SABR’s Youngest Founder, Dan Ginsburg, Succumbs to Cancer
Daniel E. Ginsburg, who at 15 in 1971 was the youngest founding member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), died August 12 of pancreatic cancer. He was 53.
“Dan’s impact on SABR was huge. He accomplished so much in his life and was able to find time for SABR and to be a strong voice not only for the founders and early members of SABR, but also throughtout his 38 years in the organization. His influence will be felt far into the future,” said SABR Executive Director, John Zajc.
Daniel E. Ginsburg, who at 15 in 1971 was the youngest founding member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), died August 12 of pancreatic cancer. He was 53.
“Dan’s impact on SABR was huge. He accomplished so much in his life and was able to find time for SABR and to be a strong voice not only for the founders and early members of SABR, but also throughtout his 38 years in the organization. His influence will be felt far into the future,” said SABR Executive Director, John Zajc.
Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Ginsburg began his baseball research at a young age and his work was mentioned by Lee Allen in his “Cooperstown Corner” column in The Sporting News.
Ginsburg’s baseball research continued throughout his life. Perhaps the highlight occured in 1995 when McFarland published his book on baseball’s gambling scandals, “The Fix is In.” The book was re-published in 2004. Throughout his life, he collected autographs of Hall of Famers and other stars. In the late 1990s, he donated that collection to the Elliot Museum in Stuart, Florida.
Dan served on the SABR Board of Directors, being named to replace Harry Rothgerber in July 2002. He was elected by the membership the following year to complete the term.
“Dan brought a new level of professionalism to the SABR board,” Zajc added. “He brought the same incisive thinking to the SABR board room as he did to his business career, and we all learned from him.”
Ginsburg also served on the SABR Fundraising Committee and gave leadership gifts annually. He had a special fondness for the Lee Allen Award at National History Day as he considered Allen to be a baseball mentor of his.
Dan was a graduate of Northwestern University and made his professional mark in advertising and marketing, retiring as president of Draft Worldwide in the late 1990s. He became a part owner of the Class AA Norwich Navigators and the majority owner of Champagne de Meric, the only American-owned winery in Champagne.
Recently, he started a new chapter as president of TAG Media, India’s first In-Store Television Network. He was also president of The Sparrow’s Song Foundation, and active in a number of charitable causes.
Originally published: August 24, 2009. Last Updated: August 24, 2009.