WHERE'S GERALDO WHEN YOU NEED HIM! NOW, IT CAN BE TOLD! EXCLUSIVE: TOP SPRING TRAINING SITES REVEALED, 1-26!

"I am not a big fan of ‘grades,’ ‘rankings’ or ‘ratings’ because each experience is so unique for each fan. But I’m asked so often, 'Joe, What are the best Spring Training sites?’ - I’ve been leaving the masses hanging for too long! So, without further adieu, here’s a shameless attempt at giving the annual ‘People’s 50 Most Sexiest’ or that infamous ‘Worst Dressed List’ a run for their rankings." - Joe Connor, San Diego, Calif. USA, at this moment writing a list on why people are so consumed by lists!

The shameless list below is based on Joe’s experience and personal opinion, leaning heavily on fan atmosphere (intimacy and accessibility), and less on a team’s talent pool or Spring Training location (small or large city, Arizona or Florida). Simply: the main "sex appeal" of each Spring Training complex is noted. Complete details on each site is included in A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate Spring Training Experience available for purchase at the Buy Joe's Guides page.

Also, the first reference below is the complex, followed by the actual ballpark where Cactus (Arizona) and Grapefruit (Florida) games are played. Note the training complex for some clubs is not adjacent to the ballpark. Descriptions below refer to the ballparks. Lastly, for the record, although there are 30 major league teams, there are just 26 Spring Training complexes, with eight clubs sharing a site with another.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT PEOPLE MAGAZINE! JOE’S TOP SPRING TRAINING BALLPARKS FOR 2003 - WITH SOME SEX APPEAL! YEAH, BABY!

1. Dodgertown (Holman Stadium) in Vero Beach, Florida, home of the Dodgers

Sex appeal: No dugouts. That’s right, NO DUGOUTS.

2. Surprise Recreation Campus (Surprise Stadium) in Surprise, Arizona, home of the Rangers and Royals

Sex appeal: You want intimacy? The batting cages are on the same main concourse as seating and concessions - grab a few snacks while A-Rod takes his hacks.

3. Fitch Park Complex (HoHoKam Park at Dwight Patterson Field) in Mesa, Arizona, home of the Cubs

Sex appeal: Sammy's famous home-run two-step, Cactus style, and the devoted and jovial Cubs fans, who always keep the place live and jumping.

4. Carpenter Complex (Jack Russell Stadium) in Clearwater, Florida, home of the Phillies

Sex appeal: Wilbur Snapp at the organ and Bowa throwing an early tantrum.

5. Giants Complex (Scottsdale Stadium) in Scottsdale, Arizona

Sex appeal: Fan atmosphere - and the variety of characters in attendance, from young, plastic surgery cuties to old-timers.

6. Tigertown (Joker Marchant Stadium) in Lakeland, Florida, home of the Tigers

Sex appeal: The history, plus the production and promotion crew, serving up everything from Axel F. to the Chicken.

7. Red Sox Complex (City of Palms Park) in Fort Myers, Florida

Sex appeal: World Series-deprived Sox fans, who clap their hands in unison to start a rally - in the first inning!

8. Yankees Complex (Legends Field) in Tampa, Florida, home of the Yankees

Sex appeal: Quasi Yankee Stadium South, from "mini" Monument Park to Sinatra and a Steinbrenner sighting.

9. Raymond Naimoli Complex (Florida Power Park at Al Lang Field) in Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sex appeal: Bayfront views and some stellar history, too - the Babe, Mick and Gehrig played on this site, junior.

10. Pirate City (McKechnie Field) in Bradenton, Florida, home of the Pirates

Sex appeal: Hear and enjoy those colorful, missin'-a-few-teeth Floridiots rev their motorcycles at this most urban - and quaint - of pads. Really.

11. Indians Complex (Chain O’Lakes Park) in Winter Haven, Florida

Sex appeal: Nothing like orange blossom aroma in the air and a Bob Feller sighting at this old time yard.

12. Pima County Kino Sports Complex (Tucson Electric Park) in Tucson, home of the Diamondbacks and White Sox

Sex appeal: Eccentric, Old Pueblo-vendors and sweet views of the breathtaking Catalina Mountains.

13. Cardinals and Marlins Complex (Roger Dean Stadium) in Jupiter, Florida

Sex appeal: "Children’s Only" area down the lines that results in the little ones bugging the hell out of relief pitchers.

14. Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria Stadium) in Peoria, Arizona, home of the Mariners and Padres

Sex appeal: Fan atmosphere in the West Valley 'burbs, especially for M’s games, in a fun, comfortable and modern setting.

15. Lee County Sports Complex (Hammond Stadium) in Fort Myers, Florida, home of the Twins

Sex appeal: Towering fountains in the main plaza, and the quirky lawn job performed by the infield tractor boy.

16. Sarasota Sports Complex (Ed Smith Stadium) in Sarasota, Florida, home of the Reds

Sex appeal: If it isn’t iffey, it’s Griffey - red-colored shirts on many a fan create an ambience of Cornhusker Country.

17. Papago Park Baseball Complex (Phoenix Municipal Stadium) in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Athletics

Sex appeal: Too simple interior design, not too simple exterior beauty - beneath the shadows of mysterious Papago Park’s rock formations.

18. Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida, home of the Braves

Sex appeal: The Tomahawk Chop and Mickey and Minnie find common ground at The Happiest Corporate Ballpark On Earth.

19. Angels Complex (Tempe Diablo Stadium) in Tempe, Arizona, home of the Angels

Sex appeal: Playing outfield catch with your kid below a big butte, plus a birds eye view of a freeway! Yippie!

20. Brewers Complex (Maryvale Ballpark) in Phoenix, Arizona

Sex appeal: Plenty of good seats available for you, your little one - and Mr. Baseball to admire this architectural anomaly.

21. Astros Complex (Osceola County Stadium) in Kissimmee, Florida

Sex appeal: New seats (ones that actually won’t hurt your tush) to see Bags, Biggio and Car Wash Boy.

22. Saint Lucie County Sports Complex (Thomas J. White Stadium) in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, home of the Mets

Sex appeal: 11-time recipient of the Antiseptic Concrete Jungle Award presented by the U.S. Cinder Block Association. And there’s no planes overhead, either!

23. Orioles Complex (Fort Lauderdale Stadium) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Sex appeal: You can tell your friends back home you visited the same dump the Yankees exited in 1993.

24. Cecil Englebert Complex (Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field) in Dunedin, Florida, home of the Blue Jays

Sex appeal: The state bird is the mosquito - you will get to know it well inside the frying pan.

25. Randolph Park (Hi-Corbett Field) in Tucson, Arizona, home of the Rockies

Sex appeal: Can at least tell friends back home you witnessed a game where Willie Mays Hayes slept one night.

26. Carl Barger Complex (Space Coast Stadium) in Viera/Melbourne, Florida, home of the Expos

Sex appeal: Nothing like sitting in traffic along a narrow one-lane road waiting to park while fat happy cows meander by.