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The climactic scene from the iconic baseball film released in 1989, Field of Dreams, oftentimes brings women and men of all ages to tears when Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, utters the famous line: “Hey, Dad, you wanna have a catch?” Since its release, the movie and its memorable lines have carved a space in the lore of Americana such that the National Day Calendar recently declared the second Saturday in May as Wanna Have A Catch Day.
Accordingly, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Living Liver Foundation, Transplant Life Foundation and Iowa Donor Network (Team Iowa) will officially launch this new national day by hosting a Living Donor Awareness Softball Game at the Field of Dreams movie site.
This second annual event will feature four Transplant Games of America teams: Team Iowa, Team Wisconsin, Team MO-KAN (Missouri/Kansas), and Team Rocky Mountain.
Event Timeline:
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Field open to all attendees, informal catch
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Game 1: Semifinal Game
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Honor & Educate Session #1 (Stories from donor families, living donors, and recipients.)
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Game 2: Semifinal Game
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Honor & Educate Session #2 (Stories from donor families, living donors, and recipients.)
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Game 3: Championship Game
6:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Awards & Closing Ceremony
“There is no greater visual metaphor for living organ donation than having a catch”, said Galbenski. He further noted, “The living organ donor throwing the ball to their recipient dispels the myth that organs from deceased donors are the only way to save the life of a person in need. It highlights that both donors and recipients return to active lives and brings joy and delight to those witnessing and participating in the catch.”
Tickets are $40 each for individuals 13+ years old with children 12 years old and under attending free.
We can't wait to celebrate National Wanna Have A Catch Day with you on May 9, 2026. Let's help make the event go viral by posting a video or photo of it on social media with the special hash tag: #haveacatchday.
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Event Venue
Field of Dreams Way, Dyersville, IA 52040, United States
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
