Grapefruit and Cactus.........

Although technically it's still winter, spring is in the air on Anna Maria Island.  The roads and the beaches are packed.  Take a quick glance at the weather up north and it's easy to understand the overwhelming joy etched on the sunburnt faces of island visitors.  Sure, there will be a few chilly and blustery days across the sunshine state over the next thirty days or so, but it's safe to procliam spring has sprung.
One of my favorite signs of spring is that the "boys of summer" are reporting to their respective spring training facilities starting this week.  The crack of a ball meeting a bat, or a buzzer going off in a Houston Astro's players shirt, will soon be in the air.   For me going to spring training games has been a ritual that dates back to my childhood.
The locations of many of the major league teams have changed over the years.  Currently fifteen of the thirty teams have their spring training facilities in Florida.  The other fifteen teams facilities are located in Arizona.  In Florida, the facilities are somewhat spread out, mostly down the east and west coasts.  Going from Dunedin, where the Toronto Blue Jays train, to West Palm Beach, where the Nationals and Astros have their spring home, is a four hour (230 miles) drive.  In Arizona, all fifteen teams have their spring training facilities clustered close together in the Phoenix area.  By comparison, in Arizona the two furthest apart facilities are in Surprise (Rangers and Royals) and Mesa (A's).  The distance between Surprise and Mesa is fifty miles.

My earliest spring training journey was about a 10 mile road trip in the family Chevrolet.  Straight up Highway 37 from the dusty little town of Mulberry to Lakeland.  The spring training home of the Detroit Tigers has been in Lakeland, Fl since 1946.  I remember as a young whippersnapper going to games in Lakeland with my dad.  First to Henley Field and then to Joker Marchant Stadium on the north side of town.  In those days the Tigers were led by Hall of Famer Al Kaline.  Not only was Kaline a great player, the Tigers had great teams in those days.  They even beat Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three to win the 1968 World Series.  While I may not remember where I left my keys or wallet ten minutes ago, I can still name the starting lineup for that 68 Tigers team.

Henley Field as it looked in the 60's

Joker Marchant Stadium current home of the Tigers

My first two years of college (75-77) were at Polk Community College in Winter Haven.  At that time the Boston Red Sox held their spring training in Winter Haven at Chain of Lakes park.  When the choice arose, go to class or head to the ballpark, the lure of the ballpark often won the battle.  Among the Red Sox stars of that time were; Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk and Carl Yastrzemski.  Rice, Fisk and Yastrzemski are all now in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Winter Haven's Chain of Lakes Park, former home of the Boston Red Sox

Early in our marriage we lived in Port Charlotte, Florida.  In 1988 the Texas Rangers moved their spring training headquarters to a new facility built by Charlotte County.  Somewhere there is a picture of Ben attending his first baseball game with Beth and I.  He was around six weeks old at the time.  Ben's favorite team, the Tampa Bay Rays hold their spring training there now.  One of these days the three of us are going to have to go to a game there and recreate the photo.  I'm sure Ben will look good sitting in his mom's lap!

While living in Texas, getting to spring training games took a backseat to family and career.  Since retiring back in 2016, getting to spring training games has once again become something that I've enjoyed.  Especially since it often involves spending time with family.   A couple of years ago Beth, Ben and I enjoyed taking in a few Cactus League games in Arizona.  In March, 2018 I got to take James to his first spring training game at LECOM Park (Pittsburgh Pirates) in Bradenton.  It was a miserably hot March day, with the temperature tipping 90 degrees.  Sweet Baby James, as he was known back then didn't last too long.  After a couple of innings he, Sarah and I were headed back to the air conditioning at NaNa's house.  Ben, Steve and Marilyn stayed for most of the game before succumbing (literally) to the heat.

We didn't last long, but here's Sarah with James at his first spring training game

In a couple of weeks Ben is coming down.  He really needs a "spring break".  The high temperature up where he's living in Pennsylvania is going to be in the teens tomorrow, and "spring" is still a ways away.  He, Beth and I are going to take in a couple of Yankee games in Tampa (Thanks Karan and John!).  We're also planning on a game in Bradenton (Pirates), Port Charlotte (Rays) and possibly a Tigers game in Lakeland.
Play Ball!