This Week in SABR: February 3, 2023
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, February 3, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
Check out upcoming SABR Day events this weekend
Mark Armour, Dan Levitt’s Intentional Balk wins 2023 SABR Seymour Medal
Announcing featured speakers for 2023 SABR Analytics Conference
Vote now for SABR Analytics Conference Research Award winners
Ken Carrano hired as new Business Operations Manager
By-Laws changes proposed for special election beginning in February
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Join us for SABR Day on Saturday, February 4
Our annual SABR Day celebration is coming up this weekend and we hope you’ll join us! SABR Day is a way for all baseball fans to come together, regardless of where they live, and talk about the game we all love.
On Saturday, February 4, more than 25 SABR chapters will hold their annual SABR Day meetings, with guest speakers that include Texas Rangers VP/AGM Ross Fenstermaker, former major-leaguer Jeff Frye and broadcaster Mike Capps (Arlington); Cleveland Guardians executive Zach Morton and Zack Meisel of The Athletic (Cleveland); Hall of Fame curator Tom Shieber (Cooperstown); Dayton Dragons broadcaster Tom Nichols (Dayton); former major-leaguer Jason Hirsh (Denver); Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic (Detroit); Houston Astros broadcaster Bill Brown (Houston); Negro Leagues historian Phil S. Dixon (Kansas City); authors Bob LeMoine and Clayton Trutor (New Hampshire); author and Hall of Fame sports executive Pat Williams (Orlando); filmmaker Jon Leonoudakis and author Rob Fitts (San Francisco Bay Area) — plus a SABR Day Memorabilia Road Show (Atlanta), a 3D virtual reality experience of Crosley Field (Cincinnati), and a panel discussion on Puerto Rican baseball (Guaynabo).
Visit SABR.org/sabrday to find details on all SABR Day events, from Boston to Denver, Philadelphia to Phoenix, and Las Vegas to Williamsport.
Mark Armour, Dan Levitt’s Intentional Balk wins 2023 SABR Seymour Medal
Intentional Balk: Baseball’s Thin Line between Innovation and Cheating, written by Daniel R. Levitt and Mark Armour and published by Clyde Hill Publishing, is the winner of the 2023 Dr. Harold and Dorothy Seymour Medal, which honors the best book of baseball history or biography published during the preceding calendar year.
Levitt and Armour will receive their award during the 30th annual NINE Spring Training Conference on Saturday, March 4 in Tempe, Arizona. To register for the NINE conference, visit nineconference.com.
The other finalists were Baseball Rebels: The Players, People and Social Movements That Shook Up the Game and Changed America, by Peter Dreier and Robert A. Elias (University of Nebraska Press), and Red Barber: The Life and Legacy of a Broadcasting Legend, by Judith R. Hiltner and James R. Walker (University of Nebraska Press).
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Announcing featured speakers for 2023 SABR Analytics Conference
SABR is excited to announce new featured panels for the 2023 SABR Analytics Conference. The conference, which is open to all baseball fans, is scheduled for March 10-12, 2023, at the Beus Center for Law and Society on Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Reminder: Early registration discounts end on Friday, February 17. Registration increases $150 after the early discount ends, so register today to join us!
Our featured speakers will include: Dallas Braden, former major-league pitcher and Oakland A’s TV analyst; Bobby Scales, former major-leaguer and Sports Info Solutions Vice President; Ari Kaplan, MLB front office executive; Jake Schuster of Gemini Sports Analytics; Brian Hall of Tidal Quantitative Research; David Loving of Sage; Kyle Glaser of Baseball America; Meg Rowley of FanGraphs; Rob Mains of Baseball Prospectus; Webster University professor Allison R. Levin; data scientist Stuart Neilson; and more.
Please note: All speakers are subject to change depending on availability.
Stay tuned for more information on speakers, panelists, and presenters soon! Visit SABR.org/analytics to learn more.
SABR 51: Call for presentations
SABR invites all members to present their research findings to their colleagues attending SABR 51, the 2023 annual convention on July 5-9 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.
- Click here to submit presentation abstracts for SABR 51
The submission deadline for SABR 51 abstracts is 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, February 26, 2023.
Oral presentations are expected to last 20 minutes, followed by a five minute question-and-answer period. Posters will be presented, with the author on-hand to discuss the work, during a poster session of 60 minutes and they will remain on display throughout the convention.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Vote now for winners of the 2023 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards
Online voting is now open for the 2023 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards, which will recognize baseball researchers who have completed the best work of original analysis or commentary during the preceding calendar year.
Nominations were solicited by representatives from SABR, Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, and Sports Info Solutions. Voting for the winners will take place online from February 1-10, 2023, and announced at the 2023 SABR Analytics Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Ken Carrano joins SABR staff as Business Operations Manager
SABR is pleased to welcome Ken Carrano as its new Business Operations Manager beginning on Monday, February 6. In this role, he will lead SABR’s administrative work and day-to-day operations, including human resources and accounting processes.
Carrano joins SABR after serving as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations for Landscape Concepts Management, a large landscape services provider in suburban Chicago. He holds a master’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul University in Chicago. A lifelong White Sox fan and SABR member since 1995, he has contributed to both the SABR Games and Biography Projects.
By-Laws changes proposed for special election beginning on February 15
The SABR Board of Directors recommends adoption of three proposed changes to the By-Laws in a special election that will begin on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
The changes are intended to increase member participation in SABR governance, add new voices to Board discussion, allow for more turnover in Board membership, and provide safeguards to ensure that the four Officers have some prior Board experience.
An online voting ballot will be sent out from tellers@sabr.org to all eligible SABR voters on February 15, 2023. The voting period will remain open until March 1, 2023.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Member Benefit Spotlight: Updating Your Profile and Membership Directory
As a SABR member, you have vast resources and benefits at your disposal. With so much information at your fingertips, we realize it can be overwhelming to absorb it all! To highlight key benefits, read on for this month’s SABR Member Benefit Spotlight, an email series that identifies and explains some of the most valuable features of your membership. We hope this allows you to take full advantage of all SABR has to offer.
This issue shows you how to update your membership profile to help make the best use of the SABR membership directory.
Click here to watch the full video at SABR.org.
Register now for the 2023 SABR Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Conference
Registration is now open for the 14th annual SABR Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference, which will be held on April 28-29, 2023, at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. All baseball fans are welcome to register for this special event.
The 2023 conference will be highlighted by a keynote address from author Jonathan Popovich, along with a panel discussion on baseball’s 19th-century color line with Richard Hershberger, Peter Mancuso, Brian Sheehy, and moderator Bill Ryczek; a 19th-century artifact session with Robert Mayer, Gary Passamonte, and Popovich; a Member Spotlight interview of Robert Mayer by Bob Bailey; plus research presentations and a Sunday morning vintage baseball game at Doubleday Field.
Visit SABR.org/ivor-campbell19c to learn more or to register.
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 #199 on Monday, January 30 featured former major-league umpire Jim Joyce, who is also the co-author of Nobody’s Perfect: Two Men, One Call, and a Game for Baseball History with pitcher Armando Galarraga. 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.
6 new stories published at the SABR BioProject
- Doll Derr, by Kurt Blumenau
- Eddie Erautt, by Bruce Enos
- Mike Gardiner, by Mark S. Sternman
- Pete Kilduff, by Darren Gibson
- Tom Lasorda, by Alan Stowell
- Carey Selph, by John J. Watkins
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
12 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- August 9, 1872: Eckfords halt 3-month skid with help of familiar reinforcements, by Larry DeFillipo
- September 12, 1883: John Reilly hits for the cycle as Cincinnati blasts Pittsburgh, 27-5, by Mike Huber
- August 1, 1890: Oyster Burns hits for natural cycle as Bridegrooms rout Alleghenys in shortened contest, by Mike Huber
- September 7, 1952: Johnny Mize completes homer-in-every-ballpark with pinch-hit grand slam, by Steven C. Weiner
- June 15, 1964: Maine knocks defending champ Southern Cal out of College World Series, by Kurt Blumenau
- July 24, 1965: Big Astrodome crowd sees Joe Nuxhall one-hit the Astros, by Michael Griffin (first-time author)
- July 29, 1971: Jack Maloof’s 6-for-6 day leads to .402 season in New York-Penn League, by Kurt Blumenau
- June 25, 1977: Hall of Famers, old-timers and the first-place Cubs, by Jeff Allan Howard
- June 16, 1991: Braves’ Otis Nixon ties single-game stolen base record, by Joseph Wancho
- July 8, 1994: John Valentin’s unassisted triple play and home run help Red Sox beat Mariners, by Bill Marston
- July 31, 2013: Jonny Gomes’ unassisted double play helps Drake Britton earn first major-league win, by Bill Nowlin
- April 12, 2022: Giants’ Alyssa Nakken makes history as first woman on-field coach in major leagues, by Laura H. Peebles
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
Turnstyle: The SABR Journal of Baseball Arts (Vol. 3)
Edited by Joanne Hulbert and Jay Hurd
Visit SABR.org to download any SABR Digital Library e-book for free or save 50% off the paperback edition.
Here are some SABR headlines from recent weeks that we don’t want you to miss:
- SABR donates archives of founder Bob Davids to Library of Congress
- New Spanish-language edition of Roberto Clemente book available
- Bill Lamb honored with 2023 SABR Russell Gabay Award
- Jose Trevino, Nolan Arenado win 2022 Rawlings Platinum Glove Awards, presented by SABR
- Cliff Kachline Chapter unveils historical baseball exhibit in Gloversville, New York
- Watch highlights from the 2022 SABR/IWBC Virtual Women in Baseball Conference
- Check out highlights, stories, and photos from SABR 50 in Baltimore
- Watch a preview of the Landmarks Committee’s new SABR Baseball Map
- Save the date! SABR 51 will be in Chicago in 2023
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Abouzeid | McKinney, TX | Sarah Gelles | Houston, TX | ||
| Brendan Bain | Forked River, NJ | Phil Hillman | Yorba Linda, CA | ||
| Taylor Bond | Ann Arbor, MI | Michael Kane | Grand Rapids, MI | ||
| Adam Brodie | Houston, TX | Lucas Kelly | Silver Spring, MD | ||
| Jared Brown | Yulee, FL | Eric Koehler | Myrtle Beach, SC | ||
| Storm Byrd | Los Angeles, CA | Matthew McConkey | Englewood, TN | ||
| Monica Carosone-Hauth | Roseville, CA | Sean Moore | Hollis, NH | ||
| Allan Creasy | Surrey, BC | Nicholas Neylon | Cheyenne, WY | ||
| Steve Darby | Statesboro, GA | Tyler Ruger | Christiansburg, VA | ||
| Terry Dinan | New Canaan, CT | Chris Sabath | Austin, TX | ||
| Peter Ferris | Monroe, CT | Mike Turek | Pinecrest, FL | ||
| William Flanders | Elberon, VA | Tiberiu Ungureanu | Boone, NC |
Here is a list of SABR supporters for the month of January 2023.
| NAME | NAME | |
|---|---|---|
| Dennis Auger | Donald Jensen | |
| Perry Barber | Tara Krieger | |
| Jeremy Beer | Henry Levy | |
| Jake Bell | Peter Mancuso | |
| Lynn Bevill | David Martin | |
| D. Bruce Brown | Bruce McClure | |
| Ralph Caola | Bill Nowlin | |
| Ken Carrano | Gene Oppenheim | |
| Angel Castillo | John Rall | |
| Karl Cicitto | Michael Rosenwasser | |
| Vincent Comparato | Charles Roussel | |
| Brian Eisenstein | Bob Russon | |
| Steven Elsberry | Jason Scheller | |
| Donald Etheridge | Douglas Schoppert | |
| Daniel Evans | Jeff Self | |
| David Firstman | Rob Sheinkopf | |
| Adam Foldes | Linda Skory | |
| Robert Garratt | Mike Sparks | |
| Matt Gurule | Thomas Stone | |
| Glenn Guzzo | Wesley Story | |
| Robert Hagerman | Joseph Thompson | |
| Tom Hall | Neal Traven | |
| Leslie Heaphy | Robin Wasserman | |
| Tim Herlich | Steve West | |
| Rockwell Hoffman | Beach Wires | |
| Dick Huebner | Jeffrey Wood | |
| David Hughes | Don Zminda | |
| Jeff Jaech | Thomas Zocco |
Want to become a Friend of SABR? Click here to make a recurring monthly contribution or click here to learn more about our Giving Circles to make a one-time contribution.
- Events Calendar: Find complete details of all SABR events
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from Paul Semendinger (Roy White: From Compton to The Bronx), Justin Mckinney (Baseball’s Union Association), Derby Gisclair (“Huey Long Saves Spring Training in New Orleans”), and the SABR Baseball Memories group. Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- February 3: Oscar Charleston (IN) Chapter SABR Day meeting with Howard Kellman and Cheyne Reiter (7:00 p.m. EST)
- February 4: 2023 SABR Day
- February 6: Northern New England Chapter and Gardner-Waterman Vermont Chapter Trivia Night (7:00 p.m. EST)
- February 7: Pacific Northwest Chapter meeting (6:30 p.m. PST)
- February 8: Roush-Lopez Gulf Coast (FL) Chapter meeting (8:00 p.m. EST)
- February 9: Boston Chapter meeting with Douglas Gladstone (8:00 p.m. EST)
- February 11: Talkin’ Baseball: Justin Mckinney (9:00 a.m. EST)
- February 11: Rogers Hornsby (TX) Chapter SABR Day meeting with Bill Brown (1:00 p.m. CST)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- February 4: 2023 SABR Day
- February 5: Rocky Mountain Chapter SABR Day meeting (Denver, CO)
- February 6: Banks-Bragan DFW Chapter SABR Day meeting (Arlington, TX)
- February 11: Halsey Hall Chapter book club meeting (Roseville, MN)
- February 11: Oklahoma Chapter SABR Day meeting (Stillwater, OK)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Origins: January 2023 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Central Florida Chapter: Check out the Central Florida Chapter’s new Facebook page for events and updates
- Halsey Hall Chapter: February 2023 newsletter (Minneapolis, MN)
- Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter: February 2023 newsletter (Milwaukee, WI)
- Larry Dierker Chapter: Winter 2023 newsletter (Houston, TX)
- Northern New England Chapter: February 2023 newsletter (Concord, NH)
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:
- Elizabeth Muratore: Sarah Langs’ BBWAA honor couldn’t be more fitting (MLB.com)
- Alex Speier: Bianca Smith, the first Black woman hired as a coach by an MLB team, leaves Red Sox organization (Boston Globe)
- Michael Clair: MLB event gives college softball players a peek at a future in baseball (MLB.com)
- Evan Drellich: MLB season tickets, Netflix style? How teams, startups are reimagining ticket buying (The Athletic)
- Derrick Goold: Cardinals gap between floor and ceiling seems pretty defined (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Patrick Dubuque: The Other Aging Curve (Baseball Prospectus)
- Ginny Searle: Kid Gloves (Baseball Prospectus)
- Sarah Langs: Here are the top candidates for a 40-40 season (MLB.com)
- Rob Mains: How Bad Will 2023 Be for The Central Divisions? (Baseball Prospectus)
- Eno Sarris: Picking MLB’s four best bounce-back candidates for 2023 (The Athletic)
- Mark Simon: Zack Greinke’s Defense (ACTA Sports)
- Steven Goldman: 100 Prospects Everywhere and not a Drop to Drink (Baseball Prospectus)
- Jay Jaffe: RIP Sal Bando and a Missed Date for Cooperstown (FanGraphs)
- Jayson Stark: The All-‘I Got Exactly 1 Vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame’ team — 42 names to cherish (The Athletic)
- David Laurila: Chase Utley is Ballot-Bound (and Underrated) (FanGraphs)
- Hannah Keyser: Cooperstown, New York, needs every Hall of Famer it can get (Yahoo! Sports)
- Anthony Castrovince: These MLB legends were trailblazers in Japan (MLB.com)
- Thomas Gilbert: Whodunit? A Detective Story (Our Game)
- Craig Brown: Blue ribbons or beer? The struggles of the 1889 Athletics (Threads of Our Game)
- Gary Cieradkowski: Ted Kluszewski: Film holds the “Klu” (Studio Gary C)
- M. Shawn Hennessy: Camp Chaffee Flannel: Arkansas Tanker Training Base a WWII Haven of Army Baseball (Chevrons and Diamonds)
- Jeff Cohen: Baseball and BBQ interview with Turk Wendell (Baseball and BBQ)
- Jason Schwartz: The beautiful uncut hair of LaGrave (SABR Landmarks)
- Tip Wonhoff: There’s Something About Marc (SABR Baseball Cards)
- Ryan M. Liddell: Avalon Hill Leaves the Battlefield for the Ballpark (SABR Baseball Gaming)
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: February 3, 2023. Last Updated: February 3, 2023.