“Congratulations to the members of the 2026 Cactus League Hall of Fame class,” said Bridget Binsbacher, Cactus League Executive Director. “The Cactus League Hall of Fame honors those who made outstanding contributions to spring training in Arizona. Some contributed on the field, others behind the scenes. All deserve to be recognized.”
Cactus League Hall of Fame Trustees, made up of Cactus League board members and community leaders, selected the 2026 class:
- Ichiro, an outfielder, spent the bulk of his 19-year MLB career with the Seattle Mariners. When he arrived for spring training at Peoria Sports Complex in 2001, officials had to create an overflow space to accommodate the throngs of Japanese media who followed him to the desert. Ichiro won both the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year that season, embarking on a career that led to his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame last summer.
- Konerko graduated from Chaparral High School, where he was named 1994 Arizona High School Player of the Year in his senior season. Drafted as a catcher that summer by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Konerko soon moved to first base. After the 1998 season, Konerko joined the Chicago White Sox, who trained in Tucson before moving to Camelback Ranch-Glendale. He was a six-time All Star in 16 years on the South Side and helped lead the White Sox to the 2005 World Series title.
- Baker has long ties to the Cactus League. He managed three Cactus League clubs – the San Francisco Giants (1993-2002), the Chicago Cubs (2003-06) and the Cincinnati Reds (2008-13). Baker won two division titles in San Francisco and led the Giants to the National League pennant in 2002; he also won a division title in Chicago and two more in Cincinnati. Before becoming a manager, Baker played outfield for 19 years, wrapping up his career in the Cactus League with San Francisco in 1984 and Oakland in 1985 and 1986.
- Brenly has had a long association with the Cactus League, beginning as a San Francisco Giants catcher/infielder from 1981-89; after retiring as a player, he joined the Giants’ coaching staff and served under Baker for three years. In 1998, Brenly became a broadcaster for the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. Three years later, Brenly moved from the booth to the dugout, piloting the D-backs to the 2001 World Series title in his first year as manager. He also won a division title the following season.
- A longtime government executive, Gonsher played a key role in the effort to save the Cactus League, whose existence was threatened in the late 1980s by a lack of public support for facilities. As a policy advisor to former Arizona Gov. Rose Mofford, Gonsher established the Governor’s Special Task Force on Cactus League Baseball, providing policy advice and directing the state’s activities with team representatives, city officials, local communities and booster groups. Those efforts eventually led to the passage of Prop. 302, which provided public funding to assist with Cactus League facility construction and renovation.
Inductees will be honored in pregame ceremonies during the 2026 spring training season. Here is the schedule:
- Geoffrey Gonsher: 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, February 28 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
- Bob Brenly: 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 at Salt River Fields.
- Dusty Baker: 1:05 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 at Scottsdale Stadium.
- Paul Konerko: 12:05 p.m. on Sunday, March 22 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.
- Ichiro Suzuki: Will be inducted during 2026 spring training on a date to be determined.
The 2026 Cactus League Hall of Fame class will be featured at the new Arizona Baseball Museum, 2345 N. Horne, Mesa, Ariz.
Please visit cactusleague.com for up-to-date information on spring training events, including the first annual Cactus League Golf Classic on February 10, 2026 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale.
About the Cactus League:
Since 1947 the Cactus League Association has provided a forum to share operational efficiencies; establish and nurture business relationships with Major League Baseball franchises; and promote and fundraise for the Cactus League. With 15 MLB teams training in 10 ballparks across Maricopa County, the Cactus League in 2023 generated $710.2 million in economic impact and $418.5 million for Arizona’s Gross Domestic Product, according to a study by Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. The Cactus League Association is committed to strengthening and promoting this vital industry while serving our communities and contributing to the quality of life for Arizona residents and visitors.
