Baseball great Yogi Berra has died at the age of 90. Born Lawrence Peter Berra, he got the nickname Yogi in childhood. In his 17 years as catcher with the New York Yankees, he won 10 World Series rings (the most of any player) and made the All Star team 15 times.
A few years ago, Major League Baseball held a fan vote for the greatest moment in the history of the game. The runaway winner was the end of Don Larson's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. After the last pitch, Yogi ran to the mound and jumped into Larson's arms. (See vid below) He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
He was a combat veteran of World War 2.
He also gave the English language the Yogi-ism, sayings that would make Murray Walker's head spin. A few examples: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it!" "It's Deja Vu all over again." "Nobody goes there any more, it's to crowded." "Great pitching will always overcome great hitting and vice versa." "It gets late early out here." And most famous of all, "It ain't over til it's over."
Of course, he was credited with many thing that came from others. As Yogi explained it, "I didn't really say all of the things I said."
The cartoon character Yogi Bear was named after him.
RIP, Yogi. You're one of a kind. We'll miss you. One last Yogi-ism. His wife Carmen once asked him where he'd like to be buried. "I don't know, Carm. Surprise me."