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The Last Day of the Regular Season in Major League Baseball

Yesterday, Major League Baseball concluded its’ regular season and it was an eventful last day. The Detroit Tigers shutout the Minnesota Twins to win the American League Central title and hold off the Kansas City Royals. An Oakland A’s shutout of the Rangers gave them the final American League wild card spot and knocked out the Seattle Mariners. A Pittsburgh Pirates loss in Cincinnati relegated them to the National League wildcard and gave the St. Louis Cardinals another Central Division title.

Aside from the races, there was a dramatic finish in the Nations Capitol as Jordan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals pitched a no-hitter. In a brilliant move by manager Matt Williams, rookie Steven Souza Jr. was sent in as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. The change paid off as Souza made an incredible diving catch in left center field to record the final out and preserve the no-hitter.

In Boston, Derek Jeter ended his career with what else, a base hit.

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A Real “Field of Dreams”

Twenty-five years ago Kevin Costner brought us the movie “Field of Dreams.” It was adapted from the novel “Shoeless Joe” by W.P. Kinsella. On the surface it can be categorized as a baseball movie. But the story transcends that and touches broader human themes of faith, family, forgiveness, and connection. The classic line, “If you build it, he will come.” Has taken on a life of it’s own.

The field used in the movie was built in the town of Dyersville, Iowa. After the film’s release, Costner persuaded the Lansings and Ameskamps, the landowners of the field to temporarily keep it. The word “temporary” no longer applies. As the movie predicted, they came, from all over the country, for multiple reasons. As many as 70,000 people annually come to play catch with a toddler or an aging loved one. They have weddings and they spread ashes. Like a great cathedral it has become a pilgrimage destination. People leave behind clothing and jewelry like offerings.

It wasn’t all perfect. The Ameskamps allowed organized events on their half of the field, while the Lansings restricted their part of the property to games of catch. Eventually Lansing bought out the Ameskamps, then two years ago “Go the Distance Baseball” purchased the farm. The Lansings still do some of the maintenance and run the gift shop. Thankfully the new owners maintain the no fee admission policy accepting only donations. Every other Sunday a group of former amateur players and some towns people dressed up in throwback uniforms, walk out of the corn field to serve as unofficial curators. It is fantasy turned into reality.