Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Art “Superman” Pennington
Baseball and Civil Rights Pioneer
| — | Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame | — |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2024
1. Art “Superman” Pennington Marker
He was a star Negro League baseball player in the 1940s • MVP of 1950 All Star Game and was an All Star in Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, The Dominican Republic and the American Minor Leagues • Segregation denied him a chance for a successful Major League career • Played every position but catcher • A switch hitter with power batting and held a 30 year record average of 349
Hot Springs, Arkansas • Inducted 2017
Erected by Hot Springs Arkansas Walk of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.
Location. 34° 30.634′ N, 93° 3.233′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is at the intersection of Central Avenue (State Highway 7) and Spring Street, on the right when traveling north on Central Avenue. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk on the west side of the Hot Springs City Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 629 Central Avenue, 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: Adam Brown (here, next to this marker); Tess Harper (here, next to this marker); Point of Grace (here, next to this marker); Dr. James C. Dobson
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Art Pennington (Wikipedia).
(Submitted on January 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Excerpt: Arthur David "Superman" Pennington (May 18, 1923 – January 4, 2017) was an all-star Negro league baseball player in the 1940s. Pennington played for the Chicago American Giants (1941–1945, 1950), the Birmingham Black Barons (1945), as well as in the Mexican Baseball League (1946–1948), the U.S. minor league system (1949, 1952–1954, 1958–1959), and in Cuban and Venezuelan leagues. He is included as card # 97 in the Topps 2009 Allen & Ginter baseball card nostalgia set.
2. Art Pennington (Society for American Baseball Research).
(Art Pennington biography by Bill Johnson) Excerpt: Arthur David Pennington was born on May 18, 1923,(Submitted on January 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)in Memphis, Tennessee. His family lived in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but Art’s mother happened to be in Tennessee that week, visiting one of her sisters, when the time came to deliver baby Pennington. Through baseball and football, young Art was able to channel his anger and his ferocity into athletic excellence. He earned all-state honors in football at Hot Springs’ Langston High School, and also played baseball on a town team, the Highland Giants, with his father and brother.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 20242. Art “Superman” Pennington MarkerLooking west across Central Avenue from the Hot Springs City Visitor Center; it is the center one of three markers in this photo.Art Pennington starred for the Chicago American Giants in the Negro American League, and he left his mark on the collective baseball lore of Mexico, Cuba, and even Venezuela. He played with and against some of the most celebrated legends of the Negro Leagues, including Josh Gibson, Willie Wells, Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, Buck Leonard, and the great Satchel Paige. He excelled in the integrated minor leagues. Pennington finally settled down in Cedar Rapids because it offered employment and a degree of acceptance. The city offered him a relatively secure haven, and he returned the favor by trying to acquaint his new neighbors with the absurdity of even the most subtle racism. His legacy of accomplishment, in baseball and in life, is such that there can be no doubt that Art Pennington was, perhaps, even more than “Superman.”
Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
