In baseball, you don’t know nothing.

• Yogi was hired and fired three times as a manager even though he had winning records all three times. Rejections are part of life and it’s not what happens to you, but how you handle it that matters. Treat people the way you’d want to be treated. Control what you can control. In any big job you’re always second guessed and probably get blamed more than you should.

We have deep depth.

• Yogi tells about the Yankee culture as he experienced it as a player from 1946 until 1963. The experienced players led by example and everyone did their part. Even though they never had a captain during this era, leadership didn’t suffer even though everyone had the same rank.

If the world were perfect, it wouldn’t be.

• Everyone has flaws and makes mistakes. I’ve learned in baseball and life, it’s important to treat people with respect and to be tolerant. Yogi tells of his relationships with umpires. He always let them know when he thought they were wrong but he never did so in a way that would embarrass them. It’s ok to disagree, but nobody likes a hothead. If you argue too much you come off as self-righteous and lose credibility.

The future ain’t what it used to be.

• I don’t think much about the future, not like I used to. Just enjoy life. It’s too short to worry about. Everything is faster paced nowadays. The big thing is priorities. Things may change but that doesn’t mean you should ever compromise your values. I treat each person differently because each is different.

Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours.

• I’m a real loyal person. It’s not an I’ll do this for you if you do this for me deal. Loyalty is a selfless proposition. If people trust you, and your careful not to violate that trust, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.

Ninety percent of short putts don’t go in.

• Besides baseball, I’ve always been involved in leisure sports. I’ve always felt there is a great deal to be gained in playing them. It’s a great release. It’s fun. It’s exercise. It’s a good way to get away from stress. Everybody should have a release, something to clear the mind and a way to find enjoyment and peace.

It’s Over

• I’ve always believed in brotherhood, redemption, and forgiveness. I knew that I would catch hell from pop if I ever missed confession on Saturday. To this day, I regularly attend church. After fourteen years I finally forgave George Steinbrenner for not telling me face to face that I was fired. Fourteen years wasn’t bad for a grudge. I guess I made my point. Now there is forgiveness and conciliation. I really have no regrets.

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