Port St. Lucie - The smell of fresh cut grass, the crack of the bat and the fans driving in from all over, means one thing to the Treasure Coast, its baseball time. Spring Training officially kicks off on Feb. 16 when pitchers and catchers report to their respective spring facilities. Baseball in our area has been around since the mid 40’s, residents have built a following to the local teams that call our home their spring home.

Spring Training is always a special time of the year for Treasure Coast residents. For many it’s a chance to talk baseball with coaches and players, for others it will be their only chance to see a Major League baseball game. Whatever the reason, baseball is a fun and exciting time for our area. Spring Training games start at the end of February and the short season runs until the teams break camp during the first days in April. If you like to watch baseball after the teams leave our area, the closest major league park is Dolphin Stadium in Miami, home of the Florida Marlins. But for many, the drive and expense of driving to Miami is not something they are willing to do. Because of this, teams in our area draw many fans and most games during Spring Training are sold out.

During the first few weeks of Spring Training, players and coaches are preparing and conditioning themselves for the long, grueling season. It’s a chance for many fans to meet and greet their favorite players and maybe even get an autograph. For those who collect and deal in autograph memorabilia, this requires a lot of patience and persistence due to the player’s time and availability. For many it means making multiple trips to the training sites, hanging around parking lots or simply going home empty handed. Many players and their families enjoy their off time by visiting many of the fun and interesting places on the treasure coast, including our beaches and golfing clubs. But making time for fans during spring training is something many players enjoy.

There are two teams that call the Treasure Coast their spring home, one is the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have been in Vero Beach for the past 60 years, and have played at Holman Stadium for 55 years, this year could be the final year locals will get to see the Dodgers for Spring Training because the team is negotiating a move to Glendale, Ariz. The move may come as early as 2008, but realistically they plan to move in 2009. The team has already moved their single-A team, the Vero Beach Dodgers to California. This minor league vacancy was recently filled by a Single-A team from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Dodgertown, a former Naval air base, became home to the Dodgers in 1948. With such a long history in Vero Beach, there are many references to the Dodgers, there is even an elementary school named Dodgertown Elementary. What will become of Dodgertown when the team leaves will be an interesting story, many hate to see the team leave because it has became synonymous with Vero Beach, the city also counts on the tourism dollars that are generated during Spring Training, long term effects of such a move wont be known for years to come.

The other team training in our area is the New York Mets. Tradition Field has been home to the Mets since they moved here in 1986, the stadium build by the county was originally named Thomas White Stadium. After spending nearly 10 million dollars in stadium renovations in 2004, the Mets signed a long term agreement with the county that will keep the team in Port St. Lucie until 2018. That’s plenty of time to enjoy Mets baseball before the team considers leaving our area. The Mets have proven to be a big boost to the local economy and many restaurants and a movie theater have build locations near the stadium.

The Treasure Coast is home to many former New York residents. Although many follow the Yankees, the Mets have a very strong local following, and the team receives a tremendous turnout every time they take the field. For many it’s a time to catch up with old friends, have a hot dog and just talk baseball.

There is a rich history of superstar players and coaches who have played in St. Lucie over the years including Willie Randolf, Daryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson, Dwight Gooden and of course Hall-of-Famer and West Palm Beach resident Gary Carter. Many players have made the Treasure Coast their permanent homes. With such a history of baseball and the local fan support, the Mets have benefited from there spring home in Port St. Lucie. The team also maintains a Single-A team, the St. Lucie Mets, who last year, won the Florida State League title.

So give me some peanuts and cracker jacks. It’s time for baseball on the Treasure Coast.

Richard Munroe can be reached at richardmunroe01@yahoo.com