Arizona nonprofits rely on spring training for donations. MLB's labor dispute could be devastating
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Jibriel Saunders used a hand rake to till new soil in one of the roughly 20 plant beds that dot the campus of Peoria Elementary School.
“Right now is the rebuilding process after the pandemic,” he said.
The garden of herbs, staple vegetables and exotic fruit helped feed more than 100 families as the virus wreaked havoc.
“We want to let the kids know that there is fresh produce out there. We want to teach them how to use it. We want to teach them how to cook it,” said Saunders, who goes by the name Chef Bombay.
The gardening work Saunders does is through a nonprofit called Zuri’s Circle. Co-founder Kimberly Muhammad helped water new plants.
“One of the things we’re going to be doing at the first of the year is getting back on our program,” she said. “And every student that participates is going to get a gardening apron. They’re going to be able to come out here and plant. They’re going to be able to take this food home with them,” she said.
Money for the work came from the Peoria Diamond Club. It was the second time the group turned sponsorship from hosting the Cactus League into funding for Zuri’s Circle.
“The first year we applied we did get a grant from them. And it was wonderful cause it helped us start to put things in this garden,” said Muhammad.
Spring training, which the Peoria Diamond Club leverages into donations for nonprofits and charities that help children, faces big disruption for a third straight year. This time it’s due to Major League Baseball owners having locked out their players on Dec. 2.
“And we feel it’s the best strategy to protect the 2022 season for the benefit of our fans,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred at a news conference.
The labor impasse is a concern for many organizations in Arizona that rely on the Cactus League’s economic impact. Manfred was asked if a labor deal must be reached by a certain date to keep from having to delay or cancel games.
“I just think speculating about drop-dead deadlines at this point (is) not productive,” Manfred answered.
The head of the baseball players union accused Manfred of putting falsehoods in a letter to fans. The sides don’t appear close to a deal. The possibility lingers that the labor fight could drag on past the start date for spring training.
Days after Manfred spoke, general manager Roz Shanley addressed Peoria Diamond Club members at a holiday toy drive and social event.
The volunteers snacked on mini Bundt cakes and sat at long tables in a large luxury suite built into the stands of the third base line of Peoria’s Cactus League ballpark.
“Thank you for kicking off the spirit of the season by brightening the life of a child. That’s what these toys are going to do,” said Shanley.
The volunteers run the park on game days. Their work is the foundation for fundraising that pays for grants, such as those used to grow fresh produce in the community garden at Peoria elementary. Shanley said she’d already heard questions about the baseball lockout.
“I will just say, as an aside, we’re hoping and praying and optimistic that they can come to some terms and that will be sooner than later,” she said.
The plan, Shanley told the crowd, is to prepare for a normal Cactus League in 2022. Arizona State University researchers said in 2018 it had an economic impact approaching $650 million.
“Here we are after two very strange seasons,” she said.
Construction of the Peoria complex in the 1990s solidified Arizona as a spring training host. The venue kept clubs from migrating to Florida, and opened the West Valley for Cactus League expansion.
Bob Hegedus is an original Diamond Club member.
“Well if you like baseball, you can’t beat it. Not just the people but you’re down by the players,” he said.
Hegedus feels positive about 2022 despite the labor fight.
“It’ll end and we’ll have spring training again because it has to go,” he said.
Peoria groups that receive grant money to help children because of the work done by Hegedus and others hope he’s right.
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