Seventy-four members of baseball’s Hall of Fame have played at Hi Corbett Field, including Mickey Mantle, Willey Mays and Ted Williams. Each players’ name is engraved on the Wall of Fame, located on the concourse behind home plate.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox also play their home games in Tucson. They play at Tucson Electric Park, located just minutes away from Hi Corbett Field.
In addition, the Rockies will host many American League teams most fans generally don’t get to see, including: Anaheim Angels, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers. The Rockies also played host to the Mexico team from the World Baseball Classic in an exhibition game earlier this month.
Autographs:
As a young child, there is no greater feeling than getting the chance to meet and receive an autograph from your favorite baseball player—essentially, your idol. Hi Corbett makes every intention to fulfill those child-like dreams.
With great opportunities for autographs along the right field line, while players play catch prior to games, the prime spot for autographs and live balls is the practice fields, located just outside of the stadium.
The four practice fields are often-times used for batting practice and drills several hours before games, and players are almost always willing to take time to sign a ball or meet a fan. The stadium opens two hours before game time, but fans can arrive to the practice fields prior to that in order to have more opportunities to watch and meet the players.
The athletes are much more willing to sign autographs at spring training than any other time in the year. Even some of the big-named stars will even sign on a consistent basis.
In addition, fans choosing to stick around after the game can sometimes catch a player leaving the stadium and walking to their vehicles. The gate is located along the first base line.
Food at the park:
Without a doubt, the most popular food choice served at Hi Corbett is the Rockie Dog. A famous, fresh footlong hot dog served with unlimited condiments, the Rockie Dog makes fans feel like they’re back at Coors Field.
In addition, the ballpark serves a variety of traditional ballpark foods plus multiple Mexican food options.
A variety of beer is always on tap in addition to Coca-Cola fountain drinks.
Where to stay:
There are multiple hotels located within two miles of Hi Corbett Field. The closest hotels are Doubletree, Clarion Hotel and Lodge on the Desert, all located on Alvernon Way.
What else to do:
A plentiful amount of restaurants area also located within a mile of the ballpark. A few of them are fast food chains, but many are unique Mexican restaurants that add to one’s Arizona vacation. Rubio’s, Tacos Don Juan, Las Brasas, and Mariscos Chihuahua are all popular venues located on either Broadway Boulevard or East 22nd Street.
Many, however, consider Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen one of the best Arizona offers. Famous for its chimichangas, tacos, and enchiladas, Macayo’s has been a tradition since 1946.
Tucson is the second largest city in the state of Arizona and is full of several clubs, bars and nightlife.
If you have time to squeeze in more than baseball, other ideas to finish your trip include hiking Sabino Canyon, walking through Old Tucson Studios, visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, witnessing the beautiful San Xavier Mission or touring the nearby University of Arizona campus.
Final thoughts:
Hi Corbett is considered by many, the most intimate spring training site in all of baseball. It has been compared to fields like Wrigley Field, not for its architectural structure, but instead for its rich history. The comfortable Tucson weather allows fans to get away from the Colorado winter and get a first glimpse of how their team is shaping up.
The prices are very affordable and the access to the players is remarkable. There are still many uncertainties regarding the 2009 Rockies’ lineup, so you’ll want to make sure that you get the chance to see the players fighting for roles first-hand.
Grab your closest friends, family, or fellow baseball fans and take a weekend trip to Hi-Corbett Field—the most intimate spring training ballpark.
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