Yogi's 50th Anniversary Observed

The year 2022 will mark the 50th anniversary of New York Yankees great Yogi Berra's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., an event that was attended by Greg Fieg in 1972. 

Greg, covering the event as editor of the Freeman's Journal, was privileged to meet the man who was his favorite player as a boy, Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra, who began his major league career 75 years ago this year. Greg also met Sandy Koufax who was inducted on the same day, and spent time in the Yankees dressing room where he was asked to hold manager Ralph "the Major" Houk's "soda pop" (NOT!) while Houk signed autographs.

It was a touching scene when Yogi broke down and cried because his close friend, Dodgers stand-out Gil Hodges, had recently passed away and missed the happy occasion. 

Also inducted on that day into the Broadcasters' Wing was Joe Garagiola who grew up with Yogi in St. Louis.

Yogi, who won eighteen World Series rings as a player, coach, and manager, died in 2015 at the age of 90, at that time the greatest living Yankee.

His MLB batting average was .285, with 358 home runs and 1,430 runs batted in.

Beyond his stats he is best remembered for quotations known as Yogi-isms:

"Nobody goes there any more; it's too crowded."

"It ain't over till it's over."

"It's deja vu all over again."

You can observe a lot by watching."

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

(On Yogi Berra Day in St. Louis) "Thank you for making this day necessary."

"Always go to other people's funerals; otherwise they won't go to yours."

"A nickel ain't worth a dime any more."

"If you can't imitate him, don't copy him."

"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."

"I really didn't say everything I said."

"The Mick bats left, the Mick bats right; he's amphibious."

Cousins Greg Fieg, left, and John Roman meet New York Yankees great Yogi Berra, center, in Cooperstown, N.Y. in 2007.