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3 memorable Cubs performances from the Field of Dreams Game

By Jake Misener |
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Despite neither the Chicago Cubs or Cincinnati Reds being anywhere near postseason contention this year, the magic of the Field of Dreams still captured fans across the country on Thursday, with the North Siders coming out on top in the second-ever Field of Dreams Game.

Although it lacked the high-stakes drama we got between the Yankees and White Sox in 2021, there were still a handful of moments worth remembering as we begin to wind down the regular season over the next six weeks.

3 memorable Field of Dreams Game performances: #3 – Drew Smyly’s gem

All those teams who didn’t feel like coughing up anything decent for Drew Smyly have to be kicking themselves about now. Since the trade deadline, the veteran left-hander has been a force to be reckoned with, making two starts and not allowing a single run across 11 2/3 innings of work.

Against Cincinnati, Smyly put it in cruise control early on with his family in the stands, tossing five scoreless innings and striking out a season-high nine. He worked through the Reds lineup flawlessly all night long. Apparently his preparation for the start, which entailed re-watching Field of Dreams the night prior, worked well because it was about as strong of a start as we’ve seen from the veteran all year.

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

3 memorable Field of Dreams Game performances: #2 – Cubs get hot early

As good as Smyly was on the mound, the Cubs lineup did their part to help him settle in, plating a trio of two-out runs in the top of the first off Cincinnati left-hander Nick Lodolo.

After retiring Nick Madrigal and Willson Contreras for the first two outs of the game, Lodolo hit Patrick Wisdom with a pitch. Then Chicago rookie Seiya Suzuki made the most of it, doubling to left center field to score Wisdom before coming around to score himself on a Nico Hoerner single.

Cubs All-Star outfielder Ian Happ then added a two-bagger of his own to plate Hoerner, pushing the Cubs’ lead to 3-0 before Smyly took over. On the night, David Ross’ club tallied four runs on 10 hits, although they also struck out a dozen times (hardly surprising given they rank sixth in baseball with 982 Ks on the year).

Madrigal stayed hot with three hits on the night, raising his average over his last seven games to an even .400 mark. Obviously, his Cubs tenure got off to a rocky start – so seeing him start to find his form is a welcome sight. Hopefully he can maintain over the season’s final weeks, heading into 2023 with some momentum.

The only two guys to not record a hit? Willson Contreras and Christopher Morel.

(Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /

3 memorable Field of Dreams Game performances: #1 – Harry Caray hologram

All night long, the FOX broadcast was teasing a Harry Caray-led rendition of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ – and whether you loved it or found it in poor taste or even maybe slightly terrifying, we got a holographic Caray in the middle of the seventh inning.

Cubs Twitter was sharply divided, with many thinking it was the coolest thing they’d seen in years and others being very put off by the performance. It was certainly something else, that’s for sure – but regardless of how you felt about it, there’s absolutely no chance you won’t remember it.

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Of course, Caray was a Wrigley Field staple from 1982 until 1997 and, even today, he leads Cubs faithful in the stretch via old footage on the left field video board. For one night, though, he took his talents to Dyersville, Iowa – and left us with a moment we won’t soon forget.

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