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The SABR/IWBC Arizona Fall League Experience was held on Thursday, October 10 to Saturday, October 12, 2019, in Phoenix, Arizona.

This conference was focused on women in baseball, co-hosted by the International Women’s Baseball Center, and held in conjunction with the Arizona Fall League (MLB.com/AFL), baseball’s premier player development league.

On Friday, October 11, we heard talks from Stephanie Jarvis, Interim Director of Arizona State University’s Sports Law & Business Program; and Elizabeth Benn, Coordinator of Labor, Diversity, and Baseball Development at MLB’s Office of the Commissioner. Michael Haupert  of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse gave a presentation on attendance and fan demand in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, while Callie Maddox of Miami University gave a presentation on the global growth of contemporary women’s baseball. Our Working in Baseball Panel featured Debbie Castaldo, Vice President, Corporate & Community Impact with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Executive Director of the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation; and Jennifer Blatt, founder of the Women’s Sports School and WISE Arizona who spent nearly 20 years in the Arizona Diamondbacks front office.

Saturday, October 12 was highlighted by a panel previewing the AFL Fall Stars Game with Meg Rowley, Managing Editor of FanGraphs; Eric Longenhagen, Lead Prospect Analyst at FanGraphs; and William Boor of MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com. We also heard from Bridget Binsbacher, Executive Director of the Cactus League. Rebecca Herman of Purdue University Global gave a presentation on the top women’s baseball national teams in the world, and author/umpire Perry Barber spoke about baseball pioneer and visionary Maud Nelson.

All baseball fans are welcome to attend the SABR/IWBC Arizona Fall League Experience. The IWBC, based in Rockford, Illinois, is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and promoting all aspects of women’s baseball, both on and off the field.

Click here to check out more photos from the 2019 SABR/IWBC Arizona Fall League Experience:

2019 SABR Arizona Fall League Experience

2019 SABR/IWBC Arizona Fall League Experience
All panels and presentations at The Saguaro hotel, Scottsdale

Friday, October 11

  • 8:30-8:55 a.m.: Career Perspective: Stephanie Jarvis, Arizona State University Sports Law & Business Program
  • 9:00-9:25 a.m.: Michael Haupert and Lisa Giddings, “There’s a Girl on the Field, but Who’s in the Stands? The Demand for Professional Women’s Baseball”
  • 9:30-10:00 a.m.: Growing Women’s Participation in Baseball: Elizabeth Benn, Major League Baseball
  • 10:00-10:15 a.m.: Break
  • 10:15-11:10 a.m.: Working in Baseball Panel: Debbie Castaldo, Arizona Diamondbacks; and Jennifer Blatt, WISE Arizona
  • 11:15-11:40 a.m.: Callie Maddox, “People need to see this!”: The Global Growth of Contemporary Women’s Baseball”
  • 11:45 a.m.: Wrap-up

Saturday, October 12

  • 9:00-9:25 a.m.: Rebecca Herman, “Comparative Analysis of the Top National Teams”
  • 9:30-10:15 a.m.: The Cactus League: Bridget Binsbacher, Cactus League Executive Director
  • 10:15-10:30 a.m.: Break
  • 10:30-10:55 a.m.: Perry Barber, “Maud Nelson: Baseball Visionary”
  • 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Fall Stars Scouting Report Panel: Meg Rowley, FanGraphs; Eric Longenhagen, FanGraphs; William Boor, MLBPipeline.com
  • 12:00 p.m.: Wrap-up

Here was the complete schedule of events for the SABR/IWBC Arizona Fall League Experience:

Thursday, October 10

  • 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Registration open at The Saguaro hotel lobby
  • 12:30-3:30 p.m.: Optional game: Surprise Saguaros vs. Scottsdale Scorpions (*game is at Salt River Fields)
  • 4:00-6:00 p.m.: Registration open at The Saguaro hotel lobby
  • 6:00-8:00 p.m.: Welcome reception/dinner at The Saguaro hotel

Friday, October 11

  • 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Panels and speakers at The Saguaro hotel; see above for details
  • 12:30-3:30 p.m.: Lunch on your own OR optional game: Salt River Rafters at Mesa Solar Sox
  • 4:00 p.m.: Golf cart leaves for Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (for hotel guests only)
  • 5:00-6:30 p.m.: Pregame ballpark dinner at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
  • 6:30-9:30 p.m.: Surprise Saguaros vs. Scottsdale Scorpions (*game is at Salt River Fields)

Saturday, October 12

  • 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Panels and speakers at The Saguaro hotel; see above for details
  • 12:30-3:00 p.m.: Lunch on your own
  • 3:30 p.m.: Golf cart leaves for Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (for hotel guests only)
  • 5:00-8:00 p.m.: Fall Stars Game, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

For stories and photos from past AFL Experiences, click on a link below:

  • 2018: SABR.org/AFL/2018
  • 2017: SABR.org/AFL/2017
  • 2016: SABR.org/AFL/2016
  • 2015: SABR.org/AFL/2015
  • 2014: SABR.org/AFL/2014
  • 2013: SABR.org/AFL/2013
  • 2012: SABR.org/AFL/2012
  • 2011: SABR.org/AFL/2011

Inside AFL

  • SABR Arizona Fall League Experience
  • 2018 SABR Arizona Fall League Experience
  • 2017 SABR Arizona Fall League Experience
  • 2016 SABR Arizona Fall League Experience
  • 2015 SABR Arizona Fall League Experience
  • 2014 SABR Arizona Fall League Conference
  • 2013 SABR Arizona Fall League Conference
  • 2012 SABR Arizona Fall League Conference
  • 2011 SABR Arizona Fall League Conference

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