Kevin Costner, star of the classic 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams, returned to Iowa last night (12 August) to lead the Yankees and the White Sox onto a special-made pitch in the middle of a cornfield, identical to the one his character built in the film.
Costner led out the teams with the original score from the movie playing through the stadium speakers, as the players emerged from rows of corn to make a dramatic entrance.
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This mirrored how the ghosts of great baseball players made their way to the stadium Ray (Costner) constructed in the film.
The Field of Dreams game between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees has been planned for a number of years as part of an initiative to move Major League Baseball away from major city hubs, but because of the coronavirus pandemic and logistical challenges it was postponed until now.
Taking centre stage with an old-fashioned microphone just before the first pitch, Costner addressed the crowd and thanked them for the opportunity.
"Thirty years ago, on the other side of that corn, we filmed a movie that stood the test of time," he said.
"Tonight, thanks to that enduring impact that little movie had, it's allowed us to come here again.
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"We've come to see the first-place White Sox play the mighty Yankees in a field that was once corn. It's perfect. We've kept our promise, MLB has kept its promise. The dream is still alive."
Referencing a well-known line from the film, he added: "There's probably just one question to answer: Is this heaven? Yes, it is. This field is for the players. Good luck today."
But even though the game itself had a Hollywood finish, with the White Sox beating the Yankees 9-8 following a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, for the 8,000 lucky fans in attendance the event was about more than just baseball.
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During a pre-game press conference, Costner himself admitted he still felt an emotional connection with Field of Dreams 32 years after its debut.
"I'm moved by it. I am," he said "Somewhere along the line, if you have some unfinished business, that movie starts to take over."
Following the game, construction crews will dismantle the temporary stadium and place the equipment in storage, but the field itself will remain in use for future events, according to MLB, and a follow-up game next year is already being planned.
Featured Image Credit: Fox/MLBTopics: SPORT, TV and Film