Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-17
WIN, LOSE OR
UKAW By FRANCIS srAAA
Down Memory Lane

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, Phil Rizzuto recalling, he
riding the Yankees train from New York to Washing
ton for opening day and Joe Mccarthy the manager called
him aside
You're playing tomorrow" Mccarthy told the pint
sized, 22-year-o old rookie.
That in 1941 and in all the years that followed
except for the three he served in the Navy it always
Rizzuto at Shortstop opening day.
Now the Yankees had just arrived from New York for
another opener in Griffith Stadium and this time the
trip down. Rzzuto had heard what veteran breads
This is one season he won't start. Jerry Lumpe will
Hes good looking kid" Phil conceded gracouSy
"He makes all the plays if he doesn't throw bullets
he gets the Pretty sharp hitter
type but lne-drve hitter who is always getting
piece of the ball"
IT WAS ONLY 7 O'CLOCK in the evening" an hour
after the Yankees checked into the Shoreham but Phil
now in his 38th already in paamas He eating
dinner in his overlooking the bright lights of Connec
ticut
Il that first day." Rizzuto reminSced
1T great thrill"
When Mccarthy fingered little Phil in Al it was the
beginning of the end for frankie Crosett Yankee
coach. Frank real it," Rzzuo remembered
Il didn't know much about the Washington players and he
ran em down for telling just how to play for each
one He did it all season."
Then it must have been pretty easy for you" visitor
remarked.
"once the started yes" Phil qualified During
spring training In those days the veterans hardly would
let rookie step into the batting cage Today they practice
equally The bonus boys move right in from the first day.
RIzZUTO HAD COME UP from Kansas City after the
1910 In his last year the American Association
Scooter had batted BAT Lumpe % years DID, up from
Birmingham, where he batted 301 last season.
Have you been helping Lumpe?" the other asked.
Sure, all spring., Phil said 81 hit grounders to
him because they said he was playing em off to the SIDE
But Billy Cox eded that way think the toughest to
handle those in front of you"
Phil gazed out of window, admiring the view. "Gee
that great ball club he unused. ut real easy to
play for. Dickey behind the plate DiMaggo, Keller,
Heinrich and Selkirk in the outfeld Rofe and Gordon
in the ineld Rufing, Gomez, Chandler Russo Bonham
Donald and Murphy pitching :"
Once that Rizzuto benched for two weeks
Crosett taking But when Phil put back in the
lineup nobody ever beat him out until now.
NONE OF THE ATHLETES involved in todays hoedown
around when Phil broke in Many of them playing
marbles. Phil grinned wryly when he said
When came up" he went on there awful
lot of good shortsops Cronin of the Red Sox Appng
of the White sox Boudreau of the Indians Travis of
the Senator'S Geo. it doesn't like it long ago."
Although critics unanimously call Rizzuto the greatest
of all Yankee shortstops the little the first
admit he ucky-lucky to be Yankee AS he talked,
the years rolled away and it was 1887 again
THE Dodgers were having tryout for kids" he said.
Il got one lick at bat Some big pitching His first
throw hit me Squarey in the back Then of the Dodger
coaches said
Better get out of there kid. You're little too small
and might get hurt"
HIS LACK OF SIZE was a cross young Rizzuto had to
carry When he tried out with the Giants it the
story but the cruelest blow came from the Cardinals
"A ST. Louis scout me in high school game" Phil
related Il had real good day. Got four hits and even
threw out runner from sitting position after slipped in
a muddy inied. had good arm In those days.
The scout came to see me but all he said was
You've got ability, kid but I'm afraid you're too
small Gee, that used to burn up"
Had Phil not been away from home day playing
football with other school kids he might up with
the Red Sox Boston scout visited Ph parents and told
them he would pay $3.50 II the tyke would sign But then
the Yankees invited him to try out for week and the
is history
Funny how things work out" Phil said IF I'd made
good with the Dodgers then Peewee Reese and would
have come up the year. II I'd signed with the Red
Sox I'd have run into Johnny Pesky."
You struck 1t rch' the other said Mine World Series
In IL seasons and probably another coming up"
Luck, Phil murmured pure luck. When think of Ted
Lyons and Luke Appling in Series Ted williams
in only one all those others :"
lie may not be>n todays lineup but then Phil didn't
play for almost two months last year. 1t wasn't until
September when the Yankees had to wn that he played
every day And in the World Series you know who started
every gamer Why, match.
! 4