This Week in SABR: August 25, 2023
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, August 25, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
40,000 rare images now available in SABR-Rucker Archive
Registration now open for 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
Join us on August 31 for a SABR x Baseball Connect live Q&A
New from SABR Digital Library: 1934 Philadelphia Stars
Join us on September 7 for Ballpark Figures with Bianca Smith
Students, apply for a Fall 2023 internship with SABR
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40,000 rare images now available in SABR-Rucker Archive
More than 40,000 baseball images from the SABR-Rucker Archive are now available online at SABR.org. The Rucker Archive is one of the most extensive collections of baseball imagery in North America, covering the roots of baseball in the 19th century up to current major league teams and players.
Recently uploaded images — which were donated by longtime SABR member and photo archivist Mark Rucker — include rare photos of baseball greats Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, and Minnie Miñoso; spring training during World War II; reproductions of early baseball cards; along with photos from World Series games, the Negro Leagues, and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The first batch of 10,000 Rucker Archive images was uploaded to SABR.org earlier this year.
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. Please click here to sign up as a catalog volunteer.
Register now for the 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
Join us for the fifth annual SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference, which will be held virtually on September 29-October 1, 2023. All baseball fans are welcome to attend!
This year’s conference — co-sponsored by SABR and the International Women’s Baseball Center and hosted by Rockford University — is a virtual event with the theme “Through the Lens of Baseball.” The conference will feature research presentations, panels, pylon unveiling, presentation of the Dorothy Award and keynote speaker Melissa Ludtke. Stay tuned for the full schedule to be released soon.
Visit SABR.org/women-in-baseball-conference for complete details. Hope to see you there!
Join us on August 31 for a SABR x Baseball Connect live Q&A
Baseball fans, join us on Thursday, August 31 at 8:00 p.m. ET for a SABR x Baseball Connect Live Q&A on Twitter Spaces!
Featuring Dan Kaplan and Mike Tampellini from Baseball Connect as well as SABR’s Rob Arthur, the SABR-hosted event will give attendees insight into both the Baseball Connect platform and SABR’s Analytics Certification program and how each can help expand knowledge of the game while developing professional skills and a portfolio for a career in baseball.
Follow @SABR on Twitter for details and the link to the Twitter Spaces session on August 31.
SABR Digital Library: The Stars Shone on Philadelphia: The 1934 Negro National League Champions
Add a new baseball book to your collection from the SABR Digital Library: The Stars Shone on Philadelphia: The 1934 Negro National League Champions, edited by Frederick C. Bush and Bill Nowlin, tells the story of one of Black baseball’s most underrated great teams.
Led by future Hall of Famers Raleigh “Biz” Mackey and Jud Wilson, and dynamic owner Ed Bolden off the field, the Stars claimed the Negro National League’s second-half championship over the Pittsburgh Crawfords and defeated the first-half champion Chicago American Giants to claim their first league crown. The biographies of each Stars player, accounts of key games, and a timeline of their championship team are included here.
SABR members can download the e-book edition for free or save 50% off the purchase of the paperback edition at SABR.org/ebooks.
Join us on September 7 for Ballpark Figures with Bianca Smith
Join us each month for SABR’s Ballpark Figures, a new interview series hosted by Shakeia Taylor. The virtual Zoom event is free and open to all active SABR members.
On Thursday, September 7, we’ll hear from Bianca Smith, who in 2020 became the first African-American woman to serve as a professional baseball coach when she was hired by the Boston Red Sox. She now works in Japan as a Sports Exchange Advisor with the JET Program.
Visit SABR.org/ballpark-figures to learn more or to watch replays of past episodes.
Call for papers: 2024 Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference
All SABR members are invited and encouraged to submit a Research Presentation Proposal Abstract on any topic of 19th-century baseball for the 2024 Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The 15th annual Ivor-Campbell Conference is scheduled for April 19-20, 2024.
The deadline for proposal Abstracts is October 31, 2023. Your abstract must be between 200-400 words for a 20- to 25-minute presentation. Please include name, title, and contact information and send your proposal as a Microsoft Word or PDF attachment to Peter Mancuso at peterplus4@earthlink.net.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
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.
Last call: Students, apply for a Fall 2023 internship with SABR
The Society for American Baseball Research is seeking student interns to work during the Fall 2023 semester. The remote internship is an educational opportunity that may count toward college credit, covering 15-20 hours per week with a flexible schedule. The internship will be for a fixed period of time and is designed to provide the intern with skills and training that may be applicable to working in a nonprofit research environment or in other research-based organizations.
Please send a resume and cover letter in PDF form to jpomrenke@sabr.org by 5:00 p.m. MST on August 28, 2023.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Writing opportunities: upcoming SABR book projects
A few opportunities have opened up for new authors who are interested in contributing topical essays and Games Project articles for three forthcoming SABR books: Dodger Stadium greatest games, Stan Musial, and Sandy Koufax.
If you are interested in contributing to any of these upcoming projects as a writer, editor, fact-checker, etc., please contact Bill Nowlin.
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 #228 on Monday, August 20 featured Donna Muscarella, a SABR member, fourth-generation baseball enthusiast, and visual artist whose work includes photography and mixed media projects. Visit SABR.org/sabrcast to listen to the full episode or subscribe to SABRcast on your favorite podcast networks.
Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.
2 new biographies published at the SABR BioProject
- Chet Brewer, by Thomas E. Kern and Bill Staples Jr.
- Rico Brogna, by David Bilmes
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
6 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- July 16, 1949: Ted Williams home run leads Red Sox to 11-1 win over Tigers, by Bill Nowlin
- August 20, 1966: Yankees, Mets minor-leaguers battle at The House That Ruth Built, by Kurt Blumenau
- August 25, 1980: Minor league game goes on despite murders at Miami ballpark, by Kurt Blumenau
- April 14, 1987: Bo Jackson proves he belongs with a perfect night, by Larry DeFillipo
- June 23, 1993: Jay Buhner’s triple in 14th inning completes cycle and Mariners’ walk-off win, by Mike Huber
- August 10, 2003: Rafael Furcal turns unassisted triple play, but Cardinals rally to beat Braves, by Bill Marston
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
The National Pastime: Heart of the Midwest
Edited by Cecilia M. Tan
Visit SABR.org to download the free e-book edition of The National Pastime or read articles online.
Here are some SABR headlines from recent weeks that we don’t want you to miss:
- Save the date! SABR 52 will be in Minneapolis in 2024
- Historical Black Newspapers Collection added to SABR Research Resources
- SABR forms new Special Negro Leagues and Teams Committee
- SABR Defensive Index rankings released through August 13
- Neal Traven selected as 2023 Bob Davids Award recipient
- Highlights from the 2023 Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference
- SABR Landmarks Committee unveils new Baseball Grave Map
- SABR Local Grants update: Black Baseball exhibit opens in Philadelphia
- Read articles from new Spring 2023 Baseball Research Journal online
- Download the 2023 SABR Annual Report
- 10,000 images from SABR-Rucker Archive added to Research Collection
- Watch video highlights from 2023 SABR Analytics Conference
- Learn more about the recipients of 2023 SABR Local Grants
- Get a gift for baseball fan in your life with the SABR Store @ CafePress
- All e-books in SABR Digital Library available for free to 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Baker | Tiffin, OH | Jason Hallmark | Xenia, OH | ||
| Greg Battersby | Westport, CT | Stephen Hefler | Hoboken, NJ | ||
| John Bruckmeier | Hoover, AL | Bryan Herr | Eagan, MN | ||
| Jay Castor | Wichita, KS | Rebecca Lambert | Staten Island, NY | ||
| Jeremy Cerone | Williamstown, NJ | Ian O’Dougherty | Englewood, CO | ||
| John Cox | Myrtle Beach, SC | Daniel Ryan | St. Louis, MO | ||
| Jesse Elicker | Dillsburg, PA | Steve Zinram | Westlake, OH | ||
| Jim Gilstrap | St. Louis, MO |
- Events Calendar: Find complete details of all SABR events
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from author Marty Appel (Pinstripes by the Tale) and the Hank Gowdy Chapter book club meeting. Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- August 26: Oklahoma Chapter meeting with Jesse Asbury and Fred Worth (2:00 p.m. CDT)
- August 27: Baltimore Babe Ruth (MD) Chapter meeting with Mark Millikin (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- August 27: Rocky Mountain (CO) Chapter meeting with Joe Posnanski (6:00 p.m. MDT)
- August 28: Larry Dierker (TX) Chapter meeting with Hugo Mojica and Paula Harris (7:00 p.m. CDT)
- August 28: Deadball Era Book Talk: Steve Steinberg (8:00 p.m. EDT)
- August 28: Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter meeting (7:00 p.m. CDT)
- August 31: Games and Simulations Committee meeting with Matt McKeever (8:00 p.m. EDT)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- August 25: Hack Wilson historical marker dedication ceremony (Ellwood City, PA)
- August 26: Ted Williams Chapter meeting (San Diego, CA)
- August 26: Baltimore Babe Ruth Chapter ballgame/meet-up (Baltimore, MD)
- August 26: Mathewson-Plank Chapter ballgame/meet-up (Harrisburg, PA)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Origins: August 2023 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Halsey Hall Chapter: September 2023 newsletter (Minneapolis, MN)
- Larry Dierker Chapter: Summer 2023 newsletter (Houston, TX)
Sign up for SABR chapter announcements at SABR.org/chapters.
Click here to learn more about SABR chartered communities.
Here are some recent articles published by and about SABR members:
- Alex Speier: Katie Krall broke ground with the Red Sox. After leaving, she’s found a way to stay in baseball. (Boston Globe)
- Adam Berry/Jill Painter Lopez: Angels turn rare triple play not seen in more than half century (MLB.com)
- J.J. Cooper: Shohei Ohtani Has Already Proven The Impossible Is Possible (Baseball America)
- Stephanie Apstein: The Shockwaves From Shohei Ohtani’s Elbow Injury Are Far-Reaching (Sports Illustrated)
- Russell A. Carleton: The Duality of Ohtani (Baseball Prospectus)
- David Laurila: Max Scherzer Has Changed Along With the Game (But He Hasn’t Changed Much) (FanGraphs)
- Rob Mains: John Angelos Speaks, or, Count the Number of Things Wrong With This Paragraph (Baseball Prospectus)
- Lindsey Adler: The Yankees’ Worst Season in Three Decades Was Years in the Making (Wall Street Journal)
- Mark Simon: It’s Not Just The Hitting and The Pitching For The Mariners (Sports Info Solutions)
- Jayson Stark: Mariners star Julio Rodríguez’s most impossible feat yet — and nobody noticed? (The Athletic)
- Jay Jaffe: Spencer Torkelson Is Breaking Out (FanGraphs)
- Marc Normandin: The Stadium Schemes Keep Getting Bigger (Baseball Prospectus)
- Hannah Keyser: Why the Houston Astros can’t quit the worst catcher in baseball (Yahoo! Sports)
- Derrick Goold: How the Cardinals’ Andrew Knizner relaunched his swing with Wiffle Ball, ‘Nanny Two-Step’ (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Ryan Fagan: Struggling Adam Wainwright faces what might be the final challenge of his Cardinals career (Sporting News)
- Matt Monagan: ‘Swingable Art:’ The company behind MLB’s coolest bats (MLB.com)
- Michael Baumann: Don’t Swallow the FIP (FanGraphs)
- Zack Meisel: John Adams’ legacy lives on in Cleveland, 50 years after his first drumbeat (The Athletic)
- Vince Guerrieri: Drumming Up Cleveland Baseball (Belt Magazine)
- Greg Prince: On the 1s (Faith and Fear in Flushing)
- Michael Clair: Ben Couvreur is France’s teenage pitching sensation (MLB.com)
- Dan Irwin: Local author Dale Perelman chronicles life of Chuck Tanner (New Castle News)
- Zack Moser: Dominican Baseball for Dominicans: A History of MLB, Imperialism, and the Dominican Republic (Baseball Prospectus)
- Bruce Markusen: Charlie Grant’s brush with the big leagues (BaseballHall.org)
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: August 25, 2023. Last Updated: August 25, 2023.