I had to pay for it, I swear I had to pay for the hat!
-Phil Rizzuto
On the latest episode of my podcast, Unplugged with Brandon Steiner, I spoke with former New York Yankees great, and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Phil Rizzuto. This was recorded in 2007, just a few months before his passing.
A 7x World Champion, 5x All-Star and the 1950 AL MVP, Phil Rizzuto will forever be one of the greatest people the game of baseball has ever seen. For a generation of Yankees fans, Phil's voice, and his catchphrase, "Holy cow," became synonymous with the Yankees as he transitioned from a career on the field to the broadcast booth.
It amazes me how much the game has changed over the years. One of my favorite stories from our talk is when Phil hit his first Major League home run. During his rookie year he lost his hat rounding the bases following a game-winning home run. The next morning he got a call from Ed Barrow, the General Manager, informing him he would have to pay $6.50 for the hat he lost! Hard to imagine that ever happening today!
In this episode we talk about...
- His thoughts on Derek Jeter, Yogi Berra Mickey Mantle and other Yankees greats.
- Winning the Rookie of the Year.
- Getting autographs and keeping jerseys .
- Thurman Munson's work ethic.
- His broadcasting career.
- The pressures of playing in New York.
- The night Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak ended.
- ...and more.
Click below or go to iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher to listen
