Let’s Talk About Yogi Berra & The Yogi-isms

 

Yogi Berra was an American professional baseball player and coach who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. He spent almost his entire MLB career with the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. During his playing days, Berra was a three-time American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 15-time All-Star. He won 10 World Series championships as a player and made numerous contributions to the Yankees' dynasty from 1947 to 1963. He also managed the Yankees and two other teams after retiring as a player and served as a coach for the New York Mets. Berra is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers of all time due to his defensive skills and his ability to handle pitchers. He was known for his witty and often confusing quotes, which became known as "Yogi-isms".

Lawrence Peter ‘Yogi’ Berra was born on May 12, 1925. He acquired the nickname Yogi during his teenage years when he was playing American Legion Baseball, and it has been with him ever since. The story of how he got it is an interesting one. The story goes that one day after attending a movie that showed a short piece on India, his friend Jack Maguire noticed a resemblance between him and the “yogi”, or person who practiced yoga, on the screen. Maguire was so taken by the similarity that he said “I’m going to call you Yogi” and from that moment on, the name stuck. Berra accepted the name with good humor and embraced it, and it soon became a part of his identity. Over the years, he became the face of the New York Yankees and a beloved figure in baseball. He was so popular that he was even given his own cartoon series in the 1960s.

The Yogi Berra Yogi-isms offer a humorous and incisive look into the world. Many of his quotes are so well-known that they have become part of our cultural lexicon. For example, his famous quote, "It ain't over 'til it's over," is often cited in discussions about perseverance and determination.

Yogi-isms are not just about sports, however. His wisdom extends to all aspects of life, from the mundane to the profound. One of his most famous quotes is, "You can observe a lot by just watching." This speaks to the importance of paying attention and learning from the world around us. Other Yogi-isms offer insight into the human condition, such as, "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded." This speaks to the paradox of people wanting to be part of something popular while also wanting to stand out from the crowd.

Yogi-isms are a testament to the power of brevity and wit. Whether you are a sports fan or not, his words offer something for everyone. They are funny, thought-provoking, and timeless. With their unique blend of humor and wisdom, Yogi-isms are sure to remain an important part of our culture for years to come.

Yogi Berra was certainly a renowned character on and off the field, known for his amusing anecdotes. But his presence around the home plate was especially memorable, as he was known for distracting batters from their game with his talking. During the 1958 World Series, he told Hank Aaron to "hit with the label up on the bat". Aaron looked around, smiled, and said "Yogi, shut up, I'm here to hit, not to read."

Yogi Berra died of natural causes on September 22, 2015. He was 90 years old.

If you asked baseball fans today, who is considered the best catcher in baseball history? I think the answer would most often be Yogi Berra. Recapping his record, Berra played for the New York Yankees from 1946 to 1965 and was known for his excellent defense and his powerful bat. He was a three-time MVP, and 14-time All-Star, and played on 10 World Series-winning teams. Berra was also a master of the game of baseball, with an incredible ability to read the game and make the right plays at the right time. His stats speak for themselves: he had 358 home runs, 1,430 RBIs, and a .285 batting average. His leadership was also invaluable to his teams, and he was widely respected by his peers and opponents alike. Berra was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972, and his legacy lives on in the hearts of baseball fans everywhere  

Let me end with this. If you're looking for some life advice, Yogi Berra is one of the best people to turn to. Known for his witty, funny, and often profound sayings, Yogi Berra has provided a wealth of wisdom over the years. While there are many great Yogi Berra sayings to choose from, here is my personal Top 5 Yogi-isms. 

1. "It ain't over 'til it's over." This classic Yogi Berra quote reminds us that even if things don't look good right now, it doesn't mean that it will always be like this. Things change and they often do. 

2. "You can observe a lot by just watching." This powerful saying encourages us to take a step back and observe the world around us. We can often learn a lot if we will only take the time to pay attention. 

3. "It's déjà vu all over again." This quote speaks to the idea of history repeating itself and serves as a reminder that the same mistakes are often made over and over again. Something we shouldn’t allow. 

4. "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." This tongue-in-cheek saying suggests that we should take risks and make decisions, even if we don't know what the outcome will be. 

5. "If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else." This quote is a great reminder to set goals and stay focused on the endgame.

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And then there is this….

A man leaves home, makes three left turns, and is on his way back home when he notices two men in masks waiting for him. Who are they?

They’re the catcher and umpire.

Thanks for reading

Tom