HOLY COW!!! Rizzuto Selling His Memorabilia [Archive]

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DODGER DEB

02-03-2006, 06:13 AM

The NY Daily News is reporting that PHIL RIZZUTO is putting most of his memorabilia on the auction block......

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NY_RIZZUTO_MEMORABILIA_BAOL-?SITE=NYNYD&SECTION=MIDEAST&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

c.

Mattingly

02-03-2006, 09:03 AM

Thanks, Deb! I'd heard about it yesterday, but had a few other things to do yesterday.

Great job! :) :D

DODGER DEB

02-03-2006, 09:18 AM

Thanks, Deb! I'd heard about it yesterday, but had a few other things to do yesterday.

Great job! :) :D

No problem, Matt!

Every know and then, I get the urge to please a nice pinstriper fan! ;)

c.

Mattingly

02-03-2006, 03:13 PM

No problem, Matt!

Every know and then, I get the urge to please a nice pinstriper fan! ;)

c.
... and every now and then (like right now), I get the urge to tell a *VERY* loyal BROOKLYNITE that she's done GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT! (like Tony the Tiger) :D

Let's hear it for Scooter and his cannolis! :gt :D :p

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/02/03/sports/baseball/03rizzuto.184.jpg
G. Paul Burnett/The New York
Times
Phil Rizzuto: still adored at 88.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/02/03/sports/baseball/03rizzutoB.184.jpg
Photographs by G. Paul Burnett/
The New York Times
Among the items Phil Rizzuto
will put on sale is a 1940's
Yankees cap with a wad of
chewed gum on top.

Rizzuto Keeps Memories, but Will Sell the Keepsakes (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/03/sports/baseball/03rizzuto.html)
The gent with the camel's hair blazer, snappy scarf and thinning silver hair walked gingerly to the microphone. For 40 years after the pixieish shortstop's retirement from playing, he had an affectionate relationship with microphones built on his calls of balls, strikes, birthdays and cannoli.

That is past. Phil Rizzuto is not the public man he once was, not at Yankee Stadium, not in a car racing over the George Washington Bridge in the seventh inning to beat the post-game traffic.

He is 88 years old, a bit frail, still eating cannoli, still playing a little golf.

Rizzuto is the oldest living baseball Hall of Famer, and, with Yogi Berra, the recipient of the generous fan adoration once reserved for Joe DiMaggio that is displayed annually at the Yankees' Old-Timers' Day.

"Holy cow!" Rizzuto said into the microphone, in the rear of Mickey Mantle's Manhattan restaurant, where television screens played images of the Scooter as a younger man. "They told me I didn't have to say a word."

CuriousBoston

02-03-2006, 06:30 PM

DODGER DEB

02-03-2006, 07:22 PM

Doesn't the Hall of Fame, or his team, buy, and preserve the items? Is he selling everything? For a charity? Does he need the money for himself or his family?

Apologies, I have not read the links; my computer is acting cranky.

Does the HOF have a fund for such things? Hmm. Is there a retirement home for baseball players the way there is for actors (SAG Union)?

CB, I saw the interview with Phil on our local TV station the other day, and he said that he and his wife are selling their home to move to a much smaller one, and that is why he is selling almost everything.

When players put these items up for auction they get to keep the money that they bring in, less expenses and commissions. I've known several of OUR BROOKLYN players that have done the same thing over the past several years. Anyone who is interested in them can bid on them, including the HOF or the Yankees. Many players of this era could use the money, though few of them will admit it. Most times they are selling their items because they want to leave the $$$$ to their children and grandchildren.

To answer your last question...I have never heard of a "retirement" home for baseball players. Sadly, there are some that are in desperate need of just such a place.

Hope this helps some...

c.

KCGHOST

02-03-2006, 09:22 PM

Rizzuto is putting up some nice items. Wish him well.

Mattingly

02-04-2006, 08:52 PM

*VERY* quality last post, Deb! Then again, wouldn't be the first time for you (far from it). :D

As much as it saddens me to say, the beloved Scooter, at 88 years old, may not have an infinite amount of further years to grace us with his good will here. I do hope that the day doesn't come anytime soon, however. :)

DODGER DEB

02-05-2006, 05:57 AM

johnny

02-05-2006, 01:41 PM

I wonder if one buyer will come in and get it all as one collection or will it be parceled out.
Either way, the final haul should be substantial.
While I hate to see the player have to sell them I am guessing based on his post playing career that Phil is not selling these out of need. Would be nice if the HOF or other suitable museum had gotten them on loan or some such deal. But, they are clearly Phil's to do with as he wishes and I hope he makes a ton on the deal.

Mattingly

02-05-2006, 05:59 PM

Thanks, Matt.

I also agree with your sentiments about Scooter!

c.
Thanks. :)

Yankee legends are hard to find these days. Scooter, Yogi and Whitey. That's it amongst those who are both alive and in the Hall. They form the trioka of greats every Old Timer's Day.

I'm still wondering why Rizzuto, like JoeD in his later years, never wore the Yankee uniform then, instead opting for suits.

You should've seen him talk about how beautiful his wife Cora was in his Cooperstown speech. He went on and on, and it was deliriously funny with his quips. It was like a whole day on the radio station again. :D :laugh

sandlot

02-06-2006, 01:53 AM

Anybody know the story behind his nickname? A lot of nicknames don't stick, but that one did.

BoSox Rule

02-06-2006, 05:04 PM

He's keeping plenty of stuff, including his 1950 AL MVP trophy.

Mattingly

02-06-2006, 09:20 PM

Anybody know the story behind his nickname? A lot of nicknames don't stick, but that one did.
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/images/rizzuto_phil_2.jpg

Seventh Inning Stretch with Phil Rizzuto
An Interview with "Scooter" (http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/whats_new/events/Q_and_A/transcripts/rizzuto_phil_2000.htm)
Q: How did you get the nickname "Scooter?"

A: Well, that's an interesting question. I guess it was when I was down south. You know southerners have a very quaint unusual way of saying things. Well, Billy Hitchcock was on the team with me down in spring training. You know my legs are short (I'm short all over but my legs are very short) and when he saw me run, he said: "Man, your not running, your scootin'." And from scootin' I got "Scooter." I've been called a lot worse names than that.

sandlot

02-06-2006, 10:19 PM

Many thanks for that explanation.

Mattingly

02-07-2006, 11:18 AM

Many thanks for that explanation.
You can use it for trivia on your buddies. Just print out the Cooperstown link I'd given and nobody will doubt you.

Now I'll have to figure out how Whitey Ford got his nickname. His hair wasn't white back then.

I'm also not sure if Yogi Bear, the cartoon character arrived before Yogi Berra.

DODGER DEB

02-07-2006, 01:57 PM

You can use it for trivia on your buddies. Just print out the Cooperstown link I'd given and nobody will doubt you.

Now I'll have to figure out how Whitey Ford got his nickname. His hair wasn't white back then.

I'm also not sure if Yogi Bear, the cartoon character arrived before Yogi Berra.

While I am not 100% positive about this, Matt, I do believe he did get the nickname "Whitey" because of his hair. When he was young (in the 1950's) his hair was a real pale blonde, almost white...a platinum blonde!

c.

Mattingly

02-08-2006, 09:45 AM

While I am not 100% positive about this, Matt, I do believe he did get the nickname "Whitey" because of his hair. When he was young (in the 1950's) his hair was a real pale blonde, almost white...a platinum blonde!

c.
Thanks. Just for that, I'll check around and see what I come up with. :)

Your word is certainly good enough for me, but lemme see what other thoughts are out there. :)