![]() ![]() He is proud that Field of Dreams offered the world a glimpse of life in Dyersville. He often makes a point to speak to visitors and has come across people from as a far as the United Kingdom and Japan, all seeking to make a baseball pilgrimage and play catch or run the bases on the original diamond from the film. “Some of the original ghost players are still friends of mine,” he adds.Īs the film gained worldwide popularity, Jacque had a firsthand look at how his city has transformed into a magnet for tourists. “There are scenes from the local spots and we’ll watch it and say, ‘Oh, I remember where that road is,’ and, ‘They filmed that over here.’ “I don’t think I ever get tired of watching the movie,” he says. While Field of Dreams didn’t fundamentally change the small city, it did serve as an accurate snapshot of its history, says Jacque, noting that many of his friends appeared in the film as extras. It’s a place where nearly everybody knows each other, and residents exude trademark Midwestern values - humility and a strong work ethic. Jacque compares the town to Mayberry, the fictional, tranquil community from the popular 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. ![]() “We’ve grown a little bit in population - by a few hundred people - but that’s it.” “Our community hasn’t really changed and the city itself hasn’t really changed,” he says. ![]() And according to Jacque, there’s no difference: it’s the same place, only with more tourists. ETīorn and raised in Dyersville, the mayor remembers what the city was like before it was made famous by the movie. Watch live on Sportsnet 360, starting at 7 p.m. “There’s a lot going on,” Jacque says with a laugh. He is set to preside over the second Field of Dreams game, which takes place Thursday when the Chicago Cubs take on the Cincinnati Reds. Today, the 66-year-old is officially Mayor of Dyersville after winning an election last November. Jacque saw all he needed that night and his decision was made. It was the first MLB game played in the state of Iowa and brought with it a wave of joy, positivity and tourism to the city. When Jacque arrived, he began to chat with fellow Dyersville residents and noticed a palpable excitement as everyone gathered around the big screen. Jacque didn’t have tickets to the inaugural game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, so he decided to stroll down to a massive viewing area that was set up by city officials just a block away from his house. Last year, Major League Baseball commemorated the film and city with its first MLB at Field of Dreams game, a regular-season contest held at a baseball field built in a cornfield next to the movie location. Jacque had some conversations about potentially running for mayor of the city with a population of just over 4,300, but wasn’t immediately sold.ĭyersville is famously known as the location of the 1989 film Field of Dreams, a seminal baseball classic starring Kevin Costner and the late Ray Liotta. Having recently retired from the family business - a furniture and floor covering store - the Dyersville, Iowa, resident was looking for something to occupy his time. ![]() When Jeff Jacque was mulling a move into politics last summer, it was baseball that gave him the final push he needed. ![]()
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