Baseball took root in Phoenix in the 1880s, with organized, publicized games, such as the Phoenix Club vs. the Norvall Club of McDowell in 1880. Little did the community know that it was slowly laying groundwork that would position Phoenix as a go-to destination for Spring Training for years to come.
Training in Arizona began taking shape in the late 1940s, when Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck moved his team to Tucson in 1947, motivated partly by his desire to spare newly signed Larry Doby from the segregation of the Jim Crow South. Giants owner Horace Stoneham soon followed, influenced by Veeck and by the healing mineral springs at Mesa’s famous Buckhorn Baths. Their arrival established the foundation of what became the Cactus League.
Throughout the 1950s–70s, more Major League clubs—including the Cubs, Orioles, Angels, A’s, Padres, and others—moved their spring operations to Arizona, supported by new ballparks and strong local investment. By the 1990s and 2000s, modern shared complexes helped fuel rapid expansion.
Today, the Cactus League hosts 15 teams, matching Florida’s Grapefruit League, and remains a major part of baseball culture. Its early years left a unique legacy shaped by iconic players, integrated accommodations at the Buckhorn Baths, and the growth of Arizona into a premier spring training destination.
Early Steps (1900s–1940s)
- The earliest Major League presence in Arizona came in 1909, when the Chicago White Sox played a barnstorming game in Yuma.
- By 1929, the Detroit Tigers held spring training in Phoenix, but the effort didn’t last.
- In 1946–47, when Bill Veeck, new owner of the Cleveland Indians, moved his team to Tucson. His motivations were both practical—he owned a ranch nearby—and moral: he refused to subject newly signed Larry Doby, the American League’s first Black player, to the segregated conditions of the Jim Crow South.
- To give the Indians an opponent, Veeck convinced Giants owner Horace Stoneham to relocate his team as well. Stoneham was also lured by the hot mineral springs at Mesa’s Buckhorn Baths, a quirky roadside motel and spa known for its “healing” waters.
The Buckhorn Baths Era
- Opening in the late 1930s, the Buckhorn Baths became a central hub of early Cactus League culture.
- Giants players—including legends such as Willie Mays, Gaylord Perry, Juan Marichal, and Mel Ott—stayed there for over 25 years.
- The springs were rumored to rejuvenate players and even help heal injuries.
- The Buckhorn was unusually inclusive for its time: Black players stayed alongside white teammates, despite broader segregation in Arizona.
Growth of the Cactus League (1950s–1990s)
- By 1951, the Chicago Cubs moved their spring operations to Mesa.
- Additional teams followed:
- Baltimore Orioles (1950s)
- Los Angeles Angels, Houston Colt .45s, Seattle Pilots, San Diego Padres, and Oakland A’s (1960s–70s)
- New stadiums and shared complexes began shaping the league.
- By the late 20th century, Arizona cities—Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Yuma, Peoria, Surprise, and others—invested heavily in modern facilities.
Modern Expansion (2000s–Today)
- Expansion clubs and relocations added to Arizona’s roster:
- Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox opened a shared Tucson facility in 1998.
- Los Angeles Dodgers and White Sox moved to Camelback Ranch in 2009.
- Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds joined at Goodyear in 2009–2010.
- By 2011, the Cactus League featured 15 teams, equaling Florida’s Grapefruit League.
- The Cubs’ new Mesa ballpark and a joint Rockies–Diamondbacks facility at Salt River Fields marked a new era of state-of-the-art complexes.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
- The Cactus League played a notable role in baseball’s integration; pioneers like Larry Doby, Willie Mays, Monte Irvin, and Ernie Banks helped change the sport’s history.
- The Buckhorn Baths, now on the National Register of Historic Places, remain one of the league’s most iconic early landmarks. Though deteriorated, efforts are underway to restore the site and possibly revive its role in Arizona baseball culture.
