Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; distances less than 1/2 mile at a time; paved, flat surfaces; some stairs at the stadium. Free Old Town Trolley available for transfer from hotel to stadium.
In the hotel dining room, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs and omelets cooked to order, breakfast meats, oatmeal, fruit, and toast, plus juice, coffee, tea, water.
Throughout the program, we’ll meet wonderful baseball personalities who have intimate and often long histories with the game. Sports writer Charlie Vascellaro will join us and provide unique perspectives on baseball history and personalities. In addition to his lifelong love of baseball, Charlie is a bibliophile, historian, raconteur, traveler, and author of a biography on Hank Aaron. Charlie took part in his first Road Scholar program in 2004 and has been a regular guest ever since, delighting our folks with Spring Training chronicles. We’ll take a short break before gathering to head over to our first baseball game.
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like at the ballpark. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Game 1! Our program is planned far in advance of the spring training schedule being announced (December). Once tickets have been purchased, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. The Cactus League was launched in 1946. There are now 15 teams that practice and play in a relatively tight radius surrounding Phoenix, Arizona. From MLB.com: “It is here where the ballparks are surrounded by mesas, rock formations and cacti. It is here where stars stretch and hit and throw and play games in the laid-back atmosphere of Minor League-sized parks with beautiful, warm and frequently sunny backdrops.” We’ll return to the hotel after the game.
Hotel buffet.
We’ll then settle into the hotel conference room to enjoy a presentation from John Antonoff. John is an official MLB photographer and he will share some of his stories and best photos from over the years.