Montclair Sports Communication Students and Baseball Community Celebrate Yogi Berra’s 100th Birthday

On Monday, May 12, hundreds of Montclair students, sports celebrities, baseball fans and members of the community gathered on the concourse of Yogi Berra Stadium on Montclair’s campus to celebrate the 100th birthday of legendary New York Yankees catcher, Yogi Berra.  Members of the Berra family and close friends such as Yankee great Willie Randolph also attended the event.  

Not only was Berra one of the greatest to ever play the game, with his 10 World Series rings and 18 consecutive All-Star Game appearances, but his character is what made him even more lovable.

“What you have is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Yogi Berra- not just a Hall of Fame athlete, but a Hall of Fame human being who also happened to raise his family in Montclair,” Yogi Berra Museum’s Executive Director Eve Schaenen said. “It just feels like the right place to celebrate this day.”

Legendary Sports Broadcaster Bob Costas, a longtime friend of Berra’s, hosted the event. “For such a legendary person, he was the most humble, kind, down-to-earth person you could ever spend time with.  And I think that opinion is unanimous,” Costas said.

Tony Clark, Executive Director of Major League Baseball’s Player Association (MLBPA) and 2001 MLB All-Star with the Detroit Tigers, also shared his feelings about Berra.

“I had an opportunity to spend a little time with him when I was with the Yankees in ’04, and there’s nothing that turns you into a little kid quicker than having an opportunity to be alongside an icon in our game,” Clark said.  “Having a conversation with him and hearing him tell stories in the dugout or in the locker room is something I’ll never forget.”   

During the event, Costas announced a unique celebration scheduled for later this year. On September 21, the eve of the 10th anniversary of Berra’s passing, fans will attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for the largest game of catch, held on the field of Yogi Berra Stadium. Costas encouraged fans nationwide to join in by playing catch in their communities if they can’t attend in person.

Yogi’s sons Larry and Dale Berra, gushed about what an amazing man he was in addition to being a great father.

“He [Yogi] could just wave at a person and that person’s day or year was made,” said oldest son, Larry. “It’s just the way he was. He was just incredible, and he taught us that way.  But for him, everybody was the same.” 

Dale played in the Major Leagues for 10 years, including a short stint in Yankee pinstripes.

“Dad’s an American Icon and a war hero. It’s not difficult to celebrate and praise him. He’s looking down right now, very proud and happy.”  

If Berra were still here, there’s a chance he would’ve repeated his famous quote from when he was honored in his hometown of St. Louis in his rookie season. “I want to thank everybody for making this day necessary.”

The day also was an amazing opportunity for Montclair School of Communication and Media Sports Communication students to interact with Yogi’s sons, Costas, former Major League Baseball players and event organizers to produce content for the Red Hawk Sports Network, the station’s social media channels and their portfolios.

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About the School of Communication and Media: The School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 2,000. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, communication and media studies, animation and visual effects, and an MA devoted to strategic communication, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include WMSC Radio, The Montclarion newspaper,  Hawk Communications Agency, the Red Hawk Sports Network, Hawk+ OTT streaming platform, and News Lab, as well as the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA’s Bateman Competition, an Edward R Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and College Television Awards from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

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