Biscuits v Lookouts in Biggest Series of Season, What To Look(out) For, Grey Sox Win

An oft-overused phrase, biggest series of the season, but thats exactly where the Biscuits are. Facing the Lookouts, division rival and longtime playoff foe, if there is a team that has an historical edge against the Biscuits it would be the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Kevin Padlo reaches for a double

 Montgomery needs to win two games out of the final six (Saturday is a doubleheader makeup of a rainout in Chattanooga) in order to claim their first ever first half championship. If Montgomery wins two it will be party time for Biscuits fans. If Montgomery can only muster one win, Chattanooga will celebrate the championship on the field in front of the fans at Riverwalk.

I know we will all be on edge waiting to see how this one turns out!

Wait for it....

GENERALS OUT OF IT

The league website says Jackson has three games until elimination, but barring rainouts or other divine interference there really isn't much of a path to the postseason for Jackson in the first half. I am calling them done so I don't have to get out my slide rule, french curve and calculator to figure out the possibilities.

Jesus Sanchez in Right Field

YOUR MONTGOMERY REBELS

Of course you know Rebels throwback night is Saturday, game two of the doubleheader will feature a cool retro uniform and plenty of history. I am curious to see what the front office has unearthed, as they have done it without my help, so it will be just as new to me!

NEWS AND NOTES

The Generals attendance on last Friday night was just 930ish announced. Ouch!

Tyler Zombro made one appearance in Durham and returned to the Biscuits bullpen when Curtis Taylor hit the DL.

Yes, we have another new guy. Righthander Aaron Slegers was sent from Durham to work out the kinks from his 7.28 ERA gained in triple-A. Slegers was with the Lookouts back in 2015, but I won't be bringing that up with him.

WHAT TO LOOK(OUT) FOR

 

The Lookouts lead the league in several batting categories, Batting Average, OPS, look for these guys to hit the ball.

Robbie Tenerowicz says thumbs up

Look for the Biscuits to get to the Lookout pitchers with equal vigor, Nooga pitchers have a habit of allowing baserunners and pitching in traffic.

Look(out) for prospects, the Nooga squad is comprised of a dozen of MLB Pipeline's top 30 Reds minor leaguers. I would list them, but its half the team!

Look(out) for all or nothing, Ibandel Isabel is the league leader in homeruns (14) and strikeouts (92). It's not known if the injured Isabel will be activated for this critical series, he has been out since last week listed as having knee tendinitis.


Look(out) for Alfredo Rodriguez getting a step too far off the bag, he has been nabbed in seven of his sixteen attempts, among the highest caught stealing percentage in the league.

 Look for Lucius Fox to run, the speedy shortstop is tops in the circuit in thefts on the basepaths (20).

TODAY'S #BULLPENLIFE

 THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

JUNE 12 1920 
"Grey Sox Win Duet From Jacksonville -

B Preston

The Montgomery Grey Sox, of the Colored Southern League, won a double header from the Jacksonville Stars Saturday, the first game going to the locals by a score of two to one and the last three to one. The game was a pitcher's battle between Young and Harris, the latter weakened in the eleventh and allowed the bases to fill up and then Preston, who went in as a pinch hitter, sent a pretty single through second that scored the winning run.

The second game was easily won by the locals through the jam up box work of Joseph and the heavy hiting of Hannon. Cunningham at first base played sensational ball both games.

The local aggregation and the Stars will clash this afternoon in the last game of the series at Southside Park, after this game the Grey Sox will leave for a week's stay on the road."

JUNE 13 1956

Sheldon Burnside

The Montgomery Rebels move to Knoxville. More on this later...

JUNE 14 1976
Pitcher Sheldon Burnside throws a no hitter for the Rebels, winning 1-0 over Jacksonville. Its the second no-no tossed by Rebels pitchers in three months.

No-Quit Biscuits Refuse Smokies, Hurling Biscuits

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

The Grape Jelly Series, Biscuits vs Smokies, is always a lively matchup and this installment was no disappointment. The Smokies came in as a .500 team looking to make up ground on the leading Montgomery club, who simply would have none of that. Even some terrible umpire calls could do nothing to slow the Biscuits in this five game set.

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This Biscuits team showed its moxy by taking four games and absolutely refusing to lose in the final contest. The entire series featured plenty of hitting, dominant pitching performances, the ejections of both hitting coaches, stealing home, a Brett Sullivan cycle, extra inning walkoff win and several very unusual plays.

In one instance, the Biscuits scored a run on a dropped infield fly that could easily have been turned into a double play. In the final game, the Biscuits fought back through the rain to tie and re-tie the game before finally winning it in the 11th inning. Drama? There's plenty.

Walk-Off!!

another guy mad he can't hit McWilliams pitches

 HURLING BISCUITS
Dominant pitching indeed, the Biscuits starting rotation is becoming a strike-throwing buzzsaw. Recent additions like Rosenberg and O'Brien have proven effective and deepened the rotation considerably.

The fine rotation of Fleming, McWilliams, Rosenberg, O'Brien and Co-NewGuys Shaffer and Campbell have Biscuit fans eyeing the upcoming series against rival Chattanooga with antici....





...pation.

BEARDED BISCUITS

Brian Shaffer

Ryan Thompson

The bullpen is rock solid most nights, allowing someone to have a bad day here and there without ruining everyone's week.

New addition Ryan Thompson brings a funky delivery from the right side but try not to confuse him with fellow bearded moundsman Brian Shaffer - like I did!

Shaffer has made two starts and should see plenty more chances as a long opener as well as occasional outings from the bullpen.

Brian Shaffer

Brett Sullivan
Does he have an S on his undershirt? Playing the outfield and hitting the ball with authority since being bumped from the catchers role, Brett Sullivan has been incredibly fun to watch, playing the game like a comic book superhero.

In left field a few runners have tested him but word will get around that you don't run on Sully. Sullivan has been ripping right handed pitching, handling a position change with ease and doing his usual thing as one of the vocal leaders of the club.


When his chance to hit for the cycle came around, he didn't miss it. Even though he had homered in his last at bat the previous day, giving him the cycle in four at bats over two games, the bewhiskered slugger faced down the Smokies closer. Sully muscled the ball over the wall next to the flagpole and fans wondered "is there nothing this guy can't do?"

AND ANOTHER NEW GUY
The cup on the head is a tried and true welcome for new hurler Paul Campbell. Paully, as he is known to teammates, will likely slide into the rotation this week, getting a soft-ish landing against the Jacksonville club. Paul is officially the first ballplayer named Campbell that I have heard of who hasn't been assigned the nickname "Soup". At least, not yet.

Campbell brings nice numbers from the FSL, getting nine starts with the Stone Crabs so far this year. The numbers say he keeps runners off the basepaths by limiting walks and induces a fair amount of strikeouts. Last year he advanced two different levels, accruing 69 innings in 12 starts. With 59 innings pitched this year, Campbell may have a limited workload when he starts approaching ninety or a hundred. Also he could benefit from the assistance of having an opener, to extend his appearances.

CAMERA MALFUNCTION
Do these pics look fuzzy? I think so, my camera malfunctioned at one point this series and I feel some of the pics I took lately seemed fuzzy. Hard to tell, as stadium light is notoriously tough to photograph. Might be time to upgrade, I will be taking suggestions from my photog friends, I have had this one a while now!

REBELS NIGHT
Looks like the Rebels night will indeed be a double-header with the Biscuits wearing the throwback uni's for game two. They will have a bevy of former Rebels folks on hand, look for former player/manager Ted Brazell and Rebels stadium announcer Joe Marcus to throw out first pitches and be available for autographs. Both have some fantastic stories about their days with the Montgomery Rebels in the 1970s and would provide a memorable visit if you have a chance to chat.

How fitting would it be for Montgomery to seal its first half championship while wearing the Rebels togs? The Rebels won three league flags in a row and five in six years to become a minor league dynasty under the Detroit Tigers.

And hey, they have the Rebels throwback caps in already at the team store. I bought three, idk how long they will be in stock and if they will ever get more in. Better grab one!


ALL STARS
The Biscuits All Stars will be announced, its obvious that several players deserve the honors. Guys like Jesus Sanchez, Lucius Fox, Josh Lowe, Brett Sullivan have surely earned their place in the ASG.

I would think that catcher David Rodriguez should be worthy of consideration, as should Robbie Tenerowicz and Miles Mastrobuoni. All these guys have shared the load for the first place club. Now promoted Dalton Kelly could also get an All Star nomination, then be replaced by another worthy player.

SECOND TEAM ALL STARS

Pinto applies the tag

Less likely to be considered, but whose value should not be understated, is that of catcher Rene Pinto. Handling the staff and throwing out would-be basestealers, Pinto saved his lone hit of the Smokies series for a big moment and has been reliable in moving runners up.

Sanchez and Palacios

Speaking of runners up, my Runner-Up for this Not-Quite-AllStar would be Jermaine Palacios. Gerry Castle has six stolen bases and makes smooth plays anywhere on the infield he is placed. He gives skipper Ensberg an easy choice for late inning pinch-runner or defensive replacement.

Like Pinto, Palacios isn't flashy but has proven reliable, the kind of players that help teams win.

NUMBERS GAME

Josh Lowe

Lucius Fox leads the league in stolen bases.

Jesus Sanchez is the league leader in RBI.

Josh Lowe is the team leader in Home Runs.

The Biscuits have the second best road record, behind Jackson, who are under .500 at home. Montgomery has the leagues best home record at 20-10.

Kenny Rosenberg is the Biscuits team leader in strikeouts, with 62.  IF he continues to pitch like he has, and he continues to do it for Montgomery, he could approach the all-time Biscuits strikeout mark!

TODAYS #BULLPENLIFE

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

JUNE 7th 1906 
Southern League Umpire Barrett puts three Shreveport players out of the game for kicking (arguing). Shreveport is compelled to forfeit due to lack of players.

JUNE 7 1908 

Bert Maxwell

Montgomery falls to new Orleans 1-0 in 12 innings.

JUNE 10 1906 
Montgomery pitcher Bert Maxwell shuts out New Orleans on 3 hits

JUNE 11, 1937 
Pete Reiser appears for Union Springs in a game vs Pensacola, going O-4 with an error at third base. Reiser, aged fifteen at the time, later claimed never to have appeared in a game for Union Springs, but the box score indicates a forgettable game did happen.

JUNE 11 1905 
Montgomery and New Orleans play to a 13 inning, 3 run tie at MGM.

JUNE 11 1906 
Montgomery Pitcher Malarkey holds New Orleans to one run on three hits

Biscuits Beat Barons in Throwback Game - 2019 Rickwood Classic - A Photo Post

Featuring the Montgomery Biscuits against the Birmingham Barons wearing 1910 throwback uniforms. This is already my favorite game of the year, even before adding our beloved Montgomery team as the opponent!

Montgomery was the first opponent for the Barons at Rickwood Field way back in 1910. Montgomery lost that one late in the game, but were determined to even the score on this day.

Montgomery manager Morgan Ensberg

Perhaps more than any previous Biscuits manager, Morgan Ensberg is all about teaching the players the art of the game. When he gathered the team together at the edge of the infield before the game, it wasn't the first time I had seen him address the players collectively to start the day.

Manager Ensberg addresses the team

 Perhaps more than any previous Biscuits players, these guys listen.

Rickwood Lights

We didn't see them in use but the lights at Rickwood are historic in their own right, having been brought from legendary Tiger Stadium in Detroit. These are the lights that Reggie Jackson hits with a mammoth homerun in the 1971 All Star Game. You won't see the lights in this video because TV engineers never expected anyone to hit a ball there, but here is the vid anyway.

Ivan Pelaez makes new friends before the game

GUEST OF HONOR: LOU PINIELLA

Lou Pinellia throws out the first pitch

 Sweet Lou Piniella threw out the first pitch at the Rickwood Classic as the Guest of Honor.

Lou never played in the Southern League but his first pro assignment was with the 1962 Selma Cloverleafs.

When I asked him about his time with the Selma team he told me "Oh, it was hotter than Hades, but I was only 18 years old and too young to know any better, I was just happy to be getting paid to play baseball!"

'62 was the final year for the Selma Cloverleafs, and the Alabama Florida League, which folded after the season. (that final year, only one team, Pensacola, had a winning record, ouch!)

Biscuits warm up in front of the (mostly) hand operated scoreboard

Mile Mastrobuoni

 "Lets join the handshake line!"

No high fives, handshakes are the order of the day

I must have heard that twenty times from the Biscuits players, who eschewed high fives in favor of the traditional congratulatory handshake.

Whenever a player would cross home plate with a run scored for the Montgomery side, Biscuit players would shout "Lets join the handshake line!" and rush to offer their teammate a firm handshake. Same when a pitcher finished warming up, his fellow hurlers would line up and offer a grip and a word of encouragement for a successful outing.

Jermaine Palacios looks on between Morgan Ensberg, Brett Sullivan and trainer Luis Gonzales

 LOOKING VERY UMPIRE-ISH

 League arbiters bear the responsibility of getting calls right and offerring a commanding appearance in every game but the Rickwood Classic gives them a chance to truly look like an umpire.

Umpires Brock Ballou and Tyler Jones know how to throw back to 1910, looking good fellas!

Lucius Fox and Brett Sullivan

 Biscuits players seemed to embrace the historic atmosphere at Rickwood Field, genuinely enjoying connecting with its past and the events it has hosted in its nearly 120 years.

Jesus Sanchez

PHOTO STORY: Sus Meets Lambert

Barons starting pitcher Jim Lambert

Jesus Sanchez faced Lambert in the first inning

Jesus Sanchez didn't mind

In fact, 'Sus enjoyed it

 but Barons third baseman Ti'Quan Forbes didn't.

PICTURE BACKSTORY
One of the things that got me started taking pictures at games was the impressive work of George Brace and Charles Conlon, two photographers who have taken iconic images of the sport. I make sure to open books of their work often, I went back to them again when I saw what a beautiful baseball setting this Rickwood Classic was.

Lucius Fox also hit a home run during the game

 This image of Lucius Fox is one example of the influence of Charles Conlon on my photography, as well as that of most anyone who takes pictures of baseball games and players.

Pirates Honus Wagner, photo by Charles Conlon

*** CONSPIRACY THEORY ALERT ***

Does this image offer proof that the designers of Rickwood Field's scoreboard KNEW that Mobile would be replaced in the league?

Barons outfielder Luis Alexander-Basabe

Kevin Padlo was caught stealing, Laz Rivera applied the tag

Third baseman Kevin Padlo takes the field

Biscuits starting pitcher Riley O'Brien

Third Baseman Kevin Padlo

 Behind right field, seen in the pics above and below, is the seating area that used to be designated the "colored section" and later was known to fans as the section that is the most fun to sit in. And it still is!

Biscuits shortstop Tristan Gray

Kevin Padlo at bat

Plenty of hits and lots of runs meant lots of pictures of our guys whacking the ball and running the bases. 

And doing it with style!

Miles Mastrobuoni at the plate

Kevin Padlo heading to third base

Lucius Fox hangs out with a Barons runner at second base

 

Barons Luis Robert had two hits and two RBI's

 HAD A GREAT SEAT
 I spent the day on the bench next to the Biscuits dugout, getting a great view and a mild sunburn.

I was caught off guard when the game started quickly after the first pitch, standing there to snap a pic of Lou Piniella's toss and had to take the nearest seat when the action began. A few moments later Jesus Sanchez hit a two run homer to take an early lead and I knew I was probably not going to move from my spot. Superstitious? With Montgomery fighting for first place and on a five game losing skid, I wasn't willing to take the risk!

Reliever Ivan Palaez earned his first double-A victory

The one time I did move down to the bullpen the Barons tied the game. And so I headed back to my spot on the bench, whereupon the Biscuits responded by retaking the lead. Coincidence? I didn't care to tempt fate again so I remained where I was until the last out of the game. Put that W in the bag and hand me the aloe vera for this sunburn.

 THOSE SWEET UNI'S!!

First Baseman Dalton Kelly on deck

 These Montgomery uniforms look to be based on the Arch Persons and Ike Rockenfeld cards in the 1909-1911 T206 Tobacco set.

Persons is a personal fave of mine - when I began the blog I researched the Montgomery players in the T206 set and found Arch Persons to be an unusual guy. He had good stats for his career, but seemed to only play every other year.

The images of these cards were part of what clued me into who he really was. The other players depicted were former major leaguers, why would Arch Persons be among them?

Many of these cards were prepared by artists who spent long hours on trains between seeing ballplayers in order to paint their cards, if a photo of them wasn't already available. The artist for these cards likely prepared them by painting the bodies first, before seeing the player and used a basic pose to add a head and face to when they could detail the features.

The artist who painted these cards probably had not yet seen the uniforms and based his paintings images on the team photo from 1907.

I discovered that Arch Persons was actually Archie Pearson, who either encouraged or allowed a misspelling of his name.

He may have used it to jump contracts and change teams, simply been using a different spelling of his name at times or had been terribly wronged by baseball researchers. It drastically changed his career totals and showed why he was regarded as important enough to be included in the T206 cards.


Being able to connect the dots and give a more complete picture of a guys career is one of the many things about the blog that gives me a warm feeling. I get it every time I see this basic gray uniform with black MONTGOMERY emblazoned in arched script across the chest.

artist proof of shortstop Joe Pepe 1910

 The bad news? Montgomery's 1910 uniform didn't look like that. Simply a white or gray top with a block M on the chest. Montgomery wore its name on the chest as a home uniform in 1907 for one season and quickly went back to the block letter. Some seasons the uniforms feature an M on the left sleeve, others have a stylish M with center serif.

This is how the other players in the subsequent issues of the tobacco card set appear. I suspect the artist arrived to paint everyone and was supplied with photos and/or saw a couple games to get the details right.


Totally nailed the throwback hat design though, a dead ringer for the Montgomery road caps from each year 1905-1915. I was told the team looked into using low-crown caps for an added aesthetic, but was denied on the basis that low crown caps aren't approved for game use. Would have looked beautiful, if you know why they wouldn't be allowed, please clue me in!

Two Montgomery players in the 1910 Bham newspaper, Frosty Thomas and George Whiteman (clarence watkins image)

Miles Mastrobuoni scrambles to third base

Dalton Kelly fouls off a close pitch

Ryan Thompson got the call, two innings no hits a walk and two K's

THE FIELD OF WEED

 Some of the Biscuits players asked me about the history of the field, one of the stories I told was about what happened after an event.

Tristan Gray jogs off the field

 When the Allman Brothers Band played at Rickwood in the early 1970's, the crowd was large and enjoyed seeing the band set up on a stage behind second base facing the stands. But for six months afterwards, the groundscrew was kept busy pulling up pot plants that had sprouted where music lovers had spilled seeds while rolling joints to smoke during the show!

Zombro came in to close out the game

 UP IN THE AIR

Third baseman Padlo and shortstop Lucius Fox

 Does he do this every time? Shortstop Lucius Fox was seen jumping in the air ahead of the pitch, landing ready to move any direction should a ball be hit near him.

Second baseman Tristan Gray makes the throw for the last out

Todays #BullpenLife #BenchLife