Spring Training Day 4

Our fourth day featured a visit to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. It was my first visit to this facility, and it jumped to the top of my list of favorite Cactus League facilities. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies to build a great ballpark on a beautiful complex. It is 140 acres of scenic landscape with awesome views of the five surrounding mountains. It is an impressive showcase for the history and culture of the indigenous tribes.

The architecture of the stadium is different from any other - a perfect blend of the old and the new. You enter on the main level and the field is below. The front rows are slightly below field level, providing a really unique view of the action.

The game featured Colorado against the Cleveland Indians oops Guardians. Still can’t get used to that name change. The Rockies led 6-0 going into the ninth. A furious rally by Cleveland fell short, and the final was 6-4. Our favorite designated former Ranger was Guardians catcher Austin Hedges, who gets a lot of credit for the great chemistry on the Texas World Series champions.

That evening we had tickets to watch the Cubs and the Dodgers in a prospect game , but it was rained out. The locals told us it only rains twice a year in that area. So we didn’t see a game, but we witnessed a rare event. We went back to the Airbnb, ate a good dinner and packed up for the trip back to Texas.

We’re already planning next year’s pilgrimage. If you love baseball, a trip to Arizona or Florida for Spring Training should be on your bucket list. Hope you can make it!

That’s one man’s opinion - what’s yours?