This Week in SABR: December 6, 2013

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Welcome to “This Week in SABR!” Here’s what we’ve been up to as of December 6, 2013:

Renew your SABR membership for 2014!

This has been an exciting year for SABR. SABR 43, the SABR Analytics Conference, the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference, and the Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Conference continue to grow and showcase the research of SABR members. We formed a partnership with Rawlings where SABR has created a defensive metric that was utilized by Gold Glove voters. And, of course, we continue to produce and publish excellent research journals and other quality publications.

For those of you whose memberships are expiring soon, we hope you’ll re-join us and be a part of the SABR community again in 2014. If you’ve already renewed, we thank you for your support and look forward to another exciting year ahead.

  • You can renew your membership for 1 year or 3 years online at the SABR Store; by phone at (602) 343-6450; or by mailing this downloadable PDF form and your payment to the SABR office at 4455 E. Camelback Road, Ste. D-140, Phoenix, AZ 85018.

Special offer for 5-year renewal: SABR is now offering a special opportunity for renewing members in 2014: By opting to receive the digital Baseball Research Journal and The National Pastime, you can renew your SABR membership for 5 years at a special rate of $249, a discount of nearly 25% off a 1-year annual membership rate of $65.

Choosing this new 5-year, digital-only membership plan — which is only available to current SABR members who renew — means you will receive two e-book editions of the BRJ, one e-book edition of TNP, “This Week in SABR” every Friday, all SABR Digital Library e-books, committee newsletters, and lots of other member benefits. 

To renew your SABR membership for 5 years at the digital-only rate: Click here to visit the SABR Store and select the “DIGITAL-ONLY BRJ/TNP – 5-yr renewal — $249.00” option when you renew.

We’re excited about the upcoming year ahead of us and we hope you’ll take advantage of all the great membership benefits offered to SABR members in 2014 and beyond.

http://sabr.org/member-benefits

We believe SABR has something for everyone, from the active researcher to someone passionate about baseball. We hope you’ll invite your friends, colleagues and family members to join at http://store.sabr.org.

Donate to SABR and support the future of baseball research

Unlike many nonprofit organizations that hold monthly donation pledge drives and continually solicit donations, SABR has never been proactive about asking for donations. However, like all other nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, SABR relies heavily on generous donations to supplement its membership dues and help the organization survive and prosper. We appreciate those members who have given in the past and continue to donate to SABR. As SABR continues to serve its members and move forward with exciting new member opportunities, we are going to become more proactive by asking our passionate and knowledgeable members to support their very special organization.

All donations to SABR are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We thank you for supporting SABR and baseball research in all its forms.

To make a donation to support SABR, visit SABR.org/donate.

— Marc Appleman, SABR Executive Director

Save the date: SABR Day is January 25, 2014

The fifth annual SABR Day is right around the corner: Saturday, January 25, 2014.

We’re starting to compile details now on 2014 SABR Day chapter meetings around the country. We’ll post them as soon as we get them at SABR.org/sabrday. Chapter leaders, please send your SABR Day plans to Jacob Pomrenke at jpomrenke@sabr.org.

Here are 2014 SABR Day meetings we have listed so far on Saturday, January 25:

  • Columbus, OH
  • Kenosha, WI (joint meeting of Chicago/Milwaukee chapters)
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Louisville, KY
  • Middletown, CT
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Washington, DC

In addition, some chapters are holding their SABR Day meetings on other days because of conflicts with team FanFests or preferred venues.

  • San Francisco, CA (SUNDAY, January 26)

Click here to view all SABR Day 2014 events on our Google map.

Or visit http://bit.ly/SABR-Day-2014-spreadsheet to view all SABR Day 2014 events in spreadsheet format.

Regional SABR meetings are open to all baseball fans and are usually free to attend, so bring a friend! Guest speakers often include current and former baseball players, managers, umpires, executives, scouts, writers and authors.

Check back soon at SABR.org/sabrday for more information on a SABR Day meeting close to you.

Are you going to the 2013 Baseball Winter Meetings? Let us know

SABR will have a booth at the 112th annual Baseball Winter Meetings, December 9-12, 2013, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla. Stop by and say hello to our interns, Tiana and Troy!

Are you a SABR member who is planning to attend the Winter Meetings? Let us know at jpomrenke@sabr.org.

For more information on the Winter Meetings, visit http://www.milb.com/milb/events/wintermeetings.jsp

*****

Many SABR members are scheduled to speak at the Sports Management Worldwide Baseball Career Conference, held December 8-9 in conjunction with the Winter Meetings, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando. Among the list of scheduled speakers are SABR members:

  • Pat Gillick, Former GM of four MLB teams and three World Series championships   
  • Cory Schwartz, MLB Advanced Media Vice President, Stats
  • Dan Evans, Toronto Blue Jays Scout, former LA Dodgers GM
  • Tyrone Brooks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Director of Player Personnel
  • Rob Neyer, SB Nation National Baseball Editor & well known baseball author
  • Ari Kaplan, Ariball President – leading figure in sports analytics
  • Joe Favorito, Sports Publicity & Marketing Consultant
  • Mark Smith, Minor League Video Coordinator

For more information on the Baseball Career Conference, visit http://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/winter-baseball-meetings-career-conference .

*****

Please also consider joining SABR member Tyrone Brooks and the Baseball Industry Network at the annual Baseball Industry Network Baseball Winter Meetings Morning Meet-Up on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the Dolphin Hotel Lobby Lounge (third level.)

There is no cost to attend the morning meet-up, but like in past years, Tyrone is asking attendees to make a generous donation ($5-$20) which will be earmarked for the Orlando Monarchs program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization started by Rickie Weeks Sr. that tries to enrich our young children’s lives through the game of baseball. Even if you are unable to attend, your kind donation will definitely help these young kids in their pursuit of playing our great game.

For convenience and since space is limited, please RSVP at http://binorlando1210.eventbrite.com by the end of the day on Monday, December 9, 2013.

If you wish to volunteer and assist us with the Baseball Industry Network Baseball Winter Meetings Morning Meet-Up, please email SABR member Mark Smith at msmith@oaklandathletics.com. Please follow the Baseball Industry Network on Twitter at @tybbnet to get instant updates leading up to the event. Tyrone can also be reached at tyrone.brooks@gmail.com.

Joe Garagiola named recipient of 2014 Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to longtime SABR member Joe Garagiola, who was named Wednesday as the recipient of the 2014 Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Board of Directors.

The Buck O’Neil Award is presented to an individual for extraordinary efforts to enhance baseball’s positive impact on society. SABR member Roland Hemond, a three-time MLB Executive of the Year and founder of the Arizona Fall League, received the award in 2011. O’Neil, the late Negro Leagues ambassador, was the first recipient of the award in 2008.

The Award will be presented to Garagiola on Saturday, July 26, 2014, in Cooperstown, New York, as part of Hall of Fame Weekend. Following a nine-year major league career that started in 1946, Garagiola, 87, has dedicated his life to helping others in the game, through his role in founding two organizations to impact baseball in a positive manner: The Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) and the National Spit Tobacco Education Program.

Read the Hall of Fame’s press release here: http://baseballhall.org/news/press-releases/joe-garagiola-named-buck-o%27neil-award-winner 

Sign up now for 2014 SABR Analytics Conference

Last week, we announced more featured speakers, panelists and moderators for the 2014 SABR Analytics Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. We’re pleased to welcome Aaron Boone, Buster Olney and Jon Sciambi of ESPN; Dr. Glenn Fleisig of the American Sports Medicine Institute; Brian Kenny of MLB Network; Jonathan Mayo and Bernie Pleskoff of MLB.com; Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com; and SABR President Vince Gennaro to the conference, and we hope you’ll join us in March for this spectacular event.

SABR has a long and storied history with baseball statistical analysis, evidenced by the link between our name and sabermetrics. While SABR is a multi-faceted organization involved in virtually every aspect of baseball, we have taken a major step to re-connect with our beginnings by producing and hosting the third annual:

SABR Analytics Conference
March 13-15, 2014
Hyatt Regency Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona

Once again, we’re bringing together the top minds of the baseball analytic community under one roof to discuss, debate and share insightful ways to analyze and examine the great game of baseball.

The schedule will consist of a combination of Guest Speakers, Panels and Research Presentations — plus the unique Diamond Dollars Case Competition, in which undergraduate, graduate and law school students from across the country analyze and present a real baseball operations decision.

  • Early registration rates:
      — SABR members: $395 early rate; $595 full rate.
      — Non-SABR members: $495 early rate; $695 full rate. If you are not a SABR member, click here to join.
      — Students: $350; includes one-year membership to SABR. Must be a currently enrolled high school or college student. Please e-mail Deb Jayne with a photocopy of your student ID to receive the registration promo code.
     
    Please note: Lunch is included with your registration on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15. The mixer/welcome reception is included with your registration on Thursday, March 13. Specify any special dietary needs when you register.
        
  • Hotel: The 2014 SABR Analytics Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, 122 N. 2nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004. Click here to book your hotel room at the special SABR group rate of $169/night (plus tax.) Or call (602) 252-1234 and mention that you’re with the SABR Analytics Conference.

    Complimentary wireless Internet is available in all rooms booked under the SABR block. The cutoff date to book your room is February 18, 2014. The SABR group rate is only available for the nights of March 10 to March 18, 2014, based on availability. Book your room today! 

Some of the topics we are planning to cover include:

  • General Managers Panel on how analytics shapes front-office decisions
  • Player Panel – how major league players take advantage of analytics
  • Biometrics/Injury Prevention Panel  NEW!
  • International Baseball Panel  NEW!
  • Baseball Scouting Panel  NEW!

Check back soon at SABR.org/analytics as we announce more featured speakers, panels and presentations!

For complete coverage of the 2013 SABR Analytics Conference, visit SABR.org/analytics/2013.

Retrosheet announces Fall 2013 update

We are pleased to pass on this note from SABR member David W. Smith:

The Retrosheet website (Retrosheet.org) has been updated with our annual fall release.

The main addition of play-by-play information is for the recently completed 2013 season, of course. Since it is only about four months since our July release, we have completed the proofing for of play-by-play event files for only one league-season to our previous set. That is the 1922 American League, for which we have full play-by-play for 363 games. Combined with the 463 NL games we have already posted for 1922, these AL games bring us to 826, which is right at two-thirds of 1,238 Major League contests that were held that year.

As regular users of our site are aware, for the past several years we have added box scores to the “front end” of our collection, moving steadily backwards in proper Retro fashion. All box scores are balanced and checked against the official daily totals for all players. Thousands of discrepancies with the official records have been discovered in the process. These box scores cover all games, whether we have play-by-play data or not.

With this release, we reach a major milestone in the publication of the box scores. With the completion of 1914 season (the Federal League games were the last addition) plus the addition of the games from 2013, we now have the last 100 consecutive years of box scores on our site. I like to think of it as the RetroCentury, a total of 169,462 games.

To learn more about the Retrosheet update, click here.

Stats discussion captures Venezuelan audience at first SABR event

A sunny afternoon of 110 degrees was enough to heat up a discussion in baseball-crazed Maracaibo, Venezuela, on Friday, November 15, 2013. This time it was not on a public square, a local café or even a ballpark.

The first SABR event of the newly created Luis Castro Chapter was held at the auditorium of Universidad Rafael Urdaneta in Maracaibo, where over 500 fans, communicators and enthusiast gathered to share thoughts on today’s game on “Perspectivas del Béisbol” (Baseball Perspectives) with an All-Star panel of locally recognized faces of the game for ESPN in Latin America.

Panelists included Ernesto Jerez and Luis Alfredo Alvarez, the Spanish baseball voices for the network; José Luis Mora, executive of Tiburones de La Guaira of the Venezuelan League and ESPN analyst for Venezuelan Baseball; and Augusto Cárdenas, baseball beat writer for local newspaper Panorama. It was hosted by Leonte Landino, baseball producer for ESPN Deportes and Chair of SABR’s Luis Castro Chapter.

The vibrant baseball talk extended for almost four hours and the highlight was the different visions and how new stats are perceived. While Mora and Landino embraced sabermetrics and use new stats for their day-to-day assignments, Jerez, Alvarez and Cardenas had a more traditional approach giving more weight to basic stats and baseball intangibles on the field like leadership and experience from high-caliber baseball players.

To read the full recap, click here: http://sabr.org/latest/stats-discussion-captures-venezuelan-audience-first-sabr-event

2 new biographies published by the SABR BioProject

Two new biographies were posted as part of the SABR Baseball Biography Project, which brings us to a total of 2,592 published biographies. Here are the new bios:

All new biographies can be found here: http://sabr.org/bioproj/recent

You can find the SABR BioProject at SABR.org/BioProject.

Bios on more than just ballplayers: The ambitious goal of the SABR Baseball Biography Project is to publish a full-life biography of every major league player in history. But SABR members write about a lot more than just ballplayers. In addition, we have pages for Ballparks, Broadcasters, Executives, Managers, Scouts, Spouses, Umpires and a lot more on the BioProject website. You can browse all of these categories at http://sabr.org/bioproj/browse. So if you’ve ever thought, “Hey, that person (or ballpark) should get the full BioProject treatment” — write the story and we’ll publish it!

Get involved! If you’d like to help contribute to the SABR BioProject, visit our BioProject Resources page or read the FAQs section to get started. We’re also looking to expand the BioProject to include all “encyclopedic” articles on baseball-related subjects from past SABR publications or committee newsletters. If you come across an article you think should be included in the SABR “baseball repository” at the BioProject, send a copy or link to markarmour04@gmail.com or jpomrenke@sabr.org.

Retroactive All-Star Game Project: 1921 AL stars hang on for 10-8 win

Editor’s note: This game summary is from the Retroactive All-Star Game Project. Voting was conducted to select retroactive MLB All-Star teams from the 1921 season and the games were simulated using Out of the Park 14. 

In the fifth battle of stars in the annual “Mid-Summer Classic,” the 1921 American League all-stars plated four runs in the first inning, exploded for five tallies in the sixth, and then staved off a late rally by the senior circuit to hold on to a 10-8 victory at Cleveland’s Dunn Field. Indians skipper and center fielder Tris Speaker, filling in for an injured Ty Cobb, led the way with three hits, three runs batted in and two runs scored and was named the game’s outstanding player.

The junior circuit has copped the last two contests to take a 3-2 lead in All-Star play.  The Nationals will host next year’s game at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field and it’ll be interesting to see if Pirates president Barney Dreyfuss will be willing to add seats to his venue in an effort to increase attendance past the 25,000 that Forbes currently holds.   

Highlights and outstanding players from this year’s game include:

  • Tris Speaker, who joins the three-hit club, led by fallen teammate Ray Chapman, who was honored with an emotional tribute before the game.
  • George Sisler reaching base in all five of his trips to the plate, rapping out three hits, including two doubles, and drawing two walks.
  • Larry Gardner going 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
  • Harry Heilmann going 2 for 3 with two walks and two runs scored.
  • Carl Mays allowing three hits and one unearned run in three innings to earn the win.
  • NL catcher Frank Bruggy poling out two hits, driving in three runs and throwing out Sisler on the AL’s only steal attempt.
  • Ross Youngs and Jack Fournier reaching base three times each in a losing effort.

You can find a full recap, box score and game log by clicking here.

Learn more about the Retroactive All-Star Game Project by clicking here.

— Mike Lynch

30% discount on baseball books from Scarecrow Press

To celebrate the upcoming holidays, Rowman & Littlefield and Scarecrow Press would like to offer all SABR members a special 30% discount on their baseball books through January 31, 2014.

Many of their books feature SABR authors, including the recently published Baseball’s Most Notorious Personalities by Jonathan Weeks, The Forgotten Marlins by Sam Zygner, Baseball’s Iconic 1-0 Games by Warren Wilbert, The Battle That Forged Modern Baseball by Dan Levitt, Baseball Myths by Bill Deane, and Baseball Beyond Borders by Frank P. Jozsa Jr., as well as the forthcoming The Bilko Athletic Club by Gaylon H. White.

Orders can be made online at Rowman.com or by calling (800) 462-6420. Use the code 7W30SABR to apply the 30% discount to your order.

Students: Apply for a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend 2014 SABR Analytics Conference

With generous funding from The Anthony A. Yoseloff Foundation, Inc., SABR will award up to four scholarships to college students who wish to attend the 2014 SABR Analytics Conference on March 13-15, 2014, in Phoenix, Arizona. This scholarship will pay for registration, air transportation and lodging up to a total value of $1,250.

The objective of this scholarship fund is to encourage student engagement with baseball analytics, and to engender an active interest in baseball research and SABR. The Yoseloff scholarship is to assist young researchers who want to attend SABR’s Analytics Conference and to introduce them to fellow SABR members and professionals within the baseball community. Through this fund, SABR hopes to inspire future baseball research, expose students to high-quality research and build the research capability of interested students.

To apply, submit an essay of 750 words or less answering the following questions: “How does attending this conference help you in analytics and/or baseball research? Why would this conference be beneficial for you to attend?” Style guidelines are available on the application form.

Students must be currently enrolled in a high school, college undergraduate or graduate program, and be between 18 and 29 years of age at the time of the conference. Some form of age verification (photocopy of driver’s license, passport, etc.) must be attached to your application.

Submissions must include a brief letter of recommendation from a current high school/college teacher, guidance counselor or a school administrator. All applications must be postmarked or e-mailed to Jeff Schatzki at jschatzki@sabr.org no later than December 31, 2013.

For full details on how to apply, click here.

Call for SABR award nominations

  • Larry Ritter Award, due 12/31/2013: Each year, SABR’s Deadball Era Committee presents the Larry Ritter Book Award to recognize the best new book primarily set in the Deadball Era that was published during the previous calendar year. The award is presented during the committee’s meeting at the annual SABR convention. If you have a book to nominate with a 2013 publication date, contact Gail Rowe at growes36@comcast.net by December 31, 2013.
  • SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards, due 1/15/2014: The SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards recognizes baseball researchers who have completed the best work of original analysis or commentary during the preceding calendar year in the following categories: Contemporary Baseball Analysis, Contemporary Baseball Commentary, or Historical Baseball Analysis/Commentary. Results are announced and presented at the annual SABR Analytics Conference. Please send all nominations via e-mail to this address: 2014-analytics-awards@sabr.org. Include author, title, date of publication and a URL link (if applicable).
  • SABR Baseball Research Award, due 1/31/2014: The SABR Baseball Research Award (formerly the Sporting News-SABR Baseball Research Award) honors those whose outstanding research projects completed during the preceding calendar year have significantly expanded our knowledge or understanding of baseball. To submit a nomination for the 2013 awards, please contact Bill Felber at bfelber@att.net.
  • McFarland-SABR Baseball Research Award, due 2/15/2014: The McFarland-SABR Baseball Research Award honors the authors of the best articles on baseball history or biography completed or published during the preceding calendar year. To submit a nomination for the 2013 awards, please contact Len Levin at lenlevin5@hotmail.com.

ICYMI: Highlights from last week’s This Week in SABR

We’ve heard your feedback: Some of you have said you look forward to “This Week in SABR” every Friday, but sometimes there are just too many compelling articles and announcements to read every week. We’re not complaining — hey, keep up the great work! — but we know the feeling. So in an effort to make the length of this newsletter more manageable to read, we’ll summarize some of the repeating/recurring announcements in a special “In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)” section of “This Week in SABR”.

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

All previous editions of This Week in SABR can be found here: http://sabr.org/content/this-week-in-sabr-archives.

Welcome, new members!

We’d like to welcome all of our new SABR members who have joined this week. You can find all Members-Only resources at members.sabr.org and the New Member Handbook can be downloaded here.

Please give these new members a warm welcome and help them make the most of their membership by giving them the opportunity to get involved in their local chapter or a research committee.

Name Hometown     Name Hometown
Andrea Andrian Cervignano del Friuli, ITA     Tara Metzger Chula Vista, CA
Mike Buchanan Dallas, TX     Gary Moore Walker, MI
Marco Campanini Collecchio, ITA     William Nagle Chesapeake Beach, MD
Bill Carver Grosse Ile, MI     M. Grace Nash Atlanta, GA
Matthew Collins Phoenix, AZ     Erin O’Donnell Ames, IA
Filippo Coppola Napoli, ITA     Michael Powers Sacramento, CA
Celeste Czarnecki St. Louis, MO     Lauren Rosenbaum Milwaukee, WI
Tony Draves Jr. Fond du Lac, WI     Zachary Shearin Raleigh, NC
Aaron Friedman Agoura Hills, CA     Jamieson Smith Medford, NJ
Bill Humphrey Hopkinsville, KY     Connor Sreenan Toledo, OH
Dan Machmueller West Allis, WI     Pietro Striano Pozzuoli, ITA
Matt Malone Roseburg, OR     R. Wayne Thompson Shawnee, KS
Jeremy McDougal Madison, AL     Jack Williams Atlanta, GA
Peter Menedis Palm Beach Gardens, FL        

Research committee news

Here are the new SABR research committee newsletters published this week:

 Find all SABR research committee newsletters at SABR.org/research.

Chapter meeting news

Here are the new chapter meeting recaps published this week:

Visit SABR.org/chapters for more information on SABR regional chapters.

SABR Events Calendar

Here is a list of upcoming SABR events:

All SABR meetings and events are open to the public. Feel free to bring a baseball-loving friend … and make many new ones! Check out the SABR Events Calendar at SABR.org/events.

Around the Web

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

Read these articles and more at SABR.org/latest.

This Week in SABR is compiled by Jacob Pomrenke, and sent out to all SABR members on Fridays. All previous editions of This Week in SABR can be found here: http://sabr.org/content/this-week-in-sabr-archives. 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.

Find exclusive Members’ Only resources and information here: http://members.sabr.org

Did you know you can renew your membership at any time? 1- and 3-year SABR memberships are available by clicking “Renew” at http://members.sabr.org. Please also consider a donation to SABR to support baseball research at SABR.org/donate.

Are you following us on Twitter or Facebook? Get SABR updates every day at @SABR or by searching “SABR” on Facebook.

Replying to this e-mail goes to an undeliverable address. If you would like to contact the SABR office, please visit: http://sabr.org/about/contact-sabr


Originally published: December 6, 2013. Last Updated: April 3, 2020.

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