Blue Jays are extending spring training at TD Ballpark


With COVID still around and quarantines still a fact of life, the Blue Jays knew that they’d face a lot of hassles if they tried to go back and forth over the US-Canada border if they played their home games at Rogers Centre in Toronto. So they made the hard decision to start the regular season at their spring-training ballpark in Dunedin, Florida.

Opening Night was a success at TD Ballpark, although the team lost to Mike Trout and the Angels. All of the modifications made for regular-season night baseball worked as intended. The photo (shot by our friend Colin Cushing) shows the player introductions prior to the first game.

And an attendance record (of sorts) was set at the opener. Read our article to learn the history behind this facility and what record was set!


Oh, the memories at Dodgertown


There’s never been a relationship between a Major League team and its spring training home like the one between the Dodgers and Vero Beach. For 61 springs, first the Brooklyn Dodgers and then the Los Angeles Dodgers called Dodgertown home.

In the years since the Dodgers moved their springtime operations to Arizona, the historic complex has been managed by several entities. Today, it’s run by Major League Baseball, which changed the name “Historic Dodgertown” to “The Jackie Robinson Training Complex.”

Check out our look back at what made this sprawling facility so endearing — and how it’s being used now.


Now in stock! SAVING BASEBALL FROM ITSELF


This is one book that will give you a LOT to think about!

First is an examination of what’s wrong with the sport of Baseball, and just as importantly, how it can be fixed.

Once you’re done reading that, you flip the book over and there’s a complete second book! This second part is a walk through Baseball history, featuring a countdown of the biggest, most-dramatic finishes in the history of the game … Carlton Fisk’s home run in the 1975 World Series … Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard ’round the world” … David Freese’s heroics in the 2011 Fall Classic (this one still galls me as a Rangers fan) … and the immortal 1988 home run by Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the World Series.

Lots of great reading in this “flip book!” Plus, it’s autographed by author Howard Peretz, known far and wide as the Old School Sports Junkie. Just $14.95 plus shipping, it makes a great gift, but you’ll love reading it yourself!


Rules of the road for 2021 Spring Training


The good news is that Spring Training 2021 is indeed upon us. The iffy news is that your experience at the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues this spring will be unlike in past years.

We’ve broken down what you need to know (five-inning games anyone?). The bottom line is to expect the unexpected!

Check out our question-and-answer format so you’ll be aware of this year’s changes.


Best gift for a baseball fan


Any baseball fan would love our Touring The Majors® poster. It shows a graphic representation of every MLB park that will be used in 2021 (well, assuming the Blue Jays don’t take up residence in Buffalo again!). It also shows the locations of famous baseball events like the Little League World Series and the National Ballpark Museum.

Just $19.95 plus shipping. It’s in stock and ready to ship!