Wade Boggs Buys 'Fields of Dreams' Baseball Field

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Friday, January 04, 2013

Wade Boggs has contributed to the purchase of the iconic baseball field in the movie "Field of Dreams" in a process that was completed last week.

The Baseball Hall of Famer was among a group of people that paid $3.4 million for the famous Dyersville, Iowa site in the popular film.

Don and Becky Lansing sold the 193-acre field after a great deal of disagreement among local residents, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"Certainly this is a momentous time for both Donnie and I," Becky Lansing told The Times. "We have been preparing for this sale for a few years, and our family, including Donnie's sister Betty Beockenstedt, will continue to be a part of the movie site through the transition with the new owners and, likely, beyond."

Boggs, who saw an 18-year career in baseball, spent most of his time with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The Boggs group revealed their plans for the site, which includes mostly cornfields, a two-bedroom farmhouse, and the famous baseball field.

"The … purchase will ultimately result in the erection of All-Star Ballpark Heaven, a youth baseball and softball complex that will ultimately feature 24 fields, along with 60 team clubhouse, and is expected to be completed in 2014 in time for the tourney season," reported The Dyersville Commercial.

According to the local publication, the group acknowledged that developing the property had made waves in the community, resulting in petitions and lawsuits for and against the purchase, but it appears Boggs' group has won.

"Field of Dreams" was released in 1989 and starred Kevin Costner, Amy Mandigan, Ray Liotta, and James Earl Jones, among others.

Costner portrayed an Iowa corn farmer who follows his intuition to build a baseball diamond in his field when the Chicago Black Sox come.

The film went on to earn three Academy Award nominations and has become a favorite among Americans.

Much of "Field of Dreams" was filmed in Dyersville, and afterward, Lansing transformed the property into a tourist destination that saw approximately 65,000 visitors annually, according to The Boston Globe.