How to find information on 2004 spring training?

[LWMM]

I just bought a signed Jonny Gomes ROMLB with an early signature. The ball is significant because he added "60" at the end of his name. This is the number he wore in the majors during the short time he played in 2003 and 2004; the ball is the only one I've seen signed by him with that number. The ball is said to have been signed during 2004 spring training, and I would like to find out more about the circumstances.

Helpfully, some information is written on the box in ballpoint pen: "Johnny [sic] Gomes - ST / 2004 - 2/3/2004 / Lakeland/Tampa 'B' Game."

Does anyone have any idea on where I can go to find information on this game? And does anyone have any idea where to find a schedule for spring-training games? February 3 seems early, especially since it looks like (https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2004/02/10/spring-training-reporting-dates/28787748007/) pitchers and catchers didn't report until mid-February. But this is said to be from a "B" game (per Wikipedia, "unofficial spring training games where statistics and standings are not counted"), which would seem appropriate for Gomes, then a 23-year-old prospect with only 16 MLB plate appearances. Is/was there an earlier reporting time minor leaguers? Alternatively, the date could be in DMY format, and could refer to a March 2 game. If this is the case, I'd still like to try to find information on that game.

[dantheman514]

It is possible that the date was written by someone that is from another country where 2/3/2004 would actually represent March 2nd instead of February 3rd.

[bub838]

Feb 3rd would be too early for a game. The Tigers used to start their ST every year with a game against Florida Southern.
It was likely this game from March 3rd, 2004, hope it helps. I couldn't find a boxscore. (Click the images for a larger image)

https://i.ibb.co/k2mpxbKP/Screenshot-2025-03-15-at-10-08-06-PM.png (https://ibb.co/B2nmtWLY)

https://i.ibb.co/LXWTzKSc/Screenshot-2025-03-15-at-10-10-54-PM.png (https://ibb.co/rRSBG9kz)

https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2004/03/04/tigers-tame-florida-southern/26103063007/

[LWMM]

I think you're both right that it's in DMY format, and refers to a game on March 2, 2004. The seller (Friends of the Winter Haven (Fla) Public Library) has 13 similar baseballs for sale, which it says were "donated to the public library by the City of Winter Haven's Cleveland Indians Spring Training facility." Taking a look at them, most are clearly or probably in MDY format, but one is very likely in DMY format. The discrepancy is odd, as is the fact that there appears to be a ball signed the day after the Gomes ball, but in MDY format. But it at least means that the Gomes ball is not the only one in DMY—which also makes the most sense.

bub838, thank you very much for finding that! The details match essentially perfectly, with a March 2 "B" game against the Devil Rays. And although Gomes isn't mentioned, Delmon Young is; he was a prospect at the same time, and it would make sense for them to be part of the same squad. It would still be great to find a box score, not to mention details about how 2004 Spring Training worked (e.g., what games/squad was Gomes a part of), but that article is extremely helpful in placing the ball.

Details on the other balls:

Probably DMY:

Bronson Sardinha: "Bronson Sardinha / Tampa Yankees - FL / Lakeland vs. Tampa / 5/4/2007." Almost certainly April 5, 2007. This article (https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2007/04/05/lakeland-flying-tigers-schedule/25874539007/) from the Lakeland Ledger, captioned "Lakeland Flying Tigers Schedule," is paywalled, but somehow it works if you use Internet Archive (archived link (https://web.archive.org/web/20250316193934/https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2007/04/05/lakeland-flying-tigers-schedule/25874539007/)). The April 5 game was against the Tampa Yankees, whereas the May 4 game was against the Dunedin Blue Jays.


Probably MDY

Leo Mazzone: "Leo Mazzone - Braves / Pitching Coach / ST - FL 3/2/2004." Likely MDY, especially since the Braves pitchers and catchers didn't report until February 19 (https://www.chattanoogan.com/2004/2/19/47015/Atlanta-Opens-2004-Spring-Training-Camp.aspx). (Coaches presumably got there earlier, but I don't know how much earlier, or or people would even bother hanging around to try to get their autographs before the players showed up.) This would be somewhat odd, as it would mean that this ball was signed on March 2 and notated in MDY format, and the Gomes ball was signed the next day, but notated in DMY format.
Jorge Posada: "George [sic] Posada / 2/5/2007, / Steinbrenner Complex." Probably MDY. Per this article (https://www.sbsun.com/2007/02/05/posada-all-business-in-contract-year/), Posada was in Tampa on February 5 for "a pre-spring training workout."
Kyle Drabek: "Kyle Drabek Phillies / 1st Pick '06 GCL / GCP Phils vs. GCL Tigers / 7/10/06." Presumably MDY, as it matches up with a July 10, 2006, game (https://www.mlb.com/gameday/gcl-phillies-vs-gcl-tigers/2006/07/10/54141/final), whereas the GCL season was well over (https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-GULF/y-2007) by October 7.
Brian Skyler(?): "Brian Skyler(?) / KC Cougars vs / Wis Timber Rattlers / 7/5/2007." Probably MDY, because the teams played on July 7 (https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2080-kane-county-cougars/schedule/?season=2007), whereas in May, they played on the 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, and 24. That is, 7/5 is probably a typo for 7/7 (or 7/8). I'm not sure who the player is.


Clearly MDY:

Lou Palmisano: "Lou Palmisano Beloit / Snappers (Brewers) vs / KC Cougars - 5/27/2004."
Lino Garcia: "Lino Garcia - South / Bend Silver Hawks / vs KC Cougars - / Arizona 5/28/2004."
Alex Frazier: "Alex Frazier - South / Bend Silver Hawks / (Arizona) vs. KC Cougars / 5/29/2004."
Miguel Montero: "Miguel Montero - South / Bend Silver Hawks / (Arizona) vs KC Cougars / 5/28/2007."
Emilio Bonifácio: "Emilio Bonifacio / South Bend Silver Hawks / (Arizona) vs. KC Cougars / 5/28/2007."
C. J. Henry: "C. J. Henry - GCL Yanks / Yanks vs GCL Tigers / at Lakeland, FL / 7/27/2007."


No helpful information:

Jorge Posada: "2004 Spring Training / Tampa G. [sic] Posada."
Rick Hummel: "Rick Hummel - Cards / Announcer - 3/07 / ST Florida."

[bub838]

I honestly think the likely answer is whomever filled out the info just brain farted and switched the dates around.

[LWMM]

I honestly think the likely answer is whomever filled out the info just brain farted and switched the dates around.

You're probably right. Still, it's (counterintuitively?) good to know that there are some errors/discrepancies in the notation of the various baseballs (looking at you, George Posada), since it affirms that the 2/3/2004 date for the Gomes ball is likely simply one of those.