A Chat With Sam McWilliams, Hat Stove, Story Time!

 

 

 With December in mid-swing the hot stove is heating up, Willy Adames got a payday and Blake Snell found a new home as well. Today we hear from an old friend and a new one, with several good tales told.

MR FREDERICK'S STORY TIME!

This summer I was in contact with the wonderful Mr. Frederick. A longtime baseball fan, Mr. Frederick has sent along some stories that I will be very happy to share, in regular installments going forward. We start with a great one about Yogi Berra.

YOGI FEELS THE HEAT

Fifty years after the event, Yogi Berra told a story to Tim Russert on TV about a hot night in August in the 1950s at Fenway Park. According to Yogi, the temperature was still 90 degrees or better at 9pm that night. The Yankees had a 9-0 lead about the 6th inning and Yogi was wishing he could come out of the game and take a shower to cool off. Yogi knew that Casey Stengel would not take him out of the game at his request, so he started maligning the home plate umpire hoping to get ejected from the game. 

Without taking his mask off, Yogi started making statements like "You must be blind to call a pitch like that a ball" and calling the ump names so the ump could hear him. After a little while, the home plate ump, one of the most veteran and best umpires in the American League, told Yogi, "Yogi, it's open season on me tonight; you can cuss me and call me any name in the book, but I'm not throwing you out of the game - if I gotta stay out here in this heat, you gotta stay out here too!"

 

BISCUITS HOT STOVE HATS UP

After my old man rant in the last post here, the Biscuits went to work. I immediately got an email that offered season ticket holders a Biscuits cap for just $15 if we would pay up on our tickets for next year. While it seemed like a good offer, the hats involved have been on the sale rack for months at twenty bucks, so the incentive to grab one is greatly diminished. Most of us season ticketholder folks have plenty of hats, in fact I wore a different cap to each game last summer and still didn't have to scrape the bottom of my hat barrel.

And while I got an email for that, I didn't get an email about the Kimchi jersey auction, which I probably would have participated in had I known about. 

But if you missed out like I did, don't try going to the team store for one. I'm told that the morning after the auction closed, all the unsold Kimchi jerseys were purchased in bulk by someone who was tipped off that the jerseys would be offered on the cheap. 

Thanks a lump fellas, ya'll really know how to look out for those of us who have been supporting the team for twenty years.

A CHAT WITH SAM MCWILLIAMS

Sam McWilliams with Biloxi 2024

I recently had a great conversation with former Biscuits pitcher Sam McWilliams about his time with the Biscuits and beyond. The tall, affable righthander has an easy manner and cheerful disposition when not hurling orbs between the chalk, where he is a formidable opponent. Pitching with the Biscuits in 2018 and early in 2019, Sam was an important part of the Montgomery starting rotation. 

Sam was with Biloxi for one game at the end of the year this past summer, helping out the Shuckers in the postseason against Montgomery. He had agreed to an interview and I was glad to have a chance to chat with him this past weekend as we both were getting our holidays started.

I didn't record our convo, so the quotes here may not be exact, but are in the best of my memory, accurate and non-incriminating.

ON BRADY &THE 2018-2019 BISCUITS: Sam was succinct when asked about the former skipper, saying simply "Nails." and "Playing for Brady Williams is easy." McWilliams mentioned how Brady has a way of making players feel at ease by being just one of the guys, a sentiment echoed over and over again by those who have played for Brady Williams. 

McWilliams in the rain

 

Sam was happy to talk about the 2018 club and its success, remarking on his continued friendship with Biscuit teammates from that season, mentioning Curtis Taylor and Matt Krook in particular, as well as Brett Sullivan and Mike Brosseau.

On former Biscuits pitching coach R.C Lichtenstein, Sam pointed to how R.C. could help a pitcher mentally, with a talent for knowing how to approach each player and work with them individually 

"He's able to get to know you, then to get you, mentally, to do more on the field, to challenge yourself." 

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS - I asked Sam to tell us a story, something we didn't know about. He cheerfully reminisced about the scene Biscuits clinch of 2018, smoking cigars and drinking beer while taking over the ballpark train for a victory lap around the park with Biscuits players packing the cars and riding on the roof. I was glad to hear him tell the story, as I partook in that celebration and it is indeed one of the most epic of Biscuit postseason glories.

Jesus Sanchez at Rickwood Field

Sam had a few stories and was very fond of that 2018 club: 

"So many of those guys are major leaguers now!" and he offered a tidbit on outfielder Jesus Sanchez. "So Jesus is, well, he doesn't like dogs, they scare him I guess. So my little pug was in the clubhouse one day, Sanchez is running around and climbing onto the training table to get away from it. Puggie is only about twenty pounds, but Jesus had to get away from that!"

 

 

ZOMBRO - I asked McWilliams if he keeps up with any of his former teammates, and mentioned Tyler Zombro, aka Coach Z. Expecting a discussion of analytics and pitching mechanics, the thing Sam mentioned about his former teammate and training advisor was how much he appreciates Zombro's friendship.  

Tyler Zombro, pitching guru, at Rickwood Field

"The first thing is that he has been the greatest friend, we talk all the time, a few times a week at least. That's been the best." Sam and I talked about how happy we both were to hear that Zombro had been signed as a special assistant for the Cubs organization. "It's been coming for some time" Sam said "he's a great mind in baseball." 

 I could not agree more, Sammy!

 

AB'S I asked Sam about his hitting. In 2021 Sam picked up his first two at bats in his career, doing it with two different clubs! After six seasons in the game how did he feel about getting to hit?  

"It was great! The guy I faced, I was with El Paso, the guy led me off with a fastball. I just watched it go and thought 'It doesn't look too hard' and was ready to take a cut at the next one, I was ready to swing. So the next pitch... I'm ready.. and he throws.. its up and inside. I swung and I don't remember if I broke the bat or what, but it was a weak two-hopper back to the mound. I was just like, aww man! I should have done better! Then the second at bat I struck out and there wasn't much to it. I was a starter and with NL clubs, it was the last season pitchers were hitting, so yeah it was fun!"

 

Sammy in SI

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED - Sam was interviewed for a piece in Sports Illustrated, written by Tom Verducci in late 2020 after he signed a major league deal with the Mets for an unheard-of price tag of $750k. I had to quiz him on how it felt and what he thought of the article, which kind of shades him in places. 

Sam says "Yeah it was kind of funny, Tom Verducci calls and is really buddy-buddy, I know he wants his story. But when I read it now its kind of funny, I had stopped throwing my two-seam fastball then and now I am adding it back and throwing it again, so the whole thing has kind of come full circle!" 

Sam explains he decided to stop throwing his two-seamer and rely on his four seam fastball and slider, the idea being that the two seam fastball movement is splitting the difference between the two other pitches and is easier for hitters to adjust to.  

"My four seam and two seam fastball's were both, well, kind of vanilla, so to speak. Like, I felt that not throwing the two seam made my other pitches look better. My slider had more break compared to the four seamer, which had more zip." 

But that was then, this is now. "I've started throwing the two seamer again, using it to set up my other pitches. Guys seemed to kind of be waiting on me, either jumping out to get the slider or sitting on the heater, so having that two seam action now and then gives you something else to make them look for."

Sam McWilliams starting pitcher in 2018

 

K'S GO UP - I had noticed Sam had increased his punchouts as he moved up the ladder, improving his strikeout numbers noticeably as he climbed from lower levels to triple-A. As this is sort of backwards from some guys who light up lower levels and struggle as they move up, I wanted to find out what Sam's thoughts on the strikeouts were and his answer was simple.

"Yeah I just think, over time, you learn where to improve and apply it. You get more confidence and experience and know how to utilize your pitches better." 

Age and experience over youth and talent, errytime!

MEXICO - I knew Sam had made appearances in the Mexican league in 2023, and asked about his time there.  

McWilliams at Rickwood Field 2019

"I actually threw one inning and got that opportunity." Sam said, laughing a little "I did a favor for a friend, they had a game here (in Tennessee where McWilliams lives) that was basically a tryout for Mexican League teams, they needed someone to throw one inning for them. I was like, sure, and went and threw and it felt gooood. A couple days later they called me and were like, 'Can you come to Mexico, like right now?' and I had to ask 'Can I call my wife first?'"

Sam had actually been in retirement when the Mexican League called. 

"I had hung em up, hung up my spikes for good. I was even to the point where I was at peace with it. But my wife, shes great, she says 'Chase that dream!' and so I was going to Mexico. It was fantastic there, they just want to win, the people and the city and the team, its not about anything other than how do you win today's game. It was just what I needed, really."

Following the Mets signing, the weight of expectations had weighed heavily on McWilliams. 

"I had struggled in 2021, so after that season I addressed a lot of the physical and mechanical stuff. I fixed the mechanics, but I wasn't able to fix the mental side, you know, there was still stuff going on.

I wouldn't call it 'The Yips' but that's really what it was. It wasn't like I was throwing the ball into the stands or anything, but I certainly wasn't throwing strikes. And it got stuck in my head that I didn't know where the ball was going. And then pitching wasn't fun anymore." 

After the Mets DFA'd him in May of '21, the Padres picked him up to finish that year, then he signed for a stint with the Reds in 2022. But after an 0-5 start to the season with a lofty 10+ ERA, Sam was released in June and went home to enjoy his family.

"It took a long time. I would watch games and didn't think much about it, there wasn't much desire there. But after a while it was just starting to creep in again, watching my buddies playing on tv and thinking 'I can do that. I WANT to do that!'" 

Sam McWilliams with 2019 Biscuits

And that's when Sam's phone rang with an unexpected opportunity.

It was that one inning in a pickup game, set up for other guys to try out for teams in Mexico. Following the time in Mexico, he says he spent a few weeks in the Dominican League. Pitching south of the border, Sam McWilliams was rejuvenated and soon found opportunity knocking again.

"In Mexico there were no scouts, just fans and they were really into the games. It was only about winning that game, that day. You would pitch and the next day be inactive, a day off. I enjoy getting out in the daytime and it really helped me get back into the groove to have that down time. I was feeling good and the games were fun, it was fun to pitch again. Then, when I went to the Dominican League there were scouts crawling all over, so I guess they saw me and liked what I was doing. My pitching felt great there and I really got my swagger back, so they must have seen that too." 

So whats up next for Sam McWilliams? 

"Stay in the strike zone. Change speeds in the zone. I feel good and just want to do what I know I can do. It's baseball, you just go out and do what you can and let it happen. But it's fun again so I'm really looking forward to getting to spring training and going out to take the mound in whatever role they (the Milwaukee Brewers) want me. The confidence is back and I have my stuff back too, so we just have to see where it goes."

As we ended our chat, I made sure to thank him and mentioned that there are a lot of us supporting him, folks who he maybe doesn't see or hear, but we are rooting for him. We see the work that goes in, the effort and struggle and adjustments and emotions. I told him to keep doing what he's been doing,  opportunities in baseball don't appear by accident and we are looking forward to seeing what the next opportunity will bring for Sam McWilliams.

Season Ticket Holder Blues, Grey Sox Paul Hardy by Jeb Stewart, TWIMB

 

 

 THE SEASON TICKET HOLDER BLUES

This is a topic we have visited many times at this blog, a situation that has not improved much from the fans standpoint and will likely worsen with the addition of nets, increased demand for the giveaways scheduled and sour attitudes from some. For my suggestions on improved fan experience, scroll way back down, or search via the "The Dr.'s Notes" function, they remain much the same as they have for years, simply the unanswered laments of a baseball fan.

 

We have learned that Riverwalk will indeed have foul pole to foul pole nets next year. The team offers no discounts or apologies for season ticketholders who, like me, chose their seats carefully so they wouldn't have to sit behind the dreaded nets. That, coupled with the continued eroding of season-ticketholder perks offered in previous seasons has led many of the longtime supporters to question at what point they jump off. 

 THE GOOD OL DAYS

No longer do Biscuits season ticket holders have a concierge, no longer are giveaways held for those who have larger ticket packages, rising prices have largely relegated the "Biscuit bucks" included in the perks to the equivalent of one night of premium beers. Little aid is offered with parking, no gate for speedy entry for season ticket holders, and absolutely no discount is offered for supporting the team by buying tickets via season ticket plan year after year. 

No longer are season ticket holders covered for road games, game notes are drastically reduced and yours truly got absolutely torched by power hungry, entry-level ushers for making forays to the pressbox to retrieve said notes/stats, items that are literally thrown in the trash following the final out of the game.

 

The Biscuits ten percent discount on store merch offsets sales tax, but its effect is nullified by the team now charging sales tax for concession stand food items which are purchased much more often by most fans. Requiring fans not to use cash complicates the tax matter, forcing season ticketholders to relinquish a dollars worth of discount bucks for a ten cent tax. 

The problem is compounded when many concession attendants lack the basic math skills to calculate ten percent sales tax.

Season ticket holder special events have been largely curtailed since the pandemic, the Biscuits still host season ticket folks in the owners suite once during the season and offer a postseason party during the World Series that includes a cash bar. This years Postseason Party drew a massive crowd that may have included some employees and their families. However, by the time I got there for the first pitch of the game the free food was gone and did not get re-served. 

By the second inning of the World Series party, the staff was shutting down the place, it was dark with the lights off in the seating bowl, so I didn't stay to chat long.

Bring back the season ticket holder batting practice? Probably not happening if we are putting up nets to keep fans "safe".

Complimentary playoff tickets for season ticket holders who verbally agree to re-sign for the following year has been kind of a flop as the Biscuits have tanked in the postseason so often many fans now simply skip it. This seems to be a standard across minor league baseball, offering postseason seats for season ticket commitment.

Also, executive level season ticket holders are offered personalized tickets for full season ticket purchases, which I always take advantage of so I can flash the Dr. Miraculous name when I give them away to VIP's such as museum curators, authors, former players and coaches, researchers and other important contacts. This year it required an electron microscope to read the name printed in tiny Times New Roman font.

At $840 full season executive seats, the Biscuits are in the lower end of the pricing in the league, which is to be expected, reflecting the age of their ballpark. However, today's fans need more bang for their buck than they have been getting, and Biscuits supporters are starting to grumble openly that the number of perks that have gone away outnumber the ones that remain.

LETS TAKE A LOOK

 A quick check around the league implies that the Biscuits are trailing in the ticket office competition, with other clubs in the circuit working to sell seats with perks notably beyond what Montgomery is offering.

The Chattanooga Lookouts offer 35% off the ticket price for season ticket purchasers, with a 20% discount in the team store.

The Birmingham Barons offer 15% discount on their team store and discount additional ticket purchases by the holder. The Barons also offer a multi-year discount for fans who keep coming back.

The Huntsville Trash Pandas offer VIP parking, merch discounts of unlisted value, with some areas offering in-seat wait service and others stocking a buffet for hungry season ticket holders.

The Knoxville Smokies offer nightly buffet, early entry, parking pass, VIP gifts and merch discounts for season ticket holders. They also offer 3-5 year term discounts for longtime season ticket holders.

The brand-new Columbus Clingstones offer season ticket holders the right of first refusal at all events at their ballpark. How helpful would that have been for Savannah Bananas, Rays at Riverwalk, All Star Games and other big events? HUGE. Fans hated having to scramble for those seats and were left to fight among themselves as the Biscuits took a hands off approach to making any of those events easy to attend. Also, most Biscuits fans skip non-baseball events, often not even knowing about them, right of first refusal would sell a lot more of those seats.

Another comparison is that of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Biscuits sister team under owner Lou DiBella, where they boast 35% off game-day prices (39% for returning season ticket holders), ten minutes early entry via season ticket holder gate and other unnamed percentages off at the team store.

PRO TIP: Most Biscuits giveaways are easier to get via eBay by the end of the second inning of the game that is featuring the giveaway, leading serious fans to avoid the park as the eBay seller hawks invade, pick up the giveaways and leave the park by the middle of the game. For thirty bucks you don't have to stand in line for an hour or more.

I LOVE THIS TEAM

You know I love the team and support it. I will cheer when they do right, which they often do, such as the outstanding Grey Sox/Negro League tribute, their longtime partnership with the military and embracing  Korean culture. 

But on this I have to shoot straight and say, this club has dropped the ball at the box office in the minds of its fans. When the main perk season ticket holders crow about is buying in bulk "So I don't have to spend twenty minutes at the ticket window before each game, they are so slow!" there is an issue to resolve. 

It's one we have been talking about for years and effects each and every fan that walks through the gates. 

And, obviously, the season ticket packages could use some added sizzle too.

NIKO SIGHTING
Former Biscuits stud Niko Hulsizer is in action down under, patrolling the outfield for Adelaide in the Australian Baseball League. And hitting bombs, of course.. evidence provided!

 

Sam McWilliams ca 2018

SAMMY'S COMIN!

Former Biscuit Sam McWilliams agreed to a post-season interview with Dr. Miraculous, if you would like to submit a question for the hurler, drop it here in the comments or send it to me online at one of those social media sites that are so popular with the kids these days. 

 

 

CONFERENCE SPEAKER JEB STEWART ON MONTGOMERY GREY SOX CATCHER PAUL HARDY

In May we heard a detailed presentation from noted SABR biographer Jeb Stewart on the life and career of one of Montgomery's Negro League greats, Paul Hardy. Offered here is a video of that presentation from the 19th Annual Southern Association Conference held at the Alabama Dept. Of Archives & History. 

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

NOVEMBER 12 1904 Sporting News reports Mr.Jos. E.E.Winters made a stock company of the Montgomery club and put some shares on the market which sold "like hotcakes."

George Whiteman

NOVEMBER 16 1875 Buffalo Bills show makes its first visit to Montgomery.

NOVEMBER 23 1910, the Atlanta Constitution reported that George Whiteman went to the Mobile Gulls on waivers for “the measly sum of $400.” Apparently, he wasn’t getting along with some of his teammates, Hub Hart in particular.

Whiteman would go on to star with the Boston Red Sox in their 1918 World Series alongside Babe Ruth. Following the series victory, Ruth gave his jersey and bat to Whiteman in thanks. While no MVP was awared for the World Series in those years, Whiteman was the consensus for best player in the Boston championship games.

 

NOV 24 1868 The Mobile Register, Nov. 24, 1868 reports on a game at the State Fair between the Montgomery Club and the Capitol City Club, won by the former 37-15.

FACT CHeCKING MYSELF

One of the great things about blogging is that you can be wrong and noone takes you behind the woodshed for it. I am glad for that, because on this journey of Montgomery baseball history I have been consistently misled and misinformed concerning basic history facts. And of course I pass the savings along to you!

Things like Turkey Stearnes, who isn't from Montgomery and didn't play his first pro games here no matter how many things we read say that he is and he did.

Like the Montgomery Climbers playing at Capitol Heights, which they did for a small handful of games but spent many, many more at the Oak Park's Highland Oval. Nobody talks about the Oak Park Oval, how are we supposed to know?

Or those 80 wins the Grey Sox famously posted in 1921, which was really more like 65 league games with some barnstorming wins added in. But once they sent their press release to the newspaper, that 80 win record was taken as gospel for the rest of all time. Even the 21st century media often repeats the total, which led me to quote it in my research about the top Negro League team from Montgomery as recently as last months blog post.

 

NUMBERS DONT LIE? HELL YEAH THEY DO!

Negro League stats and standings are a Gordian Knot. You simply can't follow one cord without getting lost and there is no way to ever untie the whole thing. I have spent years now, pouring over info and reports, trying to figure out how to best illustrate the Grey Sox story and discovering error filled local newspaper articles only casts more doubt on the final numbers. You have to believe the Advertiser right? Especially when they agree with MLB and the Biscuits and the City of Montgomery and every other press release ever. NOPE!

So imagine my surprise when I cross checked my work with the scholarly studies of historian Bill Plott and others and learned the Grey Sox fudged their win numbers in the press release. Just... really? Come on guys, you are killin me here!

Ironically, the Montgomery Advertiser stuck by its guns on the numbers over a century later. When the Biscuits came to town it sparked a revival in interest and Advertiser writer Tim Gayle referenced the Grey Sox 80 wins in multiple articles about Montgomery's baseball history as recently as 2007. Old lies die hard!

RICKWOOD NEWS

A rumor that MLB and Rickwood Field were on tap for future major league games was squashed by the Rickwood Field twitter account. It was flatly denied that MLB and Rickwood agents were in talks for more major league games there. 

That lines up with what I have heard about the Rickwood, with almost zero chance of a return event anytime in the near future. 

There is a strong possibility that working with MLB left a bad taste in the mouths of those who encountered the big league machine in Birmingham. While a shizz-ton of money was dumped on the venerable stadiums various and much-needed improvements, fans and park officials were less than happy to have to remove the original outfield wall and to have the iconic scoreboard obscured by safety barriers.

Other restrictions were set in place by the Major League baseball corporate entity, limiting the power of the city of Birmingham and the Barons team to capitalize on the improvements. Even future naming of minor league games held at the historic site are subject to MLB scrutiny and certain terms and descriptions have been strictly defined and removed from what the Barons and the city of Bham are allowed to use over the next few seasons.

Back to normal for MLB. They take a good thing like the Rickwood Classic, water it down, whitewash it, wrap it in plastic and market it. Then dictate that you can't use it, even after they are done and gone.

Hard pass.

NINE INNINGS WITH DR. MIRACULOUS PODCAST

The first epi is in the can, being edited and should be posted sometime in the next two weeks. 

In this episode, Uncle Mikey and I discuss one of the weirder nine innings in baseball history, the Dock Ellis Beanball game against the Cincinnati Reds of 1974. There is lots of intrigue for the game, so be sure to tune in and hear all about how Dock dealt with the Big Red Machine!

THIS WEEK MONTH IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

 

OCTOBER 9 1920 

Montgomery, AL
"Cuban Team Wins From Montgomery - In one of the fastest and best played games of the season, the Montgomery Grey Sox team was defeated Saturday by the Cuban Stars by the score of three to one. The Grey Sox batters were helpless in hitting, and at no stage of the game did the local have an opportunity to drive out a victory. The Cuban team is a well balanced club, and gave their pitcher jam-up support. President John Stapes of the Grey Sox team announced Saturday night that the game scheduled this afternoon between his club and the Cubans would close the season for the Grey Sox club.

Myers allowed hits to be bunched in the early stage of the game Saturday, three hits coming in the initial inning counting for one run. The Grey Sox run came in the seventh inning when Scales scored from second on McGavock's rap to the infield. Streeter or Mason will pitch for the Grey Sox this afternoon."

OCT 22 1870 

The Savannah Daily Advertiser, Oct. 22, 1870: "Base Ball Notes...At Opelika, Ala. on the 18th, a game was played between the Olympians of West Point, Ga., and the Bonnie Blues of Montgomery, resulting in a defeat for the Alabama boys by a score of 74 to 30."

OCT 29 1870 

The New York Clipper Oct. 29, 1870 reports that the Bonnie Blues claimed to be the champions of Alabama. Same paper Oct. 15, 1870 has them losing to a local picked nine, when their scheduled opponents, the "Prairie Roughs" of Montgomery, failed to show. "Pearsall" played first base for them--presumably Alec Pearsall of the old Excelsior of Brooklyn.

No Joy in Biscuitville

 

And so the Montgomery Jinx rolls on...

As the Biscuits fell to the Barons on Tuesday night, Montgomery fans were disappointed for the umpteenth time, but not overly surprised. The post-season struggles the Biscuits have endured for most of two decades has become a fall tradition, like watching the leaves turn colors and knowing the State Fair opens soon.

Instead this will be remembered as the season we watched Chandler Simpson swipe his hundred bases, enjoying Carson Williams smooth patrol of shortstop and for the Grey Sox game in Birmingham. It's the year Big Bob slugged homer after homer before his speedy promotion, when Xavier Issac replaced him at first base but not in the hearts of fans. For Tre Morgan and Tanner Murray, charismatic and quirky. For a litany of pitchers, many who ended the year in Durham, Workman and Seymour among them. Fans will remember Montgomery making a deep run into the playoffs for 2024, but also for getting swept in the LCS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Where did this team come up short? It's tough to nail down one spot, though it appears the Biscuits just failed to get hits when they needed them in the final series. Scoring three runs over two games puts a lot of pressure on the pitching staff to be flawless. Over a five or seven game series, Montgomery maybe gets the better of the Barons, but the Biscuits and Kevin Boles can only tip their cap to Bham after the back to back losses.

Bob Seymour

 

WHAT WORKED, WORKED WELL

Kudos to the Tampa Rays, for leaving the core of the Biscuits team intact, even when players such as Simpson and Williams had shown they were likely ready for promotion. Without the two of them in the order through the end of August, Montgomery probably never even sniffs the postseason. Also the Rays sent two players, Jiminez and Menendez back from Durham to the Montgomery roster. 

But the Bulls kept Zarraga, the Biscuits ex-closer and got starting pitchers Workman and Wilcox in August. All deserved promotion, but the moves left the Montgomery pitching staff in the lurch at the end of the season with playoffs looming.

I also give much credit to players like Sean Hunley and Mason Auer, who worked to improve their game during the course of the season. The catching duo of Keegan and Genoves were reliable and productive, as was Dru Baker in the outfield. 

The Biscuits bullpen was a busy place this summer, featuring a new face every couple weeks. Yet the club managed to focus the roles quickly and fans were often happy to be able to see relief pitchers provide actual relief. Pitchers such as Keyshawn Askew, Evan Reifert and Paul Gervase were welcome sights in the late innings. 

 

MONTGOMERY JINX AT WORK?

How big is that injury to starting pitcher Adam Leverett looking now? Huge. The Biscuits became reliant on the bullpen after Leverett hit the IL and could certainly have used a reliable starter in the postseason.

In a related story, how big is that injury to starting pitcher Ben Peoples looking now? Also huge, same reason.

 

COMING UP

Be on the lookout for a few items of interest, among them the new podcast featuring Dr. Miraculous! We are putting some interesting spins on games and will debut in just a few weeks.

Also I am looking forward to doing interviews of former Biscuits and will be sharing that here, starting with Sam McWilliams, who has kindly agreed to answer some questions about his time in Montgomery in an interview with Dr. Miraculous.

There are a few former Montgomery Rebels I will be reaching out to as well, hopefully we can hear some of their stories about the old teams and their glory days.

There are about five different player biographies I will be working on, as well as identifying and photographing the locations of the known former ballparks in the city. It is a huge list!

I am continuing to write and research the Montgomery Negro League history, please reach out if you have any information on black baseball in Montgomery or are interested in carrying a book on the topic.

#BULLPENLIFE

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

SEPTEMBER 23 1972

The Montgomery Rebels raise Southern Flag, win Southern League championship under manager Fred Hatfield.

SEPTEMBER 22 1973 

The Montgomery Rebels win the Southern League championship under manager Fred Hatfield

 

  SEPTEMBER 25 1976 

Les Moss

The Montgomery Rebels win Southern League championship under manager Les Moss

SEPTEMBER 27 1920 

"Montgomery Grey Sox Win Negro Pennant - Montgomery, Alabama, September 28. - P.M. Perdue, of Birmingham, president of the Negro Southern League baseball clubs today announced that the Montgomery Grey Sox team was winner of the pennant. The season ended with a game of 6 to 5 score between Montgomery White Sox and Chicago Giants yesterday."

Postseason Biscuits! The Dr.'s Notes and Gray Sox Pennants

 

Mason Auer, two way player

Your playoff-bound Biscuits wrapped the regular season for 2024 in Pensacola. When the meaningless game went into extra innings on the last day of the season, Biscuits skipper Boles summoned centerfielder Mason Auer to the mound. Auer promptly tossed a wild pitch to send the Extra Inning Manfred Man from second to third, surrendered a single and managed to mix in a popup before coughing up the game ending run. No sense wasting bullpen bullets when you can send a position player in to get the team on the bus back home ASAP!

 

Now that the season is over, Montgomery turns its sights on Biloxi for the Division Series. Now just a three game set instead of the usual best-of-five, the Biscuits must be the favorite after winning both season halves and for soundly thumping the Shuckers in their last meeting. However, history is not on the Biscuits side, as Montgomery has proven futile in the postseason over the past fifteen years and opposing teams have fed on that fact over and over again. 

On the flip side, you can't go to the beach that many times without eventually getting wet. This team doesn't really follow Montgomery baseball history and certainly doesn't put stock into the Montgomery Jinx, no matter how far back it may reach.

DONT MAKE ME GUESS OKAY I WILL

If being forced to predict, I would suggest that the Montgomery Biscuits take the series in three closely fought games. Yet we all know that short series and postseason vibes invite surprises, so its anyone's guess what the Biscuits and Shuckers series will hold. 

Also, I am reminded of the adage that the postseason hero is often the one you don't expect.

UNCLE MIKEY'S NINE INNINGS WITH DR. MIRACULOUS

The new podcast will be out in a few weeks, with the title Uncle Mikey's Nine Innings with Dr. Miraculous. Uncle Mikey and I will be discussing a fascinating single MLB game on each 'cast as we dive deep into some of the more bizarre and outrageous baseball action. The backstories and behind the scenes actions often plays out between the lines and in the box score, we brush away the dust and dig into the dirt to break down the weirdest games in baseball!

Our first epi will debut in a few weeks, these old dogs are learning a few new tricks to share so be sure to keep an eye out for the link.  

CONSTRUCTION AT THE PARK

future home of Biscuits clubhouse

Construction of the outfield clubhouse that the Biscuits will occupy next season has begun. At the last homestand sections of concrete has been removed behind the canopy in the center field picnic area. The team expects to have it completed by opening day next year, though there has been repeated delays.

Whether that portends the coming the long-dreaded Manfred Nets is unknown. Yet it is reported that 2025 is the deadline for MILB teams to comply, hopefully the Biscuits get a waiver due to showing their improvement and effort to fully comply with the mandated stadium upgrades.

#AMWRITING

I am happy to announce that I am deep into the process of writing A History of Black Baseball in Montgomery, the first part of my Montgomery Baseball series.

 Long overlooked and shrouded in mystery, the Montgomery area's African-American connection to baseball is nearly as old and equally as pedigreed as its white counterpart. From early team parades to barnstorming tours in the 1940's, this book will offer a trip into the past for baseball fans and casual readers alike. 

Player biographies, team stories, the biggest games and Montgomery's place in Negro League history are covered with a focus on their local connection. Telling stories of forgotten events is an important way to keep history alive and many of these tales have not been heard in over a hundred years. Some of stories are simply outrageous, it is my firm belief that few cities have as interesting and incredible as Montgomery and it is a pleasure to give a voice to those who had their place in history hidden and forgotten.

 

THE MONTGOMERY GRAY SOX TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS

A few months back Mr. Murphy, Biscuits GM, asked me point blank "How many championships did the Gray Sox win?" 

I laughed nervously, because it is not an easy answer. Not at all. In fact, the answer starts with a question. Or three.

On paper? Or on the field? And how can we be sure? 

Let me explain...

 This years Biscuits finish provides an excellent parallel for the Gray Sox situation. The Biscuits won both halves of the season and are headed to the postseason.

In 1920, the Gray Sox won both halves of the season and were declared champions of the league. This earned them a postseason berth and homefield advantage in the playoffs. By 1920 standards, the Biscuits would be considered season champions and have the catbird seat in the playoffs.

pitcher Sam Streeter

 

But, it's still not as simple as it sounds.

The 1920 postseason playoffs pitted the Negro Southern League champ against the Negro National League and the Western League champions in a three way set of series. Team with the best record wins it all, the tiebreaker was their head to head records, usually they were playing three games per series.

Ah, but wait, there's more! 

The Negro Southern League champion would then face the runner-up in the NSL in what was dubbed the "League Championship Series." The team winning the "Championship Series" could call themselves league champs, even if they didn't win the season. So the "Season Champions" and "League Champions" are notably different claims with very similar wording that is easily confused today.

 

However... The Gray Sox never got their shot that year.

In 1920, a team popped up at the end of the season with game reports that hadn't been submitted on time, showing they had more wins. They claimed they were champions, demanding to host the playoffs. This was a problem for the fledgling Negro Southern League, so to appease both sides the Gray Sox were declared champions by the league president but the late-posting team was given the postseason spot. Montgomery got a championship flag, but didn't get a postseason berth. Lookin at you, Knoxville.

 

But how about that second one?

Then, in 1921, the Montgomery Gray Sox were absolutely dominant, tearing up the circuit from start to finish and repeating as Negro Southern League season champs. They were denied any home games in the postseason and instead took a long train trip to face Negro League teams in St. Louis and Chicago, resulting in defeats. Then it was on to Nashville to participate in a Negro Southern League playoffs, which they lost. 

 

So, you tell me, how many championships did the Gray Sox win?

On paper, two officially. 

On the field, one or two, depending on how many late-posted results count. 

In the postseason, zero.

Running late, no history this time, catch me at the game and I will tell you a history tidbit to tide you over!