Where are we? Congrats Wrigley, GraySox vs Chicago

Thats what I asked myself when I realized we had won a few games. I looked it up, eight out of our last ten, in fact no team in the league is hotter.

A quick look-see at the SL website says we are still in third place, behind Mobile and Jacksonville with seven series left to play. 35 games left means we are at the three-quarters pole, about to hit the third base bag and head for home.

Since Mobile won the first half, punching their playoff ticket early puts them out of the picture for our second half hopes. Which is good, they are still winning games at a prodigious pace, over .650 W-L%.

IN THE HUNT
Jacksonville leads us by about a game, which is a slim margin indeed, considering the schedule. (should I mention that I went to highschool with Slim Margin?)

We are currently facing the North Division doormat Chattanooga Lookouts. Afterwards we come home to face off against the main target - the Jacksonville Suns, in a head to head series that could determine which team gets into the playoffs.


BACKUP PLAN
Even if the Skitz falter in the showdown with the JaxSuns, we still haven't lost hope. We go on the road to Jackson Tn where the Generals wait with their .400 winning percentage. Follow that up with a homestand against the aforementioned Chattanooga Lookouts and the Biscuits could be in fine shape by mid-August if the winning percentages stay about the same.

The schedule doesn't look too painful for Montgomery, finishing against the Wahoos and Generals could be a big advantage, plus the Suns still have a ten-game roadtrip to contend with.

COMING UP
The Skitz get four home series, the Suns have four road series left on the schedule.

Biscuits remaining series, with opponent W-L%:

Currently facing Chattanooga (.333)
home vs Jacksonville (.594)
@Jackson Generals (.419)
home vs Chattanooga (.333)
@Mississippi Braves (.563)
home vs Tennessee Smokies (.500)
@Pensacola (.344)
home vs Jackson Generals (.419)


Jacksonville Suns remaining series:

Currently facing Birmingham (.548)
@Montgomery (.563)
@Huntsville  (.500)
home vs Mississippi Braves (.563)
@Chattanooga (.333)
home vs Pensacola (.344)
@Tennessee Smokies (.500)
home vs Mobile (.667)


POSTSEASON PREP?
If Brady's Boys can apply the pressure where needed, its a good time to do it while they can handle their own business without having to have help from other teams to move up in the standings.

I am not quite saying print playoff tix yet, but after the next homestand I just might be ready. We are exactly where we need to be if we want to see playoff Biscuits.

WRIGLEY'S HUNDRED HOME RUNS

Blog favorite and former Biscuit 1b Henry Wrigley reached a career milestone with his 100th home run on Tuesday. The Caracas Crusher has put a bakers dozen over the wall for the St.Paul Saints, the former rival of my dads fave team, the Minneapolis Millers. Its indie ball but a tough league with alot of talent.

It was HenWrigs 13th home run this season, he is batting an outstanding .327 average and popping the OPS at a .917 clip.

With 51 RBI in 51 games, Saints fans surely have learned what Biscuits fans knew, Henry Wrigley produces runs.

Of course, the "official career totals" don't include Venezuelan league play, where Henry had much success. Technically speaking, Wrigs was already past the century mark, but hey, its nice to make it official!

Congrats, Wrigley!

History Lesson...

JULY 22 1920 
Montgomery, AL
"Chicago Negroes to Play Grey Sox Game -
A fast and snappy game of ball is promised the followers of the Montgomery Grey Sox, Thursday when the local negro team will play the Chicago Black Sox, in an exhibition game at South Side Park at 3:30 o'clock.

Rube Foster

The Black Sox are being sent South by "Rube" Foster, who is president of the Negro Western League, for the purpose of estimating the strength of the Negro Southern League.

Henry Hannon, manager of the local aggregation is confident of victory but he realizes the task ahead of him is a hard one and a real battle is expected. This should prove to be one of the best games that has been played on the local diamond this year and a record breaking crowd is expected."

1920 Chicago American Giants

Montgomery, AL
"Montgomery Sox Swamp Chicagoans -
The Chicago Black Sox colored baseball club team was easily defeated Thursday afternoon by the Montgomery Gray Sox team by the score of 15 to 1. The visiting team put up a miserable exhibition of the national pastime.

Sam Streeter Mgm Gray Sox

Streeter, for the Grey Sox, was a puzzle to the Chicago players, and after the first inning he had his opponents at his mercy. Kemp, who started for Chicago, was easy pickings for the locals, and Smith, who succeeded him, could not check the assault.

George Scales

Williams, Scales, "Red" Cunningham and Herman Cunningham carried off the batting honors for the day, the quartet had little trouble in hitting the ball, when hits meant runs.

Streeter established a record on the local field when he pitched twenty consecutive balls for strikes, without having a ball called by the umpire.

The Chicagoans came to the city highly rated, and are leading the league in the National league for colored clubs, but their performance Thursday was the poorest seen on the loacl field this season. Nashville opens a three-game series here this afternoon."



JULY 22, 1966 - 
The Animals and Hermans Hermits play at the State Coliseum, aka Garrett Coliseum, in Montgomery.
11 days later Animals bassist Chas Chandler will go to New York and hear Jimi Hendrix for the first time. Not baseball related, but hey, thats cool!




JULY 23 1920 
Montgomery, AL
"Montgomery Greys Defeat Nashville -
A single by Carpenter in the tenth inning scoring Preston, won a hard-fought game for the Montgomery Grey Sox, Friday afternoon from the Nashville White Sox by the score of 1 to 0.

Preston

The game was a pretty pitcher's battle between Knowles and Meyers, the former allowing six hits and the latter five. Meyers was saved on several occasions by sensational fielding.

The Grey Sox scored the lone tally in the tenth inning when Preston reached first on an infielder's error and third while the next two batters were being retired. Meyers walked and stole second and Carpenter sent a clean Texas leaguer over short and Preston scored.

The two teams will clash again this afternoon and the final game of the series will be played Sunday afternoon."