Legendary Yankee Yogi Berra dies at age 90

Yogi Berra, one of baseball's greatest players and most colorful characters, died Tuesday night at age 90.

Berra died of natural causes at his home in New Jersey, according to Dave Kaplan, the director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center.

A stalwart of the New York Yankees' dynasty from the late 1940s to the early 1960s, Berra earned a major league record 10 World Series championship rings during his 18 seasons in the Bronx.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Yankees legend and American hero, Yogi Berra," the Yankees said in a statement on Twitter.

The Hall of Famer was selected the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1951, 1954 and 1955, and he made the AL All-Star team every season from 1948-62.

"While we mourn the loss of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather, we know he is at peace with Mom," his family said in a statement released by the Yogi Berra Museum "We celebrate his remarkable life, and are thankful he meant so much to so many. He will truly be missed."

Berra broke in with the Yankees in 1946 and stayed with them through 1963. He then managed the Yankees to the 1964 AL pennant before concluding his playing career with a four-game stint for the New York Mets in 1965.

In 2,120 career games, Berra hit .285 with a .348 on-base percentage, a .482 slugging percentage, 358 homers and 1,430 RBIs.

Berra ranked among the AL's top 10 in home runs and RBIs nine times.

Berra managed the Mets from 1972-75, leading the team to the National League championship in 1973. He had a second stint as the Yankees' manager in 1984 and '85. In seven seasons as a manager overall, he compiled a 484-444 regular-season record.

In addition to his playing exploits, Berra was well known for his amusing sayings, some of which may or may not have been intentionally ridiculous. He is remembered for phrases including:

--"It ain't over till it's over."

--"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

--"Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical."

--"You can observe a lot just by watching."

--"If people don't want to come out to the ballpark, nobody's gonna stop them."

--"It's like deja vu all over again."

Lawrence Peter Berra was born May 12, 1925, in St. Louis, Mo.

Stars paid tribute to the Yankees icon.

Johnny Bench: " @MLB @BaseballHall @Yankees Yogi sent me a telegram when I hit a HR to pass him, 'I knew my record would stand until it was broken'."

Ken Burns: " Yogi Berra was one of the greatest HUMAN beings to play the game. I will miss him terribly. @Yankees @PBS"

Dave Winfield" "No! Say it ain't so. He was a good man, my former manager and friend! RIP Yogi."

David Ortiz: " A true legend in this game. #RIPYogiBerra."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: "I could not fit my thoughts about baseball legend Yogi Berra on Twitter. So checkout http://Facebook.com/KAJ."

Boston Red Sox: "We send our deepest condolences to Yogi Berra's family and to @Yankees. Our game - and our rivalry - has lost an icon."

Cleveland Indians: " Saddened to hear of baseball legend Yogi Berra -- here he is at Old Timers Day at Municipal Stadium in 1966."

New York Mets: " RIP Yogi Berra a true baseball legend and American icon."