Yogi Berra Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lawrence Peter Berra

Lawrence Peter Berra was born on May 12, 1925, to immigrant parents named Pietro and Paulina Berra. They nicknamed him "Lawdie" because Larry was difficult to pronounce with an Italian dialect. His parents came from Milan, Italy. Lawrence had two brothers named Mike and Tony who were born before the family came to the United States. Lawrence, a brother John and a sister Josie were born in America.
Berra and future baseball great Joe Garagiola both attended South Side Catholic High School together. It is now named St. Mary's High School.

Answer: New York Yankees

The New York Yankees signed Berra in 1942. The management of the Brooklyn Dodgers wanted Yogi but the Yankees got to him first. He was given the same bonus for signing with the Yankees that his friend, Joe Garagiola, received when he signed with the Cardinals.

He was initially assigned to the Class B Norfolk Tars where he impressed the managers by driving in 23 runs during a double-header. His playing career was interrupted when he was called for active duty in the Navy, where he served as a gunner's mate involved in the D-Day Invasion. Upon his return to The Yankees in 1946 Berra was assigned to a Minor League team before being called up to play 16 games in the Major Leagues.

Answer: Catcher

During Yogi's amateur days with the American Legion leagues, he learned the rudiments of the infield and outfield positions, but he excelled at the position of catching. He played 88 error-less games in 1958, and at the time he left the game, he held the AL record for catcher putouts.

He also became a threat at home plate because he developed a flair for hitting errant pitches. He frequently got under some low pitches for home runs and could also hit a good line drive off of a high pitch. He was asked about his ability to hit bad pitches and customarily replied, "If I can hit it, it's a good pitch".

Answer: Don Larsen

Don Larsen pitched for eight Major League teams during his career, but his statistically best game was during the 1956 series as a pitcher for the Yankees. Larsen joined the Yankees in 1953 and left in 1959 to join the Kansas City Athletics. After the 27th out, Berra ran toward Larsen and leaped into his arms.

In July 1999, Larsen and Berra re-enacted the feat during "Yogi Berra Day" at the stadium, minus the leap. The 1956 World Series fifth game also marked the final game for umpire Babe Pinelli.

Answer: 3

Yogi earned the award in 1951, 1954, and 1955 for a total of three. He won 10 of the 14 World Series games that he played in.

Answer: 7

Despite playing on the same team with such greats as Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra led the team in RBI stats for seven consecutive seasons between 1949 and 1955.

Answer: Ralph Branca

While Bobo Newsom went on record as the pitcher for the third game, it was Ralph Branca who pitched against Berra when he hit his home run. Ralph Branca was the winning pitcher for the sixth game, ending the series with a 1-1 record. Rex Barney was the losing pitcher when the Dodgers lost game five by a score of 2-1. Hugh Casey was the Dodgers' winning pitcher during Brooklyn's 9-8 game three win. Vic Lombardi pitched for Brooklyn during their 10-3 loss in the series.

Answer: The Mets

Yogi Berra was almost 40 when he took his last at-bat as a player/coach with the New York Mets in 1965. He stayed with the team for eight years, through their 1969 miracle season. While managing the Mets during the 1973 season, he uttered the now-famous line, "It ain't over till it's over", when the team was facing an uphill climb from last place.

When Gil Hodges died suddenly, Yogi took his place as manager. Yogi eventually returned to the Yankees but was fired after 16 games, prompting a feud between Berra and George Steinbrenner that lasted 15 years.

When they reconciled during the 1999, "Yogi Berra Day", when Larsen and Berra recreated their perfect game pitch, Yankees pitcher David Cone also pitched a perfect game.

Answer: Houston Astros

Yogi Berra coached for the Houston Astros until he retired. At the time, he retired he was one of only six managers to lead both National League and American League teams to the World Series.

Answer: 8

Yogi Berra wore number 38 when he began his career with the Yankees in 1946, and switched to number 35 following year. In 1948, he switched to number 8 and kept the number until he retired from the Yankees. In 1972, the Yankees retired number 8 in honor of Yogi Berra.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame the same year. Yogi got his nickname many years before the Yogi Bear cartoon. He was given the name by his friend, Bobby Hofman, when Bobby saw him sitting cross-legged waiting to play ball. Hofman remarked that Berra looked like a yogi he had seen in a movie. Yogi's son Dale, played shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

His son Tim, played football for the Baltimore Colts in 1974.