Larry Dierker Chapter meeting recap – 5/16/2022
The Larry Dierker Chapter gathered again for its monthly meeting on Monday, May 16, 2022, continuing in its hybrid format. A total of 30 SABR members enjoyed a very interesting program. Click here to watch a replay of this meeting on YouTube.
President Joe Thompson recapped the April 16 chapter event at Constellation Field. Twenty-eight members and guests gathered prior to the game. Mike Capps, the announcer for the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers AAA Club) and Gerald Sanchez, the announcer for the Space Cowboys (Houston Astros AAA Club) entertained the group with interesting stories from their extensive broadcasting experiences. Mike McCroskey informed the group that Deacon Jones, former major leaguer, and Special Advisor to the Space Cowboys, who could not meet with the group that day, is doing much better.
He then reminded the group about SABR 50 in Baltimore this summer. Early registration is underway! The convention will take place August 17-21. Details for the convention can be found at https://sabr.org/convention.
Vaccination info: As noted during registration, all attendees must provide official documentation of COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend. If you have not done so already, please upload a photo or digital copy of your vaccination record/card at https://profile.sabr.org/vaccination-card. These records will be stored securely and privately by SABR staff and will expedite your on-site check-in process.
The chapter will need someone to take over as chapter secretary for Marsha Franty in the next few months. If you would like to volunteer, please email me at splendorajoe@gmail.com.
After recapping the contents of the Spring 2022 Houston Baseball Shooting Star Express, an announcement was made that articles for the summer newsletter are needed. The summer newsletter will be published around the MLB All-Star game in July. Newsletter editor Tony Cavender made a few suggestions for the newsletter including recaps of the 1922 baseball season (all levels), players from the 1922 season, and a recap of the Houston Buffs 1922 season. Feel free to send your contributions to myself, Bob Dorrill, Scott McCay, or Tony Cavender!
Nolan Ryan comes to the big theatre and to a streaming platform later this year. A month after debuting at SXSW, “Facing Nolan” – the documentary about Hall of Fame pitcher and Texas lagend Nolan Ryan – has been acquired for distribution by Utopia and will screen in theaters nationwide for one-night only May 24 courtesy of Fathom Events. Showtimes are 7 or 7:15 pm at theatres across Houston. The screening also will include a Q&A with Ryan that was recorded when the movie debuted at SXSW in March. Bill Brown mentioned that after May 24, the documentary will be available for streaming later this year. A link for the event and tickets for the film are located here.
The group had a discussion on plans for chapter events this summer including a possible chapter meeting and visit to Minute Maid in July or August and another visit to see the Space Cowboys play in either July, late August, or September. The group decided that we will attend another Space Cowboys game later this summer. A few of the upcoming Space Cowboys games that the group could possible attend include Space Cowboys: vs. El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) (Fri, Jul 8 – Sun, Jul 10), Albuquerque Isotopes (Fri, Sept 2 – Sun, Sept 4), or Salt Lake Bees (Angels) (Fri, Sept 16 – Sun, Sep 18). Details will be released perhaps by the June meeting. Also, as a side note, those who received vouchers during the April 16 Space Cowboys game also received a free ticket good for any future game this season.
The speaker for the evening was Ted Meyer. Ted has been a member of SABR for three years. He is a highly rated labor and employment lawyer who represents organizations nationwide in matters relating to leadership and organizational excellence. He has counseled some of the largest employers in the world on how to improve their organizations and has done similar work for smaller teams and groups including churches and non-profits. He is also a self-taught baseball historian with a deep understanding and respect for the history of the game and the value of inclusiveness within it. Ted has pursued both passions side by side for over 30 years. During our meeting, he talked to us about the subject of his new book Championing the Cause of Leadership: A Look at the Baseball Dynasties. The book is available on Amazon and other book sellers. He spoke in detail about leadership and qualities successful business and baseball teams share and examples of how just one person can make or destroy team unity and purpose. In particular, he talked about John McGraw, Casey Stengel, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Torre, the 1923 Yankees and the 1965 Yankees. Fascinating information.
Chapter Vice President Herb Whalley presented this month’s trivia contest. The winner of this month’s trivia was Vince Travoto. Vince will present the trivia contest during the June meeting.
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Our next chapter meeting will be held on Monday, June 20 at the Spaghetti Western Italian Restaurant on Shepherd Drive in Houston. A Zoom option will be available for those wishing to attend remotely.
Our featured speaker will be Arlene Lassin. Her presentation will be on the history of the Hot Pants Patrol for the Philadelphia Phillies, the era of Mascots, and other PR and promotional history items from the very hot Phillies of 1976-81. She will speak of getting to know baseball superstars from her position with the team, and stories about some famous ones. It is kind of a fluff baseball topic from a while back, but interesting from a historical perspective.
Some of the stories we will hear next month are contained in her new book The Very Best of the Hot Flashes Blog: Essays That Will Warm Your Heart, Tickle Your Funny Bone and Have You Shouting “Me Too!” Paperback – March 10, 2022
The book is a compilation of 10 years of writing effort. She still has her uniform which she often brings as a “prop!” This book, despite the title is my “Hot Topics” with a wink and nod to midlife. Lots of reminiscing, nostalgia and Baseball talk in here.
We hope you can join us!
— Bob Dorrill and Joe Thompson