Scottsdale Stadium awaits MSBL finalists...

When it comes to baseball stadiums, what is the big difference between the two cities, Tucson and Scottsdale? Money!

In April of 2010, Tucson Electric Park will be just another piece of property on the south side of the Old Pueblo. No longer will the Diamondbacks and the White Sox take the field to prepare for a major league baseball season.

The only thing running from first to third will be a tumbleweed or two.

Compare that to Scottsdale Stadium, which yours truly and my teammates on the Tucson Golden Aces will have a shot at playing at on November 1 (if our 65-and-over Mens Senior Baseball League team can reach the finals of the 2009 MSBL World Series). Where is the money? Take a gander at this. In 2006, Scottsdale spent more than 23 million dollars to renovate the stadium, which was originally built in 1992 and has been the home field of the San Francisco Giants ever since.

And the Giants aren't going anywhere.

The Giants' organization recently agreed to lease the facility until 2025.

As spokesman and player for the Tucson Golden Aces, we have a lot of work to do if we expect to play between the lines at Scottsdale Stadium. We first must survive a round robin tournament and win a couple of playoff games. It could happen! We would love to see the name, Tucson Golden Aces, light up on the electric scoreboard. At any rate, 3,200 players and 340 teams will converge on the Phoenix and Scottsdale area from Oct. 19 through Nov. 7 to compete in the MSBL World Series. Think of the money that will be spent by players and fans at all the stadiums, hotels and restaurants around the Phoenix area.

As for taking the field at Scottsdale Stadium...wow! It is 360 feet down the left field line, 330 feet down the right field line and 430 feet to straight-away-center. My goodness, all I can hope for...when I step to the plate, is a gapper!

That alone would be worth the trip.