September 22, 1946. The Yankees were in third place, 17 games behind Boston, playing out the string. Nobody in the Bronx had anything to play for except pride and a paycheck. So the club called up three kids from their Newark affiliate -- , Bobby Brown, and Frank Colman -- and handed them major league uniforms. Berra stepped to the plate for his second career at-bat against Jesse Flores of the Philadelphia Athletics and hit a home run. He was 21 years old, five-foot-seven, and built like nobody who'd ever worn pinstripes. The Yankees had just found their catcher for the next two decades.
The Kid from The Hill
Berra grew up on The Hill, an Italian neighborhood in St. Louis where his childhood buddy Joe Garagiola lived across the street. He'd served in the Navy during World War II -- including duty at Normandy during the D-Day invasion -- before returning to professional baseball in . The Yankees assigned him to their Newark Bears affiliate, where his bat made the scouting reports look modest. The September call-up was standard operating procedure for a lost season: bring up your best prospects, let them taste the big leagues, and see what sticks.
What stuck was the swing. Berra's debut line -- 2-for-4 with that home run off Flores -- didn't just hint at talent. It announced it. He could hit pitches that weren't anywhere near the strike zone and still drive them hard (a trait that drove pitching coaches crazy and made opposing pitchers even crazier). The raw ability was obvious from the first afternoon.
An Unlikely Yankee
Nobody looked at Berra and saw a New York Yankee. The franchise had in center field -- the most elegant athlete in American sports. at short. Tommy Henrich in right. These were polished, photogenic players who fit the Yankee image. Berra was stocky, rough around the edges, and still learning to catch. He didn't look the part. He didn't have to.
-- who'd been managing the team that September and would later serve as a coach -- recognized what Berra could become. Dickey would spend hours during spring training reworking Berra's catching mechanics, transforming a hitter who happened to crouch behind the plate into a legitimate receiver. "I owe everything to Bill Dickey," Berra said years later. "He learned me all his experience." The quote became famous for the grammar. It should've been famous for the gratitude.
What Came Next
The debut was a footnote at the time. The Yankees finished third, , and spent the offseason . Berra's 2-for-4 afternoon barely registered in the next day's papers. In retrospect, it registered plenty.
By , Berra was splitting time between catcher and outfield as a rookie, hitting .280 with 11 home runs. He smacked the that October. Within a few years, he was the best catcher in baseball -- 15 All-Star selections, three MVP awards, and 10 World Series rings. More rings than fingers. Not bad for a kid who didn't look like he belonged.
| Debut Date | September 22, 1946 |
| Opponent | Philadelphia Athletics |
| Debut Line | 2-for-4, 1 HR |
| Home Run Off | Jesse Flores |
| Age at Debut | 21 years old |
| Called Up From | Newark Bears (International League) |
| Career All-Star Selections | 15 |
| Career MVP Awards | 3 |
| Career World Series Rings | 10 |
September 22, 1946, meant nothing in the standings. The season was over. But something started that afternoon that wouldn't stop for 19 years and 10 championships. The Yankees just didn't know it yet.
Born in St. Louis
Lawrence Peter Berra grows up on The Hill, an Italian neighborhood on the south side of St. Louis.
Military Service
Berra serves in the U.S. Navy during World War II, including duty at Normandy during the D-Day invasion.
Newark Bears
Assigned to the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate after military discharge, Berra's bat forces the organization's hand.
Major League Debut
Goes 2-for-4 with a home run off Jesse Flores in his first big league game alongside fellow debutants Bobby Brown and Frank Colman.
Rookie Season
Splits time between catcher and outfield, hits .280 with 11 HR and 54 RBI, and hits the first pinch-hit homer in World Series history.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Yogi Berra make his MLB debut?
Berra debuted on September 22, 1946, as a September call-up from the Newark Bears. Playing for the Yankees against the Philadelphia Athletics, he went 2-for-4 with a home run off pitcher Jesse Flores in his second career at-bat. Bobby Brown and Frank Colman also debuted that day.
Who did Yogi Berra hit his first home run off of?
Berra homered off Jesse Flores of the Philadelphia Athletics in his second major league at-bat on September 22, 1946. The home run came during his debut game, a September call-up at the end of a disappointing third-place season for the Yankees.
Where did Yogi Berra play before the Yankees?
Berra played for the Newark Bears, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in the International League, during the 1946 season. Before that, he'd served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, including participation in the D-Day invasion at Normandy. The Yankees called him up in September 1946 to evaluate him at the major league level.