Yogi

The Life and Times of an American Original

By: Carlo Devito

Narrated by: Alpha Trivette

Few men in sports history have accomplished more than Yogi Berra: three MVP Awards, 21 World Series appearances as a player, coach, and manager, and a plaque in Cooperstown honoring him as arguably the greatest catcher to ever play the position. Off the field, the man often derided for his appearance has become one of the most beloved and enduring sports figures of all time, as well as a successful pitchman and the source of some of the most-repeated expressions in the English language. Now get ready to listen to the true story of how it all happened.

Carlo DeVito's Yogi is the first comprehensive biography of the greatest living Yankee and sheds new light on all aspects of Berra's life, from his humble beginnings in Depression-era St. Louis to his naval service during World War II; from his early days with DiMaggio and the Yankees to his later success with Mantle and Maris; and from his coaching and managing career in the Bronx Zoo to the astute business moves that capitalized on his celebrity status and cemented him as an American icon.

For the first time, get the complete truth behind this famous and often misunderstood baseball great. After separating fact from fiction, one truth remains: There's only one Yogi.

©2008 Carlo Devito (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Inspiring Story

A simple man from a working immigrant family becomes an iconic legend in America's national pastime, baseball. A diminutive giant among heroes in Yankee history, the bridge between old and new. Holder of some of the most prestigious major league records, particularly world series records, which likely will never be broken in the modern free agency era. A humble man dedicated to family and principle, remembered as much for his "Berra"ism expressions as his baseball ability. A book which captures the essence of the man while transporting the reader back to the glory days of baseball. Relive some outstanding historical events with the firsthand perspective only Yogi can provide. Most enjoyable. Those were the days.

I Am Not A Yankees Fan...

...and I wouldn't have normally listened to a book about a Yankee, but this one came as part of a trade with Audible's "Book Sharing" feature. My friend sent me this and I sent him, Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty (that is a great book too). Overall I'm so glad we did this as I wouldn't have bothered to learn anything about Yogi otherwise.

Clearly an icon of the sport, but Yogi Berra is so much more and gave so much more to the game than most others ever did. My favorite part, but the same that I'm a bit disappointed in, was the snippet of Yogi's military history with the Navy. Seriously this could've been more detailed, but probably cut at the editor's desk with a comment like, "This is a baseball book not a World War II story." But that's me, in biographies, I want to hear the details of military service especially when it was only an anecdote in a larger story. Thanks for your military service Mr. Berra.

I was especially keen on Yogi's post playing profession, as a coach and manager, as well as his business acumen outside of baseball. I was stunned at his short stints as the skipper, despite his successes and aghast at the treatment given to this legend by Steinbrenner. I loved that he wanted to stay in the game as a coach and helped tie the Yankee generations together.

I listen at 3 x speed and had no problem with the narrator, even when he tried replicating Yogi's accent on one of his infamous malapropisms or one-liners.

A Yankee fan I am not, but a Yogi Berra fan I'll always be.