In the spring of 1989, just before my eighth-grade year ended and prior to my growth spurt, the film “Field of Dreams” premiered. This baseball-themed movie starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, and briefly featured Dwier Brown. I can’t recall the first time I watched it, a fact that I find amusing.
My initial visit to the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa, was in 2018, alongside my father. At that time, I was in the midst of my first year of playing catch every day. We made the trip after receiving an invitation from Akron journalist Bob Dyer, who introduced me to one of his readers, Stan Sipka—known for his unique hobby of walking on the beach with gloves, asking others to join him for a game of catch.
This year, I went back to the Field of Dreams with my wife, Jamie, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the film and partake in the “largest game of catch” event linked to the premiere of the new movie “Rally Caps.” We toured the iconic renovated white farmhouse and I even spotted my book on one of the shelves. During our visit, we not only played catch but also made numerous new friends.
One of those friends was Garry, who shared touching memories about his late father, including a newspaper clipping from the day his dad caught legendary pitcher Satchel Paige during a barnstorming game. Garry also showed me an invitation his father received to attend “spring training” in Hot Springs, Arkansas, signed by Honus Wagner. Listening to Garry was a delightful experience.
I also met John and Suzanne, avid Minnesota Twins fans. I joined their game of catch, and Suzanne used a first base mitt identical to the model once used by Twins legend Kent Hrbek. It was a joy to watch her effortlessly scoop up short hops during our game. Later, I played catch with John, who recounted the details of a complete game shutout he pitched during his senior year in high school. Playing catch was a meaningful way to forge and share lasting memories.
In the spirit of resilience, the late James Earl Jones’ character Terence Mann once said, “The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.” My wife and I heard this line during our tour, which took place while watching the film on VHS in the home.
Prior to the screening of “Rally Caps,” Coach Ballgame, who is also known as James Lowe, conducted a Sandlot Clinic with assistance from the Ghost Players. Coach Ballgame tours the country, teaching vital life lessons through baseball and honoring the legacy of the great Roberto Clemente. He emphasizes the joy of the game for players of all ages and skill levels through engaging stories and interactive exercises.
During the clinic, I was reunited with Tim and Bigby Suddarth. I first played catch with Bigby during my initial catch year, and I had last seen him in 2021 during another visit to the Field of Dreams. Coach Ballgame encouraged participants to share their nicknames for better personal connections. Bigby’s nickname could aptly be “Iron Man,” as he has undergone four open-heart surgeries and is anticipating a more extensive operation in Philadelphia.
We all gathered at the field to create new memories together, running the bases and enjoying Coach Ballgame’s Sandlot activities, along with partaking in the largest game of catch and wandering through the famous corn in the outfield.
Our conversations encompassed many important topics, from movies and books to memories of fifth-grade teachers and childhood experiences. Fans from various age groups recently converged at the Field of Dreams site to celebrate the film’s milestone anniversary and to participate in the record-breaking game of catch associated with “Rally Caps.”
Although Bigby has yet to see “Field of Dreams,” which adds to the emotional weight of the place we played catch, he may still hold onto the unforgettable moments we shared under the expansive Iowa sky that late summer afternoon.