Yogi Berra – The Best I Ever Saw
Yogi Berra – The Best I Ever Saw
One of the most popular figures in baseball history. Berra batted .285 with 358 home runs and 1,430 runs batted in during his 18 years with the New York Yankees (1946-63). The lefthanded-hitting catcher hit at least 20 home runs in 11 seasons. Especially in his later years, Berra was known as baseball’s best late-inning clutch hitter.
In his best season, Yogi set a career-high with a .322 batting average while catching all but six games on the schedule. He slugged 28 homers and drove in 124 runs. He also set a career-best mark with 166 runs scored and struck out just 12 times all season. He hit a home run in the World Series sweep of the Phillies. He also won the MVP in 1951 & 1954, and 1955; from 1950 – 1956, his worst MVP finish was 4th.
Berra managed the Yankees to a Pennant in 1964 and made a brief comeback with the expansion New York Mets and will eventually manage them to a Pennant in 1973. He is the only player to win 10 World Series Titles and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971.
Berra was also known for his quirky statements. Here are some quotes.
“I want to thank all those who made this evening necessary.” After experiencing difficulty playing left field in Yankee Stadium, Berra remarked, “It gets late early out there!”
Yogi once explained teammate Mickey Mantle’s ability to hit with power from both sides of the plate this way: “He was naturally amphibious.”
Quotes About Berra
“He’d fall in a sewer and come up with a gold watch.”— Casey Stengel.
“They say he’s funny. Well, he has a lovely wife and family, a beautiful home, money in the bank, and he plays golf with millionaires. What’s funny about that?”— Casey Stengel
“Why has our pitching been so great? Our catcher – that’s why. He looks cumbersome but he’s quick as a cat.” — Casey Stengel
Berra contends that his toughest mound opponent was Alex Kellner, a southpaw for the Philadelphia A’s who had one 20-win season bout finished with a 101-112 mark, and led the American League in losses twice. “for a while there, he was far better that the team around him, he could give me fits.”
He chooses two teammates – Phil Rizzuto and Roger Maris as the most underrated players of his era. “It is unbelievable that Phil had to wait so long to get to the Hall of Fame. Maris’s homerun record in 1961 became a curse. He wasn’t just a homerun hitter, he could do everything – hit in the clutch, field, throw, and run.”
The Ultimate Lineup According To Yogi Berra
(these are players he played with or against)
Outfield – Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle
Around the Horn – Clete Boyer (3b), Phil Rizzuto (SS), Joe Gordon (2b), Mickey Vernon (1b)
Battery – Vic Raschi (RH), Herb Score (LH) and Jim Hegan (c)
Huge audio treats – :
900+ Vintage Broadcasts, including many games featuring Berra!
All these games are available on Vintage Baseball Reflections.
Youtube Audio Specials:
Vic Scully calls 715
Sandy Koufax
Roy Campanella – Final Ebbets Field Homerun
Jackie Robinson – Hall of Fame Speech
Willie Mays 4 Homerun Game
Previous highlighted players,Cool Papa Bell, Ernie Banks, Luke Appling, previous articles – Luis Aparicio, Hank Aaron
and Babe Ruth’s team.
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