The St. Louis Cardinals have replaced the New York Yankees as opponents of the Chicago White Sox at the Field of Dreams game on August 13 in Dyersville, Iowa.
The schedule change caused by the new coronavirus pandemic means that the White Sox are no longer playing against the Yankees this season. The new opponent, first reported by The Des Moines Register, was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the arrangements who spoke on condition of anonymity on Wednesday because the clash has not been announced.
Major League Baseball hopes to announce its new schedule next week. Each team will play 60 games, 40 against division rivals and 20 against teams in the corresponding regional division in the other league.
“We hope to have the option to play,” MLB said in a statement. “Construction continues and we are following all state and CDC protocols regarding recommended safety practices, including social distancing, hand washing, and temperature controls before arriving at the site.”
It is unclear if fans would be allowed in the game, which will be televised nationally by Fox.
“We are monitoring ongoing events and plan to remain as flexible as these circumstances require,” said MLB.
A temporary 8,000-seat stadium is nearing completion at the site, about 200 miles west of Chicago, adjacent to where the movie was shot on a diamond in a cornfield. This would be the first major league game played in Iowa.
The film, released in 1989, starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster and Ray Liotta.
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