'First Boys of Spring' to premiere on AETN

CONWAY -- "The First Boys of Spring" will premiere on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) at 7 p.m. Monday.

Beginning in 1886, baseball spring training was held for the first time -- not in Florida or Arizona, but in Hot Springs, Ark. For portions of five decades many of the game's greats travelled to the Spa City to recover from winter's sedentary indulgence and prepare for the long seasons ahead.

Narrated by Billy Bob Thornton, the one-hour documentary tells the story of baseball's evolution and the classic teams that made the resort town their springtime home, including the Red Sox, Dodgers, Pirates, Monarchs, Crawfords and Grays. The film also delves into the rich history of baseball Hall of Famers who worked out, gambled and partied in Hot Springs, including Cy Young, Satchel Paige, Honus Wagner and baseball's first superstar, Mike "King" Kelly.

A central figure is a young Babe Ruth, now known as "The Sultan of Swat." In his early career, Ruth was recognized as the game's dominant pitcher and not made a regular part of the Boston Red Sox batting lineup. In March of 1918, Ruth made progress in his efforts to convince management to increase his playing time when he belted a celebrated 573-foot home run into the Arkansas Alligator Farm.

The film is written and produced by Larry Foley, Emmy-winning professor of journalism and documentary film at the University of Arkansas.

"The First Boys of Spring" will repeat at 3 p.m. Dec. 13.

AETN is the premier broadcast venue for Arkansas's independent film producers. The network strives to showcase indie films from and about Arkansans, turning the spotlight to a wide range of topics that might otherwise go unnoticed.