Majestic Park

Majestic Park (1908–1918) was one of the first spring training facilities, hosting some of the greatest baseball names during its existence. The park was the original baseball facility, located at the corner of Belding Street and Carson Street in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The original Majestic Park was the spring training site of the Boston Red Sox (and their star pitcher Babe Ruth) (1909-1910, 1912–1918), Cincinnati Reds (1910-1911), Brooklyn Dodgers (1910) and St. Louis Browns (1911).

The property eventually became the site of Dean Field (1935-1947) and Jaycee Park (1947-Present). Dean Field served as home to the Rogers Hornsby Baseball College. The Hot Springs Bathers minor league team and the Chicago White Sox (1948–1951) minor league Spring Training were held at Jaycee Park, which also hosted the 1952 Negro League World Series and a 1953 exhibition game featuring Jackie Robinson. The site hosted many Major League Spring Training Games and can claim Jackie Robinson and both Home Run record holders, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron as among those who have played at the site.

There are four historical plaques at the site today, as part of the Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail as Majestic Field itself, Rogers Hornsby, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron each have historical plaques on the site.

Baseball in Hot Springs

Often called the "birthplace" of Spring Training baseball, Hot Springs first welcomed Major League Baseball in 1886, when the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs), brought their coaches and players to the city in preparation for the upcoming season. Team President Albert Spalding (owner of Spalding Sporting Goods) and the team's player/manager Cap Anson, thought the city was an ideal training site for the players. The first baseball location was the Hot Springs Baseball Grounds. Many other Major League teams followed and began training in Hot Springs. Needing venues for teams to use, Whittington Park was built in 1894, followed by Majestic Park (1908) and Fogel Field (1912). 134 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are documented to have trained or played, in Hot Springs.

History of Majestic Field Site

In 1908, the Detroit Tigers created a practice field at the site. In 1909, Majestic Park was created/enhanced by Boston Red Sox owner John Taylor, who signed a five-year lease on the property as a Spring Training location. Infrastructure was created as trolley routes turned around in front of the park. It is believed the name came from a partnership with the Majestic Hotel in Hot Springs. Two years later, Taylor would construct Fenway Park for the Red Sox. The Boston Red Sox (1909-1910, 1912–1918), Cincinnati Reds (1910-1911), Brooklyn Dodgers (1910) and St. Louis Browns (AL) (1911) held Spring Training Camp at the original Majestic Park.

The Boston Red Sox won four World Series Championships, in 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918, while training at Majestic Park. It was in 1918 spring training that the Red Sox first began to use Babe Ruth in the field, instead of exclusively at pitcher, to take advantage of his prolific hitting.

On March 29, 1918, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway, then owners of the Majestic Park property, cancelled the Red Sox's lease for 1919, needing to utilize part of the ballpark area for railroad needs. Subsequently, the site has had three major fields. In 1918, the original Majestic Park facility was demolished, leading to the other fields on the property that had ties to the Major Leagues: Dean Field and Jaycee Park. The relocated field was renamed "Dean Field" in 1938 after Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean and his brother "Daffy" Paul Dean, who were Hot Springs favorites as players and contributors. Jaycee Park was built on the adjacent south side of the lot in 1947 to replace Ban Johnson Park, which was located across town.

Dean Field (1935-1947) and Jaycee Park (1947-Present) hosted the Rogers Hornsby Baseball College, the George Barr Umpire School, the Chicago White Sox (1949–1952) Minor League Spring Training and the Hot Springs Bathers as tenants.

The Hot Springs Bathers (1947-1955) were a Cotton States League team that was an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox (1947-1951), St. Louis Cardinals (1954) and the Kansas City Athletics (1955). Paul Dean Managed the 1954 team.

Among players who played at the site are: Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Honus Wagner, Jimmie Foxx, Gil Hodges, Harry Hooper, Cy Young, Rogers Hornsby, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Herb Pennock, Tris Speaker, and Walter Johnson. The Sporting News (1998) ranking of the greatest players ever listed: Babe Ruth (1), Walter Johnson (4), Hank Aaron (5) and Rogers Hornsby (9).

Baseball Schools

The Roy Doan Baseball School operated from 1934–1938, attracting hundreds of students, utilizing Dean Field and other locations throughout Hot Springs. In 1939, Hall of Fame player and manager Rogers Hornsby, a former instructor with Roy Doan, started his own Rogers Hornsby Baseball College. Hornsby's six-week event ran until 1952, annually attracting 100-200 prospective professionals and numerous major league scouts. Cy Young, Jimmie Foxx, Tris Speaker and Schoolboy Rowe were among the instructors. The George Barr Umpire School, the first-ever training school for aspiring umpires, operated in Hot Springs through 1940, being held in conjunction with the baseball schools.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth played at Majestic Park for six seasons. In 1914, the lefty pitcher first faced Major League players as a young minor leaguer. Ruth would eventually make the Red Sox Major League roster in 1915 and establish himself as a star pitcher. In 1918, during Spring Training, Ruth played first base as an emergency measure in a game against Brooklyn at Whittington Park. The game helped change baseball history. Ruth hit two home runs that day and the second was a reported 573-foot home run that landed in the Arkansas Alligator Farm across the street. As a result of his prolific hitting, the Red Sox began to use Ruth as a hitter. With Ruth regularly in the 1918 lineup, he led the American League with 11 home runs. He also pitched to a 13-7 record and the Red Sox won the World Series. Sold to the New York Yankees in 1920, Ruth went on to total 714 Home Runs, a record that stood until broken by Hank Aaron.

Jackie Robinson

On October 22, 1953, Jackie Robinson played in an exhibition game at Jaycee Park. Having broken Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, Robinson and some other Major League players (including his Dodgers teammate Gil Hodges) toured, calling themselves Jackie Robinson's All-Stars. Robinson's squad played the Negro American League All-Stars that day, losing 14-9. Today, there is a plaque at the site as part of the "Hot Springs Baseball Historic Trail" honoring the event.

Hank Aaron: Negro League World Series

In 1952, 18-year-old shortstop Hank Aaron played for the Negro League Indianapolis Clowns against the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro League World Series, with games played at Jaycee Park. The World Series was eventually won by the Clowns, with Aaron hitting 5 Home runs and batting over .400. The 1952 World Series was also the last for the Negro Leagues. After his performance in the Negro League World Series, Aaron signed with the Boston Braves. Hank Aaron would eventually become baseball's all-time Home Run leader, with 755 career Home Runs, breaking Babe Ruth's record of 714 on April 8, 1974.

Media

The First Boys of Spring is a 2015 documentary on the history of Hot Springs Spring Training. The film features Majestic Park items. Produced by Arkansas filmmaker Larry Foley, it is narrated by Hot Springs area native, actor Billy Bob Thornton. The Foley documentary was aired nationally on the MLB Network beginning in February, 2016.

Site Today

Today, the site is the location of the Hot Springs Boys And Girls Club. The adjacent Jaycee Park Baseball Complex has eight fields, with the Jaycee Park diamond remaining the largest. At Jaycee Park, the original first base-side cement bleachers are still intact.

Today, as part of the Hot Springs Baseball Historic Trail, there are four plaques that have been erected at the site: Majestic Field, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson and Rogers Hornsby:

The Majestic plaque reads:

Majestic Field. Built in 1909 as the Boston Red Sox training center, this field was also used by the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers. In March 1918, during batting practice, Babe Ruth hit many home runs over the distant center field fence, predicting his change from pitcher to slugging outfielder. Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Smoky Joe Wood and many others also trained here.

Hank Aaron's plaque reads:

At this field on October 1, 1952, 18-year-old Hank Aaron and the Indianapolis Clowns played in one of 12 games of the Negro League World Series against the Birmingham Black Barons. During this series, Aaron he batted .402 and slugged five home runs leading his team to the championship. “Hammerin’ Hank” eventually broke Babe Ruth’s home run record by recording 755 Major League home runs.

The plaque for Jackie Robinson says the following:

One of the most important events in Hot Springs history occurred where you are standing. On October 22, 1953, the legendary Jackie Robinson, played an exhibition game here at Jaycee field with Gil Hodges, Luke Easter and other fellow Big Leaguers. He is recognized as the man who broke the color barrier in Major League baseball.

The Rogers Hornsby plaque at the site reads:

At the conclusion of his historic Hall of Fame career, Rogers “The Rajah” Hornsby returned to Hot Springs to oversee the nationally-recognized baseball school. Founded here in 1933 by Ray Doan, the school prospered for years, training young players from around the country. Instructors included George Sisler, Grover Cleveland Alexander and Dizzy Dean.

External links

• Hot Springs Spring Training Photos: [1]
• Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail: [2]