Today marks the beginning of one of my favorite events of the year: spring training.
With pitchers and catchers reporting to their respective camps and teams holding their first workouts, baseball season is finally back.
There’s nothing better than taking an afternoon off and heading out to one of the many Cactus League ballparks around the Valley.
The Cactus League boasts many of Major League Baseball’s most competitive teams, including both 2010 World Series participants, the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers.
Spring Training and I go way back to when I was younger and got to watch Ken Griffey, Jr. and Tony Gwynn play at Peoria Sports Complex.
Then there was 2001 World Series hero Luis Gonzalez walking over and signing my baseball at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 2002.
That’s one of the many benefits of spring training baseball: seeing your favorite players up close and personal.
With the abundance of spring training ballparks throughout Arizona, there is really no reason not to check out a ballgame.
There are gorgeous new stadiums such as Camelback Ranch in Glendale and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale.
Grab a lawn seat, a hot dog, an ice-cold beverage or two, then kick back and enjoy America’s Pastime.
Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu
