This Week in SABR: January 19, 2024
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, January 19, 2024.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
Early registration ends soon for SABR Analytics Conference
Subscribe to the Baseball Research Journal
2 weeks left to apply for a Local Grant in 2024
Check out upcoming events on SABR Day
Call for papers: 2024 Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference
Students, apply for a Spring 2024 internship with SABR
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Early registration ends soon for 2024 SABR Analytics Conference
Early registration ends soon for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held in person from March 8-10, 2024, 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.
- Reminder: Early registration discounts end on Friday, February 16. Registration increases $150 after the early discount ends, so register today to join us!
Students have the option of choosing virtual ($50) or in-person ($150) registration. Both include access to General Session panels and presentations on Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10, and a student-only virtual session on Thursday, March 7. All student registrations also include a one-year SABR membership ($25 value) and a complimentary Rapsodo certification course ($395 value).
Visit SABR.org/analytics to learn more or to register.
Subscribe to the Baseball Research Journal in 2024
Beginning in 2024, all SABR members will exclusively receive the Baseball Research Journal electronically. A majority of SABR members already receive the BRJ electronically and will not be affected by this change.
For any members who are interested in a hard copy of the publication for their personal library, we are rolling out a new subscription option at a significantly discounted rate: $7 per issue for members, compared to $19.95 at retail. (International members will pay $11 per issue.)
- Visit SABR.org/subscribe to receive future printed editions of the BRJ in the mail. Or click here if you’d like a tutorial on how to subscribe.
As with any change, we understand that you may have questions or concerns that you would like to share. Please feel free to reach out to any SABR staff member.
2 weeks left to apply for a SABR Local Grant in 2024
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 2024 SABR Local Grant at SABR.org/local-grants. Submissions will now be accepted until January 31, 2024. A Grants Review Board will review all submissions and respond with their final determination in February 2024.
Visit SABR.org/local-grants to learn more or to apply.
Save the date: SABR Day is on February 3
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, February 3, 2024, 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. Regional chapters are also encouraged to plan their own SABR Day events (virtually or in person) to celebrate the start of a new baseball season.
- Visit SABR.org/sabrday for full details on all SABR Day events — including Atlanta, Birmingham, Columbus, Detroit, Little Rock, New Hampshire, Orlando, and Rochester.
Chapter leaders, please email Jacob Pomrenke and Peter Cottrell as you finalize your SABR Day plans so we can update our schedule of events.
Call for papers: 2024 Jerry Malloy Negro Leagues Conference
SABR’s Negro Leagues Research Committee will host the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference, which will be held on June 6-9, 2024, at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. In addition to two days of research presentations and player/author panels, attendees will also enjoy special presentations about lesser known Black baseball stories and a chance to see the new Hall of Fame exhibit: “The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball.”
This interdisciplinary conference welcomes proposals for oral and poster presentations from all research fields. Previous presenters have included college faculty, public school teachers, graduate students, and independent scholars. The deadline to submit a presentation abstract is February 1, 2024. Click here for more details on how to submit an abstract.
Visit SABR.org/malloy for more information on the 2024 conference, including the Essay Contest and Art Contest.
Register now for the 2024 Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Conference
Registration is now open for the 15th annual SABR Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference, which will be held on April 19-20, 2024, at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. All baseball fans are welcome to register for this special event.
The 2024 conference will be highlighted by a keynote address from author Michael Haupert, along with a panel discussion on the Knickerbocker club with Bruce Allardice, Thomas Gilbert, Bob Tholkes, and moderator Bill Ryczek; a 19th-century artifact session with Robert Mayer, Gary Passamonte, and Jonathan Popovich; a Member Spotlight interview of Thomas Gilbert by Bob Bailey; plus research presentations.
Visit SABR.org/ivor-campbell19c to learn more or to register.
SABR Analytics Certification: Sign up now for new Level 3 course
We’re excited to announce that the newest course in the SABR Analytics Certification program, Level Three – Introduction to Baseball Programming, is now available.
Taught by award-winning baseball writer and analyst Rob Arthur, the Level Three course provides an introduction to programming using a practical approach in its application for baseball and focusing on R (with a dash of SQL) as a programming language, the goal of this online, on-demand course is to give learners a foundational understanding of the technical skills necessary for a career in data science and baseball analytics.
To sign up now, or to learn more about previous courses, visit SABR.org/analytics/certification.
Students, apply for a Spring 2024 internship with SABR
The Society for American Baseball Research is seeking remote interns to work during the Spring 2024 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 26, 2024.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Volunteer opportunities
SABR is seeking volunteers with professional experience in specific areas to help the organization with several upcoming projects:
- Intellectual Property Law
- Online Retail
- Data Visualization
- Nonprofit Annual Reports
Please contact CEO Scott Bush for more details.
Writing opportunity: Ottawa baseball history
The editors of an upcoming SABR book on the history of baseball in Ottawa, Ontario, are seeking authors to write essays and articles on select topics about Canada’s capital city from the 19th century to the present day. We have a publication date of Spring 2025, and first drafts need to be completed by June 30.
Any SABR member who is interested in contributing to this project should contact Steve Rennie. Click here to learn more about SABR writing opportunities.
Baseball fans, tune in to SABRcast with Rob Neyer, a weekly podcast hosted by award-winning author and longtime SABR member Rob Neyer. Episode #249 on Monday, January 15 featured Mark Armour and Jeff Bower. The trio of friends discuss their “Baseball Boondoggle” adventures tied to trips to the annual SABR convention. 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 bios published at the SABR Biography Project
- Jim Boyer, by Kurt Blumenau
- George Disch, by Terry Bohn
- Clarence Eldridge, by Kurt Blumenau
- Shorty Fuller, by David E. Boyle
- Pat Griffin, by Bill Lamb
- East Field (Glens Falls, NY), by Kurt Blumenau
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
7 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- September 19, 1919: Cicotte, White Sox turn back Boston as Black Sox Scandal brews, by Jacob Pomrenke
- June 16, 1961: Lew Krausse Jr. twirls debut shutout 10 days after high-school graduation, by Larry DeFillipo
- May 13, 1974: A’s win thanks to Royals’ team-record 8 errors, by Kurt Blumenau
- August 9, 1984: Expos’ Dan Schatzeder tames Cubs, hurls 10-inning shutout, by Gary Belleville
- October 3, 1993: With Nolan Ryan watching, George Brett collects his final hit in last game at Arlington Stadium, by Madison McEntire
- April 15, 2009: Mets beat Padres for first victory at Citi Field, by Thomas J. Brown Jr.
- September 20, 2013: Jon Lester’s 15th win clinches AL East for Red Sox, by Bill Nowlin
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
Nichibei Yakyu: US Tours of Japan, 1960-2019 (Volume 2)
Edited by Robert K. Fitts, Bill Nowlin, and James Forr
Visit SABR.org/ebooks to download the free e-book edition or save 50% off the paperback edition of all Digital Library books.
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
- Find complete collection of SABR-Rucker Archive baseball images online
- SABR member Joe Castiglione honored with 2024 Ford C. Frick Award
- Giménez, Tatis win 2023 Rawlings Platinum Glove Awards, presented by SABR
- Read articles online from Fall 2023 Baseball Research Journal
- Interviews with Italian American major leaguers added to SABR Oral History Collection
- Historical Black Newspapers Collection added to SABR Research Resources
- SABR forms new Special Negro Leagues and Teams Committee
- SABR Landmarks Committee unveils new Baseball Grave Map
- Get a gift for baseball fan in your life with the SABR Store @ CafePress
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Angers | Bozeman, MT | Megan Iatesta | Doylestown, PA | ||
| Connor Anton | Reading, PA | Chris Iavarone | Toms River, NJ | ||
| Dalton Benedict | Columbia, PA | Ron Juckett | Burlington, VT | ||
| AJ Boughner | Pittsburgh, PA | Chad Knight | Westport, CT | ||
| Parris Bradley | Media, PA | Joseph Kowal | Yardley, PA | ||
| Ken Breen | Fort Myers, FL | Chris Kromm | Durham, NC | ||
| Yu Chun Chen | Melbourne, FL | Christian Kyser | Flower Mounds, TX | ||
| Bailey Chudner | Tuscaloosa, AL | Max Labaton | New York, NY | ||
| Cameron Cischke | Houghton, MI | Bill Lambropoulos | Laguna Niguel, CA | ||
| Joseph Cohen | Morristown, NJ | David Lantz | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Rob Crombar | Coppell, TX | Charles Lee | New York, NY | ||
| Evan Davis | Mechanicsburg, PA | Sean Maida | Hoboken, NJ | ||
| Nicholas DeMao | New Kensington, PA | Paul Margiott | South Windsor, CT | ||
| Donald Demor | Canal Fulton, OH | Evan Marshall | Pittsburgh, PA | ||
| Jack Dolan | Felix Martinez | Baltimore, MD | |||
| David Ernst | Omaha, NE | John Maynard | Lawrence, KS | ||
| Casey Etzkorn | Harrisonburg, VA | Harry McFarland | Portland, ME | ||
| David Mickey Evans | New Smyrna Beach, FL | Andrew Milano | Delaware, OH | ||
| Derek Fay | Findlay, OH | Bob Militello | Gambrills, MD | ||
| Jeff Frossard | New Braunfels, TX | John Neuharth | Seattle, WA | ||
| Michael Gallaro | Manahawkin, NJ | Ayn Owens | Decatur, IL | ||
| Thomas Gerbasi | Staten Island, NY | Matt Rice | Finksburg, MD | ||
| Matthew Givens | Lexington, KY | Randi Sargent | Kerrville, TX | ||
| Mark Grant | Guelph, ON | Marco Scola | Wheaton, IL | ||
| Brian Hathaway | Bloomington, IN | Darwin Shaffer | Meadville, PA | ||
| Jacob Hirschtritt | New York, NY | Carter Vaughn | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Monica Hitt | Kansas City, MO | Dan Verdun | Plainfield, IL |
- Events Calendar: Find details of all upcoming SABR events.
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from author Steve Gietschier (Baseball’s Turbulent Mid-Century). Click here to view video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- January 22: SABR Board of Directors conference call (6:00 p.m. EST)
- January 22: San Diego Ted Williams Chapter meeting with Zak Ford (6:30 p.m. PST)
- January 23: Northern New England Chapter meeting with Alex Katz (7:00 p.m. EST)
- January 25: SABR Baseball Memories meeting (7:00 p.m. EST)
- January 27: Schott-Pelican (LA) Chapter SABR Day meeting with Carlis Wright Robinson and Javik Blake (10:00 a.m. CST)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- January 19: SW Florida Chapter meeting (Naples, FL)
- January 20: Babe ‘n’ Bob Chapter Breakfast (Edgewater, MD)
- January 27: Bob Davids Chapter SABR Day meeting (Washington, DC)
- January 27: Ted Williams Chapter SABR Day meeting (San Diego, CA)
- January 27: Hemond-Delhi Arizona Chapter SABR Day meeting (Scottsdale, AZ)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Games and Simulations: SABR members are invited to participate in one of our three weekly transaction Rotisserie 5×5 leagues. In addition, the committee is creating a daily transaction league as well. Rules and more information are available at sabrbaseballgaming.
com.
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter: January 10 meeting recap (Tallahassee, FL)
- Rocky Mountain Chapter: January 2024 newsletter (Denver, CO)
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:
- Registration is now open for the 2024 NINE Spring Training Conference in Arizona
- Stephen J. Nesbitt: ‘Could you imagine?’ How a near-trade and leaning into joy shaped Todd Helton’s legacy (The Athletic)
- Tyler Kepner: How a broken arm — and an unbroken spirit — took Billy Wagner to the doorstep of the Hall of Fame (The Athletic)
- Ryan Fagan: A change in Cooperstown voting philosophy (Sporting News)
- Zack Meisel: José Ramírez’s Hall of Fame chances: What Adrián Beltré, Scott Rolen tell us about his path (The Athletic)
- Ben Lindbergh: MLB Doesn’t Have Much Appetite for Innings Eaters Anymore (The Ringer)
- Steven Goldman: Why Were Black Sports Pioneers Necessary, Momma? (Baseball Prospectus)
- Alex Coffey: Meet the young executive trying to make the Phillies into an analytics leader (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Derrick Goold: How RSN collapse has Cardinals prepping to get into the broadcast business (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Zach Crizer: Pitcher, Hitter, Investor (Baseball Prospectus)
- Jacob Gurvis: Only 2 Jewish players are in the Hall of Fame. Who could join Koufax and Greenberg in Cooperstown? (JTA.org)
- Scott D. Peterson: Helen Dauvray and John M. Ward: The 1880s version of Swift and Kelce (Boston Globe)
- Rob Mains: Why The Third Time Through the Order Penalty Matters (Baseball Prospectus)
- Grant Brisbee: Assessing the value of the last 50 years of Giants homegrown international prospects (The Athletic)
- Mike Dyer: As Reds caravan kicks off, a look back at a bygone visit to Akron (WCPO.com)
- Mark Simon: 2023’s Leading Underachiever (Sports Info Solutions)
- Richard Cuicchi: Family Ties for the 2023 season (Baseball’s Relatives)
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: January 19, 2024. Last Updated: January 19, 2024.