I’m pretty sure my fascination with baseball had everything to do with the love my grandfather and his son (my uncle) had for the sport. And, somehow, Yogi Berra tied into it.
Allow me explain.
My grandfather and uncle both had soft spots for the New York Yankees and even though they spent a majority of their formative years in north central Wisconsin…I never questioned it. But it wasn’t like they advertised it. Really, the only way you knew was that plastic, beat up Yogi Berra figurine that my uncle kept on display.
Now, at the time, I thought…here’s a goofy looking little guy who once played for the Yankees, (kinda) shares a name with a cartoon bear and shows up from time to time on television to drop a nonsensical quote or two.
I never once thought of him as a three-time American League MVP, a 13-time World Series champion and an 18-time All-Star who used to show up from time to time on television to drop a nonsensical quip or two.
Until I got older.
The guy has been called by many (including Bill James) as the greatest catcher of all-time and a quick glance of his numbers makes that a hard claim to dispute.
But here, as we mourn the loss (and celebrate the life) of Lawrence Peter Berra…I’d rather focus on some of those aforementioned quotes and play a quick game of “Who Said It?”.
“Don’t compare me to Babe Ruth. God gave me the opportunity and the ability to be here at the right time, at the right moment, just like he gave Babe Ruth when he was playing.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or former slugger Sammy Sosa?
“All pitchers are liars or crybabies.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or MVP-turned-author Jose Canseco?
“Even Napoleon had his Watergate.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or former President Richard Nixon?
“Sometimes they write what I say and not what I mean.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or former big leaguer Pedro Guerrero?
“I wish I had an answer to that because I’m tired of answering that question.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or late night talk show host Conan O’Brien?
“It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or journalist Barbara Walters?
“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or Academy Award winning actor Robert DeNiro?
“I have often wanted to drown my troubles, but I can’t get my wife to go swimming.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or all-around good guy Jimmy Carter?
“Texas has a lot of electrical votes.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or former Governor of Texas (and President) George W. Bush?
“If I had nine of my fingers missing I wouldn’t type any slower.”
Who said it…Yogi Berra or late comedian Mitch Hedberg?
Think you’ve got it figured out? Click HERE to get your answers…good luck!
We’ll miss you, Yogi.
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