The sun’s out. The air smells like fresh cut grass. A small cloud of dirt wisps up into the sky, floating away into the distance.
A soft whistle of flight and then an abrupt crack of wood pierces the silence. Murmurs spread and grow as the crowd recognizes their favorite event inching ever so closely. The ball clears the wall and the murmur turns to a roar. Home run!
Baseball.
God I love this game! And what better way to celebrate a love of the game of baseball than to watch one of the baseball’s most iconic movies, in the one of the oldest stadiums in Major League Baseball? Answer, there really isn’t.
I know it seems like it’s impossible that The Sandlot has been around for this long, but this year marks the 20th Anniversary of the classic film about a group of friends from the valley whose lives revolve around baseball, a mythologically oversized dog and of course, Wendy Peffercorn.
I spoke with Creator/Director David Mickey Evans, who also narrated the film, about his best memories from the set.
“The two things that stand out for me were probably the day that I walked onto the sandlot set when it was finished, because everything you see, we built. And being able to literally walk around, in three dimensions,” said David Mickey Evans. “That would be number one, number two would be the first time we screened it for an audience, and all the jokes, they laughed when they were supposed to laugh…and we got a standing ovation at the end of the screening and that was pretty satisfying, I think it meant we did our jobs, you know?”
Victor DiMattia (aka Timmy Timmons) was also hanging out for the interview and talked about how much the guys learned about life while filming The Sandlot.
“I think that one of the coolest things for me is that this is like a snapshot of my childhood. Even now when I go back and watch the movie, it’s like I can look at this stage in my development in life, it’s really cool. And to be able to share with with so many other people,” said Victor DiMattia.
It had been a while since I’d seen The Sandlot, even though it is still one of my favorite movies from growing up, and getting to watch it from the outfield of Dodger Stadium was an absolute treat.
From left to right: Victor Dimattia (aka “Timmy Timmons”), Nash Herrington, Marty York (aka “Yeah Yeah”), Grant Gelt (aka “Bertram Grover Weeks”), Chauncey Leopardi (aka “Squints”).
Peanuts, friends, a picnic blanket and one of the most iconic baseball movies ever made playing in one of the oldest stadiums in Major League Baseball is just about as good as it could possible get on a Sunday in September.
Oh and the Dodgers won on a Yasiel Puig solo homerun late in the game. PUIG!!!
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers circles the bases after hitting a solo hime run for the eventual game winning run in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 2-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
“The Sandlot” is out on Blu-Ray and DVD to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of one of the most iconic baseball movies ever made! Go get that shit!
