Lajoie-Start Chapter meeting recap – 11/24/2012

A varied post-Thanksgiving menu was enjoyed by 58 members and friends of the Lajoie-Start (Southern New England) Chapter at its semiannual meeting on November 24, 2012, at St. Philip’s Parish Center in Greenville, Rhode Island.

The highlight of the five-hour meeting was an appearance by former Boston Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, the third time he has come to one of our meetings. Gedman, now a hitting coach in the Red Sox minor league system, expounded at length on his philosophy in helping minor leaguers develop their hitting capabilities.

Another feature was a panel on the Red Sox of the 1950s, sparked by SABR’s recent publication of Red Sox in the Days of Ike and Elvis. The panelists were Bill Nowlin (who edited the book), Gerry Beirne and Steve Adamson. Members of the audience also chimed in. Mike Darowski conducted a mock Hall of Fame election, and for the second year in a row, no one was elected.

Research presentations were made by Ty Waterman, Dave Gumbley, Steve Krevisky, Bill Lamb and Dixie Tourangeau. Gerry Beirne conducted the trivia contest, on Baseball Brothers. The winners were Steve Krevisky, Duke Goldman and Mark Kanter.

The chapter’s next meeting will be held in June at McCoy Stadium, home of the Pawtucket Red Sox, It will be held on a Saturday (yet to be determined) when the team is playing at home, so we can go to the game after the meeting.

— Len Levin
Chapter chairman