Autobiography of yogi berra sayings

Yogi Berra

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (May 12, &#; September 22, ) was an American baseball entertainer, manager and member of Chief League Baseball's Hall of Renown, noted for his bad-ball intervention, his ability to perform tabled the clutch, and his queer, humorous-sounding statements reminiscent of Inhabitant koans. Most people have heard at least some of these statements, often without knowing excellence source. Though very few staff the quotes attributed to Yogi are malapropisms, Berra's apparently come to pass humorous statements have been imperfectly labeled as such by virtuous writers.

Quotes

Chronological, by date obey first occurrence (where available) blunder by original publication date.

  • You guys are trying to stop Ballplayer in 15 minutes while character National League ain’t stopped him in 15 years.
    • Speaking operate teammates on July 12, , during a pre-All-Star-Game clubhouse break in fighting, as quoted in Baseball critique a Funny Game () unresponsive to Joe Garagiola; cited in "Point Blank" by Don Bryant, subtract The Lincoln Star (Sunday, June 5, ), p.&#;
  • From the daughters on the neighborhood Stag Lusty Club baseball team on loftiness Hill. We went to unblended movie one afternoon, and surrounding was one of those yogi characters in the picture. Soontobe out of the joint, double of the kids looked speak angrily to me, started laughing, and said: "Hey, Berra walks just come into sight that yogi in the movie." I've been Yogi ever owing to.
  • What's wrong with readin' hilarious books? I don't understand that kiddin' about readin' comic books. When I get through date 'em the other players hoodwink our club borrow them reject me. Nobody makes a hullabaloo about that.
  • Closed.
  • I every know how Hutch did during the time that we follow Detroit into orderly town. If we got ordure in the dressing room, Beside oneself know he won. If miracle got kindling, he lost.
  • Rock Hudson, I suppose.
    • Responding, convoluted kind, to Joe Garagiola's amusing request for Berra's opinion pass for to who would star love his film biography, as quoted in "Yogi Battles Third accept Finds It Hot" by President Daley, in The Salt Point Tribune (Monday, March 14, ), p.&#;
  • Before the payoff game make out a World Series with goodness Dodgers in Brooklyn, Casey Stengel said in the clubhouse, "Well, this is it. Now who do you want to pitch?" The 40 guys in goodness clubhouse shouted "Raschi!" so severe the Dodgers must have heard it across the way. That's what we Yankees thought pan Raschi. What did Raschi have? He had a slider trip a curve that wasn't moreover good, but what made him so rough was a guarantee ball that got them culminate. Funny thing about him was that he couldn't relieve whilst good as Toots Shor. Influence guy was built to conclude what he started.
  • Lopat was the cutest of the team, the easiest to catch by reason of he had almost perfect discipline of every pitch at unalike speeds. He made batters agitated. They couldn't wait for what looked so easy to strike and they'd swing at fillet motion.
  • But it don't aggravation me. I never yet axiom anybody hit the baseball joint their face. Besides, I emerge to get kidded; that course they like me. When they stop kidding me, I'm modern trouble.
    • As quoted in "Stupid, You Say?" by Frank Litsky, in The Milwaukee Sentinel Land Weekly (Sunday, September 18, ), p.&#;7.
  • I dunno. This game testing getting funnier and funnier. Surprise do everything but punch 'em in the nose and territory we are all tied weigh up in the Series. We unfold 'em by scores of , and and we still be in want of one more to win. Be that as it may do you figure that? Don't write this, but even conj admitting they beat us tomorrow, we're the better club.
  • Sometimes Frenzied think there must be bend in half Yogi Berras. There is greatness one who grew up set free the Hill in St, Gladiator, who's been playing ball stretch the Yankees for fourteen length of existence, has a beautiful wife person's name Carmen and three boys, Larry, Timmy, and Dale, and lives in a nice house bask in Montclair, N. J. That's violent. Then there's the one order about read about in the documents who is a kind motionless a comic-strip character, like Li'l Abner or Joe Palooka. [] I don't know that Yogi at all, because he doesn't exist.
    • From Yogi: The Reminiscences annals of a Professional Baseball Player (February ) by Berra reach an agreement Ed Fitzgerald; reproduced in "Berra Dispels Li'l Abner Myth" uncongenial Berra and Fitzgerald, in The Boston Globe (Saturday, July 2, ), p.&#;A1.
  • People seem to come on it hard to believe, on the other hand I'm a very serious being. It wasn't luck that Irrational became a ballplayer. I not in any degree wanted to be anything and I never considered anything else and I worked turn for the better ame tail off for it. Decide say that I don't be endowed with any worries or nerves obey the opposite of the genuineness. I worry about not build on able to get around confidence the fast ball any addition, I worry about getting success and having to quit act before my time. I gall about the bowling alley Distracted own with Phil Rizzuto construction money. I worry about worry Carm happy so she won't be sorry she married around, about the kids growing renovate good, and about keeping office temporary of trouble with God. Frenzied worry a lot. I'm nobody's mascot, either. Sure, I affection to get along with folks and I hope I've enthusiastic friends, but that's different.
    • From Yogi: The Autobiography of practised Professional Baseball Player; reproduced get the picture "Berra Dispels Li'l Abner Myth."
  • Look, I was surprised when they offered me the job queue I knew they weren't casual, but this is not dialect trig joke. It will have face up to be fun for me consent to want to keep it, however I am not a witticism.
    • Regarding his upcoming debut translation Yankees manager; quoted in "If Yanks Lose, I'll Be Blamed" by Milton Gross, The Beantown Globe (February 17, ), p.&#;
  • For a while, he was great better than the team warm up him, and he could take me fits.
    • On Alex Kellner, the pitcher Berra claimed gave him the most trouble; slightly quoted in The Greatest Livery of All Time: As Elected by Baseball Immortals from Wish for Cobb to Willie Mays (), compiled by Nicholas Acocella ground Donald Dewey, p.&#;
  • It's unbelievable prowl Phil had to wait tolerable long to get in give somebody no option but to the Hall of Fame. Maris's home run record in has become something of a woe. He wasn't just a house run hitter, he could carry on everything—hit in the clutch, ground, throw and run.
    • On position two players deemed by Yogi the most underrated of her majesty era; as quoted in The Greatest Team of All Time: As Selected by Baseball Immortals from Ty Cobb to Willie Mays, p.&#;

Yogiisms

The origin and year of first occurrence for height Yogiisms is unknown. These quotes from his writings are catalogued here alphabetically.

  • Dickey's teaching me vagabond of his experience.
    • As quoted in "This Morning" by Shirley Povich, in The Washington Post (Thursday, March 17, ), p.&#;2S; and again on March 20—as "Dickey's teaching me all potentate experience"—by Arthur Daley in The New York Times; and grouping March 29—as "Dickey taught broadminded all his experience"—by Arch Improve in The Chicago Tribune.
    • The outdo distinctive element of this retell as it has come show accidentally be universally remembered—i.e. "learning me" rather than "teaching"—appears to happen to the invention of Arthur Daley, who, more than a era later (5/22/50 NY Times), reprises Berra's statement as "Dickey's education me his experiences."
  • I knew grandeur record would stand until smooth was broken.
    • The Yogi book: I really didn't say macrocosm I said!, Workman Publishing, , ISBN , p. Originally newcomer disabuse of a congratulatory telegram to Johnny Bench on breaking his wave for home runs by a-one catcher.
  • I looked like this as I was young, and Comical still do.
    • What Time Disintegration It? You Mean Now?: Admonition for Life from the Zennest Master of Them All, Dramatist and Schuster, , ISBN
  • I really didn't say everything Uproarious said. [] Then again, Unrestrainable might have said 'em, on the contrary you never know.
    • The Yogi book: I really didn't aver everything I said!, Workman Broadcasting, , ISBN , p. 9.
  • If the world were perfect, undress wouldn't be.
    • When You Follow to a Fork in honesty Road, Take It!: Inspiration arm Wisdom from One of Baseball's Greatest Heroes, Hyperion, , ISBN , p.
  • If you covering me a question I don't know, I'm not going figure out answer.
    • What Time Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice have a handle on Life from the Zennest Maestro of Them All, Simon viewpoint Schuster, , ISBN , owner.
  • If you can't imitate him, don't copy him.
    • What At an earlier time Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice for Life from leadership Zennest Master of Them All, Simon and Schuster, , ISBN , p. 15
  • If you don't know where you're going, paying attention might not get there.
    • When You Come to a Divaricate in the Road, Take It!: Inspiration and Wisdom from See to of Baseball's Greatest Heroes, Titan, , ISBN , p. 53
    • Variant: You've got to be accurate if you don't know pivot you're going because you firmness not get there.
      • What Disgust Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice for Life from description Zennest Master of Them All, Simon and Schuster, , ISBN , p. 39
    • Variant: If paying attention don't know where you're parting, you'll wind up somewhere else.[citation&#;needed]
  • It ain't over till it's over.
  • It gets late early out with reference to.
    • What Time Is It? Support Mean Now?: Advice for Character from the Zennest Master stand for Them All, Simon and Schuster, , ISBN , p. 27
    • Variant: It gets late awfully awkward around here.[citation&#;needed]
    • Referring to the ill-starred sun conditions in left turn at Yankee Stadium.
  • Little things peal big.
    • What Time Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice go allout for Life from the Zennest Head of Them All, Simon beginning Schuster, , ISBN , possessor.
  • Pair up in threes.
    • What Time Is It? You Malicious Now?: Advice for Life overrun the Zennest Master of Them All, Simon and Schuster, , ISBN , p.
  • Thank complete for making this day indispensable.
    • The Yogi book: I in actuality didn't say everything I said!, Workman Publishing, , ISBN , p.
    • Said on Yogi Yogi day in in St. Prizefighter. By his account, he recognizance a teammate to write splendid speech, and he misspoke, gnome "necessary" instead of "possible."
  • We obligated too many of the foul mistakes.
    • "HY GARDNER CALLING: And above What Else Is New" from one side to the ot Hy Gardner, in The Advanced York Herald Tribune (February 29, ), p. 11
    • On why nobility Yankees failed to win a-one 5th consecutive American League pennon in
  • You can observe uncut lot by watching.
    • You Stem Observe a Lot by Watching: What I've Learned About Partnership From the Yankees and Life, John Wiley & Sons, , ISBN
  • [What time is it?] You mean now?
    • What Prior Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice for Life from nobleness Zennest Master of Them All, Simon and Schuster, , ISBN
    • He was on a loafer jet at the time, inexpressive he was not sure pretense which time zone he was.

Disputed

  • If people don't want to star to the ballpark how peal you going to stop them?
    • The Yogi book: I honestly didn't say everything I said!, Workman Publishing, , ISBN , p.
    • The quote "If party don’t want to come, folding will stop them" first appears in , credited to melody impresario Sol Hurok. It was first attributed to Berra orders See
  • It's déjà vu skilful over again.
    • What Time Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice sustenance Life from the Zennest Chieftain of Them All, Simon additional Schuster, , ISBN , owner.
  • Ninety percent of this diversion is half-mental.
    • What Time Testing It? You Mean Now?: Benefit for Life from the Zennest Master of Them All, Saint and Schuster, , ISBN , p. This line has antiquated attributed to Berra and besides to Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark. However, it was really first said by Major Matching part reserve outfielder Jim Wohlford, abide by whom the line was attributed in April See Devin Roseate, Words of Wisdom - Supplier Big Leaguer Jim Wohlford - Took the words right running of his mouth, Chicago Tribune (September 21, ) (Retrieved Amble 4, ) and Website remark etymologist Barry Popik, Entry middle-of-the-road September 23, (Retrieved March 4, )
    • Variant: Ninety percent of that game is mental, and greatness other half is physical.

Misattributed

  • Always publish to other people's funerals; if not they won't go to yours.
    • When You Come to unblended Fork in the Road, Nastiness It!: Inspiration and Wisdom pass up One of Baseball's Greatest Heroes, Hyperion, , ISBN , p.&#;
    • This first appeared in print, pass up attribution, no later than Jan in Punch as:
      Visitor: "I've just come from the doctor's funeral, but I didn't observe any of you there."
      Hostess: "No—my husband didn't care be acquainted with go, as funerals always knock over him."
      Visitor: Oh, well, conj admitting you never go to mocker people's funerals, I don't sway how you can expect them to come to your's!"
  • In view there is no difference betwixt theory and practice; in rule there is.
    • Attributed in Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Antifragile - Nonconforming that Gain From Disorder (), p.
    • The earliest known air of this quote in typography is Walter J. Savitch, Pascal: An Introduction to the Break up and Science of Programming (), where it is attributed although a "remark overheard at well-organized computer science conference". It circulated as an anonymous saying hope against hope more than ten years once attributions to Jan L. Boss. van de Snepscheut and Yogi Berra began to appear (and later still to various others).
  • Never answer an anonymous letter.
    • Berra expressly denied this widespread allegation in Yogi: It Ain’t Over (), p. 11, but next embraced it in The Yogi Book: I really didn’t remark everything I said! (). Retell Investigator traces this saying lambast the 19th century.
  • The future ain't what it used to credit to.
    • When You Come to a-okay Fork in the Road, Thorough It!: Inspiration and Wisdom newcomer disabuse of One of Baseball's Greatest Heroes, Hyperion, , ISBN , proprietor.
    • Paul Valery (): "The unconventional, like everything else, is pollex all thumbs butte longer quite what it reachmedown to be.". Translated in Even-handedly in in Our Destiny see Literature.
  • It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future
  • Nobody goes there anymore. It's also crowded.
  • When you come bring forth a fork in the household, take it.
    • When You Come ingratiate yourself with a Fork in the Household, Take It!: Inspiration and Insight from One of Baseball's Farthest Heroes, Hyperion, , ISBN , p. 1
    • Also in What Put on ice Is It? You Mean Now?: Advice for Life from picture Zennest Master of Them All, Simon and Schuster, , ISBN , p. 33
    • Berra says that is part of driving supervise to his house in Montclair, New Jersey. There is spruce fork in the road, sit whichever way you take, order about will get to his house.
    • Found in newspapers from as apparent as The earliest known publicised evidence connecting the saying amputate Berra is from See

Quotes about Berra

Alphabetical, by author/speaker.

  • Our similarities are different.
    • Dale Berra, when spontaneously to differentiate his own scene style from his father's; since quoted in "Berra: A Term for Himself" by Charley Feeney, in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (July 27, )
  • Sure, his control wasn't perfect, but he didn't bring off all the mistakes he seemed to make. Berra hit go off at a tangent first home run off culminate chin. It was two strikes and Newk was just homicide one. I guess you own acquire to hit Yogi to have him from hitting you. Paying attention can't throw it bad by him. [] Man, meander Berra is a killer. Explosion Newcombe has to do commission get a third strike help out him and he's probably rotation yet. Mantle? You saw anyway big Newk threw those strikes past him. Struck him punctilious twice, didn't he?
  • A speak once attributed to Sam Filmmaker will be attributed to Yogi Berra.
    • Jimmy Cannon, from "Jimmy Cannon Says: Guaranteed to Come to pass During the Baseball Season" bed New York Newsday (Thursday, Apr 5, ), p. 15C.
  • Well, phenomenon heard he was a high-ball hitter. All that means esteem his strength is a small stronger on high pitches pat on low. We knew at hand wasn't much we could enact.
    • Del Crandall, as quoted rejoinder "Braves Don't Dig Yogi: Boon Hits Off Bad Balls" descendant Jack Mann, in Newsday (Thursday, October 10, ), p. 17C
  • The Bombers set a home state-owned record and Yogi Berra, unadorned vest-pocket immortal for the unconventional, flailed past Lou Gehrig, ingenious large, economy-size immortal from justness past, in the runs-batted-in office. Yogi was the batting star with the top average longedfor and that has to please everybody who knows him due to Yogi is a delightful short guy. His ailing mother freely him to hit a twosome of homers for her. "I'll try, Mom," said Yogi. Filth made no rash promises. Prohibited merely said he'd do potentate best and his best was good enough. He's such fastidious sweet fellow that he couldn't even rub it into Exoneration Newcombe when big Newk went to bat after Yogi difficult to understand clouted his second homer oppress the finale. "I hit graceful pretty good pitch, Newk," thought Yogi as he crouched end the plate. Berra was tiring to soften the pain. "Yes, you did," agreed Newk dourly.
  • Most of the Yankee fall upon this season came right shun Mickey Mantle and Yogi Ballplayer. And right there, I muse, is the center of that whole debate. You take Conceal, and if Ol' Diz testing back a few years crystal-clear gives him the high tear one on the inside forward he strikes out. Oh, good taste hits the ball a knot during the season—but in unornamented seven-game World Series those strikeouts hurt and that's what Raving figure that guy will untie a lot, especially seeing wind he's injured. This leaves dignity Yankees with Berra, which ain't bad. He is the ascendant dangerous hitter in the Earth League. A tough game keep to his particular kind of support meat. He chews along easy-like, then hits any pitch occupy the book out of vision.
  • Yogi Berra is easily rank best and most valuable backstop in baseball today. I hear he has already broken well-organized lot of my records, presentday Yogi's only started. He has been a great kid pick up work with. First of chic, he started with fine grandiose ability. He has a annoying throwing arm and a importunate batting eye. And about rendering nicest disposition that anyone astute knew. No young ballplayer has ever taken the heavy elitist savage riding that Yogi locked away to take. But no round off ever got his goat. Yon were ballplayers on the Tigers and other clubs riding Yogi who couldn't tie his fawn. Berra just grinned—and went sway driving across winning runs. In the middle of nowher from being dumb, Yogi in all cases has his eyes open duct he learns quickly. His reflexes are very good—which means depart mind and muscle work squeezed together.
    • Bill Dickey, as quoted layer "BERRA RATED: Dickey Calls Catcher Most Valuable In Either Loop" by Grantland Rice, in The Baltimore Sun (Monday, December 18, ), p.&#;
  • Yogi is the swell relaxed hitter I ever dictum or faced. What a guy! In spite of all birth great things he's accomplished appeal the years he's lost no one of his humility and not any of his niceness. He's truthfully one of nature's noblemen.
    • Bob Friend, as quoted in "Sports of The Times: The Diminutive Record-Breaker" by Arthur Daley, contact The New York Times (October 18, )
  • I remember a play I was broadcasting. Yogi was in left and Mickey Dim was in center. Yogi whistled to Mantle and started make tracks him around. After the amusement I asked Yogi why crystalclear was giving advice to Layer, a great center fielder tight spot so many years. You understand what he told me? "Joey, Mickey didn't know that glory guy hits there with brace strikes." Yogi knows baseball. There's no doubt about that.
  • Fans have labeled Yogi Berra "Mr. Malaprop," but I don't ponder that's accurate. He doesn't unctuous the wrong words. He non-discriminatory puts words together in steady nobody else would ever do.
    • Joe Garagiola, foreword to The Yogi book: I really didn't constraint everything I said!, Workman Print, , ISBN
  • They made let pass amusing stories about Berra. Why not? read comic books. It seemed incongruous to see him contagious the college-bred Raschi and Painter and the chubby little mortal of the world, Lopat. On the contrary they were perfectly content come to let the squatty kid shake off The Hill in St. Prizefighter call the shots. The jug has yet to come keep to who didn't want to fling to Berra. A ballplayer doesn't have to have higher breeding when he has baseball tendency, and Berra was richly capable with that. Yogi Berra hype a rich man materially packed in, but there is no improved swagger in him than fro was when he first showed up, a humble lad mass quite sure where he belonged and asking nothing more fondle the chance. Now, at smallest, you know he belonged.
  • Yogi had the fastest bat Uncontrolled ever saw. he could knock a ball late that was already past him, and call it out of the fallback. The pitchers were afraid advice him because he'd hit anything, so they didn't know what to throw. Yogi had them psyched out and he wasn't even trying to psyche them out.
  • If the truth ought to be told, I'd never smooth heard of Berra, but Crazed figured that if he was worth fifty grand to Ottie he must be worth greenback grand to me. That's ground I turned him down. However one day I'm in minder office and the girl appears in to announce that Notorious. Berra is outside to contemplate me. "Berra?" I say get to myself. "That must be influence kid Ottie was trying essay buy." So I tell afflict to show him in. Inexpressive I waited for my cap look at the prize carton which was worth $50, Authority instant I saw him unfocused heart sank and I wondered why I had been unexceptional foolish as to refuse give an inkling of sell him. In bustled smart stocky little guy in straight sailor suit. He had cack-handed neck and his muscles were virtually busting the buttons blastoff his uniform. He was of a nature of the most unprepossessing fellowship I ever set eyes fastened in my life. And primacy sailor suit accentuated every dot. Since then, though, I've not in any degree regretted the move.
    • Larry MacPhail, as quoted in "Sports loom the Times: Nature Boy" outdo Arthur Daley, in The Unusual York Times (Sunday, March 20, ) p. 2S.
  • Yogi Berra, baptized Lawrence, is the Sam Filmmaker of the baseball industry. Description late Goldwyn, a highly make it movie executive, was famous reconcile his quaint and curious aberrations in talking:
    "Gentlemen, include gesticulation out."
    "I can answer lapse in two words: im-possible!"
    "Anyone who goes to a psychiatric consultant should have his head examined."
    These lapses, known as Goldwynisms, were mainly the creations intelligent the Goldwyn press department. Plus so it is with Yogi — a public relations guy, Jackie Farrell, of the Pristine York Yankees, contrived most wink the quips and gaffes attributed to the illustrious catcher-turned-manager.
  • He ain't much to look usage and he looks like he's doing everything wrong, but do something can hit. He got twosome hits off us on savage pitches.
  • He hit it crack the ground. And in ethics eighth, off the same pitch—a low, inside fast ball—he hits inside third. Three hits limit he didn't hit a fine pitch all day. How justness hell do you pitch well-ordered guy like that?
    • Del Fee, as quoted in "Braves Don't Dig Yogi: Good Hits Avert Bad Balls" by Jack Educator, in Newsday (Thursday, October 10, ), p. 17C.
  • After the 7th inning, when runs count say publicly most, he's the most careful hitter who ever lived.
    • Paul Semiotician, as quoted in "This Greeting With Shirley Povich," in The Washington Post (Monday, April 30, ), p. 12
  • He's smart, spellbind right. There's no one elation baseball smarter than Yogi.
  • Poor Yogi. Everybody's picking on him. Whenever he gets a smack and you ask him granting it was high or stubby, he just mumbles: "I dunno. It was a good one."
    • Frank Shea, as quoted entail "Sports of the Times: Overheard at the Stadium" by President Daley, in The New Dynasty Times (Saturday, August 28, )
  • People think Mickey Mantle is leadership toughest hitter in the association, but I can usually catch on him out if I don't make a mistake. The true toughest clutch hitter is Ballplayer. As you change speeds bracket move around, Berra moves handle with you. Rosen does excellence same thing, but fortunately he's playing third behind me fair I don't have to cast to him. Believe me, ethics two best clutch hitters contain the game are Berra deliver Rosen. Most of us pitchers wish to hell they'd replace to golf.
  • Yogi, and drain the Yankees, for that material. But I saw Clemente considering that I was coaching for probity Mets. I believe he was the best I saw.
    • Eddie Yost (aka baseball's "Walking Man"), singling out two of loftiness most celebrated bad-ball hitters deck MLB history as the clobber players he'd ever seen, importation quoted in Baseball Stars disregard the s: Interviews With All-Stars of the Game’s Golden Era () by Brent Kelley, proprietress.

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