The Ultimate Twins Spring Training Guide 2009: To Hammond Stadium and Beyond!

Many thanks to OldLadyTwinsFan and the rest of the denizens at BattleYourTailOff.com for their help compiling this article.

Lee County, Fla., isn’t near Miami. It’s nearly 1,800 miles from Cabo San Lucas, and a full 2,000 miles from Las Vegas.

Yet for thousands of Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox fans, Ft. Myers and the surrounding Lee County area will always be the heart of their spring break plans.

Without a doubt, part of the allure of attending spring training games for many fans is the break from long Midwestern winters.

Hammond Stadium provides a great chance for fans to sit in the sun and watch their favorite team, a feature not even available to fans in Minneapolis in mid-summer.

Facility Notes

Hammond Stadium and its surrounding complex are situated in the southeastern section of the city, positioned between the Fort Myers airport and the more densely populated sections of downtown.

The Twins moved into the Lee County Sports Complex in the spring of 1991, the first year the facility was open.  After finishing second to last in the American League the year before, the Twins left their site in Orlando where they had played since 1946.

Their arrival in Ft. Myers must have brought them good luck, since they improved their finish by 21 games and went on to defeat the Atlanta Braves in the 1991 World Series.

Their 20-year lease on the facility ends soon, but the Twins have made no motions of heading away from their home-away-from-home, due to their strong connection to the area.

Not only do the Twins occupy the facility from late February to early April, they also keep a nearly permanent presence in Hammond Stadium. The single decked stadium houses the major leaguers for a while, but when the Twins head north, their high-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle, takes over.

Game Notes

Before they moved to the Cactus League in 1998, the Chicago White Sox occupied a field in nearby Port Charlotte. The rivalry between these two teams is one of my favorites in all of sports, and getting a chance to see them play even before meaningful games started is one of my favorite memories of Spring Training.

While the players can seem less than interested in some spring games, it was clear that even though these games wouldn’t count in the standings, the players wanted to send a message to their opponents that they were not to be trifled with during the upcoming season.

A resounding Twins win, along with getting a foul ball from one of the vendors outside, made the game one of the most enjoyable baseball experiences I’ve had.

If you’re looking to eat at the park, just follow your nose. Many stations have open grills and their own take on the baseball classics. The right field area has a number of good choices and provides a great atmosphere in which to enjoy the game.

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