Montgomery Rebels (baseball team)

Montgomery Rebels
1903–1980
(*1903–1914; 1916; 1926–1930; 1932; 1937–1943; 1946–1962; 1965–1980

The Montgomery Rebels was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise representing Montgomery, Alabama, that played in various leagues between 1912 and 1980. Rebels was the predominant nickname of the Montgomery franchise, although it was not the original moniker and was one of several used by the city's 20th century professional baseball teams, which began play in organized baseball in 1903. Others included the Billikens, Bombers, Capitals, Climbers, Grays, Lambs, Lions and Senators.

Before moving to Birmingham, Alabama, as the current edition of the Birmingham Barons in 1981, the Rebels spent 16 consecutive seasons, 1965 through 1980, as the Double-A Southern League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

Earlier, Montgomery had been a member of the Southern Association (1903–1914, and parts of 1943 and 1956), Sally League (1916, 1951 to early 1956), Southeastern League (1926–1930; 1932; 1937–1942; 1946–1950), and the Alabama–Florida League (1957–1962).

From 1950 through 1980, the franchise played at Paterson Field (originally Municipal Stadium). It won 12 championships between 1928 and 1977, including five Southern League titles in six years (1972–1973; 1975–1977). The Tigers served as the Rebels' primary Major League Baseball parent, sponsoring the team in the Southeastern, Sally and Alabama-Florida leagues, as well as in the SL.