Phil "the Scooter" Rizzuto's rank among the best shortstops in major league history was a matter of great debate, particularly because Rizzuto, unlike his longtime crosstown rival, Pee Wee Reese, had not been elected to the Hall of Fame. On February 25, 1994, the debate might not have ended, but Phil Rizzuto finally made it to Cooperstown.

An excellent-fielding shortstop who had one sensational offensive year, Rizzuto pales next to Reese, particularly in offensive categories. In Most Valuable Player voting, Rizzuto finished in the top 10 only three times, but he ranked first, second, and sixth. Reese made the list eight times, but never placed higher than fifth.

Joe DiMaggio said that Rizzuto "holds the team together." Yankee pitcher Vic Raschi said, "My best pitch is anything the batter grounds, lines, or pops up in the direction of Rizzuto." The Sporting News had no doubt from 1949 through 1952--Rizzuto won its vote for top major league shortstop each year.

Defensively, Rizzuto led all AL shortstops in double plays three times. One year he and Joe Gordon set the AL record for double plays by a keystone combo. He also was the league leader in total chances per game three times, in fielding percentage and putouts twice, and in assists once. He played errorless ball for a record 21 consecutive World Series games.

The son of a trolley car conductor, Rizzuto was born and raised in New York. When he tried out for the Giants and Dodgers at age 16, he had not yet grown into his full 5-foot-6, 150-pound frame. Giants Manager Bill Terry sent him home; Dodger skipper Casey Stengel said, "Go get a shoe box."

But after Rizzuto was named Minor League Player of the Year for Kansas City in 1940, the Yanks brought him up. His timing was excellent; Frankie Crosetti had been New York's shortstop for 10 years, but age was catching up to him. Rizzuto was the Yankee starter for two years, hitting .307 and .284. After hitting only .111 in the 1941 World Series against the Dodgers, Rizzuto's bat came alive in the 1942 Fall Classic. He hit .381, with a homer, two runs, an RBI, and two stolen bases.

But World War II was underway, and he entered the military. When both he and Pee Wee Reese found themselves on the same Navy team, Manager Bill Dickey made Rizzuto the third baseman; Reese stayed at short.

In 1946 Rizzuto returned to the Yankees and received a nasty beaning from Nelson Potter of the Browns. For the rest of his career, Rizzuto suffered from dizzy spells. The Yankees easily won the 1947 pennant, and knocked off the Dodgers in seven games in the Series. Rizzuto batted .308 against Brooklyn, with three runs, two RBIs, and two stolen bases.

After a hot start in 1949, he was moved to leadoff from his customary eighth slot, hit .275, and finished second in league MVP voting. Although he hit only .167 in the World Series against Brooklyn, he played flawlessly at shortstop and scored a key run in Game 1. New York won the Series in five games.

In 1950 Rizzuto won the AL MVP Award as he batted a career-high .324 and finished second in the league with 200 hits. He walked 92 times and slugged .439, the only time he'd top the .400 mark. He was perfect in the field in the Yankees' World Series sweep of the Phillies.

The next season Rizzuto and Yogi Berra were the only Yankees unaffected by Stengel's platooning system. Rizzuto's average fell 50 points. But in a vital September game that year against the charging Red Sox, Rizzuto did what he did best. He pulled off a masterful squeeze bunt to break a 1-1 tie in the ninth and bring home Joe DiMaggio with the winning run.

By 1953 Rizzuto was slowing down. Andy Carey and Willie Miranda shared duties at short with Rizzuto for the Yankees that season. In addition, the sensitive Rizzuto was having more and more problems with Casey Stengel. Knowing that Rizzuto couldn't take criticism to his face, it had been Casey's habit to direct the remarks meant for Rizzuto at Gil McDougald. McDougald later commented, "It took me five or so years to realize what Casey was doing. I don't think Rizzuto ever did." By 1955 the 37-year-old Scooter was down to 79 games at short, playing behind Billy Hunter.

In Game 7 of that year's World Series a poor play by Rizzuto hurt the Yankee cause. With two out, Rizzuto on at second, and Billy Martin at first in the third inning of a scoreless game, McDougald rapped a slow chopper down the third base line. Dodger third sacker Don Hoak had no chance of a play at first base, so he let the ball go, hoping it would roll foul. It didn't. Instead, it hit Rizzuto as he was sliding into third. He was called out, the inning was over, and the Dodgers beat the Yankees in a World Series for the first time.

Rizzuto was released on Old Timer's Day in 1956. Yankee management called him into the front office and asked his advice on cutting a player. Rizzuto thought they were serious and offered some suggestions, but in fact they were letting him know the player to be cut was Rizzuto himself.

Kicked upstairs into the Yankee broadcast booth, Rizzuto's first accomplishment was to bring about a rapprochement between announcers Mel Allen and Red Barber. Both had been cool to each other for years, but both resented the appearance of the untrained former ballplayer. Outlasting both, Rizzuto became a hit with the fans. "Holy Cow!" became his trademark.

Rizzuto's greatest strength as an announcer was his ability to amuse. According to Curt Smith, "He was his own best subject matter, and veering from play-by-play to discourse on allergies, and lightning, plane trips, and crumb cakes, the Scooter seemed utterly right at home." Even Barber had to admit, "Phil had the quickest reflexes, next to Jackie Robinson, I ever saw. He has a sparkling charm when he wishes to turn it on, and no matter the jam he gets in, he gets out of it by assuming a childlike innocence he can call upon instantly."

For fifteen years the Baseball Writers Association had passed Rizzuto over. After the eleventh year of consideration by the Veterans Committee he was finally elected.