But, march in Indiana is definitely not March on Catalina Island, California, where the Cubs had trained from 1922-1942. or Pasadena, California, where the Sox had trained from 1933-1942. The first workout was forced inside. Rain, snow and cold consistently plagued the teams in their new spring home in Indiana.
A March 20, 1943, Tribune story reported: "The first workout was held in two areas of the vast French Lick Springs hotel. The infielders and outfielders did their stuff in the auditorium and the batterymen worked in an adjoining room. In the latter enclosure a dirt stage had been rigged up to supply natural footing for the bespiked pitchers. For the catcher's backstop there was a line of mattresses."
Both teams returned to French Lick for 1944, but the next year, the White Sox relocated 105 miles north to Terre Haute, Indiana. The Cubs remained for one final year.
By 1946, the travel restrictions were lifted and, despite the travel savings to Indiana, both teams were back practicing in sunny and much warmer California.
They Never returned to Those Licks. --Cooter
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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