Can't Change Even If I Wanted To, Biscuits Find New Homes

 

NOBODY KNOWS..

People ask what I have been up to and its easier to answer "same old same old" than to explain how I am mapping each known location for organized baseball games in Montgomery pre-WW1. 

Hopefully soon I will have some exciting news on the history front, stay tuned!

 

CANT CHANGE IF I WANTED TO

I was hoping to revamp the blog but found that the blogspot tools have been adjusted so drastically since the page was first built that it requires a complete reset just to adjust the font color! So instead of choosing a lame template or going back to square one for design we will just have to stick with the current format. 

THEY GOT THE FEVER AND IT AINT GOOD

Going over the history files in preparations for writing the early chapters in the book on Montgomery baseball history we find a serious problem plagued early teams - yellow fever shuts down entire cities and prevents teams from travel. 

Repeated bouts of illness in cities across the south, including central Alabama, has people hiding in their homes for months on end. Sales of fresh fruit and leafy vegetables are part of the quarantine efforts as well as restrictions on travel and at some points Montgomery simply shutters its rail station and allow no trains to stop.

 

 

ASU CONTACTED

In my efforts to add new teams and history to our diet, I have contacted the Alabama State folks about their baseball club. I explained my blog and what I can bring and hopefully they appreciate the effort and we can work to include the Hornets on the blog. Since ASU stems from the 1800's era Normal School and hosted Negro League games as early as the 1890s, I have high hopes we can work together to expand the understanding ASU baseball holds in the Montgomery sports scene.

 

 WHEN DO WE KNOW BISCUITS SKIPPER?

The Biscuits are almost always among the last to announce their coaching staff and thats no different this year. While I predicted a new hand filling out the Montgomery lineup this year, there is really no telling if Ensberg will return or, if not, who will take his place at the helm.

 

 HARRY THE HAT WALKER

Walker managed Clemente

Recently had a good friend message me about Harry Walker, yes he was schooled on the sandlots of Montgomery. Developed through youth baseball leagues and scouted by major league clubs, Harry The Hat was son of the original Dixie Walker and younger brother of the other Dixie Walker. 

Harry was an All-Star player and later became a MLB manager for clubs like the Cardinals, Astros and Pirates. He was popular as well as controversial and his contributions to baseball are wide and varied. But he has roots on the local ballfields of Montgomery.

EX-BISCUITS GET NEW HOMES

I can't keep track of all the offseason moves involving former Montgomery players but I did notice a new, among them:

Nathan Witt signed with the Blue Jays

Brent Honeywell joined the Padres

Robbie Tenerowicz joined the Mariners

The A's picked up Austin Pruitt

The Nationals signed Joel Peguero "No Peggy! No Peggy!" Peggy once cost a guy a cycle by picking up a ball hit into the bullpen!

Garrett Whitlet hooked on with the Phillies

Joe McCarthy signed with the Rangers

The Brewers picked up Tobias Myers

Jim Haley was signed by the Phillies