Call for papers: 2027 The National Pastime
NOVEMBER 11, 2026 — SABR’s 55th annual convention and the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference will be held together on August 4–8, 2027, in Birmingham, Alabama. Registration for SABR 55 will include admission to the Malloy Conference, giving attendees a special opportunity to engage with enhanced programming on the past, present, and future of Black baseball in a historic setting.
The 2027 issue of our annual convention journal, The National Pastime, will focus on Black baseball in Alabama and the Gulf Coast. Stories about Black baseball players, teams, and events in the Negro Leagues and beyond will be welcomed.
- All SABR members are welcome to submit an article for TNP; abstracts will be accepted through December 15, 2026.
Among the topics we might see in this issue include: Hall of Famers who played at Rickwood Field; Negro League World Series teams from Birmingham; Black baseball players from Alabama or the Gulf Coast region; baseball and HBCUs; Black Bloomer Girls teams.
We are seeking a mix of topics showcasing the diversity of Black baseball throughout the Gulf Coast region. We’re looking for articles which may feature major, minor, or Negro league baseball, along with college, high school, and more. Research articles could be historical, biographical, or statistical, but please avoid personal narrative.
This issue of The National Pastime will be co-edited by Leslie Heaphy and Alex Painter. To submit an article idea or abstract please fill out this form by December 15. If the form does not give enough space to adequately explain the idea, please upload a document. Only submissions sent using the online portal will be considered. Authors will be notified of accepted submissions by January 5, with first drafts due by February 1, 2027, and rewrites (if needed) will be due by April 15.
Queries should include a paragraph about the topic, an explanation of its significance, a brief description of why you are interested in it, the resources you intend to use, and what of your research is original. Topics should not duplicate previously published work without significantly expanding the research.
The length for TNP articles is 1,500 to 2,500 words; the size of a midterm paper, not a masters thesis. Please estimate how long you expect your article to be as part of your query. If you are given a word count limit by the editor, you must stick to it.
For full writers’ guidelines and details on how to prep your manuscript for submission, click here. Remember that to be published in a SABR journal, your SABR membership must be current. (Click here to join.)
Originally published: November 11, 2026. Last Updated: November 9, 2026.