As a lifelong New York Yankee fan, I would be remiss not to note that this a a particularly sad day in the team\’s history.
On this date in 1995, the great hall of famer, Mickey Mantle, passed away. And on this date in 2007 we lost the great hall of famer, Phil Rizzuto.
Mickey Mantle was one of the greatest legends in Yankee history – and this is a team with no shortage of legends. His swing was physical poetry – his body uncoiled like a tight spring that suddenly snapped. I would rather have seen Mickey Mantle strike out than see most players hit a grand slam home run (the only other player I ever said that about was the also-legendary Reggie Jackson).
Phil Rizzuto hung up his cleats in 1956, when I was 10 years old, so what little I saw of him as a player was at the end of his career, and at a time when I wouldn\’t have fully appreciated his talents anyway. But his greatness as slick fielding shortstop was universally recognized. I knew him more as the Yankees\’ long-time TV and radio announcer – as quirky and colorful a figure in the broadcast booth as there ever was.
Not much else to say about this – only that it should have been mentioned.
Now, back to politics, where, if they ever build a hall of fame, it probably will be a very empty hall.
