This year’s Tribeca Film Festival offered an array of documentaries, and one, in particular, blended my passion for both film and sports. As an avid New York Yankees fan for more than 25 years, it’s no surprise that I would be intrigued by a documentary that chronicles one of the greatest Yankees of all time, Yogi Berra. While the YES Network had their documentary series, Yankeeography, which premiered during the network’s inception back in 2002-03, It Ain’t Over was sure to be a more honest, more profound look at the beloved Yankee.
Those unfamiliar with Berra, the documentary effectively views his life from his early days when he was born Lawrence Peter Berra through the memories of his granddaughter Lindsay Berra and his sons Larry, Tim, and Dale. From his time in the war, some of the most heartfelt, charming moments are when the family looks back at Yogi’s courtship of the love of his life, Carmen Berra. From the moment Yogi first laid eyes on her to their eventual marriage, the family reaffirms the love the two had for each other throughout their lives.
When It Ain’t Over shifts focus to his baseball career, director Sean Mullin never shies away from not just highlighting Yogi’s ten championships, 18 All-Star appearances, and 3 MVP awards but shining a light that Berra is not just one of the best catchers in the history of baseball, but one of the most underrated players of all time.
Thanks to several former Yankees, including former manager Joe Torre and iconic shortstop Derek Jeter, super fan Billy Crystal, and broadcasters and sports writers, including Bob Costas, we are taken on an archival journey through Berra’s highlights, including catching the only perfect game in World Series history and his relationship with the legendary Jackie Robinson.
Of course, the film shines a light on the legendary Yogi-isms. In one of the funniest segments of the doc, we’re taken through some of the most famous of his career, including “it ain’t over until it’s over.” Ironically, the film lets the viewer know that some of these sayings were more myth than fact but now live in infamy.
The big topic I was most curious as to how Mullin would handle was the infamous beef between Berra and George Steinbrenner. Yogi was fired after 16 games by George Steinbrenner’s assistant, and because of that incident, Yogi vowed never to return to Yankee Stadium. The documentary looks at the events that transpired after the firing and how Yogi held his ground despite numerous attempts at bringing him back to the stadium.
It would be 14 years before Steinbrenner finally admitted he was in the wrong and apologizes to Berra. However, the footage of the two after 14 years brought back memories of his return to the stadium in 1999 and how often he would be seen in the years following. As someone that often attends Old-Timers Day at the stadium, Yogi was a staple of that game until his death in 2015.
Rather than ending the doc on Yogi’s death, Mullin went in a different direction and focused on Yogi’s granddaughter, Lindsay Berra’s push for Yogi to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. One that was 6 hours short of failing before it finally hit 100,000 signatures.
Whether you’re a fan of the Yankees or baseball, It Ain’t Over is essential viewing for any sports fan out there. It’s a fitting tribute to one of the iconic sports figures of all time and one that’s sure to create a new generation of fans.
