How Costner connected with Lake County Fielders

Kevin Costner's life-long relationship with baseball has reached a new level.

Costner, the star of two of history's most famous baseball movies, Field of Dreams and Bull Durham, is the co-owner of the Lake County Fielders, the new Northern League team that calls Zion its home.

Costner was a fan of minor league baseball, habitually searching out teams while on location for movies or on the road with his country-western band Modern West, when Schaumburg Flyers owner Rich Ehrenreich came to him with the idea of owning a minor-league team.

Ehrenreich and Costner met through an acquaintance at Paramount Studios. One thing led to another, and Ehrenreich told Costner about "this great minor league baseball project I was working on."

Baseball is a natural conversation starter with Costner, who admits his name has become synonymous with American's pastime.

"I've had this history with baseball prior to the movies that I have been associated with,'' Costner said. "I grew up playing, my dad played hardball, and if you want to be with Pop that is what you want to do. I did Little League, Babe Ruth, high school, pick-up games, and I happened to be associated with those three movies (including "For Love of the Game"). Somehow that cemented in the consciousness of the public my love for the game."

Costner said he initially resisted the germ of the idea that he become involved with the Fielders.

"I resisted because of the geographical distance from where I live and where the club operates,'' Costner said. "But this is not so much about baseball as it is about the fact that I think Rich's mindset is really about the game and about the experience of the customer.

"He really impressed me that way,'' he said. "He loves this game and loves this outlet for baseball. He approached me the right way and was never abusive about my participation. I really like the cut of his jib. He was very thoughtful when he talked about why he wanted me to be associated."

The United States is populated with hundreds of minor league teams, and Costner is one of those people who takes full advantage of the opportunity minor league baseball presents.

But he approaches the experience from a unique perspective.

"Whenever I make a movie on location, I look to see what minor league games are in the area,'' Costner said. "I think about the players, knowing they have to go through this eye of the needle, which is the same with actors and musicians, where very few are actually going to get there.

"I think about the personalities sitting in the dugouts,'' he said. "Everybody there was the star of their team, and this is the first time any of them had to sit on the bench. There is a lot of drama there that is not even out on the field. It is an interesting exercise for me and a social outlet to take my children to."

After Costner agreed to become an owner, the matter of the team name had to be discussed.

Clearly, 'the Fielders'' is a take off of Costner's famous "Field of Dreams'' film, and Costner was not going to allow that name to be used without good reason.

"There was a very thoughtful process about what we were going to call the team,'' Costner said. "The movie is set in the heartland, and there is an association there (with Zion). I thought it was a good fit, and we felt it was the right call."

Of course, Costner knows the one question on the minds of all the new Fielders fans is "When will the superstar owner make an appearance at a home game?"

Costner laughed about the expectation that is associated with his relationship to the team.

"It is my plan to come to a game this summer,'' Costner said. "Rich is very cognizant that he is my eye on the team as it goes forward. But I plan to come and have my boys come and see it someday."

Now that it has happened, perhaps it makes sense that Costner is an owner of such an American enterprise as baseball.

After all, with a career that has centered on the American imagery of westerns and baseball, Costner certainly projects the proper sense of what makes baseball special.

"Nobody is going to expect me to be anything other than an American,'' Costner said. "I am tied very close to the American experience."

If you goWhat: Lake County Fielders, a pro baseball team in the independent Northern League, to make its home debut Friday.Where: First 15 home games, starting Friday against the Gary SouthShore Rail Cats, will be played at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis.Stadium update: First game at Fielders' new stadium in Zion (route 173 and Green Bay Road) has been pushed back to July 2 at earliest. About 6,000 temporary fold-down seats, portable suites, three party decks, permanent field lighting, mobile restroom facilities and a children's play area are planned for the Zion property, according to the city.Tickets: Fielders games at Carthage College will cost $5 for adults, with no charge for children 12 and younger.On the Web: fieldersbaseball.comTrue20001031Construction equipment was on the move last week at the site of the future home of the Lake County Fielders in Zion. The organization announced last Friday that all of its June home games will be played at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis.Paul Valade | Staff PhotographerTrue