We’re now at the end of the third week of the major league baseball season, and if you’re a baseball fan it’s not too early, if you can swing it, to think about going to a Spring Training game in Phoenix or Florida next March. If you grew up or still live in a cold climate with miserable winters, you know that Spring Training is a sign that winter will soon end. And if you’re a baseball fan you know that, when you hear the words “pitchers and catchers reporting” (to Spring Training camp), all is well.
Because I live within a day’s drive of Phoenix and am a life-long White Sox fan, I try to get to at least one or two Spring Training games every year. This year was no exception, and I made my annual pilgrimage to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona last month.
Camelback Ranch is one the ten Spring Training camps in the Phoenix area and is where both the White Sox and the Dodgers train for their upcoming season. The complex includes a main ballpark shared by the Sox and Dodgers and a set of six baseball fields and other training facilities for each team. The entire complex including the parking lots covers 141 acres and cost over $100 million dollars to build. The place is wonderful.
As you can see the complex is quite extensive.
You’ll pass a set of saguaro cactus as you enter the complex. There is an “Arizona” feel throughout the complex.
If you’ve never been to Spring Training, there are two distinct experiences available to you. One, and the most common, is to attend an actual Spring Training game in the main ballpark. The other is to arrive two, three, or even four hours before game time to have time to wander around Camelback Ranch checking out the action in the practice fields. For my money, wandering around the practice ballfields is as good, if not better, than the regular game.
If you walk to the Dodger side of the complex, you’ll be greeted by a life size bobble head of Tommy Lasorda.
If you continue walking through the Dodger complex you’ll go through a walk of fame honoring Dodger All Stars.
There are plenty of reminders to let you know that you are in Dodger country.
A little later on you’ll find oversize baseballs honoring Dodger Hall-of-Famers.
But enough of the Dodgers, I’m here for the White Sox.
As you walk from one practice field to another, you might find a “B” game (an extra game to help the manager decide who he wants on the team) in one field and then find other players practicing their hitting and fielding in an adjacent field. If you keep walking and wander out to the “backfields”, you might see one or more minor league games in progress. And if you’re lucky, you might even find a player or group of players from the major league club working out of sight in the “backfields” on mechanics or in a controlled simulated game where they practice what to do in different situations. No matter where you turn in the complex you’ll find something going on, and if you hang around long enough, there’s a good chance you’ll get a baseball to take home with you.
Here’s a group of Sox players taking batting practice. What’s great about this vantage point is that you’re close enough to hear all of the sounds of baseball: the crack of the bat, the slap of the ball landing in leather, the plop of a ball hitting the ground. You’re also in a great place to get a baseball. Especially if you’re a little girl. I saw one nine year old girl scam a baseball from nine different players.
At Camelback Ranch you can get within inches of the action. As you can see, this group of minor leaguers probably just finished a team meeting and are heading out to the backfields. Pretty soon it will be time to check out what’s going on out back.
As you head out to the backfields you’ll have a chance to see several water birds in the pond that separates the White Sox practice fields from the Dodger fields. If you’re lucky, you might see a baseball bobbing in the pond.
Even better, you might spot a baseball that went unnoticed to take home with you.
When I reached the backfields, players were stretching and working out in three different fields.
In a fourth field something was going on to warrant the attention of White Sox manager Robin Ventura.
Robin was watching White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper working with Sox pitcher Mat Latos on his mechanics. Somebody did something because Latos has been fantastic this season. He is 3 – 0 with a 0.49 ERA. Let’s hope is doesn’t wear off.
After a successfully walk around the practice diamonds, it was time to head to the main ballpark (with the baseball I found) for the regular Spring Training game.
Most fans enter the ballpark through the center field plaza.
The other side of this sign shows the location of the Dodger teams.
Here the main ballpark from center field. By game time the grassy area will be filled with fans having a picnic.
Before the game, the Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance.
Not only is there game on the field, there is plenty going on all around the ballpark.
Out in right field, Eric Karros and Dan Plesac from the MLB Network were getting ready for a live broadcast.
As you can see the grassy areas did fill up quite nicely.
With a White Sox victory, it was time to leave Camelback Ranch with a baseball in my pocket and great day under my belt. For a baseball fan it doesn’t get better than this!
May 1, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Great article David. One of these years I’ll make it to Spring Training. So far, the White Sox are having a great season.
GO SOX!