Spring training begins on positive note

Fans in Clearwater and Dunedin take comfort in knowing that their teams aren't going anywhere for a while.

By LEON M. TUCKER

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 1, 2001

CLEARWATER -- Between them, Louis Thome and Joseph Doak have 27 years of Philadelphia Phillies spring training memories they are thankful for.

And now that the wheeling and dealing over money between baseball and Clearwater officials is done, they have a shot at 20 more.

"It's a very good deal for the city," said Thome, 71, of Largo. "The city would have been a loser if they would have lost them."

With the spring baseball season in north Pinellas County kicking off today at Dunedin's Grant Field, fans in both Clearwater and Dunedin agree that this is the first time in years that they will be able to watch games with the comfort of knowing their teams aren't going anywhere for a while.

In December, the Clearwater City Commission agreed to spend $14-million of state and county money for a new spring training stadium for the Phillies. The team will kick in $3-million to $6.5-million.

"This is very, very good news," said Robyn Luke of Clearwater. "Obviously it brings a lot of people and money to the different towns, and because of that I'll drink as much beer and go to as many games as I can to support them."

Despite his love for the team, Doak said he didn't think the Phillies' decision to stay would do much to change the economic makeup of the city.

"I don't think it will have a tremendous effect on the city," said the 78-year-old, who lives in Seminole. "Of course it will bring some money and people here, but nothing substantial. We do, however, enjoy it very much."

Clearwater joins Dunedin, spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays, in claiming some of the $75-million set aside to fix up or replace aging stadiums around the state.

Under its agreement, Dunedin will receive $3-million from the county and $6-million from the state to put toward the $12-million renovation of Grant Field and Englebert Complex. The remaining $3-million for the work will be split between the team and the city.

The agreement didn't come without some 11th-hour bargaining between city and Blue Jays officials that ended up with the team agreeing in September to pay up to $25,000 in potential property taxes.

As Dunedin residents continue to celebrate the deal, some of the team's biggest fans admit that there was a time when they were nearly ready to give up on the push to keep the Blue Jays in town.

"For maybe three years, old-timers like myself were feeling like we wouldn't support them if they couldn't commit themselves," said Flip Donoghue, 82. "First there was the baseball strike, then talk that they would leave if they didn't get what they wanted. That definitely caused a drop-off. But it was great that the state and the county put up money to help keep them here."

Others have opposed the city's efforts to retain the team.

"Why should we take care of them when they have all the money they need?" said Dunedin resident Robert Dunn, 73. "They should be on their knees begging us for them to stay here. I don't think we ought to be subsidizing millionaires."

Dan Ferrans of Palm Harbor stood at the window of Jack Russell Stadium on Wednesday buying tickets to a Phillies game against the Cincinnati Reds. And though he said he's not a fan of either the Phillies or the Blue Jays, he supports them because they will remain in their respective spring training cities.

"These organizations are expecting a tremendous amount of funds to finance their operation, and that can be a burden on taxpayers," Ferrans said. "It's a positive for people who live here, but the financial part is starting to weigh a little heavy. And the players' salaries -- that's another story."

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