When he was alive, Yogi Berra influenced countless baseball fans in many ways. Now, even in death, he continues to inspire people to pick up a glove and toss around a baseball — so much so that his legacy has helped set a new world record.
Thousands of fans of baseball and Yogi Berra came out to play catch last month at Yogi Berra Stadium, and in doing so, they made history. More than 2,000 fans participated in the event, officially earning the Guinness World Record for the Largest Game of Catch.
There were 1,179 pairs of participants lined up across Yogi Berra Stadium, each playing catch for five consecutive minutes. To achieve the record, participants simply had to keep playing — no stopping to check cell phones or snap selfies. This was a catch to live in the moment, to connect, and to honor Berra’s love of the game.
Participants ranged from elderly to barely young enough to catch and all the way to famous athletes like Ron Guidry, Lee Mazzilli and Willie Randolph.
Yogi’s Big Catch surpassed the previous record of 972 pairs, set in 2017 in Illinois. Michael Empric of Guinness World Records confirmed the new record just before 2:00 p.m.
The event was part of a yearlong celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Berra’s birth.
Eve Schaenen, executive director of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, said, “We’re thrilled to have broken the record, but the real joy is seeing so many families, friends, and community members come together around Yogi’s legacy, playing the game he loved best. It feels like the perfect tribute to his 100th year.”
Yogi once famously said, “I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.” As always, the great Yankee was right — his fans broke it in his honor.