Yogi Berra

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (born May 12, 1925) is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who played almost his entire career for the New York Yankees. He is one of only four players to be named the Most Valuable Player of the American League three times, and one of only six managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series. He currently lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

Related Topics:
May 12 - 1925 - Catcher - Manager - Major League Baseball - New York Yankees - Most Valuable Player - American League - National League - World Series - Montclair, New Jersey

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Born in an area of St. Louis called "The Hill", Berra was originally nicknamed Lawdie, a diminutive of his name Lawrence. He picked up his nickname from a friend who said he resembled a Hindu holy man (yogi) that they had seen in a movie. Young Mr. Berra apparently liked to sit on the ground while waiting for his turn to bat with his arms and legs crossed in a yoga-like position. (The Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Yogi Bear was named after Berra.) He began playing baseball in local American Legion leagues, where he learned the basics of play as a catcher. After rejecting an offer from the St. Louis Cardinals, he signed with the Yankees in 1942. His childhood friend Joe Garagiola was considered a better prospect by the Cardinals and was offered a better bonus, which led to the rejection.

Related Topics:
St. Louis - The Hill - Nickname - Yogi - Hanna-Barbera - Yogi Bear - St. Louis Cardinals - 1942 - Joe Garagiola

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He is generally considered to be one of the best catchers in history. In two recent (2004) approaches by sabermetricians Berra is ranked first by the Bill James Win Shares method and third by the Total Baseball Total Player Rating method.

Related Topics:
Sabermetricians - Bill James - Win Shares - Total Baseball - Total Player Rating

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Berra is also quite famous for his tendency toward malapropism and fracturing the English language in highly provocative, interesting ways; see Yogiisms.

Related Topics:
Malapropism - Yogiisms

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Yogi was named Wisest Fool of the Past 50 Years by the Economist magazine in January 2005.

Related Topics:
Economist magazine - January - 2005

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