Former New York Yankees catcher and manager Yogi Berra has died at the age of 90.
The Missourian played in 21 World Series, winning 13 with the Yankees, and was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1972. He was also one of only a handful of managers to lead separate National and American League teams to a World Series appearance.
Lawrence Peter Berra, known to the world as Yogi, batted .285 for his career with 358 homers and 1,430 Runs Batted In over his career. He also served in the US Navy during World War II, taking part in the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach in Normandy. On his return from the war, he was signed by the New York Yankees.
"He'd fall in a sewer and come up with a gold watch" - Casey Stengel
Renowned as a tough catcher and a feared clutch hitter, he helped the Yankees dominate baseball from 1947 to 1963. On a team packed with great players like Mickey Mantle and Joe Di Maggio, Berra led the Yankees in RBIs for seven consecutive seasons.
He succeeded Ralph Houk as Yankees manager in 1964 but was soon fired. He then led the New York Mets between 1972 and 1975. The saying 'It ain't over till it's over' was coined by then-Mets coach Berra when he refused to concede defeat to the Chicago Cubs in the race for the 1973 divisional title. The Mets would overturn a 9.5 deficit to triumph on the last day of the season and reach the World Series.
Staying in New York, Berra left the Mets and returned to the Yankees in the Bronx as a coach alongside manager Billy Martin in 1976.
Berra was often seen as a lucky charm during his Yankee playing days and this continued during this period on the coaching staff, which saw the Yankees end a long drought to win the 1977 World Series and another in 1978. Former manager Casey Stengel once said of Berra, "He'd fall in a sewer and come up with a gold watch."
This morning the Yankees organisation said it was "deeply saddened by the loss of a Yankees legend and American hero, Yogi Berra."
In a statement from the Yogi Berra Museum, which was published on MLB.com, Berra's family said: "While we mourn the loss of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, we know he is at peace with Mom.
"We celebrate his remarkable life, and are thankful he meant so much to so many. He will truly be missed."
Classic Yogi Berra quotes:
- "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore."
- "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."
- "It ain't over 'til it's over."
- "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
- "Ninety percent of this game is mental. The other half is physical."
- "You can observe a lot by watching."
- "It's deja vu all over again."
- "Always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, theywon't go to yours."
- "The future ain't what it used to be."
- "If people don't want to come out to the park, nobody's going to stop them."
- "He's learning me all his experience."
- "We made too many wrong mistakes."
- "Make a game plan and stick to it. Unless it's not working."
