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Florida Spring Training: Your Guide To Touring The Grapefruit League |
You’ll fall in love walking up to Joker Marchant Stadium. It’s one of the most beautiful ballparks in the Grapefruit League. The 2002 renovations to this 40-year-old stadium are good, very good. And those renovations aren’t just pleasing to the eye; they are pleasing to the soul of Spring Training because they have enabled Lakeland and the Detroit Tigers to continue a great March tradition. Across the state, teams have moved from one stadium to the next in hopes of garnering the best financial deal. But not in Lakeland. For over 70 years now, the Detroit Tigers have come here to prepare for the season. Their history — the longest team-host city association in Spring Training — has created long-term fans, many of whom have never seen the Tigers play in Detroit. That said, the renovations have also taken away some benefits of Spring Training that fans treasure, particularly access to the players. This is probably the second hardest place to get an autograph in the Grapefruit League. In addition, the bullpens are now in the outfield, preventing two of the joys of spring: watching the relievers warm up before they enter the game and hearing the pops of fastballs and the discussions about coaching strategies. Of course, you can still see the relievers warming up, but just barely. There’s a lot of field between you and them. Still, the renovated stadium has great appeal for several reasons. It has probably the best berm seating in the Grapefruit League. Over the left field wall is one of the largest expanses of grassy knolls in the League. You’re close enough to the outfielders that they can hear you and you them. This gives you a great opportunity to catch balls — one of the best in all of baseball. In fact, many people go to batting practice at Joker Marchant Stadium just to load up on baseballs. One man I saw had over a dozen he had caught from Tigers players. Didn't find what you were looking for? Try a Google search.
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