Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Hot Springs: The Birthplace of Spring Baseball
In 1886, Cap Anson brought his Chicago White Stockings (now the Cubs) to Hot Springs. This bustling turn-of-the-century spa resort with its famous hot baths, mountains, trails, hotels, and activities was the perfect place for something no one had ever heard of: spring training for professional baseball. Soon, teams had built five fields and as many as 250 players, including the legends of the game, trained here year after year.
Now you can follow The Hot Springs Baseball Trail and stand where legends stood and records were set. Read and hear stories of the players and places that shaped baseball.
Pick up a guide map at the Hot Springs Visitor Center in Hill Wheatley Plaza on Central Avenue, at the Alligator Farm, or at Oaklawn Racetrack. Each Baseball Trail marker has a digital 'code' that can link to your smartphone to historic photos, audio and more. With a phone call you can hear stories of the golden age of baseball in Hot Springs.
Right Side
Hank Aaron "Pete" Alexander "Cap" Anson "Home Run" Baker Ed Barrow Dave Bancroft Jake Beckley "Cool Papa" Bell "Chief" Bender "Yogi" Berra Roger Bresnahan Mordecai Brown Jesse Burkett Roy Campanella Max Carey Frank Chance "Happy" Chandler Oscar Charleston Jack Chesbro Fred Clarke John Clarkson Mickey Cochrane Jimmy Collins Eddie Collins Charlie Comiskey Jocko Conlan Stan Coveleski Sam Crawford Joe Cronin "Kiki" Cuyler George Davis "Dizzy" Dean Bill Dickey Joe DiMaggio Larry Doby Bobby Doerr "Barney" Dreyfuss Hugh Duffy Leo Durocher Billy Evans Johnny Evers "Buck" Ewing "Red" Faber Bob Feller Elmer Flick Bill Foster "Rube" Foster Jimmie Foxx Charlie Gehringer Josh Gibson "Goose" Goslin Hank Greenberg Clark Griffith Burleigh Grimes "Lefty" Grove Jesse Haines
"Sliding" Billy Hamilton "Ned" Hanlon Will Harridge "Bucky" Harris "Gabby" Hartnett Harry Heilmann Pete Hill Harry Hooper Rogers Hornsby Waite Hoyt Carl Hubbell Miller Huggins "Monte" Irvin Travis Jackson Hughie Jennings "Ban" Johnson "Judy" Johnson Walter Johnson Addie Joss Willie Keeler George Kell Joe Kelley "King" Kelly Kenesaw M. Landis Fred Lindstrom Al Lopez Ted Lyons Connie Mack
"Biz" Mackey Mickey Mantle "Heinie" Manush "Rabbit" Maranville "Rube" Marquard Tommy McCarthy Joe McGinnity John McGraw Bill McKechnie John "Bid" McPhee Johnny Mize Stan "The Man" Musial Hank O'Day Mel Ott "Satchel" Paige Herb Pennock "Gettysburg" Eddie Plank Cumberland Posey "Old Hoss" Radbourn Sam Rice Branch Rickey Eppa Rixey Brooks Robinson Jackie Robinson Wilbert Robinson "Bullet" Joe Rogan "Red" Ruffing
"Babe" Ruth Ray Schalk Frank Selee Al Simmons George Sisler Hilton Smith Billy Southworth Albert G. Spalding Tris Speaker "Casey" Stengel Mule Suttles Bill Terry Joe Tinker Cristobal Torriente "Pie" Traynor "Dazzy" Vance "Rube" Waddell "Honus" Wagner Bobby Wallace "Big" Ed Walsh Paul Waner Zack Wheat Deacon White J.L. Wilkinson "Smokey" Joe Williams Vic Willis "Hack" Wilson Jud Wilson "Cy" Young
These players, owners, writers, and announcers came to Hot Springs to train or report on spring training.
* Hall of Fame honoree
"Babe" Adams "Ginger" Beaum Sam Bankheadont Carson Bigbee Max Bishop Joe Black Tommy Bridges George "Chippy" Britt Roy Bosson George "Tioga" Burns August "Gussie" Busch "Donie" Bush "Bullet" Joe Bush Ray Caldwell Howie Camnitz * John Carmichael Bill Carrigan Ray Collins "Shano" Collins Wilbur Cooper "Colby" Jack Coombs * Sam Crane "Gavvy" Cravath Lou Criger Jimmie Crutchfield Bill Dahlen Tommy "Tido" Daly * Dan Daniels Jack Daubert Paul "Daffy" Dean "Bing" Devine Delahanty Brothers
Babe Didrikson S.E. Dillon & "Doc" Owens Bill Dineen Ray Doan & George Barr "Turkey" Mike Donlin "Patsy" Donovan "Wild Bill" Donovan "Buttermilk" Tommy Dowd "Laughing" Larry Doyle * John Drebinger Charlie Dressen * Charles Dryden George Earnshaw Luke Easter Charles Hercules Ebbets "Kid" Elberfield Victory Faust "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald "Silver" Flint Dave "Scissors" Foutz Buck Freeman * Hugh Fullerton Larry Gardner George Gibson "Kid" Gleason George Gore * Frank Graham Charlie Grant Gus Greenlee Charlie Grimm "Noodles" Hahn Ed Hamman Vic Harris Charlie Hemphill
Dick Hoblitzell Gil Hodges Willis Hudlin Marshall Hunt Mike Ilitch * Jim Isaminger Tim Jordan Sid Keener * John Kieran "Reindeer" Bill Killifer "Big Klu" Kluszewski H.W. Lanigan Joe Lannin * Ring Lardner "Arlie" Latham "Cookie" Lavagetto Cliff Lee "Dutch" Leonard "Duffy" Lewis * Fred Leib Hans Lobert Dick Lundy Sherry Magee Gus Mancuso "Firpo" Marberry Leroy Matlock Jimmy McAleer * Arch McDonald Carl Mays Jack McCallister "Nuf Ced" McGreevy * Tom Meany "Mountain Music" Melton * Sid Mercer
"Deerfoot" Milan Dale Mitchell Johnny Mostil * Tim Murnane Don Newcombe Jack O'Connor Charlie O'Leary * Buck O'Neil Tip O'Neill "Terrible" Ted Page Roger Peckinpaugh "Superman" Pennington Bruce Petway Fred Pfeffer "Deacon" Phillippe George Pipgras Harry Pulliam Jack Quinn "Double Duty" Radcliffe Uvoyd Reynolds * Grantland Rice Francis Richter Johnny Rigney Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Schoolboy Rowe "Muddy" Ruel Dutch Ruether Jake Ruppert & T.L. Huston Johnny Sain George "Tubby" Scales "Germany" Schaefer Wally Schang Al Schacht Prince Hal Schumacher
"Cy" Seymour Benjamin Franklin Shibe Urban Shocker "Deacon" Scott Bob Shawkey Ernie Shore Earl "Oil" Smith "Sherry" Smith * Wendell Smith Pop Snyder Louis Sockalexis "Spec Bebop" & "King Tut" * The Spink Family "Country Jake" Stephens * J. Roy Stockton Charles A. Stoneham Billy Sunday Jesse Tannehill John I. Taylor "Patsy" Tebeau "Birdie" Tebbetts Jim Thorpe The Tugerson Brothers George "The Bull" Uhle Bobby Veach Chris Von der Ahe John L. Webb Earl Whitehill Frank Wickware "Ned" Williamson "Smoky" Joe Wood Dave Wyatt "Chief" Zimmer
Erected 2012.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. In addition, it is included in the Baseball Hall of Famers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 34° 30.911′ N, 93° 4.376′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. Marker is on Whittington Avenue near Woodfin Street. Marker is within the area defined by the old Whittington Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 847 Whittington Ave, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Babe Ruth (within shouting distance of this marker); Fogel Field (within shouting distance of this marker); Babe Ruth Changed Baseball Forever (within shouting distance of this marker); Smoky Joe Wood (within shouting distance of this marker); Whittington Park (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mel Ott (about 500 feet away); Lefty Grove (approx. 0.6 miles away); Bill Dickey (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Hot Springs, Arkansas Historic Baseball Trail
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,076 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on April 21, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. Photo 1. submitted on April 19, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?