What was it like to be part of the D-Day invasion during World War II, perhaps the most famous day in American military history?
We were all a little scared. I just felt I was too young to die. There was a lot of shooting and our crew worked like a team. (Yogi was on a 36-foot craft running interference at Omaha and Utah Beaches, shooting rockets at the German machine-gun nests on the bluffs). We loaded and fired and did whatever we could to soften up the defenses.
Is it true that Branch Rickey almost signed you to your hometown St. Louis Cardinals?
Well, I had a tryout and Rickey told me I’d never be more than a minor-league ballplayer. He gave (best friend) Joe Garagiola $500 to join the organization. When I asked for the same, he refused. However, when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers the next year, he sent me a telegram telling me to report to spring training in Bear Mountain. But it was too late—I just signed with the Yankees.
Of all the great Yankee teams you played on, is there one year's version that is your favorite?
Not really. When we won in ’53 it was special because it was our fifth straight (championship). All the guys on all our teams got along real good.
When you look back at your career, what moment are you most proud of?
Maybe the perfect game (in 1956 World Series). Over 100 years the World Series has been played and it’s never been done before or since. Remember, it was Game 5 against a great team, the Dodgers, so it was an important game, too.
Who was your funniest teammate?
Frank (Spec) Shea, my old roommate. He used to wear a Halloween mask on the subway, I don’t know why. Mickey (Mantle) was a pretty good practical joker, and Whitey (Ford) always had a good sense of humor.
What was your most disappointing moment as a player?
Well, the 1960 Series against Pittsburgh, that was pretty disappointing. We should’ve won. We out-hit them badly. But like I said, we made too many wrong mistakes.
What's your most satisfying moment as a manager? (And is the Phil Linz harmonica incident now a funny memory?)
I don’t know. Getting to the World Series twice (with the Yankees in ’64 and Mets in ’73) when everyone counted us out, that wasn’t bad. Phil and I get along great, that (incident) even helped get him a (harmonica) endorsement.
You played for 10 World Series champions. Is that your proudest achievement in baseball?
It’s definitely one of them. Getting into the Hall of Fame, I’ve been very fortunate.
You’ve been married to your wonderful wife Carmen for over 60 years. What’s the secret to having such a long successful marriage?
I’m not one to give advice. I think you just have to love each other.
Did Martha Stewart actually babysit your kids while you played for the Yankees? That’s what I was told years later. We shared a babysitter with the McDougalds, who lived in Nutley, NJ. Only she wasn’t Martha Stewart then, she had another name.
How gratifying is it to share your baseball wisdom with new generations of fans through the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center?
It’s nice to see kids enjoy and learn history here. We teach them that sports should be fun and also the importance of hard work and respect. I think they get a lot out of the camps and programs we do here.
Of all of your famous Yogi-isms, which one is your favorite?
It ain’t over til it’s over, I think.
For more information on the Yogi Berra Museum, visit YogiBerraMuseum.org.
