The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Game of Catch, set to take place on Sunday, Sept. 21 in Yogi Berra Stadium, directly adjacent to the museum, at Montclair State University, 27 Clove Road, Little Falls, New Jersey.
The announcement was made at Yogi Berra’s 100th birthday with a celebration attended by community members, Museum supporters, elected officials, baseball players and fans of all ages.
Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Bob Costas emceed the event, which featured a family tribute by Yogi’s three sons — Larry, Tim, and Dale Berra — as well as remarks by Museum Executive Director Eve Schaenen.
Highlights of the afternoon included a video with happy birthday wishes from many current and former NY Yankees, and a rousing performance from Hillside Elementary School’s Drums of Thunder, a local drum corps that performed at many Museum events during Yogi’s lifetime.
Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge will require the Museum to bring together at least 973 pairs — 1,946 players — to play catch simultaneously for five minutes. The Sept. 21 event date is significant, marking one day before Berra’s first major league game in 1946, (he hit a home run,) as well as one day before the anniversary of his passing ten years ago.
The announcement of Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge kicked off with NY Yankees Aaron Judge asking, “Wanna Have a Catch?” on the stadium’s jumbotron, inviting players to take part in challenge and spread the word.
Dozens of players from local youth teams then took the field to have a catch in Yogi’s honor. The social campaign promises other surprise guest appearances and more fun content to roll out over the coming months.
Registration for the record attempt, which will be adjudicated by an official Guinness World Record representative, is now open at www.yogisbigcatch.org. All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and enjoy activities in the stadium and free admission to the Museum after the attempt. Cost to register is $25 per pair, $15 per single player and $5 for spectators.
“Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge is much more than a world record attempt,” said Schaenen. “Our true goal is to recognize Yogi’s centennial year with a joyful, unifying tribute that brings community together around the values Yogi stood for his entire life: respect, teamwork, sportsmanship and excellence. We hope players of all ages across the country will join us on Sept. 21 to play catch in their own communities in Yogi’s honor, while we shatter a world record here outside his Museum.”