Field of Dreams

In 1989, Universal Pictures® released the once-in-a-generation film Field of Dreams.™ The movie site, located in western Dubuque County near Dyersville, Iowa, quickly became a baseball temple to the ghosts of baseball past. The movie site and baseball field have drawn former MLB players, National Baseball Hall of Famers, and baseball fans from around the world to experience the baseball magic.

In 1991, Upper Deck, the maker of popular baseball cards, working with local charities and Don Lansing, the field owner, started a tradition of bringing to the field Hall of Famers and MLB all-stars for charity baseball games. The National Baseball Hall of Fame includes 346 enshrined members. Of those 346 members, 44 members, or 12.7% have graced the Field of Dreams, making it one of baseball’s top shrines. Another 13 Hall of Famers have played games in the city of Dubuque over the past 155 years.

After years of discussions and planning, Major League Baseball held its first MLB regular season game at the Field of Dreams on August 11, 2021, when the New York Yankees took on the Chicago White Sox. The game was highlighted by a Tim Anderson walk-off home run to overcome the Yankees 9 to 8.

On August 12, 2022, the Chicago Cubs took on the Cincinnati Reds at the Field of Dreams for a second MLB at the Field of Dreams game. The Cubs won against the Reds 4 to 2.

Two days prior to the Cubs v. Reds game, the first minor league game took place at the Field of Dreams between the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The River Bandits defeated the Kernels 7 to 2.

44 Hall of Fame members have visited the Field of Dreams and 13 (*) have played games in the city of Dubuque:

Johnny Bench	Catfish Hunter	Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez	Cap Anson*
Wade Boggs	Reggie Jackson	Ryan Sandberg	Eddie Collins*
Lou Brock	Fergie Jenkins	Ron Santo	Charles Comiskey*
George Brett	Harmon Killebrew	Ted Simmons	Red Faber*
Rod Carew	Edgar Martinez	Ozzie Smith	Bud Fowler*
Steve Carlton	Paul Molitor	Lee Smith	King Kelly*
Andre Dawson	Jack Morris	John Smoltz	Joe McGinnity*
Bob Feller	Buck O’Neil	Bruce Sutter	Satchel Paige*
Rollie Fingers	David Ortiz	Frank Thomas	Charles Radbourn*
Carlton Fisk	Kirby Puckett	Alan Trammell	Ray Schalk*
Bob Gibson	Jim Palmer	Earl Weaver	A.G. Spalding*
Tom Glavine	Tim Raines	Billy Williams	John M. Ward*
Ken Griffey Jr.	Jim Rice	Dave Winfield	George Wright*
Vladimir Guerrero	Cal Ripken Jr.	Robin Yount
Rickey Henderson	Brooks Robinson

NOTE: Although not a member of the Hall of Fame, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, along with Chicago White Sox owner Charles Comiskey, manager “Pants” Rowland, and Jackson teammate and future Hall of Famer “Red” Faber played a baseball game in Dubuque on May 3, 1916, against Faber’s alma mater, Dubuque College (today’s Loras College). The White Sox won 8-0. Jackson went 3-4. The game was played at the 4th Street Athletic Field, later known as Petrakis Park. Also, other All-stars, including Pete Rose, have been to the Field of Dreams.

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