Wanderers in Wonder

There is something to be said for the Settled Life. Our friends in Culver City, Sue and Dan, for whom we are house sitting have such wonderful friends. They and their friends Jody and Dawn invited us to join them for an exquisite evening meal at a wonderful downtown LA restaurant, Bottega Louie. The pizzas were divine.

After dinner we went to the Theater at the Ace Hotel for a taping of the NPR show, TheMOTH Radio Hour (https://themoth.org/radio-hour). One story had us in stitches…two had us in tears. If ever you have the opportunity to attend a taping of a MOTH Radio Hour, take it.

And, “if you come to a fork in the road, take it”. The following week Jody and Dawn, after treating us to an absolutely delicious dinner, took us to a viewing of It Ain’t Over at the UCLA Theater, a documentary about YOGI. 

DINNER

In 1967, Johnny Harlowe made the jump from the silver screen to chef and owner of Dear John’s. Convinced by his pal Frank Sinatra, Johnny opened the iconic spot a short drive from Sony Studios on Culver Blvd. It became the watering-hole for the Hollywood elite with Sinatra often in the corner playing the piano against the dark brick walls once lined with portraits of famous John’s. Seasoned chefs and entrepreneurs Hans Röckenwagner and Josiah Citrin have teamed up to re-open Dear John’s this April (2023) with an updated classic American menu and old-school cocktail list.

We took the advice of Jody and Dawn when ordering dinner. The Chicken Parmesan was beyond mouthwatering. The Caesar Salad was the best ever, Haricot Verts divine and the sauteed mushrooms might as well have been dessert…thank you Jody and Dawn.

YOGI

In 2015 YOGI was watching the MLB All Star Game on TV at home in New Jersey with his granddaughter Lindsey. During the game MLB introduced, according to some obviously inane poll, ‘The Four’ greatest living MLB players…Johnny Bench, Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. Lindsey turned to her Grandpa, YOGI, and said, “are you dead Pops?” And so, a documentary was born.
YOGI, the player, is often forgotten because of YOGI the humorous philosopher. According to a Sixty Minutes piece a few years ago, YOGI is probably the most quoted American. His sayings deliver humor and an almost Zen like wisdom. 

• “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”
• “You can observe a lot by watching.”
• “If the world were perfect, it wouldn’t be.”
• “If you can’t imitate him, don’t copy him.”
• “Ninety percent of the game is half mental.” and…
• “It ain’t over till it’s over”.

But, YOGI, the Player was one for the ages…arguably the GOAT of MLB catchers.

World Series rings by ‘The Four’ combined 8…YOGI alone 10. MVP’s by ‘The Four’ combined 6…YOGI alone 3. Seasons with more HRs than SO’s by ‘The Four’ combined 0…Yogi alone 7. 

Comparing the one of The Four who was a catcher to YOGI. YOGI caught both ends of a double header 117 times, Johnny Bench 15. For all the modern talk of Johnny Bench’s power hitting as a catcher, he had 21 more HRs in his career than YOGI. YOGI had 54 more RBIs than Bench. And, YOGI missed two years of playing ball as he was fighting in Europe in WWII. YOGI was actively involved in the D-DAY invasion .

When asked who was the greatest player he ever coached Casey Stengel replied, “I never played a game without my man” and he nodded at YOGI. Stengel coached DiMaggio, Mantle, Ford and many other Hall of Famers, but YOGI was his man.

Final play of the 1960 World Series. Yogi playing left, in the seventh and deciding game of theSeries, watching Mazeroski’s walk off HR which gave the Series to the Pirates. When YOGI was not behind the plate he was in the field…1B, LF, RF. Casey always had ‘his man’ in the game.

The documentary is about thirty minutes of baseball and an hour of YOGI, the man, and what a man he was. Sean Mullin, the director of the documentary, was with us for the viewing that evening. He took questions after the show. One woman’s comment, “I was born in the Bronx. I am a lifelong Yankee fan. I married a Frenchman who knows nothing of baseball, not even that there are nine players and nine innings. He was in tears for much of the show. Thank you”. 

It Ain’t Over did very well at the Tribeca Movie Festival. SONY picked up the distribution rights. Rather than opening in a limited number of theaters as is the Indie way, It Ain’t Over will open in theaters nationwide in May. 

If anyone needs another reason to appreciate this great ball player and greater man, the baseball gods have delivered.

On 18 July 1999 Don Larsen, who pitched the only perfect game in World Series history (8 OCT 1956), threw out the first pitch to his World Series battery mate for the perfect game, YOGI, on Yogi Berra Day at the Stadium. 

Yogi and Don…Yogi Berra Day at the Stadium.

YOGI jumping into Larsen’s arms after the perfect WS game.

David Cone then proceeds to throw a perfect game for the Yankees on Yogi Berra Day.

Joe Girardi jumping into David Cone’s arms after the Yogi Berra Day perfect game.

Peace…Wanderers in Wonder.