Bob Davids Award: Dick Thompson
Dick Thompson, a Bridgewater (MA) resident, was this year’s winner of the Society for American Baseball Research’s (SABR) highest honor: The Bob Davids Award.
This annual award honors SABR members whose contributions to SABR and baseball reflect the ingenuity, integrity, and self-sacrifice of the founder and past president of SABR, L. Robert “Bob” Davids. Voluntary activities in the area of administration and research are among those contributions considered.
A SABR member since 1979, Mr. Thompson is considered one of the organization’s very best and prolific researchers. His body of work, at least 20 articles in SABR publications, is comprised of subjects and personalities that deserved, but had not yet received due historical recognition.
Evelyn Begley, the 2002 Bob Davids Award winner, gave the award introduction. In her speech, Begley called Mr. Thompson’s work original, painstakingly researched and beautifully written. Begley added, “His service contributions are no less impressive. He is well known for his generosity in providing information and insights to those seeking assistance with a variety of research projects.”
Last year’s winner, Fred Ivor-Campbell, accepted the award on Mr. Thompson’s behalf. A member of at least eight SABR research committees and three regional committees, Mr. Thompson, among many other achievements compiled the Society for American Baseball History book published by Turner Publishing for which he also wrote the “History of SABR” section.