Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson, adapted from the novel Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella. The movie tells the story of an Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella, who hears a voice telling him to turn his cornfield into a baseball diamond. When he does so, he is visited by a group of baseball players whose names he recognizes as those of players from the 1919 Chicago White Sox, a team that had been thrown out of the Major League Baseball (MLB) for throwing the World Series. These players are known as the ghost players, and they serve as an important part of the movie’s plot.
What is the Story Behind the Ghost Players?
The story behind the ghost players in Field of Dreams is based on the events of the 1919 World Series. This series was between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, and it was the only World Series ever to be thrown by a team. Eight members of the White Sox team were accused and eventually found guilty of taking bribes from gamblers in exchange for purposely losing the series. As a result, these players were banned from playing professional baseball and became known as the “Black Sox.”
The movie Field of Dreams is based on the idea that the ghosts of these players have returned to the field to play once more. Ray Kinsella hears a mysterious voice telling him to “build it and they will come,” and when he does so, the ghost players return to the field. The ghost players appear to Ray as they were in their prime, and they play baseball just as they did in 1919.
Who Are the Ghost Players?
The ghost players in Field of Dreams are the eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox who were banned from the MLB for their involvement in the World Series scandal. These players are Shoeless Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Happy Felsch, Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin, and Buck Weaver.
Shoeless Joe Jackson is the most famous of the ghost players. He was one of the greatest players in the history of the game and was the most successful of the players involved in the scandal. Though he was found guilty, many baseball fans believe that he was innocent and that he was unfairly punished.
Eddie Cicotte was the starting pitcher for the White Sox in the World Series. He was the first of the players to confess to accepting bribes and was banned from the sport for life.
Lefty Williams was the starting pitcher in the second game of the series. He was also one of the players who confessed to accepting bribes and was banned from the sport for life.
Happy Felsch was an outfielder for the White Sox. He was one of the players who confessed to accepting bribes and was also banned from the sport for life.
Chick Gandil was the first baseman for the White Sox. He was the mastermind behind the scandal and was also banned from the sport for life.
Swede Risberg was a shortstop for the White Sox. He was one of the players who confessed to accepting bribes and was banned from the sport for life.
Fred McMullin was an infielder for the White Sox. He was the only player to testify against his teammates, and he was banned from the sport for life.
Buck Weaver was an infielder for the White Sox. He was one of the players who was accused of accepting bribes, but he was found not guilty and was only banned from the sport for life.
Conclusion
The ghost players in Field of Dreams are the eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox who were thrown out of the MLB for throwing the World Series. These players are Shoeless Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Happy Felsch, Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin, and Buck Weaver. The movie tells the story of Ray Kinsella, who hears a voice telling him to build a baseball diamond, and when he does so, the ghost players return to the field to play one last game. The story of the ghost players is based on the events of the 1919 World Series and serves as a reminder of the consequences of dishonesty in sports.