"In 1982, the Pirates asked their players a series of survey questions. When asked to name the person he most admires, Dale Berra answered proudly 'my father.' The Yankees, by virtue of an off-season trade with the Pirates, have given Dale the chance to play for the person he admires so much- manager Yogi Berra. Not only are the Berras the first father/son duo to appear on the same major league team since Connie Mack and his son Earle, it is also Yogi's first real chance to see Dale play regularly.
'My father can see if I'm as good as he thinks I am,' Dale says. 'I hope he likes what he says.'
'He's just another ballplayer to me,' Yogi confirms. 'If he can play, he plays. If he don't do the job, he sits.' Dale will platoon at third base with Mike Pagliarulo.
Berra has never been more enthusiastic about a season, saying, 'It's a dream come true to play for my father and the Yankees.'"
-The New York Yankees Official 1985 Yearbook
"Berra's 52 RBI in 1984 matched his 1983 total, and his nine home runs were one short of a career high set in 1982 and 1983. He hit safely in a career high 11 straight games (13-for-39, .333 BA) from July 13 to July 21, then collected four hits in a game for the fifth time in his career on July 24 at Montreal. Dale hit his second career grand slam on August 8 at St. Louis, driving in five runs and tying his career high set two previous times.
Dale played in only 10 of the Pirates final 33 games due to an injured elbow suffered against Cincinnati on August 25. The elbow injury put him on the 15-day disabled list from August 30 to September 14.
In 1975 Dale led the New York-Penn league with 49 RBI, making the league's All-Star team, and in 1976 led the Western Carolinas League (A) in games and was sixth in batting. He made his major league debut on August 22, 1977 against San Diego and had his first big league hit and RBI on September 4 at Los Angeles. At Columbus, Dale tied for the team lead with 18 homers.
Dale was recalled from Columbus on July 29, 1978 and hit his first major league home run on August 20 off Houston's Tom Dixon. With Columbus in '78, he tied for the club lead in homers and in stolen bases and was the top vote-getter for the International League All-Star team. Dale came north with the Pirates in April 1979 and saw action at both short and third. Sent to Portland (AAA) in mid-season, he was recalled on September 1 and hit .286 down the stretch run.
1980 was Dale's first full season in the majors. He hit his first career grand slam off the Mets' Mark Bomback on June 1, and filled in at shortstop for Tim Foli (injured) and third base for Bill Madlock (suspended). He opened the 1981 season as the regular second baseman due to an injury to Phil Garner. Dale filled in at second, short and third for the remainder of that year and stole 11 bases in 12 attempts.
In 1982 Dale became the full time Pirate shortstop, playing 153 games at the position, and combined with Johnny Ray to give Pittsburgh the best offensive double play combination in the league. In 1983, Dale set career highs for games, at-bats and walks, and tied career highs for doubles and home runs. He started all but two games and was the Pirate shortstop in all but 29 innings, playing more than other NL shortstop. Dale batted .333 with 10 doubles in his final 29 games, and also established a new major league record by reaching first on catcher's interference seven times (his career total through '84 is 18).
Dale is a graduate of Montclair (NJ) High School where he was twice All-State at shortstop, and All-State and captain of both the football and hockey teams. He played Little League, American Legion and semi-pro in Montclair.
The son of Yankee manager and Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, Dale and his dad form the first significant father-son/manager-player combination in baseball history. His brother Tim played NFL football and his brother Larry was a catcher in the Mets organization for two years."
-1985 New York Yankees Information Guide
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