DENVER — Word of Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra’s death Tuesday night hit close to home for Pirates closer Mark Melancon and catchers Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart, all of whom knew Berra from their days with the New York Yankees.
“You always felt better about yourself and better about your day when he’d show up,” Stewart said Wednesday. “The legacy he left on the field and within the organization was amazing. It’s definitely a sad day in baseball.”
The Pirates players recalled Berra often milling around the Yankees clubhouse, pulling aside every passing player to wish them well, and always wearing a big smile.