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!