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MLB Field of Dreams Game: How Cincinnati is connected to these classic baseball films

emily deletter, cincinnati enquirer
·2 min read
Ray (Kevin Costner), left, introduces his wife (Amy Madigan) and daughter (Gaby Hoffmann) to his father (Dwier Brown) in 'Field of Dreams.'
Ray (Kevin Costner), left, introduces his wife (Amy Madigan) and daughter (Gaby Hoffmann) to his father (Dwier Brown) in 'Field of Dreams.'

The Cincinnati Reds will face the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Field of Dreams Game on Thursday, but did you know that the Cincinnati connection to the game (and movie of the same name) runs much deeper?

Over 100 years ago in 1919, the Reds defeated the Chicago White Sox, who were heavily favored to win, in a game that earned the team its first World Series championship. But that wasn't the end of the story: In 1920, eight White Sox players, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, were indicted for conspiring with gamblers to “fix” the World Series.

The scandal has since been immortalized in "Field of Dreams," as well as "Eight Men Out," which was released in 1988 and told the story of the infamous Chicago Black Sox. It was also partially filmed in Cincinnati.

Here's a closer look at both films and their connections to the Queen City.

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What is the 'Field of Dreams' connection to Cincinnati?

The annual game in Dyersville, Iowa stems from the 1989 film of the same name, where Kevin Costner's character, Ray Kinsella, hears a ghostly voice tell him, "If you build it, they will come." Despite the disbelief from the people in his life, he builds a baseball field in a cornfield in Iowa, and the ghosts of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and other players come out to play ball.

In the movie, the Chicago Black Sox players are among the baseball legends that appear on the field.

The Chicago Black Sox scandal and 'Eight Men Out'

Many of the non-baseball scenes in the movie “Eight Men Out,” about the Chicago White Sox throwing the 1919 World Series to the Reds, were filmed along Main and 14th streets in September 1987. The Woodward was the opening frame of the film.
Many of the non-baseball scenes in the movie “Eight Men Out,” about the Chicago White Sox throwing the 1919 World Series to the Reds, were filmed along Main and 14th streets in September 1987. The Woodward was the opening frame of the film.

In 1919, eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the World Series game against the Reds in exchange for money. They were acquitted in court, but were still permanently banned from professional baseball and consideration for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The group also earned the nickname the "Chicago Black Sox" as a result.

The players were: first basemen Arnold “Chick” Gandil, pitcher Eddie Cicotte, center fielder Oscar “Happy” Felsch, outfielder “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, utility infielder Fred McMullin, shortstop Charles “Swede” Risberg, third baseman George “Buck” Weaver and pitcher Claude “Lefty” Williams.

Many of the non-baseball scenes for the movie "Eight Men Out," based on the scandal, were partially filmed in Cincinnati in 1987. The Woodward Theater served as the opening scene for the movie, as well as Main and 14th streets. The movie featured an all-star cast, including John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, David Strathairn, Christopher Lloyd, John Mahoney and D.B. Sweeney.

From the archives:'Eight Men Out' films at The Woodward in 1987

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Cincinnati is connected to 'Field of Dreams'