It's that time of year again. Here in Arizona both the locals and the winter visitors are eagerly awaiting the beginning of Spring Training for Major League Baseball. Affectionately referred to as the Cactus League (Grapefruit League is in Florida), there are now 13 teams that come to Arizona for Spring Training baseball, and in 2010 another team will be added to the list.
The 2009 season will see several changes,including two new stadiums, one team moving here from Florida (Cleveland Indians) and one team moving from Tucson to Glendale (White Sox). That makes 12 teams that come to the Phoenix area (Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox) and two in Tucson (Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies) to get their workout before the real season begins.
In 2010 the Cincinnati Reds will also move here from Florida's Grapefruit League.
For the fans Spring Training means great games, great players, jumbo hot dogs, cheap tickets, and the opportunity to get up close and personal with the athletes. Why, I've even heard that some adults sneak out of work on a few of those glorious, warm March days to soak in the sun and hear the crack of the bat. Say it isn't so! (Yup, it is!) There are plenty of Cactus League games, but some tickets, especially for those Cubbies, can be difficult to get.
The 2009 Spring Training exhibition schedule begins on February 25 and continues through April 2, 2009.
Here is how the teams of Arizona's Cactus League finished up last year's regular season.
Cactus League Teams 2008 Regular Season Results
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
(W/L): 100 / 62
Finished in their division: 1st place
Oakland Athletics
(W/L): 75 / 86
Finished in their division: 3rd place
Milwaukee Brewers
(W/L): 90 / 72
Finished in their division: 2nd place
Chicago Cubs
(W/L): 97 / 64
Finished in their division: 1st place
Arizona Diamondbacks
(W/L): 82 / 80
Finished in their division: 2nd place
Los Angeles Dodgers
(W/L): 84 / 78
Finished in their division: 1st place
San Francisco Giants
(W/L): 72 / 90
Finished in their division: 4th place
Cleveland Indians
(W/L): 81 / 81
Finished in their division: 3rd place
Seattle Mariners
(W/L): 61 / 101
Finished in their division: 4th place
San Diego Padres
(W/L): 63 / 99
Finished in their division: 5th place
Texas Rangers
(W/L): 79 / 83
Finished in their division: 2nd place
Colorado Rockies
(W/L): 74 / 88
Finished in their division: 3rd place
Kansas City Royals
(W/L): 75 / 87
Finished in their division: 4th place
Chicago White Sox
(W/L): 89 / 74
Finished in their division: 1st place
Everything you need to know to get in on Cactus League action -- team schedules, tickets, stadium information, maps, team gear, photos -- can be found in the Arizona Spring Training, Cactus League Guide.
