Backroads and Ballplayers #165
Stories of the famous and not-so-famous men and women from a time when baseball was “Arkansas’ Game.” Backroads and Ballplayers Weekly is always free and short enough to finish in one cup of coffee.
Hagen Smith Arrives, SABR Meeting Invitation, Hot Springs Baseball Weekend, Mystery Photo, Revisit Lost Stories: Woodson, Boss, and The Gashouse Gang in Pine Bluff
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In the News: Hagen Smith Arrives
I received an email this week from my bud, Bob Anderson, lamenting the low number of former Razorbacks in the majors. Bob is my source for all things Arkansas, and he ended the message with a comment that he didn’t see anyone on the verge of a callup.
I didn’t get back to him right away, but I suspect my friend and I were not the only ones who didn’t see Smith’s promotion coming. He had a lingering control problem that would not fit well with a long-relief role the White Sox needed in their bullpen.
BUT…on Saturday, the White Sox announced they were calling up Smith and right-hander Tanner McDougal from their AAA club in Charlotte.
On Sunday, before 31,000+ at Chicago’s Rate Field, Smith started the second inning in relief. He sandwiched a walk between striking out the side. In the third, the 2024 College Pitcher of the Year, walked the bases loaded to add a little stress, before a lineout to third got him off the hook. Whew!!!
Following the Sox -Thanks, MLB
Last year I paid my $100 and to get almost all the Cardinals’ games on FanDuel. With the Cards, I also got most of the Royals’ and Rangers’ games. That was a nice bonus. This year, with MLB Network behind the broadcasts, I get every game, not subject to special blackouts, EXCEPT Royals and Rangers.
Generally, in addition to St. Louis, I have a dozen or so games every game day to choose from. What a nice unexpected bonus. It is very unlikely the White Sox will be part of many nationally televised games, meaning I will be able to watch Smith and Andrew Benintendi regularly.
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Guests are always welcome at Robinson-Kell SABR.
The next Meeting of the Robinson-Kell Chapter of SABR will be Saturday, August 15, at Graceway Baptist Church, Bryant, AR. The meeting time is noon - 4:00 p.m.
Our guest speaker is former Razorback star Scott Tabor, a member of the 1979 CWS runner-up.
Although our meetings are sponsored by the Society for American Baseball Research, no SABR membership is required.
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Mystery Photo, August 2026
A colorful character from Arkansas, this guy is in a small group with Dizzy, Johnny Sain, and the Hummingbird, but you may not recognize him. Maybe you do.
Hurry and get this so I can tell his story!
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What Hot Springs Weekend Means to Me
To me, Hot Springs Baseball Weekend is a tribute to Mike Dugan’s vision, built around the theme of the Spa City’s role in the history of baseball spring training. The late summer event now draws thousands to Hot Springs for THE baseball history event in Arkansas.
Mike would not say “I told you so,” that was not his nature, but he told you so! Perhaps even Mike, the consummate optimist and the leading cheerleader for his hometown, might not have imagined the scene at the convention center this past weekend.
The contingent of former major leaguers received unanimous compliments from the attendees. Actually, the ex-major leaguers seem to enjoy themselves. Comment from a fan to Dave Stewart, “I am surprised you are so upbeat and friendly.” To which Stewart replied with a grin, “Oh, I can be the other way if you want me to!”
The sports card hobby is back, although it is accompanied by Pokémon and some friends. Beware, if history is a good indicator, these new visitors won’t stay long. I have attended the National Sports Collectors’ Convention several times. The HSBW event now resembles a national-level sports-card show.
To me, Hot Springs Baseball Weekend is all social. It is my best chance to put faces to my 300+ subscribers and 600 Facebook followers. The 2026 version of HSBW allowed me to represent Arkansas SABR and hear dozens of individual “baseball stories” from folks who still consider baseball to be “Arkansas’ Game.”
Some of those stories are revisited below:
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The lost story of Amity, Arkansas’ George Woodson
About a year ago, I got an email from a subscriber, Rex Woodson. Rex introduced me to the lost story of his brother, who was the last player sent down before the 1968 Cleveland Indians headed north to start the regular season. Woody Woodson’s move down to the Indians’ AAA team in Portland of the Pacific Coast League came a few days after the official team photo of the 1968 Cleveland Indians was taken.
The photograph above sold for almost $500 on eBay a few weeks back. The rare item is the authentic, autographed team photo prepared for the 1968 Indians players. On the reverse, this photo was identified as Sam McDowell’s copy.
The photo was meticulously signed by each player with a fountain pen, but one signature is conspicuously missing. The player wearing uniform number 41, just to Luis Tiant’s left, did not sign the photo. Who was number 41, and why did he not autograph this photo?
The details behind the missing autograph involve an outstanding college pitcher from Amity, Arkansas, named George “Woody” Woodson. My friend Rex has supplied me with a lot more information on this amazing Arkansan. Woody’s life is a classic example of an “almost a major leaguer.” The complete story of George “Woody” Woodson will be the featured “lost story” in next week’s column, or it will be an upcoming story in Only in Arkansas.
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Jamin Ross stopped by…
When the (Fading) Gashouse Gang Came to Pine Bluff – Pine Bluff Judges vs St. Louis Cardinals, April 12, 1938 — Jamin Ross - Posted on July 25, 2026
An exhibition game between the Pine Bluff Judges and the St. Louis Cardinals on April 12, 1938, at Missouri Pacific Park gave local fans a memorable look at one of baseball’s most famous teams as its golden era was beginning to fade. The St. Louis Cardinals arrived in Pine Bluff carrying the final stars of the legendary Gashouse Gang and the young players who would replace them. For Pine Bluff, the game was more than a spring exhibition. It represented the growing connection between the Cotton States League Judges and one of baseball’s most innovative organizations. The Cardinals’ presence gave local fans a rare chance to see future Hall of Famers, established stars, and rising young talent on the same field. The game further strengthened the ties between the Cardinals and the Cotton States League Judges, who hosted the Cardinals’ rookie camp alongside the Judges’ own spring training camp. Cardinals vice president and general manager Branch Rickey continued refining the revolutionary farm system that had transformed St. Louis into a baseball powerhouse.
Continue reading at this link and save the link to Jamin Ross’ newsletter.
The Last Days of the Gang
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Darrin Watson stopped by…
Darrin is the Kansas City Royals guy in Arkansas. His blog/column rivals nationally syndicated columns. Take a look: Link
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Bradley Williams stopped by…
Brad has now accumulated the most complete Boss Schmidt collection in the hobby. Below is a photo from Brad’s personal collection and my favorite Boss story.
A Day in Boss Schmidt’s Bar
Schmidt did not remain in the bar business long after he lent his name to the establishment in about 1909, but he was in the sports bar operation long enough to leave some stories behind. One of the favorite tales the Sebastian County folks like to tell is the day the patrons were “entertained by a traveling salesman from ‘somewhere up north.’”
The dandy-looking fellow entered the bar on a March afternoon in 1910. The northerner was described as “a freckled-face Irishman who looked like a Grand Avenue fashion plate.” Not burdened by shyness or restraint, he joined a group of regulars engaged in a discussion of the past baseball season and the performance of the bar’s namesake.
The salesman offered his take immediately, “Well, as we all know, they have a saddled-faced, wooden-shoe-nosed mutt named Schmidt behind the plate on that Detroit team.” The listeners were aghast that the impudent little dandy would use such harsh language to describe their local hero, but the salesman continued undeterred.
One listener urged him on, “I readily see,” replied the regular, moving in to better hear the details. “This Schmidt ought to be a model in a horse nail factory instead of trying to make people think he is a ball player,” the visitor continued.
“Schmidt sticks with Detroit because of an unusual friendship between him and Detroit’s chief twirlers. I wouldn’t be surprised if a grand jury held a pow-wow session on the matter that they would indict him for bribing the gang to any such fantastic thing about him.”
The most interested patron continued to “string” the visitor along until the salesman’s audience began to excuse themselves for dinner. As the group began to leave the bar, the large man who had been most encouraging to the guest’s tales left his card on the table and exited the bar with his wife. Only after picking up the card did the guest realize that he had been entertaining a group that included Charles Schmidt.
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I hope you celebrated August 4, a special day in every baseball season.
In case you missed “National Hit by Pitch Day,” here is your second chance.
Thanks for the kind words, Jim! See you Saturday.
The contrast between their work and their quiet devotion is both funny and oddly touching. The ending really drives home how love can survive even when everyone else keeps their distance. What a wonderfully strange little story.