Yogi Berra passes away; HOF legend was 90

American sports figure other than Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali and perhaps Arnold

Palmer and Joe DiMaggio was more recognized by the general public in the 20th century. And though his profile had become significantly lower in the last decade, Berra had retained a conspicuous place in the American consciousness. He was extraordinarily popular.
He still is routinely cited, quoted and appreciated by presidents and plumbers, commissioners and comedians, wideouts and waitresses, goalies and garbage collectors, authors and auto mechanics, admirals, network anchors and professional wrestlers. All felt a kinship with the bow-legged catcher from The Hill in St. Louis who was the inspiration for a cartoon and known everywhere by his unique nickname.
"While we mourn the loss of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, we know he is at peace with Mom," his family said in a statement released by the museum. "We celebrate his remarkable life, and are thankful he meant so much to so many. He will truly be missed."
Berra is most readily linked to championships in the game he played from 1946, when he broke in with the Yankees, until '65, when he made a brief return to active duty and took his final at-bat with the Mets. His teams played in the World Series 14 times and won it 10 times. No other player has a comparable October resume.
Retired as a player, he managed the Yankees to the World Series in 1964 and the Mets to their

"Ya Gotta Believe" World Series appearance nine years later. It was during the Mets' worst-to-first rush in late summer '73 when a phrase widely attributed to him became popular and, over decades, frequently invoked by those fighting diminishing chances -- "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Some question exists, however, as to whether he said those six words.
Reporters covering the Mets that day recall his words as, "You're never out of it until you're out of it."
His words, manner and unmistakable physical image, when combined with his nickname, created a phenomenon that defied the limits of the dictionary. Steve Jacobson, a former Newsday columnist, wrote: "Yogi looks just as it sounds; it's 'onomata appearance.'"
Berra's face was readily recognized throughout the land, and he was instantly identifiable from behind when he wore his signature No. 8 uniform jersey. With apologies to Willie Stargell, Kobe Bryant, Cal Ripken Jr., Carl Yastrzemski, Troy Aikman, Bill Dickey and Sammy Baugh, Berra's No. 8 ranks first in the American roster of 8's.
But even when he wore one of his favored cardigan sweaters instead -- Berra once purchased three of differing colors, "navy blue, navy green and navy brown," he said -- he was easily recognized because of his distinctive shoulders, bowed legs and droopy posture.
Berra gained fame and distinction, though, mostly because of the on-field success he shared -- and fueled, because he played the game at a level few others ever have attained and because he hit as almost no else has. He routinely swung at pitches out of the strike zone, hit with power, seldom struck out and often delivered in the most challenging circumstances. Long before the words were attributed to him, it wasn't over until it was over if the game was tight and Mr. Berra still had an at-bat pending.
He was universally regarded as a tough out and a tougher out in late innings. "There's no way to pitch him," Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn said. "You can't expect to throw one by him." Wynn walked Berra 20 times and struck him out 11 times in 204 confrontations. Berra batted .311 with eight home runs against him.
Berra's skills as a catcher and batter sometimes were obscured by his comic-book image. But his baseball jewelry -- 13 World Series rings, the three American League MVP Awards that bear his name (1951, '54 and '55) and the slew of World Series records he holds (most games, at-bats, hits, singles, doubles and games caught) are irrefutable evidence of his talent and impact as a player.
He batted .285, hit 358 home runs and drove in 1,430 runs. No player whose primary position was catcher has driven in run more runs. He averaged just fewer than 5.5 strikeouts per 100 at-bats, never striking out more than 38 times in a season, and 102 RBIs per season in an 11-season sequence that began in 1948, the first year he appeared in more than 100 games.
DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle were his teammates from 1946-51 and 1951-63, respectively; still,

Berra led the Yankees in RBIs for seven successive seasons beginning in 1949. He was among the four leading MVP candidates each year from 1950 through '56, placing second twice. He received MVP votes in 15 straight years.

He returned to the Yankees in 1976, the year they won the pennant for the first time since he managed them to the World Series in '64. The Astros won the National League West championship in 1986, Berra's first season wearing their Crayola uniforms.

East tiebreaker against the Red Sox. "Having him in the dugout worked, though," Steinbrenner said following the Bucky Dent game.

Hindu holy man the two had seen in a movie. In his early years with the Yankees, Berra was most often called Larry.

Major League Baseball. He is currently an ambassador for Athlete Ally, which promotes LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights in sports.

Yogi turned 90 in May, he had 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

And, of the three sons, Larry, the oldest one, most resembles his father. He has the mannerisms, phrasing and body type most like Yogi's.

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Bear in 1958, though the character's creators, Hanna-Barbera Productions, somehow -- and it still seems preposterous -- denied the link.

Whiteys, but the game has had only one Yogi. How many celebrities get by without mention of their surnames -- Lucy, Elvis, Ike, Cher, Marilyn, LeBron, Dizzy, Madonna, Ringo?

It keeps everybody active, keeps everybody kind of sharp.

Mets feel their more experienced players provide better options down the stretch.