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Cactus League Legacy Trail expands to celebrate spring training’s colorful history
Feb. 29, 2012
Contact: Mike Phillips, public affairs manager, (480) 312-7825
Cactus League Legacy Trail expands to celebrate
spring training’s colorful history
The Valley’s rich history of baseball – and the timeless ritual of spring training – is celebrated this March in an expanded Cactus League Legacy Trail.
The Cactus League Legacy Trail provides fans with an intimate look at the history, hangouts and characters that make spring training one of the most cherished traditions of American baseball.
This year’s lineup includes nine additional sites in Scottsdale, Goodyear, Mesa and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Those venues plus the four original members collectively tell the story of the people and places of the Cactus League.
For dedicated “seamheads” or even the casual fan, the Cactus League Legacy Trail is a must-see journey of fun and discovery that celebrates “America’s Pastime.”
To view or download a map of sites along the Cactus League Legacy Trail,
visit: Legacy Trail.
Cracking into the lineup of the Cactus League Legacy Trail this year are:
• Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. The spring home of the San Francisco Giants is the Cactus League’s only stadium located in a downtown setting. It’s also home to the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame and the Scottsdale Sports Hall of Fame. Scottsdale Stadium’s intimate confines, historic feel and park-like setting make it one of America’s five iconic sports venues, according to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwenn Knapp. The stadium is open to the public daily and tours are available by advance appointment, except during spring training. For more information, visit: Scottsdale Stadium.
• Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Road, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Cactus League’s newest and largest complex is spring home to both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. It is the only spring training complex located on Native American lands and boasts some of the most beautiful mountain views in all of baseball. Guests can experience the rich history of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community through a Stewardship Trail and History Trail. Daily facility tours resume April 10 following the completion of spring training. For more information, visit: Salt River Fields.
• Play Ball – The Cactus League Experience exhibit at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale. This free, multimedia exhibit runs through March. Presented in partnership with the city of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Charros, it features never-before-seen items from the Giants’ time spent at the storied Buckhorn Baths in Mesa – a pioneer spring training site from the 1940s. For more information, visit: Play Ball.
• The Sugar Bowl restaurant, 4005 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Rookie ballplayers have been stopping by the Sugar Bowl for a “double frosted” ice cream treat since the 1950s. Bil Keane immortalized the Sugar Bowl in his “Family Circus” cartoons – many of which adorn the restaurant’s walls. For more information, visit: Sugar Bowl.
• The Coach House tavern, 7011 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale. This rustic landmark remains almost unchanged from the 1950s when cowboys tied up at the hitching post and the Boston Red Sox were Scottsdale’s spring training home team. For more information, visit: Coach House.
• The Italian Grotto, 3915 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Another player’s favorite located just a short walk from Scottsdale Stadium, the Italian Grotto’s memorabilia collection reflects Scottsdale’s deep ties to the Cactus League. For more information, visit: Italian Grotto.
• Karsen’s Grill, 7246 E. First St, Scottsdale. This unassuming bar and grill has become a gathering spot for Cactus League sportswriters and umpires … and fans seeking the latest scoop on their favorite teams. For more information, visit: Karsen's.
• Play Ball – The Cactus League Experience exhibit at Mesa Historical Museum downtown campus, 51 E. Main St. This year-round exhibit pays tribute to Mesa’s rich Cactus League history, dating from the 1940s. For more information, visit: Play Ball.
• Play Ball – The Cactus League Experience exhibit at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear. The Goodyear Ballpark is spring home to the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians. This exhibit focuses on the Indians’ deep Arizona roots as one of the three original Cactus League teams. For more information, visit: Play Ball.
Celebrating their second year as part of the Cactus League Legacy Trail, are these exhibits and venues …
• The Scottsdale Spring Training History exhibit at the Scottsdale Historical Museum,
7333 E. Scottsdale Mall. Scottsdale’s rich spring training history comes to life with this exhibit featuring a variety of items relating to the Cactus League and baseball greats. The exhibit will run through March. For more information, visit: Scottsdale Historical Museum.
• The spring training memorabilia collection at the new Pink Pony restaurant, 3831 N. Scottsdale Road. Hailed as the "the best baseball restaurant in the land" by New Yorker writer Roger Angell, the Pink Pony is home to unique baseball caricatures and other memorabilia reflecting 60 years of Cactus League history. For more information, visit: Pink Pony.
• The sports memorabilia collection at Don and Charlie’s restaurant, 7501 E. Camelback Road. With walls brimming with jerseys, shoes and autographs, plus a display case filled with baseballs signed by Hall of Famers, Don and Charlie’s is a museum in its own right. For more information, visit: Don and Charlie's.
• Play Ball – The Cactus League Experience exhibit at the Arizona Historical Society Museumat Papago Park, 1300 N. College Avenue, Tempe. The exhibit, presented in partnership with the Mesa Historical Museum, features historical items, photos and objects relating to the Cactus League you won’t see anywhere else. For more information, visit: Play Ball.
New this year is a “storytellers” program ... where the history of the Cactus League will come to life through multimedia presentations and discussions.
The first scheduled “storytellers” event will take place Wednesday, March 14, when travelling baseball writer Charlie Vascellaro presents a virtual tour of historic Cactus League stadiums and training fields.
Charlie’s presentation takes place at 11:15 a.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library auditorium, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
Charlie’s discussion will be the first half of a unique Cactus League doubleheader. The San Francisco Giants host the Cleveland Indians at 1:05 p.m. at Scottsdale Stadium. – just a few minutes’ walk from the library.
For more information on the Cactus League Legacy Trail and its landmarks and exhibits, visit: Legacy Trail.
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