The First Boys of Spring

For nearly fifty years, Hot Springs, Arkansas, served as a pivotal training ground for baseball's legends, where athletes shook off winter's chill in thermal baths. The journey began in 1886 with the Chicago White Stockings, whose owner sought a sunny locale for preseason training. Soon, iconic teams like the Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers followed suit. Hot Springs buzzed with both notable and notorious figures, attracting baseball's elite. During late winter and early spring, giants such as Babe Ruth, Cy Young, and Honus Wagner honed their skills, contributing to the rich legacy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.