Montgomery Rebels

Southern League (1965-1970)
Dixie Association (1971)
Southern League (1972-1980)

Background

The Montgomery Rebels were the Class AA farm club of the Detroit Tigers for sixteen seasons from 1965 until 1980. The Rebels dominated the Southern League during the 1970’s, winning five titles in a six-year span from 1972 through 1977.

Notable Names

Detroit had a rich farm system during this era. Future All-Stars such as Mark Fidrych, Steve Kemp, Mike Marshall, Jack Morris, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker all spent time in Montgomery on their way to Detroit.

Jim Leyland played for the Rebs from 1967 to 1970 and returned to manage the club during the summer of 1974. He would later manage the Florida Marlins to the 1997 World Series championship. He also brought the Detroit Tigers to two World Series appearances in 2006 and 2012, losing both times.

Move To Birmingham

In October 1980, a group of investors led by Art Clarkson purchased the Rebels and move the team to Birmingham’s Rickwood Field. After the departure of the Rebels, Montgomery went without pro baseball for nearly a quarter century. The Southern League returned to Montgomery in 2004 with the arrival of the Montgomery Biscuits

The former Rebels franchise still exists today in the Southern League as the Birmingham Barons.

Trivia

Pitcher James Brown hurled two no-hitters in eighteen days for the Rebs in July 1968. He blanked the Charlotte Hornets on July 7th and the Birmingham Athletics on July 25th, the latter gem falling on his 24th birthday. Sadly, Brown would pitch only 8 more innings of pro ball after the 1968 season.

On July 1, 1969 Rebels first baseman George Kalafatis re-wrote the Southern League record books by blasting four home runs out of Paterson Field against the Birmingham Athletics. Kalafatis never made the Majors as a player, but later became a prominent sports agent representing Boston Red Sox slugger Jim Rice and Cleveland Indians player/manager Mike Hargrove during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Rebels Pitcher Chuck Swanson through a 9-inning perfect game against the Savannah Indians at Paterson Field on August 14th, 1970 in front of 556 fans.

Montgomery Rebels Shop

Contains Affiliate Links

Baseball in Montgomery
by Clarence Watkins

In Memoriam

First baseman George Kalafatis (Rebels ’67-’69) died on February 4, 1995 at age 50. New York Times obituary.

Pitcher Mark Fidrych (Rebels ’75) died in an accident while repairing his dump truck on April 13, 2009. The Bird was 54 years old. New York Times obituary.

Downloads

8-23-1975 Rebels vs. Asheville Orioles Game Notes

Links

Southern League Media Guides

Southern League Programs

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