Yogi: It Ain't Over

by Yogi Berra, Tom Horton

The three-time MVP who appeared in a record seventy-five World Series games tells readers about himself and his colleagues during his roller-coaster times in major league baseball. Reprint.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction, Biography

305 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra was an American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career (1946–1965) for the New York Yankees. Berra was one of only four players to be named the Most Valuable Player of the American League three times and is one of only six managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series. As a player, coach, or manager, Berra appeared in 21 World Series. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Reviews

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe closer to a 3.5, Yogi is fantastic but his co-writer didn't do him any favors. The book has fun parts but it's all over the place and really doesn't go into his career too much. Though again Yogi just being Yogi is interesting or nifty as he would like to say. I still enjoyed my time with the book, I think it would be impossible not to enjoy Yogi. Still think the co writer should have done a better job at putting it together. I understand wanting it to sound like Yogi but a smoother feel and some kind of order would have helped.

Still recommended, Yogi was one of a kind and a hell of a player but he also was a great man who everyone loved. This book does show you a bit of why no one ever said anything bad about him.

[Milt · Rating 3 out of 5]

is now. RIP

[Dave Weller · Rating 3 out of 5]

We bought new wall-to-wall carpeting, and we had to empty all our bookshelves in order to allow them to be moved. In the process I uncovered a bunch of books that had been sitting around collecting dust, so I decided to read some of them. Yogi: It Ain't Over was one of them. Yogi's autobiography was interesting, but at times I found it redundant and a bit of a slow read. On the plus side, I loved how the author inserted an abundant quantity of testimonials from teammates and acquaintances from the baseball world. Yogi's career ended around the time that I began to follow baseball, so it was interesting to learn about his career. It seemed to me, however, that he could have spent more time talking about his childhood and his prime baseball years in the fifties. Instead, much text was allocated to his managerial stints and his Yogi-isms. Apparently the media viewed Yogi as a bit dim, and much of the narrative revolves around refuting that view via anecdotes and testimonials. The one thing that seems pretty clear is that the book was written (probably dictated) by Yogi. The prose takes the form of a wandering style with many digressions from the main thread of a point or story. One thing is clear, however. Yogi Berra was a beloved and humble ballplayer who had a big impact on his teammates, fans and family.

[jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it’s because I watched Yogi play or because I love baseball or because I he’s a dear man of ‘salt of the earth humility or because he weaves a lot of wisdom and homespun stories into his book, that I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want it to end. This books not for everyone but it was a six star book for me. I’m typing this with a big smile on my face and a sweeter soul than when I began to read, Yogi, It Ain’t Over. . .

[Peter Mayeux · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Yogi Berra recalls specific incidents and personalities he encountered in his years as a baseball player (catcher and outfielder) and manager. Unfortunately, there is a lot of repetition between chapters. This book provides a broader view of Yogi's career and his influence on baseball history.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the book more than 3 stars but it’s not the easiest reading. I like it most because of what I learned of Yogi Berra the man, his humility, his respect for others, and his gratitude for a good life.

[Jennifer Fields · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a baseball fan, so this was definitely interesting, and I learned a lot! However, Yogi isn't the best writer.

[Mike Huey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I imagine Tom Horton plays catcher as well as Yogi writes.

[Carol Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big baseball fan (baseball is OK, but not my favorite sport) or a real fan of Yogi Berra, but this was a fun and interesting book.

[Anthony Bracciante · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all the books I've read about Yogi Berra, this one is just average.

[fleegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yogi Berra is one of my favorite baseball people. I say people and not player because Yogi was both a player and a manager (and even a coach). This book was an autobiography, and i prefer an autobio to a plain old bio. Why? I don't know, they just seem better. I did enjoy this book. However, Yogi, you apologize too much in this book. Everytime you talk about someone you say, "I'm not putting him down." or "I mean no disrespect." to the nth degree. EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU'RE THE NICEST GUY IN THE WHOLE WORLD, OKAY? STOP BEING SO DAMN REDUNDANT AND JUST SAY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
hee.

In the book he points out that through the years many people (in the media) have called him dumb or stupid. That is the saddest thing ever. Yogi is awesome.

[Lani · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a baseball fan, I'm sure this is a treasure. Yet another 'why not for 50 cents' book - seem to have gotten a lot of biographies for some reason lately.

Yogi's style was certainly interesting, VERY jumpy and unordered, but I think the book was meant to capture Yogi and it seems to have. It's nice to read an autobiography that seems to actually read as the person might write it, usually the ghost writers seem to take over and you lose the voice of the "author."

My lack of baseball history knowledge is really my own failing and not the book's, so my rating is due to my lack of interest. Yogi is a funny guy though, and I'm sure my dad will enjoy the book, it's in a box for him now.

[Justin Katz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly one of the most interesting characters in all of baseball history. Reading a book from Yogi is like trying to have a conversation with him, sometimes confusing, sometimes enlightening, and sometimes you just get lost.

[Sansan Gilbreath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do I know anything about baseball ? No
Do I want to learn about baseball ? No
But I thoroughly enjoyed this book . What an interesting man . I’d always heard about “ yogisms” but there was so much more to him and it was enjoyable reading

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun auto biography of the most unintentionally funny sports star ever.

[Sue Lundeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great book about baseball in different times..

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yogi is a riot and a fun read.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about a great man. Like someone in the book was quoted as saying, "Earth is a better place for Yogi living on it."