08/15/2007
Tall and Short
I’m in a caregiver mode, with my wife finally home from back surgery and rehab with severe sciatica, which hopefully should go away in a month or so. This column will be exceedingly short.
In recent columns, I’ve mentioned the world’s tallest man, China’s Bao Xishun, standing at 7 feet 9 inches. In the Star- Ledger last week there was a brief article reporting that a 37- year-old Ukrainian former veterinarian, Leonid Stadnik, has replaced Bao. Stadnik is an astounding 8 feet 5 inches tall, 8 inches taller than Bao. Apparently, a brain operation at age 14 stimulated the pituitary gland, producing an overabundance of growth hormone.
In contrast to Stadnik, Phil Rizzuto was only 5 feet 6 inches tall. The beloved Hall of Fame shortstop and broadcaster for the New York Yankees died this week at age 89. He defied the advice of Casey Stengel that he was too short for baseball and even was voted Most Valuable Player in the American League one year. I will never forget the day our family traveled to Philadelphia to see the Yankees play the old Philadelphia Athletics back in 1941. It was Rizzuto’s first year with the Yankees. In the game, I saw my first Big League double play – authored by Rizzuto and Gordon. Holy Cow! It was a thing of amazing beauty and precision that has stayed with me all these years.
Well, time for laundry and care giving.
Allen F. Bortrum
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