1860s Base Ball on August 27, 2016

Playing at Field of Dreams revives

the charm of a childhood game

The bell’s surface gleamed, first from the late afternoon sun and later from the man-made lights overhead. In a span of four hours, the bell sounded 73 times, gleefully announcing each 360-foot sprint around the bases. Every swing, hit, catch, throw, stumble, and tumble was reflected in its luster. On Saturday in Dyersville, Iowa, the bell was a truepenny for the game of base ball as it was played in 1860.

The occasion, hosted by the Apple Jacks Base Ball Club of La Crescent, began under blue sky and feathered clouds as copious rows of corn hugged the pristine ball diamond at the Field of Dreams Movie Site. At 6 p.m. the golden stalks released a line of 48 neatly uniformed players who marched toward the infield ready to clutch a bat and revive childhood hopes.

The warmth of the day lingered, wrapping itself around the players like the aroma of fresh baked cookies, adding to their eagerness to play a youthful sport. Many had come from Minnesota and Wisconsin and one from as far as New York State, and all were seasoned players. Experience aside, all of them stood at home base, their gazes fixed on the sight of players dotting the outfield and the sun lashing gold and purple hues through the clouds. The simple joy of being at the heralded field lit up not only their eyes, but their play.

Soon the games were in a rhythm as steady as a riverboat paddle wheel, and the camaraderie on the field was genuine. After sunset, however, a dusty white fog