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Stadium guide, photos and tips for a big-league experience at Spring Training in Arizona.

Spring Training
A Guide to the Arizona's Cactus League Baseball

It's fun to spend a day in the sun at the intimate Spring Training venues

The crack of bats, the pop of baseballs hitting leather gloves, the sights of sitting in the sunshine on a beautiful day watching a big-league sport in a small-league setting.

This is Spring Training in Arizona's Cactus League. Phoenix, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, Tempe and even a town called Surprise are host to 12 major league teams playing in nine stadiums in the beautiful Western desert.

The relative compactness of the area makes this a far better place than Florida's Grapefruit League to see a multitude of games and teams in a short timeframe. While Florida has teams spread out all over the state, those in Arizona are confined to basically a single city and its suburbs.

Batter up! Places like Scottsdale Stadium are great for sliding into a seat.

And it's a hit among fans. Each March, snowbirds flock down from cold northern cities anxious for a bit of the good 'ol summertime in the springtime. Southern Californians – known for their love of carefree days in the sunshine – slide into town for a day, days or a weekend. It's even a big attraction for locals, who turn out to see the scene. There are six games nearly every day of the week, top pros play alongside prospects and the relaxed pace of practice and even games creates an atmosphere so fine that fans don't care if they ever go back. Batter up!

Many of the people are found at the 12,500-seat Hohokam Park in Mesa. They have winged it here to avoid the winter winds of Chicago (though they might be quite surprised to learn it snowed in Phoenix in January '07). They are joined by others from the area or all over the place, displaced Chicagoans who want to see if this is the year their beloved team finally has the tools to make it to the World Series. This makes Cubs' games the toughest ticket in the towns. Everyone, except of course anyone with a billygoat, wants to see the Cubbies.

Ballparks and beer, an American tradition, is especially refreshing at Spring Training.

One of the more pleasant places is Scottsdale Stadium. Spring home to the San Francisco Giants, it's mere walking distance of downtown Scottsdale's many restaurants – and bars. And since afternoon cocktails are a favorite locals' pastime, this enables game-goers to easily indulge in a little of the area's culture.

Of prime local interest is Tuscon Electric Park, home of the hometown Arizona Diamondbacks. They share the facility with the Chicago White Sox. For those looking for a fly in/fly out day at the ballpark, Tempe's Diablo Stadium is just minutes from Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport. And don't think people from Orange County don't do just this – it's where to catch the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

So for taking one's self out to the ol' ballgame, there's not place like Spring Training in Arizona.

From behind home plate at Maryvale Baseball Park for an A's game.

SPRING TRAINING TIPS – Practices start either at 8 or 9 in the morning and usually go until about 1 p.m...Most games begin at 1:05...Daylight Savings Time, which begins March 11, is not observed in Arizona...One cool tip is to check out the "B" Games, morning encounters that feature rookies and other prospects trying to make the big-league club...Be prepared for the SUN. It is WARM in the Arizona desert, so bring sunscreen and drink plenty of water...Players with high numbers – 60s, 70s – are unlikely to make the big-league roster...Approach players for autographs. Some my comply and some may not, but it's certainly more a relaxed environment to ask than a big-league game...Best place to stay – and play? That's easy. Old Town Scottsdale.

© 2007. All rights reserved.

• The Phoenix Open – Scottsdale's Biggest Party
• Phoenix/Scottsdale Bar Guide

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