The police escort from Farley to their ultimate destination just outside this Dubuque County town made them realize the scope of this event.
So did the first look at their clubhouse. Though a tent, it was a luxurious one with more space, amenities and food than what they’re used to at home and on the road.
The minor leagues, you know.
Then members of the Cedar Rapids Kernels wandered out for their first look at the Field of Dreams stadium Tuesday afternoon, cellphone cameras at the ready. The immaculate playing surface, the perfectly manicured cornfields surrounding the outfield fences, the blue sky above it, pillowy white clouds interspersed, man, it was the cliche about this being heaven.
“Whoa!” one player said.
“Unreal,” another one exclaimed.
“This is sweet, dude,” yet another one uttered to a teammate.
The Kernels and Quad Cities River Bandits got to experience the high life Tuesday. Theirs was the second professional baseball game played at this temporary facility, following the Yankees and White Sox last year, and the first minor league game.
Scenes from pregame and game action from The Gazette's Savannah Blake.
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Final: Davenport Blue Sox 7, Cedar Rapids Bunnies 2
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are now 61-42, the Quad Cities River Bandits 39-64. The teams now head to Davenport to continue their week-long series after a memorable night in Dyersville. Attendance for the first Minor League Baseball game at the Field of Dreams was 7,532.
"Just a moment to remember," Blue Sox starting pitcher Chandler Champlain told MLB Network after the game. "This field is the most perfect field I've ever played on. I'll never forget this day for the rest of my life, so that was a very special moment. Especially with these guys still being very new teammates of mine, new coaches of mine, it feels really good."
It's the major-leaguers' turn Thursday night as the Chicago Cubs face the Cincinnati Reds.
The Davenport starting pitcher exits after a fantastic outing: 6 1/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K.
"I love the atmosphere in Iowa," he told MLB Network (he was just assigned to Quad Cities after being traded from the Yankees). "It's very peaceful. Everyone here is very nice. Life is a lot slower, just more relaxed."
Tyler Tolbert steals third and scores on a Herard Gonzalez RBI single up the middle.
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B6: Blue Sox 6, Bunnies 0
Tyler Tolbert RBI double brings in Cam Williams after a leadoff walk.
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B6: Cedar Rapids pitching change
Tyler Palm now on to pitch for @crkernels. Scoreless inning for Matt Mullenbach. Palm told me today as he was touring the movie site that he saw "Field of Dreams" for the first time last night. Yet another guy signed out of independent ball who must be having a blast with this.
Juan Carlos Negret with his third RBI in the early-going on a double to the right-center gap. Herard Gonzalez scores from first after reaching on an error.
Nathan Ford•8/09/22 6:52 PMPinned
B3: Blue Sox 3, Bunnies 0
Another Davenport home run into the left-field corn, this time a solo shot from Peyton Wilson.
Alerick Soularie doubles with one out, nearly gets caught off second on a Seth Gray lineuout to SS, then gets picked off. To B3: Davenport (Quad Cities) 2, @crkernels 0.
Aaron Sabato with a two-out single. He's mic'd up tonight on the MLB Network broadcast, which should be a lot of fun -- and a unique experience in the minor leagues.
Greg Amsinger, also rocking a throwback uniform, opens the MLB Network live broadcast with a good point: "For the first time, I can say this, there are big-leaguers watching right now envious of minor-league players."
π½ "It's like a major-league field just stuck in the middle of corn."@CRKernels Manager Brian Dinkelman describes the Field of Dreams stadium pic.twitter.com/DbiMWyTJwj
Dyersville receives $12.5 million for Field of Dreams stadium
Dyersville will receive $12.5 million in federal funding from the state toward a planned baseball stadium on the “Field of Dreams” movie site, part of a broad baseball and tourism project planned on the site.
According to a release from Gov. Kim Reynolds, the money will go toward the This is Iowa Ballpark, a multiuse, $50 million stadium on the set of the 1989 film.
This game still counts, so it's cool to hear that Kernels manager Brian Dinkelman still wants to give a lot of players the chance to get on the field.
Aaron Rozek will be the starting pitcher tonight for @crkernels in Field of Dreams game. Manager Brian Dinkelman said he will get as many guys into the game as possible, especially position guys. Hands are tied pitching wise because they are bullpenning it tomorrow night at QC.
Kernels @crkernels players walking into the Field of Dreams field for first time. βWhoa!β This is sweet, dude!β βUnrealβ among the comments. pic.twitter.com/aHHbaioFl4
I made it. Downtown Dyersville had signs welcoming fans and players to their town. The field is buzzing with the sounds of golf carts and volunteers. pic.twitter.com/5pgyIhV3nT
Cedar Rapids Kernels manager Scott Wilson spoke for us all last week: "I can't wait," he said of his team's Midwest League game at the Field of Dreams on Tuesday night.
The day has arrived. Get ready with Jeff Johnson's preview coverage: