Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter meeting recap – 3/2/2020
Twenty-seven members and guests of the Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter assembled on Monday, March 2, 2020, at the Sports Cafe in Bridgeton, Missouri.
Chapter president Rick Zucker called the meeting to order. Treasurer Mark Stangl gave a report of our SABR Day Hot Stove Luncheon held at Favazza’s on Saturday, February 1.
Ed Wheatley announced that his new book, Baseball in St. Louis: Little Leagues to Major Leagues, will be released next week. There will also be an Author Event at the St. Louis County Library, 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard on Tuesday April 14 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Items mentioned for this date in baseball history were: 1899–The National League votes to expel the 39-111 St. Louis Browns. The vote fails 7-4. The team becomes the Perfectos for the upcoming year. 1966-Commissioner Eckert voids the Braves contract with Tom Seaver. 1999- The Hall of Fame Veterans Committee elects Orlando Cepeda. Births on this date: The batter’s box (1874), Moe Berg (1902), Mel Ott (1909), Mort Cooper (1913), Jim Konstanty (1917), Ron Gant (1965), Junior Fernandez (1997), and the Wild Card Game (2012). Deaths on this date: Matt Kilroy (1940) & Fred Merkle (1956). As always this portion of the meeting generated some interesting discussion on the various topics and individuals.
Zucker mentioned perusing the reports on the other SABR Day meetings and was proud to report that our luncheon was again one of the best-attended events.
Brian Flaspohler announced that a 100th anniversary celebration of the Negro Leagues would take place during a doubleheader at Harris-Stowe State University on April 25. Some static displays of memorabilia will be set up. The games are scheduled to begin at noon.
General discussion topics included spring training, Madison Bumgarner’s foray into rodeo, and of course, the Astros cheating scandal.
Twenty-five of those present also submitted their 2020 predictions for division winners, wild card teams, LCS participants, league champions and World Series Champions. Predicted World Series winners are as follows: Dodgers (9), Cardinals (5), Yankees (4), Braves & Rays (2), Mets, Nationals, & Athletics (1).
Bob Tiemann’s trivia quiz was titled “It Was Twenty Years Ago Today … The 2000 St. Louis Cardinals.” Mark Stangl was the winner with 26 out of 37 possible and was presented with a Cardinals Pullover.
The next regular monthly meeting will be Monday, April 13, 2020 at the Sports Café in Bridgeton. The next Fellowship Meeting will be Wednesday, April 1 at Lester’s in Ladue.
— Jim Leefers