Ray Kinsella, the fictional Iowa farmer played by Kevin Costner in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams, was walking through his cornfield one night when he heard a voice tell him, “If you build it, he will come.”
Later in the film, Kinsella builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield, and it attracts the ghosts of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and the seven other Chicago White Sox players who were banned from Major League Baseball for throwing the 1919 World Series. More importantly, it also attracts the ghost of Ray’s dad for a much-needed reunion. (He’s the he — “If you build it, they will come,” surprisingly, is a misquote.)
Since then, the Field of Dreams Movie Site has become a major tourist attraction, drawing people from around the world to Dyersville, Iowa — about 25 miles from Dubuque — to see the baseball field, farmhouse, and cornfield.
And for the second year in a row, the town will host a Major League Baseball game.
The Field Of Dreams Game
In a move that made some baseball fans think they were in heaven before they realized it was Iowa, the MLB held a game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox on August 12, 2021, near the movie site. Nearly 8,000 fans watched the game in a temporary ballpark built specifically for the game, and another 6 million people watched what was called the Field of Dreams Game on Fox.
In an amazing sight, players wearing vintage uniforms walked out of the cornfield before the game. The game itself was a baseball lover’s dream, complete with home runs being hit out into the cornfield. It ended in dramatic fashion when the White Sox won with a walk-off home run.
MLB announced a few days after the game that baseball would return to the Field of Dreams site this year. That game will be played next month, on Thursday, August 11.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2022 MLB Field of Dreams Game.
This Year’s Game
The 2022 Field of Dreams Game on August 11 will be between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. The Reds will serve as the home team.
The game will be part of a three-game series, though not all in Iowa. After the Field of Dreams Game, the two teams will have Friday off, followed by the remaining two games in Cincinnati over the weekend.
“I think it’s going to be an incredible experience, especially for a lot of us who grew up watching the movie,” David Bell, Reds manager, said when the game was announced. “From everything I’ve been told and on TV, it looks like it’s just a really special and meaningful environment they’ve created out there. I feel very honored and lucky to be one of the teams in the [game’s] second year.”
While the Reds may be the home team, you’ll likely see a sea of blue in the stands. That’s because Iowa is within the Cubs’ home television territory and its Triple-A club plays in Des Moines.
2022 Field Of Dreams Game Tickets
Like last year, the game will be held in a temporary ballpark that seats 8,000 people.
MLB held a lottery for Field of Dreams Game tickets in June. Lottery winners have been informed they can now purchase tickets. Importantly, fans who won the chance to purchase tickets must have a mailing address with an Iowa ZIP code.
Don’t worry if you want to see the game in person but don’t live in Iowa. Tickets for this year’s game are available from third-party ticket vendors — but they aren’t cheap.
This year’s game will also be broadcast on Fox. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CST.
How To Visit The Field Of Dreams Movie Site
If you’re interested in visiting the Field of Dreams Movie Site, the field is open year round and admission is free, although donations are accepted. You can even rent the field for private events ranging from baseball practice to family gatherings. You can also take a tour of the Lansing Family Farm House and learn how it became the set for the Kinsella family’s house in Field of Dreams.
Now that baseball and the movie Field of Dreams are on your mind, be sure to read: