In the late 1800s and well into the 20th century, Hot Springs was a health and recreation resort that attracted the rich and famous with its fine hotels, lively nightclubs, mountain setting, and natural hot springs. In 1886, Cap Anson brought his Chicago White Stockings, now the Cubs, to Hot Springs, and the spa resort's baths, mountains, trails, hotels, and activities made it an ideal place for the new practice of spring training for professional baseball. Soon, teams built five fields, and as many as 250 players, including many legends of the game, trained there year after year, establishing Hot Springs as the birthplace of spring baseball.