This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/12/2024
Yogi Berra, widely considered the greatest catcher in baseball history, played 18 of his 19 years with the New York Yankees. Berra was a 15-time All-Star and won 10 World Series Championships as a player, an MLB record. Before achieving these accolades, Lorenzo "Yogi" Berra was born in an Italian neighborhood of St. Louis, MO, to Italian immigrant parents. Growing up on Elizabeth Avenue, he shared his neighborhood with future MLB top prospect and broadcaster Joe Garagiola and legendary St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck. In 1942, the St. Louis Cardinals scouted for a catcher to sign with the organization and both Berra and Garagiola were names of interest. The Cardinals along with many other teams deemed Garagiola a better prospect over Berra. Berra’s hometown team selected his childhood friend over him, leading Berra to sign with the Yankees shortly afterward.
In 1943, Berra joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a gunner’s mate on the USS Bayfield during the Normandy landings. He confirmed his service in the D-Day invasion and was injured in a subsequent operation, qualifying him for a Purple Heart. However, Berra would go on to never receive the medal because he chose not to file the necessary paperwork, wanting to spare his mother the distress of a telegram informing her of his injury. Berra was honorably discharged in 1946 and was called up to the Yankees in late September of that year. Despite his 5'7" stature, Berra quickly thrived, leading the Yankees to immense success. He played in 14 World Series, winning 10, and set several records for catchers of his era, including most home runs (313), most consecutive errorless games (148), and most consecutive chances handled (950).
Berra's teammates included stars like Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford, and Roger Maris, yet it was Berra who often struck fear into opponents with his bat. Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn called Berra “the real toughest clutch hitter” of those Yankee teams. Berra backed up Wynn’s claim, leading the Yankees in RBIs for seven consecutive seasons from 1949 to 1955 and won the American League MVP award in 1951, 1954, and 1955. He never finished lower than fourth in MVP voting from 1950 to 1957 and received MVP votes for 15 consecutive seasons, tied with Barry Bonds and second only to Hank Aaron's 19 straight seasons.
One of Berra’s most renowned moments was catching Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, the only perfect game in MLB postseason history. The iconic photograph of Berra jumping into Larsen’s arms after the final out is one of baseball's most memorable images. Near the end of his career, Berra became a player-coach for the Yankees before switching to the New York Mets in 1964. He later coached the Mets and Astros before returning to the Yankees in 1976. Berra retired from coaching in 1989 with a managerial record of 484–444 and a playoff record of 9–10. He continued to contribute to baseball, returning to the Yankees in 1999 Spring Training to work with catcher Jorge Posada.
The bat offered here was game-used by Berra during the 1961-63 timeframe. The previous owner of this bat, a bat boy for the Cleveland Indians, obtained it after Berra cracked the handle during a game and graciously gifted it to him, adding a touching layer of history to this already special bat. The bat is a Hillerich and Bradsby Louisville Slugger model number B211, with the number 33 ½ on the knob above the model number, confirming its use by Berra in 1961 and 1962. The bat features a handle crack, numerous ball marks, stitch impressions, and a strong coat of pine tar on the mid-handle. The “Powerized” slogan next to the Louisville Slugger logo dates it to the 1960 era, and the number 8 on the knob under the B211 model number signifies Berra's Yankees number.
The PSA/DNA Authentication Team has graded this game-used ash, flame-burned finished Yogi Berra bat at 9.5. Making it an amazing game-used bat from the most decorated player of all time, used during one of the greatest runs in baseball history! LOA from PSA.