View source for Montgomery Biscuits

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name             = Montgomery Biscuits
| founded          = 1973
| founding city    = Orlando, Florida
| based = 2004
| city             = Montgomery, Alabama
| logo             = MontgomeryBiscuits.png
| uniformlogo      = MontgomeryBiscuitsCap.png
| class level      = Double-A (1973–present)
| past class level = 
| current league   = [[Southern League (1964–present)|Southern League]] (1973–present)
| conference       = 
| division         = South Division
| past league      = 
| majorleague      = [[Tampa Bay Rays]] (1999–present)
| pastmajorleague  = {{plainlist|
* [[Seattle Mariners]] (1998)
* [[Chicago Cubs]] (1993–1997)
* [[Minnesota Twins]] (1973–1992)
}}
| nickname  = Montgomery Biscuits (2004–present)
| pastnames = {{plainlist|
* Orlando Rays (1997–2003)
* Orlando Cubs (1993–1996)
* Orlando SunRays (1990–1992)
* Orlando Twins (1973–1989)
}}
| colors = Light navy, burnt orange, gold, white, pale yellow<ref>{{cite web |title=Southern League Official Colors (1972 through present) |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/southern-league-official-colors-1972-through-present/ |website=TruColor.net |access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref><br>{{colorbox|#13294B}} {{colorbox|#BE531C}} {{colorbox|#EAAA00}} {{colorbox|#FFFFFF}} {{colorbox|#E4D77E}}

| ballpark  = [[Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium]] (2004–present)
| pastparks = {{plainlist|
* [[Champion Stadium]] (2000–2003)
* [[Tinker Field]] (1973–1999)
}}
| media          = [[MiLB.TV]] and [[WSFA]], [[WMSP]] 740 AM
| mascot         = Big Mo
| leaguenum        = 5
| leaguechamps     = {{hlist|1981|1991|1999|2006|2007}}
| divnum           = 10
| divisionchamps   = {{hlist|1975|1976|1981|1990|1991|1999|2006|2007|2024|2025}}
| firsthalfnum     = 6
| firsthalfchamps  = {{hlist|1978|1981|1989|1990|2019|2024}}
| secondhalfnum    = 14
| secondhalfchamps = {{hlist|1976|1991|1999|2006|2007|2012|2015|2016|2018|2019|2022|2023|2024|2025}}
| owner          = [[Lou DiBella]]<ref name=KReichard>{{cite web|first=Kevin|last=Reichard|title=Lou DiBella/Montgomery Biscuits Era Begins|url=http://ballparkdigest.com/2017/05/04/lou-dibellamontgomery-biscuits-era-begins/|website=Ballpark Digest|publisher=August Publications|date=May 4, 2017|access-date=May 4, 2017}}</ref>
| manager        = [[Kevin Boles]]
| gm             = Michael Murphy<ref>{{cite web|title=Front Office|url=https://www.milb.com/montgomery/ballpark/front-office|website=Montgomery Biscuits|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 4, 2017}}</ref>
| website        = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/montgomery|milb.com/montgomery}}
}}

The '''Montgomery Biscuits''' are a [[Minor League Baseball]] team based in [[Montgomery, Alabama]]. They are the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] affiliate of the [[Tampa Bay Rays]] and play in the [[Southern League (1964–present)|Southern League]]. The team was founded in [[Orlando, Florida]], in 1973 as the Orlando Twins, an affiliate of the [[Minnesota Twins]]. After remaining in the Minnesota minor league organization for 20 seasons, the team became an affiliate of the [[Chicago Cubs]] for four seasons and then the [[Seattle Mariners]] for one. In 1999, the team became an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, and they have remained in the organization ever since. They became members of the Double-A South in 2021, though this was renamed the Southern League in 2022.

Over the years, the club changed names several times. They were the Orlando Twins for 17 seasons, then were known as the SunRays, Cubs, and Rays. The club became known as the Biscuits when it moved from the Orlando area to Montgomery in 2004.

The club played at [[Tinker Field]] near downtown Orlando from 1973 until 2000, when they moved to [[Champion Stadium]] in nearby [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida]]. Since moving to Montgomery in 2004, the Biscuits have played at [[Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium]], a 7,000-seat facility which was built for the club in the downtown area.

==Franchise history==

===Orlando===
{{main|Orlando Rays}}
The franchise joined the [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] in 1973 as the Orlando Twins, a minor-league affiliate of the [[Minnesota Twins]], which held [[spring training]] in [[Orlando, Florida]] at the time. The Orlando Twins played at [[Tinker Field]] in downtown Orlando, near the Florida [[Citrus Bowl]] Stadium. In 1990, the team was renamed the Orlando Sun Rays. In 1993, the [[Chicago Cubs]] became the team's new major-league affiliate, and the team was renamed the Orlando Cubs. While still a Chicago Cubs affiliate, the team renamed itself again in 1997 and became the Orlando Rays. The following year, for one season only, the [[Seattle Mariners]] were the Rays' major-league affiliate. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, an [[American League]] expansion team in 1998, assumed the Orlando Rays' major-league affiliation the following year.

The Orlando Rays' last season at [[Tinker Field]] was 1999. From 2000 to 2003, the Orlando Rays played in [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida]], in [[Champion Stadium]] at [[Walt Disney World Resort]]. Despite the fact that the team played in a state-of-the-art stadium that was built in 1997 and used during spring training by the [[Atlanta Braves]], attendance did not meet expectations; after trailing the Southern League in attendance in multiple years, the Rays' owners announced the team would move to Montgomery in 2004 (terminating their 10-year lease with Disney after four seasons).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/18338898/httpwwwmyfoxorlandocomdppwildcard14090110-share-yankess-single-a-move-confirmeddppwildcard14090110-share-yankess-single-a-move-confirmed |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-09-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923061347/http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/18338898/httpwwwmyfoxorlandocomdppwildcard14090110-share-yankess-single-a-move-confirmeddppwildcard14090110-share-yankess-single-a-move-confirmed |archive-date=2013-09-23 }}</ref>

While in Orlando, the franchise won three Southern League championships: in 1981 (as the Twins), 1991 (as the Sun Rays), and 1999 (as the Rays).

===Montgomery===
The Biscuits became Montgomery's first [[Major League Baseball]]-affiliated team since 1980, when the [[Montgomery Rebels (baseball team)|Montgomery Rebels]], a [[Detroit Tigers]] affiliate, played their final season in the Southern League at Montgomery's [[Paterson Field]]. The Biscuits' owners, Sherrie Myers and Tom Dickson, were selected from six different ownership groups during an extensive search for a public-private partner by the City of Montgomery. Myers and Dickson selected the team's nickname from over 4,000 entries in a "name the team" contest, due in part to tying into indigenous affiliation and potential marketing and pun possibilities (for example, "Hey, Butter, Butter, Butter" or the team's souvenir store, the "Biscuit Basket"). Several successful minor league teams have campy, quirky names to relate to families and kids. During games, [[biscuit]]s are shot from an air cannon, into the stands.  The official team colors are Butter and Blue.

On September 15, 2006, in just their third year of existence, the Biscuits defeated the [[Huntsville Stars]] to win the team's first Southern League championship in Montgomery. One year later, in 2007, the Biscuits again defeated the Huntsville Stars to win their second consecutive Southern League championship. They became the first team since the 1975 to 1977 Montgomery Rebels to win back-to-back championships.

The Biscuits were sold to a group of investors led by [[Richmond Flying Squirrels]] owner [[Lou DiBella]] in a transaction that closed on April 27, 2017.<ref name=KReichard/>

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Biscuits were organized into the [[Double-A South]].<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> Though finishing the 2021 season in second place in the Southern Division at 62–55,<ref name=BR2021league>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b18dd63f |title=2021 Double-A South |website=Baseball-Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> the two teams with the highest winning percentages in the regular season competed in a best-of-five series to determine the league champion.<ref name=KHenegan7-1-2021>{{cite news |first=Kelsie |last=Heneghan |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/playoffs-return-to-minor-league-baseball |title=Playoffs Return to the Minor Leagues |website=Minor League Baseball |date=July 1, 2021 |accessdate=October 8, 2021}}</ref> With the circuit's second-best record, the Biscuits faced the [[Mississippi Braves]] in the best-of-five series but lost the championship, 3–2.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sheehan |first=Stephanie |url=https://www.milb.com/news/mississippi-wins-double-a-south-title |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927015947/https://www.milb.com/news/mississippi-wins-double-a-south-title |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |title=Rangel Steers Braves to Double-A South Crown |website=Minor League Baseball |date=September 26, 2021 |accessdate=October 8, 2021}}</ref> Jonathan Aranda won the league Most Valuable Player Award.<ref name=2021awards>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/fans/league-all-stars |title=Postseason All-Stars |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=October 8, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008130129/https://www.milb.com/fans/postseason-all-stars |archive-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, the Double-A South became known as the Southern League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.<ref name=SLrename>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref>

The Montgomery Biscuits took on the alternate identity of the “Alabama Peanut Runners” for two games on August 28 and August 31, 2025, as a tribute to Dr. [[George Washington Carver]] and his pioneering work with peanuts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caputo |first=Paul |date=2025-07-19 |title=Montgomery Biscuits honour George Washington Carver with Peanut Runners identity |url=https://news.sportslogos.net/2025/07/19/montgomery-biscuits-honour-george-washington-carver-with-peanut-runners-identity/baseball/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Mascot==
Their [[mascot]]s are "Big Mo", an orange beast that loves biscuits,<ref>[http://www.biscuitsbaseball.com/COMMUNITY/big_mo.html Meet Big Mo!]</ref> and "Monty", an [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphized]] [[Biscuit (bread)|buttermilk biscuit]]. Monty appears in the logo and on the hat. The mascot for the Orlando Rays was "Spike", a [[bear]].<ref>[http://www.baseballroadtrip.net/AA/Southern/Orlando/Orlando.html Orlando Rays<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The origin of Spike is unknown but presumed to predate the Devil Rays, as the club has been controlled by the Cubs and by the Twins (who have a bear mascot, [[TC (mascot)|T.C. Bear]]).

In 2014, a new live mascot was introduced and also named with a contest in which 4,800 entries submitted ideas for a micro-mini pot belly pig which became Miss Gravy, Duchess of Pork. Miss Gravy "retired to a farm in Wetumpka" in 2016.<ref>[https://www.alabamanews.net/2016/08/24/biscuits-mascot-miss-gravy-retire-wetumpka/ Biscuits’ mascot Miss Gravy to retire to Wetumpka]</ref>

==Notable alumni==
[[Major League Baseball]] players who played for the Biscuits (or earlier incarnations) include: 
{{div col|colwidth=14em}}
*[[Dewon Brazelton]]
*[[Jorge Cantu]]
*[[Carl Crawford]]
*[[Matt Diaz]]
*[[Joey Gathright]]
*[[Chad Gaudin]]
*[[Jonny Gomes]]
*[[Toby Hall]]
*[[Jason Hammel (baseball)|Jason Hammel]]
*[[Scott Kazmir]]
*[[Kevin Kiermaier]]
*[[Evan Longoria]]
*[[Seth McClung]]
* [[Fernando Perez (baseball)|Fernando Perez]] 
*[[David Price (baseball)|David Price]]
*[[Shawn Riggans]]
*[[Kenny Rosenberg]] (born 1995)
*[[Juan Salas]]
*[[James Shields (pitcher)|James Shields]]
*[[Blake Snell]]
*[[Andy Sonnanstine]]
*[[Cal Stevenson]] (born 1996)
*[[Melvin Upton, Jr.|B. J. Upton]]
*[[Delmon Young]]
*[[Stephen Vogt]]
*[[Mikie Mahtook]]
*[[Taylor Motter]]
*[[Carson Williams (baseball)|Carson Williams]]{{div col end}}

==Roster==
[[File:Mudcats-Biscuits at Five County Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|The Biscuits (in navy) on the road at [[Five County Stadium]] during a 2011 game against the [[Carolina Mudcats (1991–2011)|Carolina Mudcats]]]]
{{Montgomery Biscuits roster}}

==Television and radio==
All Montgomery Biscuits games are televised live on [[MiLB.TV]] and select games are also televised live on [[WSFA]]. [[WMSP]] 740 AM provides radio broadcasts of games. Since 2016, the Biscuits play-by-play commentator is Chris Adams-Wall.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.biscuitsbaseball.com Official site]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QN9yunmDDY Video history of the team]

{{Tampa Bay Rays}}
{{Southern League (baseball)}}
{{Alabama Sports}}

[[Category:1973 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1973]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Double-A South teams]]
[[Category:Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Alabama]]
[[Category:Southern League (1964–present) teams]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Montgomery, Alabama]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Rays minor league affiliates]]