(New York Yankees)
Article From MLB Special Correspondent Rich Stowe
This morning, Yankees fans and baseball fans around the world woke up to the news no one wanted to hear – beloved Yankees Icon, MLB Icon, and American Icon, Yogi Berra, passed away at the age of 90 years old.
Yogi is considered one of the greatest catchers in Major League history and played for the New York Yankees for 18 years (out of his 19 year playing career). He also managed several teams including the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Houston Astros (taking the Yankees and Mets to the World Series). As a player, Yogi won 10 World Series titles with the New York Yankees as well as 3 MVP awards and holds many Yankees World Series records.
Off the field, Yogi served in the Navy during World War II and was part of the D-Day invasion. He also was very charitable throughout his life and was there a more quotable athlete in history?
Baseball fans (not just Yankees fans) know how great a player he was and he will always be in the debate for greatest catcher in MLB history along with Johnny Bench. He grew up in St. Louis playing with Joe Garagiola, but he didn’t “look like” a ball player, so no team wanted to sign him except for the New York Yankees. The rest is history and resulted in a Hall of Fame career.
As a Yankees fan, this is a day I have been dreading for years. As other baseball icons such as Stan Musial have passed away over the recent years, I always hoped Yogi would keep on going even knowing that one day the news would come that he was no longer with us.
My thoughts go out to all of Yogi’s family, the Yankees family and all of baseball today. When a true legend of the game passes away, a part of the game seems to go with them. Thankfully we can always look back at video of his games to see this greatness and in Yogi’s case read some of his quotes to make us laugh.
Rest in peace Lawrence “Yogi” Berra. Baseball was a better game with you in it and the world will be a sadder place with you gone. It ain’t over till it’s over…and who’s to say this means it’s over?
httpv://youtu.be/-cDabcSfIZA
Highlight video of Yogi Berra at the 2009 St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Dinner courtesy of Tim Moore
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