This Week in SABR: September 19, 2025
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, September 19, 2025.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
Early registration now open for 2026 SABR Analytics Conference
SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference begins tonight
Last call: Free Rapsodo course offered with SABR Analytics Certification purchase
SABR Digital Library: Vinotinto Venezuela Béisbol, 1939–2024
Subscribe to the Fall 2025 print edition of the Baseball Research Journal
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Early registration now open for 2026 SABR Analytics Conference
Early registration is now open for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held in person from February 27-March 1, 2026, at the Beus Center for Law and Society on Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus in Phoenix, Arizona.
We’ll bring together the top minds in the baseball analytics community to discuss, debate, and share insightful ways to analyze and examine the great game of baseball. Register today to join us!
- Registration: Click here to register for the 2026 SABR Analytics Conference. Early-bird registration is $395 for SABR members, $495 for non-members, and $150 for currently enrolled high school or college students. Student-only virtual registration is $50. Students should email Scott Carter with a photo of their student ID to receive the discounted registration link.
- Student Registration: Students should email Scott Carter with a photo of their student ID to receive a special link to register at a discounted rate. Students have the option of choosing virtual ($50) or in-person ($150) registration. Both include access to General Session panels and presentations on Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1, and a student-only virtual session on Thursday, February 26. All student registrations also include a one-year SABR membership ($25 value) and a complimentary Rapsodo Certified Course ($395 value). SABR membership will be fulfilled after event sign-up and access to Rapsodo course will be delivered after the conference.
- Research Presentations, presented by Teamworks Intelligence: Present your baseball research at the 2026 SABR Analytics Conference. Deadline to submit an abstract: November 21, 2025.
- Diamond Dollars Case Competition: Click here to register your team for the 2026 Diamond Dollars Case Competition. Registration is $1,750 per team, which includes admission to all SABR Analytics Conference sessions and a one-year SABR membership for each participant. Chaperones and advisors looking to attend the conference should register themselves separately here.
- Yoseloff Scholarship: Students, apply now for a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend the 2026 SABR Analytics Conference. Deadline: December 19, 2025.
- Research Awards: We’re seeking nominations for the 2026 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards. Deadline: December 19, 2025.
- Certification Courses: The first three courses in the online, on-demand SABR Analytics Certification program, including the newest offering Level Three – Introduction to Baseball Programming, are available now. Click here to learn more or to sign up.
Submit your presentation abstract for 2026 SABR Analytics Conference
SABR is excited to announce the call for presentations, presented by Teamworks Intelligence, for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held on February 27-March 1, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Abstracts of proposed research presentations should be no more than 500 words in length, and must include the abstract’s title, review of previous work on the subject, a summary of the research methodology and preliminary and/or final results, and the expected contribution to the field of baseball analytics offered by this work. Please send all abstracts to this e-mail address: analytics-presentations@sabr.org. Please clearly indicate whether you are submitting for the general track or for the student track of presentations. The submission deadline for all 2026 SABR Analytics Conference presentation abstracts is 11:59 p.m. MST on November 21, 2025.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Students, apply now for a SABR Analytics Yoseloff Scholarship
With generous funding from The Nanar and Anthony Yoseloff Foundation, Inc., SABR will award up to four scholarships to high school and college students who wish to attend the SABR Analytics Conference on February 27-March 1, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. This scholarship will pay for registration, transportation and lodging fees associated with the conference up to a total value of $1,250.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Seeking nominations for 2026 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards
What are the best baseball analytics articles you’ve read in 2025? We’re seeking nominations for the 2026 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards, which recognize baseball researchers who have completed the best work of original analysis or commentary.
Please send all nominations via e-mail to this address: analytics-awards@sabr.org no later than December 19, 2025. Include author, title, date of publication and a URL link (if applicable).
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
2025 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference begins tonight
The seventh annual SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference begins tonight! The virtual event will take place on September 19-21, 2025, with Zoom sessions beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday (all times listed in the Eastern Time Zone.) All baseball fans are welcome to join us.
This year’s conference — co-sponsored by SABR and the International Women’s Baseball Center and hosted by Rockford University — will feature research presentations, panels, pylon unveiling, presentation of the Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award, and keynote speaker Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton, author, filmmaker, professor, and daughter of Negro Leaguer Henry Kimbro.
The Baseball Operations Panel will include Nicole Briscoe (ESPN), Hannah Snedecor (Rockford Rivets) and Alisha Wetzl (Savannah Bananas); the Groundskeepers Panel will include Alexa Brown (Tulsa Drillers), Nicole Sherry (Baltimore Orioles), and Leah Withrow (Reno Aces); and the My Baseball Story Panel with C.C. Ford and Donna Cohen will be moderated by Kat Williams. In addition, author Jane Leavy will discuss her new book, Make Me Commissioner.
- Register: Click here to register for this event at SABR.org
- Schedule: Click here for the full schedule of panels and presentations
Visit SABR.org/women-in-baseball-conference to learn more.
Last call: Free Rapsodo course offered with SABR Analytics Certification purchase
For a limited time only, get a free Rapsodo Certified class included with the purchase of any SABR Analytics Certification course. Online and video based, SABR Analytics Certification and Rapsodo courses combine to help learners elevate their baseball data knowledge alongside skills relating to the technical tools used in player development operations.
- Purchase any SABR Analytics Certification course below between now and September 22, 2025, and get access to a complimentary Rapsodo Certified course.
Rapsodo course access information will be delivered via email after SABR Analytics Certification course purchase has been made.
Visit SABR.org/analytics/rapsodo to learn more.
SABR Digital Library: Vinotinto Venezuela Béisbol, 1939–2024:
85 Years of Venezuelans in the Major Leagues
Add a new baseball book to your collection from the SABR Digital Library, available in English and Spanish-language editions:
Vinotinto Venezuela Béisbol, 1939–2024:
85 Years of Venezuelans in the Major Leagues
Foreword by Ozzie Guillén
Edited by Leonte Landino and Bill Nowlin
Associate editors: Len Levin and Carl Riechers
Spanish translation: Reynaldo Cruz Díaz
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-960819-50-5, $9.99
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-960819-51-2, $34.95
8.5″ x 11″, 296 pages
Wearing the “Vinotinto,” or burgundy red, is a symbol of Venezuelan national pride. Venezuelan teams carry the spirit of a nation where passion for sports runs deep. This book chronicles the journey of nearly 500 Venezuelan baseball players from 1939 through 2024 who have reached Major League Baseball. It explores how baseball became a mirror of Venezuelan society, its triumphs, challenges, and evolving identity, through the words of SABR researchers and respected Venezuelan writers.
The journey to Major League Baseball began in 1939 with Alex “Patón” Carrasquel, the first Venezuelan to play in the big leagues. But it was Luis Aparicio Jr., “Little Louie,” who blazed a trail as the first Venezuelan inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, earning his place in 1984 and inspiring generations to dream of the major leagues.
With a foreword by Ozzie Guillén—the first Latino manager to win a World Series—and insights from Juan Vené, “The Dean” of Venezuelan baseball journalism, this volume also features editorial contributions from award-winning journalist and producer Leonte Landino.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Subscribe to the Fall 2025 print edition of the Baseball Research Journal
All SABR members exclusively receive the Baseball Research Journal electronically twice a year. The Fall 2025 issue will be sent out in early November. If you are interested in a paperback copy of BRJ for your personal library, we have rolled out a subscription option at a significantly discounted rate: $7 per issue for members, compared to $19.95 at retail.
- To subscribe and receive a printed edition of BRJ, visit SABR.org/subscribe
(If you have any questions about your subscription, please email brjsubscribe@sabr.org.)
Click here for a short video on how to subscribe to printed copies of BRJ.
Join us on October 20 for a SABR Scholar Session with Josh Kalk and Josh Ruffin
All student and young professional members of SABR are invited to our next SABR Scholar Session, held virtually on Zoom at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, October 20.
Join host Tyrone Brooks, Senior Director, Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program at Major League Baseball, for our free virtual series created exclusively for SABR student and young professional members. This session’s guest speakers are from the Minnesota Twins front office: Josh Kalk, Assistant General Manager, and Josh Ruffin, Director of Applied Analytics.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Call for papers: 2026 SABR Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference
All SABR members are invited and encouraged to submit a Research Presentation Proposal Abstract on any topic of 19th-century baseball for the 2026 Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The 17th annual Ivor-Campbell Conference is scheduled for April 24-25, 2026. The deadline for proposal Abstracts is October 31, 2025.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Learn more about new SABR Institutional Memberships
A SABR Institutional Membership is the perfect way to connect your group with baseball’s rich history. Whether you are supporting historical or analytical researchers or engaging with baseball fans in your community, SABR provides the network, tools, and expertise to enhance your offerings.
A SABR Institutional Membership is ideal for libraries, museums, and historical societies; high schools; and higher education departments, especially History, American Studies, and Sports Analytics programs.
Institutional Members receive unlimited access to SABR’s extensive collection of digital publications; exclusive research resources, including access to historical newspaper databases; engagement opportunities with SABR experts and a network of baseball historians and analysts.
To learn more, contact Paul J. Zwirecki for details on membership options and enrollment.
Writing opportunity: Spring Training book project
The editors of an upcoming SABR publication are seeking original articles and essays that explore all aspects of baseball’s spring training, including notable and historical locations, prominent or influential people, cultural implications, memorable moments, or personal narratives. All SABR members are welcome to contribute. Please send queries to editor David Pegram by October 1, 2025.
Click here to learn more about contributing to upcoming SABR projects.
Get involved: SABR BioProject seeks reviewers, editors
The SABR Biography Project needs your help! All baseball biographies submitted to the BioProject undergo rigorous editing, which includes initial vetting and editing, fact–checking, and copy editing. We are looking for volunteers for each of these stages.
These editors play an important role in the development of the bios and help ensure the high quality and critical acclaim of our research. While experience in editing and fact checking is helpful, it is not necessary. We encourage anyone interested to contact Rory Costello or Gregory H. Wolf for more details.
Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.
New Oral History interview: Gene Lamont
- Gene Lamont, former Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates manager
Recorded September 13, 2025, by John McMurray
Visit SABR.org/oralhistory to find more interviews from the SABR Oral History Collection.
3 new stories published at SABR Biography Project
- Abe Stark, by Peter Dreier
- Who Hit Abe Stark’s Iconic Sign at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn?, by Peter Dreier
- Stark Contrast: Ballpark Signs Before and After Ebbets Field, by Peter Dreier
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
10 new stories published at SABR Games Project
- September 15, 1912: Red Sox ace Smoky Joe Wood wins 16th consecutive game without a loss, by Bill Nowlin
- September 5, 1951: One last flash from the Red Sox before their season falls apart, by Bill Nowlin
- April 17, 1952: Bobby Shantz smothers Yankees to start MVP campaign for Athletics, by Troy Olszewski
- April 29, 1955: Record crowd watches Bobby Shantz three-hit Yankees for his first shutout in three years, by Thomas E. Merrick
- July 26, 1956: Red Sox beat Athletics, Shantz on Ted Williams’s homer in 10th, by Bill Nowlin
- May 23, 1961: Braves edge Pirates as Lew Burdette, Bobby Shantz dominate in matchup of veteran pitchers, by Tim Otto
- June 3, 1961: Pirates’ Bobby Shantz shut down Phillies for first win as NL starter, by John Fredland
- September 17, 1964: On eve of Phillies’ collapse, Bobby Shantz earns final career win with marathon relief outing, by John Fredland
- September 28, 1983: Phillies capture NL East Division title with resounding win over Cubs, by Steve Ginader
- September 18, 2023: Adam Wainwright joins Bob Gibson and Jesse Haines with his 200th win with Cardinals, by Andrew Heckroth
In addition, these game stories from SABR’s Stan Musial book have now been posted online:
- September 21, 1941: Stan Musial enjoys one of his ‘finest days’ in Cardinals call-up, by Richard Cuicchi
- September 23, 1941: Stan Musial smashes first career home run for Cardinals, by Andrew Heckroth
- May 1, 1942: Stan Musial records his first career multi-homer game for Cardinals, by Andrew Heckroth
- July 21, 1943: Stan Musial records his first career 5-hit game, by Kevin Larkin
- August 15, 1943: Stan Musial hits 2 home runs, drives in 5 runs against Dodgers, by Glen Sparks
- August 12, 1946: Stan Musial’s third straight 4-hit game raises batting average to .375, by Tom Schott
- May 19, 1948: Stan Musial solidifies ‘The Man’ moniker with second 5-hit game of season, by Mike Eisenbath
- May 20, 1948: Stan Musial dominates the Dodgers again as Cardinals complete sweep, by Andrew Heckroth
- July 5, 1949: Stan Musial drives in both Cardinals runs and ends game with outfield assist, by Rick Zucker
- October 2, 1949: Stan Musial slugs two homers on final day, but just misses capturing NL batting crown, by Mike Huber
- September 28, 1952: Stan Musial returns to mound, clinches sixth NL batting title, by Bill Pruden
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
When Minor League Baseball Almost Went Bust: 1946-1963
Edited by George Pawlush
Visit SABR.org to download the free e-book edition or save 50% off the paperback edition of all Digital Library books.
Here are some SABR headlines from recent weeks that we don’t want you to miss:
- Save the date! SABR 54 will be in Cleveland in 2026
- Check out highlights, stories, and photos from SABR 53 in Texas
- Check out highlights, photos from Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference in Louisville
- SABR Defensive Index rankings released through August 10
- SABR MLB Team Employee Database updated through 2024
- Tom Hufford selected as 2025 Bob Davids Award winner
- Read articles from The National Pastime: Baseball in Texas and Beyond
- SABR chapters honored for exceptional performance in 2024-25
- Lahman Database files now available for download
- View a collection of nearly 100,000 player surveys in the new Weiss Baseball Questionnaires collection
- Read articles from Spring 2025 Baseball Research Journal
- SABR Digital Library: Stan Musial
- Learn more about recipients of SABR Local Grants in 2025
- Hundreds of ProQuest US newspapers added to SABR Research Resources
- Find complete collection of SABR-Rucker Archive baseball images online
- Historical Black Newspapers Collection added to SABR Research Resources
- Get a gift for baseball fan in your life with the SABR Store @ CafePress
Please give a warm welcome to all new SABR members who joined this week! View more Members-Only resources at members.sabr.org or click here to download the Membership Handbook. Find contact information for any SABR member in the online Membership Directory.
| NAME | HOMETOWN | NAME | HOMETOWN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Adler | Takoma Park, MD | Zach Martin | Lone Tree, CO | ||
| Meghan Carpenter | Ellicott City, MD | Miles Minier | Oxnard, CA | ||
| McKenna Dolan | Kingston, PA | Riley Moore | Toronto, ON | ||
| Lucas Franco | Perth Amboy, NJ | Koy Moser | Houston, TX | ||
| Michael Hancock | Rochelle, IL | Matthew Myers | Denver, CO | ||
| Patrick Herry | Baton Rouge, LA | Richard Rosen | Bronx, NY | ||
| Daniel Joslyn | Las Vegas, NV | Antonio Sosa | Sanford, FL | ||
| Kaitlin Klemp-Skirvin | Eagle, MI | Matthew Weber | Tulsa, OK | ||
| Jesse Lacefield | Potomac, MD | Chris Wiesner | Erie, PA | ||
| Yen-ChunScott Lu | Mississauga, ON | Eric Zuniga | Carrollton, TX |
- Events Calendar: Find details of all upcoming SABR events.
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from Mark Armour (“The Satchel Project”); Justin Krebs (“Jesse Owens, the 1946 Portland Rosebuds, and the West Coast Negro Baseball Association”); Louis Schiff (Attorneys in the Baseball Hall of Fame); Jane Leavy (Make Me Commissioner); and Paul Caputo (The Story Behind the Nickname). Click here to view video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- September 19-21: 2025 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
- September 22: Clyde Sukeforth (NH/ME) Chapter meeting with Craig Brown (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 22: Halsey Hall (MN) Chapter research committee meeting (7:00 p.m. CDT)
- September 22: Larry Dierker (TX) Chapter meeting with Samuel Barrett (7:00 p.m. CDT)
- September 22: Boston Chapter meeting (8:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 23: Elysian Fields (NJ) Chapter meeting with Tim Wiles (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 24: Quarterly Chapter Leaders Meeting (8:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 27: Quebec Chapter meeting with Taylor Smith (1:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 28: Baltimore Babe Ruth (MD) Chapter Meeting with Thomas Wolf (7:00 p.m. EDT)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- September 20: Babe ‘n’ Bob Chapter Breakfast (Edgewater, MD)
- September 20: Dayton Chapter book club meeting (Dayton, OH)
- September 20: Rogers Hornsby Chapter meeting (Round Rock, TX)
- September 21: Magnolia Chapter baseball cemetery tour (Atlanta, GA)
- September 27: Connecticut Smoky Joe Wood Chapter breakfast (Middletown, CT)
- September 27: 2025 Rygelski Baseball Research Conference (St. Louis, MO)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Baseball Records: Summer 2025 newsletter
- Biographical Research: August 2025 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter: September 10 meeting recap (Tallahassee, FL)
Sign up for SABR chapter announcements at SABR.org/chapters.
Click here to learn more about SABR chartered communities.
Here are some recent articles published by and about SABR members:
- Marcos Grunfeld: SABR celebrates Hispanic Heritage with Venezuelan baseball biography collection (El Emergente)
- Tyler Kepner: On Robert Redford and the enduring power of ‘The Natural,’ a timeless baseball fairy tale (The Athletic)
- Jay Jaffe: Next Stop Cooperstown: Clayton Kershaw Announces His Retirement (FanGraphs)
- Rob Mains: How Much Time Does the Zombie Runner Save? (Baseball Prospectus)
- Mark Simon: Up For Grabs: Defensive Runs Saved Leader Spot Is A Tight Race (Sports Info Solutions)
- Jayson Stark: MLB history watch: The wacky records that could be broken this month (The Athletic)
- Davy Andrews: How the Same Defense Helps One Pitcher and Hurts Another (FanGraphs)
- Chad Jennings/Dennis Lin/Eno Sarris: The ‘rising fastball’ was a tantalizing myth. Then teams started teaching Induced Vertical Break. (The Athletic)
- Mark Kolier: To Save Pitchers’ Arms Why Not Mandate Heavier Bats? (Almost Cooperstown)
- Andrew Baggarly: Trashing the leather: The hidden cost of Patrick Bailey’s elite pitch framing skills (The Athletic)
- David Laurila: Parker Messick and His Well-Executed Changeup Are Impressing in Cleveland (FanGraphs)
- RJ McDaniel: Wearing the Hat (Baseball Prospectus)
- Daniel R. Epstein: Why the Dodgers Aren’t a Super Team (Baseball Prospectus)
- Evan Drellich: ‘Bad actors’ are stealing, reselling fan tickets swiped from MLB’s Ballpark app (The Athletic)
- Alex Coffey: Decades later, former Phillies mascots are still best friends (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Robert J. Livingston: The Rookie Card That Never Was (Sports Collectors Digest)
- Alexandra Whitley: The 28th Man (Baseball Prospectus)
- Steve Buckley: Meet Ralph Gagliano, whose MLB career came and went in a single pitch (The Athletic)
- Robert Weintraub: Hank Thompson Lived A Wild, Tragic, Forgotten Life In Baseball (Defector)
- Steven Goldman: A Dead Outfielder Speaks His Truth (Baseball Prospectus)
- Lee Si-jin: More than a game: A trip through Korea’s baseball culture (Korea Herald)
- Dan Levitt: John McGraw’s Pennant Park Fiasco (New York Giants Preservation Society)
- Ben Ernst: Baltimore’s Rich Baseball History (SABR Landmarks)
- Jerry Chen: Illusions of a National Game: The Myths That Built (and Broke) Taiwanese Baseball (SABR Asian Baseball)
- Yusuke Suzumura: Declaration of Victory: The Meaning and Achievements of the Stanford University Baseball Team’s 1913 Japan Tour (SABR Asian Baseball)
- Bill Maloney: Tokyo Giant: The Legend of Victor Starffin Film Review (SABR Asian Baseball)
- Glenn Evans: Crossing the Tracks: 1907 (SABR Games and Simulations)
Please note: Some articles may require a separate subscription to view online. SABR does not endorse, and is not responsible or liable for, any content that appears on a third-party website.
This Week in SABR is compiled by Jacob Pomrenke. If you would like us to include an upcoming event, article, or any other information in “This Week in SABR,” e-mail jpomrenke@sabr.org. To find past editions of TWIS, click here.
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Originally published: September 19, 2025. Last Updated: September 19, 2025.