Al Kermisch
SABR researcher extraordinaire Al Kermisch (1914-2002) wrote the longest running feature, “From a Researcher’s Notebook,” in the history of the Baseball Research Journal. For many years, his work was the final item in each Journal, a purposely designed pleasant ending to anyone’s read. Al’s fans were legion. Broadcaster Keith Olbermann wrote in December 2009: “ ‘From a Researcher’s Notebook’ was my favorite part of the annual SABR Journal — the curious things the late Al Kermisch found, presumably in the pursuit of grander truths. I can’t hope to emulate the quality of Mr. Kermisch’s work but I do hope to touch the curiosity factor with nuts-and-bolts research and whimsy.”
About a dozen longtime SABR members were contacted to elicit a portrait of the man, but not one could remember meeting him other than by mail or phone, and those were a rarity. The only way to learn about Al was to piece together the descriptions of him from various SABR articles and other outlets. Finding them took some work, the kind of puzzle-piece search he would have relished.
Click here for a long-overdue attempt, by Dixie Tourangeau, to put those pieces together and tell Kermisch’s story.
Click on a link below to read early SABR articles by Al Kermisch.
SABR BioProject biographies written by Al Kermisch
SABR Games Project stories written by Al Kermisch
SABR Journal Articles written by Al Kermisch
- From a Researcher’s Notebook (2002)
- From a Researcher’s Notebook (2001)
- From a Researcher’s Notebook (2000)
- A red-letter bat day for Lefty Gomez
- Ban Johnson preferred ERA over won-lost records
- Bat, almost 6 feet long, used in National League game
- Eye Injury Handicapped Young Babe Ruth
- From a Researcher’s Notebook (1989)
- Harry Heitman Deserves Respect
- Ripken and LaValliere: The Second Generation
- From a Researcher’s Notebook (1986)
- From a Researcher’s Notebook (1984)
- From A Researcher’s Notebook (1983)
- From A Researcher’s Notebook (1982)
- From a Researcher’s Notebook: Baltimore, the Eastern Shore, And More (1982)
SABR Research Topics written by Al Kermisch
SABR Research Articles written by Al Kermisch
SABR Ballparks written by Al Kermisch