Legendary New York Yankee baseball catcher (and beloved wise guy) Yogi Berra died today at age 90.

The NY Yankees franchise began their tribute to their shining star in stirring fashion:
A loss that unquestionably transcends the game has sent all of baseball into deep mourning. Yogi Berra — Hall of Famer, all-time Yankees legend, World War II veteran, master of misstatement and beloved international icon, is gone. Berra died Tuesday night — on the 69th anniversary of his Major League debut — at age 90.

The team website has a plethora of interesting articles about Yogi and his life – a must read for Yogi’s fans.

Here are By George’s Dozen FAV quotes from the man who could leave all others speechless with his insight.

1. It’s like deja-vu all over again
2. You can observe a lot by watching
3. The future ain’t what it used to be
4. When you come to a fork in the road, take it
5. If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up some place else
6. If the world was perfect, it wouldn’t be
7. Baseball is 90% mental – the other half is physical
8. He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious
9. I always thought that record would stand until it was broken
10. The future ain’t what it used to be
11. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over
12. I never said most of the things I said… Take it with a grin of salt

Here are a few more of Yogi Berra’s unflappable gems.

• Never answer an anonymous letter
• It ain’t the heat; it’s the humility
• I usually take a two-hour nap from one to four
• A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore
• Pie a la mode, with ice cream
• You tell the stupidest questions
• I wish I had an answer to that, because I’m tired of answering that question
• (about a St. Louis restaurant) No one goes there anymore. It’s too crowded
• Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t go to yours

And he was never at a loss of words about the game he loved:

• We made too many wrong mistakes
• The lousy teams are good this year
• We were overwhelming underdogs
• (about the effect of the sun in left field in the old Yankee Stadium during late-season games) It gets late early out there
• (about teammate Bill Dickey) He learned me all his experience
• If people don’t want to come to the ballpark, how are you going to stop them?

Rest in Peace Yogi.