NEW YORK–"The Scooter" has been honored. On Friday, Smokey Oval Park in Queens was officially named after Yankees Hall of Famer Phil Rizzuto—also known as "The Scooter." Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and State Assemblyman Rory Lancman announced the news on Friday at the park.
Assemblyman Lancman said, "Phil Rizzuto is a role model both as a baseball player and an American. He represents the values of our community. Renaming Smokey Oval Park in his honor is a fitting tribute to his legacy, and will serve as an inspiration for generations of new Americans in Richmond Hill."
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe agreed. "Phil Rizzuto is the quintessential local boy who made it big and Parks is honored to rename this park in his memory. Future generations of baseball stars will surely play at this park and follow in his footsteps."
Young baseball players will get to play in the area near where Rizzuto grew up. After spending his early years in nearby Glendale playing baseball in Richmond Hill, he became a nine-time World Series champion as a shortstop for the Yankees in the 1940's and 50's. According to the Yankees website, Rizzuto's accolades include being a 5-time All-Star, AL MVP in 1950, and having his No. 10 jersey retired by the Yankees on Phil Rizzuto Day in 1985.
Rizzuto stayed in sports, going into media and broadcasting following his stint in the Big Leagues. "The Scooter" died on August 13, 2007 after suffering from poor health in a nursing home in New Jersey.
What had been known as Smokey Oval Park in Queens gets its name from the smoke and ash that accumulated from trains that passed by and by an oval-shaped mound in the park.
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