Nov. 17, 1964 - Yogi Berra appeared at Shea Stadium today and officially began his New York Met career after 18 years as a New York Yankee.
All the reports of the last two weeks proved to be as correct as this year’s presidential polls. Berra, who was dismissed as the manager of the Yankees the day after they lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals will be a coach for the Mets under Casey Stengel. He also will be a pinch‐hitter if he finds he can regain his batting eye during spring training.
He will collect $35,000 a year for two years from the Mets for serving as coach, whether or not he returns to the active list. He will also collect $25,000 from the Yankees, as a sort of parting gift or good will gesture.
Yogi will wear uniform No. 8, the same number he had as a Yankee. Chris Cannizzaro, the young catcher who wore that number as a Met last year, gracefully gave it up.
Most likely, Berra will coach at first base, a function he performed for the Yankees during the 1963 season, when he was still active as a pinch hitter and being groomed for the manager's job. With the Mets, Yogi isn’t being groomed for anything, but speculation that he will eventually succeed Stengel is inevitable, and the Mets may not be entirely annoyed by the publicity this will generate.
The other Met coaches, as of now, are Don Heffner and Sheriff Robinson, who are in Florida watching rookies, and Wes Westrum, who is doing the same thing in Arizona. However next year’s assignments to minor‐league managing posts, scouting and actual major league coaching chores have not yet been announced.
In explaining his decision, Berra stressed two things: his desire to remain “in uniform,” and his lack of bitterness toward the Yankees.
“Right after the World Series, when I wasn’t rehired, it was a blow,” Yogi said. “But all clubs make changes, and they wanted to make a change, so I understood that. I came out with a good contract, so what was there to complain about? They [Ralph Houk and Dan Topping] brought up the point about me getting the $25,000 even if I left, and that sounded good.
“Then it was too early to think of changing. But after a while a lot of people told me, why don’t you go with the Mets — writers and so forth — and so I called Casey in California. I had other offers, too —I won’t mention the clubs — to be a coach and player, but I wanted to stay in New York because I consider that my hometown now.
“First, though, I had to talk to Casey. I said, if Weiss asks me, do you want me, and he said yes.”
George Weiss, the president of the Mets, broke in at that point.
“He talked to Casey before I talked to him,” said Weiss. “Then he said he wanted to think about it, and finally he let me know on Friday that he had decided.”
Berra was asked if he had notified the Yankees of his decision.
“Yes,” he replied, “I sent Houk a wire.”
When?
“About an hour ago.”
That reply brought an explosion of laughter, and Weiss stepped in to explain. “We only got together on final details this morning,” he said.
More questions were asked about Berra’s feelings toward the Yankees.
“No, I don’t feel I was wronged,” said Berra. “They hired me off the St. Louis sandlots when the Browns and Cardinals didn’t want me, and I was happy there for 18 years. They never did me any wrong. But I’m also glad to be with an up‐and‐coming young club like the Mets.”
Later in the day, the Yankees issued a statement. It read:
“The Yankees wish Yogi Berra continued success in his new post with the New York Mets. Yogi has been one of the truly great Yankees and, while we were hoping he would continue in our organization, we can understand his desire to remain in uniform. We are proud to have had Yogi as a Yankee since 1946 and all of us join in wishing the Berras the best of luck in the future.”
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