Don Duren
Bathers Baseball – relates the history of minor league baseball in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Spa entered the professional baseball ranks in 1887 and played intermittently until 1909. The city, void of minor league baseball until 1937, emerged as a member of the class C, Cotton States League. The team, tagged the Hot Springs Bathers, was instrumental in signing the first African-American player to play in the Cotton States League. The book reveals many historic and colorful stories. Bert Shepard, WWII amputee, pitched and played first base for the Bathers in 1952. The same year, Mike Ilitch played for the Bathers. Ilitch, now owner of Little Caesar’s Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings (NHL) and Detroit Tigers (MLB) was a good second baseman. Several Bathers played in the major leagues including “Hippo” Vaughn, Johnny Sain, Herb Adams, Ed McGhee, Bill Fisher and George Brunet. In addition, several former major league players served as manager including Paul “Daffy” Dean, Joe Kuhel, Pete Fox, Jim Hogan and Mickey O’Neil. Duren attended public schools in Hot Springs. Following graduation, he served four years in the United States Air Force. He has received degrees from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas (BA), Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX (MRE) and Northwestern State University in Louisiana (MS). He’s a retired Minister of Activities at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, TX. Duren is also the author of Boiling Out at the Springs: A History of Major League Baseball Spring Training in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
