Get ready for some baseball thrills down south - a new team is joining the Southern League for 2005 - the Mississipi Braves (Update by the migalareport.com)

Attendance in the 10-team Southern League AA rose from a little over 1,000,000 in 1978 to a successful 2,445,989 in 2004.

Over the years some of the big-name stars of the majors leagues got valuable experience in the Southern League, Eddie Murray, Dale Murphy, Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell, Andres Galarragua, Jose Canseco, Jeff Conine, Javy Lopez, Ryan Kelso, Alex Rodriguez, Juan Pierre¡¦and donÃÕ forget Michael Jordan.

Businessman Dave G. Elmore, the main man of the Elmore Sports Group Ltd., looks to have assembled the perfect package for fan enjoyment with the Birmingham Barons for 2005. <>

The team has averaged more than 300,000 fans over the last 10 seasons and plays in the Hoover Met Stadium, built in 1985 in Birmingham Alabama and holds 10,800 fans. Dimensions are 340 feet down both lines and 405 to dead-centerfield. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 205-988-3200.

Under Barons manager Razor Shines the team is ready to take on its opponents of the Southern League of Professional Baseball Double AA ball.

An affiliate of the Chicago White Sox the Birmingham Barons should have its lineup packed with young White Sox recent draft picks in 2005. Pitchers Brandon McCarthy, Sean Tracey, Gio Gonzalez and Kris Honel along with outfielders Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney, and Chris Young, third baseman Josh Fields, shortstop Pedro Lopez and catcher Francisco Hernandez are highly rated by Á£aseball America.¡¦Note: third baseman Jose Fields should not be confused with the pitcher who played for the Barons last season.

Note: Pitcher Brandon McCarthy sparlked in spring training for the White Sox and will most likely move up to TripleA ball in 2005.

It seems like more-and-more young girls and women are attending minor league baseball games than ever-before. We would venture to guess the reason could very-well-be because more females are physically playing baseball.

It is fun to be a fan is the motto of the Elmore Sports Group Ltd., the owners of the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Baseball League.

2004 Birmingham Barons Pitching Staff with W/L,

Josh Fields 3-4... K. Keller 0-3... B. McNichol... N. Lubisich 0-0... J. Bullard 8-4¡¦B. LaMura 4-4... D. Ulacia 8-8... R. Purvis 0-0... W. Allen 0-4

Baseball Historian and minorleaguehats.com

Signed as a free agent by Ron Schueler of the Chicago White Sox Michael Jordan wore Barons uniform # 45. His signing certainly drew heavy media coverage and made headline news <>

The lanky basketball star joined the Birmingham Barons after playing in a baseball exhibition on April 8 1994 in Chicago between the White Sox and Cubs. In this game Jordan got two hits in 5 at bats.

Michael played right-field in his first professional baseball game against Chattanooga of the Southern League. Before 10,359 cheering fans and 130 members of U.S. and international press, Jordan was 0-for-3. His first at bat he flew out off of pitcher John Courthright.

Michael Jordan played one season for the Birmingham Barons before returning to basketball. Scouting reports would state - a so-so baseball career.

It is a good time had by all, and best of all, most teams in the Southern League charge just $8.00 for box seats and $6.00 or-so for reserved grandstand.

C U Round the Ballparks

2004 Season Standings:

The Chattanooga Lockouts rang up a 49-21 record in the regular season, that is a stunning .700 percentage. Then, the Mobile Bay Bears and the Tennessee Smokies rallied to shared the playoff championship title in 2004.

North Division:

Chattanooga Lookouts 49-21... Greenville Braves 37-33... Carolina Mudcats 36-33... Jacksonville Suns 31-37... Tennessee Smokies 30-40

South Division:

Birmingham Barons 38-32... West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx 33-36... Huntsville Stars 33-37... Mobile Bay Bears 33-37... Montgomery Bisquits 28-42

2005 West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx Roster

Outfielders: - Felix Pie, Matt Murtan, Adam Greenberg and Dwaine Bacon

Infielders: - Buck Coats, Ryan Theriot, Matt Craig, Casey McGehee, Jemel Spearman and Brandon Sing

Catchers: - Jose Reyes and Paul Oõoole

Pitchers: - Federico Baez, Rocky Cherry, Jon Connolly, Yorkin Ferreras, Rich Hill, Kevin McGlinchy, Ricky Nolasco, Ryan OMalley, Carmen Pignatiello, Jae-kuk Ryu, Jon Searles and Andy Shipman

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Southern Baseball League presented by the One and Only Baseball Historian

Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League DoubleA Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Riverwalk Stadium Leftfield 314 feet, Centerfield 401 feet, Rightfield 332 feet, Capacity 7,000

Come See This Stuff! Southern League

A $ Million Dollar Scoreboard Highlights the Outfield Scene

Some exciting come-from-behind baseball occurs in Riverwalk Stadium because of the short distance (314 ft) to the outfield wall in leftfield. When the home team bats as the game enters the late innings fans in the stands start clapping and eagerly look-for a game-winning double-off-the-wall or a home run over it.

Make no mistake though, the leftfield wall jettisons out quickly and so it takes a hard-shot to fly into-or-over the wall.

Montgomery Biscuits News Update April 27 2005

First 19 Games of 2005 Season:

Leading the team are outfielders Elijah Dukes .343, 6 Ds, 4 Hrs, 13 RBIs... Michael Curry .284 with 4 doubles... Delmon Young .301, 3 Hrs, 15 RBIs... Luis Mateo .235... 1B Gabriel Martinez .161, 3 DS, 1 Hr, 10 RBIs... 2b Fernando Cortez ..431, 2 DS, 2 Ts, 18 Runs, 11 RBIs

3B Rico Washington .273, 5 Ds, 2 Hrs, 12 RBIs... 3B/IF Eric Reese .237, with 3 Ds... SS John Raburn .396, 2 Ds, 9 Runs, 7 RBIs... IF J Brent Butler .243 3 DS, 1 Hrs¡¦Catcher Chairon Isenia .301, 4 Ds... Shawn Riggans .383 4 Ds, 1 Hrs, 8 RBIs... Graig Merrit 2G

Pitchers Jason Cromer 3-1, 3.57 ERA in 4G... Jon Switzer 2-1, 3.66 in 4G... Chris Seddon 2-0, 8.84 in 4G... Josh Parker 0-1, 4.26 in 7G... Scott Autrey 1-3, 7.91 in 4G

Brian Lockwood 0-2, 9.35 in 2G.. Chris Finn 0-0, 1.54 in 6G... Chad Orvella 0-0, 0.00 in 6G... Sam Walton 0-0, 3.85 in 5G... Carlos Hines 0-0, 4.82 in 5G... Brian Henderson 2-0, 3.72 in 7Gs... Jose Diaz 0-0, 0.87 in 7G

C U Round the Minor League Ballparks

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Southern League of Professional Baseball - the Montgomery Biscuits - Internet Baseball Service provided by baseballhistorian.com from the Migala Report

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Outfielder, Pitcher, IF Right-handed, Buffalo & Chicago of the National League 1880; Toledo AA 1884; Boston NL 1885-1886; Philadelphia AA 1887-1888

Baseball Player Tom Poorman characterized the dead ball era style of play by exhibiting hustle, speed on the base paths and having the athletic ability to play a variety of baseball positions.

As a rookie major league baseball player in 1880, Tom Poorman played 17 games in the outfield and pitched in 13 other. He completed 9-of-10 starts, relieved in 3 other, had a 3-8 record, 3.87 earned run average and batted .168.

Released by the Chicago Baseball Team after his rookie year Tom Poorman returned to Lock Haven PA, where he was born and raised. Born: 10/14/1857.

When the economy started booming in mid-1880s, especially the manufacturing base of the Midwest, major league baseball expanded rapidly. The National League (NL) added new teams, the American Association (AA) was formed, 1882, and the Union Association was started, 1884. The high demand for more baseball players brought more dollars per/se.

Tom Poorman returned to the majors for Opening Day 1884 with Toledo of the AA, playing in 94 of-the Toledo 104 games. He was the starting outfielder in 93 games, and pitched and lost one game, allowing 3 runs in a complete game. Batting .233 in 382 at bats. Note: During this era the average batting average of all players was .240.

The next season Tom Poorman jumped to the NL enticed by a much higher salary (estimated $500-$700)). In 1865 and 1886 playing with Boston (later named Braves) he played the outfield position only, batting .238 and .260.

1887 Signing with the Philadelphia Athletics Baseball Team of the American Association. Tom Poorman played all 135 games of the expanded schedule, batted a career-high .265, lined 18 doubles and led the AA with 19 triples.

Tom Poorman career stats: .244 BA, 65 Ds, 43 Ts, 12 Hrs, 134 Stolen bases, 498 hits in 2043 at bars, 496 games, 103Ws, 99Ks.

It was certainly normal during the dead ball era to see most of the action played out in the infield. Major league baseball history attests to the fact that baseball was a rough-and-tumble game in the 1870s thru the early 1900s.

Batters bunted, slapped or chopped the ball, and infielders tripped base runners and base runners retaliated by sliding into bases with spikes held high. Nimble infielders were held in high regard by teams managers. Long time major league manager Ned Hanlon was once quoted in a Baltimore newspaper, I need fielders who are not afraid to get a few stitches and be ready to come right back into the game.

Dead Ball Era Baseball History

Three major leagues - National League (NL) American Association (AA) Union Association (UA)

* Henry Myers Shortstop 5 foot 9 inches, 159 lbs, Right-handed Born in Philadelphia. In 1881 played one game as a 23-year old rookie for the Providence Grays Baseball Team of the National League, no hits in 4 at bats. Signed with the Baltimore Orioles of the AA for 1882. An aggressive player, Henry Myers managed and played 68 games at short and pitched in 6 other games, batted .180. Pitching record 0-2 w/l, completed 1-of-2 starts, pitched 26 innings. Played in six games for the Wilmington Quicksteps Baseball Team of the UA in 1884, batted .125.

* Sam Barkley Second baseman & First Baseman 5 ft, 11 inches, 178 lbs RH a solid fielder and a first class hitter, Sam Barkley playing with Toledo led the American Association with 39 doubles in his rookie season, 1884, and batted .306, scored 71 runs and played in all 104 regular scheduled games. Sam Barkley career stats: .258 BA, 126 Ds, 39 Ts, 7 Hrs, 362 runs scored. Toledo AA 1884; St. Louis AA 1885, Pittsburgh AA 1886; Pittsburgh NL 1887; Kansas City AA 1888-1889.

* Charlie Bastian Second Baseman & Shortstop Right-handed Born on July 4 1860 in Philadelphia a gutsy infielder he played eight years in the majors, 1884-1891, including 4 with Philadelphia from 1885-88. Played 243 career games at SS, 232 at 2B, 30 at 3B, and pitched one game. Teams relied on Charlie Bastian fielding expertise. Batted .189 career in 1806 at bats, led the NL in strike outs with 82 in his first year in the National League. Struck out 308 times, walked 179 times in 504 career games.

* Chappy Lane First Baseman & OF Born in Pittsburgh played two seasons in the American Association, 1882 with Pittsburgh, batted .178 in 57 games, with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, scored 26 runs. George Lane played in 1884 with Toledo of the AA, hit .228 with 9 DS, 5 Ts, 1 Hr. An all-around athlete Chappy Lane played 89 career games at 1B, 22 in the outfield, 3 games as catcher, and two at 2nd base.