Tropic Sprockets / It Ain’t Over
By Ian Brockway
Former West Point graduate Sean Mullin (Amira & Sam) creates an affectionate and engaging portrait of Yogi Berra, in “It Ain’t Over.” The documentary finally puts the veteran New York Yankee where he belongs, front and center.
The film is riveting from start to finish with a rhythm as quirky as the man himself.
Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra was born in St. Louis Missouri in 1925. He began playing in American Legion baseball leagues. Jack Maguire, a friend noticed Berra was sitting cross-legged like a mystic and the name Yogi took hold forever.
Berra was in negotiation with the Yankees when he took matters into his own hands and volunteered for military service. Thinking about futuristic Flash Gordon comics, he wanted to try the “rocket boats” and he was on the front lines storming Normandy beach.
He sustained injuries and received a Purple Heart.
Berra played his first game as catcher with the Yankees in September, 1946. The news media didn’t know what to make of him, He didn’t fit the Hollywood Yankee superstar profile. The papers compared him to a gargoyle, and he was physically round with big hands.
It didn’t matter. All Yogi wanted was to play ball.
Berra has 10 World Series rings with 358 home runs. He is one of only six players to win the American league Most Valuable Player Award three times. In the 1956 World Series, he was the catcher for Don Larsen’s famous perfect game. After the game, Berra iconically jumped in Larson’s arms.
Despite his professional excellence, Berra was not taken seriously as an impactful player and he was seen as an entertaining clown, when in reality he was highly intelligent. He was featured on 1950s game shows and Hanna Barbera apparently started Yogi Bear after Berra.
The patronizing treatment did not affect Berra. The TV constantly mentioned Berra’s looks but as he famously said “So I’m ugly. So What? I never saw anyone hit with his face.”
The quote became only one of many famous sayings known as “yogiisms.”
In 1983 after having much previous success, coach Berra was fired by George Steinbrenner, who gave Berra the news second-hand. He was understandably horrified and vowed never to step foot in Yankee stadium again.
The fans were outraged. The war lasted 14 years when a sportscaster pressured Steinbrenner to apologize and at a news conference with a handshake, it was over.
As fate would have it, in 1999 when Berra returned to the stadium, David Cone pitched a no hitter with Don Larsen in attendance, throwing the first pitch. The recollection of this on film will have you greatly moved, regardless of your fandom.
The film features many cameos, including Derek Jeter and Billy Crystal, and it boasts a wonderful affectionate narration by granddaughter Lindsay Berra.
By the time the documentary concludes you will be wanting to make Yogi into Shang-Chi who can take it to Thanos with his own ten rings, while your tears will be shaded in Yankee Blue.
Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com
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