The Dr.'s BookShelf, Dodgers & A's Visit This Month in Montgomery Baseball History

 

Reader comments on the blog are always wonderful, and super helpful to guide me towards what you want to see. A recent comment (thank you Stephen!) suggests that some might be interested in the books I used for research and I am happy to oblige. Is there a topic I should cover? Let me know in the comments! Can't read? Thats okay too, there are lots of pictures to look at this week, let me know your fave!

These are a mix of national and local history, baseball and otherwise, the things I tend to be looking for is often secondary to the subject matter. One of the reasons I wrote about baseball in our state is that I found there to be a nearly criminal lack of info compiled on the subject.

Reading is one of the most rewarding and important aspects of life, I enjoy it as often as I can. I generally prefer non-fiction, and have leaned into local history and baseball. My bookshelves are drooping in the center from carrying too much weight, and my "to read" stack is usually pretty hefty too.  

So when I was told I would need a bibliography in my book, I wondered if they expected a supplemental volume, as there are scads of books I used for info. Some offered a single page, paragraph or even a lone sentence that was pertinent. Some info was from websites no longer available, some items were notations made more than a decade ago with no reference of origin. 

Fortunately, the workaround was to use "Selected Bibliography" to trim the sizeable herd, here I will try to cover a few that may not have made that list as well as some reasons for the ones I did include.

For Alabama and baseball history these are some of my prime go-to sources:

Baseball in Montgomery by Clarence Watkins, an excellent overview of the most notable teams and players that includes many photos in an easy to read format. 

Baseball in Birmingham by Clarence Watkins, see above, Watkins also has a book on Memphis that is of the same fine caliber.  

Steamboat Johnson

Standing the Gaff by Steamboat Johnson, an unheralded gem, this account of turn-of-the-century baseball in the old Southern Association was written by umpire Steamboat Johnson and provides a rare firsthand account of the games, players and events that few other writers cover or even heard of. Also, it is hilarious!

A Complete History of the Negro Leagues by Mark Ribowski, pretty nearly as advertised, despite the impossible claim of being complete, Ribowski does a great job touching all the bases.

Anything about Montgomery written by author Wayne Greenhaw. I have a pair of his books on Montgomery city history and they are full of images and info, giving a view into the past and the most important events in the capital city. 

Cuban Star: How One Negro League Owner Changed the Face of Baseball by Adrian Burgos Jr was a great insight to the workings of Negro League teams and their owners, as well as the numbers racket, to which so many teams were tied. For students of baseball history, this is simply a must read for its insight on how this owner did indeed do what the title says.

Few and Chosen: Defining Negro League Greatness by Monte Irvin and Phil Pope. Getting firsthand accounts is one of my preferred ways of learning about history, having Monte Irvin share his own opinions and observations is a rare and fascinating insight. This book offers unique value with Irvin's own  comparisons as a professional playing alongside some of the greats, as well as Monte's recollections on what other players told him about the veterans they had seen. I love this book.

Humorist H. Allen Smith wrote a series of baseball fiction books based on a fiesty cat who owned a major league team (a movie was made in the 1940's from the first book, both titled "Rhubarb") but a pair of releases he penned with the help of sports researcher Ira L. Smith (no relation) are much more interesting for history buffs. "Three Men on Third" and "Low and Inside" are both collections of true baseball anecdotes. None are more than a couple paragraphs long, mostly ranging from kind of cute to riotously funny. These books offers tidbits on many players rarely discussed today, but of significance to local history buffs. Plus they are all a great read, as anything by H. Allen Smith is. 

Outsider Baseball: Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe by Scott Simkus is a fabulous book that delves into the unofficial games between white MLB clubs and teams they shouldn't have been facing, i.e. comprised of Black and/or Latino/Hispanic players. It is a great work that unlocks a rarely studied aspect of baseball with statistical comparisons and discusses many important games and events. It's excellent!

The Glory of Their Times: The Story of Early Days of Baseball by Lawrence Ritter, from 1966 this doesn't get enough praise! My preference is the audio that features the actual interviews with these historic players telling their own story in their own words. Few other works provide the connection that this book and its related recordings convey. No Negro League content, very few Alabama associations, but nearly essential reading/listening for baseball history buffs.  

REFERENCE SECTION 

James Brunson compiled an absolutely massive tome of teams, players, executives and other important details with a 19th century focus. Black Baseball 1858-1900: A Comprehensive Record of the Teams... is an amazing collection of early baseball history. It is a reference book not a sit down read, but the info contained is rarely found elsewhere and quite voluminous!

Along the same lines, James Riley's Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues is a reference-style book that lists players, owners, executives, teams and cities in alphabetical order. Published in the 1990's, this book omits some details learned later and focuses mostly on the top level of teams, but offers a detailed biography of each player that is beyond any other source. My own copy is bulging with post-its noting where players and teams of interest are found. A valuable reference on my shelf that I use often. 

The Negro Southern League by William J. Plott, the most complete history of the league that all top Alabama cities aspired to join, this book offers a great view into the struggles the circuit faced. The teams and players are well documented, a Herculean feat by author Plott and one of the most important books on my shelf. 

Black Baseball's Last Team Standing: The Birmingham Black Barons by William J. Plott, a solid and detailed overview of the Black Barons franchise from start to finish, including rosters, standings, notable events and rare photos. Were I to teach a class about the BBB's, this would be the textbook. There are several excellent histories of the Black Barons published, but this one is my preferred.

Early photo of Montgomery Advertiser offices ca 1870's

The Montgomery Advertiser/Alabama Journal, and also the Montgomery Times. Local newspapers provide an insight that is as close to the source as possible. For my research I read each and every Advertiser sports page from 1865 through 1950, and quite a few from the decades afterwards. Then I took a look at the Birmingham News and any other newspaper in the country that would cover baseball - online sources have digitized many of the nations newspapers and provide a rich vault of info. Finding a local team mentioned in a Cincinnati or Pittsburgh newspaper were often breakthrough moments.

BBB's Ledger

I wrote about it last year, but the Birmingham Black Barons business ledger can be viewed online, and I found it to be the single most important artifact that I have studied as pertains to Alabama baseball. From it can be discerned the players who were rowdy, who were fastidious, who were in need of cash or had wives demanding a players pay envelope! Broken down by year and player, it covers every (legitimate) expense the club incurred or cash it paid out from about 1926 through 1930. Is it boring to read? Heck yeah, but it's also chock full of obscure info and features the correct spellings of player names!

Other boring stuff that comes into play fairly often - old fire insurance maps, phone directories, institutional publications such as school yearbooks, municipal promotional material such as pamphlets or postcards. And court records, a ton of them, as well as Ancestry dotcom and Library of Congress website. 

 
DONT LIKE EM's! 

Should I mention the books I don't like? There are several "popular" books on baseball and particularly Black baseball that I have less fondness for, with a variety of reasons. One thing that irks me about them is that they have been highly recommended by so many, but have so little about Alabama or are simply wrong. Others are just swings and misses.

A couple of them are Bruce Adelson's Brushing Back Jim Crow spreads a very misleading myth about Montgomery's pro baseball integration, a myth that has helped prevent an investigation into a string of deaths. Also, Henry Aaron's I Had A Hammer shares Hank's very negative opinions about Montgomery, yet also offers details on the city's amenities for Black players, such as the hotels, barbershops, restaurants and taxi services that catered to non-whites. Love Hank, but it's tough to hear him dog my city due to its reputation instead of his personal experience. The book did offer insight as to why Hank rarely visited Montgomery after his playing days.

Useless were the websites such as MLB or Cooperstown, I suggest instead seeking the CNLBR website that holds a trove of Dr. Layton Revel's excellent writings on Negro League players, teams and history.

So thats mine, whats new on your shelf?

 

THIS WEEK MONTH IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY 

FEBRUARY 1 1943 Rebels owner Ben Goltsman buys Meridian roster to fill Montgomery's lineup. The Rebels ended up not fielding a team and in mid-1943 the Chattanooga Lookouts relocated to Montgomery during the season. Wartime caused manpower shortages and idled entire leagues, forcing drastic changes for the clubs and leagues that were left.

 FEBRUARY 3 1923 Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics arrive for spring training in Montgomery. It was not their first trip (see below) but it was the first time they visited Cramton Bowl, which they described as one of the finest sporting facilities in the nation.

FEBRUARY 7 1950 Charlie Metro announced as Montgomery manager, he would helm the club through 1953, posting winning records in three straight seasons. 

Metro would be the Rebels manager with the most victories in the twentieth century, and also would go on the invent the batting tee and be a member of the Chicago Cubs "college of coaches" managing in the major leagues.

 

FEBRUARY 11 1905 The Montgomery Baseball Club reorganizes, with E.E.Winters as president and treasurer. Winters was head of the Montgomery Traction Railway Company, which caused issues for fans trying to travel to the ballparks not also owned by the Traction Company. Eventually the league ruled streetcar executives could not hold ownership in teams.

FEBRUARY 22 1954 The Brooklyn Dodgers hold a baseball camp in Montgomery for Air Force teams. This Dodgers team featured greats such as Jackie, Campy, Newcomb, Pee Wee, The Duke, Gil Hodges, Carl Erskine and Johnny Podres. 

FEBRUARY 26 1905 The Southern League board meets in Montgomery, adopts a 140 game season, and makes other constitutional changes. This basically ushers the league into the modern era, with longer seasons and larger rosters.

FEBRUARY 27 1906 The AL Champion Philly Athletics begin Spring Training in Montgomery. Connie Mack's A's include Chief Bender, Rube Waddell, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank and Jack Coombs. While in Montgomery, Rube Waddell has some career-defining experiences, including extinguishing a burning house single-handedly, being kidnapped, unsnarling traffic by lifting a streetcar back onto its tracks, and learning to roller skate on downtown sidewalks. 

1906 Philadelphia Athletics team

The 1906 A's had several local connections, veteran starting outfielder Topsy Hartsel had played with Montgomery way back in 1898. Young outfielder/third baseman Rube Oldring had just appeared with Montgomery the summer before, earning a major league job with the Yankees before joining the Athletics. Also on that A's club was third baseman Art Brouthers, a 23-year old Montgomery native who had also been with the Montgomery Senators club in 1905. 

Todays the Day! Black Baseball in Alabama: Rough Diamonds of Dixie

 

Its opening day for Alabama baseball history! Black Baseball in Alabama: Rough Diamonds of Dixie is available now wherever books are sold.

The title says it all, covering the baseball teams, players, games and events as the sport spread across the state and country in Black communities from the Civil War through 1950. Grab a copy and wave it at me, I would be thrilled to sign it for you, and hopefully we can chat - perhaps about C.I. Taylor, Steel Arm Dickey or how Gadsden joined the NSL. Or who was bankrolling the Birmingham Black Barons and how to spell Montgomery Grey Sox. I hope the publishing of this book brings the conversation forward, sparking fresh ideas and renewed interest in the exciting history of baseball in the South.

 First and foremost, I am a baseball fan and I hope to be a well-informed fan. Learning more about baseball is a passion, sharing it with you on this blog has been an incredible journey. I thank you all for reading! 

If you know about a team I missed, you bet I want to hear about it. If I left your favorite player out, I might have missed them in my research and would love to know about them (leave a comment below!). Hopefully some folks will find their past relatives, always one of the most rewarding aspects of covering history that I have experienced. There was a lot going on, not everything fit into the space allowed, maybe I have a note that could help someones research, I am always thrilled to talk baseball and look forward to sharing with those who know or want to know more, like I do.

IT WAS SUS

I didn't wander into baseball history with an eye towards Negro Leagues, but it wasn't hard to see something didn't sit right. Lemme get this straight... Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, and like fifty other greats - all came from Alabama but we have ZERO record compiled about their combined development? We know nothing about the situation that fostered such greatness? Birmingham is the only non-white team in the whole state that anyone kept track of? And they were legendary but few know exactly what they were legendary for?

Satchel Paige

When one looked up Alabama baseball history among Black communities, it literally began with Satchel Paige's 1906 birth. The internet had seemingly never heard of Black people playing baseball in Alabama before 1920, when the Negro Southern League was formed. Even info on that was sparse, until Bill Plot's book on the league came out. Plott is a consummate researcher, his focus had not been on early development. His book on the Black Barons also began in the 1920's. When I asked him and others what came before, I found that even experts weren't sure what was going on before 1910.

Local sportswriters? One longtime Montgomery sport reporter literally told me "That was before my time, nobody cares about that stuff." Now THAT lit me up. As a sportswriter, I feel it is your JOB to know about "that stuff" and I am certainly not "nobody". Hmph.

So what happened? What makes historians and sportswriters turn away from a hundred years of events? How bad can it be?

 

Oh. My. God.

2019 Dr. M

My beard didn't used to be white, but then I studied Black baseball in Alabama. 

Lots of killing, stabbing, shooting, electrocutions, poison too. Bootlegging, political assassinations, bulldozing entire massive communities, systemic racism, car crashes, train accidents, cross burnings, prostitution, swindlers, crooked cops, racketeers, and so much more.

Good grief, these people were just trying to play baseball! 

 

From the Civil War throughout its existence, Alabama Black baseball was handled as a current event almost exclusively. No one felt it important to put it into a historical context, compare past and present. Even the Negro Southern League rarely took time to fully tabulate its own final standings. The games were deemed more of an entertainment than a sport, one rarely subjected to historic recognition. Beyond occasional box scores or short game wraps, most Alabama newspapers rarely used more than a few lines to describe even the most notable events.

No wonder Black baseball was swept under the rug. Black folks were likely painfully aware of how they had been treated, and white folks probably didn't want to be reminded. So in that sense, I suppose we can now understand the "nobody cares about that stuff" sentiment from a company veteran. Hopefully we have moved into an era that allows us to view the game and its growth in a more objective light.

Throughout the writing process, new information was becoming available literally every single day. As each new item is digitized, it revolutionizes our understanding of Negro Leagues teams and players as well as Black baseball's 19th century origins. It was a privilege to have access to some of the nations best institutions archives and to have the advice of many leading experts in order to put together what I feel is the most complete story of Black Baseball in Alabama. 

I hope you will enjoy it.

 

First Post 2026 Brings Thanks, Biscuits News, History This Week

The new year brings new beginnings, for this blog and myself - my first book "Black Baseball in Alabama: Rough Diamonds of Dixie" hits the shelves in just days and I could not be more excited and thankful. 

It is a thrill to get a chance to pitch in the literary big leagues after twenty seasons in minors, as an aspiring indie writer covering players and teams that few seemed to care about, and deep diving a history that had been left for dead decades before I came along. As years went by, I blogged not knowing if anyone was even reading it, feedback was usually pretty minimal outside of friends and rabid fans of the local team (I love you guys!)  

It happened suddenly, now more than ten years back. I was standing in a long line to meet the celebrity guest at Birmingham's annual Rickwood Field throwback game, the Rickwood Classic (that name is no longer being used... and I have been asked not to reveal why) when I heard my online moniker used in public for the very first time. "Dr. Miraculous!" someone at the table alongside Dwight Gooden proclaimed, prompting the former MLB legend- and everyone else in the crowded room, to turn and eyeball me.  

There I stood, clad in my full House of David throwback uniform, including striped stirrups and vintage flannel pants, caught like a deer in the headlights holding a baseball to be signed. Hailing me with my nom-de-blog was Clarence Watkins, a stalwart of the Friends of Rickwood, one of the event organizers. 

And that was how I met Clarence Watkins. Clarence, a baseball researcher and author, had somehow discovered my efforts to bring Montgomery baseball history into the light. Since that moment, my writing and research has taken a much more serious direction and I am very indebted to him for his encouragement and collaboration.  

When Clarence's book "Baseball in Montgomery" came out, he gleefully brought it to show me as we shared lunch at the Scott Street Deli, poking through the pages like a new comic book. Clarence had another surprise for me, pointing out where he had thanked me in the forward as we cheerfully leafed through his pre-release copy. I was completely humbled. 

I recall Clarence being a little nervous when he first told me he was writing a book on Montgomery baseball, knowing my own aspirations. He needn't have been. It was a pleasure to have helped Clarence in researching his book, mostly through discussions, enjoyable meetings usually held over lunch at various local eateries. Seeing his book on store shelves always brings a smile as I recall our first meeting and the many baseball talks we have shared.

Dr. M with Clarence Watkins and Bill Plott

Indeed it was Clarence who introduced me to several of the experts who helped put me on the track to rooting out baseball history, perhaps chief among them William "Bill" Plott. 

Bill Plott is the foremost expert on the Negro Southern League, having literally written the book on its full history, as well as being deeply versed in the tales of Black baseball across the South. Plott also authored one of the most complete histories of the Birmingham Black Barons, and was immensely supportive and very patient with my many questions. 

When Bill shared his unpublished interviews with former Montgomery Grey Sox players with me, saying "Oh I have these, they might interest you", I was absolutely floored. Much of that information was relevant to the book, greatly improving what we know of the development of the Montgomery Grey Sox. As I researched the info gleaned from those interviews, it unlocked secrets that had been hidden for over a century. At one point, in my excitement of a new discovery, I literally phoned him to share the info, as there is noone more instrumental in preserving this very-nearly lost history as William Plott. 

 

William Plott was a featured guest at our Baseball History Conference held in Montgomery in May of 2024, speaking about the Negro Southern League and his writing on baseball history. Many thanks to the Alabama Department of Archives & History for the video of his presentation!

 

 As a researcher and historian, one often stands on the shoulders of those who came before, and that could not be more true in this situation, my work is an expansion of the information gleaned from Bill Plott and Clarence Watkins diligence. Not only are they among the top authors and experts in the field of Alabama's baseball history, they are two of the nicest folks on the planet. They were among the first people I wanted thanked when given a chance to do so, among many of you who have encouraged and assisted in the creation of this book. 

Over the course of this year I plan to share the stories of many more of those who have helped make this book become a reality, helped to push open the curtain on the long-hidden history of the incredible men and women who simply wanted to play baseball in Alabama.

 

Black Baseball in Alabama: Rough Diamonds of Dixie available Jan. 27!

BISCUITS NEWS

It appears the new owners of the Montgomery Biscuits, OnDeck Holdings, has chosen or agreed to retain Lou DiBella as the head of the club, also leaving the previous front office largely intact. Obviously, this is a mixed blessing, as Lou genuinely cares about the fan experience and is a fantastic choice to steward a club. However, he is already exceptionally fantastic at that in Richmond full-time, leaving the Biscuits as sort of a side piece. So it appears that rolling into the new season with the same crew as the last five, we can expect pretty much more of the same going forward. 

FORMER BISCUITS

Several former Skitz have been on the move - notable is the promotion for Tyler Zombro, now Vice President of Pitching for the Chicago Cubs. Coach Z is widely respected in the baseball analytics community and is simply the most brilliant baseball mind ever to take the mound in Montgomery togs, ever. A better choice for the position with the Cubs front office could not be made. 

Ryne Stanek 2016

Ryne Stanek has found a new home pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals this summer after signing a free agent contract. The former Biscuit hurler made the transition from starter to reliever while in Montgomery in 2015 and has thrived in that role. 

Stanek has already spent nine seasons in MLB action, tossing over 450 innings with a tidy 3.85 career ERA. Ryne has a great history as a postseason pitcher, logging a 4-0 Win Loss record in the playoffs, and winning a World Series ring with Houston in 2022.

O'Malley gets a clubhouse nap

Shawn O'Malley picked up a gig as the assistant hitting coach for the Washington Nationals. Sh-O'Malley had been the hitting coach in triple-A Tacoma, a Mariners affiliate. Shawn played three MLB seasons with the Dodgers and M's, he had been a Montgomery Biscuit for four seasons from 2010-13.

The ShOmalley locker ca. 2013

 

Kazmir

Another ex-Biscuit reaches a post-career landmark that will strike fear into the hearts of longtime Montgomery fans, Scott Kazmir is now eligible for Cooperstown voting. Kazmir was on the inaugural 2004 Biscuits, tossing the first pitches in the teams history. SK is unlikely to gain entry to the hallowed halls of the game, but his eligibility marks a notable turning point in this franchise's history. Former pitcher James Shields received no votes in 2024, the last ex-Biscuit on the ballot. By my count, there have been ZERO votes for any former Biscuit to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY 

JANUARY 12 1954 Sparky Olson named Montgomery's manager- Robert Wiltse is signed after his service time is done, Harry Deseret, Bill Glendenning and Jerry Kliensmith were also purchased for the team. 

Jan 12, 1954 Montgomery Advertiser

Also on this day, the club changes its name from Grays back to Rebels officially. Montgomery had been called the Rebels in the old Southeastern League, but were required to switch names when they entered the Sally League in 1951 to avoid confusion w. Charleston Rebels. New Montgomery owner Hoke Vandigriff is said to have agreed to adopt the Rebels name in exchange for the city allowing his signing of Black players. Within a year, Vandigriff would die in a suspicious plane accident, with the team then abandoning its hiring of Black players.

JANUARY 14 1907 Montgomery (Southern League) votes to increase its capital stock from $8,000 to $12,000.

1907 Montgomery team

 

Montgomery Biscuits SOLD!

 

A sudden announcement caught almost everyone by surprise as it was learned on Thursday that the Montgomery Biscuits had new ownership. Last summer I pondered if the club was quietly on the market, as it turns out it was indeed.

OnDeck Partners is now in control of the Montgomery club, in a deal approved by MLB. OnDeck is owned by billionaire Marc Lasry and has recently launched into the business of corporate ownership of minor league baseball teams via OnDeck Partners. Lasry, a Moroccan born hedge fund investor, is the owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. 

OnDeck also acquired the Single-A Visalia Rawhide ball team on Thursday.

 

What does it mean? 

For Montgomery, it means a shift away from individuals as controlling owners and towards the corporate mc-baseball spreading across the country. 

The upside? Probably the first one I see is that it isn't Diamond Baseball Holdings, the big dawg on the block as far as corporate baseball ownership conglomerates are concerned. DBH owns 48 Minor League baseball teams after scooping up three Astros affiliates earlier this week. With OnDeck there is much more of a need to grow the teams under their control, which could benefit Montgomery's team and its fans greatly. 

The downside? Too early to tell. 

Maybe they spend money to attract fans back to the ballpark. Maybe they upgrade the food services, refurbish the park, add amenities for patrons, find a way to shade the seats or do ANYTHING to incentivize season ticket purchases. As long-time Biscuits fans know, there is a lot of room for improvement around the ballpark.

The outlook? I would expect this move makes very little difference to fans. Initial reports indicate few, if any, changes happened in the front office on the first day. Pretty much business as usual.

This new ownership group has likely invested in recent market surveys to get a handle on the Biscuits and knows where they stand - low in attendance and locked into the oldest ballpark in the league until 2040. Improving attendance will be a long, slow process involving investing time and money into community engagement. Corporate mindset doesn't usually include those concepts but it remains to be seen what the new bosses will do.

I do expect some changes to the usual promotional calendar, reflecting the new ownership. The OnDeck website features much Montgomery imagery, the COO is pictured at Riverwalk and Biscuits footage is heavily used, meaning this is not a rush job. The new owners have likely had a hand in the '26 calendar and fans can look forward to getting a first look at how the new-look Biscuits will bring baseball back in Montgomery.
 

Who are they? 

The new boss is likely Mike Carney, CEO of OnDeck, who was recommended for the gig by Major League Baseball after Carney had assisted MLB with business analytics. He is also a veteran of baseball business metrics, particularly with the Washington Nationals. Interviewed by Front Office Sports dot-com ahead of the announcement, Carney said of his entry to MILB “We are going to be an authentic brand, because if we’re not, the fans are going to be able to sniff that out pretty fast.” 

There were remarks in the interview that implied Lou DiBella might still be involved in the running of the team in some way, there may not yet be a full decision on that. OnDeck is a rookie in the MILB ownership game, Thursdays double-play for the the Biscuits and Visalia mark their organizations first foray into the minor league baseball venture.

Others with the OnDeck team include COO Jeff Wilen, who "lead efforts to enhance fan experience" according to the company website, which notes his sports experience with the Cleveland Guardians, Memphis Redbirds and others, and includes that he hopes to "leverage data and and technology to elevate fan experience". Chirag Mithani is the OnDeck CFO, a free-agent signee out of the NBA front office. 

Only time will tell if Carney & Co. has spotted a metric that can easily improve Biscuits attendance, if the company intends to flip the Biscuits to DBH or some other buyer, spend to improve the gameday experience, or simply let the team coast as it has. 

Let's hope this is the beginning of a positive new era in Montgomery baseball history!