Want to be a part of a world record alongside All-Stars and Yankee legends? Then the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J., is the place to be on Sept. 21.
That Sunday, as part of the year-long celebration to mark Berra’s 100th birthday, the museum is hosting Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge, an official attempt at the Guinness World Record for the largest game of catch. Organizers are looking to draw more than 1,000 pairs of people – ages 7 and up – to the field at Yogi Berra Stadium, adjacent to the museum, at 1 p.m. ET. The gates will open at 11:30 a.m. for registration (which can also be done online), with warmups on the field beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Among the notable names expected to attend are sportscaster Bob Costas, who will emcee the event, and Yankee legends Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph and Bernie Williams, who combined for 15 All-Star appearances in their collective 48 seasons in the Major Leagues.
“During this special centennial year, we couldn’t think of a better way to honor Yogi’s legacy than to bring community together right here, outside his museum, to play the game he loved best,” Eve Schaenen, the museum’s executive director, said in a statement. “As far as the world record goes, we’ve been told that it’s exceedingly hard these days to get people to show up to break them. But then again, it’s pretty hard to win 10 World Series rings … and we’ve got all 10 of Yogi’s rings on display in our museum. So we’re optimistic!”
To set the record, folks must pair up and play catch with a glove simultaneously for at least five minutes. Registration is required for Guinness’ record keeping, and participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves – though the museum has purchased hundreds of gloves that will be available to borrow or to purchase for $20. Any gloves left over will be donated to PBB Giveback, a nonprofit that collects baseball equipment and school supplies and donates them to underprivileged youth.
Much more is planned than just a five-minute soft-toss session, however. Williams, a Latin Grammy nominee, will perform the national anthem and Yankee Stadium organist Ed Alstrom will play classic ballpark tunes. A DJ will also contribute to the vibe. Free snacks and drinks will be provided, and food trucks will be on site offering heartier fare from Mexican and Italian dishes to pizza and burgers – not to mention ice cream and Italian ice.
Other activities set up on the concourse and the field will include a batting cage, chances to run the bases or test pitch speed, and a baseball card trading table.
With their entry fee ($25 per pair or $15 for single players), participants will receive Yogi’s Big Catch T-shirts to wear on the field and take home, packs of baseball cards from Topps and commemorative baseballs from Rawlings for each pair. There will also be chances to win prizes like custom baseball gloves and tickets to a Yankees game. Proceeds from the day will go toward the museum’s education programs, which serve nearly 10,000 middle- and high school students each year.
Though the spirit of Yogi Berra was already going to be present, his bronze likeness will be on hand as well. In what is believed to be a first since it was installed in the gallery at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, Berra’s plaque will leave Cooperstown, N.Y., to make the 180-mile trip to New Jersey. It will be on display only that day inside the museum, which will be open to the public free of charge after the catch. Throwers and catchers can have their pictures taken with the plaque and sign an autograph wall to mark the occasion.
“Baseball fans know that Hall of Fame plaques are literally one-of-a-kind treasures – the molds are broken after the plaques are created,” Schaenen said. “The opportunity to display Yogi’s plaque here in his own community is a rare and wonderful honor for our museum. We could not be more grateful to our partners in Cooperstown.”
The current record for the largest game of catch is held by Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill. On June 18, 2017, at a Father’s Day event called Dadfest, 972 pairs – or 1,944 individuals – played catch to set the standard that Berra’s fans, friends and family will be looking to break.
“We so often hear stories of how my grandfather connected with baseball fans everywhere, whether he met them in person or not,” Lindsay Berra, Yogi’s oldest grandchild and a board member at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, said in a statement. “Continuing that spirit of connection through the simple act of playing catch feels like the perfect way to honor his legacy. There’s something timeless about grabbing a ball and a mitt and just being present with the person on the other side, sharing this game we all love so much.”