That’s foul! Berra museum break-in similar to racing burglary

SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Police are aware of, but won’t say if they believe there’s a connection between this month’s Yogi Berra Museum break-in and the October 2013 burglary at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs.

On Oct. 9, thieves made off with two of the Yankee Hall of Famer’s three Most Valuable Player Awards and all 10 of his World Championship rings.

It was the latest in a string of burglaries targeting sports-related museums in New York and New Jersey during the past two years.

“We’re definitely aware of that,” Spa City police Lt. Robert Jillson said. “That is something we’re exploring. There’s a lot to it.”

The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center is located at Montclair State University in Little Falls, N.J. The school’s police department is heading up an investigation into the stolen items along with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

However, state and federal authorities are also involved, said Mark Markowitz, the Berra museum’s board chairman.

“These people love Yogi,” he said. “They want to find the people who did this. Forget about all the baseball stuff. Yogi’s a great guy. One of the nicest guys in the world.”

In October 2013, someone stole five historic trophies from the Racing Museum. One piece was valued at more than $100,000.

It’s believed the thief visited the site beforehand because the break-in and getaway only took several minutes. The Berra museum burglary was done in similar fashion.

However, published reports quoting authorities say a “team of professionals” committed the Berra museum crime.

Police have said they believe the racing museum thief was also responsible for burglaries at the National Harness Racing Hall of Fame & Museum in Goshen in December 2012, and two New Jersey golf venues earlier that same year.

On Monday, the Berra museum announced that Major League Baseball, the Yankees and Mets will donate replicas of all stolen items along with many things not previously in the museum’s collection. The list includes not just Berra’s 10 championship rings, but replicas of all 27 New York Yankees World Championship rings from 1923 to 2009, the last time they won the World Series.

Other items include the Mets’ 1969 World Championship and 1973 National League championship rings, and the 1974 and 1982 All-Star Game rings. Berra played for the Yankees from 1946-1963 and briefly with the Mets in 1965. He also managed both teams – the Yankees in 1964 and 1984-85, and the Mets from 1972-75.

“We’re getting double what we had,” Markowitz said. “People are pulling together to turn a very unfortunate situation into something good for Yogi. It’s amazing. You don’t see that in this world any more. Yogi was all smiles when he heard it.”

Montclair State University is in both Passaic and Essex counties. The Essex County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $15,000 reward in the Berra museum case.