A Legend Scoots On By

Phil Rizzuto--Hall of Fame shortstop, former Yankees broadcaster, and previously the oldest living Hall of Famer--has passed away, leaving behind him a rich legacy, and, also, a hopefully lasting wisdom.

"Scooter" was not the prototypical baseball star. He did not hit for power, batted .273 in his career, and--excepting a 200-hit MVP campaign in 1950--never had more than 169 hits in a season. Some have wondered, in fact, whether Rizzuto was truly deserving of his induction in 1994. In fact, when BaseballEvolution.com decided to create its own Hall of Fame in 2006, they did not include Rizzuto.

However, Rizzuto belonged to that special class of people whose statistics could only begin to express their accomplishments. Perhaps you know of whom I speak.

Does it not strike you as more than slightly uncoincidental that in Rizzuto's thirteen years in the Majors, nine out of the thirteen years his teams went to the World Series? Or that seven of those teams won the Series? Or, perhaps, that ten out his thirteen teams ended up winning the pennant?

Fact was, "Scooter" Rizzuto was the invaluable sparkplug of his team. He was the team player who spent his at bats bunting and trying to get on base while everyone else was swinging for the fences. He stole bases. He walked more than he struck out. He was a spectacular defensive shortstop. He was a true fan favorite and clubhouse presence.

He was a true Hall-of-Famer, the one who would contribute while the statisticians weren't looking.

Yet this type of player--perhaps due to Sabermetrics--is swiftly becoming a dying breed. They may contribute, but they just might not have the stats. But I ask you this: if you had a choice, and you had to choose, which would you rather take, a team of Adam Dunn's or a team of Phil Rizzuto's? Think carefully...

But while this type of player is becoming a dying breed, it is not all extinct. It is true, I have spoken before about Wally Joyner having many of these same characteristics. But there is another, a player still active today.

Perhaps you've heard of him. He plays shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. You know, the 2006 World Series MVP.

Perhaps, with Rizzuto's death, we would take the opportunity to reflect on the type of player he was, to appreciate that player. It is not enough to recognize players such as Rizzuto, Joyner, and Eckstein as fan favorites; we must recognize the inherent value that comes from such players.

And what a value it is.

For more on Phil Rizzuto, see here, here, and here.