Yogi Berra Museum And Learning Center

History and Mission:

Yogi Berra's values, extraordinary accomplishments and lifelong commitment to the education of young people are the inspiration and foundation of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. Since officially opening its doors on Dec. 4, 1998, with students and teachers from the Bradford Academy in Montclair being the first public visitors, the YBMLC has become a hugely popular destination for sports fans and educators alike. It is also recognized as the New York metropolitan area's premier sports education center.

The YBMLC - a 501 © 3 nonprofit organization - was built privately by a group of friends and admirers of Yogi Berra to pay tribute to his remarkable life and career. It's located on the campus of Montclair State University, New Jersey's fastest growing and second-largest university, adjacent to Yogi Berra Stadium, home of the minor-league New Jersey Jackals and Montclair State Red Hawks.

The YBMLC is an engaging walk through the history of baseball, the New York Yankees and Yogi's remarkable career.  It houses an impressive collection of historic photos and artifacts, including Yogi's 10 world championship rings, the most of any player in baseball history. There is also an intimate ballpark-like theater, which shows films during Museum hours, and also serves as a classroom and venue for public programming.

MSU and the YBMLC have enjoyed a strong partnership through the years. The university's students and faculty have actively participated in programs and educational forums. And Yogi and Carmen Berra have had a longtime association with MSU, which gave Yogi a doctorate in humanities in 1996. So like Bobby Brown, his former Yankee roommate who later became a cardiologist and American League president, Yogi is also a doctor. He even played one on TV - Yogi did a cameo as a brain surgeon on General Hospital in the early 1960s. Seriously!

Like Yogi Berra himself, the YBMLC appeals to all generations. It's a nostalgic return to baseball when it was just a game. And it's a stimulating learning environment for thousands of students, the leaders of tomorrow, who are taught the tenets of character education - respect, responsibility and integrity.