I know this will mean nothing to absolutely any of you, but you know I blog for me.

Today Phil Rizutto died. He was a great Yankee short stop for 13 years in the 40's and 50's, and a great Yankee broadcaster from the 60's through the 90's. He was a great man...not a big man, just a tiny man, but with a voice that every Yankee fan holds deep in his or her heart. Like Michael Kaye said tonight...Phil Rizutto was every fan's Uncle Phil.

When I was a kid listening to the games on the radio because no one would let me put them on the TV, it was his voice I heard. For many years, he was the NY Yankees to me. When I was a kid, my brother in law took me to see my Yankees. They were not his team, but he knew I loved baseball, so he took me. Seeing Yankee Stadium for the first time, is like a religious experience for a baseball fan. My brother in law said I could take two friends, but I had 4 friends who were just as big yankee fans as I was. So I chose two, and we wrote a note to Phil Rizutto, telling him our two other friends could not make it to the game becasue they were back home in Albany with the flu. It was a lie...but we knew that Phil liked to make personal shout outs on the TV and radio broadcasts. We hoped he would notice ours. that afternoon, my two friends heard their names announced during the game and a get well message from the Scooter. It's a memory we will always share.

Anyone who knows me knows that the only other obsession that can come close to Clay in my heart is my Yankees.

Phil Rizutto was an encyclopedia of Yankee tradition and knowledge. He was the kind of man I am afraid they just don't make anymore. So I wanted to pay respect to him in my little corner of the world. I will miss you Scooter, you made my childhood special and taught me so much about baseball.

Christine