Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter meeting recap – 2/20/2017
Twenty-one members and guests of the Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter gathered at The Original Crusoe’s Restaurant in South St. Louis on Monday, February 20, 2017.
Chapter president Brian Flaspohler called the meeting to order. The first topic of discussion was the recent Hot Stove Luncheon held on SABR Day, January 28. Everyone who attended the luncheon was generally pleased with the venue, the food, the program, and the variety of speakers. Treasurer Wayne Hebden gave a positive financial report on the luncheon. There was some brief discussion on finding a new location for the regular monthly meetings. While Crusoe’s has been a exceptional host for several years the fact that we are in a second story room that is only accessible by a staircase has been a concern and/or a detriment for some members. If anyone has any possible locations please contact Brian Flaspohler.
Items noted in “Today in Baseball History”: 1929 – The Red Sox announce that they will begin playing Sunday games (allowed for the first time in Boston) at Braves Field, because Fenway Park is located too close to a church; 1953 – August A. Busch buys the Cardinals for $3.75 million and pledges not to move the team from St.Louis; 1958 – The Los Angeles Coliseum Commission approves a two-year pact for use of its facility by the Dodgers.
Rich Applegate gave a book report on “Willie’s Boys: The 1948 Birmingham Black Barons, The Last Negro League World Series, and the Making of Baseball Legend” by John Klima. His presentation included an informational hand-out on Lorenzo “Piper” Davis. Bob Tiemann gave a research presentation on the 18 game winning streak the Cardinals enjoyed on the road in Pittsburgh from May 7, 1964 to April 15, 1966.
Several members expressed their interest in attending the SABR National Convention in New York this year so it seems our chapter will be well represented. Brian Flaspohler asked for some opinions on how best to factor and weigh the importance of individual postseason experience to a team in the postseason. One of our members, Loretta Donovan, has a pair of Cardinals tickets available for purchase for 10 games this year. If you are interested her e-mail address is tedi4965@charter.net
Other topics of discussion were Alex Reyes, Lance Lynn, Dexter Fowler, and which members were heading to spring training.
Bob Tiemann’s trivia topic was “Battlin’ the Bucs”. Mark Stangl was the winner with a score of 35 out of a possible 38.
The chapter’s Baseball Fellowship Meeting will be at the Sports Café in Bridgeton Wednesday, March 1, 2017 starting at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
The next regular monthly meeting will be March 21, 2017 with the location yet to be determined.
— Jim Leefers