Great story thanks! Yogi lived in Montclair and I grew up in Cedar Grove. He used to attend morning mass at our church sometimes (St. Catherines) because it was right down the hill from their house. I was an altar boy and we used to get assigned to morning mass and that is where I would see him. He was always very unassuming and would sometimes come with his wife but usually alone. We used to ride bikes by his house and a few times he saw us and waved and once came out and talked to us about baseball and asked if we were playing in Little League. He was a great guy and as I grew up I met him a few times around town and he was always friendly. He spoke at a gathering called Mens Night every few years and would break the place up - never very prepared and he would just tell stories. Was glad I got to be in his presence multiple times. He was a real treasure. RIP Yogi.
Yogi Gone!
- Thread starter Halldan1
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There was a great story about Yogi's tryout with the Yankees in SI a couple of decades a go. Casey Stengel was not impressed with Yogi's size or athleticism. During his batting practice tryout, Yogi was crushing fast balls and curves from Whitey Ford (as I recall). Casey ordered Whitey to pitch them both high, low outside instead of down the middle. Yogi still crushed each pitch. Casey then ordered Whitey to throw one right at Yogi who also crushed that pitch without flinching. That's when Casey decided there was room for Yogi on the Yankees. Smartest move of Casey's career.
Whitey may have been too young to be that guy. Another great story. Branch Rickey was the GM of SL and offered Yogi a lowball offer cause he knew he was leaving for the Dodgers and hoped to get him for Brooklyn. But the NYY saw him and Rickey had to settle for Roy Campanella. The three NY centerfielders are well documented, but having Berra and Campie in the same city is nuts too.
I know what you mean. My mother in law lived with us when she got older, and she could tell me what she was doing wihen the market crashed in 29, but didn't remember what she had for lunch, and I am on that path too. Those 40s Yanks had some terrific pitchers.
Had no idea until right now that he passed. I am currently in the bahamas with the gf and promised I would not be on my phone or computer.
As a life long Yankee fan (27 years) yogi was the man in my mind. I was lucky enough to meet him a handful of times and will never forget it. Wish I had the oppertunity to see him play.
As a life long Yankee fan (27 years) yogi was the man in my mind. I was lucky enough to meet him a handful of times and will never forget it. Wish I had the oppertunity to see him play.
This is what was so great about the pro athletes of yesteryear They were regular people and had a sense of just being normal; they were part of the community.
Now they're royalty and live in fortresses. Different times.
You can bet O'Malley and the other rich owners who were paying these guys peanuts didn't still live in the neighborhood and make a few bucks in the off season by doing a commercial for Bill's Clothing Store. IMO the players aren't different, just their paychecks.
No disrespect for the dead intended, but that man hit more cheap HRs at the Stadium than the rest of the Yanks combined. 296 down the line and it seemed that Yogi hit them 300 feet, just over the glove of the straining right fielder, usually a Red Sox frequently in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game. RIP, Yogi
There was something special about watching WS games in the late afternoon back then. The,shadow of the upper deck would cover the batter while the pitcher threw from sunlight. Couldn't have been easy to pick up the pitch. Or a drive to the outfield. A lot to be said for the black and white world of sports back then, making the game more interesting and difficult in some ways
No other Yankee was able to do that so maybe a little guy with a little talent was just a little better than many Yans past and present. He also hit more bad pitch homers than anyone else.
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