Branch Rickey and Doctor Berra

[DOUGHBOYS]

Branch Rickey changed baseball. I know, I know. You think I am going into the introduction of the black ball player to baseball. And sure, that is Rickey's legacy. But, what I wanted to bring up was something Rickey did five years earlier.
Rickey was the President of the St. Louis Cardinals. BUT. he had already agreed to be in a larger role the next year with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rickey towed the line in what to do in the best interests for the Cardinals while looking out for his future Dodgers.

In the meantime, two kids from the same block in St Louis were ready to be signed to Big League contracts. Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola. Actually, Jack Buck grew up on the same block. My minds eye sees Berra clouting a high pitch out of the waiting Garagiola glove, the ball majestically flying past the elm tree, over the Oldsmobile, bouncing beyond the manhole cover, careening off the curb, and disappearing down the sewer.
All the while, Buck describing the action, "I don't believe what I just saw!"

Garagiola and Berra spent more time playing baseball in the street than going to school. Yogi would finish eighth grade and stop. Garagiola signed to play professional baseball at 16.
The man who signed him was Branch Rickey. Most scouts thought that Garagiola made for the better prospect. He was thought to be more polished and 'Major League ready' than Berra. Inwardly, Rickey liked Berra more.
So, Rickey signed Garagiola on advice from scouts, while secretly knowing that he would sign Berra once he was at his new job with the Dodgers.
We all know it wasn't meant to be as the Yankees beat Rickey, literally and figuratively, to the punch.

Since then, some funny lines have come from Berra and Garaigiola. In fact, for as little education as they mustered, both have more books than most baseball players, let alone most college graduates.
Garagiola enjoys saying that he made it to the major leagues as a catcher, but that he wasn't even the best catcher on his block.

After being signed by the Yankees, Berra was notorious for his 'kid like' qualities.
He would go to movies and read comic books.
This would make for some amusing situations with his more refined teammates.
Berra roomed with Bobby Brown. Brown was a scholar, who would later be a cardiologist and American League President.
At the time, Brown had pre-med books piled on his nightstand.
Berra, comic books.
At curfew, they would both turn out the lights.
One night, in earnest, after just turning out the light, Berra exclaimed, "Mine turned out great! What about yours, Bobby?"

Ironically, Berra would be given a cameo on the soap opera, 'General Hospital' in the early 1960's.
His occupation?
Brain surgeon.

Another of Berra's more refined teammates was Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio was a neat and tidy guy. Both on and off the field. While Berra would take a hack at any pitch, DiMaggio preferred an invitation.
When reporters asked Berra if DiMaggio's marriage to Marilyn Monroe was good for baseball, Berra responded, "I don't know if it's good for baseball, but it's a helluva lot better for him than rooming with Phil Rizzuto!

Berra would play in 14 World Series in 17 years. Something that'll never be matched.
And, in a strange way, he owes it all to Branch Rickey.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Glenn intimated that I shared a lot of characteristics with Yogi Berra.
If so, it got me thinking that the Dr. Brown of our hobby would have to be Zola, right?