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“Scenes From Spring Training” Photo Gallery
Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery:
Spring Training, Part I: Let’s Play Ball!
If this photo won’t take your mind off winter and put you in the mood for baseball, nothing will!
The snow is deep…the air is cold…the Superbowl is over. And now the players are packing their bags and heading south for warmer climes! Those wonderful words we all love to hear, “Pitchers and Catchers Report” is now a reality. Camps are opening this week.
With spring training upon us, it’s time to repost one of my favorite pics: It’s the Cubbies and Orioles at spring training in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. That’s Camelback Mountain in the background. Check out the photographers right on the field. And how about those beautiful “azure skies,” as Harry Caray used to say. All of a sudden the winter doesn’t seem so bad…so what if we just got a foot of snow in Chicago this week…spring training is here!
(Excuse me while I go start up my snow blower and clear away last night’s snow fall. I’ll be right back…)
OK…I’m back! I’m starting to warm up just looking at this pic…It’s therapeutic!
Thanks to Karl Isenberger who did a lot of research on this great photo a couple years ago when I first posted it. Analyzing the Cubs uniforms and using the 1956 Orioles Media Guide as a reference, Karl was able to determine that this was probably the very first game played at old Scottsdale Stadium on March 10, 1956 between the visiting Cubs and home team Orioles. The Cubs won the game 3-2 on a home run by Ernie Banks.
Karl also mentioned that “five photographers on the field trying to catch the out in a spring training game would be unusual otherwise, so there’s also a very good chance this is a photo from the top of the first inning and that’s the very first batter in the new stadium and the five photographers are trying to record the historic event.” I concur.
We came up with some identifications for the players in the photo. I initially thought the tall blonde pitcher on the left in the Cubs’ bullpen was 6’4″ Bob Anderon who I well remember from my early days as a Cub fan. I remember Bob Anderson as being a huge blond guy. But thanks to James Montemurro for pointing out that Anderson did not wear glasses (something I didn’t pick up in the photo), and is more likely 6’4″ Jim Brosnan.
The base runner is probably Don Hoak, the Cubs’ leadoff man for most of the year. The left-handed first baseman is probably African-American Bob Boyd of the Orioles. The first base coach is slightly visible behind one of the photographers. That’s probably Ray Blades.
Both the Cubs and the Orioles had forgettable seasons in 1956. The Cubs under Stan Hack went 60-94, finishing dead last in the eight-team National League. The Orioles, managed by Paul Richards, and three years removed from being the St. Louis Browns, went 69-85 and ended up slightly better with a sixth-place finish.
The original Scottsdale Stadium, pictured here, served at one time or another as the Cactus League home of the Orioles, Red Sox, Cubs, Kansas City A’s, and Giants. They were joined in the Cactus League by the Indians, the expansion Royals, Brewers, and Padres. Construction on a new Scottsdale Stadium began in 1991 and opened its doors for Spring Training in 1992 and I believe it’s still the spring home of the Giants.
What’s the temperature in Arizona right now, anyway? Anybody know?? Surely we have some lucky readers in Arizona!
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Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: Featured photo sent to me by my OTBP’s partner, Ron Bolton (not sure where he found it!); others fromGoogle search.
Information: Information on Scottsdale Stadium and the Cactus League sent to me from some of our readers
Count down to Opening Day: 41 days…and counting!
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The pitcher in the forefront sure looks like Jim Brosnan. Bob Anderson did not wear glasses.
Yep…I think you’re right. I’ll have to update the text!
The innocence and purity shown in this beautiful photograph is totally lost in today’s game. Thank you Gary for preserving what was once so special.