‘Field of Dreams’ MLB game set for Thursday night in Iowa
ByDebbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs will recreate ‘Field of Dreams’ MLB game There will be no “Field of Dreams” game in 2023, as construction at the movie site will take place, news outlets reported. (NCD)
ByDebbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The Cincinnati Reds will take on the Chicago Cubs Thursday in a ballpark amid cornfields in Dyersville, Iowa, where the promise “if you build it, he will come,” was fulfilled.
The game, an homage to the film “Field of Dreams” starring Kevin Costner, is played on a field constructed near the diamond that was used in the movie.
The 1989 film told the story of Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer, who hears a voice telling him that if he builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield, “he will come.”
Kinsella does build the field, and he is visited by the ghosts of baseball greats and wannabes who play games on the diamond. Eventually, the person who comes is Kinsella’s late father who, for a time, was a catcher in the big leagues.
On Thursday, the Cubs and Reds will take the field in front of 8,000 fans, twice the population of Dyersville.
A corn maze leads fans from the movie site to the stadium. The teams will walk through a cornfield to take the field for the game.
The Reds are expected to start left-handed rookie Nick Lodolo, with left-hander Drew Smyly taking the mound for the Cubs.
According to MLB.com, “Cincinnati will have uniforms inspired from 1919, the year it won its controversial World Series over the White Sox. They are white with navy pinstripes and the club’s classic logo embroidered on the left chest.
“The Cubs will have solid cream-colored jerseys similar to those worn during their 1929 NL pennant-winning season. It features the team’s old-school logo depicting a bear cub holding a bat inside a large red and navy ‘C,’ plus navy blue caps adorned by a white bear cub.”
The pregame starts at 6 p.m. ET, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
There will be no “Field of Dreams” game in 2023, according to KCRG-TV. Construction at the movie site will be ongoing next year. Frank Thomas, Hall of Famer and part-owner of the movie site, says baseball and softball fields will be built there next year.
“It’s very important because baseball here in the Midwest is very powerful,” Thomas said. “We want to be the staple in the Midwest. We want to be the Mecca.”
Thomas said the plan is to build nine baseball fields and five softball fields at the site.
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Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Aristides Aquino of the Cincinnati Reds looks on during the fifth inning of the game against the Chicago Cubs at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Christopher Morel of the Chicago Cubs reacts before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Christopher Morel of the Chicago Cubs warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Former baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. (left) and his father, Ken Griffey Sr., take the field before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Players stand for the national anthem before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs looks on during the fourth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game A general view of signage prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Nick Lodolo of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of the game at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Manager David Ross of the Chicago Cubs talks with Wade Miley prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Former Cincinnati Reds player Johnny Bench stands for the national anthem before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game A general view of signage prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Players take the field before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs looks on prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Photos: Cubs beat Reds in second 'Field of Dreams' game Chicago Cubs players warm up before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Field of Dreams on August 11, 2022, in Dyersville, Iowa. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
