Bobby Richardson’s fondest Yogi memories: One came after brutal Series loss

The moment Bill Mazeroski hit the home run at Forbes Field to beat the Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, second baseman Bobby Richardson looked to Yogi Berra in left field.

“From his expression I knew the ball was out of the park and the game was over,’’ Richardson told The Post Wednesday from his home in South Carolina, remembering Yogi, who died at the age of 90 on Tuesday.

“In the clubhouse,’’ recalled Richardson, who was named the MVP of the Series, “Yogi was not emotional, [Mickey] Mantle was. Mantle was actually crying because he thought we had a much better team and should have won.

“Yogi was already saying, ‘We’ll get them next year.’

“And we did, we won the next two years, world championships.’’

Richardson lovingly remembered Berra as a teammate and later his manager, as a caring man who looked ahead.

“Yogi was with me my whole career, both as a teammate and a manager, and let me just say as a player he was at the top of the rung, three times American League Most Valuable Player Awards.’’

To this day, Richardson, 80, does not understand why the 99-63 Yankees fired Yogi after the Cardinals beat the Yankees in seven games in the 1964 World Series.

“On the plane flying home Yogi sat down with my wife Betsy and I and he said, ‘Tomorrow I am going to ask the Yankees for a two-year contract.’ Most people had one-year contracts at that time,’’ Richardson said.

“My wife spoke up and said, ‘If Bobby hadn’t booted the ground ball that loaded the bases for Ken Boyer to hit the grand slam [in Game 4], we would have won the Series.’

“Yogi laughed a little bit and then the next day he was fired.

“I didn’t understand it at that time and I’m not sure I ever will. I think it was a move that hurt the Yankees over a long period of time.’’

Through the years, Richardson kept in close touch with Yogi.

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Yogi Berra stands at home plate during the last game at the old Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008.AP

Yogi Berra is embraced by pitcher Don Larsen as he leaps into Larsen's arms at the end of Game 5 of baseball's World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers at New York's Yankee Stadium.AP

Yogi Berra along with family and friends celebrate Yogi's 90th birthday at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Montclair, New Jersey.Anthony Causi

Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford sit in the golf cart they were brought out in for introductions in the Old Timers Ceremony before a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in 2013.Paul J. Bereswill

Yogi Berra stands with Gary Carter during the last regular season game ever at Shea Stadium.Getty Images

Yogi Berra accompanied by the vice president's wife, Jill Biden (left), and first lady Michelle Obama before Game 1 of the 2009 World Series.Paul J. Bereswill

From left: Joe Girardi, David Cone, Don Larsen, Yogi Berra, David Wells and Jorge Posada.Charles Wenzelberg

Yogi Berra accepts a light from Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto after Berra handed out cigars to celebrate the birth of his son in the Yankees clubhouse in New York on Sept. 25, 1951.AP

Yogi poses with Mickey Mantle at Yankee Stadium in 1956.AP

Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella (left) and New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra.AP

Clockwise from top left: Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Vic Raschi, Allie Reynolds.Bob Olen

Yogi Berra manages the New York Mets in the early 1970s.Getty Images

Yogi celebrates a 2-0 win over the Oakland Athletics in 1973.AP

Yogi put on his old catcher's gear while a coach for the Mets in 1965.AP

Berra's baseball Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown, New York.Getty Images

Yogi throws out the first pitch in 2010.EPA

Yogi Berra makes a grab for a foul pop bunted by pitcher Tony Pena of the Kansas City Athletics at Yankee Stadium in September 1962.AP

Yogi Berra tags Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Granny Hamner out at home plate during Game 3 of the World Series on October 6, 1950.AP

Yogi poses in spring training.Getty Images

Yogi and Carmen ride along Broadway during the ticker-tape parade celebrating the Yankees 27th World Series championship. AP

Reggie Jackson with Yogi BerraPaul J. Bereswill

Yogi Berra shares a laugh with Derek Jeter in 2008.AP

Derek Jeter balances the World Series trophy on Yogi's head during pregame ceremonies at the beginning of spring training in 2010.AP

“We knew the last couple of weeks that he was going downhill,’’ Richardson said. “We were not surprised but we really hated to receive that call.’’

Richardson’s granddaughter Amy graduated Columbia University and is friends with Berra’s granddaughter Lindsay.

After leaving the Yankees at the age of 30, Richardson became a hugely successful coach at South Carolina.

“Whitey Ford’s son was my switch-hitting shortstop, Phil Rizzuto’s son played for me and I told Yogi, whose son was going to decide what to do after high school, I said, ‘You going to send him to play for me’ and he said, ‘No, he’s going right to the big leagues.’

“And then of course, [Dale] played for his dad later on.’’

The Yankees and Mets came to play exhibition games at South Carolina. Yogi managed the Mets.

“I drove the bus to pick up the Mets at the airport,’’ Richardson recalled. “Tom Seaver was on that club and they came over and we were going to play three innings against the Mets, three innings against the Yankees and then they were going to play each other under the lights. We had 15,000 people.

“Yogi said, ‘Something is not right, you’re a college team, you can’t compete, I’m going to pitch for the Mets to your team and I’ll throw it right in there,’ and we beat the Mets. Yogi was pitching batting practice to our team and what a great opportunity for us to look good that Yogi would even think of that.

“For so many years they kept coming and the next year we finished second in the nation for the College World Series. We were 51-6, Texas beat us in the final game. But I consider all that to Yogi.

“Yogi was an American icon. He crossed all boundaries. He represented all aspects of Americanism. Everybody loved him.

“His roommate was Dr. Bobby Brown,’’ noted Richardson. “He’d be reading medical books and Yogi would be reading comic books, and Yogi would always say to Bobby, ‘How’d your story come out?’ ’’

Yes, there was only one Yogi Berra.