.::DICEMBRE 2007::.

HOLY COW! Some of us are fortunate enough to meet amazing people throughout the course of our lives, but when a person enters your life and becomes a friend that changes it for the better, that person is more than amazing. That person becomes unforgettable in every sense of the word. Along with my colleague, Dominic Campanile, I recently had the pleasure of sitting with sports writer Ed Lucas, whose life was changed at the age of twelve by famed Yankee baseball player, and Italian American, Phil Rizzuto. As a child, Ed Lucas had poor eyesight, but that did not prevent him from enjoying and loving the game of baseball. Lucas grew up a New York Giants baseball fan. As a Giants fan, you could imagine he was right there on October 3, 1951 listening to every pitch being thrown in the decisive pennant game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the last inning of play, Bobby Thompson of the Giants hit what would be famously called “The Shot Heard Around the World.” Thompson hit a home run into the left field seats to win the pennant for the Giants. The Giants, Lucas’ favorite team, were going to the World Series… and Ed was going out to celebrate with his friends. On the very same day, while playing a ball with his childhood friends, he was struck in the head with the baseball and lost his vision completely. Shortly after losing his eyesight, Ed met the man who changed his life and encouraged him to live a life of success and happiness. That man, of course, was Phil Rizzuto. Mr. Lucas met the New York Yankees star in New Jersey, at a time when ball players had to work during the off-season because their wages from playing baseball did not meet their needs for living. Ed’s mother took him to the men’s clothing store where Phil Rizzuto and other Yankee players worked to make extra money. It just so happened that Phil Rizzuto took a liking to this young boy with no eyesight, who loved the game, and that is where their friendship began. From then on, Phil invited Ed to many games at Yankee Stadium and their friendship continuously grew stronger. Phil always encouraged Ed to work hard even though he had difficulty due to his loss of sight. Ed eventually began attending St. Joseph’s School for the Blind and succeeded in everything that he wanted to do.

When asked: “How did Phil Rizzuto impact your life?” Mr. Lucas simply said that Phil encouraged him in every aspect of his life. That encouragement is what made it possible for Ed to graduate from Seton Hall University, become a sports writer, raise funds for St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in New Jersey and become an inspirational speaker. To Ed, Rizzuto was like a second father and was a major part of his life for 56 years. The generosity that Phil expressed during his life is what amazed Ed, along with the fond memories of spending time with Phil and other Yankee players as a young boy. What also astonished Ed is that Phil never wanted recognition; he was a simple man who enjoyed the simple things in life. Family was very important to him as well as his religion. He always did everything he could to bring attention to the valuable things in life. He was an athlete that used his fame for any good he could do. Being a generous person and one who never denied anyone for an autograph or for a short hello was only a small part of who Phil Rizzuto was. We asked Ed, “What was your most fond memory of Phil?” and he began telling us a heart touching story. Back when Ed was young and attending St. Joseph’s, the institution would often take trips around the country by airplane. Being young and blind, Lucas was iffy on the thought of getting on an airplane. Ed told Phil about the trip and without hesitation, Phil told Ed it would be no problem and he would accompany him on the flight. It wasn’t until many years later that Ed Lucas found out that Rizzuto was absolutely frightened by the thought of airplanes. The point being that Phil went completely out of his way; stopped his eventful, hectic life, and did what frightened him most to support someone else in their time of need. Phil Rizzuto is the definition of class. As a baseball player and a sports broadcaster, his love for the game was evident. Phil Rizzuto, better known as “Scooter” to his baseball fans, thoroughly loved the game of baseball and loved the New York Yankees. From the time that he played for them, through the time that he broadcasted for them, the Yankees were his second family. From his famous line of “Holy Cow” to the various stories he would tell his fans during a game, he was one of the most down to earth athletes of his time.

As a ball player, and an Italian-American, he was proud of his heritage and his upbringing. Phil would always spoke highly of the Italian-Americans and made it a point to educate his fans and fellow ball players about Italians and our culture. He was always very humble and giving. Mr. Lucas described Scooter as the most generous person he had ever met. Rizzuto always gave of himself and did all that he could for people, without ever wanting or desiring recognition for any of his selfless actions. The friendship between Ed Lucas and Phil Rizzuto was an amazing one. They both understood each other and that is what made their friendship much stronger. Both Rizzuto and Lucas had to overcome physical obstacles to succeed in life. Rizzuto had to prove himself on the field due to the fact that he was not as tall as most ball players, and Lucas overcame his blindness and followed his passion for the game of baseball, as did Phil Rizzuto. Actually, when he tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers, when he was still in high school, the five foot, six inch Rizzuto was told by manager Casey Stengel to “Go get your shine box.” The New York Giants told him to get lost as well. Finally in 1937 he was signed by the New York Yankees and was sent to the minor leagues in Virginia. It was the love of the sport and the kinship that they shared that made their relationship so strong. Each one always encouraging the other, nothing was impossible. Phil Rizzuto changed the life of a young boy by simply befriending him and encouraging him to do all that he could do. His generosity and his astounding personality, as told by one of his closest friends, makes us all wonder “Why doesn’t the world have more people like Phil Rizzuto?” When asked “Do you think the world needs more people like Phil Rizzuto?” Mr. Lucas replied “I think the world would be lucky to have more people like Phil Rizzuto”. The fortune of finding such a friend that was constantly pushing you and generous throughout the entire course of his life is what changed Ed Lucas’ life forever.

Ed Lucas said “Baseball took his sight, but gave him a new life.”

Holy Cow! What a great man.

(If you would like to know more about Ed Lucas, his story and accomplishments please log on to www.edlucasonline.com)

DO NOT DELETE THIS TIZIANO IT'S FOR MY PHOTO J

Phil Rizzuto tips his cap during the 2004 Old-Timers’ Day ceremonies at Yankee Stadium.

Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company.

IDEA DICEMBRE 2007