Spring Training: A History

LAKE ELSINORE, CA - Since the final out of the World Series last October, baseball fans everywhere have been counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. That day has finally arrived, as Major League batteries from all 30 teams will lace up their spikes in the warmer climes of Arizona and Florida tomorrow and Thursday. 

With baseball nearly upon us, we considered crafting a brief history of preseason baseball. It just so happens that our friends at springtrainingonline.com did just that (and then some). Read their detailed account of how spring training became "Spring Training" HERE.

A few highlights:

• "The best evidence points to spring training first taking place in 1870, when the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Chicago White Stockings held organized baseball camps in New Orleans."
• Many clubs justified preseason training camp by turning their trek south into a barnstorming trip, playing exhibition games against local teams.
• During WWII, most all Major League teams played close to home, regardless of the local climate.
• The first two teams to train in Arizona were the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants, who set up shop in Tuscon and Phoenix prior to the 1947 season.

Check out the rest of the article HERE.