Using SABR
Using SABR and its members
SABR members have a vast amount of experience in researching baseball, and chances are large that someone in SABR has done research related to what you want to do. The best way to avoid unnecessary work is to become comfortable with the variety of ways you can reach out to this knowledgeable community.
SABR’s membership directory
All SABR members can search an online directory here:
You can search by name, location, or by research committee/regional chapter, or by research interest/expertise. You can also cross-reference a search: Say you are looking for someone in the Baseball Records Committee who lives in California. In the Location field, select “United States” then “California”. In the Groups field, check the box for the “Baseball Records Committee”. Scroll down to the bottom and press the “Continue” button. That will give you a list of people who fit that description.
Contacting writers
Most authors of articles in SABR journals are SABR members. If you are interested in researching a similar subject, you should feel free to contact the writer. Similarly, many articles or books on your subject were also written by SABR members. If you find an article in The Baseball Index, use the membership directory to find the author.
SABR-L
A great way to get help with your research project, or to just get a nagging question answered, is using the SABR-L mailing list. SABR-L is a moderated forum that encourages and facilitates research and information exchange among SABR members. Participation in SABR-L is both a benefit and a privilege of SABR membership, and all SABR members with Internet access are encouraged to take part. On a typical day, the list sees 15 to 25 posts on a wide variety of baseball topics.
For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe to the the mailing list, click here.
Managing Your SABR-L Subscription
To subscribe to SABR-L
Send a message to listserv@apple.ease.lsoftcom. In the body of the message, put the line: SUBSCRIBE SABR-L Firstname Lastname (using your own name in place of “Firstname Lastname”). Your request will be forwarded to the list maintainer, who, after verifying your SABR membership, will add you to the list.
To unsubscribe
Send a message to listserv@apple.ease.lsoftcom. In the body of the message, put the line: UNSUBSCRIBE SABR-L Firstname Lastname (using your own name in place of ‘Firstname Lastname’).
By default, you will receive messages in digest mode—a whole day’s messages to you in one email. You can also choose to receive each message individually (immediate mode).
To receive each SABR-L message as it is posted
Send a message to listserv@apple.ease.lsoftcom. In the body of the message, put the line SET SABR-L NODIGEST.
To receive SABR-L messages in digest mode
Send a message to listserv@apple.ease.lsoftcom. In the body of the message, put the line SET SABR-L DIGEST.
To stop mail temporarily (if you are going to be away for a time)
Send a message to listserv@apple.ease.lsoftcom. In the body of the message, put the line SET SABR-L NOMAIL.
To restart your mail
Send a message to listserv@apple.ease.lsoftcom. In the body of the message, put the line SET SABR-L MAIL.
SABR research committees
Over the years SABR has organized itself into committees of members interested in particular areas of research. If you are interested in nineteenth-century baseball, or the Negro Leagues, or baseball books, or if you just want to tap into the work that has been done in these areas, you should join one or more of these committees.
Using SABR research committees
If you are interested in getting a question answered without actually joining the committee, send an e-mail to the chairperson of the committee, listed on the main SABR Research Committees page.
Joining and getting involved with a research committee
You must be a SABR member to join a committee, of course. That is the only qualification. There is no limit to how many committees you can join—and no entrance exam.
Make sure to send a note to the chairperson of the committee to introduce yourself and to communicate what your interests are and what you want to get out of the committee.
Many committees have set up discussion groups, and any committee member can sign up and contribute to the conversation. Find the full list of SABR Research Committees by clicking here. You can participate in the discussion group to read what others are doing, to reach out to other committee members, or to organize group projects.
If you have an idea for a new committee, you just need to find a few like-minded people and make a proposal to the SABR board. SABR research committees can come and go as member interest changes.