Yogi Berra Receives World Series Rings and Replica MVP Awards On 90th Birthday

Legendary New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra celebrated his 90th birthday on /4/12. Major League Baseball gave him a full set of 27 Yankees championship rings and replica MVP awards to make up for the items stolen from his New Jersey museum last October.

Legendary New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra received some special gifts from Major League Baseball for his 90th birthday on /4/12. 

According to NJ.com’s Steve Politi, the league gave Berra a full set of New York Yankees championship rings and replica MVP awards to make up for the memorabilia stolen from the Yogi Berra Museum at Montclair State University in Oct. 2014.

The FBI is still searching for the stolen items, per Politi. 

10 #WorldSeries rings. American icon. @BaseballHall member. Happy birthday, Yogi Berra. pic.twitter.com/BV07s4jhpw— MLB (@MLB) /4/12, 2015

Despite the unfortunate incident, the museum has initiated a social media campaign which is aiming to get 100,000 signatures before June 8 to petition President Barack Obama to honor Berra with the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, per Politi. 

Lindsey Berra, one of his 11 grandchildren, asked her grandfather’s fans to support this cause on NJ.com:

“After a lifetime of giving to baseball and giving to everybody there’s not much left that we can give him. He is the embodiment of the American Dream. He’s a first-generation Italian immigrant.

“He went on to win more World Series than anyone in baseball history. He was an advocate of civil rights. He’s been an education advocate his entire life. He’s fought for social justice. He’s all about teamwork and integrity and loyalty, and he’s spent the last 20 years instilling those values in the programs (at the museum).

“I just don’t think you can find an American citizen who has had a bigger impact on his community than my grandfather has, and that’s why I think he deserves it. So everyone sign that petition, ASAP!”

15-time All-Star and MLB Hall of Famer Yogi Berra turned 90 today. Here is one of his most famous Yogi-isms… pic.twitter.com/4WGF8IxzZC— ESPN (@espn) /4/13, 2015

Should Berra receive the prestigous medal, Politi says he would become the 10th baseball player to be given the honor. Among those on this shortlist are Henry Aaron, Ted Williams and Ernie Banks.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch on /4/12 he plans to sign the petition on the White House’s official website.

Girardi emphasized Berra’s contributions to the game of baseball and the community.

“I think that’d be great,” Girardi told Hoch. “Yogi’s meant a lot to the game of baseball, the communities where he grew up, New York, New Jersey. I think it’d be neat.” 

Girardi also told Hoch that he, Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Alex Rodriguez head athletic trainer Steve Donahue and media relations director Jason Zillo all greeted Berra for his 90th birthday on Tuesday via a FaceTime call at the manager’s office in Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, Fla. 

With members of his family at his side, Yogi Berra celebrated his 90th birthday earlier today. http://t.co/t6lP3B1XGG pic.twitter.com/FlmTfHffv7— NYT Photo (@nytimesphoto) /4/13, 2015

Girardi said Berra seemed to be pleased with the Yankees going 18-6 in their last 24 games, per MLB.com:

“There were a bunch of people in his room, and it was nice to talk to him. He was happy to talk to us, so it was good.

“He just told us to keep going.” 

Rodriguez gave his birthday wishes to Berra via The New York Daily News’ Bill Madden:

“I remember the first time I sat and had lunch with Yogi at the old (Yankee) Stadium. It wasn’t something specific that we talked about or that he said. But at one point I looked up and thought, ‘I’m having lunch with the Yogi Berra!’ This is a great perk that comes with being a New York Yankee.

“Happy birthday, Yogi! It’s been an honor and pleasure getting to know you!”

Yogi Berra turns 90: The life and times of a Yankees icon: http://t.co/rE9NRHnI9Q— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) /4/12, 2015

Former Yankees player and New York Mets manager Willie Randolph also wished Berra well, per Madden:

“Yogi has always been there for me. When I was manager of the Mets, during the Subway Series he always made a point to come in my office and talk baseball. I’m sure the Yankees brass wasn’t too crazy about that. 

“Yogi never forgot where I came from, and it meant a lot to me that he would come over to talk.”

Berra was born on /4/12, 1925 in St. Louis, Mo., per Hoch. He amassed 2,150 hits, 358 home runs and 1,430 RBIs during his 18-year MLB career with the Yankees from 1946-83. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, per Baseball-Reference.com.

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