SABR 53: Tom Zocco honored for attending 50 consecutive SABR Conventions
Tom Zocco of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, was honored at the SABR 53 Welcome Reception on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Irving, Texas, for reaching a unique milestone: attending his 50th consecutive SABR Convention.
Zocco joined SABR on September 24, 1971, just one month after the organization’s founding at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown, New York. He was the 47th member in SABR’s rolls. He attended his first annual convention in 1974 at Philadelphia — and has never missed one since.
“I was 26 years old and one of the youngest people in the room,” Zocco said. “Now I’m one of the old guys. Coming back and seeing all my friends is still a highlight every year.”
At the 1974 SABR convention, attended by 40 members and friends, guest speakers included broadcaster Gene Kelley and sports writer Fred Lieb. The Negro Leagues Committee also organized a reunion with a dozen former players, including Hall of Famer Judy Johnson and Ted Page. Dick Cramer, who helped organize the convention, and Pete Palmer formed a new research committee on statistical analysis (not yet known as “sabermetrics”) that would later revolutionize the game.
Other longtime members who have attended at least 20 conventions were also recognized during the SABR 53 Welcome Reception: Bill Carle (45), Steve Krevisky (39), Neal Traven (37), Jon Daniels (36), Rick Dempsey (34), Barry Mednick (34), John Carter (32), Leslie Heaphy (31), Mark Armour (30), Rich Arpi (30), Dan Levitt (30), Rob Neyer (29), Steve Gietschier (28), Roger Erickson (26), Scott Fischthal (26), Francis Kinlaw (26), Ron Weaver (26), Paul Parker (25), Stephen Roney (24), Cecilia Tan (24), Barb Mantegani (23), Allen Tait (22), Seamus Kearney (22), Jeff Bower (22), Sean Forman (22), Steve Steinberg (22), Anthony Giacalone (21), Mike McCullough (21), John Gottko (21), Rick Huhn (20), and Duke Goldman (20).
Tom Zocco was joined by other SABR members who have attended at least 20 annual conventions on June 25, 2025, at the SABR 53 Welcome Reception in Irving, Texas.
Originally published: June 26, 2025. Last Updated: June 27, 2025.