February… is the start of Major League Baseball’s Spring Training!

February might conjure thoughts of snow, ice, and hibernation for some, but we think it’s the perfect time for baseball season to get back on deck.

The month kicks off with the birthday of legendary baseball great, Babe Ruth, who was born 117 years ago on February 6.

Fast forward several weeks and the 2012 Major League baseball spring training season gets underway as pitchers and catchers report to Arizona and Florida in mid-February.

To many, pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training means that spring and baseball season are finally within reach. While the spring training season does not begin until early March for the rest of the team, pitchers and catchers report first because pitchers benefit from a longer training period. Pitchers and catchers from every MLB team will begin practicing in their respective league, Arizona’s Cactus League or Florida’s Grapefruit League.

Check out below where your favorite team will be playing this year. Don’t miss your chance to warm up the bleachers and cheer on your team during 2012 spring training season! Encore has plenty of resorts just a pitch away from these spring training facilities.

Cactus League (Arizona)

Arizona Diamondbacks: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Chicago Cubs: HoHoKam Park, Mesa
Chicago White Sox: Camelback Ranch, Glendale
Cincinnati Reds: Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear
Cleveland Indians: Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear
Colorado Rockies: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Kansas City Royals: Surprise Stadium, Surprise
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe
Los Angeles Dodgers: Camelback Ranch, Glendale
Milwaukee Brewers: Maryvale Baseball Park, Phoenix
Oakland Athletics: Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix
San Diego Padres: Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria
San Francisco Giants: Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale
Seattle Mariners: Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria
Texas Rangers: Surprise Stadium, Surprise

Grapefruit League (Florida)

Atlanta Braves: Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World
Boston Red Sox: JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
Baltimore Orioles: Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Detroit Tigers: Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Houston Astros: Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee
Miami Marlins: Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
Minnesota Twins: Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
New York Mets: Digital Domain Park, Port St. Lucie
New York Yankees: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Philadelphia Phillies: Bright House Field, Clearwater
Pittsburgh Pirates: McKechnie Field, Bradenton
St. Louis Cardinals: Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter
Tampa Bay Rays: Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte
Toronto Blue Jays: Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin
Washington Nationals: Space Coast Stadium, Viera