A typical scene during the February practice only portion of spring training. This one is from the Phillies' complex in Clearwater.

Around mid-February of every year the words baseball fans long to hear - pitchers and catchers have reported - are pronounced in the various outlets that cover America's pastime.

Between teams’ various reporting dates and the day a little less than two weeks later when spring training games begin, players practice on the back fields (in most cases) of the sprawling complexes that are adjacent to or near the stadium in which they play those games.

While the process of attending spring training games is well documented, information is scarce – to the point of being non-existent – about watching spring training practices.

But if that’s the information you seek, then you’ve found the right article as the written words that follow detail what you need to know in order to pass the time watching America's pastime in its most pastoral of settings.

Non-game day practices in February are one of the best parts about spring training. Crowds are pretty sparse, and you can get very up close to what's going on. That proximity is the allure to most fans, while the ease of obtaining autographs satisfies many others. All enjoy the cost associated with the access. There is none.

The epitome of intimacy: Rays fans help out Rays players during a practice in Port Charlotte.

For certain, the free to see practices don’t draw many fans or much media attention, so attendees get an often unobstructed and unfiltered look at how players prepare and coaches coach. Conversions can be heard while practice is observed from behind a simple chain link fence, and it’s not uncommon in some places for players to frequent the common areas in which fans congregate.

It’s during this time that baseball feels more little league than big league, the players more human than heroes. And then March rolls around, games begin, masses ascend to watch them and most of the intimacy that early arrivals enjoy is gone or severely restricted.

But before than happens, for about three hours per day for nearly two weeks fans can enjoy baseball nirvana.

Beginning with the day pitchers and catchers report and ending when a team plays its first Cactus or Grapefruit League game, teams hold daily workouts at their spring training complex. Or at least their portion of the complex for the dozen teams that share one.

Practices generally start in the morning, in the 9 to 10 a.m. range, and are done circa lunch (Noon to 1:00). If it's action you seek, it's better to be there early than late, as more visible practicing, drills and instruction takes place in the morning than early afternoon. On the other hand, autograph seekers will have their most success as players depart the practice fields for their clubhouse or the often off-limits batting cages.

Technically, when practices start is manager driven, but it almost always falls within the same morning timeframe mentioned in the previous paragraph with the only possible exception being the first day workout, which is sometimes held in the afternoon following the inaugural team meeting and/or physicals. But other than that, practices begin in the morning. As previously mentioned, no admission is charged, nor is a ticket of any sort required to attend a practice session.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training anywhere between 3 to 7 days prior to the rest of the team, but despite their formal reporting date many position players will be there and practicing with the pitchers and catchers when they begin their workouts. So, for example, if you're a Mets fan don't be surprised to see a guy like David Wright in camp from the get-go. Plus, position players who had something fixed surgically during the off-season are often at camp well before they have to be.

While players often start arriving many days, or even weeks, before the officially sanctioned MLB reporting dates, spring training complexes adhere to those dates for public access. So arriving prior to any team’s pitchers and catchers reporting date is pointless.

Now that you know when to be there, it’s important to know where you need to be. Despite what many people believe, the stadiums where games are played are rarely used by the teams during February training. Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of where practices are actually held:

CACTUS LEAGUE

Angels, (Tempe)
The Angels make use of six-and-a-half practice fields that are adjacent to Tempe Diablo Stadium. Fans can park in the stadium's parking lot and make the short walk from there to the practice facilities, which are open to the public as soon as the Angels start practicing (usually around 9:30 a.m.).

A's, (Phoenix)
Where the A's practice depends on when the A's practice. If earlier during their training-only time, the where is the Papago Baseball Facility, which is two miles from Phoenix Municipal Stadium, where the A's begin holding their workouts in the days just prior to the beginning of the Cactus League season, when they also make use of the practice field that is behind the stadium's right field fence. Ample parking is found in the large lot across the street from the stadium. As many parking spaces as are necessary are available at the Papago complex, which has four full-sized fields.

Brewers, (Maryvale)
The Brewers have a five-field training complex directly behind their ballpark in the western Phoenix neighborhood of Maryvale. Plenty of paved parking is next to the team's practice facilities, which fans can wander through well before practice begins.

Cubs, (Mesa)
The Cubs practice a half-mile south of Hohokam Park at Fitch Park, which has four fields and a medium-sized parking lot. Fitch Park's gate is usually unlocked around 8 a.m. Given the Cubs' popularity, an early arrival time isn't a bad idea for fans wanting to secure a parking spot there.

Diamondbacks, (Scottsdale)
The Diamondbacks' new digs on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community reservation on the absolute edge of Scottsdale's city limits contains six full and two half fields for their training usage. All fields are adjacent to the complex's stadium, beginning behind the third base grandstand and spanning beyond left field, and are to be accessible starting at 9 a.m.

Dodgers, (Glendale)
The Dodgers practice on the eastern side of Camelback Ranch, where they have six fields at their disposal. Fans can start flocking to them when the complex's gates open at 9:00 a.m. and they should park in the lot that is a short distance from the intersection of 107th Avenue and Camelback Road.

Giants, (Scottsdale)
The 2010 world champions practice in Scottsdale Stadium and on the single practice field that is adjacent to it. The practice field is tucked away in the right field corner but has no direct access for fans wanting to watch workouts there. What fans can glimpse is seen through the black wrought iron fence along the practice field's left field line. Watching practice on the main field is as simple as sitting wherever you desire in the 8,188-seat grandstand. Stadium gates open around 10 a.m. on practice days. The best place to park is in the free public garage found directly behind Scottsdale Stadium's left field.

Indians, (Goodyear)
The Indians practice on six of the fields found within the Goodyear Recreational Complex that are in the shadows of the city's general aviation airport. The training complex is not next door to the ballpark, but it's not too far - maybe a 10-minute walk - from it. It's actual address is 2601 S. Wood Blvd. and parking spaces are found along both sides of Wood Blvd. The chain link fence gate to the complex swings open at 9:00 a.m.

Mariners, (Peoria)
The Mariners are allotted six full-sized practice fields within the Peoria Sports Complex. Small sets of bleachers are set up at each of them. The fields are alongside the stadium's west parking lot, best entered by turning onto Mariners Way from 83rd Avenue, and beyond the stadium's first base grandstand. Practice field gates open at 9:15 a.m.

Padres, (Peoria)
All practice fields at the Peoria Sports Complex used by the Padres are found beyond the stadium's right field. The gate to them opens at 9:15 a.m. Park your car in the stadium's east lot, which is entered from Paradise Lane. Workouts at each of the Padres-assigned six big fields can be enjoyed from the comfort of uncovered bleachers.

Rangers, (Surprise)
The defending American League champions practice on six fields that are behind the first base side of their spring training stadium. Fans are allowed into the Rangers' half of the Surprise complex at 10:00 a.m. and for easiest access they should park in the lot at the intersections of Parkview Place and Major League Boulevard.

Reds, (Goodyear)
The Reds practice on six fields in their portion of the Goodyear Recreational Complex, which is found near the intersection of Wood Boulevard and Estrella Parkway. It's a fairly long walk from Goodyear Ballpark to where the Reds do their training so it's advisable to park in the spaces that are on either side of Wood Blvd. Fans are permitted entrance into the Reds practice area beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Rockies, (Scottsdale)
Same as their complex mates, the Rockies get use of six full and two half fields at the still pretty new Salt River Fields complex that is basically inches east of Scottsdale city limits. The bulk of those fields are behind the main stadium's first base grandstand. All fields will be accessible to fans beginning at 9 a.m.

Royals, (Surprise)
The Royals practice behind Surprise Stadium on six fields that are parallel to the stadium's third base side. Their location is convenient to the stadium's main parking lot, from which it's a short walk to the practice field gate that opens at 10:00 a.m.

White Sox, (Glendale)
The White Sox practice on six fields that can be seen from Camelback Road. Found on the western half of the Camelback Ranch complex, fans have easy access to them beginning at 9:00 a.m. Visitors should park in the west gate lot, accessed via 111th Avenue (aka Ballpark Boulevard).

GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

Astros, (Kissimmee)
The Astros practice in their four-field complex that is behind the left field corner of Osceola County Stadium, where fans can park.

Blue Jays, (Dunedin)
The Blue Jays hold their workouts 3½ miles northeast of their spring training stadium at the Cecil P. Englebert Recreational Complex, which is in a residential area of Dunedin and contains five practice fields. The address for the complex is 1700 Solon Avenue, although that's not where you will find public parking. Instead drive to the nearby Louis A. Vanech Recreation Complex at 3051 Garrison Road. Upon entering the Vanech Complex take its asphalt path until it dead ends after about a quarter mile at a small parking lot that's near the Blue Jays' practice field gate.

Braves, (Lake Buena Vista)
The Braves have a nice as they come practice complex courtesy of the fine folks at Disney. Referred to as the Baseball Quadraplex, it has four full-sized practice fields and each has covered seating for spectators. The Quadraplex is directly behind Champion Stadium and is conveniently next to the stadium's parking lot.

Cardinals, (Jupiter)
The Cardinals practice in the array of fields beyond Roger Dean Stadium's outfield. Specifically, their half-dozen practice fields lay behind the Cardinals clubhouse that spans the stadium's right-center field fence. Fan access to them is just past the parking lot that is behind the clubhouse, where a narrow paved path off of University Boulevard leads to the main practice field entrance gate.

Marlins, (Jupiter)
The Marlins practice on six fields that begin beyond their clubhouse that is behind the left-center field fence at Roger Dean Stadium. The main fan entrance to the Marlins' complex is adjacent to Field #4 on the portion of Stadium Drive that is a little ways beyond the stadium's grass field parking lot.

Mets, (Port St. Lucie)
The Mets practice on the fields that are adjacent to Digital Domain Park, which is where fans can park. Their practice complex is centered behind the ballpark's left field fence. Gates to it open each morning at 9:30.

Nationals, (Viera)
The Nationals utilize four fields arranged in a cloverleaf formation that are found within the complex that abuts the back end of Space Coast Stadium's grass field parking lot.

Orioles, (Sarasota)
The four fields beyond the outfield wall of Ed Smith Stadium are where you'll find the Orioles for most of February. Those practice fields are accessible from the parking lot that is behind the stadium's left field foul pole. The complex's chain link fence gate rolls open at about 9:00 a.m. although practices don't start until a little later (a range of 9:30 to 10).

Phillies, (Clearwater)
The Phillies practice at the Carpenter Complex, a four-field facility that is adjacent to their spring training stadium and at which public parking is available.

Pirates, (Bradenton)
The Pirates practice further away from their spring training stadium than any other team, but the distance from McKechnie Field to their Pirate City training complex is just five miles. For those with a GPS, Pirate City's Bradenton address is 1701 27th Street East. Parking at Pirate City is in the paved lot that's shared with the neighboring River Run Golf Links. Fans can park so close to the entrance gate of the four-field baseball facility that some vehicles end up in harm's way (home run ball landing territory).

Rays, (Port Charlotte)
The Rays practice on the five and a half fields that are behind the Charlotte Sports Park outfield. Generally the gates to the back fields open between 9:00 and 9:20 a.m. but never before the Rays are already on the fields. That aside, this is an exceptionally fan-friendly facility, with minimal restrictions and plenty of player-fan interaction. The only area off-limits are the bullpen mounds.

Red Sox, (Fort Myers)
The Red Sox debut both a new stadium and practice complex in 2012 and they are contained at one site, unlike in the past. The team's Player Development Complex, highlighted by six full-sized practice fields, is just beyond the outfield fences of the 10,823-seat JetBlue Park. Plenty of parking will be available within the 106-acre "Fenway South" complex, whereas none was available at the place where the Sox trained from 1993 through 2011.

Tigers, (Lakeland)
The Tigers practice in their aptly named Tigertown complex, which sprawls from behind one end of Joker Marchant Stadium's outfield to the other. The practice complex has six fields, with the one named in honor of Hank Greenberg close to the Tigertown entrance gate. That black wrought iron gate is just beyond the Tigers clubhouse, which is situated down the right field line of the stadium. Lots of parking spaces are available near the practice field gate. Additionally, fans can watch Tiger workouts from outside of the complex by standing behind the outfield fences of practice fields #2 and #3. Those wanting to do that can park behind the Field #3 batter's eye in an area that is easy to find from Granada Street.

Twins, (Fort Myers)
The 80-acre Lee County Sports Complex contains Hammond Stadium and all of the Twins' practice fields. Four and a half fields are at the far end of the complex while another full-sized practice field (with covered bleachers) is in the shadow of the stadium's third base side grandstand. Plenty of parking is available for all of the facilities in the grass fields that span from the stadium to the back fields.

Yankees, (Tampa)
The Yankees do all of their open to the public practicing at Steinbrenner Field and/or on the practice field that's aside the stadium, which has enough parking spaces (800) to handle most or all, depending on the day, of the crowds that wish to watch the Yankees practice in George Steinbrenner's adopted hometown.

Everything changes come March, when teams mostly practice in their stadium prior to games, although some drills or batting practice often takes place on the field adjacent or closest to the stadium. But the experience then is as different as the size of the gatherings are to watch them.

These fans in Lakeland are doing what many consider to be the best part of their spring training experience: getting autographs.

AUTOGRAPHS
As anybody who has ever been will tell you, there's no better place to amass autographs than at a spring training complex in February. Often the game plan for acquiring them is as simple as showing up with a Sharpie and bringing plenty of things to sign. Additionally, players and coaches are often happy to pose for pictures.

That said, there are some general guidelines for fans to follow. Given that the atmosphere is relaxed and their days more carefree than they will be, players of all caliber are more apt to sign, and keep on signing, for the dozens to hundreds of fans that come out to see them, realizing that’s why a high percentage of people that are there are actually there.

But the players do have a job to do and they are especially focused on preparing to do that job in the morning. So stretching takes precedence over autographing for the majority of players at the beginning of practice. There may be some limited exceptions, but the guys doing the signing in the morning are often the old-timers that are in camp as special instructors. A prime example is Al Kaline at Lakeland’s Tigertown.

For modern day players, most don’t start signing en masse until their day’s work is done. Or at least until their visible to the fans work is done, as plenty hit in indoor cages after they’ve left the outdoor practice fields behind.

Before they head to the clubhouse or the cages, many players head over to whatever barrier separates the fans from them. If you just figure out where the clubhouse is, then you are sure to flag down many players on their way to it, if they don’t find you first. Generally speaking, look for the biggest throngs of fans and that’s the likely autograph spot of choice for players.

As the cliché goes, "players may sign autographs or interact with fans at their own discretion, however please be respectful to players and other fans."

Those are the exact words printed on a sign outside of the Rays' practice field complex in Port Charlotte, but are the mantra in each of the 30 camps that are split evenly between Arizona and Florida.

So don’t push, don’t shove, or do anything to cause a ruckus and give players a reason to avoid a “situation” and you’ll get a bunch of autographs.

Even superstars like A-Rod participate in the annual "write" of spring.

Naturally, your bounty will be better at some places than others. For example, you can pick a Pirate – just about any Pirate – at their complex in Bradenton and get an autograph. That’s not so much because the team feels obligated to appease their fans after an unprecedented stretch of losing seasons, but because their Pirate City complex is as fan-friendly today as any was back in the day since getting from one field to another within Pirate City requires players to move through the crowd. And that means when practice is over the crowd must part for players to get back to their clubhouse. Fans of Pennsylvania’s other major league team, the Phillies, might have bragging rights given their team’s success, but their team’s Carpenter Complex in Clearwater has enough fencing within it to keep Philly followers at bay.

As for who signs, that's a daily guessing game and part of the fun. Yes, a whole lot of no name on their back non-roster invitees sign, but so do the superstars like Josh Hamilton and Alex Rodriguez. The only thing that is certain is that getting signatures is much easier at a complex than at any stadium players will frequent from about March 3rd forward.

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Graham Knight has gone to see spring training in Florida 11 times and has made 4 visits to Arizona for the same baseball watching purpose. He has seen multiple games in every spring training ballpark and has visited the practice complexes for each team. In 2010, he witnessed 8 practices in Florida. Last year, he watched some full squad workouts and scrimmages in Arizona. This spring he'll be back in Florida to see some more.

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