Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-06
WIN, LOSE or
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
The Most Durable Yankee


NOT LONG AGO. when the Mayo Clinic host to
three of the New York Yankees most valuable invads
only Yogi Berra walked without playtoy for the
winter.
Whitley Ford, the pitcher whose sore good
part Of the 1857 season, given punching bag Exer
else 1t every day." Whitley advised 1T will keep
your arms and shoulders loose"
Mickey Mantle got a skate. Not skate with ball
bearing wheels but wheels strap this weight
foot and exercise every day. Mantle instructed
1t will strengthen your knee"
The doctors took one look at Berra and handed him
his release During the foul tip crashed into Yog
mask and through the bars making contact with his
Il got busted nose" Berra related "bu everybody says
How can YOU tell on that phz OF yours?"
YOGI is NOT often confused with the Rock Hudsons
and Tab Hunters He Is accustomed to cracks
about his looks accepts them with amiable dignity
Years ago. Mike Ryba then coaching for the Red sox
specialized in picking what he called the "A-America
Baseball Ugly Team"
Alot of ball players the other side of handsomeness
considered 1t privilege to be named Ryba's team.
Imagine the CONSERVATION Of these asprants especially
the veterans when Mike took his first look at Berra,
rookie catcher-outheder up from the Yankees farm
I'm have to see you tomorrow, kid" Ryba cracked to
Yogi. "You must be sick today Nobody looks bad
when he amt sick"
Yogi neither offended disappointed by the
delay Of his election Mikes team" Later he
chosen team captain by Ryba.
at don't matter If you're ugly in this racket" Yogi
philosophical IAN you have to do hit the ball And
never saw anybody hit one with his face"
NOT ALL ATHLETES who look, shall we say rugged
really Some of the most durable fighters apt to
look like choir boys and Of the most battered have
chns Of pure steuben The holds true for football
and baseball and other sports
Bera happens to be rugged and durable he looks
1t wasn't his idea to enter Mayo Clinic The Yankees
ordered him to accompany Mantle and Ford
10 know how Tough Rerra iSo We'll nd
ing his broken and all Of the other injuries Yogi has
suffered Berras has appeared in box
in the last 10 years than that Of any outneder in the
American League.
playing in the oued Berra has been in 1874 games since
he became Yankee regular in 1913 The oueder closest
TO him in playing time is Larry Dolby traded this week by
the White sox to Baltimore. Dolby has played in 1875
games Ted Williams has been in about 1000 games but
about half Of them were before io4S.
ONLY TWO AMERICAN LEAGUERS, Eddie Yost
Senators third baseman, and Mickey Vernon first base
for the Red Sox have played in games since
947 than Berra Yoss record stands at 1925 and
Vernons at 1890.
There is telling how much longer Yogi will be
around catching anywhere from 16 to Isl games
For years Casey Stenge talking on the bench before
games has been promising to give Berra rest usually
when Yogi within earshot. Berra simply grins and
silently lays out his mask chest protector and hnguards
He knows he will play.
stengel is fortunate in that he has had catch
ing problem during all Of his nineyear tenure Yankee
manager thanks to Yogi 1t has been years since the
Yankees have tried to land catcher at the winter meet
ings or at any other time.
Berra constructed somewhat along the lines of the
late Lou oehrg except that the Iron Horse relatively
graceful alongside Of Berra.
Berras folks christened him Laurence, but he's been
Yogi ever since he a kid In st. Louis. Why Yogi?
We'll look at his walk" Joe Garagoa often says. joe
VINO used to catch in the National League grew with
Berra, and may have saddled him with the nickname
One set OF his toes points TO 10 o'clock and the other
o'clock. As kids, bunch Of saw movie OF Yogi
doing his exercises and somebody said, Hey he's making
like Berra' 1t figured"
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