The Spring Training Tradition

Spring Break '06, my senior year at Chico State. All my spring break plans had fallen through, so instead I decided to go home to Lake Tahoe. My Dad decided we should go somewhere warm, so he kidnapped me and our Spring Training Tradition was started...

We had plane tickets, but got to Arizona without a hotel room or game tickets. Our flight landed around 12:30 and we picked up a spring training map from the people at Hertz. They told us the Brewers game started at 1 and we could probably make it by the 2nd inning. We did, and before we knew it we were at a ball game, sitting right behind home plate, eating nachos, pretzels and drinking ice cold beer, in March.
We woke up early day 2 and checked out the Cubs practice facility. It was so open and fan inviting. We were literally mingling with the players and coaches. We decided to head out and get tickets to the Cubs game for that day. We missed the entrance to the stadium, had to turn around, and ended up pulling up on the street in front. I stayed in the card and Dad ran to get tickets. When he came back he had good news and bad news. The bad news; the game was sold out. The good news; right as he was being told there were no tickets, a season ticket holder at the window next to him was turning in two tickets for that game. What are the chances!? The trip was amazing, and we knew it had to become a tradition.

Spring Training '07 we decided to include the rest of the family; my Mom and Brother came along for the weekend. Adding other people to the mix changed the dynamic of the trip. They aren't the passionate baseball fanatics that Dad and I are, but it was a great family weekend. We decided it was back to just the two of us though.

Spring Training '08 had a different location. We passed up Arizona that year to go to Seattle WA and meet the newest member of the Evans family. Tristan Robert Evans was born January 21, 2008. I am the proud aunty of the most amazing little boy ever. He's the only thing worth missing spring training for.

Spring Training '09...The Dodgers are in Arizona!! How awesome is this? We bought tickets to check out the Dodgers all 3 days we were in town. In addition to checking out the Cubs practices, we now got the opportunity to go explore Camelback Ranch. The new home for the Los Angeles Dodgers. That trip included a lifesaver throw into one of Camelback Ranch's lakes and a $20,000 batting practice ball...

Spring Training '10...Countdown to Arizona... 14 Days...


I LOVE THIS GAME