10 photos of friends and Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees Yogi Berra and Willie Mays

Yogi Berra and Willie Mays were opponents (they played against each other in the 1951 and '62 World Series and in nine All-Star Games). They were teammates (Berra managed Mays after the latter's trade to the Mets in 1972). They were Hall of Famers and veterans of the U.S. military. They were ... friends. 

Now, they'll be recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, too.

On Monday, President Barack Obama announced that Berra and Mays were among the 17 Americans who will receive the country's highest civilian honor later this month. Sadly, after Berra's passing in September, his award will be given posthumously.

As we look forward to the Nov. 24 ceremony at the White House, we couldn't help but look back on the friendship Berra and Mays shared. From the days when they were in dugouts opposite one another to the times they shared the grandest stages in baseball as all-time greats, we dug back through the archives to find some of the best examples of the times these two true American heroes shared.

The rest of this post is best read while listening to Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me" from the original "Toy Story" soundtrack.

This isn't the first time that Mays and Berra will be honored on the same stage. Back in 1954, they won the NL and AL MVPs, respectively. A few months later, the pair was celebrated by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (along with pitcher Johnny Antonelli) at an awards dinner. 

Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it's 10th Annual Sporting Goods Fair at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City ... time? Here, Berra and Mays are trying out the fit of a bobsled at the annual convention.

Former Yankees road secretary Frank Scott -- who eloped with his wife in Joe DiMaggio's car -- and Berra grew close from their time on the road together. When Scott found out that Berra had a drawer full of watches he'd earned as compensation for public appearances and speaking engagements, Scott created a new career for himself: professional sports agent. The first-ever sports agent went on to represent such clients as Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Frank Gifford, Oscar Robinson and ... Willie Mays.

After Berra's playing career was over, he became a manager and -- when he was at the helm of the Mets in 1972 -- team brass traded for Mays. The above photo shows Berra (and Mets board chairman M. Donald Grant, at left) welcoming Mays to the Amazin's.

Mays and Berra were born six years and six days apart. That meant that Mays just missed being traded to the Mets in time to celebrate his 41st birthday. It did, though, mean that he could help Berra ring in 47 on May 12, 1972.

Luckily, Berra (with some help from Cleon Jones and Tom Seaver) was able to repay the favor the next season as Mays thanked his teammates for such a thoughtful card.

Believe it or not, Mays wasn't even involved in the play pictured below. He was on deck when Mets infielder Felix Millan hit a fly ball to left field that became the second out of the top of the 10th inning. Shortstop Bud Harrelson tried to tag up and score on the play, but home-plate umpire Augie Donatelli ruled that Athletics catcher Ray Fosse tagged him out to end the inning.

Mays is pleading his case and Berra is hustling into frame to do the same. (The call stood, but the Mets won it in the 12th.)

Twenty-six years after they participated in the '73 Fall Classic together, Mays and Berra again took center stage at the World Series. Before Game 2 between the Yankees and the Braves, both Hall of Famers were honored as two members of MLB's All-Century Team.

Long after both had retired, Mays and Berra returned to the old Yankee Stadium in 2002 to celebrate their mutual friend Reggie Jackson as he was inducted into the historic Monument Park before the annual Old-Timers' Game.