Field of Dreams

“Shoeless” Joe Jackson remarks about Ty Cobb’s desire to play at the Field of Dreams, “None of us could stand the son of a bitch when he was alive, so we told him to stick it.” In real life, the players were very close friends. In Jackson’s later life, when he ran a liquor store in South Carolina, Cobb stopped there to buy bourbon. During the sale, Jackson made no sign of recognition to Cobb, until Cobb finally said, “For God’s sakes, Joe, don’t you remember me?” Jackson somberly replied, “Well, sure, I remember you, Ty. I just didn’t think anyone wanted to remember me anymore.”

Ray Liotta had no baseball experience and batted right-handed, although “Shoeless” Joe Jackson was a lefty. Director, Phil Alden Robinson, allowed Liotta to bat with his right, but still put him through several weeks of extensive training with University of Southern California baseball coach and former Brooklyn Dodger Rod Dedeaux in order to be convincing as one of the sport’s greatest hitters. Liotta did attempt to play as the real Jackson did, batting lefty and throwing righty, but the reverse of both was so much more natural for him, and he eventually developed a good swing. The scene where he hits a line-drive straight back at Kevin Costner actually happened. Costner’s fall on the mound was real, and although it was a surprise, he stayed in character.