Spring Training and the Casey Award

Categories: Sports , Award Winners

"Pitchers and catchers report" - one of the simplest and most wonderful phrases in the English language.  It signals that the sun will shine again, the grass will grow green, and baseball will once again be part of the daily conversation for those who are inclined to talk of such things. 

Today, February 18, pitchers and catchers of the Cincinnati Reds will report to a new facility in Goodyear, Arizona to begin spring training.  The position players will check in on February 23.  With 13 Cactus League teams holding spring training in the Phoenix area, it is a mecca for those who are yearning for baseball and sun.

Locally, the Casey Award for the past year's best baseball writing will be presented here in Cincinnati by the editors of Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine. Author Larry Tye's biography, Satchel, has been selected as the best baseball book of 2009, from a list of twelve nominated titles. 

Mr. Tye is scheduled to attend the award banquet, to the held on Sunday March 7.  Tickets will be available at the door for $10.  More information can be found at the Spitball website.