If you love the Grand Old Game, then take a moment and check out this fine SI piece by Joe Posnanski.

After the tragedy in Texas and near tragedy at the All-Star game, I found this story heartwarming.

This article just reinforces what I heard the Cardinals broadcasters saying over the weekend.

I wonder what BCB'ers think about this. For me, I can think of no more telling commentary on the sad state of affairs on the North Side of Chicago.

I'm sure that if and when the Cubs become competitive again, the rivalry with the Cardinals will heat back up. But, for now, the rivalry is pretty much on the back burner. The Reds are who the Cardinals fans are saving their venom for.

This exhibit at the All Star Game Fan Fest was awesome. Tons of memorabilia.

When I was in college, I was friends with Casey Candaele, who played on the 1980 NCAA Champion baseball team. His mom, Helen St. Aubin was one of the best players in the AAGPBL. She inspired the documentary that eventually led to the film
"A League Of Their Own".

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/11/obituaries/helen-st-aubin-69-athlete-who-inspired-film.html

These are from Boston in the 1930s and 1940s.

Recently uploaded from the Boston Public Library. There is even one of Gabby Hartnett.

Last spring I posted about the fledgling Cactus League Museum. Here is a slide show showing some of the memorabilia.

Each year it grows a bit. There is talk about it eventually having a permanent home in Wrigleyville West.

A lot of creativity here.

For those that don't know, this site is not very far from Hohokam, closer to the Red Mountain Freeway.

The 2nd contender, close to downtown Mesa is also intriguing because it would be serviced by light rail and is about the same distance from Fitch Park as Hohokam is.

The Cubs seem to prefer Riverview, some of the Mesa City Council are pushing the downtown site.

It all depends on whether Waveyard can get financing or not. Most likely not. The East Mesa (Longbow) site has run into significant neighborhood opposition. The Cubs rejected the Gateway airport site.

Doggie Stalker and I, being charter members of the small group of baseball and silent film fans, could have told this guy immediately what movie set was in the background of this interesting photo.

I predict this guy will be racking up wins in the NL Central within 2 years, ala Cincinnati's Mike Leake.

Every year as Opening Day approaches, baseball writers look at the approaching milestones for the year. Here are the ones for 2010.

Two notables; A-Rod needs 27 HRs to pass Sammy Sosa for 6th place on the All Time HR list. And, ageless Jamie Moyer needs to only give up 15 more HRs to pass Robin Roberts as baseball's all-time gopher ball champion pitcher.

It's not mentioned, but Jamie has averaged 26 HR's given up the last 3 years, so he is looking good to reach this remarkable milestone.

Some highlights:

Per game attendance is up 5% over 2009. Still down from the record year, 2008, but with the added teams, bad economy and iffy weather at the beginning, this is all good. Maybe not a home run, as the Cactus League president states, but a solid double.

Overall attendance is very slightly down from last year, but that is with a lot fewer games played. Also, 7 games were lost due to rain outs this year.

For only the third time in 15 years, the Cubs were dethroned as Cactus League attendance champs. This time it was by the Giants, who played before many sold out crowds in 12,000 seat Scottsdale Stadium this year. Who was it that said the Cubs are the only reliable draw in the Cactus League? Hardly.

The most disappointing by far is Goodyear Stadium, where the Reds and the Indians play. Reasons cited are the location and the competition in the West Valley.

But, all in all, the Cactus League is to be congratulated on a fine year, during a bad economy and a transitional year.

The news here is that MLB has taken over negotiations for a financing plan for a new Cubs ST Complex

A nice article about Spring Training. Just thought I would share.

Interesting that the Cubs say they have been approached about having a two team ST facility and turned it down.

Interesting details regarding the Mesa, AZ proposal for the Cubs New Spring Training Complex

This is the video that Mesa showed the Cubs brass on their visit in November.

The Cubs Spring Training Battle Continues..

Of course, then he goes on to explain why he really isn't to blame, citing amongst other things, team chemistry. Hmmm. Wonder who he has in mind when he references that?

Regarding the Future of Cubs Spring Training in Mesa, AZ

The Valley’s new permanent collection of Arizona spring training history entitled "Play Ball: The Cactus League Experience" is now open at the Mesa Historical Museum, 2345 N. Horne Street in Mesa, about a mile NE of Hohokam Park.

Also, check out this booklet on the new Cleveland Indians ST Complex in Goodyear. The Cubs play there on March 4th and will no doubt make several trips there next year when the Reds join the Cactus League.

http://www.ci.goodyear.az.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=4663

Nothing really newsworthy here, but the photo of people lined up to buy ST tickets is still mind boggling to me.