Editing Hot Springs, Arkansas (section)

===Baseball in Hot Springs===
Hot Springs has a rich [[baseball]] history. During the early 20th century, Hot Springs was known for baseball training camps. Often called the "birthplace" of [[Spring training]] baseball, Hot Springs first welcomed Major League Baseball in 1886, when the [[History of the Chicago Cubs#1870: The Chicago White Stockings Base Ball Club|Chicago White Stockings]] (now the [[Chicago Cubs]]), brought their coaches and players to the city in preparation for the upcoming season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hotsprings.org/pages/history-buffs/ |title=arlington hotel, oaklawn, gangster museum, hot springs baseball trail, historical landmarks &#124; Hot Springs, Arkansas |website=Hotsprings.org |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216151214/http://www.hotsprings.org/pages/history-buffs/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="encyclopediaofarkansas1">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6221 |title=Major League Spring Training in Hot Springs |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> Chicago White Stockings'  President [[Albert Spalding]], the founder of [[Spalding (sports equipment)|A.G Spalding]], and player/manager [[Cap Anson]] introduced the concept of players having training and fitness before the start of the regular season, This move gave credit to Hot Springs being called the "birthplace of spring training baseball". Both Spalding and Anson liked the city and the natural springs for their players. They first played in an area behind what is now the Garland County Courthouse on Ouachita Avenue at was called the Hot Springs Baseball Grounds. Many other teams followed Chicago and began training and playing games in Hot Springs.<ref name="encyclopediaofarkansas.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6221|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture|title=Major League Spring Training in Hot Springs|access-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref>

The [[Cleveland Spiders]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Cincinnati Reds]], [[Detroit Tigers]], [[New York Yankees]], [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[Boston Red Sox]] were among the major league teams that made Hot Springs their home for Spring training. Needing additional venues for teams to play, [[Whittington Park (baseball)|Whittington Park]] was built in 1894, followed by [[Majestic Park]] in 1908 and [[Fogel Field (Hot Springs)|Fogel Field]] in 1912. 134 members of the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] are documented to have trained or played in Hot Springs.<ref name="encyclopediaofarkansas1"/>

[[Negro league baseball]] teams also utilized Hot Springs for spring training. The [[Pittsburgh Crawfords]] utilized Fogel Field for spring training from 1932 to 1935. Their roster contained Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees [[Cool Papa Bell]], [[Josh Gibson]], [[Oscar Charleston]] and [[Judy Johnson]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1807855/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906133837/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1807855|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2015|title=Crawfords Called Best Money Could Buy|last=Harding|first=Thomas|publisher=[[Major League Baseball]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=5a838d1e|title=1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords|website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/untold-stories/snappy-aggregations-african-american-baseball-in-hot-springs-arkansas/|first=Mark|last=Blaeuer|title=Snappy Aggregations: African-American Baseball in Hot Springs, Arkansas|date=June 25, 2013|publisher=Hot Springs Arkansas Baseball Trail}}</ref> The [[Homestead Grays]], held spring training at Fogel Field in 1930 and 1931. On their roster were numerous Hall of Fame players: Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston, [[Jud Wilson]], [[Bill Foster (baseball)|Bill Foster]], [[Judy Johnson]], Smokey Joe Williams, [[Willie Wells]] and [[Cum Posey]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://baseballhall.org/explorer|title= Search of Hall of Fame Members| publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=March 15, 2016}}</ref>

St. Patrick's Day, 1918, is nicknamed the "Day that changed Baseball Forever." Boston Red Sox' pitcher [[Babe Ruth]] hit a long Home Run into the [[Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo]] that altered the course of baseball history. In the opening exhibition game against Brooklyn at [[Whittington Park]], Ruth (coming off a 24–13 season) was a last-minute replacement at first base, his first time at a position other than pitcher. Ruth hit two long home runs that day while playing the field for the first time. His first home run was a long blast that landed in a wood pile. However, his second Home run is legendary in its record setting length and eventual effect on Ruth. It was a shot that traveled an astonishing estimated 573 feet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baberuthcentral.com/babe-ruth/fan-rare-photos-babe-ruth-hot-springs/|title=From a Fan: Rare Photos of Babe Ruth in Hot Springs|publisher=Babe Ruth Central|access-date=March 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name="buddbailey">{{cite news|url=http://buddroadtrips.blogspot.com/2014/10/hot-springs-arkansas-babe-ruths-home-run.html|publisher=Road Trips!|first=Budd|last=Bailey|title=Hot Springs, Arkansas: Babe Ruth's Home Run|date=October 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="billjenkinsonbaseball.webs.com">{{cite web|url=http://billjenkinsonbaseball.webs.com/hotspringsbaseball.htm|title=Hot Springs Baseball|publisher=Bill Jenkins Baseball|access-date=March 17, 2016}}</ref>

After that day Ruth became a hitter, switching from being just a pitcher. In Hot Springs, Ruth could be seen walking the streets, visiting the bath spas, and gambling at the nearby horse track. There is a Ruth plaque both inside and outside the Alligator Farm, as well as a home plate marker at the former Whittington Park across the street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Professional+Baseball+Ballparks&structure=Professional+Baseball|title=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia - Professional Baseball Ballparks|website=Arkbaseball.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031151544/http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Professional+Baseball+Ballparks&structure=Professional+Baseball|archive-date=October 31, 2014}}</ref>

The Pittsburgh Pirates trained for over a decade at Whittington Park. Hall of Fame [[shortstop]] [[Honus Wagner]] became a fixture in the city. As evidence of this, Wagner purchased and donated basketball uniforms and equipment to [[Hot Springs High School (Arkansas)|Hot Springs High School]] in 1912. The uniforms were in the Pittsburgh Pirates colors of black and gold and subsequently the high school switched permanently to those colors. Wagner also refereed a basketball game for the school that season, something he would later repeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hsbbt.toursphere.com/en/17-honus-wagner-76276.html|title=Honus Wagner|publisher=Hot Springs Baseball Tour|access-date=March 17, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025046/http://hsbbt.toursphere.com/en/17-honus-wagner-76276.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1952, an 18-year old [[Hank Aaron]] played in the [[Negro American League]] championship for the [[Indianapolis Clowns]] against the [[Birmingham Black Barons]] at [[Majestic Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/see-the-trail/hank-aaron/ |title=Hank Aaron - Hot Springs Arkansas Historic Baseball Trail |website=Hotspringsbaseballtrail.com |date=October 1, 1952 |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://coe.k-state.edu/annex/nlbemuseum/history/players/aaron.html |title=Negro Leagues Baseball eMuseum: Personal Profiles: Henry "Hank" Aaron |website=Coe.k-state.edu |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222221046/http://coe.k-state.edu/annex/nlbemuseum/history/players/aaron.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Heaphy, Leslie A. The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960p.222</ref>

On October 22, 1953, [[Jackie Robinson]] played in an exhibition game at [[Majestic Park]]. Having broken Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, Robinson's squad played the Negro American League All-Stars that day, losing 14–9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Jackie+Robinson%E2%80%99s+All-Stars+Exhibitions |title=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia &#124; Jackie Robinson's All-Stars Exhibitions |website=Arkbaseball.com |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref>

''The First Boys of Spring'' is a 2015 documentary covering the history of Hot Springs Baseball spring training.<ref>https://www.uapress.com/product/the-first-boys-of-spring/ Retrieved 28 July 2024.</ref> The film features many Hot Springs historical items and references. Produced by Arkansas filmmaker Larry Foley, it is narrated by Hot Springs area native, actor [[Billy Bob Thornton]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Bauman |first=Bonnie |url=http://arkansaslife.com/boys-of-spring/ |title=Boys of Spring |publisher=Arkansas Life |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=January 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125220854/http://arkansaslife.com/boys-of-spring/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefirstboysofspring.weebly.com |title=Home |website=Thefirstboysofspring.weebly.com |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://larryfoley.weebly.com/ |title=Larry Foley - Home |website=Larryfoley.weebly.com |access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> The Foley documentary is aired nationally on the [[MLB Network]], first airing in February 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last=Newman |first=Mark |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-network-to-air-first-boys-of-spring-doc-c164344220 |title=MLB Network to air 'First Boys of Spring' doc &#124; MLB.com |website=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=February 24, 2016 |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708090444/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/164344220/mlb-network-to-air-first-boys-of-spring-doc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Today, as part of the '''Hot Springs Baseball Historic Trail''', there are 26 green plaques/markers posted throughout Hot Springs that identify the key people and locations, with an app available to provide live information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/category/untold-stories/|title=Untold Stories « Hot Springs Arkansas Historic Baseball Trail|website=www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021150740/http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/category/untold-stories/|archive-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref>