Spring Training Opening Day, Surprise Stadium Arizona 2019

The day dawned sunny but cold and snow still topped the nearby mountains. The crowds came bundled in attire usually not suited to the Arizona desert, even in February. No matter, the faithful fans were here as the ritual that is Spring Training begins anew. On opening day the two teams that call the stadium home face off so at Surprise Stadium that meant the Texas Rangers would take on the Kansas City Royals.

In the Pro Shop everything was ready, almost like Christmas morning, and many of the fans headed there before even finding their seats to snag this year's must-have Spring Training hats, shirts and accoutrements. I arrived way early to take some pictures of the stadium while it was still peaceful and quiet fully knowing that in just a few hours the stands would be full of folks intent on believing that this year, maybe just this year, their team would be golden and still playing come October. So much to happen before then and for many young players trying to make the squads the opportunities are enormous and potentially lifechanging. To move up from the obscurity of the minor leagues  to the pros is a dream of any ball player and so few actually see it come to fruition.

I love the baseball stadium in the calm before the game. The stands sit empty, the concessions have no lines, the field immaculate in its browns and greens. Its been cold and wet since I arrived in Arizona so to see the sun peeking through was special and warming not just in a physical way. The batting cages were busy though, as the players began their warmup for the game. The crack of the bat that brings a roaring crowd to its feet is no sweeter than that of a bat ringing out against the serene backdrop of an empty stadium.

So come all you faithful fans, young and old, and watch young men pitch and hit, catch and throw in the Arizona desert. Through the last couple of years I've come to appreciate that at it's heart baseball is not just for the young, but for the young at heart. Play Ball!

Here are some shots from my early morning ramblings through Surprise Stadium...