Lawrence Ritter, standing, looks on as Lee Lowenfish, left, interviews Red Barber at Polk Award ceremonies, Long Island University, circa 1985. A shy man, Ritter summoned the courage to call retired players and discovered that most of them were eager to tell their stories.

Henry Chadwick Award: Lawrence S. Ritter

From the moment of its publication in 1966, The Glory of Their…
At Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, July 30, 1954.

Larry Doby’s “The Catch”

  Arguably the greatest catch in the history of baseball…
On Opening Day at the Polo Grounds against the Phillies in 1907, future Hall of Famer became the first catcher to wear the full suit of armor, or

The Evolution of Catcher’s Equipment

Catchers have always put their bodies on the line. But early…
Denny McLain (NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY)

The Real First-Year Player Draft

Nearly a decade before the amateur draft as we know it today,…
reportedly was offered bonuses of as much as $30,000, but chose to sign a contract for less in order not to be rushed into the big leagues.

Georgia’s 1948 Phenoms and the Bonus Rule

In the summer of 1948, two of the nation’s premier major-league…
In 2007, Padres ace led MLB with 27 Game Score Wins, against only 7 Game Score Losses.

Does “Game Score” Still Work in Today’s High-Offense Game?

When Bill James first made his Game Score widely public in the…
signed a major-league contract worth more than $15 million. It included a $7.5 million bonus, giving him both the largest contract in draft history and the largest bonus for a player who signed with the team that drafted him.

The History and Future of the Amateur Draft

The 2010 draft was broadcast nationally in prime time, the third…
The 94 ejections he accumulated throughout his 18-year managerial career still stands as the American League record.

Earl Weaver: Strategy, Innovation, and Ninety-Four Meltdowns

Two seasons ago, I witnessed the Florida Marlins attempt to execute…

Disposable Heroes: Returning World War II Veteran Al Niemiec Takes on Organized Baseball

This article was selected as a winner of the 2010 McFarland-SABR…
was invented by Thomas H. Jackson of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He received a patent for it in 1913 and that summer began entertaining fans with his device in Atlantic City; Washington, D.C.; Rochester; and his own hometown.

Action Jackson: Watching Baseball Remotely, Before TV

With the weather turning crisp in October of 1916, sports fans…
When confronted by a player or manager, he would offer to settle the matter with his fists, challenging the offender in his rich Irish accent. They called him “Sir Timothy” for his bearing and “Terrible Tim” for his temper.

The Green and the Blue: The Irish American Umpire, 1880–1965

The Irish potato famine of the 1840s and ’50s was probably…
Before the 2010 season, Seattle signed the solid and versatile defender, who is a statistical match for the departed Adrian Beltre at third base.

The Hidden Value of Glovework

When Jack Zduriencik replaced Bill Bavasi as the Mariners’…
Remembered more for his performance on the playing field than for his results as a manager. But in 1920–21 his personnel moves, tactics, and leadership generated outstanding results for the Cleveland Indians.

Manager Speaker

Tris Speaker, considered one of the greatest hitters and center…

Henry Chadwick Award: Harold Seymour and Dorothy Seymour Mills

SABR honors two individuals with one of the nine inaugural Henry…

Henry Chadwick Award: Jules Tygiel

JULES TYGIEL (1949–2008) was born in Brooklyn, and part of…

Review: Golden Nuggets

On "The Bill James Gold Mine 2010". The Bill James Gold Mine…
commenting on an actor who, slated to portray him in a movie, suffered a mental breakdown: “He’s only been me for two days, and already he’s nuts!”

Review: Satchel Paige: Off on His Own, at the Center of the Crowd

On Larry Tye's 2009 biography of Paige and Timothy M. Gay's 2010…
George Moriarty, a journeyman infielder and outfielder, shown here with the Tigers, with whom he had his best years, 1909–15.

Review: Books on Baseball Cards

On four books about baseball cards: "The T206 Collection" (Zappala,…

Review: Charlie Radbourn’s Record-Setting Season

On "59 in '84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the…
Became “a loner who does not like to be alone,” in James S. Hirsch’s apt phrase, trusting only pets, children, and fellow players (even though some players were among his loudest critics.)

Review: The Seven-Tool Player

On John Klima's 2009 book about Willie Mays and the 1948 Birmingham…

Henry Chadwick Award: Henry Chadwick

In November 2009, SABR established the Henry Chadwick Award,…
Large barrel of his “bottle bat” gave him a bigger striking surface.

Properties of Baseball Bats

Every batter has unique psychological approaches, swing mechanics,…
In 1957, Rawlings established the award for the player who would be voted the best fielder at his position.

Measuring Defense: Entering the Zones of Fielding Statistics

Doug Glanville in his new baseball memoir notes that many players,…
His 56-game hitting streak in 1941 was an unusual occurrence, but was it only a manifestation of pure chance?

More Thoughts on DiMaggio’s 56-Game Hitting Streak

Each time a player is at bat in a game, there is a certain probability…

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