MLB Notes: Baseball remembers Yogi Berra
A gold catcher’s mitt was placed on top of his remains. But on a day filled with stories from a lifetime in baseball, Yogi Berra was remembered for being more than one of the game’s greats.
He was the man who served his country courageously on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in 1944. He was the man who delighted in the joys of family and someone who brought roaring laughter with his words wherever he went.
The beloved New York Yankees catcher – a three-time American League MVP and Hall of Famer who played on 10 World Series teams – also brought out sports royalty from all corners to an overflowing church in Montclair, New Jersey, much in the way he helped fill ballparks for a generation.
“He was always so good, so honest, so human and so real,” former Yankees manager Joe Torre said in his eulogy. “You didn’t have to be a baseball fan to know who Yogi was.”
Berra, who in Torre’s words “personified the American dream,” died a week ago at 90. He was cremated and his remains were placed by the altar, an American flag prominently displayed.
Among those at the service were ex-Yankees Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada and club president Randy Levine. Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie Robinson, was there as was football Hall of Famer Harry Carson.
Weather delays three games
The St. Louis Cardinals will have to wait at least one more day for a chance to clinch their third straight N.L. Central title.
Rain washed out their game against Pittsburgh. The teams with the two best records in the majors will play a day/night doubleheader today. St. Louis’ magic number to wrap up the division title is two after the Cardinals blanked Pittsburgh 3-0 on Monday.
The game between Toronto and Baltimore was also postponed by rain.
Toronto entered play with a magic number of two to clinch its first A.L. East title since 1993. Any combination of victories by the Blue Jays or losses by the Yankees totaling two will eliminate New York, the lone remaining team with a mathematical chance of overtaking Toronto in the division.
The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians had their wild-card chase sidetracked by rain as well, leading to a postponement and forcing the clubs to play a doubleheader today.
The game never got started, and after a 1-hour, 10-minute delay, the umpires decided to call it a night.
Clearing the bases
Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has played through aches and pains all year long. Now he has a right shoulder injury that could sideline him for Cleveland’s final week of the season. … Miami right fielder Giancarlo Stanton has been shut down for the rest of the season because of a wrist injury. Stanton has been sidelined since June 26 with a broken left wrist. He is expected to be ready for spring training next year.