Freischütz
Member
Yogi Berra was my favorite ballplayer. I respected him both on and off the field. Sorry to see him go.
R.I. P. Yogi Berra
- Thread starter soFlaNative
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RudyN
Member
He was something else and I will miss him. RIP Yogi.
fiasconva
US Veteran
One of my favorites of all time. Never was a Yankee fan but was a Yogi fan. He grew up with Joe Garagiola and Joe wrote a great book about him years ago. It's a great read for any of you Yogi fans. One of my college buddies' dad was his roommate when he played for the Norfolk Tars in the 40's. His wife just posted a pic on Facebook of his dad and Yogi in the 40's and Yogi is standing behind him giving him the old rabbit ears. RIP Yogi.
Comrad
Member
As a kid I knew both Yogi and Phil Rizzuto, they owned the local bowling ally here in Clifton, NJ called Berra and Rizzuto Lanes. We had absolutely no idea what a big deal either of these guys were, they were just the guys who owned the allys where we bowled. Back in that time, professional baseball players didn't make enough to survive the off season and they all had other jobs, businesses etc.. He lived in the area up until his wife died a few months ago. Great guy, lived in a normal house and played golf and you would never know he was a national treasure.
ordy
US Veteran
The things he said were so simple that they were complicated. RIP Yogi.
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it".
"It was really hard to start a conversation because everyone was talking".
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it".
"It was really hard to start a conversation because everyone was talking".
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Last time we were in NYC ate dinner at Mickey Mantle's restaurant they had on display his mask chest, protector , shin guards and that small glove . All primitive compared to the gear today, watched him play on TV a lot and saw him manage a game for the Yankees he was one of the greats. Not to mention he was involved with the Normandy invasion on a rocket boat and was wounded .
In 8359 at bats, 19 years a player, he only struck 414 times. Mark Reynolds beat that with 439 strike outs in 2 years 2009 and 2010.
He was offered $250 to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, his buddy Joe Garagiola was offered $500. The Yankees offered him $500. The rest is history. Another good buddy, Stan Musial, never let the Cardinal's front office forget it.
He met the love of his life, Carmen, in Musial's restaurant.
He used to give Derek Jeter a rough time for only having a handful of World Series Championship rings, (5) Berra had 2 handfuls, (10)
He was a darn good outfielder as well as catcher. If you've seen Bill Mazeroski's walk off 1960 Series winning home run thats Berra watching it go over the left field wall.
A class act, this autographed picture graces a wall in my den.
He was offered $250 to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, his buddy Joe Garagiola was offered $500. The Yankees offered him $500. The rest is history. Another good buddy, Stan Musial, never let the Cardinal's front office forget it.
He met the love of his life, Carmen, in Musial's restaurant.
He used to give Derek Jeter a rough time for only having a handful of World Series Championship rings, (5) Berra had 2 handfuls, (10)
He was a darn good outfielder as well as catcher. If you've seen Bill Mazeroski's walk off 1960 Series winning home run thats Berra watching it go over the left field wall.
A class act, this autographed picture graces a wall in my den.
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
Jersey is Yankee fan country for sure. I remember my whole family gathered around the tv set screaming at the screen even my mom.
I wish it was the late 50's early 60's again I would of savored every moment.
I wish it was the late 50's early 60's again I would of savored every moment.
Shooting Padre
US Veteran
A giant of a ballplayer. I read his book last year, great life story. My favorite player of all time, I remember watching him on tv.
Everyone - see the responses when you mention Yogi Berra - ya' can't help but smile even though I'm sad at his passing I catch myself smiling at a genuine American Icon that represented Baseball in the best way possible. Thanks, Yogi.
BTW - you're up.
BTW - you're up.
Straightshooter2
US Veteran
I can't remember the name of the ballpark but it had a chain link fence in the outfield and a wall made of boards beyond that. If the ball hit the boards and bounced back, it was a home run and obviously if it hit the chain link fence, it was in play. Yogi hit one that came back into the field of play and the umpire ruled it had hit the chain link while Yogi thought it was a home run. Supposedly Yogi yelled at the ump, "Anyone who couldn't hear that ball bounce off the boards is blind." And yes, one of the best bad ball hitters off all time. A couple of inches off the dirt or over his head and Yogi could still hit them. I only saw him play on CBS Game of the Week but he was always a favorite of mine.
RIP Yogi, you done good.
CW
RIP Yogi, you done good.
CW
Ranger514
Member
He was one of the true, great sports heroes, when sportsmanship and honor truly mattered. The guy had great talent and class. Thanks for brightening our lives, Yogi.
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shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Magnificent catcher, great at handling his pitchers and called a fine game. A terrifying hitter. An excellent manager, George Steinbrenner not withstanding--he took both the Yankees and the Mets to the World Series.
But Yogi was also a fine man, husband, father and friend.
An admirable character all the way around.
It was a privilege to have watched him play and manage, and yes, listen to him talk. He was by no means stupid, things just came out funny when he spoke.
But Yogi was also a fine man, husband, father and friend.
An admirable character all the way around.
It was a privilege to have watched him play and manage, and yes, listen to him talk. He was by no means stupid, things just came out funny when he spoke.
Here I go again... I saw Yogi hit more homers than other Yanks, probably because he swung at more pitches he thought he could hit. Unlike today, where many batters take a fat strike one and a "filthy" strike two and are quickly "in the hole" 0 and 2.
Saw one of his last HRs in May/June 1963 at the Stadium against Cleveland. He took a ball literally off his shoe tops and golfed it into the RF stands. Not a strike by any means, yet a HR. Even in his late 30s, "old" for BB players of that era, his bat remained a potent, necessary part of the Yankee lineup.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Saw one of his last HRs in May/June 1963 at the Stadium against Cleveland. He took a ball literally off his shoe tops and golfed it into the RF stands. Not a strike by any means, yet a HR. Even in his late 30s, "old" for BB players of that era, his bat remained a potent, necessary part of the Yankee lineup.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
fiasconva
US Veteran
I think one season he only struck out 12 times the whole season. A good story is when Mantle first came up, he had struck out for about the 3rd time that game and Yogi says, "Hey kid, you're swinging at too many bad pitches." Mantle replies, "You swing at bad pitches too." Yogi says" Yeah, but I hit 'em."
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vigil617
US Veteran
As evidenced by the comments here, even when it's over, it ain't over. God bless you, Yogi.
