Graham is a man of few words, it seems. When he did speak to the press at the tail end of Super Bowl 53, he called Moonlight “a well-done film”. He also mentioned that his time to watch the film was limited since “I had to go to the movies a couple of times that night”. The legend of the legendary QB is that he is always thinking three or four plays ahead, but at least a portion of those plays will always be on the field. Great athletes get smarter and more sophisticated the more they play, right? The truth is, Graham is still a beginner in the game of film. For Graham, “Moonlight” was a piece of the puzzle that he could use to figure out what he needs
I have seen some people say that “Moonlight” Graham is not the best ballhawk in the history of football. This is only partially true. I do not mean that he does not have the most career interceptions, nor that he did not come closest to making a pick in the history of the Super Bowl. I am talking about the game.
The “Field of Dreams” is one of those movies that has a cult following, but has a few things that make it difficult to recommend. It’s short and a little cheesy, and while I love the concept (a guy bends his rules around a field of dreams that appears in his backyard), I couldn’t help but be a little bit disappointed by the outcome.
Field of Dreams is easily one of the most popular baseball movies of all time, whether you love it or loathe it (believe it or not, there are folks on both sides). Despite the numerous flaws I’ve identified in the picture during innumerable rewatches over the previous three decades, I consider myself to be a “love it” fan. Overall, I’d have to say Archibald “Moonlight” Graham is my favorite character. I apologise… Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham is a fictional character.
Perhaps it’s because I’m a sucker for Burt Lancaster, who is just fantastic as the elder version of “Moonlight,” but I think the sequences with Graham, both young and old, are some of the best in Field of Dreams. Even those starring Frank Whaley’s young Archie are intriguing.
While most people are aware that the film’s primary character, former Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox star “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, was a real person, others may be unaware that “Moonlight” Graham was as well. And a lot of his story is accurately depicted in Field of Dreams. However, the filmmakers got a lot of things incorrect. And, because I’m one of those jerks who enjoys pointing them out, I though I’d share them with you today.
I suppose this is where I should warn you that there are spoilers coming, but it’s your fault if you haven’t seen Field of Dreams yet.
‘Moonlight’ said, ‘Field of Dreams.’ Graham was said to have played his one major league game in 1922, but it was actually in 1905.
(L-R) Archibald “Moonlight” Graham; Burt Lancaster in “Field of Dreams” as Archibald “Moonlight” Graham | Marlin Levison/Star Tribune via Getty Images; Silver Screen Collection through Getty Images
In Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones are seated in Fenway Park when Costner’s Ray Kinsella character spots “Moonlight” Graham’s stat line on the scoreboard, which reveals his lone major league appearance was in 1922. That, however, was not the case.
Graham only played one game with the New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants) in 1905. He began the 2005 season with the Binghamton Bingoes of the Class B New York State League, where he had been playing since 1901. The Giants bought his contract and he reported to the team on May 23.
Graham made his Giants debut on June 29th, in a road game against the Brooklyn Superbas (now the Los Angeles Dodgers), replacing George Browne in right field at the end of the eighth inning. “Moonlight” was on deck in the top of the ninth inning, hitting in the leadoff spot, when pitcher Claude Elliott flied out, resulting in the last out. Graham entered the game in the bottom half of the inning, but Brooklyn failed to hit him with a pitch. Graham’s big-league career came to an end as the Giants won the game 11-1.
Graham made his lone big-league debut in 1905, according to W.P. Kinsella’s “Shoeless Joe,” the story on which Field of Dreams was based.
In real life, ‘Moonlight’ was sent to the minors.
Lancaster’s portrayal of Graham in Field of Dreams claims that his one appearance in the majors was in the season’s final game, which it was not, and that he couldn’t bear the notion of returning to the minors, which he did.
Following his debut with the Giants in 1905, “Moonlight” joined the Scranton Miners of the New York State League. Graham hit.288 in 64 games for Binghamton and Scranton in 2005. In 124 games with the Miners in 1906, he hit.336 and came within four points of winning the batting title. Before retiring, “Moonlight” hit.285 for Scranton in 1907 and.263 in 1908.
And remember how Ray Liotta batted right-handed and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson batted left-handed in Field of Dreams? They also made a mistake with “Moonlight” Graham, who was a left-handed hitter. If you recall, when Whaley’s version of Graham hits his sacrifice fly in the movie, he does so right-handed.
A sacrifice fly, on the other hand, is not an official at-bat. Yes, he states in the movie that his one wish was to bat in the majors. And it’s safe to believe that wasn’t the only time he stepped up to the plate in that made-up game. However, if you’re only going to show one plate appearance, make it an official at-bat. But, I suppose, he did receive the RBI.
Graham died in 1965, not 1972, as previously stated.
Graham was falsely reported in the film to have died in 1972, when he actually died in 1965. He was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, not Chisholm, Minnesota. Following his baseball career, “Moonlight” continued to serve the Chisholm community for another five decades. In Field of Dreams, Anne Seymour (in her final role) recited his real-life obituary, which was written by Veda Ponkivar.
So maybe I nitpick a bit too much for a film about time travel and magical rocks, but now you know the truth about “Moonlight” Graham, and I invite you to act like a know-it-all when discussing the film with your family and friends like I do.
Baseball Reference provided the statistics.
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In the movie “Field of Dreams”, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) builds a baseball field for his deceased father Kevin Costner’s ghost, and he sees his father’s ghost playing catch there. But what if he built the field in the middle of nowhere? That’s what Graham Harrell (Dwyane Wade) did in the movie “Moonlight”. And, as it turns out, the story doesn’t end the same way “Field of Dreams” ends.. Read more about why did moonlight graham only play one game and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the famous line from Field of Dreams?
If you build it, he will come.
What was whispered in Field of Dreams?
If you build it, he will come.
Who is the whispering voice in Field of Dreams?
The whispering voice in Field of Dreams is the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson, a former baseball player who died penniless and alone.
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