The Hot Springs Bathers were a Cotton States League baseball team based in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, that played from 1938 to 1941 and from 1947 to 1955. In 1938, they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. In 1939 and 1940, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers. From 1948 to 1951, they were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954 and the Kansas City Athletics in 1955. From 1938 to 1941, they played at Whittington Park/Ban Johnson Park, and from 1947 to 1955 they played at Bathers Field/Jaycee Park/Majestic Park.
| Hot Springs Bathers | |
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| Minor league affiliations | |
| Previous classes |
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| League | Cotton States League (1938–1941, 1947–1955) |
Previous leagues |
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| Major league affiliations | |
| Previous teams |
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| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | 1941, 1948, 1950 |
| Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks |
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In 1953, the Cotton States League attempted to evict the Bathers from the league because they signed and planned to play two African-American baseball players, brothers Jim and Leander Tugerson.[1] The eviction was not permanent, however the brothers were never able to play in any regular season games for the team.
League championships
editThey won their first championship in 1941 under manager Mike Powers. Under Joe Holden and George Sobek, they won again in 1948. In 1950, they won their final championship under John Antonelli.
Notable alumni
edit- Paul Dean (1954, manager)
- Bill Fischer (1949)
- Pete Fox (1949) MLB All-Star
- Shanty Hogan (1952, manager)
- Joe Kuhel (1947)
- Mickey O'Neil (1955, manager)
- Hippo Vaughn (1908)[2]
References
edit- ^ SABR Bioproject
- ^ "Vaughan Will Play With the Highlanders". Kennebec Journal. May 28, 1908. p. 4. Retrieved September 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
