Phil Rizzuto will return to the broadcast booth for a 40th season of announcing New York Yankees games.
The Hall-of-Fame shortstop will be on a limited schedule of mostly home games “to accommodate his desire to spend more time with his family,” WPIX-TV vice president Michael Eigner said. He is expected to be on hand for about 30 of the 50 games that WPIX airs this season.
Rizzuto, 78, announced his retirement and left the booth before the season was over last summer, in emotional turmoil over Mickey Mantle’s death and the station’s refusal to allow Rizzuto to attend the funeral.
“We are thrilled we could persuade him to come back,” Eigner said.
Rizzuto’s partners will be Bobby Murcer, back for a seventh season, and Rick Cerone, who joined the crew last year.
