His Eyes Don’t Lie, but They Just Stretch the Imagination

Phil Rizzuto, 70-year-old New York Yankee broadcaster, said he’s more of a fan than an announcer.

“I get in there and I root,” Rizzuto told Pete Dougherty of the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union. “I don’t do statistics or anything. That’s why I enjoy the game.

“I like radio better than television, because if you make a mistake on radio, they don’t know. You can make up anything on radio. On TV they can tell.”

The Sporting News once reported this exchange between Rizzuto and broadcast partner Bill White, now president of the National League:

Rizzuto: “Reggie’s home run has gone clear out of the stadium.”

White:”Actually, Scooter, that ball landed in the seats.”

Rizzuto: “It doesn’t matter. They can’t see it anyway at home.”

Add Rizzuto: Here’s another of his classic calls: “Two balls, two strikes, two runs in for the Yankees. (Crack of bat.) Jammed him. That went pretty far for a jam job. A home run. Oh! It went . . . holy cow! I don’t . . . it jammed him. A home run. I . . . the old eyes are gone! Holy cow! I’m going home. I’ve got to get my eyes examined.”

Trivia time: When Joe Frazier won the Olympic heavyweight title in 1964, he was a last-minute substitute for what fighter?

Today’s question: Here’s the quote and guess who said it: “I feel sorry for those who have to come back for one more shot. Eventually, they get their jaws rattled and they’re walking on their heels. They’re an embarrassment to their families, to themselves and to boxing.”

George Foreman said it in April, 1980.

10 years ago today: On July 24, 1979, Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox hit his 400th home run in a 7-3 victory over Mike Morgan and the Oakland Athletics.

Money talks: Ron Borges of the Boston Globe, on Don King’s threat to make Evander Holyfield wait for a shot at Mike Tyson because of his dislike for Lou and Dan Duva, Holyfield’s promoters: “King also said he’d never do business with Michael Spinks as long as Butch Lewis was involved. When the figures got to around $10 million, King remembered what a good guy Lewis really was and everybody smiled broadly before signing.”

Ouch: Said St. Louis Manager Whitey Herzog after his pitching staff held the Dodgers to eight runs in a four-game series: “Face it, everyone pitches well against the Dodgers. Those poor guys can’t hit.”

Oh, doctor: Steve Sax of the Yankees, after going five for five in a game, noticed a blue splotch on the bat. It turned out to be the reverse signature of Dr. Bobby Brown, the American League president, whose signature is on every ball.

Said Yankee Manager Dallas Green: “Well, it must be a doctored bat.”

Good thinking: Said Oakland pitcher Dave Stewart when asked why so few pitchers brush back Bo Jackson: “Even if a pitch hits Bo, it won’t hurt him. And I don’t think too many guys would want him getting mad at them.”

Trivia answer: Buster Mathis. The 293-pound Mathis, winner of the Olympic Trials, was forced out by a broken knuckle.

Quotebook: Former umpire Ron Luciano, asked the best putdown he ever heard from a fan, said it came from a woman in Comiskey Park who said, “Move around, you’re killing the grass.”