Two MLB at Field of Dreams Games had been played before the 2026 edition.
The first was held in 2021, when the Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Yankees. The second followed in 2022, with the Chicago Cubs beating the Cincinnati Reds. The 2026 Phillies-Twins matchup was therefore the third MLB edition.
The event did not occur in every season after 2022. Construction and refurbishment at the Iowa site prevented MLB games there during the intervening period. That gap is why the 2026 return was promoted as a comeback after four years.
The count refers specifically to MLB regular-season games at the Field of Dreams site. It does not include associated minor-league, high-school, or other baseball events held there, which are separate parts of the wider program.