TWIS archives

This Week in SABR: April 7, 2023

This Week in SABR: April 7, 2023

Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, April 7, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.


Top Headlines

10,000 images from SABR-Rucker Archive added to Research Collection
Jason Benetti, Mike Veeck to speak at SABR 51 in Chicago
Second course in SABR Analytics Certification program now available
Early registration now open for Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference
Deadlines approaching for SABR Convention, Negro Leagues student scholarships


Research Collection Events Calendar Around the Web

10,000 images from SABR-Rucker Archive added to Research Collection

We’re excited to introduce a new addition to the SABR Research Collection: The SABR-Rucker Archive is one of the most extensive collections of baseball imagery in North America, with nearly 80,000 unique items from the roots of baseball in the 19th century up to current major league teams and players.

These images — donated by longtime SABR member and photo archivist Mark Rucker — represent more than 150 years of the sport and its growth from homemade fields with players wearing no gloves to the global pastime today played by hundreds of millions of kids and adults, from Little League to the Major Leagues.

The entire Rucker Archive collection has been digitized, and we are now in the process of cataloging in order to make all of the images available as part of the search engine on SABR.org. The first 10,000 images are now available online and searchable at SABR.org/rucker-archive.


SABR 51: Jason Benetti, Mike Veeck to speak at Chicago convention

We’re only three months away from SABR’s 51st annual convention on July 5-9, 2023, at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago! Sign up today to hear from two speakers who are sure to be a home run in the Windy City:

  • White Sox play-by-play and Fox Sports national broadcaster Jason Benetti will deliver the Keynote Address during the convention’s Awards Luncheon.
  • Legendary team owner, promoter, and publicist Mike Veeck will be featured in “Fun is Good: A Veeck Family Legacy,” a conversation highlighting his family’s storied impact on baseball and its deep Chicago ties.

Early-bird discounts end in a few weeks, so sign up today to take advantage of the absolute best pricing on our registration packages!

Visit SABR.org/convention to learn more.


Second course in SABR Analytics Certification program now available

In 2022, we launched the SABR Analytics Certification program, an online, on-demand curriculum offering professional development and learning opportunities for those interested in elevating their skills and knowledge relating to baseball analytics.

The second course in the program, Level Two – Advanced Analytics in Baseball, is now available!

SABR members save $55 on both available courses (and future courses), so we hope you’ll check out these exciting opportunities at sabr.org/analytics/certification.


2023 SABR Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference

Early registration now open for Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference in Detroit

Early registration is now open for SABR’s annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference, which will be held on July 20-23, 2023, at the St. Regis Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. All baseball fans are welcome to attend.

Registration and hotel information is available below.

Visit SABR.org/malloy to learn more about our annual School Library Grants, High School Essay Contest, and Art Contest.


Deadlines approaching for SABR Convention, Negro Leagues student scholarships

With generous funding from The Anthony A. Yoseloff Foundation, Inc., SABR will award up to four scholarships to high school and college students who wish to attend the SABR 51 convention on July 5-9, 2023, in Chicago. This scholarship will pay for all registration fees and expenses associated with the conference. Deadline to apply: April 21, 2023. Click here to learn more.

SABR’s Negro Leagues Committee awards $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in its annual Thomas R. Garrett Scholarship essay contest. Students must write a 1,200-word essay answering a question related to one of the Negro League figures who are the namesakes of the scholarships. Deadline to apply: April 15, 2023. Click here to learn more.

Visit SABR.org/scholarships to learn more about student scholarship opportunities.


Writing opportunity: Dodger Stadium book project

SABR has started a new book project on Dodger Stadium and we are seeking authors for essays about the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home ballpark, along with Games Project articles on selected games. The book is being edited by Glen Sparks and Bill Nowlin and the deadline for first drafts would be in Fall 2023.

For a listing of essay ideas and games for which we are seeking authors, please contact Bill Nowlin.


SABRcast with Rob Neyer

SABRcast #208: Edwin Rodríguez

Baseball fans, tune in this season to SABRcast with Rob Neyer, a weekly podcast hosted by award-winning author and longtime SABR member Rob Neyer. Episode #208 on Monday, April 3 featured Edwin Rodríguez, who managed Puerto Rico to the championship game in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics. Visit SABR.org/sabrcast to listen to the full episode or subscribe to SABRcast on your favorite podcast networks.


SABR Research Collection updates

Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.

SABR Research Collection: Bill Engeln, Ron Blomberg, Louisiana Superdome

9 new stories published at the SABR BioProject

Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.

Games Project commemorates 50th anniversary of the DH

In 1973, the American League received permission to use a “designated pinch hitter” to bat in place of pitchers during league games. On Opening Day in Boston, Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first major-leaguer to bat as a DH. Framed as a three-year “experimental rule,” the designated hitter spread to the World Series in 1976, the All-Star Game in 1989, interleague play in 1997, and games between National League teams in 2020. By the 2022 season, the designated hitter was universal in the major leagues.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first regular-season major-league games involving designated hitters on April 6, 1973, the SABR Research Collection remembers the AL’s first season with the DH. Click here for more at SABR.org.

Here are the new Games Project stories posted this week:

Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.


Featured E-Book from the SABR Digital Library

Yankee Stadium 1923-2008: America's First Modern Ballpark, edited by Tara Krieger and Bill Nowlin

Yankee Stadium 1923-2008: America’s First Modern Ballpark
Edited by Tara Krieger and Bill Nowlin

Visit SABR.org to download any SABR Digital Library e-book for free or save 50% off the paperback edition.


Recent Highlights

Here are some SABR headlines from recent weeks that we don’t want you to miss:


New Members

Please give a warm welcome to all new SABR members who joined this week! View more Members-Only resources at members.sabr.org or click here to download the Membership Handbook. Find contact information for any SABR member in the online Membership Directory.

Name Hometown Name Hometown
Jay Abbott Bradford, PA     Scott Hermansen Rancho Cordova, CA
Cory Albert West Bend, WI     Manrique Iriarte Miami, FL
Matthew Aventuro White Plains, NY     William Karmin Highland Park, IL
Chase Batchelor Tampa, FL     Jake Kenyon Somonauk, IL
Paul Borelli Austin, TX     Ernest Knapp Concord, VT
Steve Brick Madison, WI     Matthew Lewis Rexburg, ID
Michelle Brimecombe Columbia, MO     Jason Maine Tallahassee, FL
Nathan Carpenter-Holmes Alexandria, VA     Ryan Martin Baldwin, NY
Michael Conches Old Lyme, CT     Craig Metsch La Grange, IL
Matt Cone St. Louis, MO     Scott Morissey Hamilton, ON
Mike Costa Kensington, MD     Connor Nicometi Akron, NY
Matthew Cote Bellingham, MA     Ronnie Ortiz Granger, IN
Dave Culley Daytona Beach, FL     Quentin Phillips Olympia, WA
Doak Ewing Naperville, IL     Pierce Roberson Philadelphia, PA
Casey Fenster Richmond, VA     John Sawicki Roslyn Harbor, NY
Bill Feser Denver, CO     Ray Siere Humboldt, IL
Stephen Forsha Hillsboro, OH     Dale Tafoya Walnut Creek, CA
Rodney Gray Indianapolis, IN     Mike Walsh Conshohocken, PA
Dedrick Hendrix South Bend, IN     Bill Wise Bondi Junction, AUS
Sharon Herman Dunedin, FL     Irving Zaner Garland, TX

Friends of SABR

Here is a list of SABR supporters for the month of March 2023.

Name Name
Jake Bell   Bruce McClure
D. Bruce Brown   Paulette Morant
Ralph Caola   Bill Nowlin
Ken Carrano   John Rall
Karl Cicitto   Michael Rosenwasser
Vincent Comparato   Charles Roussel
Jim Cox   Bob Russon
Reid Duffy   Edward Scahill
Helen Edwards   Jason Scheller
Steven Elsberry   Douglas Schoppert
Barbara Erion   Jeff Self
Daniel Evans   Steve Shaiman
David Firstman   Rob Sheinkopf
Adam Foldes   Mike Sparks
Andrew Freeman   Dave Stevens
Robert Hagerman   Thomas Stone
Timothy Harner   Wesley Story
Emily Hawks   Joseph Thompson
Leslie Heaphy   Neal Traven
Tim Herlich   Marlene Vogelsang
Rockwell Hoffman   Steve West
David Hughes   Beach Wires
Donald Jensen   Jeffrey Wood
Henry Levy   Don Zminda
Peter Mancuso    

Click here to make a recurring monthly contribution or click here to learn more about our Giving Circles to make a one-time contribution.


SABR Events Calendar

SABR's Northwest Chapter will hold a virtual Zoom meeting on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 6:30 PM Pacific Time. All baseball fans are invited to attend. The guest speaker will be veteran MLB umpire Ted Barrett.

Upcoming Virtual Meetings

  • April 8: Bud Metheny (VA) Chapter meeting (11:30 a.m. EDT)
  • April 10: Bob Broeg St. Louis (MO) Chapter meeting with Adam Korengold (6:00 p.m. CDT)
  • April 10: Northern New England Chapter meeting with George Boziwick (7:00 p.m. EDT)
  • April 10: Northwest (WA) Chapter meeting with Ted Barrett (6:30 p.m. PDT)
  • April 11: 19th Century Speaker Series: Bob Bailey (8:00 p.m. EDT)
  • April 12: Ken Keltner (WI) Chapter meeting with Mary Hums (6:00 p.m. CDT)
  • April 12: New SABR Member Experience Meeting (8:00 p.m. EDT)
  • April 13: Casey Stengel (NYC) Chapter meeting (7:30 p.m. EDT)
  • April 15: Hanlan’s Point (ON) Chapter meeting with Allan Simpson (11:00 a.m. EDT)
  • April 15: Josh Gibson Foundation: Lisa Alexander (12:00 p.m. EDT)
  • April 15: Sweet Lou Johnson Lexington (KY) Chapter meeting with Dan Schlossberg (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Upcoming In-Person Meetings

  • April 12: Hank Gowdy Columbus Chapter get-together (Columbus, OH)
  • April 15: Babe ‘n’ Bob Chapter Breakfast (Edgewater, MD)
  • April 15: Halsey Hall Chapter spring meeting (Minneapolis, MN)
  • April 15: Central Florida Chapter ballgame/meet-up (Daytona Beach, FL)
  • April 15-16: SABR Board of Directors meeting (Chicago, IL)
  • April 16: Rogers Hornsby Chapter meeting (Austin, TX)

To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.


Research Committee news

Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.


Regional Chapter news

Sign up for SABR chapter announcements at SABR.org/chapters.

Click here to learn more about SABR chartered communities.


Around the Web headlines

Here are some recent articles published by and about SABR members:

Please note: Some articles may require a separate subscription to view online. SABR does not endorse, and is not responsible or liable for, any content that appears on a third-party website.


This Week in SABR is compiled by Jacob Pomrenke. If you would like us to include an upcoming event, article, or any other information in “This Week in SABR,” e-mail jpomrenke@sabr.org. To find past editions of TWIS, click here.

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Originally published: April 7, 2023. Last Updated: April 7, 2023.