Check out stories from new SABR Convention Games project at SABR.org

SABR Convention Games

OCTOBER 6, 2022 — I’m not sure whose idea it was for SABR to tell the stories of each major- and minor-league game that has taken place during the organization’s Annual Convention in its first 50 years, but it was a great idea!

Attending a baseball game as part of the SABR annual convention is a natural thing to do. After all, it’s our love of the game that brings us together in the first place. Without SABR, I would probably never have been to many of the major-league ballparks that I have visited. Indeed, going to a game and seeing a ballpark you have never seen before is a big attraction for convention-goers.

Several of the games I attended as part of the annual SABR convention stand out to me. The 1978 convention was held in Paramus, New Jersey, and we attended the Yankees-Twins game at Yankee Stadium, preceded by the Yankees’ annual Old-Timers’ Game. Everyone was stunned when recently fired manager Billy Martin came onto the field to the announcement that he would return as Yankees manager in 1980!

Other highlights from SABR convention games over the years:

  • 1999: In Phoenix, SABR members were treated to an unexpected no-hitter by Cardinals rookie José Jiménez, who outdueled Randy Johnson at Bank One Ballpark.
  • 2006: In Seattle, we witnessed a 2-0 Rockies victory over the Mariners, with a time of game of only 1 hour, 52 minutes; both pitchers went the distance.
  • 2010: In Atlanta, before an extra-innings game won by the Giants, Tom Glavine’s number 47 was retired by the Braves.
  • 2011: In Los Angeles, we visited Dodger Stadium for a low-scoring pitcher’s duel. The next night, in Anaheim, we saw highly touted rookie Mike Trout, who had made his big-league debut the night before, collect his first hit in the majors.
  • 2016: In Miami, following a special pregame session that featured Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson, Tony Perez, and Don Mattingly, we cheered on Ichiro Suzuki as he neared the 3,000-hit milestone with the Marlins.

SABR convention games have included MVP award winners (like Ken Griffey Jr. in 1996), Rookies of the Year (Cal Ripken Jr. in 1982), and World Series champions (the Oakland A’s in 1973). There have also been instant replay reviews (four calls, all overturned, at San Diego in 2019), inside-the-park home runs (Jon Singleton in 2014), and walk-off celebrations (Felix José in 1992).

The 64 game stories you’ll find in this project chronicle what we saw, and for some who might not have been there, it makes us wish we had been. We certainly hope you’ll join us for a future SABR convention, at Chicago in 2023 or beyond. Enjoy!

— Tom Hufford
SABR Founding Member



Originally published: October 5, 2022. Last Updated: October 5, 2022.