Cactus League Primer

Jason Michael Barker

Curious about where your favorite team trains? Great. Planning a trip to Spring Training and wondering how to get tickets? Even better. Simply want to know when pitchers and catchers are reporting? We've got that too, plus complete spring schedules. It's right all here for your perusal, provided the team you're looking for is in the Cactus (Arizona) League. Look for the Grapefruit (Florida) League edition Thursday morning on Strikethree.com.

Anaheim Angels
Park: Tempe Diablo Stadium -- Tempe, Arizona
Capacity: 9,785 (includes lawn)
Tickets: 1-888-99-HALOS
Pitchers and catchers report: February 17
Full squad reports: February 23
First home game: March 5 vs. Oakland, 1:05 p.m.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Park: Tucson Electric Park -- Tucson, Arizona
Capacity: 11,000
Tickets: (520) 434-1111
Pitchers and catchers report: February 17
Full squad reports: February 23
First home game: March 5 vs. Chicago White Sox, 1:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs
Park: HoHoKam Park -- Mesa, Arizona
Capacity: 12,575
Tickets: (610) 964-4467
Pitchers and catchers report: February 20
Full squad reports: February 26
First home game: March 5 vs. Seattle, 1:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox
Park: Tucson Electric Park -- Tucson, Arizona
Capacity: 11,000
Tickets: 1-888-683-3900
Pitchers and catchers report: February 19
Full squad reports: February 24
First home game: March 5 vs. Arizona (split-squad), 1:05 p.m.

Colorado Rockies
Park: Hi Corbett Field -- Tucson, Arizona
Capacity: 9,500
Tickets: (520) 327-9467
Pitchers and catchers report: February 18
Full squad reports: February 24
First home game: March 4 vs. Arizona, 1:05 p.m.

Milwaukee Brewers
Park: Maryvale Baseball Park -- Maryvale, Arizona
Capacity: 8,000 (includes 1,000 lawn)
Tickets: (602) 247-7177
Pitchers and catchers report: February 19
Full squad reports: February 25
First home game: March 4 vs. Oakland, 1:05 p.m.

Oakland Athletics
Park: Phoenix Municipal Stadium -- Phoenix, Arizona
Capacity: 8,500
Tickets: (602) 392-0217
Pitchers and catchers report: February 20
Full squad reports: February 25
First home game: March 6 vs. Arizona, 1:05 p.m.

San Diego Padres
Park: Peoria Stadium -- Peoria, Arizona
Capacity: 10,000 (including lawn)
Tickets: 1-800-409-1511
Pitchers and catchers report: February 18
Full squad reports: February 24
First home game: March 5 vs. Milwaukee, 1:05 p.m.

San Francisco Giants
Park: Scottsdale Stadium -- Scottsdale, Arizona
Capacity: 10,500 (including lawn)
Tickets: (602) 990-7972
Pitchers and catchers report: February 18
Full squad reports: February 25
First home game: March 6 vs. Milwaukee, 1:05 p.m.

Seattle Mariners
Park: Peoria Stadium -- Peoria, Arizona
Capacity: 10,000 (including lawn)
Tickets: (602) 878-4337
Pitchers and Catchers report: February 17
Full squad reports: February 23
First home game: March 6 vs. San Diego, 1:05 p.m.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker once thought they called it the Cactus league because you got extra points for hitting live cacti in the outfield. Plead with him not to mention this to the MTV Rock 'n' Jock people at jmb@strikethree.com.