Rickwood Rematch? Barons Visit, Negro League History, News & Notes

As the Biscuits return home Wednesday, fans get a look at the reinforcements the Rays have sent from the Stone Crabs. Jesus Sanchez in the outfield, shortstop Lucius Fox and right handed starting pitcher Blake Bivens. More on the new guys below.

The *first place* Biscuits look to defend the top spot from division rival and second place challenger Birmingham. Montgomery is well armed to hold off the challenge, but a terrible home record by the Biscuits and a perfectly normal road record by the Barons could mean a tough series is ahead. 

thru 8-06

CABRERA TRADED

Genesis Cabrera with batterymate David Rodriguez,

One of Montgomery's top arms has been dealt, Genesis Cabrera takes his prospect label and swing-and-miss stuff to the Cardinals. He is a good guy, always smiling and having fun when he isn't seriously embarrassing hitters. Best of luck to him, I am glad we don't have to face him!

Also dealt was reliever Roel Ramirez, who exceeded all expectations and pitched himself into the eyes of other teams scouts. I snapped a pic I was going to title "Waiting for the Call" on what turned out to be his last day as a Biscuit, I had no idea he was waiting on a bigger call!

Roel Ramirez awaits the call

FINALLY A RICKWOOD REMATCH?
The Biscuits are slated to face the Barons at the end of May next summer, a perfect schedule spot for a rematch of the very first game at Rickwood featuring Montgomery against the Barons. Way back when Rickwood opened, Montgomery was the first challenger and hasn't competed in a Rickwood Classic since.

this photo, misdated as 1906 but with the correct attendance total is actually the 1910 opening of Rickwood Field

The Biscuits were rained out in their only visit to the Rickwood, back in 2005. Look for Wednesday, May 29th to be the best day for Montgomery to face the Barons in a throwback game in Birmingham.

Skitz bullpen tries to wait out the delay

Now if we can only get the Biscuits to take on a one-game throwback at Paterson Field!

AT THE GATE
The Biscuits are working hard to bring in the peeps and build good will with the locals. The last homestand featured an envelope giveaway that offered items like free krispy-kreme donuts and cash. This homestand offers an inflatable beachball baseball, a personal appearance by a pro wrestler and the long awaited F-35 fighterplane giveaway.

JERSEY AUCTION
The Biscuits are giving fans a chance to own a game worn uniform top, the road grays are up for auction starting at $115. The ever popular jersey auction has been taken to an online form, which works well for those who can't be at the park for the game.

The gray tops replaced the old "silver surfer" jerseys about 2015 and have been worn by some of Montgomery's top players since. Also, they have seen some rain delay antics....

NEW GUYS!
Blake Bivens, a fourth round pick by Tampa in 2014, had a nice 2.83era in ten starts in the FSL. A Virginia native, Blake has done great work in his second go round at Port Charlotte after posting an ERA of 3.78 last year. Bivens slides into the starting rotation following the departure of Genesis Cabrera.

NOT the Biscuits Lucius Fox

New shortstop Lucius Fox, a native of the Bahamas, is the prototypical shortstop with speed. The switchhitting infielder has swiped at least twenty bases at every level to pile up over 75 bags in under three seasons. Fox has a respectable career batting average of .255 but can be prone to the strikeout. He brings good defensive range due to his speed and is reported to have a good infielders arm.

Lucius participated in the Futures Game last year and comes to the Rays via trade with the Giants, in exchange for Matt Moore. He is NOT the head of Wayne Industries.

Nate Lowe has been an impact player in the lineup

Jesus Sanchez moves into the outfield for Montgomery, joining Milone and Lukes - Ryan Boldt has been riding pine with injury. Sanchez was batting .300 with ten homers for the Stone Crabs and kept on chugging with four hits in three games in a Biscuits uniform. One of the top prospects in the Rays system, Sanchez has developed considerable pop in the last year or so and could become a fixture in the Majors sooner rather than later.


These additions, plus the recently added Brock Burke, Nate Lowe and return of Benton Moss gives Brady Williams a fully stocked roster of quality players.

NOTES:

Dalton Moats is a cheerful guy, a real people person, outgoing and engaging. If he is easy to get along with, it might be because of his family upbringing, which includes his two brothers. Both of Dalton's brothers, who are twins, both pursuing careers in law enforcement. Is there any sibling rivalry? "Oh, thru the roof!" Moats laughed about it when a teammate asked. "We really get on each other, but its all fun."


Biscuits utilityman Mike Brosseau plays ukelele. Of course he does.


Pitcher Reece Karalus returned to the Biscuit bullpen on the last homestand. Fans thought he was sent back to single-A to work on his pitching but he must have been there for more than that. The Karalus that arrived last week looks like the big brother to the Karalus that left here in May. Same guy, though, just in way better shape and appears to be throwing the ball much better.

#BULLPENLIFE

PRO TIP:
If you want to research ballplayers, be prepared for typos. Lots of them. In Montgomery's local paper Casey Stengle's name is misspelled EVERY SINGLE TIME he appears in a game!

THIS DAY WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

AUGUST 8 1906 

Dave Lemanczyk

Southern league Umpire F.F.Rudderham is convicted by jury in Montgomery County Court of using abusive language and fined $50 for cursing at a spectator on May 30th at Montgomery Ball Park.

AUGUST 8 1907 
Montgomery is hammered, Starting pitcher Malarky giving up ten runs on 15 hits in the contest.

AUGUST 8 1973
Rebels pitcher Dave Lemanczyk no hits Ashville 3-0 

AUGUST 9 1920 
Montgomery, AL
"Grey Sox Open With New Orleans and Win - Black Pelicans Trounced 6 to 3 Yesterday; Moss Hulred Air tight Ball for Locals -

Moss would later die in the electric chair

By hitting the lil pill to all parts of the lot and playing tight on ball behind Moss, the Grey Sox broke their losing streak yesterday afternoon, and won the first game from New Orleans, 6 to 3. The horrors of the playing to Red Cunningham, McCormick, and Carpenter, whose heavy hitting was largely responsible for the locals six scores.

New Orleans started the scoring of the game with two in the second and one more in the fourth but after this frame Moss tightened and held them scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Grey Sox scored five runs in the sixth inning when Carpenter slammed out a three bagger, with three men on bases and Red Cunningham hit for two bases with two men out another score was added in the seventh frame when Scales walked and scored on McCormick's three bagger.

In spite of the fact that the Grey Sox lost four straight games in the last series, they are still leading the league by a safe margin as the strong Knoxville team, which is second in the standing, was going to Nashville, while the Grey Sox were long to the Black Crackers. Out of a four game series played with Nashville, the strong Knoxville Giants were able to witness another game which gives the Grey Sox pracically the same lead that they held before the series with Atlanta.

The Grey Sox showed up in old time form Monday afternoon and it looked as though they were trying to take out their Atlanta, grudge on the New Orleans team. Every player on the team played a good game and did good work with the stick, and the team showed the old time pep and enthusiasm that was lackin gin the Atlanta series."

AUGUST 10 1920 
 Montgomery, AL
"Grey Sox Win Duet From New Orleans - Local Colored Team Takes Double Header Tuesday, Won First in Eleven Innings -

Montgomery Grey Sox 1920

 Pitchers Myers and Mason pitched the Montgomery Grey Sox to a double-header victory Tuesday afternoon over the New Orleans Ads, the the first contest going eleven innings, the locals winning 4 to 5. The final game was a walkaway for the locals, 5 to 0.

The Grey Sox team in the first contest should have won the game in easy fashion, but rank errors permitted the visitors to tie the score, despite the fact the locals obtained five runs in the opening inning. Myers for the Grey Sox pitched good ball, but his team mates failed to give him support at critical stages of the contest. After the first inning the locals could do nothing with the visiting twirler. In the eleventh inning Manager Cunningham opened with a double to left field, and reached third when Preston beat out an infield hit. Pitcher Suglar for New Orleans attempted to catch Preston off second base and threw wild and Cunningham came home with the winning run.

In the second contest Mason had the visitors at his mercy, and never was in danger. Wilson for New Orleans was hit freely and the locals bunched their hits when hits meant runs. The Grey Sox players in both games displayed their fighting spirit which has marked their playing in the early part of the season, and the slump which the team has been in recently has disappeared."