Boston Chapter/Games Project meeting recap – 6/5/2025
About 25 people tuned in via Zoom on June 5, 2025, for a discussion of SABR’s Games Project, featuring remarks from Games Project Chair John Fredland and two Boston chapter members who are Games Project contributors, Donna L. Halper and Kurt Blumenau. Chapter member Bill Nowlin, who was one of the first Games Project writers and remains an active contributor, served as emcee.
A recording of the event can be viewed here.
John, who has been Games Project chair since October 2020, spoke about the Games Project’s focus on bringing games to life by including appropriate historical context, stringently peer-reviewed. He explained that the Project gives authors the opportunity to explore areas of special interest to them and can be a great setting for members to dive into SABR research. Running through the current week’s list of seven new Games Project stories, John discussed how each one reflects its author’s interests and brings something of its own to the collection.
Donna has a strong interest in Negro League research, and discussed fascinating game stories she has found – some by accident! – while conducting her research. She spoke about the many different angles and aspects of games that can be touched on in a Games Project story, as well as the pleasure of bringing attention to figures – such as former pitcher Will “Cannonball” Jackman – who did not receive an appropriate level of news coverage in their own day.
Kurt spoke about a unique project he recently undertook to write the game stories for all eight major-league games (including Red Sox and Boston Braves games, as well as one Federal League game) played on a single day, May 12, 1915. The collection included some historically notable games, including White Sox pitcher Red Faber’s reported 67-pitch complete game.
Several coming events were also discussed:
- Len Levin, Games Project copy editor and president of SABR’s Lajoie-Start chapter (Southern New England), gave information on that chapter’s upcoming in-person meeting on June 7.
- Boston chapter member Joanne Hulbert discussed an event on June 11 in Hull, Mass. Boston chapter member Herb Crehan obtained a SABR grant to support the placement of a display board in Hull marking the site of the first known night baseball game, which took place in 1880. The display board has been installed, and a plaque commemorating SABR’s role is scheduled to be installed June 11. Additional ceremonies are planned for September.
- Boston chapter leadership recently sent out a survey seeking members’ feedback on a proposal to hold a chapter meeting on Cape Cod this summer and watch a Cape Cod Baseball League game. Members were prompted to complete the survey.
The meeting wrapped up at about 8:45 p.m.