CARMEN & YOGI BERRA: A LEGENDARY LOVE STORY

As Yankees fans we hear about all kinds of love stories between our great legends, and their lady loves. Films have been dedicated to Joe DiMaggio and the beautiful Marilyn Monroe. The couple who eloped in 1954, divorced only 274 days later, and were reunited in 1961 until her death had nothing short of a whirlwind relationship. In 1999, when he passed, it is said his last words were "I will finally get to see Marilyn." It was an epic love story, mainly because it was with Marilyn. She was truly a beauty in her time, and it seemed impossible to really claim her heart. But that wasn't a lasting love story. There is one love story that is even more beautiful, and even more worthy of being celebrated. A love story that is truly legendary. The story of Yogi Berra, and his beautiful wife, Carmen.

Yogi met Carmen in the late 1940's, after his return to the Yankees upon returning from World War II. She was a waitress at a restaurant in St. Louis, and served him lunch. He asked her name, and whether she was married. She responded no, with a laugh, and the rest is beautiful history.

The New York Times quoted Yogi's book where he wrote "I was bashful, nervous, not-good looking. I could hardly believe my luck that Carmen liked me as much as I liked her." He often made it very clear that despite all his sports accolades, this greatest accomplishment was marrying Carmen. "Getting her to marry me? Who'd have thought?" (HERE)

It was always plain to see how much Carmen and Yogi loved one another. In the years that Yogi stayed away from the team, Carmen repeatedly was quoted as saying "Who would want to be mean to Yogi?" She adored her husband as much as he loved her. There was a happiness that radiated out of the couple whenever they were together. As a married woman, I know the kind of commitment and love that goes into my marriage everyday. Yogi and Carmen were married for 65 years! That kind of love is awe-inspiring. It is rare, and precious, and breathtakingly beautiful. It deserves the utmost celebration. These two people looked at each other and just knew that the other person made their life fuller, and happier. In her later years she helped run Yogi's baseball museum, and even contributed love letters Yogi had written her from the road. She was not ashamed to show the world their love.

I could gush on and on. I'm sure the word "love" shows up in this piece enough times to make we wish I had a better thesaurus. But really, is there any other way to describe the relationship? They raised a beautiful family together. They have three sons, eleven grandchildren, and a great grandchild.   There is living proof that these two people adored one another. How incredible it must be to share all that with someone! On March 6th the light that radiated from Mrs. Berra was called home to rest. I cannot possibly imagine how Yogi feels. I only know that Carmen was one of the most well respected, and well loved baseball wives, Yogi is adored by all of Yankees nation, and their love is legendary. Better than any fairy tale. I worry about Yogi now. I'm sure a lot of us do. I hope that he, and his family, find some peace within each other to make it through this difficult time. We all continue to have them all in our thoughts and prayers.

 --Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer

Twitter: @e_morales1804

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