SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
The sixth annual SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference was held virtually on September 20-22, 2024.
This year’s conference — co-sponsored by SABR and the International Women’s Baseball Center and hosted by Rockford University — was a virtual Zoom event.
The conference was highlighted by a keynote presentation from author and photographer Jean Fruth; the My Baseball Story Panel with Kara Blackstone, Jillian Geib, Bethany Morlan, Allison Levin, and Kat Williams; the Uganda Baseball Panel with Anna Kimbrell, Meggie Meidlinger, and Kat Williams; the Umpires Panel with Greta Langhenry, Tiesh Diaz, and Perry Barber; research presentations, pylon unveiling, and the presentation of the Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award to Barbara Gregorich.
- Video highlights: Click here to watch highlights from the 2024 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
- Program: Download the 2024 conference program (PDF)
- Schedule: Click here for the full schedule of panels and presentations. Zoom sessions were held from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 20; 10:00 a.m.-8:20 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, and 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 22. (All times listed are in the Eastern Time Zone.)
All registrants are encouraged to send a children’s sports book to be donated to the local Rockford community. Examples include: Players in Pigtails; She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story; A Whole New Ball Game, etc. Books can be shipped directly to IWBC at: Rockford University, 5100 Building Room 25, 5050 E. State Street, Rockford, IL 61108. Or choose a book and donate in your local community and send us a note about where you donated.
Welcome Remarks and Virtual Happy Hour
Welcome Remarks and Virtual Happy Hour
(YouTube)
RP: Amanda Lane Cumming
Amanda Lane Cumming, “Women of the Portland Mavericks”
(YouTube)
Umpires Panel
Umpires Panel: Greta Langhenry, Tiesh Diaz, moderator Perry Barber
(YouTube)
RP: Ryan Woodward
Ryan Woodward, “She Played Here: Mapping History on the Women’s Baseball Heritage Trail”
(YouTube)
RP: Cathy Headley
Cathy Headley, “Fandom, Family, Baseball”
(YouTube)
My Baseball Story Panel
My Baseball Story Panel: Bethany Morlan, Allison Levin, Jillian Geib, Kara Blackstone, moderator Kat Williams
(YouTube)
Women’s World Cup Recap
Women’s World Cup Recap: Kat Williams and Leslie Heaphy
(YouTube)
RP: Naomi Ryan
Naomi Ryan, “A Hat and an Opportunity: Billy Wagner leads Naomi Ryan to the Next Level”
(YouTube)
RP: Anna Sielaff
Anna Sielaff, “Champaign County’s All-American Girl: Dottie Schroeder”
(YouTube)
Keynote Address: Jean Fruth
Keynote Address: Jean Fruth
(YouTube)
Pylon Unveil and Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award
Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award winner: Barbara Gregorich
(YouTube)
RP: Katherine Walden and Gregory Bond
Katherine Walden and Gregory Bond, “The Foundry Field Project: Baseball, Community & History in South Bend’s Urban Core”
(YouTube)
RP: Jason Schwartz
Jason Schwartz, “Before Jackie: The Early Life of Rachel Robinson”
(YouTube)
RP: Karen DeLuca Stephens
Karen DeLuca Stephens, “Eleanor Roosevelt, The National Youth Administration, and Boston Youth Baseball: 1935-1939”
(YouTube)
RP: Barrett Snyder
Barrett Snyder, “Striking Out Mental Health Stigma in the Dugout: Breaking Barriers with Melissa Lambert”
(YouTube)
RP: Cathy Kreyche
Cathy Kreyche, “Women in Play: The 24-Hour for Africa Baseball Game at Tucson Electric Park in 2003”
(YouTube)
RP: Fabio Montella
Fabio Montella, “The Murrays”
(YouTube)
Uganda Baseball Panel
Uganda Baseball Panel: Anna Kimbrell, Meggie Meidlinger, moderator Kat Williams
(YouTube)
Past coverage:
- 2023 video highlights
- 2022 video highlights
- 2021 video highlights
- 2020 video highlights
- 2019: Click here for highlights and photos from the 2019 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference, held in conjunction with the Arizona Fall League