Every year we say we’re
going to Phoenix for spring training, but then something inevitably comes along
that prevents us from going. This year we went anyway. It was our first
five-day, non-work-related vacation since Orlando in December 2010.
We stayed at the Marriott TownePlace Suites in Tempe,
across the street from Arizona Mills, the area’s largest indoor outlet mall, and within
easy walking distance of the Waffle House,
our favorite out-of-state greasy spoon diner. Baseball fans from throughout the
west and mid-west descend on Phoenix every March, so it’s no wonder every room in
our hotel was booked. With 15 teams playing in the Cactus League, fans can go to a game at one of ten different stadiums every day, if they stay long enough. We attended
three games in three days at three stadiums: Diablo, the spring training home
of the Angels, our favorite team; Surprise, located 40 grueling miles (during
rush hour traffic) from Tempe; and Goodyear, home of the Ohio teams (Cincinnati
and Cleveland).
Of the three, my favorite
ballpark was Goodyear, even though it took us an hour to get there from Tempe.
We drove through undeveloped desert land and even an Indian reservation in hopes of avoiding Friday night traffic that, quite frankly, rivals the worst of
L.A. The harrowing drive was worth it, though, when we finally arrived at the
stadium and were greeted by a brassy version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” played
by a live band. The park was lovely and we had fabulous 7th-row
seats. Plus the town of Goodyear is home to a small boneyard of retired aircraft, which we could see from the stadium parking lot—something to
investigate further next year!
The Stadiums
Diablo
Goodyear
The entrance to Goodyear Ballpark
The band
Abstract baseball structure outside the stadium
First-base line, looking toward home
Yes, we were that close—the best thing about
spring training baseball!
For Tim, it ain't baseball without a dog
Airplane boneyard in the distance
Surprise
Let's go, Angels!
Happy fans
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