Bartlett: Oldest living Yankee participates in Pacifica’s Earth Day
From Jean Bartlett at the San Jose Mercury News on April 21, 2015:
Rugger Ardizoia has seven Pacifica Beach Coalition (PBC) Earth Day & EcoFest buttons on his sweatshirt, one for each year he has volunteered. At this year’s event, Ardizoia wrote down information as site captains from cleanup spots all over Pacifica came in with results.
“The captains report the amount, type and weight of the garbage, compost and recycling their group retrieved and I track it for the record,” Ardizoia said.
At 95, Ardizoia is the oldest PBC volunteer. But then, Ardizoia holds a number of titles. Born in Oleggio, Italy, Ardizoia is one of seven Italian-born ballplayers to play in the Major Leagues. He is also the oldest living New York Yankee. Born Rinaldo Ardizoia, the PBC volunteer is the son of Annunzia and Carlo Ardizoia.
“I came out to California with my mother when I was 2,” Ardizoia said. “My father was already here. He had gotten a job in a brickyard in Port Costa. We came by ship and train. I don’t know how she did it. She didn’t speak a word of English.”
Read the full article here: http://www.mercurynews.com/pacifica/ci_27961315/baseball-legend-participates-pacificas-earth-day
Originally published: April 23, 2015. Last Updated: April 23, 2015.