History of Field of Dreams in Timeline
"Field of Dreams" is a 1989 fantasy drama film about Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer who hears a mysterious voice urging him to build a baseball field in his cornfield. Following his intuition, Ray constructs the field, which soon attracts the ghosts of legendary baseball players, including Shoeless Joe Jackson. The film, starring Kevin Costner, explores themes of faith, redemption, and the enduring power of dreams, all set against the backdrop of America's favorite pastime.
June 1905: Real Moonlight Graham's Only Game
The real Moonlight Graham played his only Major League Baseball game in June 1905.
1919: Black Sox Scandal
The Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago White Sox in the 1919 World Series, a series overshadowed by the Black Sox Scandal, where members of the White Sox were accused of intentionally losing games in exchange for money.
1922: Moonlight Graham's Only Game
In the movie, the character Moonlight Graham is said to have played his only Major League game in 1922.
1951: Death of Shoeless Joe Jackson
Shoeless Joe Jackson, a famous baseball player who appears in the film, passed away in 1951.
1965: Death of Moonlight Graham
The real Archibald "Moonlight" Graham passed away in 1965.
1972: Moonlight Graham's Fictional Death
The film portrays Moonlight Graham's death as occurring in 1972.
1972: Fictional Death of Moonlight Graham
While the real Moonlight Graham died in 1965, the film portrays his death in 1972.
1982: "Shoeless Joe" Novel Publication
Canadian novelist W.P. Kinsella published his novel "Shoeless Joe" in 1982, which would later inspire the film "Field of Dreams."
1986: Lawrence Gordon Leaves 20th Century Fox
Producer Lawrence Gordon left 20th Century Fox in 1986 and began pitching "Field of Dreams" to other studios.
1987: Universal Pictures Acquires "Field of Dreams"
Universal Pictures greenlit "Field of Dreams" in 1987.
May 25, 1988: Filming Begins
Principal photography for "Field of Dreams" commenced on May 25, 1988.
April 21, 1989: US Release of "Field of Dreams"
"Field of Dreams" premiered in the United States on April 21, 1989.
May 5, 1989: "Field of Dreams" Theatrical Release
"Field of Dreams" was released in theaters on May 5, 1989.
November 1, 1989: Philippine Release of "Field of Dreams"
Eastern Films distributed "Field of Dreams" in the Philippines, releasing it on November 1, 1989.
1989: "Field of Dreams" VHS Release
"Field of Dreams" was released on VHS in 1989.
1990: Academy Award Nominations
"Field of Dreams" received three Academy Award nominations in 1990: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.
April 29, 1998: "Field of Dreams" DVD Release
"Field of Dreams" was released on DVD on April 29, 1998.
June 2008: AFI's "Ten Top Ten"
The American Film Institute (AFI) named "Field of Dreams" the sixth best film in the fantasy genre in June 2008.
July 2010: Field of Dreams For Sale
In July 2010, the farm featuring the iconic "Field of Dreams" movie set was listed for sale.
March 13, 2011: "Field of Dreams" Blu-ray Release
"Field of Dreams" was made available on Blu-ray starting on March 13, 2011.
October 31, 2011: Field of Dreams Sold
On October 31, 2011 Go The Distance Baseball, LLC purchased the "Field of Dreams" movie site for an undisclosed amount, believed to be around $5.4 million.
2017: National Film Registry Induction
"Field of Dreams" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017.
May 14, 2019: "Field of Dreams" 4K UHD Blu-ray Release
A 4K UHD Blu-ray edition of "Field of Dreams" was released on May 14, 2019, in celebration of the film's 30th anniversary.
2019: MLB Announces Game at Field of Dreams
Major League Baseball revealed plans in 2019 to host a regular-season game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees at the Field of Dreams on August 13, 2020.
July 2020: Change of Plans for MLB Game
Due to the pandemic-shortened MLB season, the St. Louis Cardinals replaced the New York Yankees as the Chicago White Sox's opponent for the Field of Dreams game in July 2020.
August 3, 2020: MLB Game at Field of Dreams Cancelled
On August 3, 2020, the MLB announced the cancellation of the game at the Field of Dreams due to logistical challenges stemming from the pandemic.
August 13, 2020: MLB Game at Field of Dreams Cancelled
The planned MLB game between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees at the Field of Dreams on August 13, 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 12, 2021: First MLB Game at Field of Dreams
On August 12, 2021, the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees played the first-ever MLB game at the Field of Dreams. Kevin Costner made a special appearance, emerging from the cornfield. The White Sox won 9-8 with a walk-off home run by Tim Anderson.
August 2021: "Field of Dreams" TV Series Announced
In August 2021, plans for a "Field of Dreams" television series were unveiled, with Lawrence Gordon producing, Michael Schur writing, and set to air on Peacock.
2021: Frank Thomas Becomes Majority Owner
In 2021, former MLB player and Hall of Famer Frank Thomas acquired majority ownership of the "Field of Dreams" movie site.
June 2022: "Field of Dreams" TV Series Cancelled
By June 2022, the "Field of Dreams" series was no longer in development for Peacock, with Universal Television seeking other platforms. Despite Chris Pratt reportedly being attached to star, the project with a $15 million per episode budget was halted.
2022: Second MLB Game at Field of Dreams
The second annual MLB at Field of Dreams game occurred on August 11, 2022, featuring the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs, with the Cubs emerging victorious with a score of 4-2. Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. led a heartwarming pregame ceremony focused on fathers and sons playing catch.
