After a four-year hiatus, Major League Baseball returns to the Corn Field for the third Field of Dreams Game. The Philadelphia Phillies will take on the Minnesota Twins in one of the most unique venues in all of sports. Now that the renovations are complete, they need to make this game an annual tradition. Every year, we should see the MLB put a game at this site. But who should play each other? Here are three matchups they should consider for the next installment.
A couple of ground rules before we go forward. Only teams founded before 1962 will be considered for this exercise. The game is supposed to have a vintage old-time feel. Having the Tampa Bay Rays play the Arizona Diamondbacks doesn’t make much sense, as both were founded in the 1990s. These matches also need to have some sort of significance behind them. There needs to be an interesting connection or historical significance for this matchup.
Chicago White Sox vs Cincinnati Reds
A rematch of the 1919 World Series, which was arguably the most infamous World Series in history. Eight White Sox players, including stars like Shoeless Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte, conspired with gamblers to throw the series. It was baseball’s first major scandal and rocked the sport to its core. Despite being acquitted in a public trial, MLB’s first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, banned all eight players from baseball for life. This set the precedent for how the league handles betting scandals.
At first glance, it seems weird to celebrate one of the biggest scandals in MLB history. However, without that scandal, “Field of Dreams” would have never been made. One reason Ray Kinsella turned his cornfield into a baseball diamond was to give the eight banned players a place to play. Without this series, the Field of Dreams story is never have been made or would have been wildly different. Having these two play at this site will be a nice way to honor the movie’s origins.
San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Without question, the Giants-Dodgers rivalry is one of the best in baseball. In recent years, some have argued that it’s the best in the sport. But this rivalry did not start in California; it started in New York. Up until 1957, the Giants played in New York, and the Dodgers played in Brooklyn. Their dominance in the 40s-50s gave way to the golden era of New York baseball. It also gave us some of the greatest moments in the sport’s history. When the two teams left for California, it was one of the biggest shocks in MLB history.
So why not remind people of the rivalry’s roots? Let the Dodgers and Giants play in Iowa wearing their old Brooklyn and New York uniforms. It would be like the ghost of the old players who played in New York came out. The exact feel the MLB is going for with this game. Sure, it’s a little difficult to pull off with travel and time zones. However, if the MLB can figure it out, the attention they will get will be worth the trouble. It will create one of the most unique throwbacks ever.
New York Yankees vs St. Louis Cardinals
A matchup between the Yankees and Cardinals is baseball’s version of El Clásico. These are the two most successful franchises in baseball history, with them having the most World Series each. The Yankees have the most with 27, and the Cardinals are second and lead the National League with 12. It is also the third most common World Series matchup, with these two facing off five times.
Having the two most successful franchises in MLB face off would be enough; it would also bring back the rivalry between the AL and NL. Up until the 2000 season, the American and National League were two separate entities. Sure, they always met in the World Series and played under the MLB banner. But they had separate rules, presidents, and umpires. There was always a rivalry of which playstyle was superior. Pinning the two most successful franchises from each league against each other would recreate that feeling for a night.
