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Former MLB third baseman Wade Boggs collected over 3000 hits during his career. The former Boston Red Sox star might have the newest hit on his hands with the purchase of the famous Field of Dreams farm in Iowa.
Boggs is part of an investment group called Go the Distance LLC based out of Chicago. The investment group of more than ten people purchased the 193 acre farm for $3.4 million. The farm, located at 289995 Lansing Road in Dyersville, Iowa, was the setting for the 1989 hit movie “Field of Dreams”.
Kevin Costner, pictured above at a New York Knicks game, starred in the movie about a guy who builds a baseball diamond in the middle of a corn field. That field, formerly owned by Don and Becky Lansing, attracts over 65,000 visitors each year. The famous quote in the movie was “If you build it, he will come”. It now appears that Boggs and Go the Distance will be building more fields in hopes that people will come.
In a press release, Go the Distance said, “We already have begun creating our team of architects, engineers and construction experts from Iowa who will lead the charge for developing All-Star Ballpark Heaven.” Go the Distance’s website promises that “All-Star Ballpark will be the most sought after place for youth base/softball on the famous land where “Field of Dreams” was filmed.
It seems that Boggs is part of the investment firm to give something back to his Midwest home. In an interview with Bloomberg, Boggs said, “In this economic downtime, people in Iowa, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, and various parts out west, it’s less travel and inexpensive travel. It’s a win-win proposition, not only for the kids, but for the parents involved also.”
Boggs played 18 seasons in the MLB for the Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees. Over 2240 games, Boggs collected 3010 hits and posted a .328 batting average. Remarkably, Boggs posted seven straight seasons with 200+ hits (1983-1989). For his stellar career, Boggs was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Go the Distance will begin construction on the project, with a planned open date of 2014. The grand opening will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the movie’s release. No word yet on whether Costner or Boggs will attend the opening.
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