radio@spuxll.UUCP (Rick Farina) (11/19/85)
Next season, for the first time in 40 years, Yogi Berra will not be wearing the uniform of a New York City Major League baseball team. Berra has accepted a position as coach of the Houston Astros. If this seems convoluted, then consider that Yogi is an Upper Montclair, NJ neighbor of John McMullen, the owner of the Astros, and they are good buddies. Also consider that Berra refused a coaching job with the Yankees -- even though his good buddy Joe Altobelli signed on -- as long as Steinbrenner ran the show. George has finally done it. Having tarnished the reputation of the Yankees franchise with his revolving-door hiring-and-firing of managers, he has now battered that reputation by creating an atmosphere so repugnant that there is no longer any room for Yogi Berra with the Yankees. And, still, the Yankees are not winners. I should say George is not a winner. Yogi is, and he's gone. raf ---