The South Pasadena Public Library and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library will present former major league baseball player Jay Johnstone in an Author Night event on Thursday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room. The program is free and fun for all ages and will focus on Johnstone’s three popular baseball books: “Temporary Insanity,” “Over the Top,” and “Some of My Best Friends Are Crazy.”
As a teenager Johnstone starred at Edgewood High in West Covina. After signing a professional contract, he played his first five seasons with the California Angels beginning in 1966. He enjoyed a 20-year career with eight different teams, including two stints with the Dodgers and is the only player in Major League history to play for all but one of the California teams. Johnstone was known for his colorful clubhouse antics which included hiding a soggy brownie in Steve Garvey’s glove and dressing up with padding as Tommy Lasorda to visit the pitcher on the mound during a Spring Training game.
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Johnstone played on three World Series Championship teams: the Oakland A’s in 1973, the New York Yankees in 1978, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981. During the ‘81 Series he blasted a pinch hit home run in Game 4 against the Yankees while the Dodgers were trailing 6 to 3. It catapulted the Dodgers to an 8 to 7 victory and they went on to win the next two games in winning the title. After the Dodgers captured the ‘81 crown, Johnstone joined teammates Jerry Reuss and Steve Yeager on the Solid Gold TV show as The Big Blue Wrecking Crew and sang Queen’s hit “We are the Champions.”
Since retiring, Johnstone has appeared in “Naked Gun” and on the Drew Carey Show. He’s also served as the radio color commentator for the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. In May 2011 he threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Angels’ 50th Anniversary Celebration game at Angel Stadium.
