To Yogi Berra, winning never really becomes passé – even if  the Yankees’ thrilling 27^th championship might have seemed  like déjà vu all over again.

Yet the most decorated man in baseball history was extremely happy for Joe Girardi and his players and coaches, the Steinbrenner family, and everyone connected to the 2009 Yankees. While Yogi is hardly an excitable sort, he does wear his passion on his sleeves - and head - with his ever-present Yankee warmup jacket and cap.

And that quiet joy radiated at the Museum last week in the company of 80 guests, who participated in our annual “Watch the World Series With Yogi” fundraising event. The event, which consists of a ballpark dinner, trivia questions  and photos with the man who played in (14) and won (10) more World Series than anyone,  originated in 2000 with the Mets-Yankees Fall Classic.

One of the highlights of the evening is when people ask Yogi questions about his career and his opinions on the game today. And no question, much has changed over the years, especially since the Yankees last played the Phillies in the World Series, which happened 59 years ago.

Yogi is one of only six living Yankees remaining from that 1950 team. But like all his championship seasons, it was one to remember. He batted .322 that campaign and in 597 at-bats, struck out only a ridiculous 12 times. And in the fourth game of the sweep against the upstart Phillies, Yogi displayed to the world his all-around excellence – an excellence which has prompted some experts to call him the greatest catcher in baseball history.

He outsmarted the Phillies (and almost the umpires) in orchestrating an unusual double play to snuff out a rally.  Then he hit a home run in the sixth inning off National League MVP Jim Konstanty, which proved to be the game-winner. There was no elaborate post-game trophy ceremony, no Canyon of Heroes parade, no trip to Disney World. Just a winner’s share of $5,738 and the professional satisfaction of being the best.  It was another  workmanlike Yankee championship, the second in an unprecedented five consecutive (1949-53) championships.  Like the man said, déjà vu all over again.

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