Former great New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra recently passed away at the age of 90.

He was a very unique individual.

At the age of 18, he took part in the Normandy Invasion that led to the end of World War II.

As a youngster of just 12, I can remember watching the World Series game with my late dad on television at our home in Keyport, New Jersey, when Berra jumped in the arms of Yankees right-handed pitcher Don Larsen after he recorded the final out of a 2-0 perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in game five of the 1956 World Series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees went on to win four games to three. It is the only perfect game in World Series history.

Former major league catcher and long time major league baseball announcer Joe Garagiola and Yogi were raised on the same block in Saint Louis. Garagiola said Yogi’s two greatest assets were his outstanding baseball playing ability and his great sense of humor. There has been a book written about many of Yogis humorous sayings entitled “Yogisms.”

The late Yankees Hall of Fame center fielder Mickey Mantle, who is arguably the best switch hitter of all time because he was an equally strong hitter from either side of the plate, was a teammate of Yogi’s.

When you are equally as affective from the right side or left side of the plate you are ambidextrous. Yogi said that Mickey Mantle was the greatest switch hitter of all time because he was “amphibious.” Yogi also once said that if you come to a fork in the road, take it. Those are just a couple of his humorous Yogisms.

Berra was American League most valuable player in 1951, 1954 and 1955. He was also a 15-time American League All Star.

Following his playing career, Berra managed the Yankees in 1964 and managed the New York Mets from 1972 through 1975.