Mr. Pessah’s book is as good a proxy for baseball pleasure as you’re going to find ... It’s a relaxed, sprawling affair—like those Yankee Stadium Sunday double-headers in the 1950s against the lowly Washington Senators and Philadelphia Athletics that lasted until dinner time, with the score in the second game 14-3 Yankees. This is a heart-warming narrative with a heroic protagonist who overcomes every imaginable obstacle to achieve greatness.
While a number of books have been written about Yogi Berra (1925–2015), none are as comprehensive as this in-depth account by sportswriter Pessah. Featuring firsthand interviews with those who knew Berra well, supported by research from secondary sources, the book sheds insight into baseball history during Berra’s playing career ... Not only does the work focus on Berra’s career, it also explains how he became such a legendary figure in the sport. The one possible drawback might be the work’s high level of detail, which may be overwhelming for most casual readers ... A thorough, engaging read for Berra fans of Yankee admirers
... a wonderful biography ... It was a glorious time for the media, and the source material presented here is a delightful reminder of that period ... Yogi is a terrific reminder of baseball’s golden era...reminding Americans once again that it is truly the greatest game of all.
... as comfortable as an old mitt. Whether dealing with Berra’s youth in St. Louis’ Italian American neighborhood, called the Hill, his experiences in the wartime navy, or his courtship of and longtime marriage to the former Carmen Short, Pessah ays it all out in that straightforward, surface-only style—clichés included—that baseball fans know from hundreds of adoring star bios ... Pessah offers more-insightful commentary, particularly on why Berra was always popular as a ballplayer ... Pessah movingly portrays a humble and good man entering his final years, a beloved icon and a decent fellow. If anyone deserves a good old-school biography, it’s Yogi.
Pessah doesn’t skirt Berra’s struggles as a manager ... Pessah’s deeply sourced 507-page book illustrates how a self-made athlete can succeed on and off the field without riding the coattails of more talented and more publicized teammates.
... warmhearted ... Throughout, Pessah celebrates Berra’s cultural afterlife as a font of artless aphorisms in which wisdom rises from the ruins of logic. The funny anecdotes and exciting play-by-play from baseball’s golden age will keep Berra’s legions of fans happy.
