:MLB at Field of Dreams

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The first edition of the game was planned for August 13, 2020, with the Chicago White Sox facing the New York Yankees. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MLB implemented a shortened 2020 season that limited games played to each team's division and the opposite league's geographically equal division to reduce travel. Hence, on July 1, MLB announced that the St. Louis Cardinals would replace the Yankees for the game.{{cite news |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2020/7/1/21310346/white-sox-cardinals-field-of-dreams-game-mlb-iowa |title=Cardinals will be White Sox' opponent in Field of Dreams game |date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=July 1, 2020 |last=Van Schouwen |first=Daryl |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times}} After several St. Louis players and coaches tested positive for COVID-19 in late July, MLB postponed several Cardinals games, eventually leading the league to announce on August 3 that the MLB at Field of Dreams game would be postponed to the 2021 season.{{cite web|title=MLB postpones Cards-White Sox Field of Dreams game to 2021|url=https://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/mlb-postpones-st-louis-cardinals-chicago-white-sox-field-of-dreams-game-to-2021-080320|website=FoxSports.com|date=August 3, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2020}} In November 2020, MLB announced the 2021 game date and that the contest would feature the originally planned participants, the White Sox and Yankees.{{cite web|title=Field of Dreams game set for Aug. 12, 2021|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-at-field-of-dreams-game-date |last=Harrigan|first=Thomas |date=November 23, 2020 |access-date=November 24, 2020 |website=MLB.com|language=en}}

File:MLB at Field of Dreams (aerial view).jpg

The game is hosted in Dyersville, Iowa, near the filming location of the titular 1989 baseball movie. The field constructed for the movie, which has been operated as a tourist destination since 1989, could not be brought to MLB game standards without permanently altering major features of the property and destroying its movie authenticity, so it was decided to build a separate playing facility at a distance of approximately {{cvt|500|ft}} in the cornfields. The new field is in the property of the Ameskamp family, who used to own the left and center field of the 1988 Field of Dreams (the rest was owned by the Lansing family) before selling it to the Lansing family in 2007.

The design of the ballpark pays homage to the White Sox' home from 1910 to 1990, Comiskey Park, including the shape of the outfield and the bullpens beyond the center field fence. Windows were included in the design of the right field wall to show the cornfields beyond the ballpark and to provide views of the movie set.{{cite news|last=Castrovince|first=Anthony|title=Field of Dreams FAQ: Tickets and other details|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/field-of-dreams-game-tickets-and-faqs|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|website=MLB.com|date=August 8, 2019|access-date=February 22, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Castrovince|first=Anthony|title=Yanks, White Sox to play at 'Field of Dreams'|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-white-sox-game-at-field-of-dream-site|website=MLB.com |date=August 8, 2019|access-date=February 22, 2020}}

Following postponement of the originally scheduled game, the field remained fallow during the 2020 season.{{Cite web|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|date=August 10, 2020|title=With game postponed, Field of Dreams lies fallow|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/08/10/with-game-postponed-field-of-dreams-lies-fallow/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Ballpark Digest|language=en-US}} During the 2021 season, many of the temporary structures that were intended for MLB at Field of Dreams were moved to Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, to allow that Triple-A ballpark to accommodate the Toronto Blue Jays.{{cite news |last1=Harrington |first1=Mike |title=What has to be done to get Sahlen Field ready for MLB, Blue Jays |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/what-has-to-be-done-to-get-sahlen-field-ready-for-mlb-blue-jays/article_86a0b440-cdf7-11ea-aa8a-6bec5a218c23.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=July 24, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-transformed-sahlen-field-temporary-home/ |title=How Blue Jays transformed Sahlen Field into their temporary home|last=Zwelling|first=Arden |date=August 10, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|website=sportsnet.ca|language=en}} In late June 2021, a news report by KTIV of Sioux City, Iowa, showed that the baseball field and lights were in place for MLB at Field of Dreams, but seating had not yet been erected.{{cite news |url=https://ktiv.com/2021/06/28/field-of-dreams-mlb-game-to-feature-beyond-the-game-in-dyersville/ |title=Field of Dreams MLB game to feature Beyond The Game in Dyersville |website=KTIV |date=June 28, 2021 |access-date=July 10, 2021}}

On August 9, it was revealed that Iowa native Pat Hoberg would be the home plate umpire for the game.{{cite news |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/2021/08/09/urbandale-iowa-native-pat-hoberg-field-of-dreams-umpire-new-york-yankees-chicago-white-sox/5536613001/ |title=Field of Dreams umpire, an Iowa native, might play catch with his dad when he gets there |newspaper=Des Moines Register |first=Tommy |last=Birch |date=August 9, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2021}} The White Sox and Yankees both wore throwback uniforms resembling those worn during the 1919 Major League Baseball season.{{cite news|last=Adler|first=David|title=Field of Dreams unis go back in time|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/field-of-dreams-game-uniforms|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|website=MLB.com|date=August 11, 2021|access-date=August 16, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Field of Dreams Game: Grading the White Sox and Yankees throwback uniforms |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/field-of-dreams-game-grading-the-white-sox-and-yankees-throwback-uniforms-mlb-181043603.html |website=sports.yahoo.com |date=August 11, 2021 |access-date=13 August 2021}} Prior to the game, a pregame ceremony was conducted, during which Kevin Costner led players from both teams onto the field from the corn, in tribute to an iconic scene which occurs in the film while Maddie Poppe sang the national anthem.{{cite web |last1=Baer |first1=Jack |title=The intro to MLB's Field of Dreams Game was a masterclass in nostalgia |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-field-of-dreams-game-intro-kevin-costner-yankees-white-sox-235400533.html |website=sports.yahoo.com |date=August 12, 2021 |access-date=13 August 2021}} Bench coach Miguel Cairo managed the White Sox as manager Tony La Russa was unavailable due to a family funeral.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/tony-la-russa-to-miss-field-of-dreams-game |title=La Russa to miss Field of Dreams Game |first=Scott |last=Merkin |website=MLB.com |date=August 11, 2021 |access-date=August 12, 2021}} This was the first MLB game played in the state of Iowa. The game was called by Joe Buck (play by play), John Smoltz (analyst), Ken Rosenthal (field reporter), and Tom Verducci (field reporter) on Fox.

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The early game was defined by strikeouts, with four from Lance Lynn and three from Andrew Heaney through the first two innings. The first scoring was a home run over the left field fence by José Abreu in the bottom of the first inning, the first ever major league home run hit in the state of Iowa.{{cite web |last1=Southard |first1=Dargan |title=Field of Dreams recap: White Sox win on Tim Anderson's thrilling walk-off home run |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/2021/08/12/mlb-field-of-dreams-game-live-coverage-new-york-yankees-chicago-white-sox-dyersville-iowa/5536602001/ |website=Des Moines Register}} From the third inning on, the game was described as a slugfest with home runs by Aaron Judge in the top of the third, Eloy Jiménez in the bottom of the third, Seby Zavala in the bottom of the fourth, and Brett Gardner in the top of the sixth.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Kyle |title=Yankees rally late, then blow slugfest to White Sox in Field of Dreams game |url=https://fingerlakes1.com/2021/08/12/yankees-rally-late-then-blow-slugfest-to-white-sox-in-field-of-dreams-game/ |website=Fingerlakes1.com |date=13 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Randy |title=Yankees rally late, then blow slugfest to White Sox in Field of Dreams Game {{!}} Rapid reaction |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/08/yankees-rally-late-then-blow-slugfest-to-white-sox-in-field-of-dreams-game-rapid-reaction.html |website=nj.com |access-date=13 August 2021 |language=en |date=13 August 2021}} In the game, there was eight total home runs hit into the cornfield. Heading into the ninth inning, the White Sox led 7–4. The Yankees then rallied ahead with a pair of two-out, two-run home runs by Aaron Judge, his second of the night, and Giancarlo Stanton, both off of Liam Hendriks, to put them ahead of the White Sox by one run. After a ground out by pinch hitter Danny Mendick and a walk to Seby Zavala, the game ended with a walk-off two-run homer hit by Tim Anderson off of Zack Britton, giving the White Sox the 9–8 win. The homer was the 15th walk-off home run against the Yankees in White Sox history; the first was hit by Shoeless Joe Jackson on July 20, 1919,{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1919/B07200CHA1919.htm |title=Chicago White Sox 2, New York Yankees 1 |date=July 20, 1919 |website=Retrosheet}} a fictional version of whom features heavily in the Field of Dreams film.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/08/13/white-sox-yankees-field-of-dreams-tim-anderson-home-run-video |title=You Will Definitely Believe Who Hit the First Walk-Off Home Run for the White Sox Against the Yankees |first=Dan |last=Gartland |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=August 13, 2021 |access-date=August 9, 2022}}

{{linescore

| Date = August 12, 2021

| Time = 6:15 p.m. CDT

| Location = Field of Dreams

| Other =

| Road = New York Yankees

| RoadAbr = NYY

| R1=0|R2=0|R3=3|R4=0|R5=0|R6=1|R7=0|R8=0|R9=4|RR=8|RH=8|RE=0

| Home = Chicago White Sox

| HomeAbr = CWS

| H1=1|H2=0|H3=4|H4=2|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=2|HR=9|HH=8|HE=1

| WP = Liam Hendriks (7–2)

| LP = Zack Britton (0–1)

| SV =

| RoadHR = Aaron Judge 2 (25), Brett Gardner (5), Giancarlo Stanton (18)

| HomeHR = José Abreu (23), Eloy Jiménez (6), Seby Zavala (4), Tim Anderson (13)

| Attendance = 7,832   Time: 3:29

| Notes =

| BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-white-sox/2021/08/12/632924#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=632924

}}

Fans and media personalities alike responded positively to the presentation of the game, which drew the highest ratings for a regular-season telecast on Fox at 5.9 million viewers since a Yankees–Red Sox contest on October 1, 2005.{{cite web |last1=Marner |first1=Aaron |title='Like it was painted by God': Iowa and a sunset steal the show during MLB's Field of Dreams game |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/2021/08/12/mlb-field-of-dreams-game-iowa-new-york-yankees-chicago-white-sox-fans-react-twitter-baseball/8113484002/ |website=Des Moines Register |access-date=21 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Jabari |title='Field of Dreams' baseball game was a ratings win for Fox with 5.9 million viewers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/13/field-of-dreams-mlb-baseball-game-draws-5point9-million-viewers-for-fox.html |website=CNBC |date=August 13, 2021 |access-date=21 August 2021}} Len Kasper, who called the game on radio for the White Sox, commented that "I'm not really sure MLB could have done an event better than the Field of Dreams Game. Yes, the game was bonkers and the finish was Oscar worthy, but the entire thing—the scenery, the park, the weather, the people involved, the vibe—it was just perfect. Unforgettable experience."{{cite web |last1=Rosvoglou |first1=Chris |title=MLB World Reacts To "Field Of Dreams" Game Between White Sox, Yankees |url=https://thespun.com/more/mlb/mlb-world-reacts-to-field-of-dreams-game-between-white-sox-yankees |website=The Spun |access-date=21 August 2021}}

File:KC-135_and_F-16_over_the_Field_of_Dreams.jpg flying over the field before the 2022 game]]

Shortly before the 2021 game, Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred confirmed that there would be another game at the Field of Dreams during 2022, likely during August, but did not identify which teams would be playing.{{cite web |last1=Birch |first1=Tommy |title=MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says MLB will play another 'Field of Dreams' game in 2022 |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/2021/08/12/mlb-field-of-dreams-game-iowa-2022-commissioner-rob-manfred/8116815002/ |website=Des Moines Register |access-date=13 August 2021}} MLB later announced that the Cincinnati Reds would play the Chicago Cubs at the site on August 11, 2022, with Cincinnati as the designated home team in the game.{{cite web |title=Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs to play at Field of Dreams site in 2022 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32057529/cincinnati-reds-chicago-cubs-play-field-dreams-site-2022 |website=ESPN.com |date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=21 August 2021}} Retro-style uniforms for the teams were revealed on August 8, with the Reds' uniforms matching what the team wore in the 1919 World Series.{{cite news |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/08/chicago-cubs-cincinnati-reds-uniforms-2022-field-of-dreams-game |title=See the old-timey Cubs and Reds uniforms they'll wear for the 2022 Field of Dreams game |first=Blake |last=Schuster |website=USA Today |date=August 8, 2022 |access-date=August 9, 2022}} Pre-game ceremonies began with Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. playing catch, followed by the Cubs and Reds walking in from the cornfield beyond centerfield along with multiple members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame—Johnny Bench, Andre Dawson, Ferguson Jenkins, Barry Larkin, Ryne Sandberg, and Billy Williams—and a ceremonial first pitch from Jenkins to Bench.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ken-griffey-father-son-catch-field-of-dreams-game |title=Griffeys set the tone in Iowa: 'Dad, wanna have a catch?' |first=Mark |last=Sheldon |website=MLB.com |date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=August 12, 2022}} The national anthem was sung by country singer Jessie James Decker. John Smoltz (analyst), Ken Rosenthal (field reporter), and Tom Verducci (field reporter) return to call the game with Joe Davis (play by play) calling now as the lead announcer for Fox.

Drew Smyly recorded the pitching victory for the Cubs, lasting five innings with nine strikeouts and four hits allowed. The Reds only mustered two runs, in the bottom of the seventh inning, all while having two runners on base in three separate innings and with a total of eight runners left on base.{{Cite web |title=Cubs vs. Reds - Box Score - August 11, 2022 - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401355898 |access-date=August 12, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Cincinnati second baseman Jonathan India left the contest after the third inning, due to a contusion on his left leg from being hit by a pitch in the first inning; his injury later required an emergency helicopter flight to an Iowa City hospital.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jonathan-india-airlifted-to-hospital-after-field-of-dreams-game |title=India recounts harrowing airlift after Field of Dreams HBP |first=Mark |last=Sheldon |website=MLB.com |date=August 13, 2022 |access-date=August 13, 2022}} Chicago catcher Willson Contreras rolled his ankle rounding second base in the third inning, but remained in the game.{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2022 |title='Just perfect': Cubs, Reds soak in Iowa scenics |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34386618/chicago-cubs-cincinnati-reds-soak-experience-field-dreams-game-iowa |access-date=August 12, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

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| Date = August 11, 2022

| Time = 7:15 p.m. EST

| Location = Field of Dreams

| Other = {{convert|77|F|C}}, clear

| Road = Chicago Cubs

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| WP = Drew Smyly (5–6)

| LP = Nick Lodolo (3–3)

| SV = Rowan Wick (7)

| RoadHR =

| HomeHR =

| Attendance = 7,823   Time: 3:21

| Notes =

| BoxURL = https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-reds/2022/08/11/663023#game_state=final,game_tab=box,game=663023

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On April 21, 2022, Minor League Baseball (MiLB) announced the inaugural MiLB at Field of Dreams game, a High-A contest in Dyersville between teams of the Midwest League. On August 9, the Quad Cities River Bandits hosted and defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 7–2.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/gameday/kernels-vs-river-bandits/2022/08/09/671803#game_state=live,game_tab=,game=671803 |title=Kernels at River Bandits |website=MiLB.com |date=August 9, 2022 |access-date=August 9, 2022}} The teams used historical franchise names for the contest, Davenport Blue Sox and Cedar Rapids Bunnies, respectively.{{Cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/news/quad-cities-river-bandits-to-host-cedar-rapids-kernels-at-field-of-dreams | title=River Bandits to host Kernels at 'Field of Dreams' |publisher=Minor League Baseball |website=milb.com |date=April 21, 2022}}

MLB did not host a game at the ballpark in 2023 due to construction around the site.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-12 |title='Just perfect': Cubs, Reds soak in Iowa scenics |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34386618/chicago-cubs-cincinnati-reds-soak-experience-field-dreams-game-iowa |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Future plans include converting the site into a youth baseball and softball complex that one day would also have a hotel.{{cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/2022/08/10/mlb-wont-return-field-dreams-game-2023-frank-thomas-says/10290613002/|title=MLB won't return to Field of Dreams in 2023 due to construction, owner Frank Thomas says|last=Birch|first=Tommy|publisher=Des Moines Register|date=August 10, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2022|language=en}} Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds confirmed that there will be another round of public funding to build a permanent stadium at the site.{{cite news|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10045133-mlb-wont-host-field-of-dreams-game-in-iowa-during-2023-regular-season|title=MLB Won't Host 'Field of Dreams' Game in Iowa During 2023 Regular Season|last=Sam|first=Doric|website=Bleacher Report|date=August 11, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2022|language=en}} Former MLB player Frank Thomas, who is part of the group that owns the property, did not rule out the possibility of future MLB games at the site after 2023.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/field-of-dreams-iowa-complex-will-not-have-2023-mlb-game-1234847686/|title='Field Of Dreams' Iowa Complex Won't Have A 2023 MLB Game|last=Haring|first=Bruce|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 10, 2022|access-date=August 11, 2022|language=en}}

In 2024, there was a similar game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals held at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/report-giants-cardinals-field-of-dreams/1633035/ |title=MLB announces Giants-Cardinals to clash in historic game at Rickwood Field |publisher=NBC Sports Bay Area |first=Angela |last=Martin |date=June 13, 2023 |access-date=July 15, 2023}}

Since its inception, the game has been broadcast by Fox as part of their Thursday Night Baseball telecasts.

• Denise Stillman, who established Go the Distance Baseball
• List of neutral site regular season Major League Baseball games played in the United States and Canada
• NHL Winter Classic

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Category:Baseball in Iowa

Category:Dyersville, Iowa

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2021

Category:Chicago Cubs

Category:Chicago White Sox

Category:Cincinnati Reds

Category:New York Yankees

Field of Dreams