How spring training created the Cactus League in Arizona. Valley 101 Digs in
Maritza Dominguez
As a lifelong Valley resident, I would often drive by the spring training stadiums for the Chicago Cubs or the Los Angeles Angels. I always wondered why we had outside teams playing in Arizona.
The reason dates back to the 1940s before the state even had its own Major League Baseball team. Arizona's relationship to Americans' favorite pastime started with a coalition of baseball teams that would eventually become known as the Cactus League.
This week on Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, I look into the history of that league, while answering my own question, "Why is Arizona home to the Cactus League?"
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How the Cactus League got its beginning in Arizona.
- How the league planted the seed of integrating the city in the 1940s.
- The economic impact spring training has in the Valley.
Listen to the episode:
The best way to listen is to subscribe to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app, but you can also stream the full episode below.
NOTE: Valley 101 is intended to be heard. But we also offer a transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
More from Valley 101: