For five weeks this spring, fans of baseball, and other folks who are just pro-sunshine, will make pilgrimages to 10 ballparks in the Valley, and in their own way, give thanks.
For the sun. For having a job or a class to sneak away from. For being able to wear shorts in February and March. For being able to watch a sporting event and not care much, or at all, about the score.
Close to 2 million tickets will be sold during the Cactus League, which runs Feb. 21-March 26, thanks in part to the foresight of a small group of people who 30 years ago rescued spring training in Arizona.