Grapefruit League Kicks Off Saturday

Play ball!

A Florida tradition will be renewed on Saturday when the Grapefruit League kicks off with the first round of spring training games.

Four games kick off at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday. In Dunedin, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Detroit Tigers. Over in Port Charlotte, the Pittsburg Pirates visit the Tampa Bay Rays. The Philadelphia Phillies head to Tampa to play the New York Yankees. In Port St. Lucie, the New York Mets will host the Atlanta Braves.

I'm not going to turn into one of those baseball poets who praise America's game in near-mystic terms, but the Grapefruit League means a lot to the state. While he was always one to enjoy the limelight, former Gov. Claude Kirk used to dress up as a baseball ballplayer for the ceremony of throwing out the first pitch each year for spring training. Whatever you think of Kirk, who is easily the most colorful governor in Floridas history, his instincts were correct on this one. The Grapefruit League is a cherished part of our distinct culture. It's fun, brings visitors and summons visions of endless sunny days and warm weather -- it conjures an image of what we want Florida to be.

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