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St. Louis native Yogi Berra gave the commencement
speech at St. Louis University the other day. Here
are his remarks:
"Thank you all for being here tonight. I know this is
a busy time of year, and if you weren't here, you
could probably be somewhere else. I especially want to
thank the administration at St. Louis University for
making this day necessary. It is an honor to receive
this honorary degree.
"It is wonderful to be here in St. Louis and to visit
the old neighborhood. I haven't been back since the
last time I was here. Everything looks the same, only
different. Of course, things in the past are never as
they used to be.
Before I speak, I have something I'd like to say. As
you may know, I never went to college, or high school
for that matter. To be honest, I'm not much of a
public speaker, so I will try to keep this short as
long as I can.
As I look out upon all of the young people here
tonight, there are a number of words of wisdom I might
depart. But I think the most irrelevant piece of
advice I can pass along is this:
The most important things in life are the things that
are least important.
I could have gone a number of directions in my life.
Growing up on the Hill, I could have opened a
restaurant or a bakery. But the more time I spent in
places like that, the less time I wanted to spend
there. I knew that if I wanted to play baseball, I was
going to have to play baseball. My childhood friend,
Joe Garagiola, also became a big-league ballpayer, as
did my son, Dale. I think you'll find the similarities
in our careers are quite different.
You're probably wondering, how does a kid from the
Hill become a New York Yankee and get in the Hall of
Fame? Well, let me tell you something, if it was easy
nobody would do it. Nothing is impossible until you
make it possible.
Of course, times were different. To be honest, I was
born at an early age. Things are much more confiscated
now. It seems like a nickel ain't worth a dime
anymore. But let me tell you, if the world was
perfect, it wouldn't be. Even Napoleon had his
Watergate.
You'll make some wrong mistakes along the way, but
only the wrong survive. Never put off until tomorrow
what you can't do today. Denial isn't just a river in
Europe.
Strive for success and remember you won't get what you
want unless you want what you get. Some will choose a
different path. If they don't want to come along, you
can't stop them. Remember, none are so kind as those
who will not see.
Keep the faith and follow the Commandments: Do not
covet thy neighbor's wife, unless she has nothing else
to wear. Treat others before you treat yourself. As
Franklin Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 'The only thing
you have to fear is beer itself.
Hold on to your integrity, ladies and gentlemen. It's
the one thing you really need to have; if you don't
have it, that's why you need it. Work hard to reach
your goals, and if you can't reach them, use a ladder.
There may come a day when you get hurt and have to
miss work. Don't worry, it won't hurt to miss work.
Over the years, I have realized that baseball is
really just a menopause for life. We all have
limitations, but we also know limitation is the
greatest form of flattery. Beauty is in the eyes of
Jim Holder.
Half the lies you hear won't be true, and half the
things you say, you won't ever say.
As parents you'll want to give your children all the
things you didn't have. But don't buy them an
encyclopedia, make them walk to school like you did.
Teach them to have respect for others, especially the
police. They are not here to create disorder, they are
here to preserve it.
Throughout my career, I found good things always came
in pairs of three. There will be times when you are an
overwhelming underdog. Give 100 percent to everything
you do, and when that's not enough, give everything
you have left. 'Winning isn't everything, but it's
better than rheumatism.' I think Guy Lombardo said
that.
Finally, dear graduates and friends, cherish this
moment; it is a memory you will never forget. You have
your entire future ahead of you.
Good luck and Bob's speed."
St. Louis native Yogi Berra gave the commencement
speech at St. Louis University the other day. Here
are his remarks:
"Thank you all for being here tonight. I know this is
a busy time of year, and if you weren't here, you
could probably be somewhere else. I especially want to
thank the administration at St. Louis University for
making this day necessary. It is an honor to receive
this honorary degree.
"It is wonderful to be here in St. Louis and to visit
the old neighborhood. I haven't been back since the
last time I was here. Everything looks the same, only
different. Of course, things in the past are never as
they used to be.
Before I speak, I have something I'd like to say. As
you may know, I never went to college, or high school
for that matter. To be honest, I'm not much of a
public speaker, so I will try to keep this short as
long as I can.
As I look out upon all of the young people here
tonight, there are a number of words of wisdom I might
depart. But I think the most irrelevant piece of
advice I can pass along is this:
The most important things in life are the things that
are least important.
I could have gone a number of directions in my life.
Growing up on the Hill, I could have opened a
restaurant or a bakery. But the more time I spent in
places like that, the less time I wanted to spend
there. I knew that if I wanted to play baseball, I was
going to have to play baseball. My childhood friend,
Joe Garagiola, also became a big-league ballpayer, as
did my son, Dale. I think you'll find the similarities
in our careers are quite different.
You're probably wondering, how does a kid from the
Hill become a New York Yankee and get in the Hall of
Fame? Well, let me tell you something, if it was easy
nobody would do it. Nothing is impossible until you
make it possible.
Of course, times were different. To be honest, I was
born at an early age. Things are much more confiscated
now. It seems like a nickel ain't worth a dime
anymore. But let me tell you, if the world was
perfect, it wouldn't be. Even Napoleon had his
Watergate.
You'll make some wrong mistakes along the way, but
only the wrong survive. Never put off until tomorrow
what you can't do today. Denial isn't just a river in
Europe.
Strive for success and remember you won't get what you
want unless you want what you get. Some will choose a
different path. If they don't want to come along, you
can't stop them. Remember, none are so kind as those
who will not see.
Keep the faith and follow the Commandments: Do not
covet thy neighbor's wife, unless she has nothing else
to wear. Treat others before you treat yourself. As
Franklin Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 'The only thing
you have to fear is beer itself.
Hold on to your integrity, ladies and gentlemen. It's
the one thing you really need to have; if you don't
have it, that's why you need it. Work hard to reach
your goals, and if you can't reach them, use a ladder.
There may come a day when you get hurt and have to
miss work. Don't worry, it won't hurt to miss work.
Over the years, I have realized that baseball is
really just a menopause for life. We all have
limitations, but we also know limitation is the
greatest form of flattery. Beauty is in the eyes of
Jim Holder.
Half the lies you hear won't be true, and half the
things you say, you won't ever say.
As parents you'll want to give your children all the
things you didn't have. But don't buy them an
encyclopedia, make them walk to school like you did.
Teach them to have respect for others, especially the
police. They are not here to create disorder, they are
here to preserve it.
Throughout my career, I found good things always came
in pairs of three. There will be times when you are an
overwhelming underdog. Give 100 percent to everything
you do, and when that's not enough, give everything
you have left. 'Winning isn't everything, but it's
better than rheumatism.' I think Guy Lombardo said
that.
Finally, dear graduates and friends, cherish this
moment; it is a memory you will never forget. You have
your entire future ahead of you.
Good luck and Bob's speed."