Yogi Berra

By Jake Fox
Love of Sports Correspondent

“It’s never happened in World Series competition, and it still hasn’t.”

These days, Yogi Berra’s just as famous for his one-of-a-kind quotations as he is for his playing days on the baseball field.

Although his “Yogiisms” are some of the more classic phrases ever spoken, they’re only a side note to a professional career which is unquestionably one of the most successful ever.

Nobody will argue that Yogi’s one of the most beloved figures in baseball history, yet his on-field accomplishments are often overshadowed by his affable and infectious personality, not to mention by some of the legendary Yankees he played alongside, including Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.

Lawrence Peter Berra is arguably the greatest catcher of all time, and he was a key component of the greatest dynasty the game’s ever seen. He played 17 full seasons with the Bronx Bombers from 1947-63, making an unprecedented 14 World Series appearances and winning a record 10 titles. It’s no wonder he famously said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.”

Berra was diminutive in stature, and his game wasn’t pretty. Nevertheless, he managed to get the job done day in and day out. He played in 15 All-Star Games (he was selected 18 times) and won the American League MVP on three occasions.

Mel Ott said of Yogi, “He seemed to be doing everything wrong, yet everything came out right. He stopped everything behind the plate and hit everything in front of it.”

He had an unorthodox approach to hitting, in which he’d often swing at pitches out of the strike zone, and once said, “If I can hit it, it’s a good pitch.”

Berra would become a feared hitter, who had career highs of 125 RBI and a .322 average in his 1950 MVP season. He also had 28 home runs that year, which was just two off his career best in that category.

He was also one of the game’s toughest strikeouts, with a mere 414 in 7,555 career plate appearances. From 1949-55, Berra led the star-studded Yankees in RBI every season and retired as the all-time RBI leader for a catcher, with 1,430.

As a defensive catcher, there were few who were better, as he was always at the top of the league in fielding percentage, including a perfect season in 1958. He was known as an excellent handler of his pitchers and caught Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

Additionally, he had a quick release behind the plate and caught nearly 48 percent of the runners attempting to steal against him. He was a durable backstop who led the American League in games caught eight times. Later in his career he went on to become a solid outfielder as well.

Most notably, however, was Berra’s ability in the clutch. He was at his best when it mattered the most. He still holds World Series records for games, hits and doubles. He’s second all-time in both RBI and runs scored in the World Series, and third in home runs.

After his playing days were over, Berra was a successful manager and coach, who led both the Yankees and Mets to the pennant. He also won another World Series as a coach with the Miracle Mets of 1969.

Yogi Berra ranks as one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game, and one of its most beloved characters. While his success on the field’s been somewhat overshadowed by the delight he’s brought to people off the diamond, he remains the greatest World Series winner the game’s ever known.

Berra famously once said, “I always thought that record would stand, until it was broken.”

His record of 10 World Series titles undoubtedly will!