Lorenzo Pietro Berra
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Yogi Berra, born Lorenzo Pietro Berra in 1925, won three American League MVP awards as the New York Yankees catcher and appeared in 14 World Series, a record. He also managed both the Yankees and Mets to World Series appearances. His number 8 was retired by the Yankees in 1972, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame the same year. Berra also had Yoo-Hoo commercials and malapropisms like ‘It ain’t over till it’s over.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Yogi Berra — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Yogi Berra by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Yogi Berra — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Yogi Berra grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Italian immigrants. Born Lorenzo Pietro Berra on May 12, 1925, he attended St. Mary’s High School and counted Joe Garagiola, a future major league catcher, as a childhood friend. He left school after the eighth grade to work and play baseball, signing with the New York Yankees in 1943.
Berra made his major league debut on September 22, 1946, for the New York Yankees. He won his first American League Most Valuable Player award in 1951 and added two more in 1954 and 1955. He caught a record 14 World Series, appearing in 75 games and setting records with 259 at-bats, 71 hits, and 10 doubles. After his playing career, he managed the Yankees to a pennant in 1964 and the Mets to a pennant in 1973. He also coached for the Yankees, Mets, and Astros.
Berra married Carmen on January 26, 1949, and they remained together until her death on March 6, 2014. They had two sons: Dale Berra, who played Major League Baseball for the Pirates, Yankees, and Astros from 1977 to 1987, and Tim Berra, who played for the New York Jets. He became upset with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for firing him as manager in 1985, but reconciled in 1999 after a public apology. He also filed a $10 million lawsuit against TBS in 2005 over an advertisement that used his name; the case settled out of court.
The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Berra in 1972, and the Yankees retired his number 8 that year. The cartoon character Yogi Bear took its name from him. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2007. Montclair State University’s Yogi Berra Stadium bears his name. Berra’s legacy includes being ranked among the game’s greatest catchers and his collection of humorous sayings.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Yogi Berra — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Yogi Berra — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
A Nickel Ain’t Worth a Dime Anymore.
Baseball Is Ninety Percent Mental. the Other Half Is Physical.
I Usually Take a Two-hour Nap, from One O’clock to Four.
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over.
It Gets Late Early Out Here.
It’s so Crowded Nobody Goes There Anymore.
It’s Deja Vu All Over Again.
Why Buy Good Luggage? You Only Use It When You Travel.
You Can Observe a Lot by Watching.
I Never Said Half the Things I Said.
I Want to Thank Everybody for Making This Night Necessary.
Pair up by Threes.
Slump? I Ain’t in No Slump. I’m Just Not Hitting.
The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be.
God Bless This Wonderful Game They Call Baseball.
I’m Not Going to Buy My Kids an Encyclopedia. Let Them Walk to School Like I Did.
You Should Always Go to Other People’s Funerals, Otherwise, They Won’t Come to Yours.
How Long Have You Known Me, Jack? and You Still Don’t Know How to Spell My Name. – Upon Receiving a Check from Jack Buck Made Out to “Bearer.
I Knew I Was Going to Take the Wrong Train, so I Left Early.
In Theory There Is No Difference Between Theory and Practice. in Practice There Is.
He Hits from Both Sides of the Plate. He’s Amphibious.
So I’m Ugly. I Never Saw Anyone Hit with His Face.
You Can’t Compare Me to My Father. Our Similarities Are Different.
Love Is the Most Important Thing in the World, but Baseball Is Pretty Good Too.
If the World Were Perfect, It Wouldn’t Be.
Never Answer an Anonymous Letter.
We Grew up Founding Our Dreams on the Infinite Promise of American Advertising.
Speaking About 1973 New York Mets’ Miracle Finish: People Thought We Were Dead.
Little-known facts about Yogi Berra — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
The cartoon character Yogi Bear is named after him.
Was upset over the way he was fired as manager of the Yankees in 1985; vowed he would have nothing to do with them as long as George M. Steinbrenner III was the owner. He reconciled with Steinbrenner in 1999 after receiving a public apology from the Yankees’ owner.
Participated in the Normandy invasion as a gunner’s mate on D-Day.
In reporting Berra’s death, the Associated Press newswire initially sent out a story whose first lines read, New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Bear has died. He was 90. Several newspapers posted the incorrect wording on their websites before a correction was issued.
As of 2023, played in more World Series game than any other player 75. Also holds records for most World Series at-bats 259, hits 71, and doubles 10. He never hit a triple in a World Series.
Named to the Major League Baseball’s American League All-Star team for fifteen consecutive years 1948-1962.
Filed a $10 million suit in Manhattan State Supreme Court against TBS for use of his name in an advertisement for Sex and the City 1998. The ad, which has appeared on New York City buses and in subways, gives possible definitions of yogasm as: a a type of yo-yo trick, b sex with Yogi Berra and c what Samantha has with a guy from yoga class. Berra claims that his name and reputation has been tainted 27 January 2005. The lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
The Yankees retired his number 8 in 1972.
Has been the spokesman for Yoo-Hoo beverages.
Used to have a one-minute movie critic show on national television.
The Yogi Berra Stadium is located in Little Falls New Jersey on the Montclair State University campus, named in his honor as a longtime resident of nearby Montclair, New Jersey.
Made major league debut on 22 September 1946.
Special Advisor to the New York Yankees from 1999-2009.
Grew up with Joe Garagiola. Won three American League Most Valuable Player awards 1951, 1954, and 1955. Selected to baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Managed both New York Yankees and Mets to World Series appearances.
His son Dale Berra played shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros from 1977 to 1987.
His son Tim Berra played for the New York Jets.
Made a cameo appearance on General Hospital 1963 as Dr. Lawrence P. Berra.
Coached the Yankees in 1963, the Mets from 1965 to 1972, the Yankees again from 1976 to 1983, and the Astros from 1986 to 1989.
Managed the Yankees in 1964, the Mets from 1972 to 1975, and the Yankees again in 1984 and 1985.
One of a handful of managers to win pennants in both American and National Leagues 1964 Yankees, 1973 Mets.
Played for the Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees from 1946 to 1963 and the New York Mets in 1965.
Inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1992.
He was inducted in the 2007 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services to sports.
His granddaughter, Lindsay Berra, was a senior writer for ESPN the Magazine from 1999 to 2012. She moved to MLB.com in 2013, staying until 2018. Since then, she has been a freelance sports journalist.
Inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1970.
Inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 inaugural class.
Inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
Pictured on a USA nondenominated forever commemorative postage stamp, issued 24 June 2021. Price on day of issue was 60¢. Issued in sheets of 20 stamps.
Played in four games as a Met in 1965; retired after being struck out three times on fastballs by Tony Cloninger.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Yogi Berra.
Celebrities similar to Yogi Berra — same craft, ranked by reach.
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