The first ever MLB “Field of Dreams” game was played Thursday night in Iowa.
Inspired by the 1989 movie of the same name, the game took place in an 8,000-seat ballpark surrounded by corn stalks.
The game featured the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, and the evening did not disappoint.
All things considered, the event was a smashing success, and many MLB fans are already campaigning for the game to become an annual tradition.
The Field of Dreams game should be an annual event. This is great
— Joe, Esq. (@SadIrishFan13) August 13, 2021
Field of dreams game needs to be an annual thing.
— Gus Kattengell (@Gkatt_17) August 13, 2021
Let’s take a look at what made the night so special.
The Setting Was Nostalgic And Perfectly Executed
MLB knocked it out of the park with the setup for this game.
-Is this Iowa?
-No, it's heaven.#FieldOfDreamsGame #FieldOfDreams pic.twitter.com/EOkHhRDMx1— White Sox Brasil (@WhiteSoxBR) August 11, 2021
The field looked fantastic, and for many fans, it brought back fond memories of the legendary 1989 movie.
It’s tough to execute a concept with precision, but in this case, the league did everything right.
What’s cooler than seeing a home run ball land in a field of corn?
That happened a whopping eight times, as balls were flying out of the yard.
It Felt Like A Playoff Atmosphere
The wild nature of the game might have contributed to this, but on TV, it felt like there was a playoff atmosphere in Iowa.
The nearly 8,000 fans in attendance brought tons of energy, and both teams’ dugouts were getting totally pumped up at different stages throughout the game.
For baseball fans, it’s always a treat when a summertime game has an October feel to it.
It just seemed like both teams really wanted to come away with a win in this one.
There was definitely a do-or-die vibe.
The Game Itself Was Outstanding
We keep alluding to this, but the game itself was insane.
There were eight home runs, five lead changes, and one wild ninth inning.
The White Sox entered the final frame with a 7-4 lead, and Liam Hendriks entered to try to close things out.
The Yankees had other plans.
A pair of two-run shots from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton gave New York an 8-7 lead.
But the drama didn’t end there.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees turned to Zack Britton for the save.
He didn’t get it.
Tim Anderson clubbed a two-run home run to the opposite field to give the White Sox a ridiculous walk-off victory.
A FIELD OF DREAMS IT WAS!✨
TIM ANDERSON WINS IT FOR THE @whitesox!!! pic.twitter.com/kkX4sRcgN6
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 13, 2021
It was a fitting way for the night to end.
Grading The Night: A+
What more could you ask for?
The setting was perfect, the atmosphere was electric, and the game had it all.
This was arguably the best game of the 2021 MLB season so far, and it’s going to take something crazy to top it.
For Anderson, he got a memory he will never forget.
For the White Sox, they got a victory they will cherish for a long time.
For the roughly 8,000 fans in attendance, the game was worth the price of admission.
And for the folks watching at home, this was a treat to be a part of from a distance.
Let’s hope this event becomes a tradition, because most fans agree that it was one of the most unique and special evenings for baseball in a long time.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirms the "Field of Dreams" game will return in 2022. 🌽
“I’m going to tell you that we are coming back next year, we are looking at August, and we're not in a position to name teams yet."
(H/T @ScottDochterman) pic.twitter.com/fxqL9lpPJ9
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 12, 2021
Commissioner Rob Manfred seems to be on the same page.
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