Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Walter Johnson

— Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

1. Walter Johnson Marker

Inscription.
Walter Johnson trained in Hot Springs over many seasons. Generally regarded as the greatest pitcher in baseball history, he could also swing the bat. In 1911 at Whittington Park, “The Big Train” hit three long home runs in three days.

On February 27, 1925, Johnson, known as one of the game's finest gentlemen, made a civic appearance here at Hot Springs High School with his friend Babe Ruth.

Erected 2012 by Hot Springs Advertising & Promotion Commission. (Marker Number 15.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is February 27, 1925.

Location. 34° 30.329′ N, 93° 3.237′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is on Oak Street just north of Orange Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located along the sidewalk on the front/west side of the historic Hot Springs High School building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 125 Oak Street, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alma Mater of President Bill Clinton (a few steps from this marker); Dr. and Mrs. D.E. Kloss (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Central Methodist Church

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(about 500 feet away); Hot Springs/Garland County Ambulance Service (about 700 feet away); Honus Wagner (about 700 feet away); Orange Street Presbyterian Church (about 700 feet away); Lest We Forget (about 800 feet away); In Memory of Spanish American War Veterans (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Also see . . .
1. Walter Perry Johnson (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Johnson played his entire 21-year baseball career in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927. He later served as manager of the Senators from 1929 through 1932 and of the Cleveland Indians from 1933 through 1935. Generally regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Johnson established several records, some of which remain unbroken nine decades after he retired from baseball.
He remains by far the all-time career leader in shutouts with 110, second in wins with 417, and fourth in complete games with 531. He held the career record in strikeouts from 1919, when he passed Christy Mathewson’s mark of 2,507,
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

2. Walter Johnson Marker
Looking north along Oak Street; the historic Hot Springs High School building is on the right.
until the 1983 season, when three players (Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan and Gaylord Perry) finally passed his career total of 3,508.
In 1936, Johnson was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its "first five" inaugural members. His gentle nature was legendary, and to this day he is held up as an example of good sportsmanship, while his name has become synonymous with friendly competition.

(Submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Walter Johnson (Baseball Hall of Fame).

Excerpt: "From the first time I held a ball, it settled in the palm of my right hand as though it belonged there and, when I threw it, ball, hand and wrist, and arm and shoulder and back seemed to all work together," Johnson said.
Labor Day Weekend of 1908, Johnson’s sophomore campaign with the Washington Senators, saw one of the most dominating performances of his career. The 20-year-old Johnson started three consecutive games, Sept. 4, 5 and 7, and shut out the New York Yankees in each of those contests giving up six, four and two hits respectively – truly one of the most remarkable pitching performances of any generation.
In 1911, famed sportswriter Grantland Rice popularized the nickname “The Big Train” in referring to Johnson.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024

3. Walter Johnson Marker
Looking south along Oak Street.
At a time when trains were the fastest things known to man, Ty Cobb recalled Johnson’s fastball as “Just speed, raw speed, blinding speed, too much speed.”

(Submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.