In the spring of 1989, just before my eighth-grade year ended, “Field of Dreams” premiered, featuring actors like Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones. Interestingly, I can’t recall the first time I watched this iconic film.
My first trip to the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa, took place in 2018 during my initial year of playing catch daily. Accompanied by my dad, we drove north, stopping in Kansas City to watch the Royals play. This trip was organized by Akron journalist Bob Dyer who connected me with Stan Sipka, known as “the old guy who walks along the beach carrying gloves asking people to play catch with him.”
Recently, my wife Jamie and I visited the Field of Dreams to mark the film’s 35th anniversary and participate in the “largest game of catch” for the premiere of “Rally Caps.” While there, we toured the historic white farmhouse and enjoyed time on the porch swing, where I played catch and made numerous new friends.
Among them was Garry, who shared memories about his late father, including a newspaper clipping from the day his dad caught legendary pitcher Satchel Paige in a barnstorming game, as well as an invitation signed by Honus Wagner for spring training in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
I also joined John and Suzanne, avid Minnesota Twins fans, in their game of catch. Suzanne used a first base mitt modeled after Twins great Kent Hrbek, and I relished the opportunity to throw her short hops while listening to John’s story about his high school pitching achievement.
As James Earl Jones’ character Terence Mann famously said, “The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.”
Before watching “Rally Caps” under the stars, Coach Ballgame hosted a Sandlot Clinic, teaching life lessons and introducing newcomers to baseball’s history, focusing on Roberto Clemente. He engaged participants in storytelling and interactive exercises that emphasized the joy of the game.
Tim and Bigby Suddarth, whom I first met during my original year of playing catch, also participated. Bigby, who has undergone four open-heart surgeries, made the trip to create new memories with us, running the bases and joining the Sandlot Clinic activities.
Throughout the day, we chatted about meaningful topics, from movies and books to childhood experiences. Celebrating the film’s legacy, we played catch on the iconic field, all while exploring the famous corn outfield. Bigby, who has yet to see “Field of Dreams,” may not grasp the full significance of the site or the emotional weight of Kevin Costner’s line, “Hey! Dad? You want to have a catch?” But that doesn’t diminish the cherished memories we created playing ball under the beautiful Iowa sky.