New York Yankees great Phil Rizzuto, The Scooter, died one week ago at age 89. Rizzuto was one of the great characters of the game. He was a colorful and unique announcer for the Yankees. He was part of seven World Series champions, and was even a war hero.
However, he should not be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Rizzuto’s career numbers over 13 seasons (he missed three years serving in World War II) were 1,588 hits, 38 home runs, 563 runs batted in, and a .273 batting average.
His best season was 1950, when he won his only AL MVP award with 200 hits, 66 RBI and a .324 average. He was a five-time All-Star.
Rizzuto was known as an outstanding defensive shortstop, with a .968 fielding percentage.
Rizzuto was lauded for doing all the little things: a great bunter who also was a smart base runner.
Just about every good team in history has a player who is “vital to the team” such as Rizzuto. The difference is, Rizzuto was on great Yankees teams from 1941-56.
The Veterans Committee inducted Rizzuto into the Hall in 1994, spearheaded by his good friends Yogi Berra and Ted Williams, who were on the Committee.
Curiously, few in the media accused the Committee of cronyism when Rizzuto was inducted. But that’s exactly why he got in.
In 2001, when Pittsburgh Pirates great second baseman Bill Mazeroski was inducted by the Veterans Committee, the cronyism accusations began, and the VC was changed.
Did the sudden outrage come about because Mazeroski didn’t play in New York and was not well-known? Or worse, was it because he beat the Yankees with his home run in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series?
Mazeroski played 17 seasons, had 2,016 hits, 136 homers, 853 RBI, and a .260 avg.
Mazeroski was not inducted for his offensive numbers. He was considered perhaps the finest defensive second baseman in history. He had a .986 fielding percentage, was a 10-time All-Star, won eight Gold Gloves, and still holds records for second basemen in double plays turned in a season (161) and career (1,706).
Mazeroski’s numbers can be compared to Ozzie Smith’s (2,460 hits, 28 HRs, 793 RBI, .262 avg.), a first-ballot Hall of Famer who also was inducted for defense. Smith, considered perhaps the greatest fielding shortstop, was a lock for the Hall because his great glove was showcased on ESPN for virtually his entire career.
You could argue Mazeroski shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame, if you prefer not to recognize defense. If that’s the case, then you also should be against The Wizard of Oz’s induction.
Media critics look solely at Mazeroski’s offensive numbers as justification for why he should not be in the Hall. Yet, New Yorkers point to Rizzuto’s defense as a key reason he should be in.
If Rizzuto hadn’t played in New York, few would have ever heard of him. The Yankees probably still would have won all those trophies, and he most certainly would not have made the Hall of Fame.
If Mazeroski had played in New York, all of his accomplishments would have been over-hyped, and it’s likely he never would have needed the Veterans Committee to get into the Hall of Fame.
Role players everywhere who can bunt, run the bases, play good defense, and just do all the little things should be encouraged by Rizzuto’s induction into the Hall of Fame. By that standard, they all should have a shot at enshrinement.
sean.heilman@timesnews.com