Lawrence Peter Berra was born to Italian immigrants at St. Louis, Missouri on this day in 1925. Berra and Joe Garagiola attended South Side Catholic School. St. Louis Cardinals president Branch Rickey signed Garagiola instead of Berra because he was about take over the Brooklyn Dodgers and wanted to sign Berra to his new team, but the Yankees signed Berra first. After serving in the US Navy, Berra played nineteen years as a Yankee and set a staggering number of records, most of which still stand. He played in 14 World Series, winning 10, allowing him to set these Series records: games played (75), at-bats (259), hits (71), doubles (10), singles (49), games caught (63), and catcher putouts (457). He was a fifteen-time All Star and league MVP three times. A friend said he looked like a yogi (Hindu holy man) for the way he sat with both arms and legs crossed while waiting to bat.

Today's Quotes:
     
Ninety percent of this game is half mental.

You can observe a lot just by watching.

Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel!

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.

It ain't the heat; it's the humility.

I didn't really say everything I said.

He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious.

If you don't set goals, you can't regret not reaching them.

No, you didn't wake me up. I had to get up to answer the phone anyway.
     All from Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra