Politics

Bernie Sanders Takes The Field In Softball Game At Iowa’s ‘Field Of Dreams’

REUTERS/Al Drago

Virginia Kruta Associate Editor
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2020 Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, took a break from his presidential campaign to play a little softball in Iowa.

Sanders and his staff made up “The Revolutionaries,” and they squared off Monday against the Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation in Dyersville, Iowa, where the movie “Field of Dreams” was filmed. (RELATED: Sharyl Attkisson Fact-Checks 2020 Democrats Over The ‘Murder’ Of Michael Brown)

Sanders, 77, made a good showing at the game.

2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders pitches during a baseball game between his staff, "The Revolutionaries," and the Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation. U.S., August 19, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago

2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders pitches during a baseball game between his staff, “The Revolutionaries,” and the Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation. U.S., August 19, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago

2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders pitches during a baseball game between his staff, "The Revolutionaries," and the Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation. U.S., August 19, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago

2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders pitches during a baseball game between his staff, “The Revolutionaries,” and the Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation. U.S., August 19, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago

2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders pitches during a baseball game between his staff, "The Revolutionaries," and the Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation. U.S., August 19, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago

2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders pitches during a baseball game between his staff, “The Revolutionaries,” and the Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation. U.S., August 19, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago

Sanders commemorated the event with his own limited edition baseball cards.

Several media outlets — including CNN and ABC News — backed out of the event after a campaign email touting the baseball cards went out, saying that they did not want to be associated with a campaign fundraiser. A Politico reporter also declined to play, but said that it was more due to her own inabilities as an athlete.

Faiz Shakir, campaign manager for Sanders and former Harvard second baseman, emailed a statement on the issue to Politico:

“Unconfirmed rumors from scouts suggest that some on the opposing team — having realized Bernie ‘the Bern’ Sanders was the scheduled pitcher for tonight’s contest — decided to stand down. Others say that a few media executives got a little squeamish about sharing the field with Bernie. Regardless, fans will not be disappointed. It is game on. Because we have to fulfill the promise of ‘if you build it, they will come!'”