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It’s spring training. Pitchers and catchers are reporting for duty. Soon we’ll be hearing the popping sound of a fastball splitting a leather mitt. Hope springs eternal. Everyone’s team is in first place. Even Cubs fans have hope, although their team hasn’t won a World Series since 1908 – but hey – as they say in Chicago, anyone can have a bad century!
I can remember attending many spring training games in West Palm Beach, Florida, my first TV reporting assignment back in the 80’s. West Palm Beach was the home of the Braves and also the Montreal Expos. And back then the Yankees trained in Ft. Lauderdale, just down the road in Broward County.
But one of my biggest thrills was playing in a celebrity Jai Alai tournament with Scott Sanderson, the ace of the Expos. ?
?Scott Sanderson Stats???
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I don’t remember the score, but I’m sure Sanderson won. Why the Expos would let their star pitcher compete in a game where he could throw his arm out is another story.
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend Cactus League games in Arizona, including this contest between the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres in Peoria.
Mariners vs. Padres in Peoria, Arizona
The great thing about the Cactus League is you can see more than a dozen teams within an hour’s drive of Phoenix, including the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale:
San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago White Sox in Scottsdale
The Texas Rangers play in nearby Surprise:
Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Surprise, Arizona
and the Oakland Athletics call Phoenix home in the spring:
Oakland A's vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Phoenix
I don’t know if I’ll be able to make spring training this year – but here’s a preview from the Los Angeles Times of things to look for this baseball season.
Isn’t it great that after a long, cold winter, Baseball is Back!
