Cactus League venues in the Phoenix area are special places. Diehard fans come to shower their favorite team and favorite players with love. And money.
Fan momentum builds from the early days of March until most of the nation celebrates the rites of spring-Spring Break! Then the turnstiles hum and volunteers can't take in the money fast enough in the team shops and the concession stands. It's a wonderful time of year. It makes one feel great to be alive. The smell of orange blossoms fills the air on the drive to the park through tree lined side streets and thoroughfares. Yes, cactus can be seen everywhere. Especially the tall, regal saguaros with aging arms and holes within that have been produced by curious woodpeckers and other birds. Once inside the gate of the ballpark, the scent of hot dogs being cooked over open charcoal fires takes over. Scent is too gentle a word. It's actually an overpoweringly fantastic smell that grips even those watching their cholesterol and fat intake. Few can resist!
Each Phoenix area park has some unique features. Lets look at some of my favorites:
Scottsdale Stadium-home of the San Francisco Giants
This is probably my favorite park of all.
To me, Scottsdale Stadium is one of the best of the lot.
It is difficult to describe the atmosphere at a Giants home game. It has to be experienced to be believed. Scottsdale is a rather upscale city with a history of quaint shops, great restaurants, wonderful hotels, superb night life and Scottsdale Stadium. Fans pour into the park just to be seen and to see. They also like to hear, touch, smell and taste. It is a sensory bonanza. The variety of food items available provide the sounds of sizzle and pop as they prepare and simmer for the onslaught of hungry fans.
In right field the grand daddy of the "private party" function areas awaits invited guests. Wrist bands allow access to the chosen hundreds. Beer flows like the days of prohibition have just ended. Some say an invitation to the Giants spring training pavilion is the ultimate spring experience.
The view from on high in right field looks down to the field. Behind the pavilion, the hitters take batting practice before the game. Pitchers work in the practice bullpens a stone's throw from the adoring fans standing above. The actual playing field looks like a Normal Rockwell painting as it stretches out in front of those wandering around near the foul pole.
On most days the stands are a sea of orange. Orange shirts Orange caps with black trim. There is no question about the tenant at the park. It's the Giants. Are you hoping to watch a visiting team in Scottsdale? Get your tickets early. This place is for the fans of Willie, Willie and Barry. That would be Mays, McCovey and Bonds. Each a hero in black and orange. Willie and Willie can be seen walking around enjoying the environment. Orlando Cepeda shows up as well. What a place!
Ho Ho Kam Park-home of the Chicago Cubs
This is probably my favorite park of all.
To me, Ho Ho Kam is one of the best of the lot.
Yes, the new owners of the Cubs have indicated that Florida interests have tempted them to move spring training to the Sunshine State and the Grapefruit League. Arizona officials and Commissioner Bud Selig are doing whatever they can to keep the Cubbies in Mesa. That's where they belong.
Ho Ho Kam has some very unique features.
Naturally, the place is a sea of blue. Drive up along the side entrance and park on the grass. You might be walking beside Aramis Ramirez riding in a golf cart. Or you might see Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins signing autographs in the concourse. He'll have someone like Rollie Fingers with him.
The lineups will be posted on a white board inside the stadium and folks will crowd around as if someone was handing out free samples at Costco. Eventually, everybody gets to see the board. It just takes patience.
A table is set up inside the stadium with volunteers selling Cub yearbooks, pencils and anything one can think of that can be printed. Crowds once again.
But the best crowds are at the gift shops scattered throughout. Have time to wait? Wait you will. Cubs and Giants gear sell so fast it makes one dizzy to watch. The cash registers never stop. And the Cubs Shop really isn't a shop. The stuff is sitting in the middle of the concourse with lines and ropes separating the entrance from the exits. It's an amazing phenomenon.
There's a beer vendor at Ho Ho Kam so popular he has his own baseball card that he hands out to his legion of fans.
And Ronnie Woo Woo can be seen and heard from anywhere in the park. Say you don't know who Ronnie Woo Woo is? I can't describe him. Ask any Cub fan.
Then there's Ron Santo. People stand outside the window of the press box and ask him for his autograph. It's great to see. He signs and signs and signs and always has a smile on his face. He's an American treasure.
Maryvale Ballpark-Home of the Milwaukee Brewers
This is probably my favorite park of all.
To me, Maryvale is one of the best of the lot.
This isn't the newest park in the Cactus League, but the folks sure have a great time.
The Brewers are very accessible as they walk to and from the playing field and the practice fields.
Just like in Milwaukee, fans tailgate before the games in the parking lots outside the stadium. Brats and suds. Lots of brats and lots of suds. Smoke fills the parking areas, but there is never a problem. Of course, once inside, more brats and more suds are consumed. Isn't the home park called Miller Park? Well, you'll find lots of Mr. Miller's products in Maryvale.
The highlight of the day is the beloved Sausage Race. There's the Italian, The Hot Dog, the Polish and usually a couple more of these tall sausage characters racing down the right field foul line between innings late in the game. Do the fans get into this? You betcha. Ya hey! And afte "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" is sung in the 7th inning, an organ rendition of "Beer Barrel Polka" blasts loudly over the speakers. The fans eat it up.
Maryvale is also the home of the greatest tasting, freshest Kettle Corn known to man. The family running the stand can't pop it fast enough. Fantastic smell. Fantastic taste. And right down the row a bit? Oriental noodles cooked with...
garlic. Oh my! How I don't like that smell. And when the wind shifts, it really makes a statement. The stand does very, very well thank you. Those noodles are extremely popular.
I can go on and on. Each park is unique. Each park is inviting and fun. Each park celebrates baseball and food. Each park beckons fans with deals on tickets and other gimmicks to draw fans. And every year the crowds get bigger and bigger. Families with kids can be seen laughing and eating. Young adults hanging out with friends over a cold beer are in view everywhere. Business people stealing an afternoon away from work enjoy their time in the sun with friends.
We want to see you in Arizona next spring. Come and watch prospects up close. Make your own conclusions about tomorrow's best players. See Aroldis Chapman for yourself. Marvel at Pablo Sandoval swinging at any pitch within the Scottsdale area code. Look out over the outfield fence and enjoy the splendor of Camelback Mountain on a gorgeous March afternoon. The sad part? Now we have to wait another 12 months. But in between we have an entire baseball season, the Instructional League and the Arizona Fall League. But really now-spring training can't arrive fast enough.
I guess they really are all my favorite park. I just love watching baseball. Especially in the spring.