Scooter: The Biography of Phil Rizzuto by Carlo DeVito - 2010

Chicago: Triumph, 2010. First edition. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. Hardcover. 368 mpp[. with index. Fine in near fine dust jacket with some minor falts at the extremities. Biography of one of the most famous and beloved New York Yankee, Phil Rizzuto. A native of Brooklyn, Rizzuto (1917-2007) wasdeemed too short (5'6") and small (160 pounds) to play major league baseball; both the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers rejected him (then-Dodgers manager Casey Stengel told him "go get yourself a shoeshine box") but the Yankees signed him in 1937. He was brought up to the big club in 1941 to replace Frank Crosetti at shortstop and, with three years lost to World War II sevice, remained their infield stalwart through 1956. He was on 8 American League pennant winning teams, 7 of which went on to win the World Series. After his retirement as an active player, the Yankees put him in the broadcast booth to team with Mel Allen (who is credited with giving him the "Scooter" nickname). He would remain as a fixture in the booth for the next 40 years; probably his most famous call was of Roger Maris's record seting 61st home mrun in 1961. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.