CV NEWS FEED // The Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark has published an article commemorating the life of baseball legend Lawrence “Yogi” Berra, a lifelong Catholic who was buried in the Archdiocese.
The Archdiocese stated that Berra was a devout Catholic who attended Mass most Sundays. He and his wife, Carmen, “made faith and family central to their lives.”
Larry Berra, one of the baseball star’s sons, told the Archdiocese that the Yankees organization would bring priests to the clubhouse on game days so players could celebrate Mass before taking the field.
The 18-time All Star and 13-time World Series Champion raised his children in a way that they did not realize his fame as a baseball player.
“My dad didn’t treat us differently,” Larry said. “To us, he was just ‘Dad’ — even in the Yankee clubhouse, surrounded by legends like Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.”
He continued, “It was in middle school when we started collecting baseball cards and hearing from friends who Dad really was.”
The Archdiocese also highlighted Berra’s sense of community and respect for others.
“He treated everyone with respect, a quality echoed in how he embraced teammate Elston Howard, the first Black player to join the Yankees, during a time when racial divides ran deep,” the Archdiocese reported. “As an Italian American, Yogi knew firsthand the sting of prejudice and connected with those who faced similar struggles.”
Berra’s son reflected on the founding of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, which his father initially resisted. His mother and friends encouraged the project.
“Dad didn’t really think of himself as a public figure,” Larry noted. “He didn’t want a museum at first but later loved it. He’d be there almost every day, sharing stories with visitors.”
Larry added, “For Dad, it wasn’t about fame or records. He wanted to be remembered as someone who loved his family, faith, and friends. He was just happy to be a part of people’s lives.”
The Berra couple were married for 65 years before Carmen, a woman of “quiet strength and love,” passed away in 2014. Berra passed away in 2015 at the age of 90.
Many baseball fans visit Berra’s grave in the Gate of Heaven cemetery. He is the only baseball Hall of Famer buried in an Archdiocese of Newark cemetery.