Yogi Berra’s Plaque to Visit His Museum & Learning Center for 100th Birthday

In honor of Yogi Berra‘s 100th birthday, his National Baseball Hall of Fame plaque will visit the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center.

Yogi Berra became a legend thanks to his championship play and homespun wit.

Berra, a 1972 Hall of Fame inductee who earned 10 World Series rings with the Yankees, will be honored at Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Montclair, N.J. The day-long celebration will feature a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS attempt for the Largest Game of Catch (baseball/softball), including over 1,000 pairs of Yogi fans and some former major league players scheduled to toss-and-catch simultaneously for at least five minutes. The historic event that will feature an appearance by his Hall of Fame plaque.

Berra, who was born May 12, 1925, played 19 seasons for the Yankees and Mets after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He won three American League Most Valuable Player Awards as a catcher with the Yankees, powering New York to 10 World Series victories while earning 18 All-Star Game selections. Berra later managed the Yankees and Mets, leading his teams to two league pennants.

Not many baseball players could say they had 3 MVP Awards, 18 All-Star appearances in 15 seasons, and 10 World Series rings. Well, except for Yogi Berra. He was a catcher during the Yankees dynasty, bringing the eras between Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. Berra was a part of one of the lasting images in baseball history: jumping into Don Larsen‘s arms after Larsen’s perfect game during the World Series. Years later, on Yogi Berra Day in 1999, both Larsen and Berra were on hand to witness David Cone throw a perfect game. You could not write a better script if you tried.

In another universe, Branch Rickey might have signed Yogi Berra over Joe Garagiola and baseball history would never be the same. They were both local kids in St. Louis. But shortly after signing Garagiola, Rickey left the Cardinals and took over the Brooklyn Dodgers. The plan was to sign Berra after making his way to Brooklyn. Fate had other plans in the cards because the New York Yankees swooped in and signed him. Berra would enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II and play a part in the Normandy invasion on D-Day. He could have gotten a Purple Heart at the time but didn’t want his mother to worry. The rest is history.

Berra debuted in the big leagues with the Yankees on Sept. 22, 1946, and passed away on Sept. 22, 2015. Two months later, the Hall of Fame catcher was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House attended by members of Berra’s family, who accepted the award on his behalf.

Fans planning visits to Cooperstown from Sept. 19-21 should be advised that Berra’s bronze plaque will be removed from display during these days to be present at the Sept. 21 event in Montclair, N.J. A photographic image of the Berra plaque will be featured in the space, featuring a full replication of the plaque.

For more information on Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge or to register for this fundraiser for the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, please visit yogisbigcatch.org. For fans wishing to get more of Yogi Berra, It Ain’t Over is currently available to buy or purchase through digital retailers.

Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge will take place at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on September 21, 2025.