Some time around the middle of February, which is only a little over a month away, Red Sox players will begin to appear in Fort Meyers, FL. The reporting date has not yet been set according to Spring Training online, but a lot of folks can't wait! If you are having trouble filling the void in your life left since last October 1, there are a couple of websites which just may interest you.

The Detroit Public Library is home to the Ernie Harwell Collection of Baseball History. This collection was started in the 1920's by Ernie Harwell and donated to the Detroit Public Library in 1965. Ernie Harwell was a sports broadcaster and the voice of the Detroit Tigers for many years. His collection, which he has continued to add to through the years, now includes thousands of items, and is considered second only to the collection at Cooperstown in size and scope. While the collection itself is on display at the Detroit Public Library by appointment only, portions of the collection can be accessed online. A biography of Ernie Harwell is included in the online display. The navigation bars at the bottom of the page will guide you through the collection. On the left-hand side of each section is a brief description of what is available on line in that section. There is also a link to a website in each section, which will provide more information about that item. For instance, on the page that starts the online collection of baseball cards, there is a link to The Baseball Page.

If that isn't enough to keep you involved until Spring Training, there is an online database called SABR which is maintained by the Society for American Baseball Research . Although the site does offer paid memberships, a wealth of information exists which is free to the general public. There are SABR links to research done by members of the Society. Here you will find everything baseball! One link even gives the burial locations of past Hall of Famers and connects you to a picture of the gravesite! There are discussions of international baseball, fantasy baseball, baseball-related books and baseball statistics. One member maintains a Sports Wiki which goes beyond baseball and features other sports as well. None of the sites which I found required that someone be a SABR member to view them, but to add information or participate in a blog, you would probably have to be a member.

This should keep you busy until spring training, but if all else fails, you could always watch the Patriots.