Hot Springs Bathers | |
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League | Cotton States League (1938–1941, 1947–1955) |
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Minor league titles | |
League titles | 1941, 1948, 1950 |
Team data | |
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Previous parks |
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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.
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.
They 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.
William Adam Meyer was an American baseball player and manager. He holds the dubious distinction of having played with, then managed, two of the worst teams in the history of Major League Baseball.
The Greenville Spinners was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams located in Greenville, South Carolina between 1907 and 1962. Greenville teams played as members of the South Carolina League in 1907, Carolina Association (1908–1912), the South Atlantic League, the Palmetto League in 1931, and the Tri-State League (1954–1955).
The Cotton States League name was used five times in baseball history. The first Cotton States League ran from 1902 through 1908 as a class D league. After the league shut down, another Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six 1908 members returning for the new campaign and three new teams joining them. This league ran for four seasons, through 1913.
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a minor league baseball team that existed off-and-on from 1886 to 1955. They began as an unnamed team in the Pennsylvania State Association in 1886.
The Saint Joseph Saints was a primary name of the minor league baseball team that was based in St. Joseph, Missouri during various seasons between 1886 and 1953. Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Dizzy Dean and Earl Weaver played for St. Joseph teams.
Jaycee Park, also known as Bathers Field, is a ballpark located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States. Built in 1946 and 1947, it opened on May 1, 1947, with a seating capacity of 4,000. The site was previously called Majestic Park and was the site of Spring Training for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers. From 1947 to 1955, it served as the home field for the Hot Springs Bathers, a minor league baseball team that played in the Cotton States League. From 1948 to 1951, it served as a Spring Training site for the Chicago White Sox organization. In 1949, its capacity was down to 2,600, and in 2008 it was down to 1,100.
The Duluth Dukes was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise that represented Duluth, Minnesota, in the Northern League from 1935 to 1942, and from 1946 to 1955. In addition, a separate edition of the Dukes was one of four franchises in the short-lived Twin Ports League, a "Class E" minor league that played for six weeks during the 1943 season. The Dukes played at Athletic Park from 1935 to 1940. Beginning in 1941, the team played its home games at Wade Stadium.
The Springfield Browns was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Springfield, Illinois between 1931 and 1950. Springfield teams played as members of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1931–1932), Mississippi Valley League (1933), Central League (1934), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League and Mississippi-Ohio Valley League (1950), winning the 1939 league championship. Hosting home games at Reservoir Park, Lanphier Park and Jim Fitzpatrick Memorial Stadium, Springfield teams were an affiliate of the 1931 St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Cardinals (1933–1934), 1935 Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns.
The Keokuk Indians was a primary nickname of the various minor league baseball teams based in Keokuk, Iowa between 1875 and 1962.
The Pine Bluff Judges were a minor league baseball team, based in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They existed between 1930 and 1955 and were primarily an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles playing in the Cotton States League.
The original Majestic Park was one of the first Major League Baseball spring training facilities. The ballpark was located at the corner of Belding Street and Carson Street in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Today, the site is in use by Champion Christian College, National Park College, and travel/tournament baseball and softball. Majestic Park has been renovated by the City of Hot Springs. Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron are among the many who have played at the site.
The Mattoon Phillies was a primary nickname for the minor league baseball teams based in Mattoon, Illinois between 1899 and 1957. Mattoon teams played as members of the Indiana–Illinois League (1899), Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (1906), Eastern Illinois League (1907–1908), Illinois State League (1947–1948), Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1949–1955) and Midwest League (1956–1957).
The Seminole Oilers were a minor league baseball team based in Seminole, Oklahoma. Between 1947 and 1957, Seminole teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Sooner State League from 1947 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957, winning league championships in 1948 and 1956. The Oilers and Seminole Ironmen hosted minor league home games at Oiler Park.
The Salina Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team based in Salina, Kansas. The Salina Blue Jays and their immediate predecessor, the Salina "Millers" played as members of the Southwestern League (1922–1926) and Western Association, winning the 1926 league championship and two league pennants. The Salina Millers were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1941 and the Blue Jays were a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate from 1946 to 1952. Salina hosted home minor league games at Oakdale Park from 1922 to 1926 and Kenwood Field from 1938 to 1952. The 1922 Salina Millers team was preceded by the 1914 Salina Coyotes of the Kansas State League.
The Vicksburg Hill Billies was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Vicksburg, Mississippi between 1893 and 1955. Vicksburg teams played as a member of the Mississippi State League (1893–1894), Cotton States League, Southeastern League (1946–1950) and Cotton States League (1955).
The Madisonville Miners were a minor league baseball team based in Madisonville, Kentucky. Madisonville played in various seasons between 1896 and 1955. The Madisonville Miners teams played as members of the Class D level Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League. In 1896, the Madisonville team played as members of both the Kentucky-Indiana League and Pennyrile League.
The Federalsburg A's were a minor league baseball team based in Federalsburg, Maryland. Federalsburg teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League from 1937 to 1941 and 1946 to 1949, winning the 1939 league pennant. The "A's" moniker was interchanged with the similar "Athletics" and "Little A's" before the franchise became the "Feds" for their final season of 1949. Hosting all minor league home games at Federal Park, Federalsburg played as a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics from 1937 to 1941 and 1946 to 1948.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Hannibal, Missouri in various seasons between 1908 and 1955. Hannibal teams played as members of the Illinois–Missouri League in 1908, Central Association from 1909 to 1912, Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League from 1916 to 1917, Central Association from 1948 to 1949 and the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League from 1952 to 1955. The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League evolved to become the Midwest League.
The Monroe Sports were a minor league baseball team based in Monroe, Louisiana. The Sports played as members of the Class C level Cotton States League from 1950 to 1955, winning the 1955 league championship. The Sports became a New York Yankees affiliate in 1955 and continued the affiliation in 1956, when the team joined the Class C level Evangeline Leaguefor one season after the Cotton States League folded. The Sports hosted home minor league games at Casino Park.
The Meridian Millers were a minor league baseball team based in Meridian, Mississippi. Between 1937 and 1950, Meridian teams played as a member of the Southeastern League under various nicknames. Meridian became known as the "Millers" beginning in 1949. The Millers continued as members of the Class D level Cotton States League from 1952 to 1955 and won Cotton League championships in 1952 and 1953.