This Week in SABR: February 27, 2026
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
SABR Analytics Conference is now under way
Apply for a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend SABR 54 in Cleveland
Subscribe to the Baseball Research Journal
Last call to apply for SABR Research Grants
Read articles from SABR’s Native American Major Leaguers
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2026 SABR Analytics Conference is under way!
The 15th annual SABR Analytics Conference kicked off this weekend and will continue through Sunday, March 1. With an attendance of more than 800 combined in-person and virtual student registrants for this event at the Beus Center for Law and Society in Phoenix, Arizona, we’re bringing 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.
Click here to download our Analytics Conference digital program to learn more about our featured panelists and presenters.
- Digital Program: Click here to download the digital program (PDF)
- Speakers: Click here to learn more about our Featured Speakers.
- Schedule: Click here to view the full conference schedule.
- Research Presentations: Click here for Research Presentation abstracts and bios.
- Diamond Dollars Case Competition: Check out the winners in the 2026 Diamond Dollars Case Competition.
To learn more about the SABR Analytics Conference, visit SABR.org/analytics.
2026 Diamond Dollars Case Competition winners announced
The 2026 Diamond Dollars Case Competition winners were announced Friday, February 27 during the SABR Analytics Conference.
The winning teams selected were from Rice University, Vanderbilt University, and Texas A&M University.
The Rice University team which was picked to deliver an encore presentation in front of the full SABR Analytics Conference on Saturday included Mark Cohen, Brady Detwiler, Brendan Lloyd, Andersen Pickard, and Saylor Robinson.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Early registration now open for SABR 54 in Cleveland
Join us in Cleveland, Ohio, this summer for SABR’s 54th annual convention on July 29–August 2, 2026, at the Hilton Downtown Cleveland hotel! Conference and hotel registration for SABR 54 is now available online. Click here for complete details on SABR 54 Early-Bird Registration and optional sessions.
SABR 54 will feature a Major League speaker lineup we know you’ll love, alongside an invigorated social experience emphasizing SABR’s ability to unite all of us in baseball fellowship. 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!
Visit SABR.org/convention for complete details. All baseball fans are welcome to attend.
Students, apply for a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend SABR 54
With generous funding from The Nanar and Anthony Yoseloff Foundation, Inc., SABR will award up to 4 scholarships to high school or college students to attend SABR 54 on July 29–August 2, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. This scholarship will pay for registration, transportation and lodging (double occupancy) up to a total value of $1,250. All applications must be postmarked or e-mailed to Scott Carter at scarter@sabr.org no later than May 15, 2026.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Subscribe to the Baseball Research Journal in 2026
In 2026, all SABR members will exclusively receive the Baseball Research Journal electronically twice a year. The Spring 2026 issue will be sent out in April. However, 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.
Last 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.
In Memoriam: Bill Mazeroski
Almost every kid who has ever played baseball fantasizes coming up in the bottom of the ninth inning during the seventh game of the World Series and hitting a home run to win it. Only one person has ever accomplished this. It occurred on October 13, 1960, at 3:36 p.m. That was when Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski deposited New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry’s slider over the brick wall at Forbes Field to bring a World Series championship to Pittsburgh for the first time in 35 years. It was the most memorable moment of a career that led Maz to the Baseball Hall of Fame, although he was elected more for his brilliant fielding than his hitting.
Mazeroski died at the age of 89 on Friday, February 20. In seventeen seasons with the Pirates from 1956 to 1972, Mazeroski was a 10-time All-Star and eight-time recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. He holds the all-time record for most double plays turned by a second baseman (1,706) and ranks in the top 10 at the position in career putouts and assists, more than a half-century after his retirement.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Member Benefit Spotlight: Finding and Registering for Events
As a SABR member, you have vast resources and benefits at your disposal. With so much information at your fingertips, we realize it can be overwhelming to absorb it all! To highlight key benefits, read on for this month’s SABR Member Benefit Spotlight, an email series that identifies and explains some of the most valuable features of your membership. We hope this allows you to take full advantage of all SABR has to offer.
This month’s issue shows you where to look for upcoming events and register in advance for both local and national meetings. Attending a SABR event is a great way to get involved with the organization, while taking advantage of your membership. Whether you’re looking for in-person or virtual meetings, there is a SABR event for you! SABR.org is a great place to start, and you can find all national and local meetings on our Events page.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Call for papers: 2026 SABR Northern New Jersey 19th Century Baseball Interdisciplinary Symposium
Save the date! SABR’s Nineteenth Century Research Committee will host the Northern New Jersey 19th Century Interdisciplinary Symposium as a special virtual event on Saturday, November 14, 2026. The focus of this symposium will be on the rich early baseball and related history of the region, which extends from the New York state border south through Monmouth and Mercer counties.
Registration for all SABR members will open around July 1 at SABR.org. The cost will be $15 per person. The one-day Zoom event will run from approximately 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern on November 14.
- Call for presentations: SABR invites all members to submit an abstract for a virtual research presentation at the 2026 symposium. Each presentation will last for 25 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A, and a visual component (PowerPoint, etc.) is strongly recommended. A/V files are not due with the Abstract but about 30 days before the actual event. Abstracts should be between 250–400 words and must be on any topic of 19th century baseball pertaining to Northern New Jersey. Please send an email with a Word or PDF attachment to Peter Mancuso by March 5, 2026.
Last call to apply for SABR Research Grants
In 2026, SABR will award a total of $10,000 in support of up to two research projects through its 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.
Visit SABR.org/research-grants to learn more or to apply.
SABR Board of Directors to host virtual Town Hall on March 12
SABR’s Board of Directors invites all members to join us for a virtual Town Hall meeting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
SABR CEO Scott Bush will provide an overview on new initiatives and other upcoming activities and events. Board President Dan Levitt will provide a strategic planning update. Board Vice President Allison Levin will provide an update on research committees and local chapters. Board Treasurer Pat Filippone will provide a financial update and introduce himself to the membership. Other members of the Board of Directors will also be available for questions afterward.
Levitt was appointed as President in November and will serve the rest of the term through 2027. Filippone was appointed in December to complete the rest of the Treasurer’s term, which concludes following the Annual Business Meeting in 2026.
Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.
1 new story published at SABR BioProject
- Lloyd Nephew, by Stephen V. Rice
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR Biography Project or to get involved.
7 new stories published at SABR Games Project
- May 5, 1906: White Sox settle for 12-inning tie with Naps despite John O’Neill’s heroics, by Gary Belleville
- August 3, 1909: Record crowd in Boston hampers play during Ladies’ Day doubleheader, by Meghan Fuller Hanna
- June 6, 1941: Controversial scoring decision denies Johnny Vander Meer his third career no-hitter, by Craig Garretson
- July 2, 1970: Yankees’ Horace Clarke spoils yet another no-hit bid in the ninth inning, by Larry DeFillipo
- July 18, 1980: Red Sox rookie Dave Stapleton breaks scoreless tie with 10th-inning walk-off homer, by Bill Nowlin
- September 14, 1999: Royals’ Mark Quinn hits two home runs in major-league debut, by Paul White
- August 15, 2019: Bryce Harper’s walk-off grand slam powers Phillies’ comeback win over Cubs, by Steve Ginader
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
Read articles from SABR’s Native American Major Leaguers book
In October, the SABR Digital Library published Native American Major Leaguers, edited by Rob Daugherty and Bill Nowlin, featuring biographies of over 40 players who appeared in the major leagues, including both those who are well remembered today for their Native heritage such as Jacoby Ellsbury, Charles Bender, Louis Sockalexis, and Jim Thorpe, and those you might not realize, such as Buck Martinez and Kyle Lohse. The book also includes more than a dozen essays on baseball and Native and Indigenous communities, including historical topics such as the legacy of Indian boarding schools, American Indian barnstorming teams, and the translation of baseball rules into Mi’kmaq, as well as recent issues like the changing of Cleveland’s team name and the controversy over the Atlanta Braves’ “Tomahawk Chop.”
All of the biographies, essays, and articles from Native American Major Leaguers are now available to read online in the SABR Research Collection.
Click here to download the free ebook edition or save 50% off a purchase of the paperback edition.
Henry Aaron
Edited by Bill Nowlin and Glen Sparks
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:
- New Research Resources portal and member login launched
- Dangerous Danny Gardella by Robert Elias wins 2026 SABR Seymour Medal
- Fourth course in SABR Analytics Certification program is now available
- SABR appoints Pat Filippone as Treasurer of Board of Directors
- Gary, Vicki Gillette make gift to support Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference through 2030
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiman Akmal Hizam | Tulsa, OK | Kumar Kharod | Austin, TX | ||
| Matt Almeida | Portland, OR | Zack Kolers | Phoenix, AZ | ||
| Gavin Anderson | Syracuse, NY | Ethan Laby | Medford, MA | ||
| Jacob Andreini | Houston, TX | Trenton Lamie | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Georgia Andrews | Austin, TX | Alina Laraway | Richmond, VA | ||
| Bob Archer | Pacific Grove, CA | Ethan Larimore | Fairfax Statiion, VA | ||
| Matthew Arteaga | Santa Barbara, CA | David Larsen | Jefferson City, TN | ||
| Kris Badodariya | Richmond, VA | Joseph Lasala | College Station, TX | ||
| Noah Bair | Syracuse, NY | Brent LeFevers | Gilbert, AZ | ||
| Brooks Barrett | Nashville, TN | J Lentner | Oneonta, NY | ||
| Anthony Bastardi | Richmond, VA | Jake Levine | Nashville, TN | ||
| Nathaniel Bertha | Richmond, VA | Zachary Levitan | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Jameson Bodenburg | West Simsbury, CT | Willian Leyva Gamez | Richmond, VA | ||
| Gabriella Bonev | Richmond, VA | Jack Lion | Richmond, VA | ||
| Tanner Bonheimer | Glendale, AZ | Brendan Lloyd | Houston, TX | ||
| Sanaya Bothra | Richmond, VA | Layla Lynch | Ann Arbor, MI | ||
| Edward Brandyberry | Coraopolis, PA | Ashley Marietta | South Bend, IN | ||
| Kevin Braunwart | Hebron, CT | James Marshall | St Petersburg, FL | ||
| Benjamin Bronstein | Elon, NC | Benjamin Mascuch | Medford, MA | ||
| Michael Catheline | Maple Hts., OH | J. Dante Maurice | Houston, TX | ||
| Joe Ceccarelli | Tempe, AZ | Charlie McKinley | Tallahassee, FL | ||
| Alan Chang | Taipei, TWN | Nicholas McNulty | New York, NY | ||
| Tim Christ | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX | Terry Melis | Butler, PA | ||
| Bobby Civetti | Johnston, RI | Lucas Mepani | Nashville, TN | ||
| Mark Cohen | Warren, NJ | Nate Michek | Morgantown, WV | ||
| Erik Condit | Stockton, CA | Sam Miller | Elon, NC | ||
| Daniel Croxall | Stockton, CA | Kalen Muehlig | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Jack D’Emilia | Stockton, CA | Madin Murthy | Richmond, VA | ||
| James Davidson | Millburn, NJ | Evan New | College Station, TX | ||
| Josh Davis | Syracuse, NY | Fletcher Newman | College Station, TX | ||
| Tyler DeHaven | Richmond, VA | Sriram Panchagnula | Richmond, VA | ||
| Brady Detwiler | Reading, PA | Alex Percey | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Andrew Diamond | Syracuse, NY | Carter Petrowski | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Ethan Diamond | Syracuse, NY | Andersen Pickard | Houston, TX | ||
| Lucas Duffy | Champaign, IL | Andersen Pinckney | Northport, ME | ||
| Jackson Ehrlich | Medford, MA | Carter Pointon | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Ryan Ezratty | Tallahassee, FL | Anthony Prescott | Orono, ME | ||
| Jessica Fackler | Syracuse, NY | Joel Pritchard | Richmond, VA | ||
| Chad Federico | Houston, TX | Kaiden Randol | Flint, MI | ||
| Mark Ferguson | Syracuse, NY | Quinn Redwine | Richmond, VA | ||
| Jack Frary | Nashville, TN | Matthew Reedy | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Anthony Gallina | Tempe, AZ | Benjamin Resnic | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Evan Garber | Stockton, CA | Logan Richards | Elon, NC | ||
| Tony Garcia | Gilbert, AZ | Saylor Robinson | Houston, TX | ||
| Ava Gard | Syracuse, NY | Bienvenido Rodriguez | Santa Isabel, PR | ||
| Cash Garrett | Richmond, VA | Ethan Roerink | Richmond, VA | ||
| Aidan Gilbert | Syracuse, NY | Caleb Roofe | Warrensburg, MO | ||
| Jan Gonzalez | Gainesville, FL | Ryan Ruzek | Tempe, AZ | ||
| Isaac Graham | College Station, TX | Colin Savage | Phoenix, AZ | ||
| Michael Haas | Minneapolis, MN | Ellsworth Schirer | St. Louis, MT | ||
| Henry Hanna | Richmond, VA | Ameer Shah | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Casey Hawkins | College Station, TX | Norman Shatkin | Red Hook, NY | ||
| Megan Hayes | Tempe, AZ | Jacob Silverman | Nashville, TN | ||
| Matt Heesch | Sioux Falls, SD | Viva Sitani | Richmond, VA | ||
| Morgan Helmkamp | Port Washington, WI | Peter Soens | Northborough, MA | ||
| Rommers Hernandez | Cypress, TX | Kenneth Soh | Houston, TX | ||
| Riley Hewitt | Nashville, TN | Louis Solis | New Braunfels, TX | ||
| Tristan Hiestand | Elon, NC | Owen St Onge | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Kentaro Hoshino | Tokyo, JPN | Caiden Steinkamp | Syracuse, NY | ||
| Danny Itani | Nashville, TN | Harrison Sternberg | Medford, MA | ||
| Kevin Ivanov | Stockton, CA | Dylan Tovitz | Nashville, TN | ||
| Daniel Jakab | Medford, MA | Desmond Unice | Richmond, VA | ||
| Josh James | Cape Coral, FL | Jasmine Wen | Richmond, VA | ||
| Bart Johnson | Richmond, VA | Elizabeth Whittemore | Great Falls, MT | ||
| Carly Jones | Washington, DC | Delmar Wilson | Stockton, CA | ||
| Claire Kelly | Nashville, TN | David Znidarsic | San Francisco, CA |
- Events Calendar: Find details of all upcoming SABR events.
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from Seymour Medal winner Robert Elias (Dangerous Danny Gardella); Jefferson Burdick Award winner Anson Whaley; Russell Gabay Award winner Dave Kaplan; author Louis H. Schiff (Attorneys in the Baseball Hall of Fame); Bob Krieger (“Integration Pioneer Paintings”); Todd Sullivan, Matt Lee, Quinn Gregory (“Sacramento Honorary Negro League High School Game”); Ed Baranoski (“Pitching Metrics 101”); and the 19th Century Book Club (Ed Delahanty in the Emerald Age of Baseball). Click here to view video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- February 28: Hank Gowdy Columbus (OH) Chapter book club meeting with Seth Tannenbaum (9:30 a.m. EST)
- February 28: Town Ball Committee research workshop (1:00 p.m. CST)
- March 2: Clyde Sukeforth (NH/ME) Chapter meeting with Vanessa Viola and Fabio Montella (7:00 p.m. EST)
- March 4: Baltimore Babe Ruth Chapter meeting with Liz Thompson (7:00 p.m. EST)
- March 7: Women in Baseball Diamond Stories: Laura Hirai (10:00 a.m. EST)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- February 27-March 1: 2026 SABR Analytics Conference (Phoenix, AZ)
- February 28: Robinson-Kell Chapter meeting (Bryant, AR)
- March 1: Halsey Hall Chapter ballgame/meet-up (Minneapolis, MN)
- March 3: Bob Davids Chapter Virginia Hot Stove Dinner (Arlington, VA)
- March 4-7: NINE Spring Training Conference (Tempe, AZ)
- March 4: Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter meeting (Tallahassee, FL)
- March 4: Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter fellowship meeting (St. Louis, MO)
- March 7: Pee Wee Reese Chapter SABR Day meeting (Louisville, KY)
- March 7: Rocky Mountain Chapter baseball cards meeting (Denver, CO)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Baseball Cards: Call for Nominations: 2026 Jefferson Burdick Award
- 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.
- Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter: February 11 meeting recap (Tallahassee, FL)
- Halsey Hall Chapter: March 2026 newsletter (Minneapolis, MN)
- Jack Graney Chapter: February 2026 newsletter (Cleveland, OH)
- Larry Dierker Chapter: February 16 meeting recap (Houston, TX)
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:
- Bill Johnson: Assessment Of The SABR Analytics Certification Program (IBWAA.com)
- Jay Jaffe: The Defense Rests: A Tribute to Bill Mazeroski (1936–2026) (FanGraphs)
- Zack Meisel: A 30-year search for long-lost player Shorty Gallagher comes to an unexpected end (The Athletic)
- Ben Clemens: What Are Teams Paying For A Win In Free Agency in 2026? (FanGraphs)
- Ryan Fagan: Contenders That Could Keep the Dodgers From a World Series Three-Peat (Opta Analyst)
- Mike Petriello: There’s loads of ABS data from last season. What does it all mean? (MLB.com)
- Jayson Stark: The robot umps are here: What to watch for with ABS this spring training (The Athletic)
- Rob Mains: The State of Quality Starts, 2025 (Baseball Prospectus)
- Mark Simon: Prominent Defensive Players at the World Baseball Classic (Sports Info Solutions)
- Tyler Kepner: Bruce Froemming, an enduring umpire with decades of colorful confrontations, dies at 86 (The Athletic)
- Paul Sullivan: ‘Weird way to start a game’: Cubs run themselves into a triple play on a wacky afternoon (Chicago Tribune)
- Eno Sarris: Using bat speed, swing shape to find potential MLB breakout stars (The Athletic)
- Davy Andrews: What Angels Fans Want (FanGraphs)
- Michael Clair: Dusty’s ‘last hurrah’: Baker guides Nicaragua to World Baseball Classic (MLB.com)
- Tiffany Babb: Love and frustration with the Game 7 Gang (The Fan Files)
- David Levine: New research uncovers interracial baseball in 1867 Ulster County (Albany Times Union)
- Dan Szymborski: Jacob deGrom, Cooperstown, and the Abstraction of Greatness (FanGraphs)
- Gary Ashwill: The Uniforms of the Bacharach X Giants, 1919-1922 (Agate Type)
- César González-Gómez: Three offers to Jackie Robinson: Jorge Pasquel and his attempts to stop racial integration in MLB (Arqueo Béisbol)
- Richard McKeown: A not so trivial pursuit: Baseball devotees set for semi-annual gathering in Arkansas (Saline Courier)
- Mark Kolier: The importance of MLB clubhouse vibes (Almost Cooperstown)
- Patrick Ellington Jr.: Baseball’s Afro-Latino Counterculture is Purposely Ignored (Red Black Green Baseball Blog)
- John Racanelli: I Mustache You a Question (SABR Baseball Cards Blog)
- Rob Fitts: Excerpt: In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball (SABR Asian Baseball)
- Andrew Forbes: No Alibis: The Detroit Tigers’ 1962 Tour of Japan (SABR Asian Baseball)
- Thomas Love Seagull: Japan’s Favorite Players: Tatsunori Hara (SABR Asian Baseball)
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: February 27, 2026. Last Updated: February 27, 2026.