1951 Back-O'-The-Card: Phil Rizzuto

"Phil is one of the small men of baseball but one of the fastest. An able bunter, he can beat out many a bunt for a base hit.

He has played in three minor leagues, batting as high as .347. He averaged .307 with the Yankees in 1941. Last year, he batted .273.

His time out for war was three years in the United States Navy. Phil has played in three World Series."

-1948 Bowman No. 8

"Phil is one of the small men of baseball but one of the fastest. An able bunter, he can beat out many a bunt for a base hit.

He has played in three minor leagues, batting as high as .347. He averaged .307 with the Yankees in 1941. Last year, he batted .252.

Phil was in the Navy for three years. He has appeared in three World Series.

He is a crackerjack fielder."

-1949 Bowman No. 98

"Phil was the second best shortstop in the American League in 1948 with a .973 fielding mark- good for a tie with Eddie Joost of Philadelphia and only two points behind Lou Boudreau of Cleveland. He participated in 115 double plays- also second in the league.

He finished last season with a .252 average but scored 65 runs."

-1949 Leaf No. 11

"One of the smallest men in baseball- and one of the most popular. Phil had a big share in the Yankees' 1949 championship drive. He hit .275 in 153 games, socked 22 doubles and led the league in sacrifice hits with 25.

Phil entered organized baseball in 1937 and hit the Yankees in 1941. He spent three years in military service."

-1950 Bowman No. 11

"Little Phil was named the Most Valuable Player in the American League in 1950. This was his best among several very good seasons with the Yankees.
Phil led the league in fielding at short. He batted .324, was second highest in total hits (200), and his 19 sacrifice hits were tops in that department. He scored 125 runs and scored 66.
Phil joined the Yankees from their farm system in 1941. He spent three years in the service."

-1951 Bowman, No. 26  (Bowman Gum, Inc.)