San Quentin’s baseball players will remember former New York Yankee pitcher Rinaldo “Rugger” Ardizoia, who died at age 95 from a stroke on July 19.
“I still have his picture on my wall,” said John ‘Yayah” Parratt.
“He will be missed,” said A’s Anthony Redwood.
To the world, he was the Oldest Living Yankee for his short career as a pitcher with the major league team back in the 1940s.
Inside San Quentin, Ardizoia is remembered as the featured guest of the 2014 season ending game between the San Quentin A’s and S.Q. Giants. He signed autographs, threw out the opening pitch, proudly showed off his Yankee ring and talked baseball.
“It was a memorable day to have the oldest living New York Yankee come in here. I think he truly enjoyed it,” said Giant Trevor Bird.
“The appreciation he felt on that day gave him another six months to live,” said Ardizoia’s caregiver, Lynn Adams.
“They may have done bad things, but not all of them are bad,” said Ardizoia after his visit.
“I thought that day was historical. An old school major leaguer came and shared his life with us. He signed my ball; I will cherish that all my life and pass it on,” said A’s James Wortham.
Back in the ‘50s, Ardizoia played baseball on the Lower Yard against the prisoners. Baseball sponsor Steve Reichardt dedicated a game this year to Ardizoia, calling it Rugger Ardizoia Day.
“He was an under-appreciated piece of history because his major league career was so short. I think S.Q. was the first place to honor him with a day,” said A’s Manager Reichardt.
According to Ardizoia, his career started with the Yankees in 1941-1942.
The Army drafted Ardizoia in 1943, taking him away from his wife, Mary, and a promising pitching career that started with the Hollywood Stars in the Pacifi c Coast League, according to Bruce Newman’s article for the San Mercury News called, Oldest New York Yankee Laid to Rest In San Francisco.
“World War II prevented Rugger from pursuing his dream to the fullest,” the Rev. Al Mengon was quoted as saying at Ardizoia’s funeral, according to Newman.
He spent the 1947 season on the Yankee’s bench until called upon to relief pitch against the St. Louis Browns. He gave up four hits and only pitched two innings in the major leagues.
