69 Years Ago In TIME

Each year brings its familiar rites and beloved rituals--like the end of spring training and the first pitch of the new BASEBALL season, which begins next week. Back in 1937, however, there was one difference: no steroid scandals.

In 1886, famed "Cap" Anson created a furor by taking his Chicago baseball team (including Evangelist Billy Sunday) to Hot Springs, Ark., to get ready for the opening of the season. Since then, spring training has been a baseball institution. Main purpose of spring training is not to recondition baseballers but to recondition baseball addicts, by reminding them that a new season is...

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