Baseball Spring Training Sites around the Sarasota, Florida area.

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Sarasota's Baseball Spring Training Sites Come to Life in February

The Sarasota-Bradenton area is home to two baseball spring training sites; one for the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training work outs and one for the Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training practice.

Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium, new home of the Orioles in 2010, will begin undergoing a "face lift" and refurbishment beginning in 2010 after spring training and may even get a new name, to be chosen by the Orioles.

McKechnie Field in Bradenton has been home to the Pittsburgh Pirate Spring Training games since 1969 and the Pirates work outs take place nearby at Pirate City.

And if you're willing to drive south about a half-hour from the Sarasota-Venice, Florida area you'll be able to watch the 2008 American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays work out in Port Charlotte.

(Editor's note: The Cincinnati Reds begin spring training in their new home in Goodyear, Arizona in 2010.)

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Ed Smith Stadium

Spring training starts in mid February as the ball players first begin to arrive. Baseball spring training is an exciting time of year, holding new hopes and promises for a winning season and perhaps even a world championship in “far off” October.

As baseball spring training sites go, Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium, at 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue, is the new home of the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training facility in 2010 after a year or two of talking deals with the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox.

Ed Smith Stadium Sarasota Florida

The Orioles Spring Training workouts are free and open to the public. The work outs take place on the diamonds behind Ed Smith Stadium and start around 9:30 a.m. and it's a great way to see your favorite players get in shape for the new season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training grounds are located in nearby Bradenton, Florida, a short drive from Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium. The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Schedule has the games at McKechnie Field and Spring Training work outs at "Pirate City."

The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training workouts are free and open to the public. The Pirates start around 10 a.m. Pirate City is located at 1701 27th Street East, Bradenton.

Baltimore Orioles Spring Training

The Baltimore Orioles Spring Training Camp arrives is Sarasota in 2010. With a new 30 year lease on Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles are no longer the vagabonds of the Grapefruit League as they make their new home in a welcoming Sarasota. Spring training gets underway around mid February on the outer fields of Ed Smith Stadium. Click here for more on Baltimore Orioles Spring Training.

Click here for the 2010 Baltimore Orioles Spring Training Schedule.

The First Baltimore Orioles Fan Fest in Saraota, Florida

Orioles Mascot at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium

The Baltimore Orioles first ever Fan Fest for their new spring training home in Sarasota, Florida took place in the Fall of 2009. The day was filled with bright Florida sunshine, warm smiles and greetings and prizes from the Baltimore Orioles Baseball Organization. Click here to read about and see pictures of the festivities.

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training

Bradenton’s McKechnie Field and Pirate City have been the baseball spring training sites to the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1969. The field was built in 1923, redone in 1993 and there was an $18 million renovation in recent years for this spring training Mecca. Bradenton will remain the spring training home of the Pirates, under a lease, until at least 2038. Here's more to see of the Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training workouts

Click here for the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Schedule.

Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training

Port Charlotte, Florida is the baseball spring training site for the 2008 American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays. The inaugural Rays spring training season in 2009 found The Charlotte County Sports Park newly renovated to welcome the Tampa Bay Rays. With a capacity of 7,000 and within an hour’s drive from the Sarasota/Venice, Florida area, click here for more on the Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training Season.

Click here for the 2010 Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training Schedule.

A Tribute to the Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Years in Sarasota: 1997 - 2009

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Sarasota Florida

The Cincinnati Reds came to Sarasota for baseball spring training, Florida Style, for 12 years! Ed Smith Stadium and its outer practice fields were the off-season home to the Big Red Machine and every year around mid February the hometown fans would show up to watch the players get in shape for another baseball season. The Reds moved to Goodyear, Arizona in 2010. Here's more about the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Spring Training Sites in Sarasota.

Tribute: The Last Cininnati Reds Rally in Sarasota: 2007

Cincinnati Reds Rally in downtown Sarasota Florida

While Ed Smith Stadium and its outlying diamonds were the “official” Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Site through 2009, there was another place where the Reds were welcomed with open arms, the "Reds Rally." This was an annual event, until 2007, for the "Big Red Machine" which fired everyone up for the start of another spring training season. It took place in downtown Sarasota and it was absolutely free! See photos and read more about the 2007 Cincinnati Reds Rally.

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