MLB 2022 “Sandlot” Game to be Played Following Success of “Field of Dreams”
The first ever Major League Baseball game played in Iowa occurred last week on the site where the movie Field of Dreams was filmed in the late 1980s. The event was aired on primetime network television which is rare for MLB games these days. The nostalgia infused event received good reviews and served as positive publicity for a league that has had to deal with many controversies as of late, including the recent widespread use of foreign substances by pitchers which resulted in unpopular umpire inspections.
Due to the success of this special game, MLB officials have already announced a special “Sandlot” game slated for next season in the San Fernando valley of Los Angeles. Fan excitement is already at a high level for this game which will pay tribute to the beloved movie about neighborhood kids whose experience playing baseball in a poor-quality “sandlot” had a great influence during a formative summer of 1962.
The game will feature an authentic rugged field, complete with infield rocks and a rickety old wooden outfield fence that borders homes in the neighborhood. Just as Kevin Costner promoted last week’s game, James Earl Jones will be brought in to promote the game who was featured in both the Sandlot and Field of Dreams.
Unlike the recent game, the sandlot game will have bonus features including a few rule changes. To start, the game will include a giant dog chained behind the rickety outfield fence, female lifeguards in place of traditional ball girls, and the whole game will be sponsored by Baby Ruth candy bars. There will only be a very limited supply of baseballs, which may force players to retrieve homerun balls from the dog. Players will also wear blue jeans as part of their uniforms. Finally, in an attempt to broaden female interest of MLB, at the end of the game, one player will be honored with the “playing like a girl” award for outstanding performance. Finally, in keeping with the spirit of the rugged sandlot theme and experience, fans will only be allowed to sit on small aluminum bleachers or lawn chairs they bring with them, and concession food sizes will be limited to “smalls” only.
Additional future movie-themed events being considered by Major League Baseball include games inspired by A League of Their Own where all players will wear skirts, and The Naked Gun where players and umpires will be given awards based on their comedic slapstick abilities while playing.
