2012 SABR Convention: SABR 42 in Minneapolis

June 27-July 1, 2012
Marriott City Center
30 South 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Schedule Featured Panels Speakers Presentations Committee Meetings Posters Information Photo Galleries #SABR42 on Twitter

SABR 42: Schedule of Events

Here is the schedule of events for SABR 42, which was held June 27-July 1, 2012, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We’ve got full coverage of the SABR convention in Minneapolis at SABR.org/convention.

Wednesday, June 27

8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Lake Calhoun Room, 8th floor)
SABR Board Meeting

12:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m. (off-site)
Minneapolis Central Library Tour
300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
An off-site tour arranged by Connie Hill of the Minneapolis Central Library, which is a few blocks away from the hotel. This will include some of the baseball resources available there. Tour led by Barbara Menk. No fee.

2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (off-site)
Downtown Minneapolis/Metrodome Walking Tour
Walking tour led by Halsey Hall Chapter president Brenda Himrich. Fee: $5. Not included in regular registration.

2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (Atrium)
Registration Desk Open

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (Pine/Cedar Rooms)
Research Committee Chairs Meeting

5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (Deer Room)
Business of Baseball and Ballparks Committee joint meeting

Business of Baseball: John Ruoff, co-chair (jruoff@bellsouth.net); Steven Weingarden, co-chair (steveweingarden@gmail.com)

Ballparks: Stan Meradith, co-chair (smeradith@dlrgroup.com); Gary Gillette, co-chair (ggillette@247baseball.com); Jim Gordon, co-chair (JimBruin@roadrunner.com)

The Business of Baseball Committee will have a joint meeting with the Ballparks Committee from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27 in the Deer Room. This will be a panel discussion focused on the development and financing of Target Field. The panel is scheduled to include: Dan Kenney, Minnesota Ballpark Authority Executive Director; Tom Goldstein, community activist and lawyer who opposes public subsidies for sports stadiums; Gary Gillette, co-author of Big League Ballparks and Editor of the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia; and Stan Meradith, AIA, Principal of the DLR Group, a national integrated design firm with experience building ballparks. This promises to a very exciting discussion. All SABR members are invited to attend.

5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. (Pine/Cedar Rooms)
Regional Chapter Leaders Meeting
Bill Nowlin, chair (billn@rounder.com)

6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (off-site)
SABR Authors Panel
Barnes & Noble, 801 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Walk two blocks to the Barnes & Noble on 8th Street for a SABR authors panel featuring: Mark Armour, Pitching, Defense, and Three-Run Homers: The 1970 Baltimore Orioles; Rob Fitts, Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, and Assassination during the 1934 Tour of Japan; Daniel R. Levitt, The Battle that Forged Modern Baseball: The Federal League Challenge and Its Legacy; John Thorn, Baseball in the Garden of Eden: The Secret History of the Early Game; Steve Treder, The Hardball Times. Moderator: Rob Taylor, Sports Editor and Interim Editor-in-Chief, University of Nebarska Press.

8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. (Minnesota Room, 6th floor)
Ross Adell First-Timers Welcome Reception
Ross Adell, a SABR member for almost 25 years before he died of cancer in 2006 at the tender age of 50, loved a good party. He enjoyed making new friends and introducing them to kindred baseball spirits. That’s what the SABR convention is all about. For those of you attending your first convention, we know it can be a bit daunting. But we want you to feel welcome and Ross would, too. So come join us at the Ross Adell First-Timers Welcome Reception — everyone is welcome, not just first-timers. We’ll talk baseball and help show you how to get the most out of your SABR convention experience.

Thursday, June 28

7:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Atrium)
Registration Desk Open
The registration desk will be open for attendees to get their materials. Please note the registration desk will be closed from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 28.

7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: BioProject
Mark Armour, director (markarmour04@gmail.com)

7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Union Project
Gary Gillette, chair (ggillette@247baseball.com)

8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
Annual Business Meeting

9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
Opening remarks: Dave St. Peter
Our featured speaker, Dave St. Peter, has served as president of the Minnesota Twins since 2009; he joined the Twins organization in 1990. Introduction by Brenda Himrich, president of the Halsey Hall Chapter.

10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (St. Croix 1-2 Rooms, 6th floor)
Vendors/Memorabilia Room Open

10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (off-site)
Tour of Target Field
Behind-the-scenes tour of Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, led by Twins curator Clyde Doepner. Fee: $15. Not included in regular registration.

10:45 a.m.-11:10 a.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP01: “An Aggregation Of Conceit”: The Minneapolis Keystones 1907-1911
Todd Peterson

10:45 a.m.-11:10 a.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP02: Most Runs Batted In … Lifetime … By an Individual Player … American League
Herm Krabbenhoft

11:15 a.m.-11:40 a.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP03: Diamond Alliances: Baseball at Minnesota’s Lower Sioux Indian Reservation, 1900-1915
Dave Laliberte

11:15 a.m.-11:40 a.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP04: Thank You for Your (Non-) Support
Steven Glassman

11:45 a.m.-12:10 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP05: The Growth and Political Roles of Youth Baseball in Taiwan, 1920-1968
John Harney

11:45 a.m.-12:10 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP06: The Deeds of Dynamic Ducky
Steve Treder

12:15 p.m.-12:40 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP07: Murderers, Spies, and Ballplayers: The Untold Story of the 1934 All American Tour of Asia
Robert Fitts

12:15 p.m.-12:40 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP08: Elden Auker: From Norcatur to the World Series
Rod Merkle

1:00 p.m.-2:15 p.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
Official Scorers Panel
Our panel of official scorers for major league teams will discuss rules and scoring issues that come up during the course of a game, including appeals, reversed calls and other disputes. Speakers: Stew Thornley, official scorer for the Minnesota Twins since 2007; David Vincent, official scorer for the Washington Nationals since 2005; Gregg Wong, official scorer for the Minnesota Twins since 2007. Moderator: Kevin Hennessy, official scorer for the St. Paul Saints since 2008.

2:30 p.m.-2:55 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP09: Value Strategies for Building a Roster
Vince Gennaro

2:30 p.m.-2:55 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP10: Dynastic Aspirations: The Minnesota Twins, 1965-1970
Paul Hensler

3:00 p.m.-3:25 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP11: The Fear of Injury: Explaining Delay in Contract Extensions
William Spaniel

3:00 p.m.-3:25 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP12: Trying to Get a Major League Baseball Team in Portland, Oregon, from 2000 to 2005: Political & Economic Realities and the Soft Underbelly of Baseball Exposed
Donald Frank

3:30 p.m.-3:55 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP13: Shutting down the Running Game by Limiting Steal Attempts
David W. Smith

3:30 p.m.-3:55 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP14: The Day John McGraw Lost Control of his Team … And Quit
Steve Steinberg

4:00 p.m.-4:25 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP15: A new proposal to determine home field advantage in the World Series
Jed Dukett

4:00 p.m.-4:25 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP16: How Warren Spahn Almost Ruined SABR
Bob Buege, Paul Haas

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Baseball and the Arts
Jeff Campbell, co-chair (hungryformusic@worldnet.att.net)
Joanne Hulbert, co-chair (jhulbert@earthlink.net)

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Deadball Era (1901-19)
John McMurray, chair (deadball@sabr.org)
Trey Strecker, vice-chair (tstrecker@bsu.edu)

4:45 p.m.-6:15 p.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
Women in Baseball Panel
Our panel of authors and experts will discuss the evolution of women in baseball throughout the game’s history and their future in the sport. Speakers: Laura Day, Executive Vice President for Business Development, Minnesota Twins; Leslie Heaphy, chair of SABR Women in Baseball Research Committee and SABR director; Dorothy Seymour Mills, SABR member and co-author of the groundbreaking “Baseball” series; Cecilia Tan, SABR Publications Editor. Moderator: Ann Carroll, reporter/host for Fox Sports North.

5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Pictorial History
Bill Hickman, chair (bdhickmn@aol.com)
Cary Smith, vice-chair (zinnbeck@aol.com)

5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Bibliography
Andy McCue, chair (agmccue44@earthlink.net)
Robert McAfee, vice-chair (xerxes7@earthlink.net)

6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Black Sox Scandal
Jacob Pomrenke, chair (buckweaver@gmail.com)

6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Women in Baseball
Leslie Heaphy, co-chair (lheaphy@kent.edu)
Justine Siegal, co-chair (justinebaseball@gmail.com)

6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Statistical Analysis
Clem Comly, co-chair (ccomly@comcast.net)
Neal Traven, co-chair (beisbol@alumni.pitt.edu)

7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
“Knuckleball!” special film screening
“Knuckleball!”, a documentary film by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, debuted this spring at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. “Knuckleball!” is the story of pitchers who throw the most unpredictable pitch in the game. The film follows the only knuckleballers in the major leagues in 2011, Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey. It also features former knuckleballers Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough, Wilbur Wood, Jim Bouton and Tom Candiotti. Other interviews include writers Ben McGrath, Roger Angell and Tony Massarotti; catchers Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli and Josh Thole, as well as Derek Jeter, Terry Francona, Joe Torre, Carlos Beltran and Buck Showalter. SABR member Alan Nathan — an authority on the knuckleball who was interviewed for the film — will talk about the knuckleball, introduce the film and conduct a Q&A.

7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
Trivia Contest preliminary round
Trivia at SABR 42 is for all baseball fans. Come test your knowledge against SABR’s best!

9:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (Hotel bar)
Under-30 Mixer
All SABR members are welcome to attend our Under-30 Mixer at the hotel bar. Our younger members bring a unique perspective to SABR, and we’re excited that the future of baseball research is in their capable hands. Don’t forget to say hello to our Yoseloff Scholarship recipients attending the convention, and the SABR Case Competition winners, who will be presenting on Saturday.

Friday, June 29

8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Atrium)
Registration Desk Open
Please note the registration desk will be closed from 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 29.

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Scouts
Rod Nelson, co-chair (rodericnelson@gmail.com)
Jim Sandoval, co-chair (jrsandoval@aol.com)

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Baseball Records
Lyle Spatz, chair (lspatz@comcast.net)
Trent McCotter, vice-chair (treant985@gmail.com)

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (St. Croix 1-2 Rooms, 6th floor)
Vendors/Memorabilia Room Open

9:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m. (Ballroom 3-4)
General Managers Panel
Featured speaker is Terry Ryan, Executive Vice President, General Manager of the Minnesota Twins. Moderator: Daniel R. Levitt, author of The Battle that Forged Modern Baseball: The Federal League Challenge and Its Legacy and Ed Barrow: The Bulldog Who Built the Yankees First Dynasty, and co-author of the award-winning Paths to Glory: How Great Baseball Teams Got That Way.

11:00 a.m.-11:25 a.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP17: “Hello, Goodbye:” Baseball’s Franchise Shifts and its Expansion Fight in 1968
Anthony Giacalone

11:00 a.m.-11:25 a.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP18: “The inauguration of this noble and manly game among us” – The Spread of Baseball in the South prior to 1870
Bruce Allardice

11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP19: Four Days in October, 1908
Steve Steinberg

11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP20: The Legacy of Alvin Dark as a Player and Manager
In the absence of John Burbridge, his presentation will be delivered by Robert Garratt.

12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
SABR Awards Luncheon
Keynote speaker: John Thorn
Master of Ceremonies: Stew Thornley
Awards presented or announced at the luncheon include the Lee Allen Award, the Roland Hemond Award, the SABR Baseball Research Awards, the McFarland-SABR Baseball Research Awards, and the Henry Chadwick Awards. The Awards portion of the luncheon concludes with the awarding of the Bob Davids Award, SABR’s highest honor.

3:00 p.m.-3:25 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP21: Integration or Preservation? The great dilemma for the black press presented by Negro league baseball in the 1940s and 1950s
Brian Carroll

3:00 p.m.-3:25 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP22: What Have We Learned from a Decade of Bat Research?
Alan Nathan

3:30 p.m.-3:55 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP23: Sometimes a Great Notion: Artificial Surfaces in Baseball
Mark Armour

3:30 p.m.-3:55 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP24: Reviewing the Reviews
Mark Pankin

4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (St. Croix 1)
Book signing: Deadball Stars authors
SABR members are well known for their meticulously researched, peer-reviewed biographies of long-ago major league stars — and few collections of biographies have been better than Deadball Stars of the National League (edited by Tom Simon, 2004) and its companion book, Deadball Stars of the American League (edited by David Jones, 2006), produced by members of SABR’s Deadball Era Committee. Many of the authors from Deadball Stars will be available in the Vendors Room during this time, so bring your books to get them signed. The Deadball Stars books will also be available for purchase in limited quantities.

4:00 p.m.-4:25 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP25: From the Diamond to the Helix: Major League Baseball and Genetic Testing in Latin America
Benjamin Wiggins

4:00 p.m.-4:25 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP26: The Decision-Making Process of Canceling and/or Postponing Games Not Due to Weather
Mark Kanter

4:30 p.m.-4:55 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP27: Spying at the Polo Grounds In 1951 Pennant Drive: How Much Did Giants Cheaters Prosper?
Bryan Soderholm-Difatte

4:30 p.m.-4:55 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP28: Heroes at the Mike
Gary Gillette, Stuart Shea

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Oral History
Tom Willman, chair (t_willman@sbcglobal.net)

7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. (Target Field)
Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins
Join us at beautiful Target Field for this matchup of American League Central teams. Reminder: Chits for your ballgame ticket must be redeemed in the Chase Room by 3:00 p.m. Friday. As Target Field is just blocks away from our convention hotel, there will be no bus transportation to the ballpark this year. If you have medical needs and need a ride, please see Deb Jayne at the registration desk.

Saturday, June 30

7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. (off-site)
Ballpark Run
Join SABR members for some early-morning exercise on a 1-mile walk or run to the Metrodome and back, or a 5-mile walk or run to the Mary Tyler Moore house and back. All fitness levels welcome.

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Negro Leagues
Dick Clark, co-chair (tstearnes@comcast.net)
Larry Lester, co-chair (NTResearch@comcast.net)

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Biographical Research
Bill Carle, chair (bbxpert@aol.com)
David Vincent, vice-chair (grandslams@aol.com)

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. (Minnesota Room, 6th floor)
Donors Breakfast

8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Atrium)
Registration Desk Open
Please note the registration desk will be closed from 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30.

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (St. Croix 1-2 Rooms, 6th floor)
Vendors/Memorabilia Room Open

9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
Players Panel
Former major leaguers Tim Laudner, 1987 World Series champion and 1988 American League All-Star; Bob “Rocky” Johnson, 11-year veteran infielder with seven MLB teams, 1960-70; and Bill Davis, a two-sport star for the University of Minnesota who spent time with the Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres from 1965-69 will discuss their careers and lives in baseball. Moderator: Frank Quilici, a former Twins infielder, manager and radio broadcaster.

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Retrosheet
David W. Smith, president (dwsmith@retrosheet.org)

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Latino Baseball
Edwin Fernandez, chair (efernan0247@gmail.com)
Claudia Perry, vice-chair (winenegress@gmail.com)

11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
SABR Case Competition: University of Chicago
The winners of the 2012 SABR Case Competition will give an encore of their first-place presentation from the inaugural SABR Analytics Conference. University of Chicago-Booth students are: Jonathan Hay, A.J. Kennedy, Ryan Lamb and Brad Rodriguez.

11:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (off-site)
Twin Cities Ballpark Sites Tour
Bus tour to historic Twin Cities ballpark sites, including Nicollet Park in Minneapolis, Lexington Park and The Pillbox in St. Paul, and Metropolitan Stadium in suburban Bloomington. Tour is limited to first 45 registrants. Fee: $15. Not included in regular registration. (Note: A second bus could be chartered if enough people sign up.)

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. (Deer Room)
Meeting: Baseball and academic courses
Bill Nowlin, chair (billn@rounder.com)
An initial meeting of people who have taught, or like the idea of teaching, academic courses connected in one way or another to baseball to discuss common interests and possible collaborations. For more information, contact Bill Nowlin (bnowlin@rounder.com).

1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Window Terrace, 6th floor)
Poster Presentations and Memorabilia Presentation
From 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. on Saturday, SABR 42 research presenters will be available for questions and discussion with their posters in the Window Terrace area on the 6th floor. The posters will be available for viewing all week in the Window Terrace area on the 6th floor. Also at this time, in the St. Croix 2 room, the Memorabilia Room presenters will be available for questions and discussion with the artifacts they have on display. Click here for the poster presentation abstracts and presenter bios.

1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
One on One: Roland Hemond
Longtime SABR member Roland Hemond sits down for an exclusive one-on-one session in which he’ll talk about his life in baseball and answer questions from the audience. Hemond received the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award during 2011 Induction Weekend at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. A three-time winner of MLB’s Executive of the Year award, Hemond has been a tireless advocate for SABR over the years and is a familiar face at our national convention. He has also lent his name to an award given annually by SABR’s Scouts Research Committee, which recognizes the baseball executive who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to professional baseball scouts and scouting, and player development history. Moderator: David Laurila of FanGraphs.

2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Nineteenth Century
Peter Mancuso, chair (peterplus4@earthlink.net)
Bob Bailey, vice-chair (bobbailey@cox.net)

2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Minor Leagues
Joe Werner, co-chair (J_Werner92@ymail.com)
Joe Wancho, co-chair (jw2462@sbcglobal.net)

3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Collegiate Baseball
Karl Green, chair (greenk@mindspring.com)

3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Umpires and Rules
Rodney Johnson, chair (SABRRodney@aol.com)
David Vincent, vice-chair (grandslams@aol.com)

4:15 p.m.-4:40 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP29: Pitching Up a Storm: The Impact of Temperature and Humidity on Pitch Effectiveness
Lisa Lebovici, Matt McGrath, Steve Miller, Kim Miner, Peter Travers, Rory Kirchner, Andy Andres

4:15 p.m.-4:40 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP30: Charlie Root: Beyond The Called Shot
Steve Krevisky

4:45 p.m.– 5:10 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP31: An Exploratory Application of Statistical Methodology to the Empirical Study of 2011 World Series Plate Umpires’ Ball-Strike Judgment and Decision-Making
Aaron Baggett

4:45 p.m.-5:10 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP32: The Scandal of Candlestick
Robert Garratt

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (Deer Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Origins
Lawrence McCray, chair (lmccray@mit.edu)

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (Elk Room)
Research Committee Meeting: Games and Simulations
Steve Krevisky, chair (sakrevisky@sbcglobal.net)

5:15 p.m.-5:40 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
RP33: Have We Been Understating (by a Lot) the Impact of Fielding Throughout History?
Michael Humphreys

5:15 p.m.-5:40 p.m. (Ballroom 4)
RP34: The Dodgers’ Class of ’68
Michael Fallon

7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (Ballroom 3)
Branch Rickey: One-Man Play
Dr. John “Chuck” Chalberg will perform his one-man play about Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey. Branch Rickey may no longer be a household name, but he changed the face of America. Come hear him expound on any number of baseball and non-baseball topics, most importantly, his decision to sign Jackie Robinson to a Brooklyn Dodger contract. Chuck has delighted audiences for many years with his impersonations of historical figures, including President Theodore Roosevelt, author H.L. Mencken, and golfer Bobby Jones. He has performed for state chautauquas all over the country, as well as for many colleges and business groups.

8:15 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (Ballroom 1-2)
Trivia Contest Finals