My kids, Music, baseball & NY being my passions - you can imagine how Friday night (6/24/05) was for me. I went with my son Paul to see Willie and Bob Dylan at the Yogi Berra Museum. I was laying in the outfield, watching the sun go down and staring up at the new stars in the sky on a fabulous warm, beautiful night. I realized that I was laying in a Ball field...YOGI's Ball field!!!! - Looking at my son who was looking somewhat -somewhat-for that moment - at peace, and having Wilie and Dylan sing to me. I thought...Life does not get much better than this. I didnt want it to end.

I've recently been holding on to my son with both hands...less he give up and slip away from us - Friday night was pure joy - I will never forget it.

As far as a "report" like John gives...Im sorry, I don't have even close to his powers of observation. I will tell you that Willie opened. He did about an hour. He had two of his sons out there with him, as well as Paul English's son. (One of Willies sons has Willies music in him...we'll be hearing a lot from him I think) Willie dedicated a song to Waylon and was in great form. My son (Paul) and I sang together during the line..."Buffalo ain't geared for me and Paul" which (If sons and mothers have "a song") we've always considered it to be relevant to us.

John warned me that sometimes you get the good Dylan and some times the not - so - good Dylan. I thought he was great. He did almost 3 hours. Paul and I had to laugh - My last live Dylan gig was in the Village, 1968 - and we agreed Dylans appeal was the poetry... that although he was always hard to understand and his voice never "that great" to begin with...but now you had to ad - probably 26,000 joints to the raspiness of his throat.

But - as strange as it may seem...as I sat on that hill, I must tell you...I kept hearing (in a very familiar voice that was in my head) Telling me that - I was sitting uphill - "from Bob Dylan".

Rumor has it that Yogi himself was asked what he thought of the show, & he replied, "What a concert! Nothing but songs!"

I share your passion for Dylan & baseball. I can't go to bed at night until I know whether the Pirates won & I check Dylan's set list on his site. Here's the set list that you heard performed:

1. To Be Alone With You
2. Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You
3. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum
4. Just Like A Woman
5. Cold Irons Bound
6. Desolation Row
7. Highway 61 Revisited
8. Not Dark Yet
9. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
10. Make You Feel My Love
11. New Morning
12. Summer Days

encore
13. It Ain't Me, Babe
14. Like A Rolling Stone

Ironic, of course, that Dylan would be playing at Yogi Berra Stadium. While Dylan's music was helping ferment the social changes that would shake the '60's, Yogi was the Yankee manager in 1964, losing the World Series. Yogi was fired for losing that Series. Up to that point, as you know, the Yanks had played in approximately half of the World Series that had taken place. They would not return until 1976 & their loss was seen as symbolic of the downfall of The Establishment & the rise of Youth. Even the Yanks' great long-time announcer Mel Allen lost his voice broadcasting that Series & it also marked the great Mickey Mantle's last World Series homer.

The Yankees were defeated by the Cardinals, an upcoming team with more than its fair share of militant blacks who caused some social change of their own within baseball. Bill White would go on to become the 1st black league president, Curt Flood would challenge baseball's reserve clause in court & ultimately bring about free agency & high salaries, & Bob Gibson was known as the 1st black pitcher who tried to intimidate white batters.

Wonder how many people were thinking of this stuff during the concert?

Thanks for the set list.

Ya know my attraction to Yogi? He had the same name as a cartoon bear that I watched when I was 6. It gave me SOMETHING to be able to talk to my father about...even tho, it really wasnt. I named my green bird Yogi, the blue one was Pudgy. Pudgy dropped dead in his cage in the middle of President Kennedy's speech about the Cuban missile crisis. I hated the President because his speech interrupted Dobie Gillis reruns, which was the last show I was allowed to watch before my father took over the TV for the night and somehow, of course, for the death of my bird. (My opinion has changed and he has been pardoned in my mind - President Kennedy, not my father).

Back to Yogi. He is a kind, generous, happy person. He is known in Baseball as every teams lucky charm (he's never been on a loosing team) He's a brilliant example of a simple person who can become great with passion. No one looks at his (less than handsome) face without smiling. No one hears him speak without quoting him. He's had the same best friend for 67 years. His number was 8. My lucky number is 8 because of him and at the worst part of my life, my best friend worked 8 miles from my house and could get to me in her Mach in 8 minutes if I needed her. (which was often).

Joe - You're freaking me out. In my life - only my father could quote baseball like that...Pam...if you're out there...have this man be-headed please - thanks.

Reg

Was that it Montclair U? I didnt even know they were gonna be there, I have a friend who works there. Damn.

Yogi seems like a nice guy. I've been in his house. He looks WAAAAY older in person than on TV. I alost didnt recognize him. But I hear his wife is kinda bitchy. Never met her so it is just someone elses opinion.

Yeah GP - Montclair U. I think I heard about the gig from my daughter, although I prowl around all three of their sites myself, so ya never know. My friends son is interning there as well for the summer.

I met Yogi last year, (meeting Yogis - one I could cross of my life to do list... He is very nice. My daughter was impressed that he has all his own teeth...(Ya gotta know my daughter to understand - I barely do). But every time someone wanted his photograph or autograph he acted almost like "YOU DO???" He was very sweet. Never heard anything about his wife.

If I hear anything else come up at that venue, besides the Jackals, I'll post it and let ya know.

REG

I am a big Yogi fan, but , "...never been on a losing team?" What about the Mets? People really laughed about Warren Spahn and him having a combined age of 78 or 80. But he was a lot younger then than I am now. He made you feel like it would all turn out OK, but I keep wondering what happened?
Then-------Now
JFK -------W
Casey------Steinbrenner( OK, not a manager, but still the public face of the pinstripes)
Yogi ------???
But it's fun to think back on it all

Meet the Mets,
Greet the Mets,
Step right up and beat the Mets.

Bring your kiddies, Bring your Wife,
guaranteed to have the laugh of your life...

And what about all those Yoohoo posters on the Jersey Turnpike?

Thanks, Yogi!

Where is Yogi Berra Stadium?

Mark

Who can forget the press conference to announce Yogi's involvement with Yoo-Hoo?

Reporter: "Is it carbonated?"

Yogi: "No, it's hyphenated."

Memphis, Tennessee AutoZone Baseball Park, downtown near the Mississippi River, on Third Street which eventually becomes Highway 61. What a wonderful event Peter, Jason and I could attend. Dylan looked particularly spiffy in cream colored pants, dark jacket, broad beamed hat . Peter thought he looked like a southern planter. The five members of his band had matching shirts -- looked like they might have stopped by Bernard Lansky's exceptional haberdashery, located in the nearby Peabody Hotel, and purchased from the man who dressed Elvis in his early days. Lansky and his son run the shoppe --- don't miss their collection of guitars and memorabilia from a multitude of performers. Arlo, any plans of stopping downtown Memphis when you do your show in Germantown, TN in February 2006? If so, consider bringing something to memorialize on the wall. I have photos from when Jason and I shopped there.

Hey Hazelrah - Just a note.

Yogi has never managed a team that did not get into the Playoffs...which is what I meant by "never been on a loosing team". He is also the only baseball player with 10 World Series rings. I think that says it.

Don't worry about where Yogi Stadium is. You're not there.

Well, I wanted to take a look at the stadium once more.
http://www.montclair.edu/pages/athletics/sports/baseball/baseybs.html [/url]
Yogi Berra Stadium, Little Falls, NJ
----Have to remember, I'm a Jersey girl, with a penchant for New York and New Jersey Teams. Even have Yankee and Mets bumper stickers for my car in Memphis!

Hey Garnet - I like your style. I was born in the Bronx, walking distance from the stadium. I love the Yankees except when they play the Mets then my true (Blue and Orange) colors come out. (Like I named my dog Mookie after Mookie Wilson.) I lived in Syossett LI when they were building Shea and the World's Fair. I used to go down to the construction site with my cousins and my uncle and watch it go up. My 7year old heart is in that building!!!

I just found out today that my daughter (who runs and is gearing up for the November NY Marathon) is running through Flushing Meadow next Saturday and the race ends inside Shea Stadium at home plate. Pretty neat huh? (As she would say) I'm there dude!!

ANYWAY!!! - If you ever want any NY/NJ stuff, please let me know. I'll send it right down to ya!!! Nice to meet you. Reg

How do you guys survive in that giant anthill??? Man I would be crazy in about two days with all those people!!!!

Yeah, Leaping, but it is a nice place to visit--at least in late November when you're headed for Carnegie Hall!

I don't know anymore. The more people I meet, the more I like my dogs....

Yup, I'm with you Leaping.