Yanks wish Yogi happy birthday on video call
Girardi, several players talk to Hall of Famer, who turned 90
ST. PETERSBURG -- Through the magic of modern technology, Yankees manager Joe Girardi and several players surprised Yogi Berra on his 90th birthday with a FaceTime video call on Tuesday.
Girardi said that Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Alex Rodriguez, head athletic trainer Steve Donohue and media relations director Jason Zillo all spoke to Berra from the manager's office at Tropicana Field.
"There were a bunch of people in his room, and it was nice to talk to him," Girardi said. "He was happy to talk to us, so it was good."
Video: Yogi celebrates his 90th birthday at his museum
Lawrence Peter Berra was born May 12, 1925 in St. Louis. Girardi said that the Hall of Famer seemed pleased by the Yankees' hot run of late; they entered play on Tuesday having won 18 of their last 24 contests and reside in first place in the American League East.
"He just told us to keep going," Girardi said.
Video: NYY@TB: Yanks TV wishes Yogi a Happy 90th Birthday
Girardi said that he plans to sign the petition on the White House's official website, seeking to have the Obama Administration bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Berra for his military service and his activism in the civil rights and educational arenas.
Sign petition supporting Medal of Freedom for Yogi Berra
"I think that'd be great," Girardi said. "Yogi's meant a lot to the game of baseball, the communities where he grew up, New York, New Jersey. I think it'd be neat."