Driving Mr. Yogi: Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry, and Baseball's Greatest Gift

by Harvey Araton

“A warm, sentimental look at a baseball icon” (The Tampa Tribune).  Driving Mr. Yogi is the story of a unique friendship between two New York Yankees legends—a pitcher and catcher—who share rides, meals, and a bond that transcends the twenty-five-year difference in their ages.   The story begins in 1999, when Hall of Famer Yogi Berra is reunited with the Yankees after a long self-exile, the result of being unceremoniously fired by team owner George Steinbrenner fourteen years before. A reconciliation between Berra and the boss means that Berra will once again attend spring training. Retired-pitcher-turned-pitching-coach Ron Guidry knows the club’s young players will benefit from “Mr. Yogi’s” encyclopedic knowledge of the game, just as Guidry had during his playing days, so he encourages his old mentor to share his insights. In Yogi, Guidry finds not just a personable dinner companion or source of amusement—he finds a best friend.   At turns tender and laugh-out-loud funny, and teeming with unforgettable baseball yarns that span more than fifty years, Driving Mr. Yogi is a universal story about the importance of wisdom being passed from one generation to the next, as well as a reminder that time is what we make of it and compassion never gets old.   “Funny, revealing, and surprising . . . Anything that brings new Yogi Berra stories is a good book.” —MLB.com   “Lovingly documented . . . You’ll find yourself wishing it ain’t over till it’s over.” —Parade magazine

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Friendship

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Harvey Araton joined the New York Times as a sports reporter and national basketball columnist in 1991 and became a "Sports of the Times" columnist in 1994. He is the author of numerous books, including most recently, When the Garden Was Eden: Clyde, the Captain, Dollar Bill, and the Glory Days of the Old Knicks. His work has also appeared in the New York Times Magazine, GQ, ESPN The Magazine, Sport, Tennis, and Basketball Weekly. Born in New York City in 1952, he is a 1975 graduate of the City University of New York. Araton lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Renee Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a totally biased review. I'm stating that plainly, right here in the beginning, so there's no mistake.

Driving Mr. Yogi is recommended for:
1. New York Yankee fans
2. NY Yankee fans who love Old Timers' Day
3. Baseball fans
4. Baseball history fans
5. People who get teary-eyed and emotional when watching movies like Field of Dreams

That's me. Numbers 1 -- 5. So yeah, I'm giving it 4 stars. :)

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone Loves Yogi.

Another fun baseball book for me. As a child, I loved the Yankees of Mickey Mantle and all the stars but one of my favorites was Yogi Berra.

This book is actually a series of stories from the deep well of "Yogi-isms". My favorite was his make up with owner George Steinbrenner.

I recommend

[Mike Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a sweet friendship between former Yankees pitcher Ron Gudiry and Yankees icon Yogi Berra that started when Guidry was pitching for the Yankees Bronx Zoo of the mid 1970's and Yogi was a first base coach. It continued when after Yogi Berra returned to the Yankees family after accepting an apology from then Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in 1999. Since then, Yogi was always at Spring Training and Ron Guidry would pick him up and chauffeur him to the hotels, spring training and to dinner forming a bond between the two men that not only transcended their age but lasted a very long time.

I had previously read Harvey Araton's book about the New York Knicks championship teams of the early 70's and enjoyed it immensely. I may have enjoyed this book a lot more.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through the pages of this warm, wonderful story of Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry, and the friendship between them. The title of course alludes to "Driving Miss Daisy", a book I have not read and a movie I did not see. I did, however, read "Tuesdays with Morrie". This book shares some of "Morrie"'s qualities. And you don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy it.

Yes, "Driving Mr. Yogi" is partially about baseball, its traditions, and its camaraderie. But it is much more than that. It's about the process of wisdom being passed from one generation to the next. It's about respect, love, and honor. It's about pride and humility. It's about two fine men -- two men who excelled in their profession and yet live ordinary lives in many ways -- and the three families they belong to: the Berras, the Guidrys, and the Yankees.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a feel-good book, especially if you were, like me, a kid in New York whose interest in baseball and baseball players only grew stronger after the Dodgers and Giants deserted the city for the Pacific Coast. Not a bad move for baseball, but it meant that thousands of former Dodger fans had to listen to and watch Yankees games to get their baseball fix. I did, from about 1958 to 1962. Then I switched to the Mets, but during those few years, I developed a fan boy's love for those magic names: Ford, Mantle, Berra--sure there were others, but why list them for you? Of them all, I identified the most with Yogi Berra, because of a photograph of him reading a comic. Berra's stature and myth have grown over the decades, and this book is really an ode to him and to the Yankee legends, focusing as it does on Berra's friendship with Ron Guidry with side glances at Berra and Jeter, Berra and Steinbrenner, Berra and Swisher. Araton has let his fan boy out and this book is the result. It's a perfect short summer read between watching your favorite team's games.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

love baseball, don't like the modern yankees, hated the book.

driving mr. yogi, more like driving mr. boring. the book is poorly written and barely gets to the story of driving mr. yogi. mostly filler with a couple of interesting stories sprinkled in. on my list of baseball books to read, this is definitely at the bottom.

if you like baseball, check out "the numbers game," "six nights in august," "crazy '08," "the universal baseball association, inc." for an oldie but goodie, and, of course, "ball four." this book is just a waste of time.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book that has Yogi in it, one knows it will always bring laughter and a smile. Driving Mr Yogi goes beyond, it's about a friendship, between two greats that goes way beyond the playing field. This is an excellent read as told by Ron "Gator"Guidry - a marvelous friendship that lacks in the baseball world of today.

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like the best Vin Scully anecdotes to enliven Dodgers blowouts, this book is a collection that is ultimately less than the sum of its parts. I was looking forward to reading more about Yogi Berra. I have long believed he was much more intelligent than his malapropisms made him appear. This book offered a chance to show him in his natural habitat, spring training with the Yankees. For added appeal, there was his friendship with another Yankee great, Ron Guidry. Their annual meetups form the basis for a solid long-form piece for the New York Times, say, or Sports Illustrated. They are not sufficient to justify an entire book. This is not the complaining of a Dodger fan: I do not believe Yankee fans will find much that is new here either. Still, I did enjoy the tale of how Berra forced George Steinbrenner to apologize to him in person before he was willing to settle their feud and return to Yankees' events.

[Girard Bowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jumps around in time quite a bit, so one is not sure which events happened when. The baseball stories and the friendship make this worthwhile for the baseball reader.

[Patrick Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book! This is a unique baseball book that tells the story of two of the most recognizable baseball players in New York Yankee history. It centers on Yogi Berra and the amazing man that he was. It is written by Ron Guidry, from his perspective as a player for Yogi and a huge part of the Yankee dynasty himself.

What is nice about this book is the love and respect that it shows a gentleman raised properly can show another man. Yogi Berra is held in such high esteem by so many players that at times he is almost deemed unapproachable. Ron Guidry saw to it that he was never disrespected, that the proper care and planning went into what Yogi had to do in the organization outside of his baseball duties and everyone understood the character of the man. Ron made sure Yogi was always treated properly and got to where he needed or wanted to be in an appropriate manner. For his efforts Ron received a life long friend of immeasurable loyalty and the respect of an older man that he respected as well.

This is the story of an amazingly strong friendship from one of the participants. This is a great book for a baseball fan, or a fan of human nature, to read and cherish. I recommend this one.

[Melanie Barbarito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually, I gave it a try. I’m doing a book challenge for which I need to read about a sports figure. Who better than Yogi Berra, I thought. But I don’t know or like baseball enough to finish the book. I’m sure that baseball and Yogi fans will love it. I didn’t want to skew the ratings by giving it less than three. Maybe I’ll read about Gale Sayers or Knute Rockne. I know more about football.

[Christina Guarneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect read

Who doesn’t love Yogi? I grew up with Jeter and the late 90s Yankees, so not in the Guidry and Yogi era. Of course I memorized their numbers and some stats, but the friendship between the two of them is just as important to remember them by than all the rings and success. This was such a great read.

[Melissa Loucks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading books about Yankee Legends. There are so many greats I never got to see play so being able to read about them will just have to do. This was an extremely sweet story about Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry.

[Jonathan Tennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing look at Yogi.

[Wendy Pflaum-Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why we love the Yankees

Not just a heartwarming story of Yogi and Gator, but stories of Yankee magic and why this team is always special.

[Bill Christman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers mainly the period in Yogi Berra’s life from the time he reconciled with George Steinbrenner through the publication of the book. Another title could be Yogi Berra gets old. One of the stories that Harvey Araton gives us is that Ron Guidry, Berra’s ‘driver’, established the rule on the golf course when Berra started to struggle against age that if Berra made the green, it was considered in the cup. Araton points out the pride that would be hurt by a former athlete to be humiliated in this situation and Guidry, being one himself, understood this. This book is essentially the spring training rituals of Yankee coaches Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry.
Yogi is the most honored Yankee, the emblem of Yankee pride, as his time with the team goes back to his 10 championships as a player. What comes across from the book is that Yogi Berra is not the same person that the public figure perception we have of him and with all his Yogisms has established. He does not like the public spotlight. He loves rituals, hates being late, and at times considers the Yankees a bigger part of his family than his own wife and kids. Luckily on this last point his family understands this and Yogi’s love and loyalty to them are shown and is complete. It is that his comfort zone is the ball field. His knowledge of the game, his love for the Yankees, and his love for his family come across.
There are some tidbits of Yogi’s life that come out that I did not know about. I did know he was a navy veteran of D-Day, but did not realize that he had missions before and questioned something that happened. This came out when Berra was golfing with a friend who was in command at the local military installation. I also did not realize that Berra turned down other Managerial positions because he did not want to relocate his family. It is probably moments like this that have his wife and sons knowing how important they are to him. That was something that always puzzled me, but that explains why he went from managing the Yankees to coaching the Mets in the 1960s instead of managing elsewhere. This of course led to one of his toughest days in baseball with the sudden death of Gil Hodges, Mets Manager. All the games they played against each other and the time they spent on the Mets staff, this was a spring training that hurt the baseball icon most.
The book has some nice moments from Yogi’s storied career and after. One realizes how much Yogi remembers from his career and how close emotionally some of those moments still are. Jackie Robinson stealing home in game 1 of the 1955 World Series was always one of the bitterest moments for Yogi, because he still swears that Robinson was out. This famous play and picture lives on in baseball lore. So much so that President Obama asked for Yogi’s autograph on a copy. Berra still holds a grudge against the call, not Robinson, and signed it, “Dear Mr. President, He was out!! Yogi Berra.”
There are people who come across great in the book. Ron Guidry as Yogi’s driver in spring training comes across as a classy person. Guidry relates the story of when his disabled brother came to see Guidry and the Yankees. There were a bunch of autograph seekers blocking the way, Yogi yelled for a path to be cleared and the fans obeyed the then Yankee Manager. Giving Ron’s brother and dad one of the moments they would always treasure. The Guidrys do not forget kind acts. Gator, as he is called by Yogi, considers Yogi his best friend. As a huge Guidry fan back when he was playing I was sad to hear that when Yogi stops coming to camp, he likely will too. But the rituals established in all these years, I can see it being very hard to return to camp and having those memories.
Guidry’s cooking skills become an essential part of training camp rituals with the frog leg dinner that he and Yogi share one night each spring, and the rabbit stew for George Steinbrenner.
The current player who comes across well is Nick Swisher. He is a classic baseball goofball but one who shows his affection for Yogi. When Yogi gave him a batting tip in spring 2009, that lead to Swisher’s best year, Swisher was always quick to credit Yogi. Swisher really showed his affection for the Yankees great by crawling out of bed early after returning from the west coast and showing up for Berra’s fundraising effort. Harvey Araton points out that that effort Swisher showed clearly touched Berra.
This is a good book about the rituals of spring training and people who have affection for each other. I enjoyed the book and thought Harvey Araton picked an interesting topic and theme, focusing less on the careers and instead on the post playing careers. The swapping stories, sharing jokes, and enjoying the game they loved from the old man perspective, while still hoping for relevance made a different kind of baseball book. It was an interesting read.

[Jacob Lucibello]

Jacob Lucibello
Mrs. Zucker
American Literature Period 5
15 January 2016
It Ain’t Over Till it’s Over
Driving Mr. Yogi: Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry, and Baseball’s Greatest Gift by Harvey Araton is the story of a one of a kind friendship between pitcher and catcher. Baseball legend Yogi Berra and “The Boss,” George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees had a feud about Yogi being fired as manager of the 1985 team, Berra finally reunited with the organization in 1999 after an apology from Steinbrenner . The two shared an unusual friendship, and now Berra would be attending spring training again. There he would befriend Ron Guidry, another former Yankee, who was the ace of the pitching rotation in the 70s and 80s. The title of the book comes from the fact that Guidry would pick up Berra at the airport for every spring training and be Berra’s “chauffeur” and a play on the movie titled,”Driving Miss Daisy.”
This book is different from the average baseball book, it doesn’t just talk about balls, strikes, and who won the game. It draws the reader into the life of the Hall of Fame career and life of Lawrence Peter Berra. I believe that any person who enjoys baseball, American icons, and some good old fashion stories should read this book.
One of the main reasons, I decided to read this book is because I am a huge fan of baseball.. Although I prefer to read books that are more about statistics, this book hooks the reader with the fascinating lives of Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry. Without baseball and family, Berra felt nothing: “‘You see, his whole world always revolved around the game, outside of his family,’ Guidry said. ‘Baseball has always been his life. It’s what the game means to him more than what he means to the game from other people’s eyes’” (Araton 10). This quote shows just a synopsis of what baseball meant to Yogi, Berra who was all baseball all the time always had something to share with current players during spring training, tips to help catcher and hitters, and amazing baseball stories to share with the world. So any baseball fan knows that a story from the legend of the late Berra, is one they will never forget. As one of the greatest players of all time, Berra was never slow to give advice to players at spring training or in the locker room after a game. One player he offered his expertise to was Nick Swisher: “‘You see?’ he said. ‘All you have to do is make contact with the baseball, move up against a breaking-ball pitcher, step into it from your backside’” (Araton 160). Since Berra was so experienced, this advice helped Swisher out tremendously. Swisher went on to have career highs in hitting and the Yankees went on to win the World Series. Berra, the man with the most world series rings (10), 3 MVP awards, and the man who caught Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series, had a legendary baseball story for any situation. That is one of the reasons any baseball fan should read Driving Mr. Yogi because you will learn something about America’s pastime from the amazing life of Yogi Berra.
If you have any interest in American icons,this is another reason to read this book. Yogi Berra was a legend in every aspect of his life. One of the many things that Berra is famous for is his classic “Yogi-isms”. Some of his Yogi-isms include “It ain’t over till it’s over,” “You can observe a lot by just watching,” “When you come to a fork in a road take it,” and countless more. Even the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11th needed some light humor to ease the people's minds. New York City Mayor Rudy Giuiliani asked several icons of New York to help reignite the cities image. He asked Berra to act as the conductor of the New York Philharmonic in a public service announcement, “ Who in the Heck is Phil Harmonic?” asked Berra. Any fan of American icons would love reading this book just to learn about Berra’s life. He is as much an icon as other sports stars like Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan. However, Yogi’s stories outside of the game are just as good and possibly better than ones about baseball. Someone who enjoys a basic biography would enjoy this book, especially people who like American icons.
The last reason why I recommend reading this book is that it isn’t your average biography. Most biographies go for the traditional route where they might say what the person did in their childhood, adulthood, and their later years. Driving Mr. Yogi is different. Although this book told me a lot about all parts of the lives of both Berra and Guidry, it was told in long stories. For example, the reason the book is titled Driving Mr. Yogi is because of a story told in the book about how Guidry would pick up Berra at the airport every year for spring training. When Berra eventually would find his car, he would see the always excited Guidry wearing a hat with the words “Driving Mr. Yogi” on it waiting for him. Ron Guidry always had a good sense of humor: “‘It’s like I’m the valet,’ Guidry said. ‘Actually, I am the valet’” (Araton 3). It was all fun and games between the pitcher catcher combination of Berra and Guidry. Their friendship was like no other, and they always had different stories to share with one another that were one of a kind. Another story was that of Nick Swisher, a young outfielder of the 2009 world champion Yankees, who knew Berra as catching royalty. Swisher was so proud of having his own World Series ring: “‘Yogi comes up to me after we won the series in ’09 and says, ‘Congratulations, you’re only nine behind me.’ I cracked up man. I told him, ‘Yogi, you remind me so much of my grandfather’” (Araton 159). That was the type of person that Berra was. He makes you feel like you are family. This is just the beginning of the great stories included in this book. Stories like these made this book so enjoyable to read for me and hopefully for others.
Overall Driving Mr. Yogi was a very enjoyable book that I recommend to almost anyone. It appeals to any fan of baseball, American icons, or old-fashioned stories. It was not the type of book I expected it to be when I picked it out. I originally thought it would be a normal biography of Yogi Berra, but I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading. The book shows off the amazing life and friendship between Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry. This book is a must read.

Works Cited
Araton, Harvey. Driving Mr. Yogi: Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry, and Baseball's Greatest Gift. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

[Tim Deforest · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2000, after a 14-year-absence from the Yankees, Yogi Berra patched up a feud with owner George Steinbrenner and began attending spring training--mentoring younger players and generally making everyone think how awesome it was to have Yogi around. Yogi Berra was a genuinely likeable person who seemed to generate a desire in everyone to treat him with respect.

Ron Guidry--the Hall-of-Fame pitcher who Yogi had mentored in the 1970s when Yogi was a coach with the Yankees--gets the job of picking up Yogi at the airport, get him settled into his hotel and bring him to the spring training facility each day. This is the beginning of a friendship between the two that would last until Yogi’s death in 2015. (The book was published before Yogi’s death, but the author clearly knew it would not be long.) This book does an excellent job of allowing us to tag along with the two of them as their friendship deepens. It is a celebration of that friendship, which becomes tinged with sadness as Yogi’s health declines in later years and Guidry does his share (along with Yogi’s family) in making sure Yogi is properly cared for.

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Driving Mr. Yogi" tells the story of Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry. While Yogi coached and managed the star hurler in the 1970's and 1980's, the book was mainly about their friendship starting in 2000, when Yogi returned to Yankee spring training camp as a special instructor - as Guidry was - and how Ron drove Yogi around during the weeks they were in Florida. Ron found Yogi not only a companion and source of amusement, but a best friend. The book is funny, with a number of amusing stories. But it is also a compassionate look at Yogi as age (he was 75 in 2000 and the book goes to 2012) began to restrict Yogi's activities until he was forced into a nursing home. So this is not a typical Yogi book, full of his "Yogi-isms". We do get to really know both Yogi and Ron.

[James Buccini · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite baseball books—about the importance of wisdom being passed from one generation to the next, the aging process, a reminder that time is what we make of it and that compassion never gets old. If you are ever honored at an event, consider Yogi’s wry line he delivered to open his remarks at the Yankee’s 32nd annual Welcome Home Dinner on March 30, 2011: “Thank you for making this night necessary.” The special relationship he developed with Ron Guidry, who still looked fit and tan when we saw him this past August, provides a focal theme, but there’s a lot more to this book. So much better than the “tell all” sports books—one to enjoy like a fine wine that should appeal to a wider readership beyond baseball fans.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written originally as a 1,500-word feature in the New York Times, the sweet friendship between 40s-50s New York Yankees great Yogi Berra and late 70s-early 80s Yankee star Ron Guidry was suggested to be expanded into a book. It shouldn’t have been. The result is a repetitive, overly schmaltzy tale of the two that must be extended by the longtime feud between Berra and the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a one-time suggestion from Berra to Yankee Nick Swisher and the friendship between Guidry and great Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera. The friendship is sweet and the writing is fine, but this didn’t need to be a book. Yankee fans, though, might eat it up.

[Shawn Fairweather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im a sucker for baseball stories, especially those of Yankee greats and century legends like Yogi. The story itself is warm, touching, sad, and inspiring. All elements of emotion are present. My issue with the read was the structure of the book as it was often scattered and didn't follow a real rhythm. Often stories seemed to be told twice. I would have preferred the journey be read as it happened in time without so much jumping around. I often got the impression that the author had very little material to work with hence its shortness as well which doesn't help.

[James H. Jaqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best.

For a life-long baseball fan, starting with the Silverton, OR,
Red Sox in 1936, the book is pure enjoyment. Having seen a number of Hall of Fame players in their minor league starts is a treat always fondly remembered. A good read, which on occasion may induce a sniffle or two. The insight into some recent players is interesting as they continue to add to the game.

[Doug Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

#54 out of 100 books for this year’s goal:

Written as if it was a series of long-form articles chronicling the unexpected friendship of a baseball legend and a star-layer, 30 years his junior - this books reminded me how great Yogi was as a player and a man.

Would be a good book for baseball fans or for those who like to read about friendship.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I love to hate the Yankees, stories about Yogi Berra are endearing to me. It wasn't exactly what I expected (humorous anecdotes and yogi-isms), but more of a story of endearing friendships that crossed generations.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a Yankees fan since I met my husband 40+ years ago. I haven’t read any books but have followed and listened to stories about the team. This book was such a touching tribute to Yogi Berra especially in his later years and his friendship with Ron Guidry. Loved it!

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for any baseball fan, especially those with a special interest in the pastime’s history. Coverage of the Steinbrenner/Berra falling out and reconciliation was fantastic. I would have loved to watch Yogi play!

[dgood7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for any Yankees fan, yet so much more. The book describes the remarkable relationship between Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry. These two icons shatter the stereotypes of the self absorbed star athlete.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten rings Berra. Okay, so he was a great ball player and I tend to think a wonderful human being. This book just enforced what I know.

Kudos to Ron "Gator" Guidry also for being a complete gentleman to Yogi. This book made me love the pinstripes more than I already do.

[Alex Baron · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a casual baseball fan I quite enjoyed this book. I thought it was an interesting idea looking at the unique relationship between two of the greatest Yankees of all time. Plus Yogi Berra is such a interesting character, who wouldn't want to hear about his life? I'm sure more hard-core baseball fans will know these stories much better than I did, but I liked them just the same.

Very few teams in pro sports have the history that the Yankees posses. I am not a Yankees fan, but I can appreciate their legacy and I am glad they continue to honour their history and not forget the great players that contributed to all those championships. Having the greats of the franchise feel as they are still part of the team I think is really important and I encourage all sports teams to go down this path.