During Saturday’s SABR Day event in New York City, panelists Dave Anderson, Dave Kaplan and Lindsay Berra (eldest granddaughter of Yogi Berra) were discussing the magic that was Lawrence Peter Berra. Among all his awards and statistical records, it was noted that Berra started and played catcher in both games of 117 doubleheaders.
This stat floored most of the audience, myself included. I knew that back in the day, men were men and catchers routinely caught 150+ games in a year. But I also knew there were many more scheduled doubleheaders and why wouldn’t a manager rest his number one backstop for one of those games. I decided to check on the accuracy of that 117 doubleheader stat.
I parsed out all the doubleheaders from the Retrosheet game logs of 1911-2015 (which includes those with complete lineups), and then searched for instances in which the catcher in game one was the same one in game two. Not only did Berra catch both ends of 117 doubleheaders, by my count, he caught 28 more, for a staggering total of 145.
Here is the list of all players to catch both games of a doubleheader, along with the number of times they did that. Note that the current poster boy for indefatigability, the Royals Salvador Perez, hasn’t been called upon to catch both ends of a twinbill:
| Catcher | Doubleheaders |
| Yogi Berra | 145 |
| Frankie Hayes | 143 |
| Mickey Cochrane | 141 |
| Bill Dickey | 125 |
| Al Lopez | 102 |
| Ray Schalk | 94 |
| Andy Seminick | 93 |
| Rollie Hemsley | 90 |
| Shanty Hogan | 90 |
| Hank Severeid | 89 |
| Cy Perkins | 88 |
| Gus Mancuso | 88 |
| Mike Tresh | 87 |
| Jim Hegan | 80 |
| Gabby Hartnett | 76 |
| Mickey Owen | 73 |
| Rick Ferrell | 71 |
| Roy Campanella | 71 |
| Ray Mueller | 69 |
| Steve O’Neill | 68 |
| Luke Sewell | 67 |
| Spud Davis | 66 |
| Wes Westrum | 65 |
| Clint Courtney | 63 |
| Ivey Wingo | 57 |
| Jimmie Wilson | 56 |
| Bill Freehan | 55 |
| Randy Hundley | 55 |
| Sherm Lollar | 55 |
| Elston Howard | 54 |
| Ernie Lombardi | 53 |
| John Romano | 53 |
| Del Rice | 52 |
| Hank Gowdy | 51 |
| Zack Taylor | 51 |
| Hal Smith | 50 |
| Muddy Ruel | 50 |
| Buddy Rosar | 49 |
| Sammy White | 49 |
| Clay Dalrymple | 47 |
| Harry Danning | 46 |
| Al Spohrer | 45 |
| Buck Rodgers | 45 |
| Bill Killefer | 44 |
| Babe Phelps | 42 |
| Bob O’Farrell | 41 |
| Frank Snyder | 41 |
| Walker Cooper | 41 |
| Wally Schang | 41 |
| Al Todd | 40 |
| Mike Gonzalez | 40 |
| Gus Triandos | 38 |
| Chief Meyers | 37 |
| Del Crandall | 37 |
| Earl Battey | 37 |
| Tim McCarver | 37 |
| Jerry Grote | 36 |
| John Bateman | 35 |
| Johnny Edwards | 35 |
| Gary Carter | 34 |
| Jake Early | 33 |
| Phil Roof | 33 |
| Ed Herrmann | 32 |
| Ray Berres | 32 |
| Joe Torre | 31 |
| Oscar Stanage | 31 |
| Johnny Bassler | 30 |
| Tom Haller | 30 |
| Ed Bailey | 29 |
| Thurman Munson | 29 |
| Manny Sanguillen | 28 |
| Walter Schmidt | 28 |
| Birdie Tebbetts | 27 |
| Smoky Burgess | 27 |
| Ted Simmons | 27 |
| Russ Nixon | 26 |
| Clyde McCullough | 25 |
| Gene Desautels | 25 |
| Aaron Robinson | 24 |
| Bill Rariden | 24 |
| Les Moss | 24 |
| Mike Ryan | 24 |
| Paul Casanova | 24 |
| Phil Masi | 24 |
| Bob Boone | 23 |
| Joe Azcue | 23 |
| John Roseboro | 23 |
| Mickey O’Neil | 23 |
| Ray Fosse | 23 |
| Bob Swift | 22 |
| Darrell Porter | 22 |
| Sam Agnew | 22 |
| Charlie Berry | 21 |
| John Henry | 21 |
| Otto Miller | 21 |
| Rudy York | 21 |
| Stan Lopata | 21 |
| Frank Mancuso | 20 |
| Hal Wagner | 20 |
| Harry Chiti | 20 |
| Moe Berg | 20 |
| Roy Spencer | 20 |
| Butch Wynegar | 19 |
| Earl Smith | 19 |
| Frank Grube | 19 |
| Frankie Pytlak | 19 |
| Andy Etchebarren | 18 |
| Bruce Edwards | 18 |
| Buck Crouse | 18 |
| George Gibson | 18 |
| Bennie Warren | 17 |
| Charlie Hargreaves | 17 |
| Eddie Ainsmith | 17 |
| Jack Shepard | 17 |
| Jimmy Archer | 17 |
| Johnny Gooch | 17 |
| Barry Foote | 16 |
| Ellie Rodriguez | 16 |
| Glenn Myatt | 16 |
| Pinky Hargrave | 16 |
| Ray Katt | 16 |
| Val Picinich | 16 |
| Verne Clemons | 16 |
| Bennie Tate | 15 |
| Bert Adams | 15 |
| Dick Brown | 15 |
| Earl Grace | 15 |
| Jim Sundberg | 15 |
| Johnny Bench | 15 |
| Les Nunamaker | 15 |
| Patsy Gharrity | 15 |
| Ray Lamanno | 15 |
| Roxy Walters | 15 |
| Walt Tragesser | 15 |
| Dave Rader | 14 |
| Ed Kirkpatrick | 14 |
| Jerry May | 14 |
| Jim Pagliaroni | 14 |
| Lance Parrish | 14 |
| Mike Garbark | 14 |
| Carlton Fisk | 13 |
| Chris Cannizzaro | 13 |
| Eddie Phillips | 13 |
| Fred Hofmann | 13 |
| Hobie Landrith | 13 |
| Ken O’Dea | 13 |
| Mickey Livingston | 13 |
| Sammy Taylor | 13 |
| Toby Atwell | 13 |
| Tommy Clarke | 13 |
| Tony Giuliani | 13 |
| William Fischer | 13 |
| Al Evans | 12 |
| Art Wilson | 12 |
| Cal Neeman | 12 |
| Duke Sims | 12 |
| Hank Foiles | 12 |
| Jack Lapp | 12 |
| Johnny Peacock | 12 |
| Paul Richards | 12 |
| Tom Padden | 12 |
| Alan Ashby | 11 |
| Arndt Jorgens | 11 |
| Bubbles Hargrave | 11 |
| George Mitterwald | 11 |
| Lew McCarty | 11 |
| Merv Shea | 11 |
| Mike Brumley | 11 |
| Red Wilson | 11 |
| Roy Partee | 11 |
| Rube Walker | 11 |
| Al Lakeman | 10 |
| Bob Schmidt | 10 |
| Bob Tillman | 10 |
| Bruce Ogrodowski | 10 |
| Butch Henline | 10 |
| Dave Duncan | 10 |
| Ed Fitz Gerald | 10 |
| Frank House | 10 |
| Hank DeBerry | 10 |
| Joe Astroth | 10 |
| Joe Ginsberg | 10 |
| Johnny Oates | 10 |
| Mike Guerra | 10 |
| Milt May | 10 |
| Ray Hayworth | 10 |
| Terry Kennedy | 10 |
| Tom Egan | 10 |
| Al Unser | 9 |
| Bill Atwood | 9 |
| Clyde Kluttz | 9 |
| Clyde Manion | 9 |
| Earl Averill | 9 |
| Earl Williams | 9 |
| Ed Burns | 9 |
| Ernie Whitt | 9 |
| Harry McCurdy | 9 |
| Jack Hiatt | 9 |
| Jerry McNertney | 9 |
| Ken Suarez | 9 |
| Larry McLean | 9 |
| Pat Collins | 9 |
| Roger Bresnahan | 9 |
| Charlie Lau | 8 |
| Dick Bertell | 8 |
| Dixie Howell | 8 |
| Gene Oliver | 8 |
| Joe Garagiola | 8 |
| John Boccabella | 8 |
| John Stearns | 8 |
| Mickey Grasso | 8 |
| Truck Hannah | 8 |
| Wally Millies | 8 |
| Benny Bengough | 7 |
| Bert Whaling | 7 |
| Bill DeLancey | 7 |
| Billy Holm | 7 |
| Billy Meyer | 7 |
| Bob Finley | 7 |
| Brian Downing | 7 |
| Dewey Williams | 7 |
| Duffy Dyer | 7 |
| Ed Madjeski | 7 |
| Ed Ott | 7 |
| Frank Gibson | 7 |
| Fred Kendall | 7 |
| George Dickey | 7 |
| J.C. Martin | 7 |
| Joe Glenn | 7 |
| Joe Lonnett | 7 |
| Mike Heath | 7 |
| Pete Daley | 7 |
| Pinch Thomas | 7 |
| Ron Hassey | 7 |
| Tony Pena | 7 |
| Ben Egan | 6 |
| Bo Diaz | 6 |
| Buck Martinez | 6 |
| Cliff Bolton | 6 |
| Doc Edwards | 6 |
| Glenn Borgmann | 6 |
| Haywood Sullivan | 6 |
| Hick Cady | 6 |
| Jack Bliss | 6 |
| Jake Gibbs | 6 |
| Jeff Torborg | 6 |
| Jesse Gonder | 6 |
| Jim Essian | 6 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 6 |
| John Ellis | 6 |
| Ken Retzer | 6 |
| Larry Haney | 6 |
| Larry Woodall | 6 |
| Mike Sandlock | 6 |
| Mike Simon | 6 |
| Norm Schlueter | 6 |
| Red Dooin | 6 |
| Sal Yvars | 6 |
| Tubby Spencer | 6 |
| Wickey McAvoy | 6 |
| Bill Carrigan | 5 |
| Bill Conroy | 5 |
| Bill Sarni | 5 |
| Billy Bryan | 5 |
| Billy Sullivan | 5 |
| Bob Barton | 5 |
| Bob Stinson | 5 |
| Carl Sawatski | 5 |
| Cliff Johnson | 5 |
| Del Baker | 5 |
| Don Padgett | 5 |
| Duane Josephson | 5 |
| Earl Blackburn | 5 |
| Earle Brucker | 5 |
| Ebba St. Claire | 5 |
| Frank Bruggy | 5 |
| Gene Green | 5 |
| George Susce | 5 |
| Greek George | 5 |
| Hal Naragon | 5 |
| Jason Kendall | 5 |
| Jody Davis | 5 |
| Joe Nolan | 5 |
| Joe Tipton | 5 |
| Johnnie Heving | 5 |
| Ron Hodges | 5 |
| Steve Yeager | 5 |
| Stew Hofferth | 5 |
| Tim Thompson | 5 |
| Tom Daly | 5 |
| Walt Lerian | 5 |
| Archie Yelle | 4 |
| Bill Cronin | 4 |
| Bill Haeffner | 4 |
| Bill Plummer | 4 |
| Bob Coleman | 4 |
| Bob Uecker | 4 |
| Charlie Silvera | 4 |
| Choo Choo Coleman | 4 |
| Danny Kravitz | 4 |
| Dick Billings | 4 |
| Dixie Parsons | 4 |
| Don Wheeler | 4 |
| Ed Sadowski | 4 |
| Fran Healy | 4 |
| Gary Alexander | 4 |
| Gene Tenace | 4 |
| Ivan Rodriguez | 4 |
| Jerry Zimmerman | 4 |
| Jim Fanning | 4 |
| Jimmie Coker | 4 |
| Joe Pignatano | 4 |
| John Wockenfuss | 4 |
| Johnny Schulte | 4 |
| Ken Rudolph | 4 |
| Lou Berberet | 4 |
| Matt Batts | 4 |
| Mike Roarke | 4 |
| Mike Scioscia | 4 |
| Orlando McFarlane | 4 |
| Otto Denning | 4 |
| Pat Corrales | 4 |
| Paul Florence | 4 |
| Rowdy Elliott | 4 |
| Steve Nicosia | 4 |
| Steve Swisher | 4 |
| Tommy Heath | 4 |
| Valmy Thomas | 4 |
| Alex Gaston | 3 |
| Alex Trevino | 3 |
| Biff Pocoroba | 3 |
| Bill Wagner | 3 |
| Bob Collins | 3 |
| Bob Montgomery | 3 |
| Brian McCann | 3 |
| Cam Carreon | 3 |
| Chick Autry | 3 |
| Chris Krug | 3 |
| Curt Blefary | 3 |
| Del Wilber | 3 |
| Dick Dietz | 3 |
| Dick Rand | 3 |
| Elrod Hendricks | 3 |
| Ernie Krueger | 3 |
| Fats Dantonio | 3 |
| Fred Tyler | 3 |
| Grover Hartley | 3 |
| Gus Niarhos | 3 |
| Jeff Newman | 3 |
| Jeff Sweeney | 3 |
| Jerry Willard | 3 |
| Jim Price | 3 |
| John Bischoff | 3 |
| John Brock | 3 |
| Johnny Blanchard | 3 |
| Johnny Pramesa | 3 |
| Kevin Pasley | 3 |
| Larry Cox | 3 |
| Luis Pujols | 3 |
| Mark Salas | 3 |
| Mickey Kreitner | 3 |
| Nick Allen | 3 |
| Paul Burris | 3 |
| Pickles Dillhoefer | 3 |
| Ray Murray | 3 |
| Ray Noble | 3 |
| Rich Gedman | 3 |
| Rick Dempsey | 3 |
| Ron Brand | 3 |
| Skip Jutze | 3 |
| Tex Erwin | 3 |
| Tim Blackwell | 3 |
| Tom Needham | 3 |
| Tom Satriano | 3 |
| Tony Brottem | 3 |
| Al Bool | 2 |
| B.J. Surhoff | 2 |
| Benito Santiago | 2 |
| Bernie Hungling | 2 |
| Bill Salkeld | 2 |
| Bill Schroeder | 2 |
| Bob Scheffing | 2 |
| Brad Kocher | 2 |
| Bruce Benedict | 2 |
| Carl Taylor | 2 |
| Chad Kreuter | 2 |
| Charlie Moore | 2 |
| Charlie O’Brien | 2 |
| Dee Moore | 2 |
| Don Leppert | 2 |
| Doug Camilli | 2 |
| Dwight Lowry | 2 |
| Ed Connolly | 2 |
| Ferrell Anderson | 2 |
| Frank Fernandez | 2 |
| Gil Hodges | 2 |
| Gilly Campbell | 2 |
| Glenn Brummer | 2 |
| Hal Spindel | 2 |
| Hank Helf | 2 |
| Jack Cummings | 2 |
| Jackie Moore | 2 |
| Javy Lopez | 2 |
| Jim French | 2 |
| Jimmie Schaffer | 2 |
| Joe Girardi | 2 |
| Joe Jenkins | 2 |
| Joe Oliver | 2 |
| Joe Rossi | 2 |
| Joel Skinner | 2 |
| John Leary | 2 |
| John Orsino | 2 |
| Johnny Grabowski | 2 |
| Johnny Kling | 2 |
| JW Porter | 2 |
| Leo Dixon | 2 |
| Mack Wheat | 2 |
| Matt Nokes | 2 |
| Mickey Tettleton | 2 |
| Mike Sadek | 2 |
| Oscar Siemer | 2 |
| Paul Gillespie | 2 |
| Ralph Houk | 2 |
| Raymond Haley | 2 |
| Red Hayworth | 2 |
| Rick Cerone | 2 |
| Rick Sweet | 2 |
| Ricky Seilheimer | 2 |
| Sammy Holbrook | 2 |
| Scott Bradley | 2 |
| Todd Hundley | 2 |
| Vance Wilson | 2 |
| Vic Roznovsky | 2 |
| Yadier Molina | 2 |
| Yam Yaryan | 2 |
| Al DeVormer | 1 |
| Alan Knicely | 1 |
| Andy Allanson | 1 |
| Angel Pena | 1 |
| Art Kusnyer | 1 |
| Astyanax Douglass | 1 |
| Bengie Molina | 1 |
| Benny Culp | 1 |
| Bill Bergen | 1 |
| Bill Drescher | 1 |
| Bill Hall | 1 |
| Bill Lewis | 1 |
| Bill Nahorodny | 1 |
| Bill Patton | 1 |
| Bob Brenly | 1 |
| Bob Davis | 1 |
| Bob Garbark | 1 |
| Bob Geren | 1 |
| Bob Kearney | 1 |
| Bobby Bragan | 1 |
| Bobby Pfeil | 1 |
| Bobby Ramos | 1 |
| Brad Gulden | 1 |
| Brian Johnson | 1 |
| Brian Schneider | 1 |
| Brook Fordyce | 1 |
| Bud Bulling | 1 |
| Bunny Madden | 1 |
| Charlie White | 1 |
| Chico Hernandez | 1 |
| Chink Outen | 1 |
| Chris Bando | 1 |
| Chuck Brinkman | 1 |
| Cliff Knox | 1 |
| Cliff Lee | 1 |
| Clyde Sukeforth | 1 |
| Corky Miller | 1 |
| Cuno Barragan | 1 |
| Dan Graham | 1 |
| Dan Wilson | 1 |
| Dann Bilardello | 1 |
| Danny Doyle | 1 |
| Darrell Johnson | 1 |
| Darren Daulton | 1 |
| Dave Engle | 1 |
| Dave Nilsson | 1 |
| Dave Watkins | 1 |
| Dennis Paepke | 1 |
| Dick Gossett | 1 |
| Dick West | 1 |
| Doc Carroll | 1 |
| Don Pavletich | 1 |
| Don Slaught | 1 |
| Donnie Scott | 1 |
| Dusty Ryan | 1 |
| Dutch Dotterer | 1 |
| Ed Taubensee | 1 |
| Eddie Kearse | 1 |
| Eddie Kenna | 1 |
| Eddie Malone | 1 |
| El Tappe | 1 |
| Emil Huhn | 1 |
| Floyd Rayford | 1 |
| Francis Healy | 1 |
| Francisco Cervelli | 1 |
| Frank Reiber | 1 |
| Fred Blackwell | 1 |
| Gene Lamont | 1 |
| Geno Petralli | 1 |
| George Lees | 1 |
| Geovany Soto | 1 |
| Gerald Laird | 1 |
| Greg Olson | 1 |
| Gus Sandberg | 1 |
| Hal King | 1 |
| Hank Camelli | 1 |
| Hank Ruszkowski | 1 |
| Hardy Peterson | 1 |
| Henry Blanco | 1 |
| Henry Mercedes | 1 |
| Herb Bremer | 1 |
| Herb Crompton | 1 |
| Hugh McMullen | 1 |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia | 1 |
| Jeff Ransom | 1 |
| Jerry Lynch | 1 |
| Jerry Moses | 1 |
| Jerry Narron | 1 |
| Jim Campbell | 1 |
| Joe Becker | 1 |
| Joe Mauer | 1 |
| Joe McCabe | 1 |
| Joe Schultz | 1 |
| John Felske | 1 |
| John Marzano | 1 |
| John Stefero | 1 |
| John Stephenson | 1 |
| John Tamargo | 1 |
| Johnny Estrada | 1 |
| Jonathan Lucroy | 1 |
| Josh Billings | 1 |
| Junior Ortiz | 1 |
| Kettle Wirts | 1 |
| Kirt Manwaring | 1 |
| Koyie Hill | 1 |
| Len Okrie | 1 |
| Lou Legett | 1 |
| Marc Hill | 1 |
| Mark Bailey | 1 |
| Mark Parent | 1 |
| Marty Castillo | 1 |
| Marv Foley | 1 |
| Merritt Ranew | 1 |
| Michael Barrett | 1 |
| Mike Compton | 1 |
| Mike Fitzgerald | 1 |
| Mike Piazza | 1 |
| Mike Redmond | 1 |
| Moe Thacker | 1 |
| Norm Sherry | 1 |
| Omir Santos | 1 |
| Ozzie Virgil | 1 |
| Pat Borders | 1 |
| Pat Moran | 1 |
| Paul Ratliff | 1 |
| Peaches Graham | 1 |
| Ramon Hernandez | 1 |
| Rico Carty | 1 |
| Rip Williams | 1 |
| Roy Easterwood | 1 |
| Russ Gibson | 1 |
| Ryan Lavarnway | 1 |
| Sam Calderone | 1 |
| Sandy Alomar | 1 |
| Scott Hemond | 1 |
| Scott Servais | 1 |
| Tim Laudner | 1 |
| Tom Donohue | 1 |
| Tom Jordan | 1 |
| Tom Lundstedt | 1 |
| Tom Turner | 1 |
| Tony Cruz | 1 |
| Tony Eusebio | 1 |
| Tony Rego | 1 |
| Vic Correll | 1 |
| Walt Alexander | 1 |
| Wilfredo Tejada | 1 |
| Willard Hershberger | 1 |
Wow, This may fall into the “unbreakable” category, as double headers are essentially extinct. True double headers, not the day/night affairs of today. Another excellent research presentation Diane!
I did my own analysis using BR PI and came up with 119 games in which Berra started and COMPLETED both games.
Of the 145 doubleheader starts, 131 were through 1956, his age 31 season. If I figured right, he hit .315 (356-1129) in catching doubleheader starts, and .279 in other catcher starts. Just an amazing player.