WHITE SOX 9 - YANKEES 8
It had all the earmarks of one of the greatest baseball events we have seen in a long time, and it lived up to the billing.
A moment 32 years in the making when the film Field of Dreams came out in theaters and gave us the goosebumps, the tears and the joy of "playing a catch." A movie that -- still to this day -- rings true in the ethos and meaning of the sport of baseball -- a game passed down over the generations.
Thursday's Field of Dreams Game between the Yankees and White Sox had all the pageantry and feel of a major event. For a non-World Series game, or non-All Star Game, this was an event that felt as big if not bigger than any of those. And in many ways it was.
It was a huge night for Major League Baseball. It was a chance for the sport to connect its past and present in the most intimate of ways, and they did so with flying colors.
It all started with Kevin Costner walking through the cornfield and onto the baseball field, walking around with a baseball in his hand gazing up at the stands before turning around to catch the glimpse of the Yankees and White Sox making their way through the cornfield themselves much like the movie Costner starred in 32 years ago.
If you didn't get chills, goosebumps or even a lump in your throat watching that, your pulse needs to be checked immediately.
It was poetic, beautiful and exactly what baseball is truly all about.
The game itself -- an all time classic. Yes, the Yankees lost. Yes, it was gut-wrenching. And, yes, Aaron Boone left everyone scratching their collective heads as to why he left Andrew Heaney in to pitch five innings when he clearly didn't have it and the White Sox were using him for batting practice.
By the time the Yankees finally pulled the plug on Heaney he had already given up three homers and the Yankees were down 7-3.
Then, slowly the comeback started. Brett Gardner's solo shot brought the Yanks to within 7-4, and it would stay that way up until the ninth when White Sox closer Liam Hendricks couldn't close the door on the victory.
After Hendricks lost Joey Gallo to a walk on five pitches, Giancarlo Stanton needed just one pitch to send into the cornfield to push the Yankees out front by a shocking 8-7 score.
It looked like the Bombers were on their way to stealing the Field of Dreams game away from the White Sox. Then a miracle happened. Only in Iowa!
A walk to Seby Zavala who came back from being down 0-2 in the count was soon followed by a majestic two-run home run to right-center field by Tim Anderson, sending 8,000 spectators into bedlam. Fireworks exploded out of the cornfields and Anderson rounded third to a conga line of smiles and gatorade at home plate.
It was as if it was written.
On the Field of Dreams. The story second chances for Shoeless Joe Jackson one of the greatest White Sox players of all time, blacklisted for his role in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.
And in case you are wondering, Anderson's walk-off homer against the Yankees was the 15th ever by a White Sox.
The first?
Shoeless Joe Jackson.
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