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

Tris Speaker

— Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2024

1. Tris Speaker Marker

Inscription.
Often regarded as Major League Baseball’s greatest defensive outfielder, “The Grey Eagle” trained for many years in Hot Springs as a player and as a manager. On March 18, 1912, at Whittington Park, Speaker hit a home run over the left field fence. He enjoyed every aspect of the city’s culture and is still remembered for his iconic photograph riding a stuffed alligator.

Erected 2012 by Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission. (Marker Number 18.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1912.

Location. 34° 30.692′ N, 93° 3.285′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is at the intersection of Court Street and Exchange Street, on the left when traveling west on Court Street. The marker is located along the sidewalk, near the southeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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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: The Roosevelts in Hot Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Notable Hot Springs Visitors (within shouting distance of this marker); First Circuit Court Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Baseball in Hot Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Alerted at the Arlington (within shouting distance of this marker); Bathhouse Row (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Central Avenue Improvement Project (about 300 feet away); U.S. Park Ranger James Alexander Cary (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Also see . . .
1. Tris Speaker (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Tristram Edgar Speaker (1888–1958), nicknamed "the Gray Eagle", was an American professional baseball player
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2024

2. Tris Speaker Marker
Looking northwest across the Court Street & Exchange Street intersection; both sides of the marker have the same inscription.
and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a center fielder from 1907 to 1928. Considered one of the greatest players in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 (ninth all-time). His 792 career doubles represent an MLB career record. His 3,514 hits are fifth in the all-time hits list. Defensively, Speaker holds career records for assists, double plays, and unassisted double plays by an outfielder. His fielding glove was known as the place "where triples go to die."

(Submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Tris Speaker (National Baseball Hall of Fame).

Excerpt: A Texas native, Speaker began his career with the Red Sox, where he had one of the best seasons of his career in 1912. Speaker earned American League MVP honors that year by finishing first in the voting for the Chalmers Award, leading the AL in on-base percentage with a mark of .464 and carrying Boston to a World Series championship.
Speaker was productive well into his later years in Cleveland, posting career-bests in average (.389) and on-base percentage (a league-leading
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2024

3. Tris Speaker Marker
Looking south from Court Street; Exchange Street is on the right.
.479) in 1925 at age 37. He rounded out his career with a season in Washington (where he struck out just eight times in 141 games) and another in Philadelphia, where he retired at age 40 after the 1928 season. He retired as the all-time leader in doubles with 792 and remains at the top of that list.
Beyond his offensive prowess, Speaker also stood out for his defense, earning praise from his peers for his speed, range and arm. Speaker was known for playing a very shallow center field, which helped him lead AL center fielders in assists eight times – while his ability to cover ground on balls hit over his head helped him lead AL center fielders in putouts seven times. His 450 career assists rank first in big league history among center fielders, while his 6,783 putouts rank second among center fielders to only Willie Mays' 7,022. Speaker was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937.

(Submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail: Tris Speaker. (Submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.