Briar Cliff and Luther College Baseball make History at Field of Dreams Movie Site
September 19, 2022
Briar Cliff University and Luther College made history Friday night, playing the first-ever collegiate baseball game at the Field of Dreams Movie site in Dyersville, Iowa. Field of Dreams, directed by Phil Alden Robinson, is a sports fantasy drama where a farmer hears a voice inside his head telling him “If you build it, he will come.” The historic night attracted over 2,000 attendees, including several Chargers and Woodbury County residents attending at no cost, with the support of a Missouri River Historical Development grant.
The event began with a VIP pre-party, where Briar Cliff and Luther VIP ticket holders enjoyed a meal and met celebrity guest, Tony Oliva. Oliva is a 2022 MLB Hall of Fame inductee with a resume that includes being an eight-time All-Star and 1964 American League Rookie of the Year.
Before the contest, Charger and Norse baseball competed in a homerun derby, with a surprise guest appearance from YouTube content creators, “The Baseball Bat Bros.” In a three-versus-three competition, Briar Cliff senior Quentin Evers took home the crown and faced off against content creator Will Taylor in the final round. Evers was able to edge out Taylor on his final swing and was awarded the chance to swing one of Taylor’s prestigious bats.
Before the contest, the teams re-enacted one of the movie’s most popular scenes, entering the field from the corn at centerfield. Players walked across the baseball diamond to many fans in attendance capturing the moment, and a dream fulfilled by many.
“It’s a dream come true, I grew up watching the movie, one of the best baseball movies ever, and it still doesn’t seem real,” said Jake Allen, a senior catcher for Briar Cliff.
Oliva threw the ceremonial first pitch, followed by the National Anthem sung by Briar Cliff’s own Cliff Singers. The Chargers rolled to a 15-1 victory, led by a grand slam by Drew Peterson and a two-run shot by Cam Reimer. Read the full athletic recap here.
After the game concluded, many fans took the field to embrace the atmosphere and enjoy the moment. Players and their families stuck around to play catch with each other on the Field of Dreams.
"I just hope our guys took the time to stop and look around and appreciate what tonight was all about," said head coach Corby McGlaufflin. "With so many people here and to get to play in front of their loved ones, it was a really special night. I'm proud of the way our guys came out and competed. They had a really great night, and we loved every second of it."