18 MARCH 2025 By Mike Sakal The melodic sounds of the crack of the ball on a bat and the resounding thud of a ball hitting the glove were heard in mid-February as pitchers and catchers arrived for practice. Cactus League games began in late February, accompanied by the smell of hotdogs, sausage, beer, and lemonade. As 15 of MLB’s teams return to their spring training complexes throughout the Valley – all within a one-hour or less drive from one another – four are within a 20-minute drive from Phoenix: The San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics in Mesa, the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe and the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields. Those Cactus League traditions are getting older in the Valley – nearing 80 years – but it never gets old for legions of fans who anxiously escape the doldrums of winter in their home states to enjoy baseball and sunshine. While fans watch from the bleachers, one of the Cactus League’s behind-the-scenes fixtures is watching it all unfold on the field from his view at the end of the dugout. He sees baseball gods become human beings and rookies with experience no bigger than the lump in their throat come into the late innings of a game with hopes of earning a spot on the roster. Photographer Ed Mailliard has made his 38th consecutive appearance in Arizona to photograph the players. In all those years, Mailliard estimates that about 35,000 of his photographs have appeared on baseball cards. He focuses on capturing iconic images of top rookie prospects, veterans, and superstars. “This is baseball with a capital B,” Mailliard – who has been shooting these pictures since 1988 – said. “It’s relaxed, it’s fun, it’s sunshine; it’s green grass in the middle of winter. It’s also action, energy, and excitement.” Mailliard grew up in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where his father loved to watch baseball games after a day’s work on the Erie Railroad. He said he would spend his allowance and money earned from mowing yards on cellophane packs of baseball cards at a nearby marketplace. “A pack of cards only cost a nickel then,” Mailliard said. He has fond memories of watching Pittsburgh greats Bill Mazeroski and Robert Clemente play at the long-gone Forbes Field, before living his dream job in Arizona. Mailliard had been taking pictures of NFL football players for a number of years before the higher-ups told him to see if the Cleveland Indians would put him up at a hotel in Tucson. The rest is history, and Mailliard recalls talking with Cleveland Pitching Legend Bob Feller on his first day on the job in Tucson, sitting on a golf cart talking with Hall of Famer “Sweet Swinging” Billy Williams while watching the Cubs stretch; and the challenge of getting “the shot” of future Hall of Famer – San Diego Padres Superstar Tony Gwynn – when the Padres trained in Yuma. “Not only do you get to see them play, you get to talk to them,” Mailliard said. “They come to life.” In 2015, he and colleagues Gregg Forwerck and Doug McWilliams were inducted into the Cactus League Hall of Fame for their long-running contributions to the league and the MLB. “Taking pictures during spring training for Topps baseball cards is the best part- time job on the face of the earth,” Mailliard said. “It’s a great atmosphere. I’ll keep chugging along and hope it doesn’t change.” The 2025 Cactus League season also provides an older generation of fans sweet memories of baseball greats who won’t be with us this year: Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda, all-time stolen base leader Rickey Henderson, and Bob Uecker, the Milwaukee Brewers’ comedic broadcaster known as “Mr. Baseball.” Uecker, who played for the Milwaukee Braves, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1960s, made us laugh and appreciate baseball’s not-so-greats. As fans toast a cold beverage and hotdog to their memories, it’s time to look ahead to rooting for today’s teams and players. Danny Zelisko hails from Chicago but has lived in the Valley for 52 years. He continues to root for the Cubs and fondly remembers Ernie Banks, “Mr. Cub,” who died in 2015. Although he doesn’t get to as many spring training games as he used to, the lifelong baseball fan savors this time of year, similar to how he did seeing his team win the World Series in 2016. “Baseball is back. The games and weather are great, and seeing a game is a great way to spend your day,” he said. “There’s something mystical about watching the Cubs year after year.” Reflecting on his days as a youngster attending games at Wrigley Field, Zelisko said, “I got to grow up watching some great players. Like today, they weren’t great because they were making a big salary – it was because of how they played the game.” Lou Klimchock, a former Major Leaguer who spent the last three spring training sessions of his 12-year career in Arizona (1968-1970) with Cleveland before retiring, has fond memories of the Cactus League and still pays it forward to baseball players of a much younger generation. At 85, Klimchock, a Tempe resident, has been president of the Arizona Chapter of the Major League Alumni Association for the last 35 years. He and other former Major Leaguers Ron Davis, Dax Jones, John Moses, and Ken Phelps recently spent the afternoon overseeing a baseball clinic for the Casa Grande Little League. “Going to spring training games every year is a big tradition because you get to see some exciting games and players,” Klimchock said. He’s seen many changes in the game he began playing in the late 1950s and was quick to note one of the biggest is a huge turnover of players jumping from team to team because of free agency. “It’s hard to keep up with where many of the star players are playing,” Klimchock said. When asked what keeps him coming back, Klimchock took a quote from former Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton, who played in the 1960s: “You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end, it turns out that it was the other way around all the time,” he said. And in many similar ways, it’s that way for the fans, too, especially when it comes to spring training in Arizona. Baseball is back! For these fans, spring training awakens treasured memories Danny Zelisko. Ed Mailliard with Hall of Famer Rod Carew. Brewers’ comedic broadcaster known as “Mr. Baseball.” Lou Klimchock’s 1961 rookie baseball card.

19 MARCH 2025 By Eliana Ganz What started as a fun hobby of making salsa for friends and family quickly became a business venture for Arcadia mom Paige Darrow. Born and raised in Yuma, Darrow credits family members for the inspiration to become an entreprenuer. “Growing up surrounded by fresh produce, I developed a deep appreciation for farm-to-table ingredients,” she explained. “Making salsa felt natural because I was using the fruits and vegetables around me.” For years, Darrow would make batches for gifts and special occasions. Those on the receiving end would often ask where they could purchase more. “I started getting messages from people I didn’t know – friends of friends – raving about how much they loved my salsa,” Darrow said. “That’s when I began to think, ‘maybe I have something special here.’” The game changer came when Arizona updated its cottage food laws to allow home- based businesses to sell perishable foods. “Once I heard about the new laws, I knew I had to seize the opportunity,” Darrow said. “I could finally turn my passion into a real business.” Thus, Momo Salsas was born. Darrow’s mission is to create a fun, lively brand that reflects the flavors. At the heart is Darrow’s mom’s “mojo” red – a family recipe passed down through generations. Darrow also created a creamy avocado- based salsa known as “Camo,” which quickly became a fan favorite for locals. “The Mojo balances a mild to moderate heat,” Darrow said. “It’s definitely our best seller.” Running a food business from home has challenges, with space being a significant issue. Darrow admits that she’s turned every corner of her house into storage, but very much enjoys the work-from- home aspect. “Working at my own pace is fantastic. I know where everything is in my kitchen; best of all, everything is homemade.” Darrow has a straightforward process for managing production. Preorders are collected every Friday. During the week, she prepares and fries chips and Thursday is salsa-making day. It requires a lot of work, and she said community support has played a significant role in the success. “I’ve sold out of every preorder since day one,” Darrow said. “The word-of-mouth has been incredible. Customers constantly tell me how much they love the salsa, which is incredibly rewarding.” While Momo Salsas is still a small operation, Darrow has big dreams. “I’d love to see it on the shelves at AJ’s or other local grocery stores,” she said. “But for now, I have to remind myself that it’s a marathon, not a sprint; baby steps still get me to the same destination.” Learn more on Instagram @momosalsas This salsa will ‘keep you coming back for mo’ Momo Salsas offers three flavors and each order can be paired with a bag of homemade chips. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAIGE DARROW Customers constantly tell me how much they love the salsa, which is incredibly rewarding. 5310 E Wonderview Road 3 beds, 4 baths, 4,160 SF $2,895,000 Britt Kirkwood REALTOR® Realty ONE Group 928.963.4502 • brittkirkwood@hotmail.com Camelback Mountain Haven Live above it all!