Wednesday, March 31, 2021

1960 Profile: Yogi Berra

1960 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Yogi Berra has been the league's best catcher - and best conversationalist - the past nine years. He has also hit more home runs (303) than any receiver in history and has a .287 lifetime batting average.
Born in St. Louis, Yogi played at Norfolk and Newark before starting his 14-year career in 1946. Yogi, who likes to talk to umpires and opposing players on every and all subjects, has been the league's Most Valuable Player on three occasions (1951, '54, '55). His World Series records: first to pinch-hit a homer; most games played; most hits made and most runs batted in in one Series (10 in 1956). Yogi, who has also played the outfield, will be 35 in May. After a slow '59 start, he finished with .284 and 19 home runs."

-Don Schiffer, 1960 Mutual Baseball Annual

1959
May 10: Breaks major league catching record with 148th straight errorless game, hits home run in 3-2 win over Senators. Streak ends at 149 games.
May 20: Playing right, hits two home runs in loss to Tigers.
May 24: Hits three-run homer and two singles in 9-0 rout of Orioles.
June 3: Hits two-run homer and single in 11-5 win over Tigers.
June 19: Gets 1,200th RBI on single.
June 30: Beats Orioles, 4-1, with two-run single.
July 8: Three RBIs on home run and single in 11-5 win over Red Sox.
July 16: Paces sweep over Indians with homer, double, two singles.
July 25: Beats Tigers, 9-8, with two-run homer in 9th.
July 29: Ties White Sox, 4-4, with two-run homer in rain.
August 7: Hits home run in 3-0 win over A's.
August 9: Ties A's with 300th home run (pinch-hit); Yanks win.
August 18: Leads 5-3 win over Tigers with two-run homer and single.
September 2: Beats Senators, 4-3, with two-run homer in 8th.
September 6: Hits home run, has three RBIs in 5-4 win over Orioles.
Comment: "Berra raised his average to normal after two sub-par years and added to his reputation as a clutch hitter. He's reaching the point where he should cut down his work load."

-Joe Sheehan, Dell Sports Magazine Baseball, April 1960

"There's not much about this man that every fan doesn't know. Lawrence Peter 'Yogi' Berra has become a baseball legend. 
One of the most popular and colorful players ever to don the Yankee pin stripe, Yogi owns a host of records. Just a few of these include: most homers by a catcher, lifetime, 291 (he has a total of 303); first player to hit a pinch homer in a World Series (1947); has played the most games and has the most hits of any World Series performer in history; one of six players to hit a Series grand slam; set Series record of 10 RBIs (1956); caught a record 148 consecutive errorless games (959 chances); member of 11 American League All-Star teams and named MVP of the second All-Star Game in 1959; American League's Most Valuable Player in 1951, 1954 and 1955.
Yes, indeed, one of the all-time Yankees."

-The New York Yankees Official 1960 Yearbook

Lawrence Peter Berra (C)     #8
Born May 12, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, resides in Montclair, N.J. Height: 5-8, weight: 191. Bats left, throws right. Married and father of three boys, Lawrence Jr. (10), Timmy (8) and Dale (3).

-The New York Yankees Official 1960 Yearbook

"Even he's approaching the end of a brilliant career, Yogi Berra is still one of the most feared hitters in the American League. Since joining the Yankees from Newark at the tail end of the 1946 season, Berra has blasted 303 home runs and driven in 1,244 tallies in league play.
A three-time winner of the Most Valuable Player award (1951-54-55), Yogi has the distinction of being the first player to ever hit a pinch-hit home run in World Series competition. He did it against the Dodgers on October 2, 1947.
In addition to his catching chores, Berra has also played the outfield, first and third for New York, and he worked out at third base in St. Petersburg this spring just in case the Yanks need him there.
Born in St. Louis, Berra and his lovely wife, Carmen, and their three sons now reside in Montclair, N.J.
As a catcher, Berra has belted 291 of his homers, the most by any backstop in big league history. And, he shares the American League record for most homers by a catcher in a single season with big Gus Triandos of the Orioles.
When Yogi first joined the club his work behind the plate left much to be desired. However, under the watchful eye of Bill Dickey, he was turned into one of the best handlers of pitchers-  and would-be base runners- the game has known.
Berra has played in more World Series games than any player in history, 61, and has the most Series hits, 61. And, his 10 RBIs in the 1956 classic are also a record.
Last season his batting average was .284 in 131 contests and he connected for the circuit 19 times while driving in 69 runs. His extra-base hit output included 25 doubles and a triple.
His highest batting mark was achieved in 1950 when he hit a solid .322. And he hit his paramount in RBIs in '54 with 125, one more than he had in 1950. Yogi has hit seven grand slam homers since joining the Yanks.
Berra's minor league experience was limited to a year with Norfolk, 1943, and a year with Newark, 1946. In between, he was in military service.
The little man built more like a fireplug than a slugger still has a few years of top caliber ball still left in him. He'll be 35 in May, but as long as Yogi Berra can swing a bat he'll drawing the respect and acclaim due an 11-time All-Star selection.
Yogi and former shortstop Phil Rizzuto (who now shares the announcing chores with Mel Allen and Red Barber) are partners in a bowling alley in Clifton, N.J. And, the popular slugger is also bossman of a soft drink firm in the Garden State."

-New York Yankees 1960 Yearbook (Jay Publishing Co.)

The Yankees' Yogi Berra, on his ideas of third base play: "It's not a bad job- if no balls are hit to you!"

-Baseball Digest, July 1960

"Veteran of 11 World Series, Lawrence Peter 'Yogi' Berra has played in more games and has made more hits in World Series competition than any player in baseball history. Among the 23 Series records he owns or shares is batting in the most runs in a seven-game Series (10). He is one of six men to hit a Series grand slam homer.
Yogi has belted more than 300 home runs as a catcher, a major league record. Three times the American League's Most Valuable Player, Berra has been on 13 consecutive All-Star teams."

-1960 World Series Official Souvenir Program

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