This Week in SABR: January 23, 2026
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, January 23, 2026.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
SABR 54: Call for presentations and early registration coming soon
Announcing finalists for SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards
Fourth course in SABR Analytics Certification program now available
Sign up for SABR Scholar Session in February with Cory Schwartz
Join us for more SABR Day events this weekend
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Coming soon: SABR 54 registration, hotel information
Each summer, SABR members and friends come together for five unforgettable days of nonstop baseball at our annual convention. In 2026, we’ll bring that tradition to downtown Cleveland, Ohio, for the 54th annual SABR Convention on July 29-August 2 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown hotel. Conference and hotel registration for SABR 54 will open on Tuesday, February 3 at SABR.org/convention.
SABR 54 will deliver a truly Major League speaker lineup, alongside an engaging social experience that celebrates SABR’s unique ability to bring our passionate baseball community together.
Here are a few highlights to look forward to during SABR 54:
- A powerhouse initial group of speakers to be announced next week in our first programming announcement, with additional players and speakers from across the baseball community being announced later.
- Cleveland Guardians vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game on Friday, July 31, featuring a pregame buffet for SABR members that will give attendees a great opportunity to socialize and network.
- Exciting optional programming including a bus tour of historic Cleveland baseball sites, featuring a stop at League Park (former home of the Indians and Buckeyes amongst numerous others) where you’ll be able to play catch on the same grounds where Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run.
- Upgraded Welcome Reception featuring great food, drink, and SABR award presentations.
- Expanded Closing Ceremonies featuring our famous Trivia Contest, which will again include the popular “Immaculate Feud” segment and expanded opportunities for participation.
- Social gatherings, including coffee talks on Thursday and Friday morning and an Open House at the Cleveland Public Library, to help first-timers and veterans alike make the most of their convention and SABR experience.
- A fantastic hotel property conveniently located within walking distance of Progressive Field and other downtown attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Whether you’re attending your first SABR convention or returning as a longtime regular, this is a great year to be part of the experience. Newcomers will find plenty of opportunities to connect and build baseball friendships, while veteran attendees can look forward to a richly layered event. It promises to be an unforgettable week of baseball fellowship in “The Land,” and we hope you’ll join us!
Stay tuned for details and more announcements at SABR.org/convention.
SABR 54: Call for research presentations
SABR invites all members to present their research findings to their colleagues attending SABR 54, the annual convention on July 29-August 2, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Oral presentations are expected to last 20 minutes, followed by a five minute question-and-answer period. Posters will be presented, with the author on-hand to discuss the work, during a poster session of 60 minutes and they will remain on display throughout the convention.
Click here to submit abstracts for SABR 54
The submission deadline for SABR 54 abstracts is 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
In addition, we seek volunteers who wish to participate in the blind review process (beginning in March) and/or on-site judging (at the convention in Cleveland.) Those volunteers are also requested to apply by sending an email to convention-presentations@sabr.org.
Early registration ends soon for SABR Analytics Conference
Early registration discounts end soon 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. Register by February 10 to take advantage of discounted registration rates.
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 before February 10 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.
- Speakers: Click here to learn more about our featured speakers and panelists.
- 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.
- Research Presentations, presented by Teamworks Intelligence: Stay tuned for more details on the 2026 schedule of research presentations.
- Certification Courses: Four courses in the online, on-demand SABR Analytics Certification program, including the newest offering Level Four – Applied Statistics for Baseball, are available now. Click here to learn more or to sign up.
Analytics Conference Research Award finalists announced
We’re pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards, which will recognize baseball researchers who have completed the best work of original analysis or commentary during the preceding calendar year. Nominations were solicited by representatives from SABR, Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, and Sports Info Solutions.
Voting for the winners will be conducted online beginning next week at SABR.org, BaseballProspectus.com, FanGraphs.com, and IBWAA.com. Results will be announced and presented at the SABR Analytics Conference, February 27-March 1, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Fourth course in SABR Analytics Certification program is now available
We’re excited to announce that the highly anticipated fourth course in the SABR Analytics Certification program is now available.
Level Four – Applied Statistics for Baseball introduces learners to the statistical foundations most relevant to baseball analytics and shows how to apply them using basic programming skills. The course builds the statistical intuition needed for data-driven decision-making in a career in data science and baseball analytics. Topics include probability, distributions, correlations, paired testing, regression analysis, model evaluation, and tree-based modeling, along with discussions of overfitting and bias. The course concludes with a final assignment in which learners create their own Stuff+ pitching model, an applied project suitable for comparison with industry approaches and inclusion in a professional portfolio. The new course is instructed by Rob Arthur, SABR member and data scientist who has consulted for three MLB teams, nonprofits, law firms, and a Fortune 500 company.
SABR’s first three certification courses, Level One – Conversational Analytics and Critical Thinking in Baseball; Level Two – Advanced Analytics in Baseball; and Level Three – Introduction to Baseball Programming; are also available online now.
To sign up, or to learn more about the Analytics Certification program, visit SABR.org/analytics/certification.
Find a SABR Day event near you and join us!
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, January 31, 2026, when we will hold our annual SABR Day celebration! SABR Day is a way for all baseball fans to come together, regardless of where they live, and talk about the game we all love. Regional chapters are also encouraged to plan their own SABR Day events (virtually or in person) throughout the months of January or February to celebrate the start of a new baseball season.
On Saturday, January 31, we have SABR Day events scheduled for Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Detroit, Fort Wayne (IN), Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lexington (KY), Louisville, Naples (FL), Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Rochester (NY), St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco/Sacramento, Seattle, Toronto, Tulsa (OK), and Victoria (BC).
Chapter leaders, please email Jacob Pomrenke as you finalize your SABR Day plans so we can update our comprehensive schedule of events at SABR.org/sabrday.
- SABR Day this weekend in Washington, DC and New Orleans: On Saturday, January 24, the Bob Davids Chapter in Washington, DC will host its annual SABR Day event from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Falls Church Episcopal Church with hitting coach Gerardo Caceres; Frank Fannon and Emily-Anne Patt of the Alexandria Aces; authors Jane Leavy and Cesar Brioso; podcaster Ben Orlando; and vintage baseball player Tom “Big Bat” Fesolowich. Also, the Schott-Pelican Chapter in New Orleans will hold its SABR Day meeting from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Metairie. All baseball fans are welcome. Visit SABR.org/sabrday for complete details.
Join us on February 17 for a special SABR Scholar Session with MLB’s Cory Schwartz
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. EST on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Join host Tyrone Brooks, Senior Director, Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program at Major League Baseball, for our free virtual career development series created exclusively for SABR student and young professional members. This session’s guest speaker is Cory Schwartz, Vice President of Data Operations with Major League Baseball.
Tyrone and Cory will discuss their paths into baseball front offices and offer tips to stand out at industry events, like the upcoming SABR Analytics Conference. After an insightful conversation and Q&A session, we’ll learn more about how to put your SABR membership to work for you.
- To learn more or to pre-register for the SABR Scholar Session on Zoom, please contact Jessica Smyth.
Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 2026
Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2026.
Beltran received 84.2% and Jones 78.4% of the votes cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. They will join Jeff Kent, elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, to be honored during Induction Weekend on July 24-27 in Cooperstown, New York.
- Read Carlos Beltrán’s SABR biography, by Ralph Caola
- Read Jeff Kent’s SABR biography, by J.P. Garrett
- Check out Andruw Jones’s 1994 survey from the Weiss Baseball Questionnaires collection
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Registration now open for 2026 Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Conference
Registration is now open for the 17th annual SABR Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference, which will be held on April 24-25, 2026, at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. All baseball fans are welcome to register for this special event.
- Registration: Click here to register online.
- Schedule: Click here to view the complete schedule for the 2026 Ivor-Campbell Conference.
- Research Presentations: Click here for research presentation abstracts.
The 2026 conference will be highlighted by a keynote address from author Bruce Allardice, along with a panel discussion on the evolution of early playing fields with Irwin Chusid, Thomas Gilbert, Jonathan Popovich, and moderator Bill Ryczek; a 19th-century artifact session with Robert Mayer, Gary Passamonte, and Jonathan Popovich; a Member Spotlight interview of Herm Krabbenhoft by Dave Newman; plus research presentations.
Visit SABR.org/ivor-campbell19c for more information.
Call for papers: 2026 SABR Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference
SABR’s Negro Leagues Research Committee will host the 26th annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference on June 18-21, 2026, in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to two days of research presentations and player/author panels, attendees will also enjoy special presentations connected to our theme of “Black Baseball in the Land of the Delta Blues” and the city of Memphis.
This interdisciplinary conference welcomes proposals for oral and poster presentations from all research fields. Previous presenters have included college faculty, public school teachers, graduate students, and independent scholars. Presentations may focus on any topic related to the theme, or other Black baseball topics.
Please email your proposal as a Word attachment to Dr. Leslie Heaphy before March 2, 2026.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Apply for a SABR Local Grant in 2026
The SABR Local Grants program provides an opportunity for chapters, research committees, and chartered communities to apply for funding for their projects under SABR’s Four Pillars: Research, Scholarship, Preservation, and Future of the Game. Applications are now open for a 2026 SABR Local Grant at SABR.org/local-grants. Submissions will be accepted until February 20, 2026.
All SABR chapters, chartered communities, and research committees are eligible to apply. Individual SABR members and non-SABR groups are not eligible, so if you have an individual idea for a program grant, please follow up with your local chapter leadership or appropriate research committee to discuss an application.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Applications now open for new Research Grants program
In 2026, SABR will award a total of $10,000 in support of up to two research projects through its new SABR Research Grant initiative.
Research Grants are intended to support original scholarly work that aligns with our organization’s core mission: fostering the study, discussion, and understanding of all aspects of baseball. We invite proposals that deepen our knowledge of baseball from various disciplines, including (but not limited to) history and the broader humanities, analytics, data science, business, law, biomechanics, and kinesiology. Applications that support the completion of a lasting outcome, such as a peer-reviewed publication or public exhibit, are highly encouraged.
The deadline to apply is 8:00 p.m. Eastern on March 1, 2026. All researchers are welcome to apply.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.
New Oral History interview: Jerry Reuss
- Jerry Reuss, All-Star pitcher and World Series champion who won 220 games from 1969 to 1990
Recorded December 18, 2021, by John McMurray
Visit SABR.org/oralhistory to find more interviews from the SABR Oral History Collection.
6 new stories published at SABR BioProject
- Don Bosch, by Alan Raylesberg
- Carl Cashion, by Anthony Bush
- Steve Curry, by Bill Nowlin
- Cocaína García, by Tony S. Oliver
- Mike Mattimore, by Stephen V. Rice
- Chuck McElroy, by Len Pasculli
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR Biography Project or to get involved.
6 new stories published at SABR Games Project
- April 20, 1910: Cleveland’s Addie Joss outduels Doc White, no-hits White Sox for second time, by John Elrod
- June 22, 1947: Reds’ Ewell Blackwell falls two outs short of consecutive no-hitters, by Thomas E. Merrick
- August 26, 1965: Fifteenth time is the charm as Mets top Sandy Koufax behind rookie Tug McGraw, by Larry DeFillipo
- September 28, 1976: Dodgers’ Walter Alston loses last game of Hall of Fame managing career, by Kurt Blumenau
- August 19, 1988: Yankees’ Ken Phelps hits walk-off homer in first game against Seattle since Jay Buhner trade, by Gary Belleville
- April 7, 2025: James Wood’s homer, Kyle Finnegan’s five-out save lead Nationals win over Dodgers, by Steven C. Weiner
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
Native American Major Leaguers
Edited by Rob Daugherty and Bill Nowlin
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:
- SABR appoints Pat Filippone as Treasurer of Board of Directors
- Negro Leagues executives added to SABR MLB Team Employee Database
- Read articles from the Fall 2025 Baseball Research Journal online
- Gary, Vicki Gillette make gift to support Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference through 2030
- SABR welcomes new Town Ball research committee
- Learn more about new SABR Institutional Memberships
- Negro Leagues statistics added to SABR Lahman Baseball Database
- View a collection of nearly 100,000 player surveys in the Weiss Baseball Questionnaires collection
- SABR Digital Library: Vinotinto Venezuela Béisbol, 1939–2024: 85 Years of Venezuelans in the Major Leagues
- Hundreds of ProQuest US newspapers added to SABR Research Resources
- Find complete collection of SABR-Rucker Archive baseball images online
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Se Woong Ahn | Seoul, KOR | Milo Kamras | San Francisco, CA | ||
| Gary Ballard | Memphis, TN | Dave McNeely | Havre De Grace, MD | ||
| Daniel Basco | Lakewood, OH | Christian Meagher-Sturgeon | Dieppe, NB | ||
| Minseok Choi | Seoul, KOR | Wally Mieskoski | Parma, OH | ||
| Christopher Cooper | Phoenix, AZ | Oscar Murrieta | Imperial Beach, CA | ||
| Evan Delcamp | Van Buren Twp, MI | Lynn Poppe | Omaha, NE | ||
| Maxwell Dolski | Almond, WI | Danny Rice | Colorado Springs, CO | ||
| Coleman Dukes | Columbia, SC | Richard Rubin | Baltimore, MD | ||
| Alberto Encinas | Nogales, AZ | Brady Schenck | St. Louis, MO | ||
| Chris Haft | Miltitas, CA | Luke Skordinski | Murfreesboro, TN | ||
| Owen Ingerick | Lexington, KY | Delaney Wilson | Wooster, OH | ||
| Sterling Ivany | Beeton, ON |
- Events Calendar: Find details of all upcoming SABR events.
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from Donna Cohen and Jacqui Reynolds (Women’s Professional Baseball League); and Brian Davis (FastScore Baseball). Click here to view video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- January 24: Schott-Pelican Chapter SABR Day meeting (10:00 a.m. CST)
- January 26: Central Florida Chapter meeting with Andy Freed (7:00 p.m. EST)
- January 26: Clyde Sukeforth (NH/ME) Chapter meeting with Tom Bowen (7:00 p.m. EST)
- January 26: Shag Shaugnessy/Ottawa and Eastern Ontario Chapter meeting (8:00 p.m. EST)
- January 27: Elysian Fields (NJ) Chapter meeting with Brenden Gilbreath (7:00 p.m. EST)
- January 28: Field of Dreams (IA) Chapter meeting with Rick Cerrone (7:00 p.m. CST)
- January 28: Asian Baseball Committee meeting with Tatsuo Shinke (8:30 p.m. EST)
- January 29: Halsey Hall (MN) Chapter SABR Day meeting with Willie Steele (7:00 p.m. CST)
- January 31: SABR Day 2026
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- January 24: Bob Davids Chapter SABR Day event (Falls Church, VA)
- January 24: Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter lunch meeting (Glen Ellyn, IL)
- January 24: Rob Fitts author event (Rhinebeck, NY)
- January 25: Baseball Mensch: The Marty Lurie Story film screening (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Games and Simulations: All SABR members are invited to participate in a weekly transaction Fantasy Baseball 5×5 league in 2026. Click here to learn more, including league rules and additional information. Limited availability. Contact Derek Bain or Jack Snyder if you are interested.
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
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:
- Tyler Kepner: Carlos Beltrán, a man of many hats, ponders a career-capping question in Cooperstown (The Athletic)
- Jay Jaffe: Centers of Attention: Carlos Beltán and Andruw Jones Elected to the Hall of Fame (FanGraphs)
- Sarah Langs: Andruw Jones among biggest risers in Hall of Fame voting history (MLB.com)
- Jayson Stark: Five things we learned from the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame election (The Athletic)
- Jason Foster: Six players trending toward Hall of Fame elections in 2027 (MLB.com)
- Mark Simon: The Hall of Fame And Active Players (Sports Info Solutions)
- Zack Meisel/Sam Blum: Just one Hall of Fame vote? Why that distinction matters so much for some MLB players (The Athletic)
- Ginny Searle: Kyle Tucker, The Culmination of Dodgers Baseball (Baseball Prospectus)
- David Laurila: A’s Prospect Mason Barnett Has an Atypical Arm Angle and an Old-School Approach (FanGraphs)
- Joshua Rodrigues: Reading the Curve: How Bat Speed Shaped the 2025 Free Agent Market (Baseball Prospectus)
- Jared Diamond: The Days of the 300-Win Hall of Famer Are Gone Forever (Wall Street Journal)
- Victor Mather: Wilbur Wood, Ironman Knuckleballer for the White Sox, Is Dead at 84 (New York Times)
- Jim Margalus: Wilbur Wood’s workload will continue to astound (Sox Machine)
- Davy Andrews: They Don’t Make Pitch Models Like They Used To (FanGraphs)
- Howard Bryant: One Legend to Another: When Jackie Robinson Testifed Against Paul Robeson in Congress (Literary Hub)
- Gary Ashwill: Who Were the Negro Leaguers? (Agate Type)
- Thomas Love Seagull: Japan’s Favorite Players: Katsuya Nomura (Baseball in Japan)
- John Thorn: A Pictorial Retrospective of Baseball: 1860 (Our Game)
- Michael Clair: From World Series winner to sausage meister: A visit to Byung-hyun Kim’s German restaurant (MLB.com)
- Marc Bona: Who was Clayton Fauver? Remembering a one-game wonder from NE Ohio (Cleveland.com)
- Sam Gazdziak: Obituary: Dave Giusti (1939-2026) (RIP Baseball)
- César González-Gómez: Early baseball in Guaymas, Mexico: The Sonora Cup in 1901 (ArqueoBeisbol)
- Matt Ostrowski: Chronicling the 1918 Cubs: A First-Place Lead & World War I (North Side Baseball)
- Mark Tomasik: Browns, Cardinals joined race to sign Jim Thorpe (RetroSimba)
- Mark Kolier: Sacrifice flies have been flighty (Almost Cooperstown)
- Jeff Cohen/Len Aberman: Baseball and BBQ interview with with Brett Moore (Baseball and BBQ)
- C. Paul Rogers III: The 1953 Eddie Lopat All-Stars’ Tour of Japan (SABR Asian Baseball)
- Rob Fitts: Carp Tales: Marty Brown (SABR Asian Baseball)
- Glenn Evans: Crossing the Tracks: 1914 (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: January 23, 2026. Last Updated: January 23, 2026.