---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget…"
description: "\"I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget September 6, 1950. I got a letter threatening me, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra and Johnny Mize. It said if I showed up in un..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/phil-rizzuto-43450_baseball_i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september_2352609.png"
---

#  I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget September 6, 1950. I got…

![“I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget September 6, 1950. I got a letter threatening me, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra and Johnny Mize. It said if I showed up in uniform against the Red Sox I'd be shot. I turned the letter over to the FBI and told my manager Casey Stengel about it. You know what Casey did? He…” quote by Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/phil-rizzuto-43450_baseball_i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september_2352609.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/phil-rizzuto-43450_baseball_i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september_2352609.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/phil-rizzuto-43450_baseball_i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september_2352609.png)

> “I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget September 6, 1950. I got a letter threatening me, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra and Johnny Mize. It said if I showed up in uniform against the Red Sox I'd be shot. I turned the letter over to the FBI and told my manager Casey Stengel about it. You know what Casey did? He gave me a different uniform and gave mine to Billy Martin. Can you imagine that! Guess Casey thought it'd be better if Billy got shot.”

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Rizzuto faced a death threat before a game, reported it, and his manager protected him by swapping his uniform with a teammate's.

**In simple terms:** He reported a threat and was protected by his manager.

Key Takeaway

Report threats and trust leadership.

Themes

courage integrity teamwork

Mood

tense determined

Type

historical anecdotal

When to use this quote

- professional sports
- military service
- personal safety
- management decisions

Key Concepts

ethics leadership risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- How would you respond to a threat at work?
- What responsibilities do leaders have to protect their team?

A Different Perspective

Threats can still occur despite precautions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september/)

## Related quotes

> [“If you don't have a catcher, the ball goes to the backstop. Casey Stengel explaining why the Mets selected mediocre catcher Hobie Landrith first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/if-you-don-t-have-a-catcher-the-ball-goes-to-the-backstop-casey/)

[Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/)

> [I'm probably the only guy who worked for (Casey) Stengel before and after he was a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-spahn/i-m-probably-the-only-guy-who-worked-for-casey-stengel-before-and/)

[Warren Spahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-spahn/)

> [It occurs to me as we're all sitting here thinking of Mickey, he's probably somewhere getting an earful from Casey Stengel, and no doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/it-occurs-to-me-as-we-re-all-sitting-here-thinking-of-mickey-he-s/)

[Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/)

> [Baseball is very big at the present time. This makes me think baseball will live longer than Casey Stengel or anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/baseball-is-very-big-at-the-present-time-this-makes-me-think-baseball/)

[Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/)

> [He foresaw the platooning that managers like Casey Stengel used years before it happened. He told me I had to be a switch-hitter if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/he-foresaw-the-platooning-that-managers-like-casey-stengel-used-years/)

[Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/)

> [I know I never saw Casey Stengel when I was being scouted. And how could you be in a ballpark and not know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-jackson/i-know-i-never-saw-casey-stengel-when-i-was-being-scouted-and-how/)

[Reggie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-jackson/)

> [Casey (Stengel) knew his baseball. He only made it look like he was fooling around. He knew every move that was ever invented and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/casey-stengel-knew-his-baseball-he-only-made-it-look-like-he-was/)

[Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/)

> [“Is it too late, even at this stage in human history? No, it’s not too late, until, as Casey Stengel might say, until, it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/is-it-too-late-even-at-this-stage-in-human-history-no-it-s-not-too/)

[John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/)

> [Baseball has traditionally possessed a wonderful lack of seriousness. The game's best player, Babe Ruth, was a Rabelaisian fat man, and its most loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/baseball-has-traditionally-possessed-a-wonderful-lack-of-seriousness/)

[Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/)

> [If Casey Stengel were alive today, he'd be spinning in his grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-kiner/if-casey-stengel-were-alive-today-he-d-be-spinning-in-his-grave/)

[Ralph Kiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-kiner/)

> [I always liked Casey Stengel as a manager because he seemed to have a grasp of so many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-alston/i-always-liked-casey-stengel-as-a-manager-because-he-seemed-to-have-a/)

[Walter Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-alston/)

> [I don't believe a manager ever won a pennant. Casey Stengel won all those pennants with the Yankees. How many did he win with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/i-don-t-believe-a-manager-ever-won-a-pennant-casey-stengel-won-all/)

[Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/)

> [The ability of a manager to be the driving force of a team is overrated, even when you associate historic teams (think the 1950s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enten/the-ability-of-a-manager-to-be-the-driving-force-of-a-team-is/)

[Harry Enten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enten/)

> [I just spent 11 and a half months in a maximum-security jail, got shot five times, and was wrongly convicted of a crime I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-just-spent-11-and-a-half-months-in-a-maximum-security-jail-got-shot/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [“I got shot saving you. That should speak very clearly about my feelings. After all, I'll bear the scars of loving you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayla-black/i-got-shot-saving-you-that-should-speak-very-clearly-about-my/)

[Shayla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayla-black/)

## More by Phil Rizzuto

> [Those huckleberries in the National League don't want to do anything that the American League wants to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/those-huckleberries-in-the-national-league-don-t-want-to-do-anything/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [There was an aura about him (Joe DiMaggio). He walked like no one else walked. He did things so easily. He was immaculate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/there-was-an-aura-about-him-joe-dimaggio-he-walked-like-no-one-else/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [I'll take anyway to get into the Hall of Fame. If they want a batboy, I'll go in as a batboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/i-ll-take-anyway-to-get-into-the-hall-of-fame-if-they-want-a-batboy-i/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [Hey, White, you know where your loyalties are? Right here. The old pinstripes. No! You never wore them... So you have a right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/hey-white-you-know-where-your-loyalties-are-right-here-the-old/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [I like radio better than television because if you make a mistake on radio, they don't know. You can make up anything on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/i-like-radio-better-than-television-because-if-you-make-a-mistake-on/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankee win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/well-that-kind-of-puts-a-damper-on-even-a-yankee-win/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [They've got so many Latin players we're going to have to get a Latin instructor up here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/they-ve-got-so-many-latin-players-we-re-going-to-have-to-get-a-latin/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

> [I'm glad I don't play anymore. I could never learn all those handshakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/i-m-glad-i-don-t-play-anymore-i-could-never-learn-all-those-handshakes/)

[Phil Rizzuto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

[Explore all 9 Phil Rizzuto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/)

## More Baseball quotes

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/)

[Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/)

[Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/)

> [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/)

[Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/)

[George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/)

> [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/)

[Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/)

> [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/)

[Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/)

> [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/)

> [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray &amp; Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/)

[Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/)

> [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/)

[John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/)

> [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/)

[Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/)

[Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget September 6, 1950. I got a letter threatening me, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra and Johnny Mize. It said if I showed up in uniform against the Red Sox I'd be shot. I turned the letter over to the FBI and told my manager Casey Stengel about it. You know what Casey did? He gave me a different uniform and gave mine to Billy Martin. Can you imagine that! Guess Casey thought it'd be better if Billy got shot.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Phil Rizzuto"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september-6-1950-i-got-a-letter/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baseball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september-6-1950-i-got-a-letter/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/phil-rizzuto-43450_baseball_i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september_2352609.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/phil-rizzuto-43450_baseball_i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september_2352609.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21f/phil-rizzuto-43450_baseball_i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september_2352609.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget September 6, 1950. I got a letter threatening me, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra…” — Phil Rizzuto",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Phil Rizzuto",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-rizzuto/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'll (Phil Rizzuto) never forget September...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september-6-1950-i-got-a-letter/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-rizzuto/i-ll-phil-rizzuto-never-forget-september-6-1950-i-got-a-letter/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
