The Families Who Saved the Buffalo
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The ninth annual Hot Springs Baseball Weekend will feature a return visit by Dale Murphy, one of the Atlanta Braves’ most beloved players and an Arkansas favorite. Murphy will be joined by Hall of Famer Fred McGriff, another former Braves star with a loyal following among Arkansas baseball fans.
“The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Spring Training comes alive with the FREE 9th Annual Hot Springs Baseball Weekend at the Hot Springs Convention Center on August 7 – 9, 2026! We are bringing in some favorite guests from previous Baseball Weekends and a couple of Hall of Famers who will be making their first visit,” –Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs
From the early 1970s until 2007, Atlanta Braves games were a nightly feature on the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), a satellite production that was picked up by cable companies from coast to coast. During those years, Arkansas youngsters became loyal fans of Dale Murphy and, later, Fred McGriff. Many of those Arkansans, now fathers and grandfathers, still hold “The Murph” and “Crime Dog” as their childhood heroes and consider the Atlanta Braves their favorite team.
Hot Springs Baseball Weekend 2026 brings Murphy and McGriff to the same stage along with Hall of Famer Jack Morris, World Series MVP Dave Stewart, and local favorites Bill “Spaceman” Lee and Al Hrabosky.
Dale Murphy won back-to-back National League MVP Awards in 1982 and 1983. He was a Gold Glove center fielder for five consecutive seasons from 1982 to 1986, and he won four straight Silver Slugger awards from 1982 to 1985.
In a career that spanned 18 seasons and about 2200 games, Murphy hit 398 home runs and recorded 1266 Runs Batted In. He played in 740 consecutive games for the Braves from 1981 to 1986. He was named to the All-Star team each of those years.
Dale Murphy was one of the most popular guests at the 2024 Baseball Weekend. In response to many requests, this year’s event will be Murphy’s second trip to the Spa City’s celebration of baseball in Hot Springs.
Fred McGriff, affectionately known as “Crime Dog” by his fans, was a five-time All-Star and a World Series Champion with the 1995 Atlanta Braves. He finished his Hall of Fame career with 493 home runs and 1550 RBIs. In 1994, he became the ninth player in Major League History to hit 30 or more home runs in seven consecutive seasons. McGriff is making his first trip to Hot Springs Baseball Weekend.
Jack Morris, one of the most durable pitchers of his era, was a 3-time World Series champion, a 3-time 20-game winner, and the 1991 World Series MVP. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018. Morris pitched 175 complete games, the most by a Major League pitcher in the last 50 years.
Morris’ 10-inning shutout win in the Seventh Game of the 1991 World Series is one of the most celebrated pitching performances in World Series history. Like McGriff, Morris is making his first appearance at Hot Springs Baseball Weekend.
Dave Stewart, a late addition to the lineup, will be making his first trip to Hot Springs Baseball Weekend. He won 20 games in four consecutive seasons from 1987 to 1990, while pitching for the Oakland A’s. Stewart, the 1889 World Series MVP, won three series titles pitching for three different teams, the Dodgers, A’s, and Blue Jays.
In 1990, Stewart was the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, an honor given annually to a player who combines performance with exemplary community service.
Bill “Spaceman” Lee returns in 2026 by popular demand. Lee’s humor and outspoken candor were a big hit with fans at the 2025 HSBW. During Lee’s 14-year career, his outspoken manner and unfiltered comments were frequently the subject of humorous baseball stories. He won 17 games for three consecutive seasons with the Boston Red Sox from 1973 to 1975. Lee was selected as an American League All-Star in 1973 and was named MLB Pitcher of the Week twice in 1975.
HSBW26 5.Caption Hot Springs Baseball Weekend regular guest Al Hrabosky
Al Hrabosky has become a popular guest at the Hot Springs Baseball Weekend. Known as the “Mad Hungarian,” Hrabosky is a regular on St. Louis Cardinals’ TV broadcasts. As a dominating closer in the mid-1970s, he led the league in saves in 1975 and was in the top 10 in that category in three other seasons. He finished his career with 97 saves in 544 relief appearances. Twice, the Mad Hungarian finished in the top five in the Cy Young voting.
Schedule for Ninth Annual Hot Springs Baseball Weekend. All events are free.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
7:30 p.m. – Documentary “The Battered Bastards of Baseball.”
The first 200 guests will receive a complimentary Weekend poster.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Society for American Baseball Research Meeting. (Room 201)
Non-members welcome. Speaker: Frank Amoroso, author of the new book, Ode to the Baseball Gods: Epic Battle in Hot Springs.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Baseball Card Show in the Grand Lobby.
9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. – The Ultimate Ace- Dave “Smoke” Stewart
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – A Career Retrospective with Fred McGriff
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Dale Murphy and the Rise of the Braves
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Ten Innings of Glory: Jack Morris
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Unplugged: Bill Lee and Al Hrabosky
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – The Legends of the Diamond: All of our guest legends are on one stage.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Baseball Card Show Continues in the Grand Lobby.
For more information, call Derek Phillips at 501-359-2414.
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