Atlanta crackers photograph collection, 19561958 vis 103 the atlanta crackers were a minor league baseball team that played from 1901 to 1965. His best year was 1954, when he hit thirtynine home runs to establish a franchise record. On september 21, 1954, the atlanta crackers, champions of the double a. 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. In 1959 he finished his active career as playermanager of the atlanta crackers southern league team. Watch stories of atlanta for a look at the speech that thrust booker t. Southern bases video and audio recordings, 19451992. He also set team records for the most walks and strikeouts in a season. The atlanta black crackers society for american baseball.
Stories of atlanta atlantas longest home run episode. Bob montag, an outfielder on the 1954 crackers, asserted in a recent interview. The atlanta crackers, known as the yankees of the minors were led by luke appling, eddie mathews, bob montag. Atlanta crackers outfielder bob montag didnt expect to hit a 518 mile home run. Long before the braves got their first sniff of sweet potato pie and fried chicken, atlanta already had. Even when he struck out, as he did frequently, the fans cheered and applauded him. The new york americans now known as the yankees began their first spring training on 18 march 1903 at piedmont park in atlanta, georgia. Baseball is a game with long stories, not only the rigors of a single season. The nearest professional baseball team to my home town of cartersville was the atlanta crackers of the southern association. Mary charlotte rose cook montag 18961976 find a grave.
Atlantas lineup was anchored by outfielder johnny rucker, who hit. After winning the southern association in 1938, the crackers lost the 1939 championship series in 7 games to the nashville vols. Bob montag obituary atlanta, ga atlanta journalconstitution. The atlanta crackers were minor league baseball teams based in atlanta, georgia, between. The atlanta crackers distinct from the atlanta black crackers were minor league baseball teams based in atlanta, georgia between 1901 and 1965. Atlanta crackers 1959 road jersey ebbets field flannels. Bob uecker appeared in 26 games for the crackers as a 24yearold catcher in 1959. The cracker s wer e atlan ta s home team until the atlan ta braves moved from milwaukee, wisconsin, in 1966. Player, bats, throws, birth date, height, weight, hometown.
In 1954 montag hit what he claimed was the longest home run in baseball history. 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. Babe ruth and eddie mathews were said to have both hit balls that got stuck in the tree during exhibition games. Hot stove founder johnny tallant brought along a bunch of his atlanta crackers memorabilia from his basement museum. 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. Atlan ta played its first southern association game against the. Manager damon berryhill left and the gwinnett stripers donned their new pinstriped home jerseys. His minor league career totals show he appeared in 1,489 games, hit 223 home runs and carried a. News obituary article temecula, calif bob montag, 82, crackers slugger by derrick henry during his eight seasons with the atlanta crackers at ponce. Baseball atlanta crackers vintage sports memorabilia for.
The majority of this collection consists of members of the atlanta crackers baseball team. Atlanta crackers outfielder bob montag didnt expect to hit a. 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. Saint augustine fl, 32086, saint augustine fl 32084, st augustine fl 32084 possible relatives.
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. 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. Their first three games were exhibition game shutout victories over the atlanta crackers. In 1966, the atlanta braves moved into atlanta fulton county stadium and the atlanta crackers moved to richmond virginia. Although the crackers played in the southern league the ball that is signed is an official texas league dick butler baseball. 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. The 1954 team became only the second team in francise history to win the southern association pennant, the sa shaughnessy playoffs, and the dixie series.
Bob montag, who hit 1 home runs, the most of any cracker and the secondmost in association history. For many years, they were owned and operated by mr. He had on an orange tshirt so big the short sleeves came down to his elbows. When he retired as playermanager after the 1959 season, he had hit 1 home runs as a cracker, the most in team history and the second highest in southern association league history. 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. Clyde king ss, chet nichols, vic rehm, earl mossor, clarence buck riddle, fred vogel, charles bicknell, eddie mchugh, bob. The atlanta braves are americas longest continuouslyoperating baseball. Bob was the most poplar player for the atlanta crackers in the 1950s. 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. 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 set the southern association career home run record 1. Mlb advanced media, national baseball hall of fame, gwinnett stripers. Somehow, one of our neighbors was a friend of several of the crackers players. Penitentiary, atlanta, etc the penitentiary petrodollar phase 2.
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. He would go on to play several years in the major leagues with the milwaukee braves, st. Bob montag was the most popular player for the atlanta crackers in the 1950s.
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. Catherine f montag, kathleen stelmokas montag, robert john montag. Bob montag would be the final home run leader for the crackers with 1 for his career. Atlantas offense depended on the power hitting of its outfielders, bob montag. He just wasnt ready for the league is what it amounted to. The crackers were atlanta s home team until the atlanta braves moved from milwaukee in 1966. Peepless teammates on the 1954 crackers and others who saw him play are also divided as to the motive for his demotion. The 1954 dixie series society for american baseball research.
The atlanta constitution from atlanta, georgia on may 7. Louis cardinals, a atlanta crackers 1959 road jersey ebbets field flannels. Outfielder, himes, giggie halt loss string over bears by jesse oltlar the atlanta. Atlantas longest home run season 1 episode 25 stories. It was an unusual home run to say the least saportareport. Bob montag, age 54, saint augustine, fl 32086 view full report known locations.
Atlanta baseball, earl mann, who rose from peanut vendor to owner. The atlanta crackers of the southern association ended the 1959 season with a record of 56 wins and 96 losses eighth in the sa. The atlanta braves celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1954 season of the atlanta crackers. This is for players of the atlanta crackers minor league baseball team, that played in the southern association in 1895 and 19031961 and the international league from 19611965.
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