Major League Baseball Spring Training Underway
Even though central New York is in the midst of winter, Major League Baseball spring training is underway, and that's a good sign of warmer days ahead. Tourists visiting these spring training sites and attending exhibition games has become big business. Here are the details.
According to mlb.com:
"Sun, scenery, history mark Spring Training baseball in Arizona, Florida.
With Cactus League clubs clustered in the Valley of the Sun and Grapefruit League teams dotting the Florida coasts and center of the state, Spring Training offers one of baseball's great traditions while bringing fans close to the game and under the sun.
Spring Training in Florida's Grapefruit League, a tradition since the 1890s, offers a multitude of treats for connoisseurs, sun worshipers and casual fans alike.
Fifteen Major League teams train in Florida, 12 of them along or essentially near the east and west coastlines and three in the center of the state.
Astros: Kissimmee, Osceola County Stadium
Blue Jays: Dunedin, Auto Exchange Stadium
Braves: Lake Buena Vista, Champion Stadium
Cardinals: Jupiter, Roger Dean Stadium
Marlins: Jupiter, Roger Dean Stadium
Mets: Port St. Lucie, Digital Domain Park
Nationals, Melbourne, Space Coast Stadium
Orioles: Sarasota, Ed Smith Stadium
Phillies: Clearwater, Bright House Field
Pirates: Bradenton, McKechnie Field
Rays: Port Charlotte, Charlotte Sports Park
Red Sox: Fort Myers, City of Palms Park
Tigers: Lakeland, Joker Marchant Stadium
Twins: Fort Myers, Bill Hammond Stadium
Yankees: Tampa, George Steinbrenner Field
Where else can you go and see half of the Major Leagues' 30 teams play without ever having to drive more than 47 miles, and oftentimes much shorter distances? That would be the Cactus League, where 15 teams prepare for the season in a relatively tight radius surrounding Phoenix, Ariz.., the beautiful Valley of the Sun.
Angels: Tempe, Tempe Diablo Stadium
Athletics: Phoenix, Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Brewers: Phoenix, Maryvale Park
Cubs: Mesa, Cubs Park
Diamondbacks: Scottsdale, Salt River Fields
Dodgers: Glendale, Camelback Ranch
Giants: Scottsdale, Scottsdale Stadium
Indians: Goodyear, Goodyear Ballpark
Mariners: Peoria, Peoria Sports Complex
Padres: Peoria, Peoria Sports Complex
Rangers: Surprise, Surprise Stadium
Reds: Goodyear, Goodyear Ballpark
Rockies: Scottsdale, Salt River Fields
Royals: Surprise, Surprise Stadium
White Sox: Glendale, Camelback Ranch"
For more information on your favorite team and their schedule, visit: mlb.mlb.com/springtraining/.
Play ball!
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