The boys of summer are in Arizona for spring training, so it seems like a good time to check out the grand-slam homes of some current and former baseball players for sale across the state.
The Hall of Famer and former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher has his 25,000-square-foot Paradise Valley mansion on the market. Good news for buyers is the price has dropped from $25 million to $19.995 million. It's pretty typical for prices on uber-luxury houses to come down.
Johnson's estate comes with a private poker room with a firefighter pole that drops you down to a movie theater decked out with lots of big, comfy leather seats. A professional recording studio and music room features real bank vault doors to shut out the sound.
The workout facility is the size of a small house, and you could get lost in the master bedroom's walk-in closet.
The house was built in 2006, after Johnson, a pitcher known as the “Big Unit” because he’s 6 foot 10 inches tall, was traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the New York Yankees. Robert Joffe, a co-founder of Scottsdale-based Launch Real Estate, has the listing.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield Andre Ethier just listed his Gilbert mansion with a tropical paradise backyard inspired by Maui's Grand Wailea Resort for $5 million.
The 9,326-square-foot house, priced under a current appraisal, comes with a batting cage, game room, soccer field, windmill and two-story closet with a ladder.
Ethier was born in Phoenix and has played in the major leagues since 2006.
Sandra Baldwin and Patti Swisher of Launch Real Estate have this "wow" listing.
Former Los Angeles Angels slugger Tim Salmon is selling this spacious cabin in Flagstaff's Forest Highlands for $3.25 million.
The six-bedroom, six-bathroom home is on a 1.4-acre property with views of the San Francisco Peaks. Built with Rocky Mountain logs, the 6,453-square-foot home includes a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, wood floors, and a great room with walls of windows.
The 15-year baseball veteran, who hit 299 home runs for the Angels, is a graduate of Phoenix's Grand Canyon University, where the baseball clubhouse is named after him. Mary Mendoza of Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.
Owned by former MLB outfielder Pat Burrell, known as Pat the Bat, the 6,921-square-foot home in north Scottsdale's Estancia community is on the market for $3.175 million.
The home has a roof deck patio and game rooms that can be reached by a floating spiral staircase, or by elevator. Russ Lyon's Cheryl D'Anna, Donna LeGate and Bob Terry have the listing.
Burrell played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants.
He's not a player, but Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall is certainly a baseball bigwig. He is selling a Paradise Valley house on a prime corner lot in the shadow of Mummy Mountain for $2.89 million. The 6,432-square-foot house has 4 bedrooms, 5½ bathrooms and is situated on 1.56 acres. It has an open great room, a chef's kitchen and separate butler's pantry.
The outside features a full athletic field for football, soccer or banquet receptions. The property is listed by Shawna Warner of Russ Lyon.
Known as Gonzo, the former Diamondback's outfielder sold this Scottsdale home for about $2 million in 2014. Now, the 6,600-square-foot house with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms is back on the market for $2.295 million.
Gonzalez slammed the game-winning hit in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, which the Diamondbacks won.
Joffe of Launch Real Estate has this listing, too.
Former MLB pitcher Dustin Hermanson is selling his north Scottsdale home for $2.25 million.
The 4-bedroom, 5-and-half -bathroom home with mountain views includes an 800-square-foot master retreat, gym and 10-person steam room. The backyard comes with a putting green, televisions, fireplace, heated pool and spa, fire pits and a play area. Tracy Fitzgerald of Russ Lyon has the listing
Hermanson pitched for several teams during his 11-year career, including the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox.
