
Tombstone Tigers baseball club, 1883
Well before Arizona was a state, baseball played a significant role in the region’s social, recreational and economic development. Even while the Indian wars raged and outlaws roamed the territory, there was baseball.
ABLE is recognizing the historical significance of baseball to our state with the creation of the Arizona Baseball Trail.
The Trail will be a self-guided tour of landmark sites that not only tells the story of pioneer baseball, but also the rowdy and competitive mining leagues, the barnstorming days of Major League Baseball, the beginnings of the Cactus League and the current era of sprawling baseball campuses that support a billion-dollar industry.
The goal is to announce a “Starting Nine” list of historic sites later this year. We’ll add additional sites in the future and each location will be celebrated with a plaque, a web page and a place on the Arizona Baseball Trail map.
Once these landmarks are established, look for contests, collectables and other activities that honor the rich history of Arizona baseball and the people who played America’s Pastime.
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