Spring training is a time of renewal for baseball, when teams and fans descend on Florida and Arizona to begin the ever hopeful new season. The pace is a little slower, the fans are closer to the action, and the players are more accessible: the sport returns to its idyllic roots. When the first edition of this book was released, 18 of the MLB teams trained in Florida and 12 in Arizona. As 2013 arrives each league consists of 15 teams; together they utilize 14 parks in Florida and 10 in Arizona. This heavily illustrated work dedicates a chapter to each park, including modern Cactus League marvels like Camelback Ranch and Salt River Fields, and Grapefruit League bastions like Joker Marchant Stadium and McKechnie Field. Florida's Fenway Park replica, which opened in 2012, is included. In addition to profiling the five parks that have opened since the first edition, the author has updated the other chapters. Each provides a description of the park, and a recounting of its history, followed by a summary of the home team or teams' spring history. Next is a review of the park's seating, concessions and fan traditions. Each chapter concludes with information about nearby baseball landmarks and attractions.

Though it has changed some in recent years, spring training continues to be a time of renewal for baseball. Teams and fans, many from the snowy climes of the North, descend on Florida and Arizona to begin preparing for what they are sure will be a trip to the World Series. With the pace of the game a little slower, fans close to the action, and players more accessible, the sport seems to return to its roots for a brief, idyllic time. Based on the author’s visits to each of the 26 current spring training ballparks—17 in Florida and 9 in Arizona—this reference work first provides a detailed description of the ballpark as it currently exists, plus information on its history. Next comes the spring training history of the resident major league team (or teams, for the four parks that are shared), along with information about noteworthy spring training sites that were, or still are, located near the existing ballpark. Information on the area surrounding the ballpark completes the entry, focusing on other baseball and sports-related attractions in the area. An appendix provides a full listing of every major league team’s spring training sites since 1914. Heavily illustrated.

Spring training is a time of renewal for baseball, when teams and fans descend on Florida and Arizona to begin the ever hopeful new season. The pace is a little slower, the fans are closer to the action, and the players are more accessible: the sport returns to its idyllic roots. When the first edition of this book was released, 18 of the MLB teams trained in Florida and 12 in Arizona. As 2013 arrives each league consists of 15 teams; together they utilize 14 parks in Florida and 10 in Arizona. This heavily illustrated work dedicates a chapter to each park, including modern Cactus League marvels like Camelback Ranch and Salt River Fields, and Grapefruit League bastions like Joker Marchant Stadium and McKechnie Field. Florida's Fenway Park replica, which opened in 2012, is included. In addition to profiling the five parks that have opened since the first edition, the author has updated the other chapters. Each provides a description of the park, and a recounting of its history, followed by a summary of the home team or teams' spring history. Next is a review of the park's seating, concessions and fan traditions. Each chapter concludes with information about nearby baseball landmarks and attractions.

The essential travel information (ticket information, how to get to the stadium, area attractions) is supplemented by magazine-style features: sidebars, interviews and essays by the author, who visited all twenty-six major league camps for this guide.