'It ain't over 'till it's over': A collection of the best quotes of baseball legend Yogi Berra

“It ain’t over ’till it’s over.” Iconic New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, as beloved for his folksy sayings as for his legendary baseball career, has died of natural causes at age 90. President Barack Obama led the tributes for the Major League Baseball Hall of Famer whose famous utterances included the inspirational idiom “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” Obama described Berra, who died late Tuesday, as an “American original.” “He epitomized what it meant to be a sportsman and a citizen, with a big heart, competitive spirit, and a selfless desire to open baseball to everyone, no matter their background,” Obama said. Berra, a 15-time All Star and record 10-time World Series champion, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972. The Yankees have retired his number eight jersey. Berra played in more World Series games than any other Major League Baseball player, and was a three-time American League Most Valuable Player. But his name appears almost as often in Bartlett’s Famous Quotations as it does in baseball’s record book. “It ain’t over ’til it’s over” is among eight “Yogi-isms” included in Bartlett’s. “When I’m sittin’ down to dinner with the family, stuff just pops out. And they’ll say, ‘Dad, you just said another one.’ And I don’t even know what the heck I said,” Berra insisted. A COLLECTION OF THE BEST OF YOGISMS On selecting a restaurant: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” On economics: “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” On his approach to at-bats: “You can’t think and hit at the same time.” [caption id=“attachment_2443468” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] This Sept. 2, 1962, file photo shows Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees in action. AP[/caption] On battling the shadows in left field at Yankee Stadium: “It gets late early out there.” On how events sometimes seem to repeat themselves “It’s deja vu all over again!” On baseball attendance: “If people don’t come to the ballpark, how are you gonna stop them?” [caption id=“attachment_2443452” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] In this Oct. 8, 1956, file photo, New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra is embraced by pitcher Don Larsen as he leaps into Larsen’s arms at the end of Game 5 of baseball’s World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers at New York’s Yankee Stadium. AP[/caption] On the 1973 Mets: “We were overwhelming underdogs.” On a slipping batting average: “Slump? I ain’t in no slump. … I just ain’t hitting.” On travel directions: “When you come to a fork in the road take it.” On pregame rest: “I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4.” [caption id=“attachment_2443454” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] This Sept. 21, 1973, file photo shows Yogi Berra, manager of the New York Mets, watching his team work during a game in Philadelphia. AP[/caption] On fan mail: “Never answer an anonymous letter.” On being told he looked cool: “You don’t look so hot yourself.” On being asked what time it was: “You mean now?” On being given a day in his honor: “Thank you for making this day necessary.” [caption id=“attachment_2443458” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra poses at spring training in Florida, in an undated file photo. AP[/caption] On learning: “You can observe a lot by watching.” On the fractured syntax attributed to him: “I really didn’t say everything I said.” [caption id=“attachment_2443464” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] This March 7, 2008, file photo shows New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, left, and Yogi Berra clowning around by the batting cage before the Yankees spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Legends Field in Tampa. AP[/caption] On a spring training drill: “Pair off in threes.” On his approach to playing baseball: “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.” On his team’s diminishing pennant chances: “It ain’t over ’till it’s over.” And saving the best for the last….. On death: “Always go to other people’s funerals. Otherwise they won’t go to yours.” [caption id=“attachment_2443466” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] This Sept. 21, 2008, file photo shows former New York Yankees player Yogi Berra at home plate at Yankee Stadium in New York. AP[/caption] With AP and AFP inputs

'It ain't over 'till it's over': A collection of the best quotes of baseball legend Yogi Berra

Iconic New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, as beloved for his folksy sayings as for his legendary baseball career, has died of natural causes at age 90.

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