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Yogi Berra

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Yogi Berra was one of the most famous baseball players ever.

Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra

He was a catcher, which is the player who stays behind the batter. He spent most of his career playing for the New York Yankees. Berra was known for being a powerful hitter and a great defender. He won 10 World Series championships as a player. This is more than any other player in history. He was also named the Most Valuable Player three times. People still remember him today as a true legend of the game.

Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle
Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle

Playing catcher is a very hard job that requires many skills. Berra was quick and mobile behind the plate. He was great at helping his pitchers do their best work. He even helped catch a perfect game in the 1956 World Series. In a perfect game, no other player reaches base. Berra also set a record for the most shutouts caught. A shutout is when a team prevents the other team from scoring. He was the first catcher to leave one finger outside his glove. This style became very popular with other players later on.

Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle
Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle

Berra's life began in a neighborhood called The Hill in St. Louis.

Yogi Berra 1969
Yogi Berra 1969

His parents were Italian immigrants named Pietro and Paolina. He grew up in a large family with brothers and a sister. Because he wanted to help his family with money, he left school after the eighth grade. Before his big career, he served in the United States Navy. He was a gunner's mate during the Normandy landings in World War II. He was wounded during his service and received a Purple Heart medal.

Purple Heart Medal
Purple Heart Medal

Berra joined the Yankees in 1943 and made his major-league debut in 1946. He played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball. During his time with the Yankees, he hit 358 home runs. He also had a career batting average of .285. In 1951, 1954, and 1955, he won the American League MVP award. He was selected as an All-Star 18 different times. The Yankees retired his number 8 uniform in 1972 to honor him. He was also elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Yogi Berra 1981
Yogi Berra 1981

After he stopped playing, Berra stayed very busy in baseball. He worked as a manager and a coach for many teams. He coached the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. He even returned to the Yankees to coach and manage them again. People often laughed at his funny way of speaking. He used short, strange phrases that people still quote today. One famous thing he said was, "It ain't over 'til it's over." He also opened a museum to teach people about his life and career.

Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Purple Heart Medal.png
Purple Heart Medal.png
File:United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg
United States Navy Presidential Unit...
File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg
File:American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign...
File:Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle.jpg
Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle.jpg
File:Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle.jpg
Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle.jpg
File:Yogi Berra 1969.jpg
Yogi Berra 1969.jpg
File:Yogi Berra 1981.JPG
Yogi Berra 1981.JPG
File:Yogi Berra.jpg
Yogi Berra.jpg
File:Sparky Anderson George W. Bush Yogi Berra.jpg
Sparky Anderson George W. Bush Yogi Berra.jpg
File:Yogi2.JPG
Yogi2.JPG
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