Guide to Baseball's Spring Training: Floirda's Grapefruit League

Major League Baseball fans are blowing dust off of the cap of their favorite team and shaking out their baseball jerseys. They look to Florida for the Grapefruit League or west to Arizona to follow the Cactus League. While it has been a few months since the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series, baseball fans have been eagerly awaiting the word from spring training camps and planning trips to Florida or Arizona. Whether they are warming up like a starting pitcher or polishing their sunglasses, a true baseball fan welcomes March. It is not the madness of college basketball that excites them. It is the unfolding of the deck chair and the tinny sound of an announcer on the radio saying "Strike Three!"

The month of March is full of exhibition games and hope for each team that did not make it to the World Series last year. Everyone is back to square one. Fans are working on their fantasy baseball picks, managers are evaluating players, and some smack talk has begun. Just today, February 27, 2006, the Chicago White Sox General Manager, Kenny Williams, had words about former slugger Frank Thomas, who signed with Oakland last month and has trash-mouthed the Sox in interviews, "He's an idiot. He's selfish. That's why we don't miss him." (Dallas Morning News) Well, all right then.

Or, we have the drama of Roger Clemens, ace aging pitcher. He is coming to the Houston Astros camp to pitch to miner leaguers in a simulated game. As a free agent, Clemens was not offered salary arbitration and cannot re-sign with them until May 1st. He is still deciding whether to retire or play his 23rd season of baseball. Another round of rumors occurred when Barry Bonds did not show up on the first workout day of San Francisco Giant training camp. He did show up on Wednesday, February 22nd, and is wavering as to whether 2006 will be his last year in baseball.

Baseball offers little mini-soap operas as the characters begin to swing the bats, throw the balls, and spit out a few sunflower seeds. Let us look at the Florida Grapefruit League and various baseball sights in the Sunshine State. The Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame in Hernando, FL is north of Tampa. Before you watch the baseball players of 2006, reflect on the career of Ted Williams and other hitters such as Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Rod Carew, and Willie Mays. Visit the Huggins-Stengel Field near St.Petersburg. This little park hosted Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth back in their heyday. The field is now used for high school and college games, but statues honor its history. Beyond historical fields or museums, by attending spring training games, one can see Hall of Fame players who root for their former teams. Bob Feller of the Indians and Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson of the Yankees are just a few of the legends spending their time in Florida.

The following National League teams play in the Grapefruit League:

EastCentralWest
Atlanta BravesCincinnati RedsLos Angeles Dodgers
Florida MarlinsHouston Astros
New York MetsPittsburgh Pirates
Philadelphia PhilliesSt.Louis Cardinals
Washington Nationals

The following American League teams are also in the Grapefruit League:

EastCentral

Baltimore OriolesCleveland Indians
Boston Red SoxDetroit Tigers
New York YankeesMinnesota Twins
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Toronto Blue Jays

The March schedule allows these teams to play regardless of their league. The baseball fields in Florida are fan friendly and allow you access to autographs and a chance to be close to the players whether you scramble into the bleachers or hang by the fences. Enjoy the history of baseball spring training in Florida, and also consider any history in the making. Will a team in the Grapefruit League win the World Series in October? Mark the scorecards and analyze the players' health. Then, dial everything back to zero again for the opening day of 2006 baseball in April.

Sources:
USA Today
Dallas Morning News
Baseball Weekly

Grapefruit League - Teams and Spring Training Locations:

Atlanta Braves-Cracker Jack Stadium, 700 S.Victory Way, Kissimmee FL 34747
Baltimore Orioles-Ft.Lauderdale Stadium, 1301 NW 55th St, Ft.Lauderdale FL 33309
Boston Red Sox-City of Palms Park, 2201 Edison Ave, Ft.Myers FL 33901
Cincinnati Reds-Ed Smith Stadium, 12th and Tuttle, Sarasota FL 34237
Cleveland Indians-500 Cletus Allen Dr, Winter Haven FL 33880
Detroit Tigers-Joker Marchant Stadium,2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland FL 33805
Florida Marlins-Roger Dean Stadium,4657 Main St, Jupiter FL 33458
Houston Astros-Osceola City Stadium, 630 Heritage Park Way, Kissimmee FL 34744
Los Angeles Dodgers-Holman Stadium,4001 26th St., Vero Beach FL 32961
Minnesota Twins-Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy,Ft.Myers FL 33912
New York Mets-Tradition Field,525 NW Peacock Blvd,Port St. Lucie FL 34986
New York Yankees-Legends Field, 1 Steinbrenner Dr, Tampa FL 33614
Philadelphia Phillies-Bright House Networks Field, 601 Old Coachmen Rd Clearwater FL 33765
Pittsburgh Pirates-McKechnie Field, 17th Ave W & 9th St.W,Bradenton FL 34205
St.Louis Cardinals-Roger Dean Stadium, 4751 Main St, Jupiter FL 33458
Tampa Bay Devil Rays-Progress Energy Park (Al Lang Field), 180 2nd Ave SE, St.Petersburg FL 33701
Toronto Blue Jays-Dunedin Stadium, 373 Douglas Ave at Beltrees, Dunedin FL 34697
Washington Nationals-Space Coast Stadium, 5800 Stadium Pkwy, Viera FL 32940