The Yankees said in a tribute on Twitter: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Yankees legend and American hero."

Lawrence Peter Berra, known to the world as Yogi, was a tough catcher and a feared clutch hitter who helped the Yankees dominate baseball from 1947 to 1963.

On a team packed with great players like Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio, Berra led the Yanks in runs batted in for seven consecutive seasons.

He won the American League's most valuable player award three times in the 1950s, was a 15-time all star and entered baseball's Hall of Fame in 1972.

After retiring as a player, Berra became one of only six managers to lead separate American and National League teams to the World Series.

He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees.