Yogi Berra: Baseball legend, war hero, and family patriarch

This is part two of a three-part series exploring the legacy of Yogi Berra through the eyes of his loved ones. Click h ere to read part one.

As the Yankees prepare to face the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, fans are reminded of the legendary rivalry between these two iconic teams — one that has defined some of the most unforgettable moments in baseball history.

The Yankees and Dodgers have faced off in the World Series more times than any other team, cementing this match-up as the greatest rivalry in the sport. Throughout those historic clashes, Yogi Berra played a pivotal role, helping to shape the narrative of this fierce competition with his outstanding performances.

Between 1947 and 1963, Yogi played against the Brooklyn or Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series seven times with the New York Yankees. Of these, he won five World Series titles, with victories in 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, and 1956. He later coached against the Dodgers in three more World Series, helping lead the Yankees to victory on two of those occasions — 1977 and 1978.

His involvement in these classic matchups solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players in baseball. Now, nearly a decade after Yogi’s passing, his legacy is alive and well, thanks to the tireless efforts of his granddaughter, Lindsay Berra.

Lindsay, an accomplished sports journalist who spent two decades writing and reporting for ESPN The Magazine, MLB.com, and MLB Network, is intent on preserving her grandfather’s legacy. Through her role on the Board of Trustees for the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls and her contributions to the 2022 documentary “It Ain’t Over,” Lindsay has fought to ensure Yogi Berra is remembered not just for his humorous “Yogi-isms” but for his exceptional career, his contributions as a D-Day veteran, and his role as a devoted family man.

In a recent interview, Lindsay opened up about the challenges of growing up as Yogi Berra’s granddaughter, her mission to protect his legacy, and the profound influence of Yogi’s humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri.

“My grandfather had this incredible way of balancing his larger-than-life presence with being just a normal, humble guy from The Hill,” said Lindsay. “He never forgot where he came from, and that’s why people loved him so much — he was always just Yogi to them.”

The Italian kid from The Hill

Yogi Berra, born Lawrence Peter Berra on May 12, 1925, grew up in the tight-knit Italian American neighborhood of The Hill in St. Louis. His family, like many immigrant families, faced financial challenges. Yogi’s father labored long hours in the brickyards of the Laclede-Christy Clay Company. His older brothers worked in local restaurants and other jobs to support the family.

When Yogi wanted to pursue baseball, his father was hesitant, urging him to get a “real job.” But his older brothers rallied together, convincing their father, Pietro, to let Yogi chase his dream of playing in the major leagues. They even took their naturally right-handed younger brother and made him a lefty so he’d have a better chance of making the big leagues. Their support and belief in him are a testament to the strong family bonds that shaped Yogi’s character and inspired his relentless determination.

“That was something my grandfather was super grateful for his whole life,” Lindsay explained. “That sense of community stayed with him.”

This strong foundation of family and values carried over into his incredible baseball career.

He played, coached, and managed in 21 World Series, winning 13 championships. Yogi won 10 World Series as a player and contributed three more as a Yankees coach.

In 1969, Yogi served as a coach for the New York Mets during their “Miracle Mets” World Series win, though he didn’t win a championship as a manager, despite leading both the Yankees (1964) and Mets (1973) to the World Series.

Love for the ages: Yogi and Carmen Berra

Carmen was working as a waitress at Biggie’s restaurant on The Hill in St. Louis when she caught Yogi’s eye. At the time, Yogi was already playing for the Yankees, but he wasn’t making much money and couldn’t afford to eat there. Instead, he and his childhood friend Joe Garagiola would sit at the bar and order just glasses of water. Yogi would quietly admire Carmen, even as Joe grew impatient.

“Joe, I just wanna look at her,” Yogi would say, captivated by the woman who would soon become the love of his life. Their marriage lasted 65 years and became one of baseball’s most enduring love stories.

“That admiration never faded, even after decades of marriage,” Lindsay recalled.

Yogi and Carmen married in 1949 at St. Ambrose Church on The Hill and built a life together in Montclair. They raised three sons, including Lindsay’s father, Larry. Although Yogi’s demanding career kept him on the road for much of the year, he made up for lost time during the off seasons, attending most hockey, basketball, and school events his children and grandchildren participated in during the winter months.

When Carmen passed away in 2014 and was laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, it left a void that no amount of fame or accolades could fill for Yogi. A year and six months later, Yogi joined his eternal soul mate on September 22, 2015.

“I was actually surprised he lasted as long as he did after she was gone,” Lindsay said.

Beyond his love for Carmen, Yogi’s life was also marked by his courage and service during World War II.

A hero beyond the diamond

Yogi Berra’s legacy extends beyond baseball. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and manned a rocket boat during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Though he rarely spoke of his time in the military, Yogi’s service shaped his outlook on life.

In 2015, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Yogi the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The family, particularly Lindsay, had worked tirelessly to gather signatures and petitions for this recognition. Though Lindsay wished the honor had come before Yogi’s passing, her father, Larry, accepted the medal on Yogi’s behalf. It was a moment of immense pride for the family, honoring not just Yogi’s achievements in baseball but also his bravery and humility as a war hero.

“He’d say D-Day was like the 4th of July,” Lindsay recalled, “but we all know it was far more traumatic than that.”

“It Ain’t Over”: Sharing Yogi’s story with the world

In 2022, Lindsay played a crucial role in bringing her grandfather’s story to life in the documentary “It Ain’t Over.” The film, directed by Sean Mullin and narrated and executive produced by Lindsay, delves deeper into Yogi’s life beyond his “Yogi-isms,” highlighting his on-field accomplishments and role as a cultural icon. For Lindsay, the documentary was a way to ensure Yogi’s true legacy was known to future generations.

Yogi’s exclusion from MLB’s 2015 All-Star Game tribute to the greatest living baseball players deeply affected Lindsay, who watched the game with her grandfather. This public snub fueled her determination to preserve and promote his legacy. The documentary “It Ain’t Over” underscores Yogi’s tremendous on-field accomplishments, many of which have yet to be duplicated by another catcher, and highlights Yogi as a loving husband, devoted father, war hero, and a man of deep faith and humility. The film, available to stream on Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV, gives Yogi the recognition he deserves and ensures his extraordinary achievements, both on and off the field, are never overlooked again.

“People think of him as just the funny guy with the quotes, but my grandfather was so much more,” Lindsay said. “He was a clutch hitter, an incredible catcher, and a great human being.”

Yogi’s milestones include:

10-time World Series champion (most by any player in MLB history)
Three-time American League MVP (1951, 1954, and 1955)
18-time All-Star (1948–1962)
Caught the only perfect game in World Series history (Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956)
Played in 14 World Series, winning 10 (both records for a player)
Career stats: 358 home runs; 1,430 RBIs; and a .285 batting average
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972
Jersey number 8 was retired by the Yankees.

The Yankee and Dodger connection

As the Yankees once again prepare to face the Dodgers in the World Series, there’s a palpable sense of history. Yogi played in many of these legendary matchups, most notably catching Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, the only perfect game in World Series history. As Yogi said, “It ain’t been done before and it ain’t been done since.”

Yogi made history again as the first and only MLB player in history to hit two home runs in a Game 7 of the World Series, powering the Yankees to a commanding 9-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956. His remarkable performance helped secure the Yankees’ 17th World Series title, solidifying Yogi’s place as a clutch player in the biggest moments. Those two home runs were pivotal in clinching the championship and remain one of the most memorable highlights of his storied career. His iconic jersey number, 8, now retired by the Yankees, was synonymous with the team’s dominance during this era.

This year’s World Series will undoubtedly stir memories for fans of those legendary Yankees-Dodgers clashes.

Reflecting on the spirit of her grandparents, Lindsay shared a tender thought, saying, “I know that wherever they are, Grammy Carmen and Grampa Yogi are going to have one incredible World Series watch party with all of their old baseball pals, rooting hard for a Yankees victory.”

A lasting legacy of family and faith

For Lindsay, preserving her grandfather’s legacy goes beyond documenting his career stats and achievements. It’s about honoring the man who cherished family, community, and faith. Yogi was known for giving generously to his neighbors, being kind towards fans and strangers, welcoming children with Halloween candy, and attending Mass regularly at Montclair’s Immaculate Conception Church.

“He didn’t preach; he lived his faith,” Lindsay reflected. “He treated everyone with the same respect and kindness, whether it was the president of the United States or a waiter or a fan encountered in a parking garage. He intuitively did the right thing, always, even when it was the hard thing. He has always inspired me and so many others — people he either met or didn’t meet — to do better and to be better.”

As the Yankees chase another championship, Yogi’s legacy endures — not only through his records and achievements but also through the love and memories his family cherishes. Their efforts to sustain and promote his values of respect, perseverance, sportsmanship, and inclusiveness ensure that his impact will continue to inspire future generations.

To view the entire series and to learn more about Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, visit www.rcancem.org/yogiberra/.

Explore baseball history at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center at www.yogiberramuseum.org.

Discover the burial sites of Major League Baseball players and executives nationwide at https://fortress.maptive.com/ver4/SABRGravesMap.

Photos courtesy of the Berra family