Later today the Cubs and Dodgers will face off in the first of two Cactus League games before starting the regular season (way too early) in Japan. I’m not going to Arizona this spring for several reasons, but that doesn’t mean I’m not excited about ST.

It’s too late to predict the first ST casualty because a handful of players have already suffered soft tissue setbacks (more on that later). Unfortunately, pitchers will begin suffering season ending injuries and surgeries. That’s part of the modern game.

Like many fans that have enjoyed the ambiance of Arizona ballparks, and I’ve soured in recent years as ticket prices have skyrocketed. I was a little disappointed to receive emails from several ML teams pushing the updated ST caps. I get marketing new items, but scoff at the idea of a $48 cap. Nobody is forced to spend that much money on a hardly unique topper. Unlike many fans, I’m not upset that Cactus League ballparks are crammed with vacationers. For many, ST remains the best opportunity for that up close, personal experience that differentiated baseball from the other major sports.

I’m also waiting for the inevitable, “Spring training is too long, let’s head north,” cry from several players. Not only is it an insult to the fans on vacation, but it’s also often ironic because hundreds of players are clearly not ready when the regular season starts. Not only will several hitters stink up the joint in April and May, but the fundamentals also won’t look so fun either.

As I remember it, Topps used to release their first series closer to Opening Day, but I’ve lost my Prevagen prescription and may be mistaken. Anyhow, Topps only just released the 2025 Series One days ago. It’s a pretty exciting date even for this former, rabid collector. While recent sets and individual cards may be more valuable, I’ll argue they aren’t any more creative. In fact, I can’t tell the difference between last year’s set and this year.

As a young fan and collector, I looked forward to each season’s cards. I might not have loved a particular year’s design, but they were completely unique and looked nothing like the previous year. During the 70’s the Topps cards may have looked more different than not-even if the Cubs roster remained unchanged (for the most part). There was always hope.