Spring Training baseball under the warm Arizona sun has been a tradition for devoted fans since 1947, when just two teams, the Cleveland Indians and the New York Giants, came here to prepare for the regular season. Today, 15 teams train in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cactus League has become the prime destination for baseball fans wanting to catch spring training games. If you’re planning on catching a game, here’s what you can do to be ready:
Protect yourself against the sun.
- Wear sunscreen and a lip balm with SPF 30 or greater. Apply generously and evenly, at least 30 minutes before sun exposure, and remember that sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours
- Wear a hat with a brim or your team’s baseball cap
- Wear clothes that protect your skin. It may seem obvious, but just wearing a tank top will not protect your entire body from the sun. Again, sunscreen alone is not enough to protect your skin all day, so make sure you have clothes to provide coverage while you’re out in the sun.
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection. Sunglasses protect your eyeballs and the skin around your eyes, which is particularly sensitive to the sun’s rays. Make sure to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes as well as the area around your eyes.
- Drink lots of water.
You’ve heard this repeatedly by now, but the importance of staying hydrated, especially in hot weather, cannot be overstated. For men, an adequate amount of water is around three liters and for women, it’s around two liters. A good way to pace yourself and stay hydrated is to alternate between beers and glasses of water during the game.
Take breaks in the shade.
Sometimes, people make the mistake of staying in the sun for too long because they think they have applied a sufficient amount of sunscreen, but sunscreen will not completely protect you from harmful UV rays. That’s why you should find a shady area every hour or so to take a break from the sun.
Avoid DUIs
As always, don’t drink and drive. If you drink during the games, designate a driver or be ready to call a cab or rideshare service. Most ballparks stop serving alcohol early, so take that as a cue to finish up for the day.
For stadium maps and schedules of games, go to cactusleague.com and enjoy the Spring Training season!
