After being benched as a pitcher for the entire the season of 1880 because of a pitching shoulder injury and “his arm was growing lame”, a very promising young pitcher named Charles Radbourn decided to quit baseball. He believed his career in professional baseball was over and " was determined never to return again."  His childhood friend and teammate, Bill Hunter, however, believed differently. Hunter believed "Charley" could heal his arm in the legendary hot mineral springs and spas of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Hunter funded the trip and the rest is baseball history. "Old Hoss" Radbourn's arm and shoulder recovered and he immediately went on to become one of the greatest pitchers of the 19^th Century, known as the "King of Pitchers" and still holding one of the most phenomenal records in the history of sports, Fifty-Nine (59) victories in 1884! (Preceded by Forty-Eight  in '83!)

Two years following Old Hoss's "59 in '84", two other baseball immortals, Albert Goodwill Spalding and Cap Anson, owner and manager, respectively, of the preeminent  19th Century baseball dynasty known as the Chicago White Stockings, made the trailblazing decision to send their entire team to Hot Springs.  This proved extremely popular and successful, leading to a nearly six-decade annual ritual of formal spring training for many of professional baseball's greatest teams and players, from both Major League Baseball, and from the Negro Leagues.

Of all ballplayers, pitchers participated and benefited the most from training and healing in Hot Springs.  Indeed, nearly 50% of all pitchers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame today trained at Hot Springs! This site is a tribute to the crème de la crème of pitching legends who trained in the “Valley of the Vapors.”

Very Special Thanks To Hot Springs Baseball Historians

Steve Arrison, Mark Blaeuer, Mike Dugan, Don Duren, Larry Foley, Bill Jenkinson, Tim Reid and Liz Robbins