June 7, 1993 – At his first major league tryout Phil Rizzuto was told to “go out and get a shoeshine box; that’s the only way you’re going to make a living.” The diminutive 5-foot-6, 150-pound shortstop known as “The Scooter” not only made a living in the big leagues, he was a five-time All-Star, a mainstay of the postwar Yankees dynasty that won nine pennants and seven World Series in his 13-year career, and is enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

By 1941, one year after he was the MVP of the Triple A American Association, the Brooklyn native was in the Yankees starting lineup, replacing longtime shortstop Frank Crosetti. He made the All-Star team the next year before his career was interrupted by three years of service in the Navy. After finishing second in the MVP vote in 1949, he was the runaway winner of the award in 1950 when he had career highs in several offensive categories, including hits, average, slugging average, on-base percentage, RBI, and runs. In addition to being an outstanding shortstop, Rizzuto was one of the most skillful bunters of his era and an excellent base runner.

When his playing career ended in 1956, Rizzuto began what would be a 40-year run as a Yankees broadcaster. He was no less successful in the booth than he had been on the field as his stream of consciousness style and trademark call of “Holy Cow” made him a fan favorite. By the time he retired in 1996, the man once dismissed as too small to make it in the big leagues had been with the Yankees for 53 years, longer than anyone in the history of the franchise. In 1994 Rizzuto was inducted into the Hall of Fame following his selection by the Veterans Committee.