Lawrence “Yogi” Berra (1946-1965) was an original. He’s in the Hall of Fame and for good reason. A fine defensive catcher, .285 career batting average, 358 home runs, 1,430 runs batted in, 18 All-Star games, part of 13 World Series championships as a player and a manager, 3 time AL MVP and a 484-444 managerial record for a .522 winning percentage. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed. His number 8 has been retired by the N.Y. Yankees (also worn by and retired for Bill Dickey) and he is honored in Monument Park at Yankees Stadium. Yogi was also a coach in the majors.
Yogi-isms (colloquial expressions that lack logic) are legendary. Who knows if he really said these or not? As he once said, “I never said most of the things I said.” Here’s a small sampling:
“Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.”
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
“Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.”
“If the people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them.”
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
“How can you think and hit at the same time?”
“So, I’m ugly. I never saw anyone hit with his face.”
“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”
“Pair up in threes.”
(On the 1973 Mets) “We were overwhelming underdogs.”
“It gets late early out here.”
“Slump? I ain’t in no slump… I just ain’t hitting.”
“You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.”
“You can observe a lot by just watching.”
“Why buy good luggage, you only use it when you travel.”
“It’s like déjà vu all over again.”
“It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility.”
“All pitchers are liars or crybabies.”
“He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.”
“No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.”
“If you ask me anything I don’t know, I’m not going to answer.”
“I’m lucky. Usually you’re dead to get your own museum, but I’m still alive to see mine.”
“Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.”
“I usually take a two-hour nap from one to four.”
Yogi was a "character" but had a strong personal character. He was a fine player and gentleman. More on him in the future.
Wishing you all the best in 2021.
~ Coach Mike
Yogi-isms (colloquial expressions that lack logic) are legendary. Who knows if he really said these or not? As he once said, “I never said most of the things I said.” Here’s a small sampling:
“Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.”
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
“Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.”
“If the people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them.”
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
“How can you think and hit at the same time?”
“So, I’m ugly. I never saw anyone hit with his face.”
“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”
“Pair up in threes.”
(On the 1973 Mets) “We were overwhelming underdogs.”
“It gets late early out here.”
“Slump? I ain’t in no slump… I just ain’t hitting.”
“You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.”
“You can observe a lot by just watching.”
“Why buy good luggage, you only use it when you travel.”
“It’s like déjà vu all over again.”
“It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility.”
“All pitchers are liars or crybabies.”
“He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.”
“No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.”
“If you ask me anything I don’t know, I’m not going to answer.”
“I’m lucky. Usually you’re dead to get your own museum, but I’m still alive to see mine.”
“Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours.”
“I usually take a two-hour nap from one to four.”
Yogi was a "character" but had a strong personal character. He was a fine player and gentleman. More on him in the future.
Wishing you all the best in 2021.
~ Coach Mike
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