When we think of Lawrence Peter Berra, it’s always about baseball first. “Yogi” is of course revered as an American and baseball icon of the 20th century.
A Roman Catholic, born in St. Louis, Mo., the immortal catcher holds the all-time record for World Series appearances (21) and rings (13). He also coined the peculiar phrases known as “Yogisms,” such as “90% of the game is half mental” and “I really didn’t say anything I said.”
However, what many baseball fans may not know about Yogi, now 87, is that he fought on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944 – better known as “D-Day.”
After signing with the New York Yankees for $500, Berra played his first season of minor league baseball in 1943 with the Norfolk (Va.) Tars of the Class ‘B’ Piedmont League. But once he turned 18 in mid-May, he was instructed by the U.S. government to take his pre-induction physical – signifying that he had been drafted into the service.
America had entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The Allied forces attempted to curb Axis advancements in the South Pacific and Western Europe, so U.S. involvement became necessary.
Berra was allowed to postpone the start of his military career in order to finish the baseball season. However, he became one of 4,000 minor leaguers who put baseball aside to serve their country.
Though he originally wanted to join the Army, he was immediately assigned to the Navy and reported for six weeks of boot camp training in Bainbridge, Md. He wound up back in Norfolk to train and then to Little Creek Naval Base, Virginia Beach, Va., for amphibious training.
As he gained more of a familiarity with Navy life, he volunteered to serve on a rocket boat – a new form of boat that would play a key role in the D-Day invasion. These 36-foot long boats were operated by six men and were equipped with six twin-50 machine guns and 12 rockets. Berra said he was excited about his new role as a gunner’s mate.
“I didn’t think about it as being dangerous,” Berra told Dave Kaplan, Museum director of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Upper Montclair, N.J. “Anyway, I wanted to be doing something.”
For these boats to be successful, teamwork and communication was required between the six naval officers. Berra’s time on the baseball diamond had prepared him well for the upcoming D-Day mission.
Seaman 2nd Class Berra and the naval troops left from Lido Beach, L.I., on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean. The invasion was scheduled for June 4, but near-hurricane winds forced Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to delay “Operation Overlord” by two days.
Berra recalled the nervous tension he felt in the hours before the invasion. He was one of 160,000 Allied troops on one of 5,000 ships that attempted to break into the heavily fortified 50-mile stretch of French coastline occupied by Nazi Germany.
His boat wound up a mere 300 yards off of Omaha Beach as the attack on Normandy commenced.
“Our job was to help soften the German defenses for the troops who were wading ashore behind us,” Berra told Kaplan. “ We went in ahead of the LCI’s (Landing Craft Infantry) and blasted with our rocket guys, knocking out gun emplacements and obstacles.”
When the dust finally settled, the Allied troops were able to continue their march through the heart of Europe. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded, but all six men from Berra’s boat survived the invasion.
The boat remained in the English Channel for the next two weeks. Berra’s hand was grazed by a German machine gun bullet, but otherwise he returned home unscathed. D-Day was a vital turning point in the war, and the Allied forces accepted Germany’s surrendered 11 months later.
Berra never openly publicized his Navy days. But as the 68th anniversary of D-Day recently passed, it’s important to recognize Berra and the other minor league ballplayers who put their dreams of playing professional baseball on hold to fight for their country.
“I never said that I was in the service, unless someone asked me,” Berra told Kaplan. “There are other things to think about.”
“It ain’t over till it’s over” has become one of Yogi’s most famous phrases throughout the years. However, the 15-time All-Star and three-time MVP must have been relieved when the D-Day invasion– later known as “The Longest Day”– was finally over.
Archbishop Molloy Sports Roundup
It was a busy sports week at Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood. Here’s a look at the week’s events.
In every no-hitter or perfect game, there is usually one outstanding defensive play that keeps the historic bid alive. On June 1, New York Mets ace pitcher Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in franchise history in the team’s 8,020th game.
In the top of the seventh inning, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina lined a Santana offering deep to left field. Mets left fielder and former Archbishop Molloy product Mike Baxter raced back and stretched his glove out to make an acrobatic catch.
Baxter crashed hard into the left field wall and was forced to leave the game with a shoulder contusion. However, his catch will live on as the play that preserved Santana’s 134-pitch no-hitter.
Molloy’s Mike Tammaro was the only Brooklyn/Queens high schooler to qualify for the CHSAA golf championships held June 1 at the James Baird State Park, Poughkeepsie. He shot an 83, which placed him in the middle of the pack.
Fordham Prep’s, the Bronx, Cameron Young and Mark Reilly from St. John the Baptist, West Islip, L.I., tied with a two-under 70 after 18 holes. Young shot a par on the playoff hole to take home the title.
Molloy’s JV baseball team defeated Iona Prep, New Rochelle, 7-4 on June 1 in the CHSAA Class ‘AA’ JV city championship. Chris McGee drove in three runs, including two on a first inning double. Denes Kostel and Virgilio Jimenez scored two runs each in the winning effort.
Molloy starter Anthony Catinella pitched the first five innings – giving up three runs on four hits. After striking out the side in the sixth inning, reliever Mike Young picked up the save in the seventh after inducing a fly out from Iona’s Christian Pimental, who represented the tying run.