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Yogi 1925â"2015
By Dave Anderson Triumph Books
Copyright © 2015 The New York Times
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63319-441-0
CHAPTER 1
Part 1. The Hill
Incubator of Baseball Talent
By David Waldstein • October 20, 2011
ST. LOUIS — Few cities resonate with as much baseball tradition as St. Louis, and few seem as doused in team colors as this city, where even the downtown fountains are spraying water tinted Cardinal rouge this October.
Some of the best teams and players in the sport's history have played in St. Louis, at Sportsman's Park, Robison Field and the two Busch Stadiums. And the game echoes in other parts of the city, too, particularly in a neighborhood called The Hill, which is seven miles from downtown.
It was there, on a vacant lot on Elizabeth Avenue, that two sons of Italian immigrants honed their soccer, football and, more than anything else, baseball skills.
One of them was Lawrence Berra, who later became known nationwide as Yogi, and the other was Joe Garagiola. They were still babies when the Cardinals won their first World Series in 1926. Each is now a baseball elder whose name endures.
"We played all the time," Berra said in a telephone interview Thursday as he recalled the neighborhood in which he grew up. "We would go right after school and play until the 4:30 factory whistle. That's when our fathers got off work and we had to go home and open a can of beer. Then it was back outside to play."
Today, the Elizabeth Avenue lot has been replaced by a house, but the same homes that Berra and Garagiola grew up in still stand, directly across the street from one another at 5447 and 5446 Elizabeth Avenue. A niece of Berra's, Mary Frances Brown, still lives in the old family home, now renovated.
In fact, much of The Hill's orderly working-class streets, homes and shops remain intact, not all that much changed from an era when sons of Italian immigrants became Americanized, often through sports.
Elizabeth Avenue has been renamed Hall of Fame Place, and sidewalk plaques mark the homes of Berra and Garagiola, and the legendary announcer Jack Buck, who bought a house down the block at the corner of Elizabeth and Macklind when he was broadcasting Cardinals games.
There are also plaques in front of the homes of five members of the United States soccer team, which upset England in the 1950 World Cup.
Like everyone in the area, Berra and Garagiola grew up worshiping the Cardinals, but only Garagiola was fortunate enough to be signed by the team. He went on to play six seasons with the Cardinals and was a catcher on the 1946 club that beat Ted Williams and the Boston Red Sox to win the World Series.
Although Berra was overlooked by the Cardinals and the other local team, the St. Louis Browns, he managed to do all right. He signed with the Yankees in 1943, won 10 World Series and three Most Valuable Player awards, played 19 seasons in all and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.
But he said Thursday that his older brother Tony, nicknamed Lefty for his slugging power from the left side, was the better player.
"My father wouldn't let him or my other brothers Mike and John play," Berra said. "He didn't know about baseball. They had to go to work and get a paycheck. But you ask anyone up on The Hill: Tony was the best."
The Hill remains an Italian neighborhood, with St. Ambrose Church, which Berra and Garagiola attended, still a focal point for the residents.
The numerous Italian restaurants and shops, the presence of Milo's Bocce Garden, where people can gather for a beer and a game of bocce, evoke a time when Italian was the predominant language spoken in the streets and where workingmen's hands were calloused from their labors at the nearby clay mines, brick factories and spaghetti plants.
"You go to a lot of Italian neighborhoods in a lot of American cities and you ask, 'Where are the Italians?'" said Joe DeGregorio, a second-generation Italian-American who runs tours of the neighborhood.
Not in The Hill, though. DeGregorio said that when immigration began here in the latter part of the 19th century, many people arrived from a cluster of five towns outside Milan in northern Italy, rather than from Sicily and the south, the source of so many other Italian immigrants to the United States.
Clara Scozzari, 85, still lives on Elizabeth Avenue, near where she grew up. She has known Berra, she says, virtually all of her life, or since they both attended Shaw's School.
"They used to play baseball in the street, and we would watch sometimes," Scozzari said. "He would act tough, but in the end he was always very nice."
There is still a large population of Italian immigrants in The Hill, people like Giovanni Dominic Galati, the owner of Dominic's restaurant.
"It's a place where you can walk to the bakery and get a loaf of bread," Galati said. "And after work, have a beer at Milo's and play bocce, go to church and walk home. It's still a very unique place."
Eight decades ago, it was where Garagiola and Berra played sandlot games.
Yogi Berra in Unfamiliar Role
By Glenn Collins • February 15, 2000
Finally, the French Government got the chance to present its Normandy-Beach medal to a D-Day veteran who couldn't attend the 50th-anniversary celebration in 1994. Former Seaman First Class Yogi Berra, who at the age of 18 manned a 36-foot rocket boat off Omaha Beach, was presented yesterday with the Medaille du Jubile in a brief ceremony at the institution that bears his name, the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey.
The French had to pursue the 74-year-old Mr. Berra "because I don't publicize that I was there," he said. Mr. Berra was so moved by the presentation of the bronze medal that he uttered not one zenlike Yogi-ism. But he did express relief that, at the medal-pinning ceremony, "they didn't give me any French kisses."
CHAPTER 2
Part 2. Yankees Player
Bombers Overcome Tars, 19–5
By John Drebinger • April 8, 1947
NORFOLK, Va., April 7 — Looks as though something will have to be done about this Yogi Berra and very soon the burden of the task will rest with the seven other clubs in the American League.
For today this amazing little fellow, whom manager Bucky Harris on a starry night in Caracas converted from a chunky catcher into a chunky outfielder of even more extraordinary proportions, again grabbed all the spotlight as the Yankees belted Buddy Hassett's Norfolk farm hands into submission, 19 to 5.
With a homer, a single with the bases full, and sundry other accomplishments, Yogi, who alone seems totally unaware of the commotion stirring all around him, hammered in six tallies for the Bombers who were making this their next to the last stop on their journey home.
Berra seemed determined to stop at nothing. His homer, a tremendous clout with two aboard in the first inning, was his third in two days and fourth of spring training. His single in the second with the bases full drove in two more tallies. Actually it cleared the sacks, for the shot also went through the opposing rightfielder, so terrifying are the blows that zoom off the Yogi bludgeon these days. Later on he rattled a two-bagger off the rightfield fence.
The Berra homer, incidentally, was one of the longest shots ever seen in this park. It cleared a high barrier in almost dead center, 450 feet from home plate.
The shot drew tremendous applause from every quarter but the Yankee bench, where Yogi's teammates continue to rib him by greeting his every outstanding achievement with a stony silence.
Yanks Clinch Flag, Aided by Reynolds No-Hitter
By John Drebinger • September 29, 1951
In a brilliant display of all-around skill that included a nerve-tingling no-hitter in one encounter and a seven-run explosion in the other, the Yankees yesterday clinched the 1951 American League pennant. It was their third flag in a row and 18th in 30 years.
With Allie Reynolds tossing his second no-hitter of the year — a feat previously achieved by only one other hurler in history — the Bombers vanquished the Red Sox in the opener of the double-header at the Stadium, 8 to 0.
Then, behind big Vic Raschi, the Stengeleers crushed the already eliminated Bosox, 11 to 3, to the cheers of 39,038 fans. Joe DiMaggio further embellished the triumph with a three-run homer as another flag was nailed to the Yankee masthead.
Those who sat in on the show are not likely to forget those last tense moments when Reynolds, who had walked four batters during the game, had to collect "twenty-eight outs" before reaching his goal.
With two outs in the ninth and the still-fearsome Ted Williams at bat, a high foul was struck back of home plate. Yogi Berra, usually sure on these, scampered under it but in the next agonizing moment the ball squirmed out of his glove as the Yanks' chunky backstop went sprawling on his face.
It meant Williams would have to be pitched to some more. But Reynolds, an amazingly good-natured competitor under the most trying circumstances, patted Berra consolingly on the back and said, "Don't worry, Yogi, we'll get him again."
And sure enough, up went another high, twisting foul off to the right side of the plate. It looked tougher than the first one. But Yogi meant to catch this one if it burst a girth rope and as he finally froze the ball directly in front of the Yankee dugout, Reynolds first, and virtually all the other Yankees jubilantly piled on top of him. For a moment, it looked as if Berra, not Reynolds, was the hero of the occasion.
Berra Is Selected as Most Valuable in American League
By Joseph M. Sheehan • November 9, 1951
Lawrence Peter (Yogi) Berra, durable and hard-hitting catcher of the World Series champion Yankees, yesterday was named the American League's most valuable player of 1951.
In one of the closest polls ever conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America, the stocky 26-year-old receiver of the Bombers edged out Ned Garver, the St. Louis Browns' pitcher, and Allie Reynolds, his Yankee battery-mate.
The voting panel of three writers from each of the eight American League cities gave six first-place votes each to Berra, Garver, and Reynolds. However, Yogi had the strongest support in the weighted scoring of each writer's first ten selections.
Berra tallied 184 points to 157 for Garver, a 20-game winner with the last-place Browns, and 125 for Reynolds, first American League pitcher to hurl two no-hitters in one season.
Five other players received first-place mention. They were Orestes Minoso, Chicago's rookie outfielder, who placed fourth with 120 points; Ferris Fain, Philadelphia's league batting leader, sixth with 103 points; Ellis Kinder, Boston's relief ace, seventh with 66 points; Phil Rizzuto, Yankee shortstop, who won last year's award and finished eleventh this time with 47 points; and Ed Lopat, Yankee southpaw, twelfth with 44 points.
The selection of Berra marked the first time that catchers were picked as the most valuable player of both major leagues. Roy Campanella, Brooklyn's slugging backstop, last week won the National League award.
Mickey Cochrane, named in 1928 and 1934, was the only other catcher to receive the American League award.
Winning the most valuable player designation is an old Yankee habit. As the 10th Bomber since the poll became official in 1922, Berra joins such illustrious predecessors as Babe Ruth (1923), Lou Gehrig (1927 and 1936), Joe DiMaggio (1936, 1941, and 1947), Joe Gordon (1942), Spud Chandler (1943), and Rizzuto (1950).
By his own standards, Berra did not have his best season in 1951. A September slump dropped his batting average to .294, as against .322 in 1950. And though he led the Yankees in these respects, his 27 home runs and 88 runs batted in fell short of his corresponding 1950 totals of 28 and 124.
However, he was the solid man of the Yankees on a day-to-day basis. Besides being their most dangerous hitter and a fine base-runner, Berra did a remarkable job behind the bat. He caught 141 games.
To Yogi's astute handling of his pitchers belongs a good share of credit for the 24 shutouts turned in by the Yankee staff. This was the biggest whitewashing job in the American League since the Red Sox accounted for 26 shut-outs in the "dead ball" days of 1918.
At the handsome new home in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, to which he moved from St. Louis this spring with his wife, Carmen, and two young children, Berra received the news of his selection with pleased surprise.
"I never thought I'd get it," said Yogi, over the phone. "I'm sure tickled pink, though, and I feel great about it."
Berra Signs Yanks' Contract
By Roscoe McGowen • November 4, 1954
Lawrence Peter (Yogi) Berra yesterday signed a one-year contract with the New York Yankees for a salary estimated at $48,000, making him the highest-paid catcher in baseball and "probably" the highest-paid Yankee for 1955, according to George Weiss, general manager.
"We haven't mailed out our contracts yet," said Weiss, "but I'd say Berra has a good chance to be the top man."
The affable and outspoken Yogi described his negotiations with Weiss thus:
"We were at the Grantland Rice dinner last Sunday night and Weiss asked me what I wanted next year. I told him I didn't want to name a figure. I said: 'You name one and maybe I'll like it.' He named one and I said: 'Okay.' That's all there was to it.
"Did I get a raise?" He grinned broadly. "Sure, I got a good raise."
Somebody asked Yogi how much he was paid on his first contract in the organization when he signed with Norfolk, Virginia (Piedmont League). Yogi hesitated and turned to Weiss.
"Shall I tell 'em?" he asked.
"Sure, why not?" answered Weiss.
With an almost embarrassed grin Yogi said, "Ninety" — meaning $90 per month.
"But," Weiss hastily interposed, "we gave Yogi a $500 bonus to sign."
So Berra, baseball's top catcher in 1954, has jumped from $90 to approximately $9,000 a month in thirteen years (including next year), which must be rated as reasonable financial progress.
Yogi had one of his better years in the recent season, batting .307 and driving in 125 runs, the latter his top figure in his eight full seasons with the Yankees. His hits included twenty-seven doubles, six triples and twenty-two home runs.
Berra, who won't be 30 years old until next May 12, caught in 149 games, including many double-headers, and played third base in the season's final game.
Yogi's best hitting year was in 1950 with a .322 average and his top home run season was in 1952, when he belted thirty. In 1950 Yogi drove in 124 runs.
"I got the minimum, $5,000, the first year," he said. "Then I got a $4,000 raise every year except one, when I got a $5,000 boost. After that," he added impishly, "you're on your own."
It was, of course, after his big 1950 season that the increases began to jump rapidly. For the 1954 season he probably was getting considerably more than the estimates of $40,000 to $42,000, which were made last winter.
Berra Chosen MVP for Second Time
By Roscoe McGowen • December 10, 1954
Yogi Berra, the Yankees' catcher, yesterday won the American League's Most Valuable Player Award for the second time.
"Winning this one is a bigger thrill than winning it in 1951," Berra said.
Yogi is the sixth two-time winner in his league and the first repeater since Ted Williams won in 1946 and 1949. There have been two triple winners — Jimmy Foxx in 1932, 1933, and 1938 and Joe DiMaggio in 1939, 1941, and 1947.
The double, winners were Hank Greenberg, 1935 and 1940; Hal Newhouser, 1944 and 1945; and Williams.
The vote by the twenty-four-man committee of the Baseball Writers Association of America was close. Berra outscored two Cleveland players — Larry Doby and Bobby Avila.
Yogi polled 230 points to 210 for Doby, an outfielder; and 203 for Avila, a second baseman. The Yankee catcher was named on seven first-place ballots, while Doby, Avila, and Bob Lemon, Indian pitcher, attracted five each. Minnie Minoso of the White Sox was the only other player to gain first-place support, with two votes.
This division of voting on Cleveland players tipped the scales in Berra's favor. Three other Indians also figured in the balloting. Al Rosen, last year's unanimous winner, polled 16 points, Mike Garcia 6, and Jim Hegan 5.
Aside from Berra, only four Yankees made the list and none drew a first-place ballot. Bob Grim, 20-game winning rookie pitcher, was eleventh with 25 points. The outfielders, Mickey Mantle and Irv Noren, tied with 16 points, and Hank Bauer got 4.
Berra was a solid man on the Yankees despite their failure to win the pennant. He batted .307 and drove in 125 runs, one behind Doby, the league leader. Yogi's 179 hits in 584 times at bat included 22 home runs.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Yogi 1925â"2015 by Dave Anderson. Copyright © 2015 The New York Times. Excerpted by permission of Triumph Books.
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