Many Facts of Interest, SAC Conference News, This Weeks History Returns!

 

 Learned a LOT so here it comes...

Bob Seymour ruined that guys day.

After six games vs the MBraves the Biscuits will be welcoming a new opponent for the second half of the early season twelve-game homestand. It was a back and forth series with the Braves resulting in an even three-way split, with the Biscuits earning two games, the Braves winning a pair and the umpiring crew getting credit for the other two. 

The crew of officials started strong but by mid-series were getting shouts from both dugouts and if the trend continues they could be "that crew" of umpires in the Southern League this year.

WHAT WE LEARNED

Heriberto Hernandez

We learned things, including that Heriberto Hernandez absolutely RAKES. 

The Radar Gun at the ballpark is tuned up and more accurate than ever before. Someone took the time to get it right and fans should reward them with thanks.

Did I mention Heriberto Hernandez absolutely RAKES? Yeah maybe so but I felt it important enough to say a second time.

Not accurate are the height/weight listings on the Biscuits roster which claim Ricardo Genoves is 6'2 and 190 lbs. The general consensus among teammates is that 190 was his weight in jr. high school and no-one has changed it on his baseball info since. Gonna have to fact-check Antonio Jiminez at 5'11 and 145lbs too. Is he that tall?

Carson Williams & German Melendez

Carson Williams is cool as the other side of the pillow on a summers night. 

Bob Seymour's slow start to the season is officially over.

The Biscuit bullpen isn't bulletproof but usually can find a fireman to drag the team back into the dugout fairly painlessly.

Biscuit starters play in traffic A LOT. Cutting down on the baserunners seems to be the main factor in Wins-Losses early on this season. 

PITCHING NOTES

Biscuits SP Cole Wilcox

The Montgomery starting staff is routinely throwing 90+ pitches, which this early in the year signaled to fans that skipper Boles has a grudge against guys who stand on the bump in the middle of the field. 

Yet in fact, the Rays brought some of their pitchers into spring camp early, which has given starters a chance to be ready to pitch longer in games. "Remember last year when Dox (reliever John Doxakis) tossed eight innings the first week?" was the reply I was given when I gently raised the subject with a few players. Totally valid! 

FYI Pitching Coach Steve Merriman is good at geography, but don't just take my word for it. Ask him.

Biscuits pitcher Ian Seymour plays guitar, but the lefty tosser does his guitar picking right handed. 

Alfredo Zarraga leads league in BPM

Reliever Alfredo Zarraga has the best intro music on the team. Maybe the whole league. On the diminutive 5'11 right-hander's stuff, "Probly rolls out of bed at 97mph" was the quote from a fellow teammate. Yeah that warmup music is pure fire, not sure what the song is but when Z comes in everyone in the park goes wild! 

A couple of the arms in the 'pen are straight up Filthy McNasty. I won't stat 'em or even name 'em but its obvious when you gaze on the digits that the radar gun is putting up. And if you miss that clue you can always tell from the sound of the visitors slamming their bats back into their bat rack, which is music to the ears of Biscuits pitching coach Steve Merriman.

GET TO KNOW MCKAY

Biscuits hurler Brendan McKay is back in the rotation after a series of injuries derailed the progress that saw him go from Montgomery to Tampa in 2019. 

Determined to get to know the left-hander better I can share a few items that I have picked up about B-Mac - and I will start with; McKay has strong shoe game, like the best kicks on this guy every day. Just look at them!

The rumor among fans has always been that Brendan is a little shy or not comfortable engaging. While that may be the case to some extent, the general consensus among players is that he is a valuable clubhouse guy and everyone gets alone well with him. You might often find him before games watching the other pitchers throwing, offering suggestions to help teammates mechanics. 

Also I understand that he has completely conquered any fear he may have had about snakes. 

THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

I got to play doctor this week. No, not that kind! A glove doctor! My homeboy @Biscuitfan1 had a lace blow out on his first baseman's mitt and I changed it out with a new piece of leather. 

Not just any laces, I used the one Ozzie Timmons gave me to repair my own beat-up glove when it went south. I knew it was chock full of good mojo to make the big plays. So when you have a beat up glove and need work done on it, just call The Doctor!

 

CONFERENCE INFO

The 19th Annual Southern Association Conference is coming next month and I am really excited to announce that Sheldon Burnside has confirmed as our Guest of Honor. 

 BURNSIDE - GUEST REBEL

A former Montgomery Rebel in the 1970's who went on to pitch in MLB with the Tigers and Reds, Shelly Burnside will be on hand to talk about his experiences in a Montgomery uniform. The author of the last ever Montgomery Rebels No-Hitter, Mr. Burnside has a wealth of stories from an era of baseball excellence during the Rebels dynasty years.

 

ADAH WITH THE ASSIST!

Cost for the Conference?

Also I am very stoked to announce there will be some fantastic memorabilia on display, including SUPER RARE and NEVER BEFORE SEEN BY THE PUBLIC items from the Alabama Archives Dept collection. 

I sought and received approval for the display of two Montgomery Baseball Club programs from the 1930's & 1940's that have not been seen by the public. We were also given permission to offer researchers and archivists digital access to those programs for their own files! 

 

COLLECTOR RARITIES ON DISPLAY

1950's Grays Program

Along with the programs from the ADAH collections, author Clarence Watkins has agreed to display a few rare Montgomery programs from his impressive collection of baseball items. Clarence Watkins' programs are among the best I have seen and may be the only known examples held in any collection, public or private!

I will have a few of my own Montgomery game scorecards and programs, which date back to the 1920s. Other displays include very rare tobacco cards, baseballs, pennants, uniforms, Southern League game used memorabilia and other game used items. 

Heck, we are even giving away door prizes, what more do we have to do? More? You want more? Okay, catch me at the 19th Annual SAC Conference on Saturday May 18th at the Alabama Department of Archives, tell me you read the blog and I will have a SPECIAL GIFT FOR YOU! So now you've got no reason not to... Come on out and have fun learning a little about local baseball history!

#BULLPENLIFE

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY #TWIMBH

We are back in bizness! The history files are up and running, but if I find you have ripped me off I will send Crusher to deliver my Cease and Desist in person!

APRIL 29 1956 GM Wm "Perk" Purnhage resigns, Dick Bartell the field mgr will handle GM duties. Purnhage was in his first year with Mgm after coming from Sally League Augusta Ga.

APRIL 30 1920 

"Colored Southern League Will Open - Montgomery Grey Sox Will Play Birmingham All-Stars Here Today - Baseball for the colored Southern League, recently organized, will be ushered in this afternoon when the Montgomery Grey Sox clash with the Birmingham All-Stars. 

The game is slated to start at 3:30 o'clock, and will be played on South Holt street, the block South of Mill street. The Montgomery team last year played senstational ball, and have one of the best colored teams in the South. 

Those interested in the league have made elaborate preparations for the opening game. A.J. Stokes and W.W. Matthews, local negro religious leaders, will appear on the grounds and will be the battery for the first ball thrown. 

The local organization is in charge of Manager Hannon, and who will probably play first base for his team. A grand stand has been erected at the park to accommodate the white patrons."

Fresh off their preseason series with the great NY Cuban Stars, the Grey Sox are ready to take on the NSL!

Satch whizzed them by!

April 30 1943 Black Barons of Bham defeat KC Monarchs and Satchel Paige 2-1 in Montgomery before 2000 fans

Satchel earns the win at Cramton Bowl in front of a huge crowd. But, according to one account Satch never once "cut one loose" while the other local sportswriter said Paige whizzed them in there! Maybe it was both?!?

Satch never cut one loose!

MAY 1 1920 

"Montgomery Grey Sox Lose Saturday - Cotton Is Driven From the Box by Heavy Birmingham Batters - 

By driving Cotton from the mound, the Birmingham All Star colored baseball team defeated the Montgomery Grey Sox Saturday afternoon by the score of 15 to 8. 

The All Stars had little trouble in connecting with offerings of Cotton, and after the fifth inning, the final outcome of the game was never in doubt. Extra base hitting by both clubs featured. 

Both teams have won a game and a third game of the three game series will be played this afternoon. The game will be called at 3:30 o'clock. Official umpires have been selected by the league officials, and will officiate in all the games. After the game today, Pensacola will play the local team. The park is located on South Holt Street, and a large grandstand has been erected to accommodate white persons."

MAY 4 1958  

Max Burleson assigned to Rebels, will play 3b. Former Florence State tailback signed with Detroit Tigers. 

Article also mentions the trouble Montgomery has with attendance, bringing in only 300 per game. Sportswriter Hap Halbrooks says other teams in the league have the same trouble and cites 1955 Census figures of White/Negro population and states the Ala-Fla league maintains segregation which eliminates Negro draw at the gate.