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Berra Considers Job with Mets

Oct. 29, 1964 - Yogi Berra (pictured with Casey Stengel in June), deposed as the Yankees’ manager the day after they lost the World Series to the Cardinals earlier this month, is considering a job with the New York Mets.

George Weiss, president of the Mets, said today at a luncheon at Shea Stadium that he had spoken to Berra last Wednesday about joining the club.

“Berra said he wanted time to think about it,” Weiss said. “He’s leaving for a 10‐day vacation in Pinehurst, N. C. I’m heading for Phoenix for a major league meeting tomorrow and will then go on to California for a few days. When I return, Yogi and I probably will talk again.”

Weiss said he would be happy to have Berra with the Mets and that he considered the former Yankee catcher a popular man with lots of baseball knowledge.

Weiss said he would have to talk to Casey Stengel, the Mets’ manager, before he could say just what job he had in mind. But Berra, reached at the White Beaches Golf and Country Club, said he thought it might be a coaching job.

“He told me to take my time and think it over,” Yogi said. “I’ll have a decision ready when I get back from Pinehurst. The job I’ve been offered by the Yankees would mean going on scouting assignments. I’ll have to see how I would feel being out of uniform. I imagine it would be kind of hard.”

The reuniting of Berra and Stengel would be virtually certain to give the Mets a one-two punch at the box office. Berra, of course, played for Stengel when Stengel managed the Yankees and was frequently referred to by Casey as “my assistant manager.” Both are considered to have great appeal with the fans.

Weiss pointed out that there was plenty of room for Berra on the Mets coaching staff. Only one 1964 Met coach, Don Heffner, is currently under contract.

At the Yankees’ office in Manhattan, a spokesman said Berra was legally entitled to move to another club. Yogi was offered a two‐year contract as a special field consultant to Ralph Houk, the Yankees’ general manager, after Berra was dismissed as manager. The contract is not binding on Yogi, however.



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