Berra Park & Soccer Immortals on The Hill
Published in The Hill Visitor’s Guide & Business Directory 2026
By Abby Wojcik
Before the playground and field at Macklind and Shaw were developed, the site was one of several “Hill Dumps,” which were open areas once used as cow pasture and a place for disposing ashes and factory waste. It was also a place where children explored, built clubhouses and played sports. Over time, it became a community gathering space for picnics, tournaments, and impromptu games of soccer, baseball, softball and corkball.
It was officially named Berra Park in 1965, not for the famous baseball player Lawrence “Yogi” Berra, but for Louis G. “Midge” Berra, the first Italian-American elected to a St. Louis citywide position. His bust stands on the park’s southeast corner as a reminder of his civic accomplishment.
Soccer has long been central to life on The Hill. Children learned the game by joining athletic clubs as early as they could walk. That culture produced legends. In the 1950 World Cup, five players from St. Louis made the U.S. team, four of them from The Hill. They left jobs as teachers, directors and mailmen to compete in Brazil.
The 1950 World Cup match between England and America was monumental for both Hill residents and the country. America won 1-0 against an English team widely expected to win; an upset still celebrated in sports history. News of the victorious American team eventually captured headlines, but The New York Times didn’t publish the story at first because they assumed the telegraph from Brazil must be a mistake.
Known as the "Miracle on Grass," the game is honored with a mural on the side of Anthonino's Taverna at 2225 Macklind Ave. The story was also immortalized in the 2005 film The Game of Their Lives, filmed on The Hill with many residents appearing as extras. After making sports history, the athletes returned to their lives and jobs, but they lived an incredible story and left an indelible mark.
Today, Berra Park continues to be a hub for neighborhood activity. Children continue playing soccer where generations before them honed their skills, carrying on a tradition of athleticism, community pride and Italian-American heritage. From its early days as a wild, open field to its role in producing World Cup talent, Berra Park carries forward the joy of play and the sense of belonging that make The Hill a beloved place to live.
