“Is this heaven?” “No, it’s Iowa.” Ah, Field of Dreams.
Is there anything more Iowan – and American – than the movie Field of Dreams and the novel Shoeless Joe?
Probably not, but possibly a major league baseball game on the Field of Dreams field! The Yankees were supposed to play the White Sox today at the Field of Dreams site in Dyersville, Iowa. But due to COVID-19 and its impact on the game, the Cardinals replaced the Yankees.
But the game will go on. At least it would have. Until MLB finally cancelled it. Due to…logistical problems, apparently.
The events in Shoeless Joe, in fact, take place in and around Iowa City. The book’s about a guy who moved to Iowa. He loved it so much he was willing to do various lousy jobs to stay. I can sympathize. Iowa City is a great place to live. I think lots of us would sacrifice in order to stay.
The movie appropriately moves the action deeper into rural Iowa, and it cleans up the story. Specifically, it replaces the J.D. Salinger character with James Earl Jones. Overall, good idea. The Salinger character from the novel was a stretch.
