Talk:Hot Springs Bathers
From BR Bullpen
Not sure if that's Shanty Hogan or not. --Jeff 22:58, 27 August 2007 (EDT)
We have a page for Bathers Field which says the team played there from 1938 to 1955. SABR has the team at Ban Johnson Park before the war and Jaycee Park after. Not sure if those are just different names the park used those years or not. Plus we had a post that called it Whittington Park before the war. --Jeff 17:37, 27 July 2008 (EDT)
[edit] Ballpark clearup
You are partially correct, Jeff. Bathers field was not built until 1945 (I fixed that on the bathers Field page) and although Bathers field was its actual name, it was part of the Jaycee Park complex that was used for Roger Hornsby's baseball school. Bathers field was probably more commonly known as Jaycee Park.
Whittington Park was renamed Ban Johnson field when the Bathers started playing there in 1938. The Field was still better known as Whittington park because Major League clubs held spring training there from 1894-1942.
[edit] 1938 Affiliate
I believe that the bathers actually were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers in 1938. Originally, the Chicago Cubs made a deal with the Bathers but were forced by baseball commissioner Kensaw Landis to drop their contract with the Bathers because they already had an affiliation with the Helena Seaportters, also of the Cotton States League.
In the last few days before the season started, the Bathers worked out an agreement with the Detroit Tigers (The Sporting News, 4/18/1938, pg 3).
In looking throught the roster at SABR, there doesn't seem to be any real affiliation as we would know it. There were a handful of players who plyed in the Tiger chain before and after their time in Hot Springs. There were a couple from the Reds it appears too, and maybe one or two from the Cubs. --Jeff 20:45, 4 August 2008 (EDT)
[edit] James Hogan
No, that is not shanty Hogan. James Hogan was a left-handed pitcher for the Bathers in 1952 and replaced Bob Benish as manager on June 9th. He acted as player-manager for remainder of the season. When he became manager, he had 10 wins.
