Yankees Icon Yogi Berra Passes Away at Age 90

Yogi Berra, the New York Yankees icon whose way with words endeared him to baseball fans and the American people, and whose friendship with Ron Guidry was the subject of the book "Driving Mr. Yogi" has passed away at age 90.

So beloved were Berra's statements, known as Yogi-isms, that he fact he was one of the greatest catchers in baseball history has been somewhat forgotten.  He was a three time MVP in the American League and was a 15 time all star.  He also had success as a manager, leading both the Yankees and New York Mets into the World Series.  He walked 704 times and struck out only 414 times during his 19 year career.   He was also considered to be one of the best handlers of pitchers in the history of the game.  Berra was a 10-time World Series champion as a player.  The Yankees won 14 pennants during his career.

Berra was estranged from the Yankees from 1985-99 after being abruptly fired by then-owner George Steinbrenner, but the two were able to resolve their differences and Berra returned to the Yankees where he was a fixture at spring training.  It was there where his friendship with Guidry blossomed and the two were together each year until Berra's health declined.

Here is a link to some of Berra's more famous quotations, and here is a link to a New York Times article about the relationship between Berra and Guidry.