Remembering Yogi

Years ago I watched Yogi Berra at bat. Swing after swing he would hit foul balls, wearing the pitcher down. Finally, as he did so many times in his illustrious career, he ended the battle with a base hit.

Over the next decades, after three Most Valuable Player awards and a remarkable baseball career, he became an American icon. His speech mannerisms, great character and his sincere behavior only enhanced his relationship with the American public.

In 2001, I was asked to present my baseball play “Bloom & O’Hara” in the theater of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J. Yogi was in attendance. After the performance, a few of my baseball poems were read, including “Young Mantle Hits One.” Yogi particularly liked this poem, for he was a great friend of Mantle. Afterwards, that poem would begin a life of its own, appearing on websites and in books, and was the only poem in “The Complete History of the Home Run” by Mark Ribowsky.

After Yogi Berra’s passing, many tributes to him were forthcoming, including Yogi Berra Fan Appreciation Day at his Museum in October. My friend Mickey Tangel was invited to participate by dressing up as Babe Ruth, and I as an old-time baseball player. The museum was packed with people remembering stories and their personal relationship with Yogi. In the theater later, Tangel would speak of Yogi Berra’s life and again read my poem on Mantle that Yogi liked. Later that night, NBC News had a clip of us greeting the crowds from earlier in day. It was an honor to be part of his tribute and give something in words to him that he appreciated.

'Young Mantle Hits One'

It was a shot like no other
tearing into the breath of God,
leaving earth and grass and fans.

A sphere for the ages racing along
casting no shadow in frozen space
finally arching for the great fall.

Described on the radio as a new star
a stellar moment of freedom expressed
bright and clean as a summer’s dream.