FACT CHeCKING MYSELF

One of the great things about blogging is that you can be wrong and noone takes you behind the woodshed for it. I am glad for that, because on this journey of Montgomery baseball history I have been consistently misled and misinformed concerning basic history facts. And of course I pass the savings along to you!

Things like Turkey Stearnes, who isn't from Montgomery and didn't play his first pro games here no matter how many things we read say that he is and he did.

Like the Montgomery Climbers playing at Capitol Heights, which they did for a small handful of games but spent many, many more at the Oak Park's Highland Oval. Nobody talks about the Oak Park Oval, how are we supposed to know?

Or those 80 wins the Grey Sox famously posted in 1921, which was really more like 65 league games with some barnstorming wins added in. But once they sent their press release to the newspaper, that 80 win record was taken as gospel for the rest of all time. Even the 21st century media often repeats the total, which led me to quote it in my research about the top Negro League team from Montgomery as recently as last months blog post.

 

NUMBERS DONT LIE? HELL YEAH THEY DO!

Negro League stats and standings are a Gordian Knot. You simply can't follow one cord without getting lost and there is no way to ever untie the whole thing. I have spent years now, pouring over info and reports, trying to figure out how to best illustrate the Grey Sox story and discovering error filled local newspaper articles only casts more doubt on the final numbers. You have to believe the Advertiser right? Especially when they agree with MLB and the Biscuits and the City of Montgomery and every other press release ever. NOPE!

So imagine my surprise when I cross checked my work with the scholarly studies of historian Bill Plott and others and learned the Grey Sox fudged their win numbers in the press release. Just... really? Come on guys, you are killin me here!

Ironically, the Montgomery Advertiser stuck by its guns on the numbers over a century later. When the Biscuits came to town it sparked a revival in interest and Advertiser writer Tim Gayle referenced the Grey Sox 80 wins in multiple articles about Montgomery's baseball history as recently as 2007. Old lies die hard!

RICKWOOD NEWS

A rumor that MLB and Rickwood Field were on tap for future major league games was squashed by the Rickwood Field twitter account. It was flatly denied that MLB and Rickwood agents were in talks for more major league games there. 

That lines up with what I have heard about the Rickwood, with almost zero chance of a return event anytime in the near future. 

There is a strong possibility that working with MLB left a bad taste in the mouths of those who encountered the big league machine in Birmingham. While a shizz-ton of money was dumped on the venerable stadiums various and much-needed improvements, fans and park officials were less than happy to have to remove the original outfield wall and to have the iconic scoreboard obscured by safety barriers.

Other restrictions were set in place by the Major League baseball corporate entity, limiting the power of the city of Birmingham and the Barons team to capitalize on the improvements. Even future naming of minor league games held at the historic site are subject to MLB scrutiny and certain terms and descriptions have been strictly defined and removed from what the Barons and the city of Bham are allowed to use over the next few seasons.

Back to normal for MLB. They take a good thing like the Rickwood Classic, water it down, whitewash it, wrap it in plastic and market it. Then dictate that you can't use it, even after they are done and gone.

Hard pass.

NINE INNINGS WITH DR. MIRACULOUS PODCAST

The first epi is in the can, being edited and should be posted sometime in the next two weeks. 

In this episode, Uncle Mikey and I discuss one of the weirder nine innings in baseball history, the Dock Ellis Beanball game against the Cincinnati Reds of 1974. There is lots of intrigue for the game, so be sure to tune in and hear all about how Dock dealt with the Big Red Machine!

THIS WEEK MONTH IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

 

OCTOBER 9 1920 

Montgomery, AL
"Cuban Team Wins From Montgomery - In one of the fastest and best played games of the season, the Montgomery Grey Sox team was defeated Saturday by the Cuban Stars by the score of three to one. The Grey Sox batters were helpless in hitting, and at no stage of the game did the local have an opportunity to drive out a victory. The Cuban team is a well balanced club, and gave their pitcher jam-up support. President John Stapes of the Grey Sox team announced Saturday night that the game scheduled this afternoon between his club and the Cubans would close the season for the Grey Sox club.

Myers allowed hits to be bunched in the early stage of the game Saturday, three hits coming in the initial inning counting for one run. The Grey Sox run came in the seventh inning when Scales scored from second on McGavock's rap to the infield. Streeter or Mason will pitch for the Grey Sox this afternoon."

OCT 22 1870 

The Savannah Daily Advertiser, Oct. 22, 1870: "Base Ball Notes...At Opelika, Ala. on the 18th, a game was played between the Olympians of West Point, Ga., and the Bonnie Blues of Montgomery, resulting in a defeat for the Alabama boys by a score of 74 to 30."

OCT 29 1870 

The New York Clipper Oct. 29, 1870 reports that the Bonnie Blues claimed to be the champions of Alabama. Same paper Oct. 15, 1870 has them losing to a local picked nine, when their scheduled opponents, the "Prairie Roughs" of Montgomery, failed to show. "Pearsall" played first base for them--presumably Alec Pearsall of the old Excelsior of Brooklyn.

No Joy in Biscuitville

 

And so the Montgomery Jinx rolls on...

As the Biscuits fell to the Barons on Tuesday night, Montgomery fans were disappointed for the umpteenth time, but not overly surprised. The post-season struggles the Biscuits have endured for most of two decades has become a fall tradition, like watching the leaves turn colors and knowing the State Fair opens soon.

Instead this will be remembered as the season we watched Chandler Simpson swipe his hundred bases, enjoying Carson Williams smooth patrol of shortstop and for the Grey Sox game in Birmingham. It's the year Big Bob slugged homer after homer before his speedy promotion, when Xavier Issac replaced him at first base but not in the hearts of fans. For Tre Morgan and Tanner Murray, charismatic and quirky. For a litany of pitchers, many who ended the year in Durham, Workman and Seymour among them. Fans will remember Montgomery making a deep run into the playoffs for 2024, but also for getting swept in the LCS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Where did this team come up short? It's tough to nail down one spot, though it appears the Biscuits just failed to get hits when they needed them in the final series. Scoring three runs over two games puts a lot of pressure on the pitching staff to be flawless. Over a five or seven game series, Montgomery maybe gets the better of the Barons, but the Biscuits and Kevin Boles can only tip their cap to Bham after the back to back losses.

Bob Seymour

 

WHAT WORKED, WORKED WELL

Kudos to the Tampa Rays, for leaving the core of the Biscuits team intact, even when players such as Simpson and Williams had shown they were likely ready for promotion. Without the two of them in the order through the end of August, Montgomery probably never even sniffs the postseason. Also the Rays sent two players, Jiminez and Menendez back from Durham to the Montgomery roster. 

But the Bulls kept Zarraga, the Biscuits ex-closer and got starting pitchers Workman and Wilcox in August. All deserved promotion, but the moves left the Montgomery pitching staff in the lurch at the end of the season with playoffs looming.

I also give much credit to players like Sean Hunley and Mason Auer, who worked to improve their game during the course of the season. The catching duo of Keegan and Genoves were reliable and productive, as was Dru Baker in the outfield. 

The Biscuits bullpen was a busy place this summer, featuring a new face every couple weeks. Yet the club managed to focus the roles quickly and fans were often happy to be able to see relief pitchers provide actual relief. Pitchers such as Keyshawn Askew, Evan Reifert and Paul Gervase were welcome sights in the late innings. 

 

MONTGOMERY JINX AT WORK?

How big is that injury to starting pitcher Adam Leverett looking now? Huge. The Biscuits became reliant on the bullpen after Leverett hit the IL and could certainly have used a reliable starter in the postseason.

In a related story, how big is that injury to starting pitcher Ben Peoples looking now? Also huge, same reason.

 

COMING UP

Be on the lookout for a few items of interest, among them the new podcast featuring Dr. Miraculous! We are putting some interesting spins on games and will debut in just a few weeks.

Also I am looking forward to doing interviews of former Biscuits and will be sharing that here, starting with Sam McWilliams, who has kindly agreed to answer some questions about his time in Montgomery in an interview with Dr. Miraculous.

There are a few former Montgomery Rebels I will be reaching out to as well, hopefully we can hear some of their stories about the old teams and their glory days.

There are about five different player biographies I will be working on, as well as identifying and photographing the locations of the known former ballparks in the city. It is a huge list!

I am continuing to write and research the Montgomery Negro League history, please reach out if you have any information on black baseball in Montgomery or are interested in carrying a book on the topic.

#BULLPENLIFE

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

SEPTEMBER 23 1972

The Montgomery Rebels raise Southern Flag, win Southern League championship under manager Fred Hatfield.

SEPTEMBER 22 1973 

The Montgomery Rebels win the Southern League championship under manager Fred Hatfield

 

  SEPTEMBER 25 1976 

Les Moss

The Montgomery Rebels win Southern League championship under manager Les Moss

SEPTEMBER 27 1920 

"Montgomery Grey Sox Win Negro Pennant - Montgomery, Alabama, September 28. - P.M. Perdue, of Birmingham, president of the Negro Southern League baseball clubs today announced that the Montgomery Grey Sox team was winner of the pennant. The season ended with a game of 6 to 5 score between Montgomery White Sox and Chicago Giants yesterday."

Postseason Biscuits! The Dr.'s Notes and Gray Sox Pennants

 

Mason Auer, two way player

Your playoff-bound Biscuits wrapped the regular season for 2024 in Pensacola. When the meaningless game went into extra innings on the last day of the season, Biscuits skipper Boles summoned centerfielder Mason Auer to the mound. Auer promptly tossed a wild pitch to send the Extra Inning Manfred Man from second to third, surrendered a single and managed to mix in a popup before coughing up the game ending run. No sense wasting bullpen bullets when you can send a position player in to get the team on the bus back home ASAP!

 

Now that the season is over, Montgomery turns its sights on Biloxi for the Division Series. Now just a three game set instead of the usual best-of-five, the Biscuits must be the favorite after winning both season halves and for soundly thumping the Shuckers in their last meeting. However, history is not on the Biscuits side, as Montgomery has proven futile in the postseason over the past fifteen years and opposing teams have fed on that fact over and over again. 

On the flip side, you can't go to the beach that many times without eventually getting wet. This team doesn't really follow Montgomery baseball history and certainly doesn't put stock into the Montgomery Jinx, no matter how far back it may reach.

DONT MAKE ME GUESS OKAY I WILL

If being forced to predict, I would suggest that the Montgomery Biscuits take the series in three closely fought games. Yet we all know that short series and postseason vibes invite surprises, so its anyone's guess what the Biscuits and Shuckers series will hold. 

Also, I am reminded of the adage that the postseason hero is often the one you don't expect.

UNCLE MIKEY'S NINE INNINGS WITH DR. MIRACULOUS

The new podcast will be out in a few weeks, with the title Uncle Mikey's Nine Innings with Dr. Miraculous. Uncle Mikey and I will be discussing a fascinating single MLB game on each 'cast as we dive deep into some of the more bizarre and outrageous baseball action. The backstories and behind the scenes actions often plays out between the lines and in the box score, we brush away the dust and dig into the dirt to break down the weirdest games in baseball!

Our first epi will debut in a few weeks, these old dogs are learning a few new tricks to share so be sure to keep an eye out for the link.  

CONSTRUCTION AT THE PARK

future home of Biscuits clubhouse

Construction of the outfield clubhouse that the Biscuits will occupy next season has begun. At the last homestand sections of concrete has been removed behind the canopy in the center field picnic area. The team expects to have it completed by opening day next year, though there has been repeated delays.

Whether that portends the coming the long-dreaded Manfred Nets is unknown. Yet it is reported that 2025 is the deadline for MILB teams to comply, hopefully the Biscuits get a waiver due to showing their improvement and effort to fully comply with the mandated stadium upgrades.

#AMWRITING

I am happy to announce that I am deep into the process of writing A History of Black Baseball in Montgomery, the first part of my Montgomery Baseball series.

 Long overlooked and shrouded in mystery, the Montgomery area's African-American connection to baseball is nearly as old and equally as pedigreed as its white counterpart. From early team parades to barnstorming tours in the 1940's, this book will offer a trip into the past for baseball fans and casual readers alike. 

Player biographies, team stories, the biggest games and Montgomery's place in Negro League history are covered with a focus on their local connection. Telling stories of forgotten events is an important way to keep history alive and many of these tales have not been heard in over a hundred years. Some of stories are simply outrageous, it is my firm belief that few cities have as interesting and incredible as Montgomery and it is a pleasure to give a voice to those who had their place in history hidden and forgotten.

 

THE MONTGOMERY GRAY SOX TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS

A few months back Mr. Murphy, Biscuits GM, asked me point blank "How many championships did the Gray Sox win?" 

I laughed nervously, because it is not an easy answer. Not at all. In fact, the answer starts with a question. Or three.

On paper? Or on the field? And how can we be sure? 

Let me explain...

 This years Biscuits finish provides an excellent parallel for the Gray Sox situation. The Biscuits won both halves of the season and are headed to the postseason.

In 1920, the Gray Sox won both halves of the season and were declared champions of the league. This earned them a postseason berth and homefield advantage in the playoffs. By 1920 standards, the Biscuits would be considered season champions and have the catbird seat in the playoffs.

pitcher Sam Streeter

 

But, it's still not as simple as it sounds.

The 1920 postseason playoffs pitted the Negro Southern League champ against the Negro National League and the Western League champions in a three way set of series. Team with the best record wins it all, the tiebreaker was their head to head records, usually they were playing three games per series.

Ah, but wait, there's more! 

The Negro Southern League champion would then face the runner-up in the NSL in what was dubbed the "League Championship Series." The team winning the "Championship Series" could call themselves league champs, even if they didn't win the season. So the "Season Champions" and "League Champions" are notably different claims with very similar wording that is easily confused today.

 

However... The Gray Sox never got their shot that year.

In 1920, a team popped up at the end of the season with game reports that hadn't been submitted on time, showing they had more wins. They claimed they were champions, demanding to host the playoffs. This was a problem for the fledgling Negro Southern League, so to appease both sides the Gray Sox were declared champions by the league president but the late-posting team was given the postseason spot. Montgomery got a championship flag, but didn't get a postseason berth. Lookin at you, Knoxville.

 

But how about that second one?

Then, in 1921, the Montgomery Gray Sox were absolutely dominant, tearing up the circuit from start to finish and repeating as Negro Southern League season champs. They were denied any home games in the postseason and instead took a long train trip to face Negro League teams in St. Louis and Chicago, resulting in defeats. Then it was on to Nashville to participate in a Negro Southern League playoffs, which they lost. 

 

So, you tell me, how many championships did the Gray Sox win?

On paper, two officially. 

On the field, one or two, depending on how many late-posted results count. 

In the postseason, zero.

Running late, no history this time, catch me at the game and I will tell you a history tidbit to tide you over!

FINAL WEEK! Do You Know Your Biscuits? This Week In MGM History!

 

2007 Biscuits

Going into the final homestand of the 2024 season the Montgomery Biscuits are poised to accomplish what has eluded the clubs that preceded them for what seems like endless summers. When the Biscuits earned their second consecutive pennant in 2007 the team and its ballpark were fresh and new. The Montgomery effort has now outlasted all but a handful of other organizations in the league back in 2004 and will soon tend the oldest yard in the circuit. 

As critical as I have been in the past, even this season, about how the Rays leave Montgomery shorthanded, this year they have streamed a full roster into Double-A for the second half. Most of the incoming troops are high quality and bring multiple tools as well as positional ability. The first half Biscuits were a slugging powerhouse terrorizing the Southern League, now the team is rebuilt into a speed machine for a second half run at the league flag.

The Montgomery pitching staff is deep, the Biscuits bullpen reliable and for the most part the players on the roster are young and hungry to prove their worth to the big club. The starting nine is reliable afield and consistent at the plate. Speed is the prime Montgomery weapon but there are big bats in the middle capable of providing the big hits. For this Biscuits team, all the ingredients are right. This team has the tools to make a deep postseason run and challenge the Montgomery Jinx.

 

BY THE NUMBERS

The Chattanooga Lookouts draw the final spot on the Biscuits dance card for 2024's regular season. When the schedule came out last summer fans looked at this last series wondering if the Lookouts would have another chance to ruin the Biscuits playoffs hopes, but it will not be a factor. With a 21w-35L record in the second half the Noogas are in the cellar and have a chance for a 90 loss season, should Montgomery earn a sweep in the last series. 

This Lookouts team focuses on speed and is powered by third baseman Nick Northcutt's Ruthian home run power, albeit with a Dave Kingman-esque average. 

The Lookouts team ERA of 4.50 is by far the highest in the league, Montgomery checks in at 3.25 which is good for second best in the loop. Chattanooga's team batting average is a lowly .212 on the season, by comparison Montgomery bats .254 and leads the league as the only club with a batting success rate over 25%.

Shortstop Edwin Arroyo is the Reds #3 prospect, pitcher Chase Petty is ranked #8 by MLB pipeline. Lookouts outfielder Bubba Thompson is a Mobile native and spent time in the majors as recently as this season.

BISCUIT BOSSES

As the season winds down its time to give props to the guys who are still pulling the rope and making it happen for Montgomery. 

CARSON WILLIAMS

Day in and day out all summer long Carson has been excellent with the glove and consistently productive at the plate. Easily the team MVP this season, in spite of playing alongside prospects ranked higher by "experts", fans have loved watching Carson hone his craft on the dirt at Riverwalk.

 

CHANDLER SIMPSON

Speed and more speed is Chandlers calling card. They say you can't steal first base but Simpson comes close to it, forcing routine groundballs to be rushed by infielders and creating general havoc on the basepaths while setting the Biscuits franchise record in stolen bases.

XAVIER ISSAC

Slugging first baseman Issac gets around the bag well as a fielder and makes heavy contact with the bat, providing skipper Boles with a solid first baseman. 

TANNER MURRAY

Playing in the shadow of Carson Williams and others, Murray has quietly put together an excellent season for his baseball card numbers and shown the ability to make big plays. Tanner has a steady glove and strong arm and handles multiple positions well, but seems most comfortable at second base.

DOM KEEGAN

Not one to steal the spotlight, Keegan has provided steady production and reliable work behind the plate for Montgomery. Sneaky good? Keegan is second on the Biscuits in wRC, weighted runs created, behind only Carson Williams in that stat.

 

MASON AUER

Mason got off to a horrid start and never seemed to find his stroke, yet manages to provide elite defense in the outfield. After hitting double-digit homers for the Biscuits last year, Auer has just three longballs this summer and his average is well below his career mark. Yet he grinds on and deserves kudos for his fine play.

DRU BAKER

Another stealth weapon in the Biscuits lineup, Baker has been a reliable go-getter in the field, chasing down fly balls with deft aptitude. With his sparkling .299 batting average and forty stolen bases on the year, in most other seasons Baker would be an easy candidate for MVP.  

NEW GUYS!

Tre' Morgan, Matt Etzel and Brayden Taylor are the newest reinforcements to don Montgomery togs. Morgan looks solid around first base, Etzel a reliable defender in the outfield and Taylor able to spell Murray at second when needed.

 

ON THE BUMP

It can be tough to keep up with the Biscuits pitchers, as the rotating door at the clubhouse often swings in a new face every week. Facial recognition becomes an important skill when rosters change frequently!

AUSTIN VERNON - the Biscuits closer has been reliable more often than not, offering a nice swinging strike rate and high strikeouts per inning. Plus he has a great flow going.

 KEYSHAWN ASKEW - Montgomery's affable lefty setup man brings funky delivery and high velocity. His 52% groundball rate is elite.

EVAN RIEFERT - If the team needs a strikeout, Riefert is probably the man to go to in the Biscuits bullpen. Evan simply throws it past them.

SEAN HUNLEY - Delivers. He can start but might be more dominant out of the bullpen. Hunley keeps runners off the basepaths and provides solid innings in close games. The guy is a bulldog.

 

ADAM LEVERETT - a reliable starter for Montgomery, Lev has been one of the more consistent faces in the rotation, providing valuable innings as he takes his weekly turn on the bump.

NEW HURLERS

A passel of fresh arms arrived last month to fortify the staff and the Biscuits will rely on them to provide efficient innings over the next two or three series.

 

JONNY CUEVAS - In High-A Cuevas was working in the back end of the bullpen, closing games. With Montgomery, Cuevas will likely take the ball in middle inning situations and need to quickly show he can keep runners off the bags.

YONIEL CURET - perhaps the most intriguing of the new Gump-chuckers, Curet steps into the Biscuits rotation after dominating High-A. Curet generates lots of swings an misses and has a history of efficient pitching, which the Biscuits will rely on for a deep postseason run.

 

NATE DAHLE - The Brigham-Young product looked good in a small sample with the Biscuits so far, missing bats and offering high-strikeout stuff.

 

DUNCAN DAVITT - eight starts into his Biscuits career and Davitt has been dealing, holding hitters to a .212 average and punching out more than one an inning. Looking for a groundball? Davitt is probably your man.

HAYDEN ERBE - After a tough stretch with the Biscuits over the past six weeks or so, Erbe has a lofty ERA and is likely relegated to mop-up work in spite of his ability to rack up strikeouts.

PAUL GERVASE - at six-foot-ten Gervase is the easiest Biscuit to pick out of a crowd, Paul has put in eleven games with Montgomery and been overwhelming in the strikeout category, punching out a whopping 23 men in 13 innings. However his ERA of 4.61 tells us he can be hit.

 

SEAN HARNEY - Lefty Sean Harney joins the Biscuits as his third club of the year, looking for a league to challenge him. Harney pitched with Montgomery late last season but spent most of this year in Bowling Green, with solid results.

 

JACK HARTMAN - Hartman is another Montgomery moundsman who earns a lot of strikeouts on swings and misses. Hartman's career numbers indicate he can be hittable, but his '24 campaign has seen improvements in keeping runners off the bases.

 

TREVOR MARTIN - In nine starts Martin logged an ERA over 6.10 and may have earned a seat in the bullpen for the postseason.

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

Cupid Childs

SEPTEMBER 4th 1948 

Southeastern League, Frank "Cupid" Childs of the Montgomery Rebels pitched a 7-0 playoff no-hitter against the Anniston Rams.  

SEPTEMBER 6th 1908 

Montgomery wins in 14 innings vs New Orleans 4-1

 

SEPTEMBER 8th 1908 

Montgomery gets ten hits and scores 11 to beat Little Rock
 

Elmer Bliss

SEPTEMBER 9th 1905 

Montgomery Pitcher Lee throws a 2-hit shutout vs Little Rock
 

SEPTEMBER 9th 1908 

Montgomery outfielder Elmer Bliss is has five hits in five at-bats in a game against Mobile, as Montgomery racks up 15 hits.
 

SEPTEMBER 10th 1906 

Montgomery pitcher Breitenstein allows just one run on three hits vs Little Rock but loses as Little Rock starting pitcher Keith shuts out Montgomery on just two hits.
 

SEPTEMBER 11th 1908 

Montgomery's pennant hopes are dashed as they lose both games of a double header vs Mobile, 10-1 and 4-0. On the same day, Nashville allows just one hit and one run to Little Rock and they post an incredible 20 runs on 30 hits against Little Rock pitchers Eyler and Wood. Nashville deployed only two pitchers. The day before Nashville had no-hit Little Rock and posted ten hits. Nashville will face New Orleans in the playoffs. (A no-hitter followed by a one hitter and LilRock pops forty hits in two games? No, nothing fishy at all!)

SEPTEMBER 12th 1907 

Montgomery plays to a 3-3 tie in 12 innings vs Memphis