Here’s an intriguing and entertaining piece of trivia about Field of Dreams that certainly “goes the distance”: the Boston brothers, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, made brief appearances as extras in the iconic Fenway Park scene. If you weren’t aware of this fascinating fact, it might be because they are somewhat challenging to spot, or perhaps John Mulaney omitted this detail in his recap… Regardless, it’s a cherished memory that Ben Affleck will always hold dear – and one that Matt Damon might recall inaccurately.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (as reported by Entertainment Weekly), Affleck shared that one of his most treasured moments from the Field of Dreams set was witnessing the star and passionate baseball fan Kevin Costner hit a home run at Fenway Park. However, Damon has a slightly different recollection, prompting Affleck to remark, “Twenty years later, I was looking through an interview of Matt. And then I see him in this interview say, ‘Yeah I took batting practice at Fenway Park, and I hit the ball off the Green Monster.’ I was like, ‘Matt, are you remembering yourself as Kevin Costner?’”
Regarding whether or not the young aspiring stars, who were still several years away from their breakout roles in School Ties, made any lasting impression on the legendary actor Kevin Costner, they both expressed doubt. Affleck firmly stated that there’s no way Costner would remember them, adding, “We were, like, just annoying — you know what I mean? — and there were a lot of people there. It’s sweet of him to say that, but I’m pretty sure he remembers, like, the actors with lines… We were, you know, serious actors from a very young age, and so, we got to know the local casting person in Boston, who would cast when a movie came to town. Like Field of Dreams, you know, they needed extras, and so we would go do extra work, because we wanted to be actors.”
Ben Affleck would return to Fenway Park numerous times throughout his career, not only as a dedicated fan but also as a director and active participant in various events. Notably, a significant plot point in Affleck’s film The Town revolves around a heist that takes place at the famed ballpark. Additionally, he had the honor of throwing out the first pitch during a 2003 game. Similarly, Damon had the opportunity to do the same last season, and he even narrated a documentary celebrating the rich history of the Red Sox stadium in honor of its centennial anniversary.
The film Field of Dreams achieved critical acclaim and was nominated for three prestigious Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.
Entertainment Weekly