Montgomery Mauls Mississip in Mothers Day Massacre

Robbie Tenerowicz

On Saturday the Biscuits were handed a victory by Mother Nature when a wet field gave the Braves a case of butterfingers.

Sunday the Skitz wasted no time in piling on the Ms. Braves, driving their starting pitcher from the game before the first inning ended. Scoring early and often, the Braves circled the wagons and raised the white flag in game two.

Monday, day game.

Not usualy a huge fan of day games but they do offer nice light for photography. I thought my days as a photoblogger were over when my camera stopped functioning at Sundays game, but thankfully I had invested in a second battery and thusly live to blog again!

Opening Act: Zombro The Great

BULLPEN STORIES
I rarely venture to the visitors bullpen but Sunday I was called over by former Biscuit Jordan Harrison, now with the Braves, to tell his new teammates some stories of my fave old-time players.

I spent a couple innings regaling the MBrave relievers with some tales of Boss Schmidt's bear wrestling and fist fights with Ty Cobb and Mo Berg the catcher/spy. Also I touched on the Connie Mack A's spring training here and the history of Cramton Bowl and Paterson Field.

If you know me, you know once I get going I can talk up a storm on the topic of baseball!

BISCUITS V BRAVES

Classic Caps at work

The Ms. Braves always bring extra fans out to the games, we are in Braves country after all. One of my fave aspects of this series is the Braves throwback hats, every day they wear the lids the Milwaukee Braves wore to their first World Series. Its a classic look.

The Braves are loaded with prospects but have seemed overwhelmed by the Biscuits in the first couple games.

Montgomery had some issues on the basepaths this weekend, getting caught off guard and making them look bad, but the overall total of runs scored has offset any damage to the team ego. Coach Gary Redus simply won't put up with bad baserunning, so don't expect it to continue.

Jesus Sanchez came out of the game on Saturday and was out of the lineup on Sunday, blame a sore shoulder. Getting him a rest could also help him regain his focus at the plate.

If you haven't had your chance to open, make sure to let pitching coach RC Lichtenstein know, everyone else has had a turn at getting the first six outs. I am not sure how the Skipper and his staff determine who will be the next opener, but "names in a hat" and "dartboard toss" are options I would not yet rule out.

CONTEST

The team is running a contest to name the character who is obviously related to Mr. Met that fans have informally called Mr. Biscuit since he first appeared on Gump Night.

No matter what the winning name is, I will probably still call him Mr. Biscuit, which indeed was my suggestion for the contest.

If I win the contest I'll donate any prizes or proceeds to charity, its just such an obvious choice I would feel guilty. Well, except that bobblehead, it looks pretty sweet!

#BULLPENLIFE

THIS WEEK IN

MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

heck yeah, new graphic!

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 known baseball teams in Alabama, following the formation of the Mobile Dramatics which organized in April.

An article in the Montgomery daily paper a few weeks later (seen here) hails the existence of three clubs. These are the Montgomery Base Ball Club, the Merry Nines and the original Pelham Club.

This team is not from Pelham the city, this is a team local to Montgomery named after a popular secessionist of the era. Consisting of 54 members from which a starting nine is chosen for each game, membership is quickly filled to capacity. In a matter of a few short weeks, these other clubs spring up and games begin locally. Baseball has arrived in Montgomery.


MAY 15 1976 
Pitcher Steve Trella throws No Hitter for Rebels against Jacksonville, winning 1-0 in a seven inning game.

Rebels teammate Sheldon Burnside would throw a similar seven inning no-no in June for the second no-hitter in front of Paterson Field fans that season.

MAY 16 1906
article from Seattle Times:

"Ike Rockenfield, Seattle's native son and one of the best ball players that ever wore a spiked shoe is going to play second base for the St. Paul Club in the American Association...

Although Ike was one of the best hitters on the Seattle Club he did not play up to his best form this year for he was not in the best of condition. He did not have the benefit of training that the other men had and as he is naturally pudgy he was considerably overweight, which slowed him up a bit.

If Ike takes care of himself he can play in any company. If he does not pay attention to training rules his finish will come quick... Although he played second base like a cigar store sign last Sunday, his hundreds of friends in this city know what he can do when he is right and he will take to St. Paul their best wishes for his success." 
Not specifically Montgomery, but a fabulous baseball insult laid out on a future Montgomery infielder, Ike Rockenfeld, that I couldn't resist including.

MAY 16 1908 

Bad Baxter

In a home game against Nashville, Montgomery first baseman Moose Baxter is tossed from the game for talking back to umpire O'Brien. Baxter refuses to leave and tussles with the Umpire.

During the fight, Baxter threw the umpire to the ground and pummeled him in the face. Both umpire and player are arrested. Umpire O'brien was quickly released from jail, but Baxter is held for trial. He was convicted of assault and fined $25. 


May 16 1955
Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris born. 

Morris (r) with Trammel

In 1976, Montgomery was the first pro stop for the future resident of Cooperstown, winning two and losing three in twelve appearances.

Morris returned to Paterson Field for the first time this offseason, a nice pilgrimage to the place where he started before heading to view his HOF plaque later this summer. Jack had great things to say about Paterson Field, home of the Rebels, when I met him.

"It was a great place to pitch" he told me, obviously forgetting his 6.25 ERA and 36 bases on balls in 36 innings against just 18 strikeouts!

MAY 17 1920 
"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."

This is pitcher Jim Hugh Moss, a well traveled veteran player who would later be sent to the electric chair for murder based on obviously
questionable testimony.