Phil Rizzuto Trades His Glove for a Microphone

On December 18, 1956, former Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto signed on as a radio and television broadcaster for the team, beginning a second career that would last 40 years and make him as beloved in the booth as he had been on the field.

Rizzuto had been cut by the Yankees in August 1956 to make room on the roster for Enos Slaughter, a move that stung deeply. He had spent his entire 13-year playing career in pinstripes, won the 1950 AL MVP award, and appeared in nine World Series. The release felt abrupt and cold, though Rizzuto and the organization later reconciled.

The broadcasting opportunity came through an unexpected channel. In September 1956, Rizzuto filled in for Frankie Frisch, who had suffered a heart attack while hosting a Giants radio show. Rizzuto drew good reviews for his natural, conversational style. Ballantine Beer, the Yankees' sponsor, noticed and insisted the team hire him for the 1957 season.

What followed was four decades of "Holy Cow!" exclamations, birthday wishes to friends and relatives on air, rambling digressions about cannoli and bridge traffic, and an unmistakable voice that became the soundtrack of Yankee baseball for generations. Rizzuto was not a polished analyst. He was something better suited to the medium: an honest, enthusiastic fan who happened to have a microphone.

The Hall of Fame inducted Rizzuto as a player in 1994, 38 years after the day he became a broadcaster. By then, many fans knew his voice better than his batting average.