Larry Berra wanted to see his father Yogi Berra’s face on a stamp since he started collecting stamps in high school, and come Thursday, that wish will become a reality.
The Yankee legend is getting his own commemorative Forever stamp by the U.S. Postal Service on June 24, and Larry, now in his 70s, will finally get his wish to see his father honored in the way he wanted over a half century ago.
For Larry, Thursday’s ceremony will be another way to celebrate the life of his father, which included two handfuls of world championships, an endless supply of charmingly obscure life lessons and a lifetime of family bonding.
“He was the greatest, and not just because he was my father,” Larry told WFAN’s Lori Rubinson. “Family to him was number one. Baseball was how he took care of us, but the three things in life for him was taking care of his family, making sure he had a nice home and belonging to a country club.”
As Yogi’s legacy has evolved after his retirement from baseball and his death in 2015, his son felt his father’s accomplishments on the diamond faded into the background, with many knowing Yogi for his quirky quotes and charming demeanor. So the picture that will be shown on the commemorative stamp is a good reminder for those who are unaware of Yogi’s accomplishments on the diamond.
“They put him in a Yankee uniform with the catchers gear on,” Larry said. “We’re pretty happy they did that. We’re trying to keep that legacy as a premier player in the eyes of the people. He’s become more known for his sayings and just being a regular kind of guy, being friendly to any guy he was every involved with, but his prowess as a baseball player seemed to wane a little bit.
“A lot of people 50 and under don’t realize this man had three MVPs, 10 World Series championships and don’t realize he was one of the most feared hitters in the game.”
Anyone needing a reminder of one of the most accomplished careers in baseball history can get one on Thursday, when a ceremony will be held at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, New Jersey at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate the release of the stamp. Bob Costas will MC the event, which will be open to the public.
It will be a suitable way to honor all of Yogi’s memorable achievements, whether they were accomplished on the field, at home or in the form of another quotable comment.
Listen to Larry’s full interview with Lori below!
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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