By HOWARD KUSSOY
Last updated: 7:40 pm
June 27, 2008
Posted: 3:18 am
June 18, 2008
For Yogi Berra, Willie Randolph's firing was like déjà vu all over again.
Berra, who managed both the Yankees and Mets, was fired twice in midseason - by the Mets in 1975, and by the Yankees after only 16 games in 1985. He also was fired by the Yanks after the 1964 season.
Part of the game, he says.
"I got fired," he said yesterday at the All-Star FanFest in Manhattan. "Managers have to be fired. That's just what it is. Willie just needs to take care of himself now."
Berra, like Randolph, who is the second-winningest manager in Mets history, was primarily a success on the bench before being asked to leave.
"In '64, I got it. I won the pennant and lost the World Series [in seven games to the Cardinals] and I got fired," said Berra, who was also dismissed by the Mets less than two years after leading the team to the World Series.
Derek Jeter, who accompanied Berra to the FanFest, was shocked and saddened to hear about his former coach's firing.
"I found out 10 minutes before I came here," Jeter said. "All I can say is it's unfortunate.
"Hopefully he'll get another opportunity to manage. I'm pretty sure he will."
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