Spring2020 Training YOURVALLEY.NET $1 Our special publication for Arizona Cactus League Fans & Tourists WE’RE YOUR BIGGEST FAN! Alaska USA serves more than 670,000 members worldwide with a strong focus on community engagement, financial education, and convenient access to a wide variety of financial services. We’re excited to be part of your community and hope you have a great season! Arcadia Glendale Peoria Scottsdale 4750 E. Indian School Rd. 5505 W. Bell Rd. 10641 W. Olive Ave. 10773 N. Scottsdale Rd. Inside Safeway Inside Safeway Inside Safeway Avondale Mesa Phoenix Metro Tempe 1575 N. Dysart Rd. 4440 E. Main St. 3511 W. Peoria 3232 S. Mill Ave. Inside Fry’s Inside Fry’s Inside Fry’s Inside Fry’s alaskausa.org CHECKING | LOANS | INSURANCE | INVESTMENTS Federally insured by NCUA NMLS 409001 Grand Opening! W. BELL RD. 16811 N. Litchfi eld Rd. #100 N. LITCHFIELD RD. LITCHFIELD N. 623-214-2112 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 10am-9pm Follow us on Facebook at Oscars AZ for more deals and specials. $6.99 $6.99 $5 OFF QUESADILLA NACHOS AFTER Any Quesadilla. Any Nachos. $ With small drink With small drink 20 SPENT Must present coupon. Must present coupon. Must present coupon. Not valid with any other specials, Not valid with any other specials, Not valid with any other specials, discounts or coupons. One per visit. discounts or coupons. One per visit. discounts or coupons. One per visit. Exp. 3/29/20 Exp. 3/29/20 Exp. 3/29/20 Locally Owned & Operated HAPPY HOUR 7 DAYS A WEEK 11am–7pm All Major Sports Packages For You To Watch Come check Daily out the new Specials changes!! Domestic Draft or Well Drink $1.00* *When you bring in your Spring Training Game Ticket stub on the Same Day of the Game! LIVE MUSIC every Thursday and 1st and 3rd weekend of the month. Drink Calendar of Events on our website: Specials Monday Trivia, Karaoke, Horse and Greyhound Racing for OTB & much more! $1 Domestic Drafts Thursday 9-11pm Open 7 Days a Week 11:00am - 2:00am 15170 W. Bell Rd., Ste. 115, Surprise, AZ 85374 623-556-1000 • www. brookside-2.com 2020 • Spring Training Guide • YourValley.net 5 Spring Training PeoriaPeoria SENIORSENIOR EXP EXPO O Guide 2020 INDEPENDENTINDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA NEWSMEDIA Table of Contents Thursday, February 27, 2020 • 9a.m. – Noon Cactus League overview...... ..... 6 Rio Vista Recreation Center New rules in MLB .................... 10 Stadium snapshots ..................14 8866 W. Thunderbird Rd. Peoria, AZ Baseball team stats ..................... 24 Rising stars ..............................32 Spring training schedule ..........42 You are invited to participate in Golden age movies.................. 44 Entertainment options.............. 46 Trivia answers ......................... 52 the Peoria Senior Expo Test your baseball New Rules knowledge! Trivia questions Electronic umps; 10 throughout this guide. Contributing Team Newsroom Rusty Bradshaw Mark Carlisle Jeremy Carr Philip Haldiman Matt Loeschman Matt Roy Richard Smith Steve Stockmar Jason Stone Advertising HEALTH • FINANCIAL • WELLNESS • LEISURE • HOME Penny Bruns Frank Dias Fun Food Gregory Garcia Vendors • Raffles • Entertainment • nFu 40 Cheryl Harden Hot dogs for all types; Debbie Kelly We understand that today’s 55+ communities have a dynamic lifestyle Kathleen Kotzbauer Kevin Mahoney and are pursuing ways to stay active, be engaged and be informed! If your Lynda Ottersbach Sandi Perry organization or business provides products, services or resources benefiting Sarah Pike seniors, then optimize your marketing by showcasing, demonstrating and Gina Sandoval Juliann Segura meeting with these highly motivated customers. Advertising Design Erik Maurer Hosted by: Debbie Myers Mona Lisa Navarrette Chris Pitts Chris Williams PPEORIA Publisher Up & Coming Players Charlene Bisson INDEPENDENTINDEPENDENT Catch a glance at the A product of newbies; 32 Daily Independent Reserve Today Contact Us Vendors can contact Barb at 623-208-7866 17220 N. Boswell Blvd., Suite 101, Sun City, AZ 85373 623-972-6101 • Newsroom email: [email protected] or [email protected] © Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA Feb. 19, 2020 6 YourValley.net • Spring Training Guide • 2020 Cactus League is more than just baseball Committed to ‘strengthening and promoting vital industry’ By Philip Haldiman this year, the 2020 Cactus INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA League schedule of games are The association that came CACTUS LEAGUE included with every offi cial to be known as the Arizona Arizona Travel Guide ordered AN OUT-OF-STATE Cactus League started more VISITORS SURVEY FOUND… by consumers from November than 70 years ago as a forum through February. Days spent in Arizona: to establish and nurture The chief role the Arizona business relationships with 4 Offi ce of Tourism plays Major League Baseball teams. Median traveling party with visitors here for spring Today the league of 15 spent per day: training is making them aware teams housed in 10 facilities $ of the many things there are is the largest concentration of 405 to do here between games, she professional baseball facilities Estimated economic impact in 2018: said. in the country, according to its $ The impact goes far beyond website. 644.2million just people buying game Arizona Cactus League Growth: tickets and concessions at Association has grown into a 11% increase the stadiums — the economic multi-million dollar industry, compared with 2015 benefi ts extend to hotels, Source: Arizona State University’s contributing an estimated W.P. Carey School of Business restaurants, transportation $644 million annually in and other destinations people economic impact in the state visit while they’re here for and fostering Arizona as a baseball, Ms. Blaine said. national destination. “We talk with baseball fans Last year, the Cactus League contributing to the quality of works collaboratively through out at Arizona’s spring training took it to the next level and life for Arizona residents and an annual partnership to stadiums to make sure that hired a full-time executive visitors. encourage people from across in addition to watching their director. Her goal is that the Cactus the country to attend spring hometown teams prepare Bridget Binsbacher has League becomes a partner training games and explore the for the season in the Arizona been involved with the Cactus with all tourism industry state while they’re here. sunshine, they also know how League for more than a stakeholders, as well as Arizona Offi ce of Tourism close they are to several other decade, became its fi rst female mega-events that are driving Deputy Director Becky Blaine great activities, restaurants, executive board member in tourism in Arizona. said the agency uses a multi- attractions and parks,” Ms. 2012, and served as the Cactus “I want the Cactus League faceted national marketing Blaine said. “Even if they League’s director of operations to have a seat at the table,” campaign to increase don’t get to do everything last season. she said. “Arizona can’t take awareness in Cactus League on this trip, we’re happy if She has now been in the the spring training industry cities of all the fun that awaits league’s top leadership role as for granted. We want to be a baseball fans in Arizona. >> See Cactus on page 8 executive director for a year, leader in the effort to ensure The campaign includes executing the organization’s spring training’s long-term traditional and digital •TRIVIA• strategic initiatives and sustainability. We’re stronger advertising, social media, maintaining business together. My job is to tell our participating in fan fest events, 1. What year was relationships with the teams, story everywhere I can – from pitching the Cactus League the Cactus League among other duties. statewide organizations to start date and schedule to Ms. Binsbacher said the small businesses that rely on media outlets and hosting established? Cactus League is committed to spring training.” media who come to Arizona strengthening and promoting The Arizona Offi ce of each year to cover spring the vital industry while Tourism is one of those training for their outlets. serving the community and stakeholders. The state agency Ms. Blaine said new for Not valid with any other offers. Limited to one single cone FREE or dish per guest. Additional toppings and/or waffle cone available at additional cost. Must present coupon to redeem. Dine-in only. CONE OR DISH VALID AT SURPRISE, GOODYEAR, BELL RD. WITH PURCHASE OF COMBO MEAL ARROWHEAD, BELL RD. BELL TOWER LOCATION ONLY. EXPIRES 04/30/2020 8 YourValley.net • Spring Training Guide • 2020 Cincinnati Reds’ Nick Castellanos, right, holds his jersey alongside Reds president and director of operations Dick Williams during a news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Cincinnati. Castellanos signed a $64 million, four-year deal with the baseball club. [The Associated Press] Cactus E. Osborn Road, opened in City of Scottsdale last year two buckets — nearly 50 >> From page 6 1992 and is the second-oldest fi nished negotiating a 20-year Scottsdale-area charities and ballpark in the Cactus League. contract with the Giants to the Scottsdale Unifi ed School the education we provide Improvements for the keep the team in Scottsdale District. encourages them to plan fi rst of two phases include through 2044. “Over the years, Charros another trip to come back to a new multi-story multi- Mr. Robbins added the has gone from generating a our state. Awareness is key use facility that will serve as Charros has had a number few thousand dollars a year to this goal. We want them to the clubhouse for the spring of roles over the years with to millions that goes back into play in the ‘Arizona Outfi eld.’” training season and a multi- spring training. the Scottsdale community,” Other important use event center throughout The group started as a Mr. Robbins said. “But we did stakeholders include the the year, shade improvements special activity affi liate of not start out as a fundraising booster organizations who to the right fi eld Charros the Scottsdale Chamber organization.