GetOut Magazine

Cactus League heats up
By JESS HARTER
Get Out
Feb. 27, 2003

A couple of months ago, the Anaheim Angels topped the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. This weekend, the two teams both of which train in the East Valley meet again, although considerably less will be on the line.

The monthlong Cactus League begins exhibition games Feb. 27. The weekend's marquee matchup will take place 1:05 p.m. March 1 when the world champion Angels face the runner-up Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.

Of course, spring training games are the teams opportunity to look at younger players, so don't expect highly paid stars such as the Giants Barry Bonds or the Angels Troy Glaus to play more than a few innings, if at all, in any given game.

The 12-team Cactus League has three teams that train in the East Valley: The Angels practice and play their home games at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium and the fan-favorite Chicago Cubs at Mesa's Hohokam Park.

The Oakland Athletics are based at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on the Tempe-Phoenix border.

Four teams call the West Valley home. The Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres train in Peoria. Two Cactus League newcomers the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers will make their Arizona debuts in Surprise.

The remaining three Cactus teams the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies train in Tucson.

While Florida's rival Grapefruit League may boast more teams 18 to the Cactus League's 12 Arizona has virtually all the individual award winners from the 2002 season, including:
Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, who won the National League's Most Valuable Player award;
Athletics shortstop Miguel Tejada, who won the American League's Most Valuable Player award;
Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, who finished 1-2 in the National League Cy Young voting;
Athletics pitcher Barry Zito, who won the American League Cy Young;
Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez, who led the American League in home runs and runs batted in.

Contact Jess Harter at or .

CACTUS LEAGUE SCHEDULE
Games begin at 1:05 p.m., unless noted
(ss) denotes split squad

Feb. 27
Texas vs. Kansas City at Surprise (charity)
Arizona vs. Colorado at Tucson
Oakland vs. Milwaukee at Maryvale
Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale
Seattle vs. San Diego at Peoria (charity)

Feb. 28
Kansas City vs. Texas at Surprise
Milwaukee vs. Oakland at Phoenix,
Chicago White Sox vs. Arizona at Tucson
San Francisco vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
Seattle (ss) vs. San Diego at Peoria
Seattle (ss) vs. Anaheim at Tempe

March 1
Arizona vs. Chicago White Sox at Tucson
Oakland vs. Kansas City at Surprise
San Diego vs. Seattle at Peoria
Texas vs. Colorado at Tucson
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee at Maryvale
Anaheim vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale

March 2
Seattle vs. San Diego at Peoria
Kansas City vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
Chicago White Sox vs. Arizona (ss) at Tucson
Milwaukee vs. Texas at Surprise
San Francisco vs. Oakland at Phoenix,
Colorado (ss) vs. Anaheim at Tempe
Colorado (ss) vs. Arizona (ss) at Tucson 7:05 p.m.

March 3
Milwaukee (ss) vs. Anaheim at Tempe
San Francisco vs. Chicago White Sox at Tucson
Seattle vs. Kansas City at Surprise
Arizona vs. Oakland at Phoenix
Milwaukee (ss) vs. Chicago Cubs (ss) at Mesa
Chicago Cubs (ss) vs. Colorado at Tucson
Texas vs. San Diego at Peoria

March 4
San Diego vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale
Anaheim vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
Colorado vs. Arizona at Tucson
Chicago White Sox vs. Texas at Surprise
Milwaukee vs. Seattle at Peoria
Kansas City vs. Oakland at Phoenix

March 5
Seattle (ss) vs. Anaheim at Tempe
Colorado vs. Kansas City at Surprise
San Francisco (ss) vs. Arizona (ss) at Tucson
Texas vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
Oakland vs. Milwaukee at Maryvale
Chicago White Sox (ss) vs. San Diego at Peoria
Seattle (ss) vs. San Francisco (ss) at Scottsdale
Arizona (ss) vs. Chicago White Sox (ss) at Tucson, 7:05 p.m.

March 6
Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale
Chicago White Sox vs. Milwaukee at Maryvale
San Diego vs. Colorado at Tucson
Anaheim (ss) vs. Arizona at Tucson
Oakland (ss) vs. Seattle at Peoria
Texas vs. Kansas City at Surprise
Oakland (ss) vs. Anaheim (ss) at Tempe

March 7
Milwaukee vs. Anaheim at Tempe
San Diego vs. Chicago White Sox at Tucson
San Francisco vs. Seattle at Peoria
Oakland vs. Texas at Surprise
Arizona vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
Kansas City vs. Colorado at Tucson

March 8
Milwaukee vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale
Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
San Diego vs. Arizona at Tucson
Colorado vs. Texas at Surprise
Kansas City vs. Seattle at Peoria
Anaheim vs. Oakland at Phoenix

March 9
Texas vs. Anaheim (ss) at Tempe
Oakland (ss) vs. Chicago White Sox (ss) at Tucson 1:05 p.m.
San Francisco (ss) vs. Kansas City at Surprise
Chicago Cubs (ss) vs. Oakland (ss) at Phoenix
Seattle vs. Colorado (ss) at Tucson
Chicago Cubs (ss) vs. San Diego at Peoria
Arizona vs. Milwaukee at Maryvale
Anaheim (ss) vs. San Francisco (ss)at Scottsdale, 1:05
p.m.
Colorado (ss) vs. Chicago White Sox (ss) at Tucson 7:05 p.m.

March 10
Texas vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale
Chicago White Sox vs. Colorado at Tucson
Seattle vs. Arizona at Tucson
Milwaukee vs. Kansas City at Surprise
Anaheim vs. San Diego at Peoria, 7:05 p.m.
Oakland vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, 7:05 p.m.

March 11
San Francisco vs. Anaheim at Tempe
Seattle vs. Chicago White Sox at Tucson
Colorado vs. Oakland at Phoenix
Arizona vs. Texas at Surprise
Kansas City vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
Milwaukee vs. San Diego at Peoria

March 12
San Francisco (ss) vs. Milwaukee at Maryvale
San Diego vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa
Colorado vs. Arizona at Tucson
Chicago White Sox vs. Oakland at Phoenix
Anaheim vs. Kansas City at Surprise
San Francisco (ss) vs. Seattle (ss) at Peoria
Texas vs. Seattle (ss) at Peoria 7:05 p.m.

March 13
Padres vs. Anaheim, at Tempe
Giants vs. Royals, at Surprise
Rockies (ss) vs. Mariners, at Peoria
White Sox (ss) vs. Diamondbacks, at Tucson
Rangers vs. Brewers, at Maryvale
White Sox (ss) vs. Rockies (ss), at Tucson

March 14
Diamondbacks vs. Giants, at Scottsdale
Royals vs. Padres, at Peoria
Mariners vs. Brewers, at Maryvale
Athletics (ss) vs. Rockies, at Tucson
Athletics (ss) vs. Cubs (ss), at Mesa
Anaheim vs. Rangers, at Surprise
Cubs (ss) vs. White Sox, at Tucson

March 15
Cubs vs. Anaheim, at Tempe
Brewers (ss) vs. White Sox, at Tucson
Rangers (ss) vs. Royals, at Surprise
Mariners (ss) vs. Athletics, at Phoenix
Diamondbacks vs. Rockies, at Tucson
Giants (ss) vs. Padres, at Peoria
Mariners (ss) vs. Giants (ss), at Scottsdale
Rangers (ss) vs. Brewers (ss), at Maryvale (n)

March 16
White Sox (ss) vs. Giants, at Scottsdale
Anaheim (ss) vs. Brewers, at Maryvale
Rockies vs. Cubs, at Mesa
White Sox (ss) vs. Diamondbacks (ss), at Tucson
Padres vs. Rangers, at Surprise
Athletics (ss) vs. Mariners, at Peoria
Anaheim (ss) vs. Athletics (ss), at Phoenix
Royals vs. Diamondbacks (ss), at Hermosillo, MEX, 2:05 p.m.

March 17
Anaheim vs. White Sox, at Tucson
Cubs vs. Royals, at Surprise
Rangers vs. Athletics, at Phoenix
Diamondbacks vs. Rockies, at Tucson
Padres vs. Brewers, at Maryvale

March 18
Giants (ss) vs. Rangers, at Surprise
Cubs vs. Mariners (ss), at Peoria
Royals vs. White Sox, at Tucson
Athletics vs. Anaheim, at Tempe
Mariners (ss) vs. Giants (ss), at Scottsdale

March 19
Rockies vs. White Sox, at Tucson
Brewers (ss) vs. Athletics, at Phoenix, 12:05 p.m.
Anaheim (ss) vs. Cubs (ss), at Mesa
Cubs (ss) vs. Brewers (ss), at Maryvale
Giants vs. Anaheim (ss), at Tempe
Diamondbacks vs. Padres, at Peoria (n)

March 20
Rockies vs. Giants, at Scottsdale
Cubs vs. Padres, at Peoria
Brewers vs. Diamondbacks, at Tucson
Royals vs. Rangers, at Surprise (n)

March 21
Padres vs. Royals, at Surprise
White Sox vs. Anaheim, at Tempe
Cubs vs. Diamondbacks, at Tucson
Giants vs. Rockies, at Tucson
Rangers vs. Brewers, at Maryvale

March 22
Royals vs. Padres (ss), at Peoria
Giants vs. Cubs, at Mesa
Rockies vs. Diamondbacks (ss), at Tucson
Anaheim vs. Rangers, at Surprise
White Sox vs. Brewers, at Maryvale
Diamondbacks (ss) vs. Padres (ss), at Yuma
Athletics vs. Yomiuri Giants, at Tokyo, 7:05 p.m.
Mariners vs. Seibu Lions, at Tokyo, 12:00 p.m.

March 23
Rangers vs. White Sox, at Tucson
Diamondbacks vs. Royals, at Surprise
Padres vs. Anaheim, at Tempe
Brewers vs. Rockies, at Tucson
Cubs vs. Giants, at Scottsdale
Athletics vs. Daiei Hawks, at Tokyo
Mariners vs. Yomiuri Giants, at Tokyo

March 24
Diamondbacks vs. Giants, at Scottsdale
White Sox vs. Rockies, at Tucson
Brewers vs. Cubs, at Mesa
Padres vs. Rangers, at Surprise
Royals vs. Anaheim, at Tempe

March 25
White Sox vs. Royals, at Surprise
Rangers vs. Diamondbacks, at Tucson
Anaheim vs. Rockies, at Tucson
Giants vs. Brewers, at Maryvale
Chicago vs. Padres, at Peoria (n)

March 26
Royals vs. Giants (ss), at Scottsdale
Diamondbacks vs. Padres, at Peoria
Brewers vs. Rangers, at Surprise
Anaheim vs. Cubs, at Mesa
Rockies vs. White Sox, at Tucson
Giants (ss) vs. Fresno, at Fresno, Calif.

March 27
Cubs vs. Anaheim, at Tempe, 12:05 p.m.
Diamondbacks (ss) vs. White Sox, at Tucson, 12:05 p.m.
Padres vs. Brewers, at Maryvale, 12:05 p.m.
Royals vs. Rangers, at Surprise
Diamondbacks (ss) vs. El Paso, at El Paso, Rangers, 6 p.m.
Rockies vs. Los Angeles, at Las Vegas, 7:10 p.m.
March 28
Padres vs. Portland, at Portland, Ore., 4:05 p.m.
Rockies vs. Royals, at Round Rock, 7:05 p.m.
Cubs vs. Diamondbacks, at Bank One Ballpark, 7:05 p.m.
Anaheim vs. Los Angeles, at Los Angeles, 7:10 p.m.
Rangers vs. Giants, at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
March 29
Royals vs. Rockies, at Round Rock,
Cubs vs. Diamondbacks, at Bank One Ballpark, 1:35 p.m.
Athletics vs. Giants, at Giants,
Rangers vs. Mariners, at Sacramento, 1:35 p.m.
Padres vs. Lake Elsinore, at Lake Elsinore, 6:05 p.m.
Los Angeles vs. Anaheim, at Anaheim, 7:05 p.m.
March 30
Mariners vs. Giants, at Giants,
Athletics vs. Sacramento, at Sacramento,
White Sox vs. Birmingham, at Birmingham,
Rockies vs. Tulsa, at Tulsa, OK, 2 p.m.
* All times listed are local times.

TEAM DETAILS:

Anaheim Angels
Where: Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda
Directions: Take Broadway Road to 48th Street; turn south; stadium is one-half mile south, on left.
Info: or www.angelsbaseball.com

Arizona Diamondbacks
Where: Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way
Directions: Exit I-10 at Kino Parkway North. Follow to Ajo Way and turn left (east) to Forgeus Avenue and turn south.
Info: or www.azdiamondbacks.com

Chicago Cubs
Where: Hohokam Park, 1235 N. Center St., Mesa
Directions: From Country Club Drive, turn east at Brown Road; north at Center Street; park is one block north on right.
Info: or www.cubs.com

Chicago White Sox
Where: Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way
Directions: Exit I-10 at Kino Parkway North. Follow to Ajo Way and turn left (east) to Forgeus Avenue and turn south.
Info: or www.whitesox.com

Colorado Rockies
Where: Hi Corbett Field, 3400 E. Camino Campestre, Tucson
Directions: Exit I-10 at Broadway Road and travel east; turn right at Randolph Way; stadium will be on right.
Info: or www.coloradorockies.com

Kansas City Royals
Where: Surprise Stadium, 15960 N. BullardAve.
Directions: Take I-10 west to Loop 101. Take Loop 101 north to Bell Road exit. Turn left on Bell Road and proceed five to six miles to Bullard Avenue. Turn left into complex.
Info: or www.kcroyals.com

Milwaukee Brewers
Where: Maryvale Baseball Park, 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix
Directions: From I-10, exit at 51st Avenue; travel north two miles; complex is on the left.
Info: or www.milwaukeebrewers.com

Oakland Athletics
Where: Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 5999 E. Van Buren St.
Directions: From I-10, take 48th Street and exit east (road turns into 44th Street); continue three-fourths of a mile to Van Buren Street and turn right; stadium is on the right.
Info: or www.oaklandathletics.com

San Diego Padres
Where: Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave.
Directions: From I-17, exit at Bell Road; travel west and turn left on 83rd Avenue. From I-10, exit 99th Avenue and travel north; 99th Avenue turns into Loop 101; take the Bell Road exit east and turn left on 83rd Avenue.
Info: or www.padres.com

San Francisco Giants
Where: Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road
Directions: Stadium is two blocks east of Scottsdale Road at the intersection of Osborn Road and Civic Center Drive.
Info: or www.sfgiants.com

Seattle Mariners
Where: Peoria Sports Complex, 15707 N. 83rd Ave.
Directions: From I-17, exit at Bell Road; travel west and turn left on 83rd Avenue. From I-10, exit 99th Avenue and travel north; 99th Avenue turns into Loop 101; take the Bell Road exit east and turn left on 83rd Avenue.
Info: or www.seattlemariners.com

Texas Rangers
Where: Surprise Stadium, 15960 N. Bullard Ave.
Directions: Take I-10 west to Loop 101. Take Loop 101 north to Bell Road exit. Turn left on Bell Road and proceed five to six miles to just past complex at Parkview Place. Turn left on Parkview Place to Major League Boulevard. Turn left into facility.
Info: or www.texasrangers.com