Third Annual Southern Association Baseball Conference
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THIRD ANNUAL SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION BASEBALL CONFERENCE APRIL 8 th 2006 ENGEL STADIUM CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE June 10, 1918 Southern Association of Base Ball Clubs league document, containing signatures of the presidents of the eight member teams. Ironically, due to the United States’ participation in World War I, the league would suspend play approximately two weeks after the signing of this document. New Orleans won the abbreviated season with a 49-21 record, 7.5 games ahead of Little Rock. Courtesy of the Birmingham Barons. Third Annual Southern Association Baseball Conference Engel Stadium Chattanooga, Tennessee Saturday, April 8th, 2006 9:45 A . M . Morning coffee and donuts 10:00 A . M . Welcome and introductory remarks 10:15 A . M . David Brewer “Take Me Out to the Ballpark: The Restoration and Revitalization of Rickwood Field” 10:45 A . M . Stephen Martini “The Chattanooga Lookouts & 100 Seasons of Scenic City Baseball” 11:15 A . M . Morning break 11:30 A . M . Player Discussion Panel: Tentative: Hillis Layne, Cal Ermer, Roy Hawes 12:15 P. M . Lunch 1:15 P. M . Derby Gisclair “The Early Southern Association 1901-1926: The Stories and Tobacco Cards of the Players Who Appeared in the Southern Association” 1:45 P. M . David Jenkins “Baseball in Chattanooga” 2:15 P. M . Dan Creed “Friends of Engel Stadium” 2:45 P. M . Afternoon break 3:00 P. M . Derby Gisclair “Arthur O. Schott: His Legacy and Career” 3:30 P. M . Stadium tour 4:00 P. M . Closing remarks 4:30 P. M . Book signings & memorabilia exhibits Original 1957 Lookouts scorecard.Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Third Annual Southern Association Baseball Conference PRESENTERS: David M. Brewer Employed since 1998 as the Executive Director of the Friends of Rickwood, David Brewer has served as the primary coordinator for the restoration and revitalization of Birmingham, Alabama’s Rickwood Field. He holds an M.A. degree in History from the University of Alabama Birmingham, with a focus on American social history and historic preservation. Stephen Martini Founder of his own publishing house, Dry Ice Publishing, Stephen Martini lives and writes in Tennessee, and is the author of The Chattanooga Lookouts & 100 Seasons of Scenic City Baseball, his second non-fiction title. The recipient of numerous press association awards, he previously worked as a journalist for nearly five years in both North Carolina and Tennessee. Derby Gisclair A lifelong resident of New Orleans, S. Derby Gisclair is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and its Oral History, Pictorial History, and 19th Century Committees. He is a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences on baseball history and serves as the editor of Between the Lines, an annual compilation of baseball research and writings of the Schott-Pelican Chapter of SABR in New Orleans. His articles have appeared in Bleacher Creature, BaseballLibrary.com, and in a variety of other publications. His first book, Baseball in New Orleans, was published by Arcadia in April of 2004. His second book, Baseball at Tulane University, is scheduled for publication by Arcadia in April of 2006. He is currently working on a his- tory of the New Orleans Pelicans. David Jenkins Author of the recently published Baseball in Chattanooga (Arcadia Press), David Jenkins has been a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) for more than 20 years, and was the Lookouts’ beat reporter for the Chattanooga Free Press for 18 years. He has published articles in Baseball America, the Sporting News, and a number of sports hobby publications. Dan Creed Born in Virginia and raised in Elkton, Maryland, Dan Creed attended Tennessee Temple University and Covenant College. He has been a resident of Chattanooga for the past 35 years, and has spent much of that time collecting local baseball information and memorabilia. Dan is currently working on a grass roots effort to save Engel Stadium. Capacity crowd at Chattanooga’s Engel Stadium for the September 25, 1932 Dixie Series game between the Lookouts and the Beaumont (Texas) Explorers, pennant winners of the Texas League. The Lookouts defeated the Explorers 4 games to 1 to clinch the Dixie Series title. Courtesy of Josh Leventhal. Lookout’s owner Joe Engel signed 17 year old Jackie Mitchell to play ball in Chattanooga on March 28, 1931. Five days later, on April 2, in front of 4,000 fans, she struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game versus the Yankees. Courtesy of Clarence Watkins Elliot Bigelow, here wearing his Birmingham game face, was a consistent power hitter during his seven Southern Association seasons, including 4 years spent in Chattanooga, where he batted .349 (1925), .370 (1926), .331 (1930), and .372 (1931). Bigelow also led the league in 1925 with 27 triples and in 1931 with 125 RBI’s. Courtesy of Birmingham Barons. A consistent fielder and outstanding batter for the Lookouts in 1932 and 1933, Cecil Travis made his Major League debut with the Senators on May 16, 1933, by getting 5 hits in a 12 inning victory over the Indians. He left baseball in 1942 to join the army, and Griggs spent parts of four seasons returned to the Senators in 1945 despite suffering in the Majors, as a right handed frost bite in the Battle of the Bulge. pitcher for the Senators, and com- Courtesy of Clarence Watkins piled a record of 6 wins and 26 losses. His 5 years in the Southern Association included 1954, 1955, 1957, and 1960 in Chattanooga, and 1961 in Macon. Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Courtesy of Almost History, Phil Haney, Aaron Mesh and Stephen Boatright. Postcard proclaiming Joe Engel, who the stadium is named after, the “P.T. Barnum of Baseball”. The “modern baseball plant seats 12,000 and is the home of the Lookouts, member of the Southern Association.” Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Engel scoreboard and left field wall, with both television and radio sponsor in view. Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Willie Miranda, signed by the Senators in 1948 as an amateur free agent, played two full seasons in Chattanooga (1949 and 1950) before being called-up after 80 games in the 1951 season, making his Major League debut on May 6, 1951. Courtesy of Clarence Watkins Niehoff spent more than 50 years in baseball, including a Major League playing career that ended in 1918 due to a broken leg. His Southern Association managing career consist- Joe Engel, the colorful owner of the Lookouts, ed of stints in Mobile, Atlanta, Knoxville, Little pitched in the majors for Washington, Cincinnati, Rock, and Chattanooga, including leading the and Cleveland between 1912 and 1920, but is best Lookouts to the 1932 league championship. known as a flamboyant baseball promoter, earning Courtesy of Lamar Smith. him the nickname “the Baron of Ballyhoo.” Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Known as one of the hardest hitters in baseball, Killebrew spent 22 years in the American League, and was inducted into A solid hitter, Hillis Layne was a member the Hall of Fame in 1984. While a mem- of the 1940, 1941, and 1946 Lookouts, ber of the Lookouts, he led the league in and also the 1941, 1944, and 1945 1957 with 29 home runs, and followed in Senators. The Whitwell, Tennessee native 1958 with 17 before going up to the was also a versatile infielder, playing sec- Senators after playing in 96 games that ond base, third base, and shortstop for year for Chattanooga. Chattanooga. Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Prior to his 11-year Major League career, Gil Coan had in Chattanooga in 1945 one of the most impressive seasons in Southern Association history. In addition to taking the league batting title (.372), he set a new league record by hitting in 38 Tobacco card featuring Carlton Molesworth, consecutive games in July and August, set another league record Baron player and player-manager from 1906 with 28 triples, took the home run title with 16, and the doubles to 1921. Although Molesworth is primarily title with 40. Coan also led the league with 37 stolen bases and known for his tenure with Birmingham, he 201 hits, while finishing second in runs (12) and RBI (117). also played for the Lookouts in 1901 and Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. 1902, and the Montgomery Rebels 1903 to 1905. Original collector card. Jammin’ in Engel: 1930’s view of enthusiastic Engel crowd gathered outside park’s entrance. Courtesy of Clarence Watkins. Special thanks to: Dr. Johnnie Grace and Martin Grace Benefit Group Joe DeLeonard and the Triple Play Baseball Club Lamar Smith and Alagasco Skip Nipper and sulphurdell.com Derby Gisclair and neworleansbaseball.com Liz Rybka Dan Creed friends of rickwood 205.458.8161 or www.rickwood.com.