This Week in SABR: January 13, 2023
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, January 13, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
Coming soon: Rucker Archive historical baseball photographs
Last chance to apply for a 2023 Local Grant
Early registration open for 2023 SABR Analytics Conference in Phoenix
Watch a replay of Ballpark Figures with ESPN’s Jeff Passan
By-Laws changes proposed for special election beginning in February
 |
 |
 |
Coming soon: Rucker Archive historical baseball photographs
In 2019, SABR acquired The Rucker Archive, one of the world’s most extensive private collections of historical baseball photographs, spanning more than a century of baseball history, with nearly 80,000 unique images from the roots of baseball in the 19th century up to current major league teams and players. That donation created numerous opportunities for SABR to consider.
Since then, we have invested significant time vetting out the best path forward as well as how to ensure that the organization has the resources to support this collection for many years to come. I’m excited to share the details of how the SABR/The Rucker Archive will soon become accessible to the public as well as a living research project for our members.
— Scott Bush
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Last chance to apply for a SABR Local Grant in 2023
The SABR Local Grants program provides an opportunity for chapters, research committees, and chartered communities to apply for funding for their projects under SABR’s Four Pillars: Research, Scholarship, Preservation, and Future of the Game. Applications are now open for a 2023 SABR Local Grant at SABR.org/local-grants.
Submissions will be accepted until January 16, 2023. All SABR chapters, chartered communities, and research committees are eligible to apply.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Early registration open for 2023 SABR Analytics Conference in Phoenix
Early registration is now open for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held in person from March 10-12, 2023, at the Beus Center for Law and Society on Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus in Phoenix, Arizona. We’ll bring together the top minds in the baseball analytics community to discuss, debate, and share insightful ways to analyze and examine the great game of baseball.
Students will have two registration options, virtual or in-person, with both including access to the General Session on Friday, March 10 through Sunday, March 12, and a student-only virtual session on Thursday, March 9. All student registrations also include a complimentary one-year SABR membership ($25 value) and a complimentary Rapsodo certification course ($395 value).
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.
Watch a replay of Ballpark Figures with Jeff Passan
SABR’s Ballpark Figures is a monthly interview series hosted by award-winning writer Shakeia Taylor. On Thursday, January 5, our guest was Jeff Passan, Senior MLB Insider at ESPN and best-selling author of The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports.
Click here to watch a replay of Ballpark Figures with Jeff Passan.
To learn more, visit SABR.org/ballpark-figures.
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.
Students, apply for a Spring 2023 internship with SABR
The Society for American Baseball Research is seeking remote interns to work during the Spring 2023 semester. The 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 Friday, January 27, 2023.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
SABR accepting applications for Editorial Assistant position
SABR is now accepting applications for a part-time, remote position as an Editorial Assistant. This position will be responsible for helping to organize, curate, and maintain editorial content on all SABR platforms, including writing, editing, graphics, audio, video, and photography. You will also have the opportunity to manage and lead editorial projects, including assistance with SABR Digital Library publications (books, journals, and ebooks) and SABR.org web projects.
Please send resume and cover letter to Jacob Pomrenke at jpomrenke@sabr.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Join us for SABR Day events on Saturday, February 4
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, February 4, 2023, when we will hold our annual SABR Day celebration! 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.
- Visit SABR.org/sabrday to find details on more than 20 SABR Day events planned so far, from Atlanta to San Diego, Boston to Phoenix, and Louisville to Williamsport.
Regional chapters are encouraged to plan their own SABR Day events (virtually or in person) throughout the months of January or February to celebrate the start of a new baseball season.
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 #196 on Monday, January 9 featured former major-league manager and coach John McLaren, who managed the Chinese national team 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.
Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.
3 new biographies published at SABR BioProject
- George Bechtel, by Bill Lamb
- Stan Cliburn, by Evan Katz
- Willie Ludolph, by Terry Bohn
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
10 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- August 1, 1918: Boston Braves’ Art Nehf blanks Pirates for 20 innings, loses shutout and game in 21st, by Gary Belleville
- June 18, 1927: Lucky Lindy helps Cardinals raise pennant as Rogers Hornsby returns to Mound City, by Larry DeFillipo
- May 12, 1946: Indianapolis Clowns, Chicago American Giants play to 20-inning tie, by Donna L. Halper
- July 27, 1969: Eighteen pitchers see duty during 20-inning Red Sox-Pilots battle, by Bill Nowlin
- May 14, 1976: Doubleheader at Eastern Michigan provides backdrop for meeting of scout and scribe, by Kurt Blumenau
- July 31, 1998: Cubs hammer four homers into the wind as rookie Kerry Wood improves to 8-0 at Wrigley Field, by Madison McEntire
- October 27-29, 2008: Phillies wait and wait … and finally win second World Series championship, by Steve Ginader
- June 16, 2015: Brock Holt, Mookie Betts chase cycles as Red Sox end losing streak, by Mike Huber
- September 6, 2021: Nelson Cruz’s ‘Little League’ grand slam helps Rays beat Boston, by Laura H. Peebles
- September 30, 2022: Cal Raleigh’s walk-off homer ends Mariners’ playoff drought with a bang, by Ben Blotner (first-time author)
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
Nichibei Yakyu: US Tours of Japan, 1907-1958 (Vol. 1)
Edited by Robert K. Fitts, Bill Nowlin, and James Forr
Visit SABR.org/ebooks 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
- 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
- John Dewan Defensive Analytics Award to be honored beginning in 2023
- SABR Digital Library: From Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Anda | Lancaster, OH | Kevin Kreiner | Endicott, NY | ||
| Kyle Andrews | State College, PA | Ken Kuzmiak | Branchville, NY | ||
| Jeffrey Beck | Palmyra, PA | Matt LaDuke | Canton, MI | ||
| Kenneth Birrell | Rockville, MD | Lawrence Leib | Farmington Hills, MI | ||
| Jordan Boitnott | Sharpsville, PA | Chris Leupold | Gibsonville, NC | ||
| Robert Bowling | Fishers, IN | Joseph Lombardo | Montclair, NJ | ||
| Loren Broaddus | Springfield, MO | Leonard Lumbers | Toronto, ON | ||
| Doug Brown | Thousand Oaks, CA | Jason Maddox | Fayetteville, NY | ||
| Vito Calise | Long Island City, NY | Keith Mars | Austin, TX | ||
| Matthew Carter | Huntsville, AL | Anthony Mastandrea | Ramsey, NJ | ||
| Robert Catalano | Flushing, NY | Les Masterson | North Reading, MA | ||
| Chris Conlon | Baltimore, MD | Brendan McGair | Warwick, RI | ||
| Chris Cooney | Burlington, ON | Steven Miller | Rio Vista, CA | ||
| Paul Craig | Madison, AL | Frank Mulville | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Michaael Dauphinais | West Melbourne, FL | Barry Neeb | Berlin, MD | ||
| John de Sousa | Toronto, ON | Alex Newton | Savannah, GA | ||
| Matthew DiBiase | Philadelphia, PA | Bryan Peabody | Louisville, KY | ||
| Ian Duran | San Francisco, CA | Cregg Peterson | Tampa, FL | ||
| Koby Farries | Dickinson, TX | Eduardo Peynetti | Nantes, FRA | ||
| Karl Gierach | Southfield, MI | Greg Randolph | The Woodlands, TX | ||
| Michael Giganti | Rockville Centre, NY | Jonathan Richter | Hartford, CT | ||
| Rafael Giraud | San Juan, PRI | Peter Riehl | Colorado Springs, CO | ||
| Larry Harris | Northville, MI | Rich Russell | Marvin, NC | ||
| Jen Hayes | Easthampton, MA | Mike Ryan | Lakewood, CO | ||
| Se Hyeon Heo | Yongin-si, KOR | Clemente Sosa | Highland Lakes, NJ | ||
| Matt Hicks | Carmel, IN | Benjamin Spotswood | Mobile, AL | ||
| Mike Hoben | Gulfport, FL | Michelle Taylor | Tampa, FL | ||
| Austin Hogue | Redmond, OR | Thom Tracy | West Pittston, PA | ||
| Dennis Jennings | Lake Forest, IL | Phillip Tutor | Anniston, AL | ||
| Skip Jennings | Savannah, GA | Tracy Tymko | Huntersville, NC | ||
| Steven Jones | Alameda, CA | Peter VanBenthuysen | Denver, CO | ||
| Will Kenneally | Alexandria, VA | Chris Vargas | Long Beach, CA | ||
| Thomas Kerrigan | Bethpage, NY | Jennifer Weld | State College, PA | ||
| Steve Klein | Fontana, CA | Ian Wilson | Calgary, AB | ||
| PK Komar | Spring Lake, MI | John Wright | Harper Woods, MI | ||
| John Koziol | Boston, MA | Albert Yang | Davis, CA |
Here is a list of SABR supporters for the month of December 2022:
| NAME | NAME | |
|---|---|---|
| John Alviti | Henry Levy | |
| Steve Ames | Don LoCrasto | |
| Richard Arpi | John Lord | |
| Patricia Aylsworth | Linda Luca | |
| Jack Bales | Mitchell Lutzke | |
| Perry Barber | Peter Mancuso | |
| Ed Barbini | Peter Marcus | |
| Keith Barnes | Daniel Massey | |
| James Beck | Kenneth Mayer | |
| Jake Bell | Bruce McClure | |
| Paul Bennett | Andy McCue | |
| Harvey Berger | Paul McGee | |
| Michael Berry | Thomas McKenna | |
| William Bordonaro | Barry Mednick | |
| David Boyle | Roberta Mendonca | |
| Thomas Bradley | Thomas Merrick | |
| D. Bruce Brown | Stephen Milman | |
| Bob Brown | Frank Mooney | |
| Paul Browne | Christopher Moyer | |
| Richard Butler | David Neft | |
| Arthur Cantu | Monty Nielsen | |
| Ralph Caola | Bill Nowlin | |
| Ken Carrano | Dwight Oxley | |
| Louis Charlip | Peter Pepper | |
| Dennis Christensen | Gregg Pericich | |
| Ralph Christian | Zachary Petrillo | |
| Karl Cicitto | John Rall | |
| Marina Clarke | Alan Raylesberg | |
| Rodger Coauette | David Rockoff | |
| Vincent Comparato | Michael Rosenwasser | |
| Gary Coon | Kenneth Ross | |
| Dick Cramer | Harry Rothgerber | |
| E. Stephen Cunerd | Charles Roussel | |
| Tom DiGiandomenico | Chuck Rusinek | |
| Helen Edwards | Bob Russon | |
| Vernona Elms | Robert Ruzzo | |
| Steven Elsberry | William Ryczek | |
| Daniel Evans | Michael Sass Jr | |
| John Fain | Jason Scheller | |
| Michael Fandal | Steven Schmitt | |
| David Firstman | Dan Schoenholz | |
| Kenneth Fischer | Douglas Schoppert | |
| Jack Fitzpatrick | John Schwarz | |
| Adam Foldes | Jeff Self | |
| Donald Frank | Rob Sheinkopf | |
| Gordon and Lisa Gattie | Linda Skory | |
| Jeanne Glazer | Curt Smith | |
| Roger Godin | Janet Marie Smith | |
| John Gottko | Paul Soltysiak | |
| Gerard Goulet | Mike Sparks | |
| Stephen Greyser | Art Springsteen | |
| David Guslani | Tony Stahl | |
| Robert Hagerman | Joel Sternberg | |
| Roger Hammond | W.B. Steverson | |
| Leslie Heaphy | Thomas Stone | |
| Tim Herlich | Wesley Story | |
| Rockwell Hoffman | David Studenmund | |
| Thomas Hufford | Henry Summer | |
| David Hughes | Joseph Thompson | |
| Jim Hughes | Joyce Thompson | |
| Noel Hynd | Crofty Thorp | |
| Donald Jensen | Neal Traven | |
| Scott Jensen | David Vaught | |
| Lloyd Kepple | M J Volkovitsch | |
| David Kimball | Ronald Weaver | |
| Michael Klitsch | David Weihman | |
| Sean Lahman | Robert Welborn | |
| Steven Landau | Steve West | |
| Dave Lande | Charles Wilkins | |
| William Larson | Beach Wires | |
| Todd Lebowitz | Jeffrey Wood | |
| Lewis Levey | Tony Yoseloff | |
| Daniel Levitt | Don Zminda |
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 Milwaukee Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Eric Poulin (“The Found Poetry of Gerald Peter Remy”) and Jonathan Popovich (“Elysian Fields”). Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- January 14: Hank Gowdy Columbus (OH) Chapter book club meeting with Curt Smith (9:30 a.m. EST)
- January 14: Sweet Lou Johnson Lexington (KY) Chapter meeting with Dan Taylor (1:00 p.m. EST)
- January 16: Larry Dierker (TX) Chapter meeting with Alyson Footer (7:00 p.m. CST)
- January 16: Ottawa (ON) Chapter meeting (7:00 p.m. EST)
- January 17: Games and Simulations Committee meeting with Clay Dreslough (8:00 p.m. EST)
- January 18: New Member Experience with Jessica Smyth (8:00 p.m. EST)
- January 19: Central Virginia Chapter meeting with Tim Wendel (7:00 p.m. EST)
- January 21: South Florida Chapter meeting with Paul Semendinger (6:00 p.m. EST)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- January 14: Halsey Hall Chapter Hot Stove Saturday Morning (Minneapolis, MN)
- January 14: Roush-Lopez Gulf Coast Chapter meet-up (St. Petersburg, FL)
- January 18: Rocky Mountain Chapter monthly luncheon (Denver, CO)
- January 19: Larry Doby Chapter meeting (Lexington, SC)
- January 19: Magnolia Chapter “Third Thursday” meeting (Sandy Springs, GA)
- January 21: Magnolia Chapter at BravesFest (Atlanta, GA)
- January 21: Babe ‘n’ Bob Chapter breakfast (Edgewater, MD)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Peter Cottrell.
- Baseball Records: Winter 2022 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Baltimore Babe Ruth Chapter: Winter 2023 newsletter (Baltimore, MD)
- Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter: January 4 meeting recap (Tallahassee, FL)
- Rogers Hornsby Chapter: January 7 meeting recap (San Marcos, 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:
- Justice B. Hill: Raymond Doswell is bringing a baseball background to ‘Black Wall Street’ (Andscape)
- Evan Drellich: Pitch clock in the playoffs: Why MLB, players had differing views (The Athletic)
- Tyler Kepner: Carlos Correa’s Implausible Journey Ends Back in Minnesota (New York Times)
- Michael Baumann: How Are the Mets and Giants Supposed To Live Without Carlos Correa? (FanGraphs)
- Alex Speier: Why Rafael Devers got the deal from the Red Sox that Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts did not (Boston Globe)
- Jayson Stark: MLB reinstates former Braves GM John Coppolella from ‘lifetime’ ban (The Athletic)
- Ben Clemens: Triple-Slash Line Conundrum: Voros McCracken Edition (FanGraphs)
- Derrick Goold: From his home in California, Nolan Arenado says he wants to be a lifelong Cardinal (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Grant Brisbee: Appreciating Brandon Belt’s long, memorable Giants career (The Athletic)
- Rob Mains: Seven Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About the 2022 Season (Baseball Prospectus)
- Ricardo Torres: ‘History is worth preserving’: Proposed downtown hotel concerns baseball historian (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Rick Vaughn: We should honor Al Lang’s contribution to St. Petersburg and major league baseball (Tampa Bay Times)
- Mike Petriello: Scott Rolen could open HOF door to more third basemen. And soon. (MLB.com)
- David Laurila: Better Than Evers, Lou Whitaker Belongs in the Hall of Fame (FanGraphs)
- Jay Jaffe: JAWS and the 2023 Hall of Fame Ballot: Matt Cain (FanGraphs)
- Steven Goldman: Why Were Black Sports Pioneers Necessary, Momma? (Baseball Prospectus)
- Michael Clair: Frank Estrada, the first Mexican catcher in the Major Leagues (MLB.com)
- Matt Monagan: The amazing, improbable tale of the longest homer ever (MLB.com)
- Jeff Cohen: Interview with Rene LeRoux, New York State Baseball Hall of Fame (Baseball and BBQ)
- Bruce Markusen: A Tribute to Nate Colbert through Topps Cards (SABR Baseball Cards)
- Derek Bain: Retro Computer Baseball Game Review – Avalon Hill Pro Manager (SABR Baseball Gaming)
- Bruce McClure: Reliving 1962 On My Tabletop (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.
Are you receiving our e-mails? “This Week in SABR” goes out by e-mail to all members on Friday afternoons. If they’re not showing up, try adding “sabr.notes@sabr.org” to your contact list to ensure they show up in your inbox.
Originally published: January 12, 2023. Last Updated: January 13, 2023.