Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
Yankee legend Yogi Berra, who died at the age of 90 on September 22, 2015, was as well known for his quotable quips as his Hall of Fame baseball career.
Born Lawrence Peter Berra, May 12, 1925, he acquired the nickname "Yogi" from his friend Bobby Hofman, who noticed him sitting cross-legged waiting to play ball one day and remarked that he looked like a yogi in a movie.
Many believe that his chosen name later inspired the popular cartoon character Yogi Bear. The creators of that character deny naming the affable picnic-loving bear after the baseball great, but it certainly "bears" a striking resemblance.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
Berra once said, "Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical."
Here, he proves that quirky statement to be true by taking a direct hit to the back, while sliding safely into home plate, April 18, 1947.
Legendary Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"In baseball, you don't know nothing."
Well, he may not have known "nothing," but the Yankee great recorded some pretty impressive stats.
He was an 18-time All Star, for example. And in 1948, the year this photo was snapped, the catcher-infielder had .305 batting average.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game. And if that isn't enough, in the second half, you give what's left."
Here, Yogi Berra is embraced by Don Larsen at the end of game five of the World Series, October 8, 1956.
It's safe to say they gave their all that game, and it paid off.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running."
Well, if that's true, it rarely seemed to hinder Yogi's play.
Here, the Yankees catcher grabs for a foul pop bunted by pitcher Tony Pena of the Kansas City Athletics, September 2, 1962.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"If you don't know where you're going, you might end up some place else."
Yogi Berra started out as a great player, but he "ended up" as a great coach.
In fact, Berra coached the New York Yankees for eight years, the New York Mets for seven, and the Houston Astros for three.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house."
Here, Yogi Berra samples ice cream with some Bronx youngsters, at one of his snack bars in New York, April 11, 1955.
So, he clearly isn't anti-kids; he just has a unique turn of phrase.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious."
Berra -- seen here flanked by fellow Yankees Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle -- reportedly threw right, but batted left.
Guess that makes him amphibious, too.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"It's like deja vu all over again."
Here, New York Mets coach Yogi Berra, puts on his old trade catcher's gear to get a little warm-up practice before the Mets game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Texas, April 28, 1965.
Berra was put on the active player roster of the Mets by manager Casey Stengel.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"I always thought that record would stand until it was broken."
Yogi Berra has a whole host of impressive stats and records to his name. He hit a career 358 home runs and batted in a whopping 1,430.
Here, the New York Yankees' outfielder is congratulated after belting a three-run pinch hit homer in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, June 9, 1962.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be."
Yogi Berra tags the sliding Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Granny Hamner for an out at home plate during the fourth inning in the final World Series game at Yankee Stadium, October 7, 1950.
The Yankees went on to win the World Series that year; one of an impressive ten times Berra won. So, for Berra, it seems the baseball world, at least, was pretty near perfect.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
In addition to all the incredible quotes spoken by Yogi Berra throughout the years, there have also been a number of awesome quotes spoken about him.
Casey Stengel, for example, once said: "Why has our pitching been so great? Our catcher, that's why. He looks cumbersome, but he's quick as a cat."
Here, Berra dives to tag Ted Williams, as the slugging outfielder tries to score from first base in the fourth inning of the Yankees - Red Sox game in Boston, September 21, 1951. The Yankees went on to win the game 5-1.
Yankee legend's greatest quotes
"You can observe a lot by watching."
So, observe Jackie Robinson tagging Yogi Berra here after fielding Bob Cerv's bouncer in the sixth game of the World Series, October 23, 1955.
That's what history looks like.
Legendary Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"Think! How the hell are you gonna think and hit at the same time."
Three American League sluggers -- Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle -- pose together before the All-Star Game in Washington, July 10, 1956.
Three guys that seemed to do a pretty great job thinking and hitting at the same time.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"It ain't the heat; it's the humility."
Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Joe DiMaggio and Casey Stengel gather on the steps of Shea Stadium in New York before an Old Timers game on August 3, 1974.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
Yogi Berra poses with his son, Dale, at Yankee Stadium in 1984, after the latter was traded to the Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he spent years at short stop.
In addition to baseball abilities, Dale Berra apparently inherited his father's propensity for quirky statements, commenting once:
"You can't compare me to my father. Our similarities are different."
Yogi Berra's greatest quips
"We made too many wrong mistakes."
Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra and New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner say goodbye January 5, 1999, after putting an end to their 14-year feud.
The rift began when Steinbrenner fired Berra as New York's manager 16 games into the 1985 season.
Yogi Berra's greatest quips
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Here, Berra tries to tag out Jackie Robinson at home plate in the Yankees-Dodgers game, September 28, 1955. The Yankees won that game 6-5, but the Dodgers went on to win their only World Series.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."
Berra probably wasn't talking about the Yankees dugout when he uttered this famous line, but he certainly could've been. On July 12, 1962, for example, actors Cary Grant and Doris Day dropped by to hang out with Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra before the Yankees-Dodgers game in Los Angeles. The players appeared in the movie "That Touch of Mink" with Day and Grant.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
"It ain't over till it's over."
Yankee legend Yogi Berra died on September 22, 2015, at the age of 90. His words, however, live on.
Yogi Berra's greatest quotes
And last but not least, "I never said most of the things I said... Take it with a grin of salt."
Good advice from the baseball legend with a sprinkling of humor, as per usual.