AZ Spring Training – Step Into History

Since the earliest days of spring training baseball in Arizona, downtown Scottsdale has been a sought-after destination for Major League players and fans. You can literally walk in the footprints of Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks and Dizzy Dean by stopping at some of their favorite Scottsdale hangouts along the Cactus League Legacy Trail. The Legacy Trail is a self-guided tour of various hitching posts and watering holes that share a lengthy association with spring training baseball here in town. From the Buckhorn Baths to Ernie Banks and Buster Posey, Arizona’s Cactus League has a history steeped in sun, fun, phenoms and Hall of Famers. That colorful past comes to life this spring in a series of exhibits collectively called the Cactus League Legacy Trail. Twelve memorabilia collections at venues in Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Goodyear make up the trail, a must-do journey for even casual baseball fans.

Collectively, these exhibits tell the story of the Cactus League from its barn-storming beginnings to the state-of-the-art complexes of today. They also present the remarkable stories, photos and memorabilia of the ballplayers who through the years created “America’s Pastime.”

Here are just a few of The Legacy Trail exhibits:

Coach House Tavern
This rustic landmark remains almost unchanged from the 1950s when cowboys tied up at the hitching post and the Boston Red Sox were Scottsdale’s spring training home team. For more information, visit: www.coachhousescottsdale.com

Italian Grotto
Another player’s favorite located just a short walk from Scottsdale Stadium, the Italian Grotto’s memorabilia collection reflects Scottsdale’s deep ties to the Cactus League. For more information, visit: italiangrotto.restaurantengine.com/.

The Sugar Bowl
Rookie ballplayers have been stopping by the Sugar Bowl for a “double frosted” ice cream treat since the 1950s. 

Bil Keane immortalized the Sugar Bowl in his “Family Circus” cartoons – many of which adorn the restaurant’s walls. For more information, visit: www.SugarBowlScottsdale.com

Scottsdale Stadium

The spring home of the San Francisco Giants is the Cactus League’s only stadium located in a downtown setting. It’s also home to the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame and the Scottsdale Sports Hall of Fame. Scottsdale Stadium’s intimate confines, historic feel and park-like setting make it one of America’s five iconic sports venues, according to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwenn Knapp. The stadium is open to the public daily and tours are available by advance appointment, except during spring training. For more information, visit: www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/stadium.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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