No post last week, there was way less to work with. While teams from Montgomery often open the season in the middle of April, the history files are pretty shallow for interesting game events. Maybe not every day, but most days this week should have at least a short post.
Our coverage of an historic event begins in this post, the Montgomery Grey Sox are widely known as one of the top teams in the south when Rube Foster organizes the Negro Southern League. The Grey Sox will challenge for the national title in 1920 and as this is the 100th anniversary of their fabulous first season in the NSL the blog will be covering the Grey Sox pennant push this summer.
Can the Grey Sox win it all? Follow the team here this season and find out!
FROM THE RESEARCH ROOM
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| May 1931, Hardy debut with Grey Sox |
Jeb is doing the research on Hardy and emailed me asking if I had any info on the former Grey Sox backstop. I was thrilled to be able to offer up a pair of news items relating to Hardy, including a writeup on his debut game with Montgomery. I also had a mention of him with the Grey Sox in a pre-season writeup.
Hardy had a long and storied career, mostly after his Montgomery service. He was particularly popular in the northwest and served as manager for teams such as the Harlem Globetrotters and Seattle Steelheads clubs.
Obviously, being a gonzo-style baseball historian, I was happy to provide what I have to the mainstream guys. Always a feather in the cap to provide assistance. And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't share those files with you here!
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| April 1932 Montgomery Grey Sox preseason news |
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| 1937 advert |
TODAY IN THE PAST 4/20
APRIL 20 1893
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| "Little Joe" McGinnity |
Called "Little Joe" when he gets to Montgomery, McGinnity makes his first start and has a rough opening to his pitching career.
A base on balls and a hit by pitch to the first two hitters lead off the game. After earning his first career strikeout Mac is helped by an unconventional 9-5-4 double play to escape his first jam, getting outs at third and second base on a muffed fly ball.
Joe McGinnity gets the win and is on his way to Cooperstown by beating Nashville 10-4. The future Iron Man held the opposition to just five hits after a very long train ride brought him to his first game.
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| Local account of Joe McGinnity's first game |
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| 1897 advert |
APRIL 20 1908
Nashville and Montgomery each score three in the first inning and then battle to 15 innings without a run before darkness ends the contest tied.
APRIL 20 1920
"Negro Southern League is Formed - Montgomery Team Will Play Exhibition Game With Crack Indianapolis Club -The local negro baseball team known as the Grex Sox will open the Negro Sourthern League season in Montgomery on Friday, April 30, May 1 and 2 with the Birmingham Giants. The league is composed of eight clubs, Knoxville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, Pensacola, New Orleans, and Jacksonville.
The opening dates are Birmingham at Montgomery, New Orleans at Pensacola, Knoxville at Nashville, Jacksonville at Atlanta.
President Staples of the local club has gathered together one of the strongest aggregations of ball tossers in the South, having returned from a scouting trip Wednesday with three new pitchers. He assures the public of clean baseball and is out for the first pennant of the new league. No games will be played in any town when a Southern League team is playing.
On Tuesday, April 20, the Grey Sox will
entertain the strong A.B.C. club of Indianapolis, Indiana, the strongest
negro club in the country. The game will give the local fans an
opportunity of seeing just what kind of club the Grey Sox will be.The game will be played in Southside park on South Holt street, just one half block from the car line. The new park has a special grand stand for white patrons."
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| 1920 Montgomery Grey Sox |
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