Reaction to the passing of Phil Rizzuto

He was also an incredible prankster. He actually left me alone one time in the booth early in my career. With about three innings left in a game, he asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee. He got up in between innings to get the coffee and he never came back! I had never done play-by-play before, and there were about three innings left. The next day he shows up with a cup of coffee and he says, 'Here's your coffee.'
I never gained so much weight in my life, eating all those cannolis, salamis and cheeses we had each and every day. I never liked parmesan cheese until I met Scooter; now I love it. He introduced me to parmesan.
I wish I knew how many birthdays we celebrated on the air. I think we even did a couple of divorces in our time!
He was a character. He entertained people, he gave them baseball, he was a Hall of Fame player from New York. He was the total package. He was an institution, and I'm truly going to miss him not only as a former Yankee, but also as a very dear friend. I've known Cora for a very long time, and I send my condolences to her and to all of the Rizzuto family."
Bobby Murcer, former Yankee, current YES Network analyst and former Yankees broadcast partner of Phil Rizzuto
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"I grew up in the New York area and watched Phil Rizzuto play when I was a youngster. As I grew older, I was able to appreciate him more and more as a broadcaster. His enthusiasm and spontaneity were unmatched in broadcasting; he'd move from one subject to another very smoothly. His ability to connect with the fans was unparalleled."
Ken Singleton, former Major League player and current YES Network analyst
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"I guess heaven must have needed a shortstop. Phil Rizzuto's contributions to the Yankees and the sport of baseball were immense for a period of over 50 years. He was one of the greatest Yankees of all time and a dear, close friend of mine whose loss is enormous to me and to the entire Yankee family. He epitomized the Yankee spirit gritty and hard charging and he wore the pinstripes proudly.While Scooter may have been smaller in size than some, he was among the tallest in his stature as a Yankee. He was a favorite of fans both as a player and later as a broadcaster. His voice and "Holy Cow" will be part of baseball for as long as we play the game. No one deserved his place in the Hall of Fame more than Number 10.
Our condolences to his wife, Cora, and the rest of his family."
George Steinbrenner, Principal Owner, New York Yankees
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"This is a sad day for Carmen and me. Phil was a gem, one of the greatest people I ever knew a dear friend and great teammate. He was a heck of a player, too. When I first came up to the Yankees, he was like a big, actually small, brother to me. He has meant an awful lot to baseball and the Yankees and has left us with a lot of wonderful memories." Yogi Berra, Yankees legend and former teammate
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"Phil was a Hall-of-Famer both on and off the field, and when you were in his company, he made you feel like a family friend.
"Every time Scooter walked into my office, the first thing he'd say is, 'Where's Jeter? Where's Jeter?' A few minutes later I'd see the two of them giving big hugs to each other in the clubhouse. That's the type of person Phil was, you just couldn't figure out how such a big heart could fit inside such a small body."
Joe Torre, Yankees manager
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"When I joined the Yankees at age 19, Phil became my first roommate. The train left Spring Training that season to head north and he shared the seat next to me. Later in Phil's career, [manager] Casey Stengel would sometimes pinch-hit for him late in the game, and then I would enter the game at shortstop. Can you imagine, me playing defense for Phil Rizzuto!
"I learned so much about baseball and life from Phil. He was fun-loving off the field, and on the field he was the one person that kept the team together. He was deservedly recognized by the Hall of Fame, and it was an honor to be his teammate and friend."
Bobby Richardson, Rizzuto's teammate from 1955-56
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"Mr. Rizzuto serves as the ultimate reminder that physical stature has little bearing on the size of a person's heart. Nothing was ever given to Phil, and he used every ounce of his ability to become one of the greatest Yankees to ever wear this uniform."
Derek Jeter, Yankees shortstop and captain
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"Phil was one of the most jovial people you'd ever come across. We were teammates for a short time, but he made a lasting impression with everyone whose life intersected his. He and his wife, Cora, were a special couple, and my heart goes out to her and the rest of the Rizzuto family."
Don Larsen, Rizzuto's teammate from 1955-56
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"I am terribly saddened by the death of Phil Rizzuto. Phil was a unique figure who exemplified the joy of our game to millions of fans. He was an integral part of the New York Yankees throughout the 1940s and 1950s before bringing his distinctive personality and his infectious enthusiasm to the broadcast booth. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I express my deepest sympathy to his wife, Cora, his family and his legions of fans everywhere." Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig
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