Yogi Berra

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Lore & Background

Berra was born in St. Louis, in an Italian community, and signed with the Yankees in 1943 before serving in the United States Navy as a gunner's mate in the Normandy landings during World War II. He made his major-league debut at age 21 in 1946 and was a mainstay in the Yankees' lineup during the team's championship years beginning in 1949 and continuing through 1962. Berra was a power hitter and strong defensive catcher, despite being shorter than most in the league at 5 feet 7 inches [1.70 m] tall. Berra played 18 seasons with the Yankees before leaving after the 1963 season. He spent the next year as their manager, then joined the New York Mets in 1965 as a coach and briefly returned as a player for four games. Berra remained with the Mets for the next decade, serving the last four years as their manager. He returned to the Yankees in 1976, coaching them for eight seasons and managing for two, before coaching the Houston Astros. Berra appeared as a player, coach or manager in 13 of 15 World Series that New York baseball teams won from 1947 through 1981. Overall, he played or coached in 21 World Series, 13 on the winning side. Berra caught Don Larsen's perfect game in game five of the 1956 World Series. He also holds the all-time record for shutouts caught with 173.

In Their Own Story

The most notable game of Berra's playing career came when he caught Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, the first of only three no-hitters, and lone "perfecto" ever thrown in MLB postseason play. The picture of Berra leaping into Larsen's arms following Dale Mitchell's called third strike to end the game is one of the sport's most memorable images. In Game 3 of the 1947 World Series, Berra hit the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history, off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca. He established Series records for the most games (75), at bats (259), hits (71), doubles (10), singles (49), games caught (63), and catcher putouts (457).

Reader's Guide

The Yankees retired his uniform number 8 in 1972; Bill Dickey had previously worn number 8, and both catchers had that number retired by the Yankees. The club honored him with a plaque in Monument Park in 1988. Berra was named to the MLB All-Century Team in a vote by fans in 1999. For the remainder of his life, he was closely involved with the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, which he opened on the campus of Montclair State University in 1998. Berra quit school after the eighth grade. He was known for his malapropisms as well as pithy and paradoxical statements, such as "It ain't over 'til it's over" and "I really didn't say everything I said."

Did You Know?

• Berra was an All-Star for 15 seasons, and was selected to 18 All-Star Games (MLB held two All-Star Games in 1959 through 1962).
• Berra caught Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, the first of only three no-hitters, and lone perfect game ever thrown in MLB postseason play.
• Berra won the American League MVP award in 1951, 1954, and 1955.

Early Career and Pittsburgh Success

Dale Anthony Berra, born in December 1956, carried the legacy of his Hall of Fame father while forging a distinct path as an infielder. Named after Dale Mitchell, who famously completed Don Larsen's perfect game against Yogi, the younger Berra was a highly recruited prospect out of Montclair High School. Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the twentieth overall pick in 1975, he debuted in August 1977 at age twenty.

The Father-Son Dynamic in New York

A historic chapter began when Dale joined the New York Yankees under the management of his father, Yogi Berra, following a trade that also included Jay Buhner and Alfonso Pulido. This move made Dale the first son to play for his father in the majors since Earle Mack over seven decades prior. The most infamous moment of this era occurred on August 2, 1985, during an 11-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox. In a bizarre baserunning gaffe involving Bobby Meacham, both runners approached home plate in synchronization after a hit by Rickey Henderson. Catcher Carlton Fisk managed to tag out Meacham and then immediately turned to tag Dale, completing a rare double play that Martin noted he had never seen even in grammar school.

Struggles with Substance Abuse

Dale Berra's career was heavily impacted by recreational cocaine use that began early in his professional life, introduced by friends during an offseason. While he initially did not realize the extent of its impact on his play, it eventually spiraled into a full addiction which he later credited for preventing his career from reaching star status. The situation escalated legally when he testified in September 1985 regarding cocaine distribution within the Pirates organization. Convicted later that year, these events led to the dissolution of his first marriage.

Recovery and Life After Baseball

Confronted with how drug use was wrecking his relationships, Dale stopped using cocaine and alcohol immediately, saying he lost the urge right then. He spent three years in a Pretrial Intervention Program that cleared his name, rebuilt his life, remarried Jane, and raised two daughters born in the mid-2000s. broke it. He beat addiction while living under his family name.