Yankees recall past glory by bringing back Berra as manager
Yogi Berra wanted another shot at a World Series title as a manager. George Steinbrenner wanted another manager.
On Dec. 16, 1983, the stars aligned for both as Steinbrenner brought Berra back for his second stint as the Yankees skipper.
“The one thing I haven’t achieved is winning a world championship (as a manager),” the 58-year-old Berra told United Press International after taking the job. “I think we’ve got a ballclub that can do it.”
Berra had already been part of 13 championship teams: 10 as a player with the Yankees and three more as a coach with the Mets in 1969 and the Bronx Bombers in 1977-78. As a player, Berra was an 18-time All-Star catcher who won three American League MVP Awards.
He began his managerial career in 1964 with the Yankees, leading New York to the AL pennant before losing to the Cardinals in seven games in the World Series.
Following that defeat, the Yankees replaced Berra with Johnny Keane – who had skippered the Cardinals to the title. Berra then moved to the Mets as a player/coach, remaining on staff through the spring of 1972 when he was tabbed to replace manager Gil Hodges, who passed away on April 2 after suffering a heart attack.
After three-and-a-half seasons – including leading the Mets to the NL pennant in 1973 before falling to the A’s in seven games in the World Series – Berra was dismissed in 1975 before returning to the Yankees as a coach in 1976 under manager and former teammate Billy Martin.
Berra remained on the Yankees staff through several managerial changes before Martin – in his third stint as Yankees manager – was kicked upstairs to be a “top adviser” when Berra took over. The move had been rumored for about a week as sources reported that several Yankees were unhappy with Martin’s aggressive style – one that had produced 91 wins in 1983.
“I’m not being critical of anybody’s style,” Steinbrenner told The New York Times after hiring Berra. “But I happen to think Yogi’s style will be beneficial to the ballclub.”
With a young Don Mattingly in his first full season at first base in 1984 and sluggers Dave Winfield and Don Baylor in the lineup, Berra led New York to an 87-75 record and a third-place finish in the American League East. But Steinbrenner was again unhappy with the club’s direction.
Despite his assurances that Berra would manage throughout the 1985 campaign, Steinbrenner fired Berra 16 games into the new year. After reportedly turning down a chance to manage the Astros, Berra accepted a job on Houston’s coaching staff and remained there through the 1989 season – his final one in uniform.
Elected to the Hall of Fame as a player in 1972, Berra and the Yankees mended their riff in the 1990s – and he remained one of baseball’s most beloved figures throughout the rest of his life.
Berra passed away on Sept. 22, 2015.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
