2022 MLB Field of Dreams Game: Four things to know with Cubs, Reds ready to meet in Iowa

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will meet in Diersville, Iowa, on Thursday for the second edition of Major League Baseball’s Field of Dreams game. The game is a living tribute to the iconic 1989 film “Field of Dreams” starring Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan and the late Ray Liotta, in pursuit of baseball nostalgia.

Although opinions differ on how effective the film is, there is no dispute that it is one of the most talked about and recognized baseball films of all time (it was also an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture). The film hinges on the decision by Costner’s farmer character to carve the baseball diamond of his corn field—at great personal risk and expense—all because a mysterious whispering voice tells him:

That area will be visited by the ghosts of long-ago baseball players and a lost presence in the life of Costner’s character. But spoilers enough.

The dimensions of the film arena—now a major tourist destination in Iowa—not that a major league game can be played on it, but a nearby ground has been built for last year’s inaugural FOD game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Whites. The socks definitely captured the essence of things. People, there was a lot of corn.

Let’s set the scene for the second edition of the Field of Dreams game by running down the things you need to know now.

how to watch dreamland game

where: Diersville, Iowa | When:7:15 a.m. ET Thursday, August 11
TV Channel: Fox | live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
odds: TBD

Now to know a few things about the 2022 edition.

1. Red and the Cubs will be wearing throwback uniforms

Given that the movie Field of Dreams draws heavily from the deadball era of more than a century, the two competing squads would be suitably drawn. It says that here they will look great. First, the Cubs:

And:

It’s a little mashup that works great. The jersey and pants are from the Cubs’ winning campaign of 1929, and the hat is from the 1914 season.

Now for the Reds:

That outfit featured prominently during the 1914–20 period, and when it comes to the uniforms of the 2022 FoD game, you might consider the Reds’ batting helmet an early favorite for “the best thing ever.”

MLB has leaned into having mic-up conversations with players in the dugout and even on the field while the game is underway, and not surprisingly, the same is set to happen on Thursday night. The lucky/suffering players for this game will be Reds first baseman Joy Votto and Cubs outfielder Ian Happ. They’ll rock the two-way mic at some point during the game. Given Voto’s charming appearance and sense of humor, he might be a perfect fit for this sort of thing.

3. Will be the ballpark star

Like last year, a specially constructed FOD ballpark will be the story of the night. As noted above, the film’s area isn’t suitable for MLB competition, but what’s being used capture the same essence as the manual scoreboard and 159 acres of surrounding 10-foot corn stalks for Grace Notes. Takes. To add to the atmosphere is the fine mesh seven foot high green chain link fence that looks like, yes, they are playing right in the middle of an Iowa cornfield.

Plus, each team will have a throwback logo carved into the corn just outside the wall on the right. related:

4. It will be tough to top last year’s edition

Unlike this year’s model, the first FoD game featured contenders and final playoff teams. Plus, White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson provided one of the most memorable closing acts of the season against the Yankees:

Also, MLB noted that last year’s game “delivered nearly six million viewers and marked the most-watched single regular season baseball game on any network since 1998.”

Considering that the Reds and Cubs are both near the bottom of the National League central standings and are competing for draft status at most in 2023, the stakes are clearly very low. That said, the venue and the visuals are the real stars of the FoD game, and they will once again be in peak form.