Houston/Larry Dierker Chapter meeting recap – 12/8/2014

We were happy to welcome 29 members and friends of the Larry Dierker Chapter to our monthly meeting on December 8, 2014.

Bill Hartman kicked off the parade of speakers with stories of his first visits to Buff Stadium and his journalistic career that followed. Bill is a 30-year member of the BBWAA and explained his process to determine who to vote for annually in the Hall of Fame campaign. 

Paul Cusick and Noel Gonzales of the Astros scouting department (both former Ivy leaguers) followed with details on their work assignments, how they analyze prospects and what goes on in the “War Room” before and during the amateur draft.

Mike McCroskey brought with him two members of the Sugar Land Skeeters front office, Jackie Holm and Jessica Anderson, to discuss the upcoming “Hot Stove Baseball Meeting” set for January 22 at the Sugar Land Marriott. Our chapter is helping with the meeting and more details will be forthcoming.

Stan Curtis updated us on his contacts with SABR members who are no longer active and Tom White won Ben Brink’s trivia contest.

January will be a very active month wirth numerous SABR activities:

  • January 10: Rogers Hornsby SABR Chapter Annual Meeting in San Marcos.
  • January 19: Regular monthly meeting at the Spaghetti Western.
  • January 22: Hot Stove Baseball Dinner at the Sugar Land Marriott.
  • January 24: Houston Astros FanFest at Minute Maid Park.

— Bob Dorrill
bdorrill@aol.com