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Yogi Berra: Eternal Yankee
The gripping biography of the legendary Hall-of-Famer and one of the most quotable figures in American culture.
Yogi Berra is one of the most popular former athletes in American history, and the most quoted American since Abraham Lincoln. Part comedian, part feisty competitor, Berra is also the winningest player (fourteen pennants, ten World Series, three MVPs) in baseball history. In this revelatory biography, Allen Barra presents Yogi's remarkable life as never seen before, from his childhood in "Dago Hill," the Italian-American neighborhood in St. Louis, to his leading role on the 1949-53 Yankees, the only team to win five consecutive World Series, to the travails of the '64 pennant race, through his epic battles and final peace with George Steinbrenner. This biography, replete with nearly one hundred photos and countless "Yogi-isms," offers hilarious insights into many of baseball's greatest moments. From calling Don Larsen's perfect game to managing the 1973 "You Gotta Believe" New York Mets, Yogi's life and career are a virtual cutaway view of our national pastime in the twentieth century. 98 photographs480 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 8, 2019
This has been on my to-read list since 2011, when I discovered it was also on audio. (Clearly I hadn't looked very hard before.) It was pure delight! What a great man Berra was--as a baseball legend but also just as a person. Perhaps to enjoy it as much as I did you had to be a Yankee fan back in the 50s. Luckily my dad was and we drove to KC to see them play--and stayed in the Muehlebach, the hotel where they stayed as well. I have lots of autographs and a great deal of appreciation for those teams, though poor KC was a farm team for them. While I loved learning more about Yogi, I also enjoyed seeing players whose names I had mostly forgotten--Jerry Coleman, Gil McDougald, Elston Howard--clearly I had no real sense of which of these were just journeymen and which great. I was afraid I'd be bored in the years after Berra left the Yankees, but they went quickly. Well-integrated facts, interspersed with memorable Yogisms, inviting style, lots of details of baseball (not just the Yankees) when it was the favorite sport in the US.
March 22, 2010
You run into a lot of characters lurking around baseball clubhouses, but it's less interesting than it might sound. From superstars to rookies to owners to agents to assorted hangers-on, most adopt some version of the same clubhouse mask, fake boredom or fake seen-it-all weariness or fake bravado that rules out glimpsing much honest emotion.
Yogi Berra was one of the all-time great exceptions to that. Sure, he lived in a different era, and sure, sportswriters were more into building baseball players up back then, in the years before Simon and Garfunkel sang "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?" But Berra was always an original.
He stiffed Branch Rickey's offer to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, just because he wanted the same $500 signing bonus he knew was going to Joe Garagiola, his friend growing up in an Italian American part of St. Louis called the Hill. As the MVP catcher of the powerhouse Yankee teams of the late '40s and '50s, which at one point rattled off five straight World Series victories, Berra would torment opposing hitters by sitting behind home plate and making good-natured small talk with them.
"Who are they trying to fool with this guy?" Ted Williams said when he first caught a glimpse of stumpy, grinning Yogi behind the plate, but later on the two got on famously.
I was struck reading Allen Barra's altogether sturdy and well-written biography at just how unusual a figure Yogi truly is. Barra (no relation, he thinks), an amiable, guys-talking-at-the-water-cooler type sportswriter best known for his former column writing at Salon.com and his well-received Bear Bryant biography, does a beautiful job of reminding even the casual fan of Yogi's bona fides as a baseball great. He was perhaps the greatest overall catcher ever (see Appendix A), definitely one of the great winners of all time (with an absurd 10 World Series rings) and indisputably an all-time original as a personality, teammate and clubhouse presence.
It's a tribute to Barra's thoroughness in bringing us back to the Casey Stengel Yanks, before the Dodgers and Giants went west, and sketching the baseball backdrop with both understated ease and virtuoso skill, that it finally came to me, reading this book: Yogi has to be the most honest great figure baseball has ever produced.
His whole life, he has said what he meant, even when few others would. Working in a hardware store one off-season as a young player, for example, he told a customer looking for a certain screw, "I can't tell one from another. I think you'd better pick them out yourself."
That was Yogi. People laughed at the Yogi-isms, but they remembered them. These were the words of a smart man who both knew baseball and knew what he knew, who has always cared only about making a point, not impressing. The modern player, brought up on a diet of disposable, mass-produced, ready-made quotes, could never dream of being so original or so honest, or not for long, anyway.
Barra, in a worth-the-price-of-admission brilliant flourish, includes an "Appendix B," which he calls "Yogi Berra and the Great Minds: A Comparative Study," including the following gems - and truly does justice to Yogi's insights.
Winston Churchill: "Never, never, never give up."
Yogi Berra: "It ain't over till it's over."
Napoleon Bonaparte: "In war, the moral is to the physical as three to one."
Yogi Berra: "Half this game is 90 percent mental."
Henri Cartier-Bresson: "Thinking should be done beforehand and afterwards, never while actually taking a photograph."
Yogi Berra: "You can't think and hit at the same time."
I hope this is not the last biography written of Yogi. Barra did not have direct access to his subject for the project (though he has spoken to him on a number of occasions), which is an unfortunate loss, given how enjoyable some fresh Yogi truth-telling might have been.
Yogi Berra was one of the all-time great exceptions to that. Sure, he lived in a different era, and sure, sportswriters were more into building baseball players up back then, in the years before Simon and Garfunkel sang "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?" But Berra was always an original.
He stiffed Branch Rickey's offer to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, just because he wanted the same $500 signing bonus he knew was going to Joe Garagiola, his friend growing up in an Italian American part of St. Louis called the Hill. As the MVP catcher of the powerhouse Yankee teams of the late '40s and '50s, which at one point rattled off five straight World Series victories, Berra would torment opposing hitters by sitting behind home plate and making good-natured small talk with them.
"Who are they trying to fool with this guy?" Ted Williams said when he first caught a glimpse of stumpy, grinning Yogi behind the plate, but later on the two got on famously.
I was struck reading Allen Barra's altogether sturdy and well-written biography at just how unusual a figure Yogi truly is. Barra (no relation, he thinks), an amiable, guys-talking-at-the-water-cooler type sportswriter best known for his former column writing at Salon.com and his well-received Bear Bryant biography, does a beautiful job of reminding even the casual fan of Yogi's bona fides as a baseball great. He was perhaps the greatest overall catcher ever (see Appendix A), definitely one of the great winners of all time (with an absurd 10 World Series rings) and indisputably an all-time original as a personality, teammate and clubhouse presence.
It's a tribute to Barra's thoroughness in bringing us back to the Casey Stengel Yanks, before the Dodgers and Giants went west, and sketching the baseball backdrop with both understated ease and virtuoso skill, that it finally came to me, reading this book: Yogi has to be the most honest great figure baseball has ever produced.
His whole life, he has said what he meant, even when few others would. Working in a hardware store one off-season as a young player, for example, he told a customer looking for a certain screw, "I can't tell one from another. I think you'd better pick them out yourself."
That was Yogi. People laughed at the Yogi-isms, but they remembered them. These were the words of a smart man who both knew baseball and knew what he knew, who has always cared only about making a point, not impressing. The modern player, brought up on a diet of disposable, mass-produced, ready-made quotes, could never dream of being so original or so honest, or not for long, anyway.
Barra, in a worth-the-price-of-admission brilliant flourish, includes an "Appendix B," which he calls "Yogi Berra and the Great Minds: A Comparative Study," including the following gems - and truly does justice to Yogi's insights.
Winston Churchill: "Never, never, never give up."
Yogi Berra: "It ain't over till it's over."
Napoleon Bonaparte: "In war, the moral is to the physical as three to one."
Yogi Berra: "Half this game is 90 percent mental."
Henri Cartier-Bresson: "Thinking should be done beforehand and afterwards, never while actually taking a photograph."
Yogi Berra: "You can't think and hit at the same time."
I hope this is not the last biography written of Yogi. Barra did not have direct access to his subject for the project (though he has spoken to him on a number of occasions), which is an unfortunate loss, given how enjoyable some fresh Yogi truth-telling might have been.
March 14, 2012
Hands down my Favorite Yankee next to Jeter. This was a fantastic biography with hundreds of little details about one of baseballs greatest decades. Yogi had an addiction for chocolate milk and was forced to stop because he was getting sick for it and then years later became VP or part owner of Yoohoo chocolate drink. The guy can wear World Series rings on all TEN fingers. Jackie Robinson stole home off him (debatable, though) and he called the only perfect game in World Series history.
I would do ANYTHING to travel back in time just to experience Yankee Stadium in the 50's.
I would do ANYTHING to travel back in time just to experience Yankee Stadium in the 50's.
November 1, 2019
“Berra knew that he’d never have a better opportunity to cash in on his real worth. Shortly after the holidays, Yogi got his offer from George Weiss: $22,000, just 4,000 above what he had made in 1950 and, in fact, what he had asked for that year- practically a case of deja vu all over again. The Yankee’s pitch was low and away: Berra wanted $40,000, or at least said he did, though he admitted later he would have settled for $30,000. But $40,000 was not unreasonable” (Barra 141). In this part of the book, it is talking about how yogi was wanting more money than what
he was getting.
This quote is from the book Yogi Berra: Eternal Yankee on pages 141 and 142. This quote connects to the book because in the book Yogi Berra is never happy with what he has and he always wants more. To me, that is also the theme of this book. To never think that you have enough, cause you can always do better than that.
This book is a biography about Yogi Berra who was a very good baseball player and is written by Allen Barra. It starts by talking about his childhood. Yogi grew up in an Italian neighborhood in St. Louis called the Hill. He grew up loving baseball. At a certain age, he decided that he wanted to commit to baseball. He tried out for the cardinals. His favorite team at the time. He and his friend tried out and they both got offers and signing bonuses. But Yogi’s was offer was worth less money than his friend. So he was mad and did not accepts because he wanted more. So the Yankees got him what he wanted. Yogi ended up being a great baseball player. He won 3 MVP awards, won the World Series 10 times, and was one of the best catchers ever in baseball. Then he went on to coach for the Yankees and Mets. He won three more world series as a Manager.
My first like about this book was that Yogi’s character was described really well, and he was talked about with a lot of detail. I really felt like I knew him really well even though it was a biography. I was really glad it went through everything about his family history because that also helped me out with reading the book.
My second like about this book is how they gave a really good description of his childhood before they started to talk about his adulthood. This was very helpful because it helped me understand more about yogi as a kid.
My third like about this book was that it was on baseball. This book was pretty much all about baseball I really loved it. Because Baseball is my favorite sport I really knew more about what was going on in the book which really helped.
I really loved this book a lot so that is why I would recommend this book to people who like to read biograp0hy’s. Also to people who like baseball or for people who would like to learn more about baseball. If you really do not like these two things this book is not for you.
he was getting.
This quote is from the book Yogi Berra: Eternal Yankee on pages 141 and 142. This quote connects to the book because in the book Yogi Berra is never happy with what he has and he always wants more. To me, that is also the theme of this book. To never think that you have enough, cause you can always do better than that.
This book is a biography about Yogi Berra who was a very good baseball player and is written by Allen Barra. It starts by talking about his childhood. Yogi grew up in an Italian neighborhood in St. Louis called the Hill. He grew up loving baseball. At a certain age, he decided that he wanted to commit to baseball. He tried out for the cardinals. His favorite team at the time. He and his friend tried out and they both got offers and signing bonuses. But Yogi’s was offer was worth less money than his friend. So he was mad and did not accepts because he wanted more. So the Yankees got him what he wanted. Yogi ended up being a great baseball player. He won 3 MVP awards, won the World Series 10 times, and was one of the best catchers ever in baseball. Then he went on to coach for the Yankees and Mets. He won three more world series as a Manager.
My first like about this book was that Yogi’s character was described really well, and he was talked about with a lot of detail. I really felt like I knew him really well even though it was a biography. I was really glad it went through everything about his family history because that also helped me out with reading the book.
My second like about this book is how they gave a really good description of his childhood before they started to talk about his adulthood. This was very helpful because it helped me understand more about yogi as a kid.
My third like about this book was that it was on baseball. This book was pretty much all about baseball I really loved it. Because Baseball is my favorite sport I really knew more about what was going on in the book which really helped.
I really loved this book a lot so that is why I would recommend this book to people who like to read biograp0hy’s. Also to people who like baseball or for people who would like to learn more about baseball. If you really do not like these two things this book is not for you.
June 23, 2016
I would prefer to give this book about 4 1/2 stars, because I thought the author repeated a lot of facts that didn't really need to be repeated. Other than that, a very good book about a very entertaining subject.
If one listens to this book as I did, be warned that the last (16th) disk is appendices, and all statistics -- dry and hard to follow while driving! But the author and narrator did a good job of separating out characters by voice and tone and that was easy to follow for the rest of the narrative.
I knew a fair amount about Yogi Berra, being a life-long Yankees fan. But I came of baseball age in the early 1960's, and Yogi was nearing the end of his career. It was fun for me to learn about what Yogi did as a younger player, and how accomplished he was when he was at his peak. It was also good for a baseball fan to hear the names of many who came before and after Yogi, and who impacted the game and Yogi's playing and life.
I would recommend this book to first of all, Yankees fans. Then to anyone interested in baseball history. And finally, to the younger generation who might learn something about why baseball always was our national pastime.
If one listens to this book as I did, be warned that the last (16th) disk is appendices, and all statistics -- dry and hard to follow while driving! But the author and narrator did a good job of separating out characters by voice and tone and that was easy to follow for the rest of the narrative.
I knew a fair amount about Yogi Berra, being a life-long Yankees fan. But I came of baseball age in the early 1960's, and Yogi was nearing the end of his career. It was fun for me to learn about what Yogi did as a younger player, and how accomplished he was when he was at his peak. It was also good for a baseball fan to hear the names of many who came before and after Yogi, and who impacted the game and Yogi's playing and life.
I would recommend this book to first of all, Yankees fans. Then to anyone interested in baseball history. And finally, to the younger generation who might learn something about why baseball always was our national pastime.
December 29, 2015
I was inspired by Allen Barra's book on Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle to read this one on Yogi Berra. As a St. Louis Cardinal fan, I never had much interest in the NY Yankees, but I found this biography of Yogi to be fascinating. Yogi's career was coming to an end when I became interested in baseball as a child. Unlike many athlete heroes, Yogi appears to have few personal flaws. Growing up in an Italian neighborhood of St. Louis, he hoped to play for the Cardinals, but when he was offered only a $250 sign on bonus he refused because it was less than the $500 paid to his friend, Joe Garagiola. Yogi was the inspiration for the cartoon character, Yogi Bear. I recommend this book to baseball fans, Yankee fans and Yogi fans.
May 2, 2012
A very quick read and never a dull moment. What a life this man has led, and it's NOT what you expect. The Yogisms that have made him famous (many of which he never uttered) have left the impression of a dullness of wit. Nothing could be further from the truth and the people who played with him (and the unlucky ones who had to play against him) will attest to his brains considering he ended up with more money than most of them put together. But it's his record that is revealing. Yogi is arguably one of the best players let alone the best catcher to ever play the game. Now consider you heard that from a die-hard Sox fan and Yankee hater...
April 15, 2015
This book is amazing. I really recommend it. If you like baseball books or even baseball in general, you will love this book. This book got me started reading biographies and books like that. That's how much I enjoyed this book. I really really really recommend it. I didn't usually read biographies but when I read this one I was hooked, but that's just me. I really really really recommend you to read this because it is a really good book.
May 10, 2010
This was a fun read for me as a baseball fan. Yogi was truly a remarkable catcher. Likely one of the best, if not the best, catcher in baseball history. His stats make a strong case for him being the best catcher during his playing days with the Yankees.
September 9, 2014
This is a great book about Yogi Berra. It is pretty much a history of NY Yankees after the WWII. A must read for anyone that loves baseball.
January 6, 2015
One of my very favorite sports books. A delightful read about a wonderful American character and great baseball player
August 6, 2020
Not quite the baseball fan I once was but still have a great appreciation for the games history which has to include its most successful franchise the New York Yankees. Yogi Berra is mostly known for his humorous quotes but Allen Barra, the author of this fine book, would prefer to change that.
This biography takes us from Yogi's beginning growing up in The Hill section of St. Louis through his retirement and the creation of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center on the Montclair State University campus in New Jersey. The story emphasizes Yogi's Hall of Fame career as a player, manager and coach. Yogi made 15 All-Star appearances, won the American League MVP award three times and was a World Series champion ten times. He had an incredible career that sometimes gets overlooked because of the lovable, funny man he was.
This was a really enjoyable book. The writer is obviously a fan of Yogi's and now so am I. Read it while the world goes through a very difficult period. Picked it up because I needed to read something positive. Wanted to learn more about this baseball lifer and more importantly a very nice man. Mission accomplished.
This biography takes us from Yogi's beginning growing up in The Hill section of St. Louis through his retirement and the creation of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center on the Montclair State University campus in New Jersey. The story emphasizes Yogi's Hall of Fame career as a player, manager and coach. Yogi made 15 All-Star appearances, won the American League MVP award three times and was a World Series champion ten times. He had an incredible career that sometimes gets overlooked because of the lovable, funny man he was.
This was a really enjoyable book. The writer is obviously a fan of Yogi's and now so am I. Read it while the world goes through a very difficult period. Picked it up because I needed to read something positive. Wanted to learn more about this baseball lifer and more importantly a very nice man. Mission accomplished.
August 24, 2021
A biography - the first full-length such work on this subject - created to set the record straight on who Yogi Berra truly was as a legendary catcher, decorated champion, manager and as a person finally exists, thanks to sports columnist Allen Barra. Every aspect of Berra’s life is explored by the author, with special attention given to his character and personality, which is quite distinct from that fashioned by the New York media. The theme of The American Dream is nicely woven throughout, and though Yogi was a true Yankee and perennial champion, you can’t help but come to love Yogi and appreciate his life and career as that of a true great.
December 19, 2023
Baseball is not my thing. However, in choosing to listen to Yogi Berra: The Eternal Yankee, I was curious about this legend.
If you love baseball; you will love this book. Hard-core baseball enthusiasts will enjoy the deep dive into the statistics, debating controversial plays, learn about former Yankee players, coaches, pennant races and analysis of all things baseball.
For everyone else, Berre's personal like, his marriage, family, growing up in St. Louis (Joe Gragiola) with other baseball greats, salary negations, friendships and fights with other legends of baseball.
Overall, a Good Read about a true legend in baseball.
If you love baseball; you will love this book. Hard-core baseball enthusiasts will enjoy the deep dive into the statistics, debating controversial plays, learn about former Yankee players, coaches, pennant races and analysis of all things baseball.
For everyone else, Berre's personal like, his marriage, family, growing up in St. Louis (Joe Gragiola) with other baseball greats, salary negations, friendships and fights with other legends of baseball.
Overall, a Good Read about a true legend in baseball.
March 15, 2021
Best baseball book I have read yet. So many athletes you read about are quite disappointing once you learn about their private lives. Yogi is a rare exception. Allen Barra does a good job of capturing his life and bringing out just how good a player Yogi was in connection to his more familiar personality. I have a lot more respect for Yogi as a ballplayer and a person.
January 20, 2024
It was a thorough biography of this very famous and modest man. His modesty somewhat hides how good of a baseball player, coach and manager he was. A lot of great stories in it, which makes the book long, a little over 400 pages. It Ain’t Over may be a good alternative. Loved that Yogi didn’t take no crap from nobody.
April 5, 2024
Very interesting, learned a lot about Yogi and the 1950 Yankees in general. Never realized how good he was. Book was a bit sluggish, not a fast read at all but something you can read a chapter, put it down for a week and pick it back up and not feel lost which is exactly how I read it. Baseball fans only will enjoy this book.
October 15, 2024
Good solid listen. It serves, unexpectedly, as a portal back to the 50s and 60s. Up here in Canada, hockey cards from bubble gum were like treasures of gold for kids. But Sherrif baseball coins were a close second, and coins with Mickey Mantle, or any Yankee, were revered above all.
Many names and events in the book served up old and usually pleasant, memories.
Many names and events in the book served up old and usually pleasant, memories.
April 4, 2020
A terrific biography about a man who was an American Institution. Talented, funny, a veteran of D-Day, Yogi was all of that. He was a one of a kind and we’ll not see the like of his kind again. If you like baseball, give this a read.
June 29, 2020
Yogi explored. A great American. One of the things I get from this exploration is how he could not have become Yogi today. Today's young athletes are too managed and too full of themselves. A shining example of hard work and proper attitude towards life.
December 5, 2025
As someone who knew very little about baseball history before reading, this book was a great introduction to that era. I also appreciated that this book gave a detailed life story of Yogi beyond his baseball career and fame.
April 16, 2023
The last living legendary golden year baseball player. Talented athletes. Come in once a lifetime.
March 3, 2017
Allen Barra has touched all the bases in this memorable tome on one of greatest guardians of home plate, Lawrence aka Lawdie (from his mothers Italian accent) Peter aka Yogi Berra. A living icon that he was, Yogi played the game with such intensity, compassion, knowledge, personality that will forever place him in "the best" category which he will retain forever. The story speaks for itself starting in his younger days on "The Hill," his contribution in WW II, and finally his glorious days as a Yankee - in fact, Yogi was "The Yankees." One of the most amazing facts that will impress any mind, any fan, anywhere is a comparison of Yogi, Ted Williams - whom many said was the greatest hitter of all-time - and The Man, who many regard as the 2nd greatest hitter - Stan Musial career strike out performance. Yogi outdid them all! Yogi: 7,755 total career at bats - a ridiculously low 414 strike outs. Ted Williams: 7,706 at bats with 719 strikeouts. Stan Musial: 10,972 at bats with 696 strike outs. The numerous players, managers, coaches, owners that crossed paths with Yogi make this the most entertaining read to date. His conversations with Casey, Mickey, Ted, Aaron, Elston, et al are a classic because Yogi defined the word classic. When Yogi passed away, the greatest ambassador in baseball and now in heaven. Oh my, if we could only listen in!
January 16, 2013
ISBN 0393062333 – If the time was ever right for a good baseball book and a positive Yankee hero, this would certainly be it, with steroids in the headlines and modern day baseball heroes fewer and farther between. A little trip back in time is a good thing sometimes and Yogi's an excellent traveling companion.
Beginning with Yogi's childhood in St Louis, back when he was still just Larry Berra, author Barra reintroduces us to one of the most well-known characters of baseball and reminds us that Berra was much more than the guy who said all those "funny" things. Over his father's almost half-hearted objections, Larry pursued baseball as a career at a time when baseball wasn't the ATM it is now. Yogi's early years in baseball and his service in the Navy are prelude to the career more people know him for: one of the top backstops in the history of baseball, for the greatest dynasty the sport has known. His jobs coaching and managing lead into his retirement from the game, when his family life finally re-emerges into the story, only to fade again in light of the Yogi Berra Museum.
Yogi Berra, often painted the lovable clown, is shown here to be so much more. A war hero; a loving son, husband and father; a reliable friend... and, of course, a baseball player more than worthy of a spot in the Hall of Fame AND his own museum. He was a Yankee, and might be the "eternal Yankee", but Yogi's fame is, oddly, bigger than that team. Even non-fans know the name, even if they can't tell you what team he played for! The author manages to paint a crisp image of a more "innocent" time without boring the reader into a pastel-colored coma and even handles the issues of prejudice - against Yogi/Italian players first, and later against black players - with some skill.
Few biographers are entirely unbiased and Barra isn't an exception. He's a neighbor and, one supposes, a friend of Berra (not a relative, though!) and his admiration is, perhaps, as much personal as it is fan-like. This isn't necessarily a negative; the end product is an old-fashioned biography of the sort that doesn't delve too deeply into Berra's personal life - something I consider a good thing, all in all - but doesn't ignore it completely. His son's drug use is mentioned, but not dwelled on, for example. Good for Barra, for not glossing over a well-known chapter, and for not providing titillating details just for the "tabloid factor".
The negatives: Berra's life with his family and friends gets too little attention. Baseball fans like books that sound like they're written by people who know the game; Barra's frequent use of the clunky-sounding "grand slammer" instead of the more commonly used "grand slam" is awkward and stilted, but it's his only sin as far as language goes. The appendixes are more argument for Berra's crown than useful or even entertaining. My copy (an ARC) has no index, I assume the final edition does.
- AnnaLovesBooks
Beginning with Yogi's childhood in St Louis, back when he was still just Larry Berra, author Barra reintroduces us to one of the most well-known characters of baseball and reminds us that Berra was much more than the guy who said all those "funny" things. Over his father's almost half-hearted objections, Larry pursued baseball as a career at a time when baseball wasn't the ATM it is now. Yogi's early years in baseball and his service in the Navy are prelude to the career more people know him for: one of the top backstops in the history of baseball, for the greatest dynasty the sport has known. His jobs coaching and managing lead into his retirement from the game, when his family life finally re-emerges into the story, only to fade again in light of the Yogi Berra Museum.
Yogi Berra, often painted the lovable clown, is shown here to be so much more. A war hero; a loving son, husband and father; a reliable friend... and, of course, a baseball player more than worthy of a spot in the Hall of Fame AND his own museum. He was a Yankee, and might be the "eternal Yankee", but Yogi's fame is, oddly, bigger than that team. Even non-fans know the name, even if they can't tell you what team he played for! The author manages to paint a crisp image of a more "innocent" time without boring the reader into a pastel-colored coma and even handles the issues of prejudice - against Yogi/Italian players first, and later against black players - with some skill.
Few biographers are entirely unbiased and Barra isn't an exception. He's a neighbor and, one supposes, a friend of Berra (not a relative, though!) and his admiration is, perhaps, as much personal as it is fan-like. This isn't necessarily a negative; the end product is an old-fashioned biography of the sort that doesn't delve too deeply into Berra's personal life - something I consider a good thing, all in all - but doesn't ignore it completely. His son's drug use is mentioned, but not dwelled on, for example. Good for Barra, for not glossing over a well-known chapter, and for not providing titillating details just for the "tabloid factor".
The negatives: Berra's life with his family and friends gets too little attention. Baseball fans like books that sound like they're written by people who know the game; Barra's frequent use of the clunky-sounding "grand slammer" instead of the more commonly used "grand slam" is awkward and stilted, but it's his only sin as far as language goes. The appendixes are more argument for Berra's crown than useful or even entertaining. My copy (an ARC) has no index, I assume the final edition does.
- AnnaLovesBooks
March 30, 2009
Lawrence Peter Berra is more than a Hall of Fame baseball player--he's a cultural icon. In his new biography, "Yogi: Eternal Yankee," sportswriter Alan Barra makes the case for Berra's status on both counts. Barra does an excellent job of tracing the arc of Yogi's life, beginning with his youth in an Italian neighborhood of St. Louis known as "The Hill," continuing through his Navy service in World War II, his career behind the plate for the Yankees, and his post-playing managing and coaching career with the Yankees, Mets and Astros.
Barra (no relation to his subject) has thoroughly mined contemporary sources, histories, memoirs and his own interviews to present the most comprehensive look to date at Berra's remarkable story. Barra's affection and admiration for his subject is clear throughout the book, but this does not prevent him from taking an evenhanded approach to Yogi's life and times. The Yogi Berra who emerges from these pages is not the cartoon character known to casual fans, famous for saying odd and funny things ("Thank you for making this night necessary" "How can you think and hit at the same time" and many more). Instead, we are presented with a man with great baseball instincts, skills and knowledge, an intelligent field leader and a man of great principles. Berra displayed the latter quality during his long exile from Yankee Stadium. After being fired as Yankees manager by George Steinbrenner in 1985, Berra vowed to never return to the Stadium until Steinbrenner no longer owned the team. He only relented 14 years later, after pleas from his family and an apology from Steinbrenner.
Barra uses statistics and expert opinions to build a persuasive case for Berra as the greatest offensive and denfensive catcher of all time. And he concludes that Berra represents the best of baseball over the past six decades--and the best of America. I have to agree after reading this entertaining and informative biography. Recommended for all lovers of baseball, and especially for fans of the golden era of the New York Yankees.
Barra (no relation to his subject) has thoroughly mined contemporary sources, histories, memoirs and his own interviews to present the most comprehensive look to date at Berra's remarkable story. Barra's affection and admiration for his subject is clear throughout the book, but this does not prevent him from taking an evenhanded approach to Yogi's life and times. The Yogi Berra who emerges from these pages is not the cartoon character known to casual fans, famous for saying odd and funny things ("Thank you for making this night necessary" "How can you think and hit at the same time" and many more). Instead, we are presented with a man with great baseball instincts, skills and knowledge, an intelligent field leader and a man of great principles. Berra displayed the latter quality during his long exile from Yankee Stadium. After being fired as Yankees manager by George Steinbrenner in 1985, Berra vowed to never return to the Stadium until Steinbrenner no longer owned the team. He only relented 14 years later, after pleas from his family and an apology from Steinbrenner.
Barra uses statistics and expert opinions to build a persuasive case for Berra as the greatest offensive and denfensive catcher of all time. And he concludes that Berra represents the best of baseball over the past six decades--and the best of America. I have to agree after reading this entertaining and informative biography. Recommended for all lovers of baseball, and especially for fans of the golden era of the New York Yankees.
April 8, 2020
A true one of a kind person and what a character which was all-natural. This book goes from his humble beginnings in St. Louis where he grew up in an Italian neighborhood known as the “Hill” with one of his friends being Joe Garagiola who would play with the Cardinals in the 1946 World Series. He would only play for 9 seasons and most scouts had him rated a better player than his friend Yogi Berra.
Yogi would sign with the Yankees but then went into the service for WWII. He was in the Navy and what I did not know for the longest time was that he drove or operated one of the landing crafts during the Normandy invasion. Not many of those men made it back as well. When he returned from service, he worked with Yankee catcher Bill Dickey on his defense and would make his debut in 1946.
The book goes into his marriage which he still did not know how he married someone so beautiful since he was just a mug, you could tell just by the book he loved his wife very much. The book takes you through the years with the Yankees the different games, world Series the men he played the game with and against. How he still was upset with the call of Jackie Robinson being safe on his steal of home. The perfect game he caught from Don Larson.
Then goes into his managing first with the Yankees, then being fired after losing the Series. He then would go to the Mets and to other teams. He would come back and manage the Yankees in 85 only to be fired after 16 games, he would not come back to Yankee Stadium until 1999 fifteen years. You get a look into a great Hall of Fame ballplayer and one of the better books about a player out there.
Yogi would sign with the Yankees but then went into the service for WWII. He was in the Navy and what I did not know for the longest time was that he drove or operated one of the landing crafts during the Normandy invasion. Not many of those men made it back as well. When he returned from service, he worked with Yankee catcher Bill Dickey on his defense and would make his debut in 1946.
The book goes into his marriage which he still did not know how he married someone so beautiful since he was just a mug, you could tell just by the book he loved his wife very much. The book takes you through the years with the Yankees the different games, world Series the men he played the game with and against. How he still was upset with the call of Jackie Robinson being safe on his steal of home. The perfect game he caught from Don Larson.
Then goes into his managing first with the Yankees, then being fired after losing the Series. He then would go to the Mets and to other teams. He would come back and manage the Yankees in 85 only to be fired after 16 games, he would not come back to Yankee Stadium until 1999 fifteen years. You get a look into a great Hall of Fame ballplayer and one of the better books about a player out there.
October 2, 2015
A really good biography on one of the best baseball catchers and players of all time, Lawrence "Yogi" Berra. Berra sadly passed away last week at the age of 90, right as I was preparing to read this book. Allen Barra (no relation to the player, the name is actually spelled different) wrote an easy to read and well researched book on the former Yankee. His childhood is described briefly as well as his coaching days with the Mets and Yankees and Astros, but the bulk of the book is his playing days from 1946 to 1958. His last years of a Yankee are talked about here as well, from 1959 to around 1964, but that section is a little rushed, the only thing I didn't like about the book. Would have liked to have known how Yogi was during the home run chase of Mantle and Maris in 1961 and how was his influence. Also the Yankees won two World Series in that time so would have liked to have known a little more. But in the end this book is a five. Very well researched. A lot of notes at the bottom of pages, but not overboard where it trumphs the book like Bill Simmons is known to do. Berra was a kind man and a great player. I didn't realize just how similar his numbers are to Johnny Bench, who along with Berra is often called the greatest catcher of all time. Any Yankee fan, baseball fan, or just fan of Yogi will love this book. I look forward to reading more books by Allen Barra in the future. Good stuff.
April 5, 2009
Even though this book was quite "technical" -- there were pages and pages of all the stats and details of years and years of baseball games (primarily involving Yogi's career with the Yankees), I found it to be a real page-turner. I loved it. Since I've only followed baseball for 20 years or so, it was quite an education for me. So many of the players I know of only as coaches had great careers and this book documents them if they interfaced with Yogi Berra's career.
And the title character? They don't make 'em like Yogi anymore. Responsible, dedicated, a craftsman of his trade as a catcher and also possessing a wealth of knowledge about baseball and the players -- how else could he have called all those pitches for all those years? The thing that shines through this book is something that is often missing from today's baseball players: Yogi loved playing baseball. I was also fascinated with his early years...who knew he actually was at Normandy on D-Day in WWII? I have asked many long-time baseball fans if they knew that fact about Yogi and so far no one has known it. He was awarded a Purple Heart, among other medals. The reason we don't know? Yogi was too humble to mention it. You don't find that trait among too many great baseball players these days.
It was a great read. Slightly more than 400 pages, I was still sorry when it ended.
And the title character? They don't make 'em like Yogi anymore. Responsible, dedicated, a craftsman of his trade as a catcher and also possessing a wealth of knowledge about baseball and the players -- how else could he have called all those pitches for all those years? The thing that shines through this book is something that is often missing from today's baseball players: Yogi loved playing baseball. I was also fascinated with his early years...who knew he actually was at Normandy on D-Day in WWII? I have asked many long-time baseball fans if they knew that fact about Yogi and so far no one has known it. He was awarded a Purple Heart, among other medals. The reason we don't know? Yogi was too humble to mention it. You don't find that trait among too many great baseball players these days.
It was a great read. Slightly more than 400 pages, I was still sorry when it ended.
January 4, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. It went into the different sides of Yogi Berra from the devoted family man to the lovable character with his sayings to one of the greatest catchers in baseball to the movie reviewer. I had no clue that Yogi had did so many other things than just play baseball. It was interesting to read about how he was there at the invasion of Normandy while in the Navy. I loved how he just wanted to play ball. As far as the bad parts of this book, I wish Mr. Barra would have either left out some of the games in some of the seasons or told us why it was important. Maybe through a story or two. There were sections when he just gave you paragraphs of games and records. The beginning of the book was the best part. After Yogi retires from playing the book kinda went downhill. It didn't give much description and didn't tell many stories about things. I think this is a very good sports biography, but you don't have to know baseball or even sports to enjoy this one. I think it will stand the test of time. I highly recommend this book to Yankee fans or baseball fans in general.
September 30, 2015
With the passing of Yogi Berra, I decided I wanted to read something about him. I became a baseball fan long after Yogi's era, but you can't follow anything about baseball without references to Yogi. He had a most interesting life. I didn't realize he came from St Louis. His only ambition in life was to play baseball and if anyone deserves the title "Mr. Baseball" I think it is Yogi. Of course, he is known for his malapropisms (some of which it's doubtful he ever said). Many of them have a touch of wisdom. Yogi was honest and faithful to his friends And the teams he played for. It's a little sad to read of the foibles of some of baseballs greats such as Mantle, DiMaggio, but reminds us that they are just human. The book is full of statistics and ancillary information about others whose Yogi's life touched. I really enjoyed learning about Yogi's life.
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