[capableweb]

(Warning: quote attribution nerdary ahead)

> In conclusion, the earliest instances of this remark were anonymous. The comedians Rags Ragland and Ukie Sherin employed the quip, as did the writer John McNulty. In addition, there is some evidence that Yogi Berra employed the joke, but in all cases the jest was already in circulation.

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/08/29/too-crowded/

[mc32]

The others before McNulty in 1943, the others were thematic, but not there. Berra was born in ‘25. It’s possible in the days before the internet that two distinct an unconnected people came up with a similar expression, or, given baseball traveling maybe he picked it up from others along the way. So I think it’s a tossup between Berra and McNulty. The others are on their way there but not there.