They don’t call baseball America’s Pastime for nothing. MLB’s Field of Dreams Game demonstrated, yet again, how no sports employs nostalgia and tradition as powerfully as the grand old game.
From Kevin Costner’s stirring narration to the Phillies and Twins players striding out of the cornfields in Dyersville, Iowa, MLB’s third iteration of the Field of Dreams Game was superb entertainment.
I got chills watching over two dozen Hall of Famers emerge from the same cornfields where the 1989 movie was filmed. Slugger Kyle Schwarber played the role of Shoeless Joe Jackson, belting two home runs into the corn during the Phillies’ 7–1 victory.
From the time we are kids, American sports fans learn the traditions of baseball. The pregame salutes to our military veterans. The ceremonial first pitch. Following Humphrey Bogart’s advice that a “hot dog at the ballpark is better than a steak at the Ritz.” The seventh-inning stretch. Singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Enjoying a relaxing day in the summer sun while listening to John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” on the loudspeakers.
Most importantly, it’s about family and friends. Playing catch with your Dad. Sandlot games with your buddies. The camaraderie of Little League. Passing down rooting your interests from one generation to another.
