Eight memorable quotations from the late great Yogi Berra

Tuesday the famous catcher (and coach and manager) for the New York Yankees died at age 90. A memorial article in the New York Times was titled Yogi Berra, Yankee who built his stardom 90 percent on skill and half on wit, dies at 90.

Sports Illustrated reported back in 1986 he had protested that:

“I really didn’t say everything I said.”

Seven other of his quotations are:

“You can observe a lot by watchin.’ “

“It gets late early out there.”

“If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

“We’re lost, but we’re making good time!”

“It’s déjà vu all over again.”

You’ve got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going ‘cause you might not get there.”

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

All eight appear in the Yale Book of Quotations, edited by Fred R. Shapiro (2006). The last quotation was Yogi’s answer to a reporter in July 1973 - when he was managing the New York Mets. At that point they were nine games out from first place, but went on to win the division.  

The 1960 World Series (where Yogi was catcher for the Yankees) provided another demonstration for that quote. The Pittsburgh Pirates won it for their first time in 35 years. The Wikipedia page notes:

“The Yankees, winners of their 10th pennant in 12 years, outscored the Pirates 55–27 in this Series, outhit them 91–60, outbatted them .338 to .256, hit 10 home runs to Pittsburgh's four (three of which came in Game 7), got two complete-game shutouts from Whitey Ford - and lost.”

An Associated Press story provides 20 quotations. The image of Yogi’s Baseball Hall of Fame plaque came from Wikimedia Commons.