Date of BirthDate of DeathBirth NameNicknameHeightMini BiographyPhil Rizzuto was the NY Yankees star shortstop for 13 seasons between 1941 and 1956. A Hall of Famer, Rizzuto was the American League Most Valuable Player in 1950. After his playing career, Rizzuto was a popular long-time TV/radio announcer for the Yankees. He called the action for 40 seasons from 1957 to 1996, and was known for his "Holy Cow". Career peaked during the years with partners Bill White and Frank Messer. Non-Baseball fans remember him for his years as spokesperson for The Money Store.Spouse

Cora Esselborn

(24 June 1943 - 13 August 2007) (his death) 4 children

Trade MarkAs a broadcaster for the Yankees for 40 years, he would exclaim "Holy cow!" when describing a great play.TriviaLegally changed his name to "Philip Francis Rizzuto."Played 1661 regular season games with the New York Yankees, 1647 at shortstop, in 1941 and 1942, then from 1946 to 1956. Spent his entire playing career with the Yankees.The 1950 American League Most Valuable Player.Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.Five time All-Star.He was the first "mystery guest" on the premiere show of "What's My Line?" (1950).Probably the best bunter of his time.Provided the baseball play-by-play element of Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". He was not told of the sexual nature of the song before he recorded his portion.Rizzuto had long given his birth year as 1917, but he admitted to sportswriter Bill Madden - for the 2003 book "Pride of October" - that he had chopped a year off when signing with the Yankees, after other ballplayers told him it would give him an extra year at the end of his career. His true birth year was actually 1916.In the "Seinfeld" (1990) episode "The Pothole" George gets a key chain of Rizzuto's head. When it is squeezed it said, "Holy cow!".Made major league debut on 14 April 1941.On 23 October 1941, Joe DiMaggio asked Rizzuto to fill in for him at the last minute at a Newark, New Jersey testimonial because his wife had just given birth to their son. After the dinner, the Chief of the Fire Deptartment took Rizzuto home, where he met his future wife, Cora.