Arizona

San Francisco Giants: Arizona Spring Training Baseball

Program No. 7197RJ
Cheer on your San Francisco Giants as you head to Scottsdale Stadium to celebrate all things baseball. Attend four games and meet baseball insiders who share their love of the game.

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At a Glance

Enjoy the intimate and casual atmosphere of spring training baseball as you cheer on your San Francisco Giants. Before the Giants hit a single home run into McCovey Cove, they prepare for the season at Scottsdale Stadium, their Arizona home since 1992. Study baseball in-depth as you meet baseball “lifers” from a variety of backgrounds in the game, whose insider experiences and storytelling talents will keep you on the edge of your seat. Scottsdale is buzzing with baseball come March and you will be right in the thick of it!
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walk one-half mile; stairs at ballparks. Games attended are dependent on Cactus League schedule, which is finalized in December.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy “America’s pastime” with great seats at four spring training games in a variety of ballparks.
  • Meet a slew of baseball insiders including authors, reporters broadcasters and more.
  • Rekindle your love of the game, watch the current team up close and get excited for the upcoming season!

General Notes

Meals that take place during games are on your own. In the rare case that the Giants have a day off, a substitute game will be offered.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Charlie Vascellaro
Author, traveler, historian, bibliophile, and baseball fan, when Charlie Vascellaro first discovered Major League Baseball in Arizona, his junior high school attendance suffered. Thirty years later, Vascellaro still takes a month-long hiatus from his life in Baltimore, MD to make an annual pilgrimage to Arizona for Cactus League spring training. Vascellaro is a constant contributor to many of the Cactus League teams’ spring training programs, appearing in national papers and authoring a limited edition historical volume commissioned by the United States Department of Commerce.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Charlie Vascellaro
Charlie Vascellaro View biography
Author, traveler, historian, bibliophile, and baseball fan, when Charlie Vascellaro first discovered Major League Baseball in Arizona, his junior high school attendance suffered. Thirty years later, Vascellaro still takes a month-long hiatus from his life in Baltimore, MD to make an annual pilgrimage to Arizona for Cactus League spring training. Vascellaro is a constant contributor to many of the Cactus League teams’ spring training programs, appearing in national papers and authoring a limited edition historical volume commissioned by the United States Department of Commerce.
Profile Image of Marty Lurie
Marty Lurie View biography
Nobody logs more hours on KNBR 680 during the San Francisco Giants season than Marty Lurie. A former attorney with a true love of the game, Marty decided years ago to put away the law books and focus on the scorebooks. Marty remembers everything when it comes to baseball. You can catch Marty Lurie broadcasting from the patio of the Public House restaurant and will be on the air for about three hours after the game taking phone calls from across the Giants’ fan base.
Profile Image of Bill Staples
Bill Staples View biography
Bill Staples is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) in Arizona with a passion for researching and telling the untold stories of the “international pastime.” His areas of expertise include Japanese American and Negro Leagues baseball history as a context for exploring the themes of civil rights, cross-cultural relations and globalization.
Profile Image of Robert Garratt
Robert Garratt View biography
Robert Garratt grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area an ardent fan of the San Francisco Giants. Upon his retirement from full-time teaching at a university, he began research on major league baseball’s move in 1958 to California. That initial research developed into a comprehensive history of the San Francisco Giants and the team’s relationship with the City and the greater Bay Area community.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
10 meals
5 B 0 L 5 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Program Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Scottsdale Old Town
D
Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:30-5:15 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar desk located adjacent to the hotel lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions as we gather in our private meeting room. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. In the unlikely event that a game is rained out, an alternative activity will be provided (no refunds). Free time is limited and unscheduled at this time. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the hotel restaurant, the dinner buffet includes savory dishes and entrées that vary nightly, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your follow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Sportswriter, Spring Fever, Game 1; An Umpire's Story
Scottsdale Old Town
B,D
Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town

Activity note: Driving approximately 45 miles one way to stadium; about 1 hour. Walking up to 3/4 mile throughout the day; distances less than 1/2 mile at a time; paved, flat surfaces; some stairs at the stadium.

Breakfast: 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.

Morning: 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.

Lunch: 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.

Afternoon: Game 1! Today the Giants take on the San Diego Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex. Celebrating their 30th year hosting Spring Training baseball, the stadium is one of the more intimate locations to watch the action. Do note that the Peoria is the furthest away stadium from our hotel in Scottsdale, so thank you for your understanding. We’ll return to the hotel after the game.

Dinner: Hotel buffet.

Evening: We’ll then settle into the hotel conference room to enjoy a presentation from Ricky Hemerle. Ricky will share his story on what the life of an Umpire looks like from behind the plate as well as from off the field.

DAY
3
Giants Broadcaster, Stadium press box visit, Game 2
Scottsdale Old Town
B,D
Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town

Activity note: Driving approximately 12 miles one way to stadium; about 20 minutes. Walking approx. 1 mile throughout day. Some stairs at Stadium.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: This morning we will hear from long time Giants broadcaster and radio personality Marty Lurie. Following our presentation, we’ll transfer to the stadium for our second game.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like at the ballpark.

Afternoon: Game 2! Today the Giants take on the home town team, the Arizona DBacks. A short distance from our hotel, Salt River Fields offers ample shady seating and great views throughout the stadium We’ll return to the hotel after the game.

Dinner: Plated dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Evening: Evening at leisure following our dinner out.

DAY
4
Giants Historian, Spring Training Exhibit, Game 3
Scottsdale Old Town
B,D
Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town

Activity note: 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.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will spend the morning with baseball historian Robert Garratt. Robert's research and writings have focused on the Giants move from New York to S.F. and the teams eventual impact on the culture and community of The City. The presentation will take place at the nearby Scottsdale Library where along with his talk, we will also enjoy the grand opening of the newly installed "Spring Training" special exhibit. Following our time with Robert, we will head direct over to Scottsdale Stadium for our baseball game.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like at the ballpark.

Afternoon: Game 3! Today the Giants have a home game against the Chicago White Sox at nearby Scottsdale Stadium. Scottsdale Stadium is approximately 1/4 mile from the hotel and the Group Leader will walk the group to the stadium. For those that desire to shuttle, Scottsdale has a free trolley that travels back and forth to the game. Do note that Scottsdale Stadium is one of the older stadiums in the Cactus League and some people find the seats more comfortable when they bring a pad to sit on.

Dinner: Plated dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Evening: Evening at leisure following our dinner out.

DAY
5
Baseball Historian, Game 4
Scottsdale Old Town
B,D
Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town

Activity note: Driving to Chase Field 12 miles one way, approximately 20 minutes. Walking about 1/2 mile; some stairs (can be avoided if need be).

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: This morning we will hear from baseball historian and author Bill Staples Jr. Bill has authored many books on baseball and is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) in Arizona with a passion for researching and telling the untold stories of the “international pastime.” His areas of expertise include Japanese American and Negro Leagues baseball history as a context for exploring the themes of civil rights, cross-cultural relations and globalization. Board bus for transport to stadium in late morning.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy while at the ballpark.

Afternoon: Game 4! Today, in order to avoid the long drive back to Peoria, we are going to enjoy a local game featuring the Dbacks against the Padres at Salt River Fields. Two division rivals of the Giants in a nearby stadium.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a delightful farewell dinner with a plated and served meal to celebrate our program. Coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: We will then return to the hotel for a short program wrap-up to reflect upon our week. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes, Independent Departures
Scottsdale Old Town
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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