Conference Week!

After a long planning period the time has come, the 19th Annual Southern Association Conference is this coming weekend and I am SOOOO excited! And when you get there, find me an tell me you read the blog and I will have a special gift for you!

SPEAK UP SHELLY!

Speaker Sheldon Burnside, while I have yet to meet him myself, was concerned because "all I have is old stories from the 70s". Oh yeah! Thats exactly the content I am here for, no worries Mr. B!

WHAT COST?

The Department of Archives is excited too, one curator I spoke with expressed delight at hearing I waived the usual $35 admission fee for the conference. I wanted to do all we could to get Montgomery as excited about Montgomery history as possible and free admission seemed the best way.

Of course you can pay for extras, VIP packages of $20 include lunch and tour of Paterson Field, home of the Montgomery Rebels. I cut it close with this, because catering lunch is basically twenty a person, so again we are barely breaking even on that. Whoops. Only a few spots left so speak now if you want to take advantage of the savings!

SHOW N TELL

I have been rounding up memorabilia to display. Programs are tough, how do you show them off? I have a binder full and no ideas on how to show them. Also we have rare jerseys, bats, pennants and other randoms that never come out of the vaults. I mean NEVER bring out, some of the things at this conference are so rare, they have not been seen before in any institution, book or display.

Author Clarence Watkins will also be displaying some items from his collection, including some rare programs! This stands to be the largest batch of Montgomery-centric baseball items in one place ever and I have my camera ready.

Other displays include a nice batch of modern-era Southern League game used items as well as select Biscuits-era uniforms and other unique items.

PRESENTING...

Among the presentations are player biographies, an overview of baseball in Montgomery, the Negro Southern League history and the Montgomery Rebels integration. There is so much material to cover and only one day, we will never fit everything in!

My own presentations, yes there are two, include the Montgomery Rebels integration. When I first heard of the details surrounding the 1954 Rebels and how it went down afterwards, I was like "oh that seems a little suspicious" yet figured a deep dive would clear up any misgivings about the situation. Instead what I found appalled me. I still can't believe it and look forward to bringing my findings to the baseball history community.

As for my other project, Black Baseball in Montgomery, it is tough because I probably know less about the topic than some of the audience will. Yet I feel its a starting point for discussion, hopefully something to be expanded on greatly moving forward, as the topic has been largely ignored for way too long. So many stories and careers have already been lost to history, we need to preserve what we can, while we can.

Overall the SA Conference in Montgomery is part history, part current events and all fun! Oh, did I mention the door prizes? And book swap?

HELP US OBI WAN...

If you would like to volunteer to help out, we would be happy to have an extra pair of hands or two at the SAC and I can offer a special bonus for any who can give a little time on a Saturday morning, hmu here or at one of the socials like x/twitter or IG.

YES WE STILL HAVE BISCUITS!

These guys are looking better and better all the time, putting a winning attitude in the stands after several postseason runs, these Biscuits are working on getting the job done all the way this year.

Shortstop Carson Williams

Heriberto Hernandez is providing the spark, Carson Williams the flash. Both could be well on their way to picking up Durham apartment guides soon.

The pitching staff is solid, though a little dinged up with minor injuries here and there, the bump crew looks fairly dependable. The bullpen is loose and ready for action at any time, with most arms being capable at easing traffic upon arrival.

New skipper Boles seems unwilling to watch a pitcher struggle in vain, it's refreshing to see him go to the hill and bring in some help when needed.

Reliever Austin Vernon

#BULLPENLIFE

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

MAY 12 1941

Montgomery Rebels Bob Ferguson gets married in a ceremony at home plate at Cramton Bowl.

MAY 15 1867

The Memphis Appeal reports that the “Pelham” Base Ball Club was organized at Montgomery “last Thursday.” It is one of the first baseball teams in Alabama, following Mobile Dramatics which organized in April.

By 1868 there would be more than a dozen teams in the area.

MAY 15 1976

Montgomery hurler Steve Trella throws No Hitter for Rebels.

MAY 16 1908
Moose Baxter

In a home game against Nashville, Montgomery first baseman "Moose" Baxter is run from the field for talking back to umpire O'Brien.

Moose Baxter then refuses to leave and tussles with the Umpire, a fracas in which Baxter threw the umpire to the ground and pummeled him in the face.

O'Brien was released from jail, but Baxter is held for trial, convicted for assault and fined $25.

May 16 1955

Future Montgomery Rebels pitcher and Hall of Famer Jack Morris born.

MAY 17 1920

Pitcher Jim Moss

"Negro Hurler Goes to One-Hit 'Ledger' - Hurling big league baseball, Moss for the Montgomery Grey Sox held the New Orleans team of the Negro Southern League to 1 hit yesterday afternoon and the home club won the contest 5 to 4. The visitors' runs were due largely to errors."

May 18, 1979