New Jersey Breaks World Record with Yogi Berra-Inspired Celebration
In honor of baseball legend Yogi Berra, New Jersey broke another Guinness World Record. Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls hosted the world’s largest catch on Sunday, gathering families, supporters, and baseball aficionados from across the country to honor the iconic Yankee’s centennial.
The event, called Yogi’s Big Catch, saw 1,179 pairs throw baseballs across the stadium field, breaking the 2017 Illinois record of 972 pairs. The event was a passionate tribute to Yogi Berra’s impact on American sports and culture, not just a record attempt. The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, which overlooks Montclair State University’s stadium, hosted the event as part of a yearlong celebration of Berra’s 100th birthday.
Many parents and children played catch in the stadium, creating an exciting and nostalgic environment. Each participant received a baseball with Yogi’s likeness and his iconic number 8. Simple rules: stand nine meters apart and chuck the ball. Adjudicator Michael Empric oversaw Guinness’s event, dismissing those who didn’t fulfill the standards. The day’s theme of connection and simplicity was reinforced by banning phones.
Bob Costas, the famed sportscaster, emceed the event and said it best with Berra’s famous quote: “My record will stand, until it’s broken.” More than 20 Berra family members, including all three kids, attended the occasion with Costas. Former Yankees and Mets players and Little Falls Mayor James Damiano, who brought his daughter, attended.
Many attendees valued the stadium trip as much as the catch. Yogi Berra’s legacy united families who came hundreds of miles to participate in history. One woman from Michigan drove almost 18 hours with her kid, stating the experience was worth it.
The event supported education and broke records. Each pair contributed $25, which supported the Yogi Berra Museum’s youth programs, which reach thousands of kids. Long lines developed outside the museum after the catch, when spectators viewed Berra’s Hall of Fame plaque and souvenirs. A large banner signed by participants will be added to the museum’s permanent collection to commemorate New Jersey’s historic day.
Sunday’s record joins New Jersey’s odd Guinness World Records, including the longest ribbon-cutting and most samurai swords juggled. This record honors a guy whose influence went beyond baseball, making it especially meaningful. Yogi Berra’s wit, charisma, and game talents live on, and now his name is associated with another milestone.
Yogi’s Big Catch exceeded world records. It was a community celebration, fundraiser, and live monument to a baseball great whose words and legacy remind fans that simple things like playing catch can have the largest impact.
Sources
Guinness World Records
Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center
Montclair State University Event Coverage
