While playing a series in birmingham, the cubs so impressed area fans that they came back to atlanta with a new name, the atlanta black crackers. Atlantas offense depended on the power hitting of its outfielders, bob montag. Mary charlotte rose cook montag 18961976 find a grave. The majority of this collection consists of members of the atlanta crackers baseball team. May 10, 1990 in the days of the atlanta crackers baseball club, a large magnolia tree stood in center field, on a terrace rising just above the playing level. He would go on to play several years in the major leagues with the milwaukee braves, st. The atlanta black crackers society for american baseball. A plaque revealing that this shopping plaza used to be a b.
She was the mother to professional baseball player robert bob edward montag who became famous playing for the atlanta crackers and whose baseball career spanned 14 years. Outfielder, himes, giggie halt loss string over bears by jesse oltlar the atlanta. News obituary article temecula, calif bob montag, 82, crackers slugger by derrick henry during his eight seasons with the atlanta crackers at ponce. Atlanta has a championship past in minor leagues baseball wasnt introduced to the deep south when the braves decided to move from milwaukee to atlanta in 1966. Atlanta crackers outfielder bob montag didnt expect to hit a. Southern bases video and audio recordings, 19451992. The crackers broke the color line in the venerable, traditionrich southern association when outfielder nat peeples, a former negro league player, made the teams openingday roster. Louis cardinals, a atlanta crackers 1959 road jersey ebbets field flannels. The atlanta braves celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1954 season of the atlanta crackers. After winning the southern association in 1938, the crackers lost the 1939 championship series in 7 games to the nashville vols. His minor league career totals show he appeared in 1,489 games, hit 223 home runs and carried a.
Long before the braves got their first sniff of sweet potato pie and fried chicken, atlanta already had. Bob montag, an outfielder for the atlanta crackers during the 1950s, was a fan favorite who hit 1 home runs for the team before his retirement in 1959. Catherine f montag, kathleen stelmokas montag, robert john montag. The atlanta braves are americas longest continuouslyoperating baseball. For many years, they were owned and operated by mr. The new york americans now known as the yankees began their first spring training on 18 march 1903 at piedmont park in atlanta, georgia. He had on an orange tshirt so big the short sleeves came down to his elbows. Bob was the most poplar player for the atlanta crackers in the 1950s.
The atlanta crackers distinct from the atlanta black crackers were minor league baseball teams based in atlanta, georgia between 1901 and 1965. The 1954 dixie series society for american baseball research. It was an unusual home run to say the least saportareport. Bob m ontag, who hit 1 home runs, the most o f any c racker and the secondmost in association history. The atlanta crackers, known as the yankees of the minors, were led by luke appling, eddie mathews, bob montag, ralph country brown, and many others. Stories of atlanta atlantas longest home run episode. The nearest professional baseball team to my home town of cartersville was the atlanta crackers of the southern association. His inability to catch fly balls kept montag out of the major leagues. Atlanta crackers 1939 home jersey ebbets field flannels. He just wasnt ready for the league is what it amounted to. Peepless teammates on the 1954 crackers and others who saw him play are also divided as to the motive for his demotion.
Babe ruth and eddie mathews were said to have both hit balls that got stuck in the tree during exhibition games. Watch stories of atlanta for a look at the speech that thrust booker t. Baseball atlanta crackers vintage sports memorabilia for. Rare vintage 1920 atlanta crackers baseball team photo ticket stb georgia 1946 atlanta crackers minor league baseball scorecard. Impressive 1957 atlanta crackers team signed baseball. Bob uecker appeared in 26 games for the crackers as a 24yearold catcher in 1959. Although the crackers played in the southern league the ball that is signed is an official texas league dick butler baseball. Atlanta s longest home run ep25 1m 1s stories of atlanta americas oldest baseball team. Atlan ta played its first southern association game against the. Clyde king ss, chet nichols, vic rehm, earl mossor, clarence buck riddle, fred vogel, charles bicknell, eddie mchugh, bob. Bob montag set the southern association career home run record 1. Atlantas longest home run season 1 episode 25 stories.
On september 21, 1954, the atlanta crackers, champions of the double a. Even when he struck out, as he did frequently, the fans cheered and applauded him. Player, bats, throws, birth date, height, weight, hometown. The crackers were atlanta s home team until the atlanta braves moved from milwaukee in 1966. Penitentiary, atlanta, etc the penitentiary petrodollar phase 2. Manager damon berryhill left and the gwinnett stripers donned their new pinstriped home jerseys.
The atlanta crackers, known as the yankees of the minors were led by luke appling, eddie mathews, bob montag. Bob montag, an outfielder on the 1954 crackers, asserted in a recent interview. His best year was 1954, when he hit thirtynine home runs to establish a franchise record. The atlanta constitution from atlanta, georgia on may 7. The atlanta crackers of the southern association ended the 1959 season with a record of 56 wins and 96 losses eighth in the sa. Atlantas lineup was anchored by outfielder johnny rucker, who hit. While playing with the new york giants in 1945, rucker recorded a 17game hitting streak, which stood as the franchise record until it was broken by pablo sandoval in 2012. Bob montag was the most popular player for the atlanta crackers in the 1950s. He also set team records for the most walks and strikeouts in a season. The cracker s wer e atlan ta s home team until the atlan ta braves moved from milwaukee, wisconsin, in 1966.
Bob montag obituary atlanta, ga atlanta journalconstitution. Washington into the national spotlight, to learn why some city streets follow an unconventional layout, and to see the unique atlanta design that would change the architecture of hotels nationwide. Atlanta crackers 1959 road jersey ebbets field flannels. Somehow, one of our neighbors was a friend of several of the crackers players. Bob montag would be the final home run leader for the crackers with 1 for his career. In 1954 montag hit what he claimed was the longest home run in baseball history. Their first three games were exhibition game shutout victories over the atlanta crackers. The atlanta crackers were minor league baseball teams based in atlanta, georgia, between. Bob montag, age 54, saint augustine, fl 32086 view full report known locations. I remember going down to their house and meeting bob montag and some of the other players. A large part of the crackers success was due, in part, to outfielder bob montag who hit 1 home runs in his career with the crackers but it was one home run in particular that set bob.
Atlanta crackers photograph collection, 19561958 vis 103 the atlanta crackers were a minor league baseball team that played from 1901 to 1965. Joining forces with famed negro league researcher gary ashwill and pete hills great nephew, major ron hill i am proud to bring to you a beautiful 15 card tribute to one of the greatest black ballplayers of all time pete hill. In 1959 he finished his active career as playermanager of the atlanta crackers southern league team. Bob montag s blast landed in a rail car headed to nashville, later the conductor returned the ball to montag. Saint augustine fl, 32086, saint augustine fl 32084, st augustine fl 32084 possible relatives. Bob montag, who hit 1 home runs, the most of any cracker and the secondmost in association history. Baseball is a game with long stories, not only the rigors of a single season. Hot stove founder johnny tallant brought along a bunch of his atlanta crackers memorabilia from his basement museum.
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