A brief introduction, this is a work in progress of Arizona baseball history. It’s overwhelming and will continue to be until a new format is developed. However, I think it’s important to have it written down somewhere and available for inspiration and awareness.

1872

April 27 - The first documented reference to baseball being played in Arizona between troops at Fort Whipple and Camp Hualpai.

December 26 - Earliest game recorded took place at Camp Grant.

1892

November 5 - Lee William “Flame” Delhi is born, the first Arizona-born player to appear in the Major Leagues.

1904

First College Baseball Season in Tucson for University of Arizona.

1909

June 27 - Warren Ballpark hosts it’s first baseball game. No official date exists of it’s opening, but it stands as the oldest ballpark in the USA.

1915

April 28 - First professional baseball game takes place in Tucson between the Old Pueblos and Phoenix Senators.

1921

Rendezvous Park is constructed in Mesa.

1929

February 25 - First spring training camp takes place in Phoenix. The Detroit Tigers played the Pirates and Cubs at Phoenix Riverside Park.

1936

Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium is built at Central and Mohave.

April 1 - The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants play an exhibition game at Phoenix Union High School against Otto Wolfe’s Phoenix All Stars.

1937

Hi Corbett Field is opened in Tucson.

1943

1943 - Inaugural game at Zenimura Field, based out of the Gila River Internment Camp.

1947

Cleveland Indians take residency at Hi Corbett Field.

March 9 - New York Giants play the Cleveland Indians in the first MLB exhibition game at Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium

1951

The New York Yankees and New York Giants trade spring training facilities, placing the Yankees at Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mickey Mantle is one of the rookie invites and the photos taken here will be what is used for his iconic rookie cards. 9 games are played in Arizona, not including an intra-league game.

February 21 - The Yankees first arrive in Phoenix.

Saturday, March 10th - The Yankees play the Cleveland Indians at Hi Corbett Field. Cleveland beats Yankees, 6-5.

Sunday, March 11th - The Yankees play the Cleveland Indians at Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Yankees beat Cleveland 13-8.

Monday, March 12th - The Yankees play the Cleveland Indians at Hi Corbett Field. Yankees beat Cleveland, 10-8.

March 13th - The Yankees play the Cleveland Indians at Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Yankees beat Cleveland, 16-14.

1952

The Oakland Oaks, a minor league team, take spring training at Rendezvous Park. The first professional spring training to take place in Mesa.

1952

The Chicago Cubs take residence at Rendezvous Park.

1956

Scottsdale Stadium is completed.

The Baltimore Orioles take residency at Scottsdale Stadium

1958

Phoenix Giants founded.

The Baltimore Orioles end their residency at Scottsdale Stadium.

1959

The Boston Red Sox begin their residency at Scottsdale Stadium.

1960

Arizona Instructional League established with 4 teams, Orioles, Cubs, Dodgers and Giants.

1961

Geronimo Park is opened in Apache Junction.

1962

Houston Colt 45’s take residency at Geronimo Park.

1963

Houston Colt 45’s end residency at Geronimo Park.

1964

Phoenix Municipal Stadium is completed.

San Francisco Giants take residence at Phoenix Municipal.

March 8 - First spring training game takes between the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Indians.

1965

Chicago Cubs end residency at Rendezvous Park.

The Boston Red Sox end their residency at Scottsdale Stadium.

1966

NPB teams send over players to participate in instructional leagues in Cactus League.

1967

The Chicago Cubs begin their residency at Scottsdale Stadium.

1969

Tempe Diablo Stadium is opened.

Seattle Pilots(now Brewers) take residence at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Oakland Athletics take residency at Rendezvous Park.

October - Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium(Central Stadium) is demolished.

1971

Sun City Stadium is built in Sun City.

1972

March 12 - NPB team Hiroshima Toyo Carp play the Cleveland Indians in Tucson in a series of exhibition games.

1973

Tucson reaches Little League World Series.

Milwaukee Brewers take residence at Sun City Stadium

1976

Rendezvous Park is demolished.

1977

The Seattle Mariners take residence at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Hohokam Park in Mesa is completed.

1978

The Chicago Cubs end residency at Scottsdale Stadium.

The Oakland Athletics end residency at Hohokam Stadium.

1979

NPB Tokyo Yakult Swallows take residence at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma for spring training.

The Oakland Athletics take residency at Scottsdale Stadium.

The Chicago Cubs take residency at Hohokam Stadium.

1980

NPB Hanshin Tigers take spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

NPB Yakult Swallows play exhibition games against the Tigers in Tempe.

1981

NPB Hanshin Tigers take spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

NPB Yakult Swallows play exhibition games against the Tigers in Tempe.

1982

The Oakland Athletics take residence at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

1985

Compadre Stadium is completed in Chandler.

1986

Milwaukee Brewers take spring training residence in Compadre Stadium.

Tucson Little League makes it to World Series.

1988

Major League films scenes at Hi Corbett Field.

1992

Arizona Fall League founded.

Cleveland Indians end residency at Hi Corbett Field.

1993

The California Angels take residence at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Colorado Rockies take residency at Hi Corbett Field.

San Diego Padres end residency at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma.

1994

Peoria Sports Complex opens.

The San Diego Padres take residency at Peoria Sports Complex.

The Seattle Mariners take residency at Peoria Sports Complex.

Michael Jordan on the Scottsdale Scorpion roster for Arizona Fall League.

1995

Sun City Stadium is demolished

March 9 - Arizona is awarded a franchise from the MLB to Colangelo’s group to begin play for the 1998 season.

1997

The Milwaukee Brewers end their residence at Compadre Stadium. The stadium would sit abandoned until demolition in 2016.

1998

Tucson Electric Park opens, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox take residency.

The NPB Tokyo Yakult Swallows play their last spring training at Desert Sun Stadium.

American Family Fields of Phoenix opens.

Milwaukee Brewers take residency at American Family Fields of Phoenix.

March 31 - Arizona Diamondbacks first regular season game took place against the Colorado Rockies.

2001

November 4 - Arizona Diamondbacks win game 7 of the World Series, the fastest an expansion team to reach the World Series.

2002

Surprise Stadium opens in Surprise.

2003

The Kansas City Royals take residency at Surprise Stadium.

The Texas Rangers take residency at Surprise Stadium.

2007

Chandler Little League makes Little League World Series quarter finals with Cody Bellinger.

2008

Chicago White Sox end residency at Tucson Electric Park.

2009

Camelback Ranch opens in Glendale.

The Chicago White Sox take residency at Camelback Ranch.

The Los Angeles Dodgers take residency at Camelback Ranch.

Goodyear Ballpark opens.

Milwaukee Brewers take residency at Goodyear Ballpark.

Cincinnati Reds take residency at Goodyear Ballpark.

2010

Colorado Rockies end residency at Hi Corbett Field.

Arizona Diamondbacks end residency at Tucson Electric Park.

2011

Salt River Fields opens.

Arizona Diamondbacks take residency at Salt River Fields.

Colorado Rockies take residency at Salt River Fields.

2012

University of Arizona takes full residency of Hi Corbett Field.

2013

The Chicago Cubs end residency at Hohokam Stadium.

2014

Sloan Park opens and the Chicago Cubs take residency.

2015

Arizona State University takes full residence at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Oakland Athletics take residency at Hohokam Stadium.

2016

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters take spring training in Peoria.

2017

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters take spring training in Peoria.