As the second act of the pandemic takes the stage and the debate rages on over denial versus ever-unfolding science, it may seem there is nothing we can agree on anymore. Last evening though offered a moment of wonder and joy that surely we all shared.
As the sun set on a diamond carved out of an Iowa cornfield, the White Sox and Yankees walked out of the stalks in centerfield wearing uniforms from 100 years ago to play a game before a small but fortunate crowd of appreciative fans.
Sure, it was not the Field of Dreams film set, but another cut to the dimensions of Comiskey Field and separated from it by a corn maze, and yet it was real baseball played at its best by teams that seemed to appreciate the setting and who rose to the occasion. If you believe in the “church of baseball,” as Susan Sarandon soliloquized in Bull Durham, that space last night was holy ground.
There are game highlights all over Youtube that share the experience and New York Times piece that describes the real life Hollywood ending, a walkoff homer by Tim Anderson to lift the White Sox to victory and perhaps a long overdue moment of redemption. If you still are hungry for more, watch the movie again and marvel. It was made for under $15 million and opened in just four theaters. Its magic drew crowds and soon it was not just a hit, but a beloved classic.
Money and metrics may weigh the game down, but there is still magic there to be found.
