[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I'm a Yankee fan and I loved Phil Rizzuto, and I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame...but not as a player only, but as an overall contributor to the game.

A part of me thinks he's unofficially in as a "contributor".

Don't think there's a chance in hell he'd be in the Hall of Fame if he didn't also have a 40 year career as a beloved Yankee announcer, to go along with his just below the borderline career as a player.

I don't think there's anybody on either of his "Similar To" lists on Baseball Reference who are remotely considered candidates for the HOF. He did lose 3 prime years to Military Service, but that hasn't helped a lot of other guys get in who otherwise wouldn't have either.

Again, I love Phil...and I think he belongs in there either way, and don't care if the letter of the law wasn't followed to get him in there.

42.2 WAR. Not.
Although you could add 20 WAR for Paradise by the Dashboard Light.