Oct. 16, 1964 - Yogi Berra was dismissed today as manager of the New York Yankees just one day after losing the World Series.
Berra immediately accepted a two-year contract to remain as a “special field consultant,” a loosely defined, newly created position dealing with scouting and player evaluation.
Ralph Houk, general manager of the Yankees and Berra’s predecessor as field manager, made the announcement at a hastily arranged press conference in the same hotel ballroom used less than a year ago to announce the promotion of Houk and the installation of Berra as manager.
Upon hearing of Berra’s release, Sargent Shriver — who had been sworn in earlier in the day as director of the Government’s war on poverty — sought Berra for a top-level position with the bureau’s youth program. An aide to the poverty drive chief said Berra turned down the job, with regret.
Berra’s Yankees, who won the American League pennant by one game, lost the seventh and deciding game of the World Series to the Cardinals yesterday. Less than two hours before Houk’s announcement today, Johnny Keane, manager of the Cardinals, resigned in St. Louis.
Keane immediately developed into a leading contender for the Yankee job. Another is Alvin Dark, recently deposed manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Houk declined to discuss any of the reasons for Berra’s dismissal beyond his prepared statement that “it was better for all concerned.” Then he was asked about possible successors.
“A decision will be made within a week,” he said. “We have two or three men under consideration.”
Was Dark one of them?
Houk hesitated only a fraction of an instant.
“Yes,” he said.
“What about Keane?” someone asked.
“He’s not available, is he?” said Houk.
“He resigned this morning,” the interviewer told Houk.
“I didn’t know that when I came into this room,” said Houk, “but if that’s so, then I would add him to the list.”
Houk declared that the decision to replace Berra had been first entertained in mid-August, when the Yankees were floundering in third place. The final decision was made before the World Series. “The loss of the seventh game had absolutely nothing to do with it,” Houk said. “We just felt that it would be better for Berra and for the Yankees to have this new arrangement.”
Did Berra know that while the Series was in progress?
“No,” said Houk, “it wouldn’t have been fair to burden him with that while he was fighting to win. He first learned of it this morning when he met with me and Mr. Topping.” Dan Topping, as co-owner of the Yankees, is Houk’s immediate superior.
CBS, now in the process of completing the purchase of the Yankees, was not involved in the decision in any way, Houk said.
Berra himself was spared the ordeal of answering questions at the press conference, and went to keep a golf date. On the course, however, he spoke without bitterness.
“I don’t mind,” he said at the White Beeches Country Club in Haworth, N.J. “I’ll be spending the year at home. Where can you get a job like this? I don’t have to sign in or punch a clock. And the pay is good.” As manager, Berra made about $50,000 a year, about the same as his top salary as a player. His present contract probably gives him the same total amount for two years.
“It’s a non-binding contract, though,” he added. “If another offer turns up, I’m free to take it.”
In any case, Berra is not confronted with any immediate financial worries because he is involved in several profitable business ventures, including bowling alleys and a chocolate drink called Yoo Hoo.
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