Montgomery Rebels

Montgomery Rebels
19031980
(*1903–1914; 1916; 1926–1930; 1932; 1937–1943; 1946–1962; 1965–1980

*Club sometimes known by nickname other than Rebels)
Montgomery, Alabama
Class-level
Previous
  • AA (1965–1980)
  • D (1957–1962)
  • AA (1956)
  • A (1951-1956)
  • B (1946-1950)
  • A1 (1943)
  • B (1926-1930, 1932, 1937-1942)
  • C (1916)
  • A (1903-1914)
  • C (1899)
  • B (1892-1896, 1898)
Minor league affiliations
League Southern League (1972-1980)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous
Minor league titles
League titles 1928–1929, 1942, 1947–1948, 1951–1952, 1972–1973, 1975–1977
Team data
Previous names
  • Montgomery Rebels (1954-1962, 1965-1980)
  • Montgomery Bombers (1937)
  • Montgomery Capitals (1932)
  • Montgomery Lions (1926-1930)
  • Montgomery Rebels (1912-1914, 1916)
  • Montgomery Billikens (1911)
  • Montgomery Climbers (1909-1910)
  • Montgomery Senators (1904-1908)
  • Montgomery Black Sox (1903)
  • Montgomery Senators (1896, 1898-1899)
  • Montgomery Grays (1895)
  • Montgomery Colts (1893)
  • Montgomery Lambs (1892)
Previous parks
Paterson Field (1950–1962; 1965–1980)

The Montgomery Rebels was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise representing Montgomery, Alabama, that played in various leagues between 1912 and 1980. Rebels was the predominant nickname of the Montgomery franchise, although it was not the original moniker and was one of several used by the city's 20th century professional baseball teams, which began play in organized baseball in 1903.[1] Others included the Billikens, Bombers, Capitals, Climbers, Grays, Lambs, Lions and Senators.

Before moving to Birmingham, Alabama, as the current edition of the Birmingham Barons in 1981, the Rebels spent 16 consecutive seasons, 1965 through 1980, as the Double-A Southern League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

Earlier, Montgomery had been a member of the Southern Association (1903–1914, and parts of 1943 and 1956), Sally League (1916, 1951 to early 1956), Southeastern League (1926–1930; 1932; 1937–1942; 1946–1950), and the Alabama-Florida League (1957–1962).

From 1950 through 1980, the franchise played at Paterson Field (originally Municipal Stadium).[2] It won 12 championships between 1928 and 1977, including five Southern League titles in six years (1972–1973; 1975–1977). The Tigers served as the Rebels' primary Major League Baseball parent, sponsoring the team in the Southeastern, Sally and Alabama-Florida leagues, as well as in the SL.

The Montgomery Biscuits have represented Alabama's capital in the Southern League since the 2004 season.

Notable alumni

References

  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.
  2. Baseball Reference
Preceded by
Knoxville Smokies
Detroit Tigers
Double-A affiliate

1965–1980
Succeeded by
Birmingham Barons