Page 6 - Italian American Herald - October 2021

FROM THE COVER
they’d left off. DiMaggio and Rizzuto’s return from service coincided with the debut of Navy veteran Larry Berra. From 1947 to ’53 they won six championships that included putting down their Big Apple rivals in five “Subway Series.” On the losing side were the Giants’ Sal “The Barber” Maglie who drove batters off the plate with pitches close enough to give them a shave; pitcher Ralph Branca and outfielder Carl Furillo of the Dodgers, whose strong arm earned him the nickname
“Reading Rifle;” and their teammate Al Gionfriddo who robbed DiMaggio of a home run with what came to be known as “The Miracle Catch.”
In 1950 the Yankees took on the Phillies “Whiz Kids” who had knocked off the Dodgers on the final day of the season to win the pennant. Led by future Hall of Famers
Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn, along with Philly’s own Del Ennis, the untested youngsters gave the New Yorkers all they could handle, losing the first three tilts by
a single run before being swept in four. It wasn’t until 2009 that they met again. In
a Series that reflected baseball’s changing demographics there were no players on either team of Italian descent.
The second game at Shibe Park went into extra innings. DiMaggio sat in the dugout smoking (you read that right), sitting next
to a Philadelphia policeman whose beat included the ballpark. As he went up to hit, he handed his cigarette to the cop, telling him “Hold this for me, Frank, I’ll be right back.” Sure enough, on the second pitch from Phillies
ace Roberts the “Yankee Clipper” slammed the eventual game winning homer. Years later, after he passed away, someone cleaning out the desk of former mayor Frank Rizzo found that cigarette in a plastic bag.
Phil Rizzuto spent his entire baseball career (13 years) with the New York Yankees.
For the rest of the 1950s and into the ’60s Yogi Berra established himself as arguably
the most influential player in Series history, holding six records that may never be touched. Three are evidence of his impact – most Series and games played in, and most championships won. The kid from Dago Hill in St. Louis
was part of half of the Yankees 28 Series appearances from 1926-’64, the one constant, a transitional figure who kept the franchise on track after DiMaggio and Rizzuto retired.
Spanning those 38 years and five decades, the Yankees World Series lineup always
featured at least one Italian-American in a prominent role. Over the last 20 seasons fewer Italian surnames can be found in October box scores. Spiezio, Baldelli, Cingrani, Mussina, Descalso, Napoli and others had their moment in the spotlight, but none shone as brightly as those Yankees of the past. If they make it back this year their new sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo might face Giants’ pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, reviving a century old rivalry. Holy cow, wouldn’t that would be something! IAH
ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
OCTOBER 2021 | ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM 7
From left: Frank Crosetti, Joe DiMaggio and Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees.
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