The Wit and Wisdom of Yogi Berra

by Phil Pepe

A collection of quotes, anecdotes, and malaprops from one of baseball’s wisest and wittiest personalities.  New York Times–bestselling author Phil Pepe takes readers along on Yogi Berra’s journey from St. Louis to New York’s Yankee Stadium, including all the stops along the way—from his days as a tack-puller in a women’s shoe factory, to a pre-game tribute in St. Louis, when he coined the phrase, “I want to thank all those that made this night necessary,” to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pepe explores Yogi Berra as a boy, player, hero, coach, manager, husband, father, and jokester, including all of the “Yogi-isms,” in an absorbing treatment that is simultaneously comical, thoughtful, and biographical.   Famous   - About a popular “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” - On Little League “I think it’s wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house.” - On why the Yankees lost the 1960 World “We made too many wrong mistakes.”

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Biography, Humor, Nonfiction

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1974

Reviews

[Manny]

Celebrity Death Match Special:
Yogi Berra versus Second Test 2023

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

Match point: Australia 416 & 279, England 325 & 327

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great biography of the baseball great. The only trouble is that it was written 1988, and Yogi was relevant well into the 21 century, making AFLAC commercials.

[John Deardurff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a high-level biography of the Hall of Fame Yankee catcher. Yogi Berra is probably most well-known for his malaprops, misspoken sentences, and other turns off phrases, but this book takes a look at his baseball career with a focus of his time as a manager of the Yankees and Mets. If you are looking for a detailed in-depth biography, this is not it. This is a fast read and a good introduction into the life of Mr. Berra.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the witticisms that baseball announcers made so funny and amusing going flat. Like the author is a bad joke teller. But worse we know yogi is funny and a good guy and was a great player and coach but we get no sense about the man behind the persona. I didn’t want scandal but a more complete picture of the person. The best part of the book was what bill Veck wrote about him. Fans teammates player’s front office viewed yogi as a loveable buffoon and used him for laughs as a steppingstone. The author points out yogi was sensitive uneducated but not dumb and that must of bothered him. Was he content being known as a Buffoon or did he resent the image. That would have made for a better read than the sports hero worship

[Audrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here’s the deal. I was just having a moment thinking about the kindness that this man once showed me. So I got on the internet, then figured I needed a book. Your paperback is $800.00 on Amazon. Hardcover is $30. The hardcover price makes sense, but I had one conversation with this man on the phone for less than an hour and I can promise you he thinks very little of a man who would charge 800 bucks for a book you wrote. Obviously I didn’t and will not purchase, but that’s very telling. You never even spoke to the man. If you did he’s disappointed in you.

[Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who’s Up?

Who couldn’t enjoy this book? You don’t have to like baseball, you don’t have to understand baseball, to love Yogi. He’s the guy sitting at your table who is guaranteed to say the wrong thing the right way. Read, laugh, enjoy the one the only Yogi Bera

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of a biography

Pretty much a biography? A lot of baseball stats. Yogi played for the Mets and Yankees . He coached or managed for the Mets ,Yankees and Astros. That idiot George Steinbrenner fired this hall of famer . Not as many quotes as I hoped for.

[Willie Kirschner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just Yogi

This is a short book about the formerly great Yankee catcher,who spent most of his life as a player, coach, and manager. He was known for his witticisms, his face and his honesty, and was a great baseball player.

[Timothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what advertised

“The Wit and Wisdom” as the title would lead a reader to believe that this was a book of Yogi Berra quotes. It’s actually a biography and a mediocre one at that. There’s a glossary of his quotes in the back. Didn’t finish.

[Harold K. Deaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got hooked and finished it in one evening. The last chapter has a whole lot of Bearrisms. That is fun. All over great book.

[Mepapermaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant biography of Yogi Berra’s life, family, baseball player, coaching and manager careers. Some personal stories and Yogi sayings.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading about a heavy hitter. Every man and woman could emulate the character of Yogi Berra. It would be a better world if they did.

[George Polansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography of Yogi Berra. An entertaining and informative read.

[Daniel Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is all about Yogi Berra

This is a great book about a great man. Has a lot of stories about his entire career. A lot of Yogi-isms.

[Don Paske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than "Driving Mr. Yogi". This is a warm biography of Yogi Berra, number 8, and my hero as a kid in St. Louis.

[Tina Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One.of.a.kind

We need more Yogi's. The world is a tough place and guys like Yogi are welcome. Thank.you, Mister Berra. We're glad you.came.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lifelong fan

So glad I read this book,I've always been a fan of Yogi Beers.He came from an era where morals,empathy for others .

[Budd Margolis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sparse.

[Robert Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back fond memories

This book was fun and enjoyable to read. It brought back many long memories and now I want to read more about Yogi

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

read some time in 1978

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

FUN