02/23/2018
Descendants of Babe Ruth will be in Hot Springs in March for the dedication of the final two markers in the Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail that traces the birthplace of baseball spring training in the Spa City. The two-day celebration, which also will feature baseball legends Ferguson Jenkins and Al Hrabosky, will be held March 23 and March 24. “We will be joined at this celebration by three generations of the Babe Ruth family, including his grandson, Tom Stevens, great-grandson, Brent Stevens, and the Babe’s great-great granddaughters,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs. “Babe Ruth’s daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, was invited but will be unable to attend. She will celebrate her 102nd birthday July 7.” Arrison said, “On Friday, March 23, we will unveil the final two plaques on the Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail honoring the pitchers and catchers who trained and sharpened their skills in the Spa City.” One plaque will honor legendary catcher Bill Dickey of Little Rock and the other will honor pitcher Lefty Grove. On Friday evening there will be a panel discussion with Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins and former Major League player Al Hrabosky the “Mad Hungarian” of St. Louis Cardinals fame and a current television personality. On Saturday, March 24, there will be a ceremony at Whittington Park celebrating the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s massive home run at Whittington Park, Arrison said. “It was a home run that was even longer than his St. Patrick’s Day shot that was the first home run over 500 feet.” At the ceremony, the Ruth Family will be joined by the noted Babe Ruth and baseball historian/author Bill Jenkinson and the Babe Ruth expert and historian Tim Reid. Later in the day there will be a panel discussion on the life of Babe Ruth called “The Life of the Sultan of Swat” with the special guests as well as all of the baseball historians involved with the research and development of the Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail: Jenkinson, Reid, Mike Dugan, Mark Blaeuer and Don Duren. Journalist Rex Nelson will be the moderator for the panel discussion. For more information call 501-321-2027.
