Players, Fans Pay Tribute to Yogi Berra on Social Media

Baseball players, celebrities and fans alike -- even the Boston Red Sox -- are taking to social media to mourn the loss of hall-of-fame Yankees catcher and New York icon Yogi Berra.

As soon as news of Berra's death at 90 began to spread, the tributes for one of baseball's most beloved figures started to pour in. Berra, who won 10 World Series rings as a catcher for the Yankees and another three as a coach -- the most in baseball history by any one man -- died of natural causes at his home in New Jersey.

Yogi Berra Through the Years

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Yankees legend and American hero, Yogi Berra," the Yankees tweeted early Wednesday, just moments after the news of Berra's death was revealed.

The team later revealed on social media that they would wear patches emblazoned with Berra's No. 8 -- which was retired by the team in 1972 -- during Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

The Mets, where Berra spent nearly a decade as a coach and a manager and even played a few games as catcher, also posted a remembrance to Facebook.

Even the Red Sox, the American League rivals who played foil to Berra's heroics for most of his career, tweeted condolences.

"We send our deepest condolences to Yogi Berra’s family and to @Yankees. Our game - and our rivalry - has lost an icon," the team said. 

The Giants also tweeted a photo of the catcher with the caption,  "Yogi Berra, York icon." The Jets also posted condolences.

Players also took to social media to remember the baseball legend.

Derek Jeter, perhaps the Yankees' second-most-beloved player behind Berra, took to his website, the Player's Tribune, to write a short remembrance.

"To those who didn’t know Yogi personally, he was one of the greatest baseball players and Yankees of all time. To those lucky ones who did, he was an even better person. To me he was a dear friend and mentor. He will always be remembered for his success on the field, but I believe his finest quality was how he treated everyone with sincerity and kindness. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends," Jeter wrote.

Mike Piazza, another legendary backstop who spent his career in the New York with the Mets, tweeted Wednesday morning after learning about Berra's passing.

"Very Sad to hear the passing of #YogiBerra My deepest prayers to his family and the #Yankees family. Great player, Greater Gentleman," he said.

Fellow former Yankees great Bernie Williams also tweeted a remembrance, saying "What a Beautiful Man...What A Beautiful Spirit. Celebrate the Life of Yogi Berra Today.

Dave Winfield, a hall-of-famer who played with the Yankees from 1981 to 1990, also took to social media with a remembrance.

"No! Say it ain't so. He was a good man, my former manager and friend! RIP Yogi.," Winfield tweeted.

The tributes transcended the baseball world, with politicians and celebrities chiming in.

"Had some great times & laffs with the Legendary Yogi Berra. One of a kind! RIP Sir!," Samuel L. Jackson tweeted.

President Obama, meanwhile, called Berra an "American original" and a "jovial prophet."

"He epitomized what it meant to be a sportsman and a citizen, with a big heart, competitive spirit, and a selfless desire to open baseball to everyone, no matter their background," Obama said. "Michelle and I offer our deepest condolences to his family, his friends, and his fans in New York and across the world."

Two New York City mayors with varying degrees of allegiance to the pinstripes also expressed condolences.

Mayor de Blasio -- who was raised in a Boston suburb and is a Red Sox fan -- tweeted "Rest easy, Yogi. Very sad. Amazing guy." The mayor ordered all flags in the city to fly at half-staff in honor of Berra until sunset Thursday, and the Empire State Building was set to shine in pinstripes Wednesday.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- who also grew up a Red Sox fan but famously swapped his allegiance to the Yankees after being elected mayor -- tweeted one of Berra's famous "Yogi-isms" in remembrance.

"The future ain't what it used to be. We'll miss you, Yogi – thanks for bringing so much joy to our city," Bloomberg said.

Govs. Cuomo and Christie also released statements mourning the loss of Berra. 

Sen. Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, called Berra a New Yorker, even though he was born in St. Louis and spent most of his retirement in the Garden State.

"Though born in a hard-scrabble St. Louis neighborhood, Yogi Berra was NY all the way: plain spoken, funny, hard working & a real team player." Schumer tweeted.

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