My VERY 1ST Spring Training Experience

Guest Blogger Todd Newville:

First, I want to send thanks to Mr. Tim Kuda for having me out in Arizona to cover the Rangers, Royals, Mariners, Giants, A's, and Dodgers. It was an awesome time. Phoenix is a wonderful city from what I witnessed. Clean... very friendly... warm yet dry heat... and lots of speed traps on the Interstate!! Don't speed... they will get you with all the cameras they have. Tim's a pretty good driver. I guess he would be since he's been 11 times for Arizona's Cactus League. Excellent! I couldn't have asked for a better "tour guide" on my first excursion to the Grand Canyon State!!!

We saw three major league games (A's vs. Dodgers, Rangers vs. Indians, and Royals vs. Mariners) plus lots of future MLB prospects... too many to keep track of when you're only in the Phoenix area for three days or so. Plus, fellow contributor Dallas Brewton was also in town. Love to hang out with those guys. If you are a true baseball fan, going to Spring Training can put you on sensory overload!!! I mean it. Just make sure you go with someone who you can share the experience with!

Second, I was impressed with the quality of the playing facilities. I was floored when we walked up to the KC Royals complex, which they share with the Texas Rangers in Surprise, AZ. I saw a fancy Ford Expedition in George Brett's personal parking spot. I wanted to hang out and see if he would come back to his car, but being a member of the "media" prevented me from such shenanigans. Oh, well... poor me!!!

The first day, I met Tim at Phoenix Municipal Stadium to catch the Oakland A's and LA Dodgers. During the game, I paid a paltry $20 toward charity to get my photo taken with 1977 National League MVP George Foster, 3-time World Series champion with the A's Bert Camperneris, and Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins. What a treat!

I didn't have much luck in the Rangers camp. I didn't get any interviews, but I did shoot a few photos with my digital camera. The Royals side was a different story. Tim and I saw MANY outstanding prospects listed in Baseball America. Plus, Tim got to rub elbows and speak with Texas GM Jon Daniels. We might get him later on the show... who knows? We'll see.

The last full day was filled with seeing the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Tim went to the Padre side in Peoria and got some awesome interviews which you have probably already heard on www.milbradio.com and I got to speak with three Mariners in the organization - 3B prospect Mario Martinez, LHP Justin Thomas, and roving catching instructor Roger Hansen. Plus, a bonus was catching up with former 1993 Gold Glove catcher Kirt Manwaring, who is a roving catching and fielding instructor with the Giants. Man, what an experience!

I sincerely hope that if you ever have the means to make it out to Spring Training sometime - whether it be in Florida or Arizona - DO IT!!! It's a great time and worth the trip. I hope to make it back soon! And, make sure you dine at least one night at Don and Charlie's if you go to Arizona. It's kind of pricey (Tim ordered a $40 steak), but the place is a virtual baseball Hall of Fame in the Phoenix area - autographed balls, photos, memorabilia, etc. - plus other different sport artifacts like boxing, football, and basketball.

Now, another Yankee demise to report... Johnny Blanchard. He was a catcher for New York's "Bronx Bombers" when they won the 1961 World Series over the Cincinnati Reds. The '61 Yanks for a long time were the best power-hitting team until the steroid era ensued during the 1990s. Blanchard had 21 homers and 54 RBI in '61 - career highs for him.

      Plus, former Yankee hurler Tom Sturdivant died recently in Oklahoma City. I met both Blanchard and Sturdivant and got autographs from both of them. In the case of Blanchard, if you go to my personal website www.baseballtoddsdugout.com, you can see me with him in Atlanta at a card show. Both guys were great fellows. Both were gregarious yet humble at the same time. I guess that's how all the old-timers used to be until the free-agent age -- when overpaid bums felt imposed upon when anyone would ask for their "X" on a ball, card, or photo.

      Until next time, we'll see you later... Todd Newville