DATE: JULY 1, 2025
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins has joined the team of legendary players who will highlight the Eighth Hot Springs Baseball Weekend August 8 – 9.
“We’re pleased that Fergie will be returning to Hot Springs to join five other icons for a weekend of fun and information for all of the fans who turn out here in Hot Springs, The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Springs Training,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said. “Fergie was with us for the very first Baseball Weekend in 2018 when he and Al Hrabosky helped us install the final markers in our Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail. We’re honored that he’s coming back for this free public weekend celebration.”
“The 2025 Baseball Weekend will feature six great stars: Bret Saberhagen, Bill Lee, Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, Fergie Jenkins, Al Hrabosky and Steve Garvey,” Arrison said. “Lee, Saberhagen and Garvey will be greeting fans in Hot Springs for the first time and Bench, Jenkins and Hrabosky will be back by popular demand.”
Ron Guidry, who was scheduled to attend, had to cancel because of a scheduling conflict, Arrison said.
Ferguson Arthur “Fergie” Jenkins is a Canadian former pitcher and coach who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox from 1965 to 1983.
Jenkins played the most of his career for the Cubs, where he was a National League and Cubs All-Star for three seasons. In 1971 he was the first Canadian and Cubs pitcher to win a Cy Young Award. He was a 20-game winner for seven seasons, including six consecutive seasons for the Cubs. He was the NL leader in wins in 1971, and the American League leader in wins in 1974.
Jenkins was also the NL leader in complete games in 1967, 1970, and 1971, and the AL leader in complete games in 1974. He led the NL in strikeouts in 1969 and had over 3,000 strikeouts during his career. His 284 victories are the most by a Black pitcher in major league history.
Jenkins became the first Canadian to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
“The whole Baseball Weekend is free and open to the public, and we expect that 2024’s great turnout will be exceeded,” Arrison said.
Baseball fans get a grand slam homer this year when the 2025 Hot Springs Baseball Weekend and the Babe Ruth World Series coincide in the city known as The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Spring Training.
“Some of the greatest former players in the game and the best of the world’s young players will be in Hot Springs at the same time,” Arrison said. “Fans will get to interact with legends like crowd favorite Johnny Bench and newcomers Bill Lee, Bret Saberhagen and Steve Garvey and at the same time have the opportunity to watch the best 14-year-old players in the world compete at our great Majestic Park complex, where The Babe himself once played and practiced.”
The Babe Ruth World Series for 14-year-olds will take place August 7 – 16 at Hot Springs’ Majestic Field baseball complex.
In addition to Jenkins, Baseball Weekend’s lineup of guest stars will include:
• Bret Saberhagen was a right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox
from 1984 through 1999, and a comeback in 2001. Known for his blazing fastball and pinpoint control, Saberhagen was named a three-time All-Star, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, a Gold Glove Award winner, and the Most Valuable Player of the 1985 World Series, when the Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. He led Major League Baseball in wins and earned run average in 1989, and threw a no-hitter in 1991.
• Steve Garvey played first base for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1987. He began his major league career with the Dodgers in 1969. He won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1974 and was the National League Championship MVP in 1978. Garvey was also a member of the 1981 World Series-winning Dodgers. Garvey signed with the Padres in December 1982 and remained with the team until 1987, when his playing career ended. In 1984, Garvey was once again named a National League Championship Series MVP; he hit a dramatic walk-off home run to win Game Four of the Championship Series for the Padres. Garvey was a National League All-Star for 10 seasons, with nine selections as starter at first base, a mark that still stands for his position. He holds the NL record for consecutive games played with 1,207. The Padres retired Garvey’s No. 6 in 1988. He was placed on the 2024 ballot for induction into the Hall of Fame this fall.
• Bill Lee’s personality earned him popularity as well as the nickname “Spaceman,” given to him by former Red Sox infielder John Kennedy. His outspoken manner and unfiltered comments were frequently recorded in the press. Lee spoke in defense of China, population control, Greenpeace, and school busing in Boston, among other things. He berated an umpire for a controversial call in the 1975 World Series, threatening to bite off his ear and encouraging the American people to write letters demanding the game be replayed. When asked about his views on mandatory drug testing, Lee quipped: “I’ve tried just about all of them, but I wouldn’t want to make it mandatory.” In his 1984 book, The Wrong Stuff, he claimed his marijuana use made him impervious to bus fumes while jogging to work at Fenway Park. Much of the material in this book is, however, tongue-in-cheek.
They will be joined by Johnny Bench and Al Hrabosky.
Johnny Bench played his entire career, which lasted from 1967 to 1983, with the Cincinnati Reds, primarily as a catcher. Bench was the leader of the Reds team known as the Big Red Machine that dominated the National League in the mid-1970s, winning six division titles, four National League pennants and two World Series championships. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
Al Hrabosky is now known as Mister Baseball Weekend after attending every one of the annual celebrations except last year’s, when he was absent due to family obligations.
He is one of the St. Louis Cardinals’ most beloved players — the Mad Hungarian relief pitcher.
“Al has been a featured guest at every one of our Baseball Weekends except 2023,” Arrison said. “The hundreds of fans who have attended his presentations have loved his tales of Major League Baseball.” Hrabosky is part of the Cardinals television team and began working as a commentator on telecasts for the team in 1985. He will be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in September.
For more information call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.