Yogi Berra, New York Yankees legend: “It ain’t over ’til it’s over”
From Yankees icon to baseball legend, Yogi Berra left behind a legacy defined by championships, unforgettable moments, and one of the sport’s most famous quotes.
There are certain phrases that become immortal, and without a doubt, the one attributed to Yogi Berra , the New York Yankees legend , is one of them. Not only because of the context in which it emerged, but also because of how relevant it remains whenever an athlete or team is trying to complete a comeback in sports.
It was during his managerial career that Berra shared his most famous quote with the media:
It ain't over 'til it's over
Those words are still used today in situations where an athlete or team is facing elimination or is up against the odds and needs a comeback.
Berra's famous phrase came while he was managing the 1973 Mets and is actually a misquote.
Berra said those words midway through the season, when his Mets were sitting in last place in the standings, although he always clarified that his actual words were: "It isn't over until it's over." He even credited Rocky Bridges, another former Major League player, as the inspiration behind the expression.
What seemed like a simple motivational phrase ended up becoming a prediction. Berra's Mets rallied to win the division, stunned the Cincinnati Reds — the legendary "Big Red Machine" led by Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench and Tony Pérez — in the National League Championship Series, and pushed the powerful Oakland Athletics all the way to Game 7 of the World Series.
Yogi Berra became one of the greatest legends in New York Yankees history, helping the franchise reach 14 World Series during his 18 seasons in the Bronx.
His legacy was defined by an extraordinary career: he played in more World Series games than any other player in Major League Baseball history, won three American League MVP awards , was selected to 15 All-Star Games , and received baseball’s highest honor when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972 .
