizzuto handled 238 consecutive chances without an error, a major-league record at the time.
Rizzuto joined the Yankees in 1941, when he hit .307. After batting .284 the following season, he spent three years in military service, returning to baseball in 1946.
A five-time All-Star, Rizzuto was released by the Yankees on Old-Timers Day in 1956 and was immediately rehired as the team's radio broadcaster. In that position, he became known for his frequent exclamations of "Holy Cow!" and equally frequent forays into reminiscence and reverie. As a broadcaster, he invented a new scorecard abbreviation: "WW" for "Wasn't Watching." He retired after the 1996 season.