MOA & RA Rallies - 8. Field of Dreams

8. Field of Dreams

In the middle of corn fields, there it is.

Setting For the Field of Dreams Movie

You ride along, there are ‘some’ signs but you wonder if this is a joke when all of a sudden, there it is... a baseball field in the middle of farm country.

Baseball - the All American Ballgame. 

Here in Iowa, baseball is a big thing.  Just imagine how you must love this sport if you build yourself a whole baseball field right in front of your house. 

Arriving At the Site

Sure it was the background of a good movie with the name ‘Field of Dreams’ but the field is still there. This baseball field actually means a lot more. You can go and visit. There is no admission. You can park your car, walk up to the plate and swing at a baseball. Find a pitcher who will pitch you the ball if you want to really do it up right. If you are a great hitter your ball will fly into the corn, the corn that grows right up to the edge of the ball park. It’s a home run if you can hit the ball this far. 

Pitching to His Dad With the Corn in the Background

In the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ was a character Shoeless Jackson. But it’s not really about Jackson. This field, here in the middle of nowhere, is like an American art form. It is surreal; this place has a deeper meaning.

Do you remember the American Gothic picture and remember that the painter wanted to catch the American Spirit on the faces of the Midwestern folks? You can compare this quest to find America to the location here. Here is another slice of America, a love so strong for a sport that it overwhelms logic.  But it is not about Sport either. 

The House

You build it and they will come?   It is true.......many people came that day and come every day to just take a look at this baseball field; this field stuck right in the middle of the corn, in front of a farm house. 

No admission is charged. People come, park their car, walk around, sit in the bleachers, walk out unto the batter’s box or the pitcher’s mound and then leave again. Not much is said, no blaring music, no screaming advertisements. And every soul who comes here, feels a bit more American because they have been there, seen it, felt it. 

The Baseball Field Surrounded By Corn Fields

It’s not just a ball park. It’s a field that represents the American Dream. It shows that everybody can come and play the game, go by the rules and you too, can be part of America. You can hit a home run, right into the corn.

Even while leaving this place on our bikes, I stopped on the way out, turned around and looked back at this weird place. I tried to get a last impression into my brain of the impossible being possible.  Yes, there is a fully fledged baseball field in the middle of a corn field. Anything is possible in the U.S. 

Baseball Field and House

 Again, play by the rules and you can hit a home run... only in America!

It was an out of the way location to visit. We took a detour to see it, instead of going south as we should have; we went north, took the road less traveled.

Was it worth it? You bet!

The Gardener...