Picture this. You wake up in the morning and stroll peacefully outside. It's mid morning and the sun has already begun to heat the earth. It's not too hot, but certainly not cold. You hop in the car and begin cruising down the highway with the windows down, wearing a baseball cap and matching team jersey.
After an easy and relaxing ride, you arrive at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Hundreds of other cars are filing in under the Disney arch with yours. Men in orange vests with bright orange pointers direct you to a grassy field where you park. You exit the car and bustle quickly for the stadium entrance, almost at a run.
At the ticket booth you ask the lady in the Disney uniform behind the glass where the cheapest seats are. She replies, "10 bucks for the left field berm." You accept the great deal and head inside to watch some baseball. First game of the season. After a quick stop by the cart vendor, you take your spot on the berm behind the left field fence, frozen lemonade in hand with the sun warming every part of you. Tommy Hanson, an outstanding rookie last season, takes the hill for Atlanta against the New York Mets. It's baseball time.
Sounds like Heaven right?
Well, maybe not. But for those of us with a passion for baseball, and a lighthearted and carefree good time, it's the next best thing. Especially after a long and cold winter. God blessed America with Spring Training baseball.
Spring training means that it's that time again. Another marathon of a season is about to unfold, and teams are preparing for the long haul. Rookies are duking it out to find their spot on the team, managers and coaches are evaluating, old veterans loosen up their bodies to get back into top shape, and new guys attempt to show everybody what they are made of.
Spring training means a great time for the fans as well. Players sign autographs, talk to fans, and toss extra bats and balls into the stands. Fans get to see their teams early on and check out top prospects or new guys to the team, as well as enjoy watching their old favorite stars up close.
My father and I used to visit spring training (the grapefruit league in Florida) every year for my spring break from the time I was in about first grade until about eighth grade. During that time I got hundreds, I mean hundreds of autographs. Some by the likes of Chipper Jones, Pudge Rodriguez, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Lance Berkman, and so on. Many more by young guys who never made it to the bigs. I got to meet baseball legends like Tommy Lasorda and Bob Fellar. Basically, it's probably my favorite childhood memory.
When Spring Training comes around every year, baseball fans release a pent-up sigh of relief. It's that time again. Baseball is back. Summer is on its way and winter is over. And America can once again enjoy its deepest passion. America can enjoy its past time.
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