This Week in SABR: November 1, 2024
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, November 1, 2024.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
SABR Digital Library: Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs
Read articles from new Baseball Research Journal
Present your research at the 2025 SABR Analytics Conference
Playoff Pitch: Encourage new members to sign up for $1!
Watch: 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award ceremony on Sunday
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Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs book, website launched
We hope you’ll enjoy this new baseball book from the SABR Digital Library and our companion website at SABR.org:
Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs
Edited by Giselle Stancic, Bill Nowlin, and Jacob Pomrenke
Associate editors: Len Levin and Carl Riechers
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-960819-30-7, $9.99
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-960819-31-4, $24.95
8.5″ x 11″, 167 pages
Every baseball player experiences a series of firsts when they step onto the field: the nervous excitement of entering the locker room, the pride of putting on the team uniform, the awe-inspiring moment of exiting the dugout and crossing the white lines. But when a player walks up to the plate and hits a home run in his first major-league at-bat, he creates a wave of excitement among the fans, achieves a rare feat for the record books — and experiences the thrill of a lifetime in his professional career.
Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs celebrates those moments – from inside-the-park homers to grand slams to those hit by pitchers. Some foreshadowed many homers to come; in other cases, the first at-bat homer was the only one the player ever hit.
Each major-league franchise is represented in one way or another, and we also look at first at-bat home runs hit in the Negro Leagues, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. We hope to have conveyed some of the excitement of a player entering a game and promptly hitting one outta here!
- Explore more online: Our special Featured Spotlight web project complements the new Digital Library book available above. At SABR.org/dazzling-debuts, explore the Dazzling Debuts companion website to find 60 biographies, more than 50 thrilling game recaps with play-by-play accounts, photographs and videos of their memorable swings, plus exclusive oral history interviews of players reliving their first at-bat homers in their own words — including Ed Sanicki (1949), Cuno Barragan (1961), Al Woods (1977), Dave Machemer (1978), Jon Nunnally (1995), and Daniel Nava (2010).
A total of 90 SABR members contributed to the Dazzling Debuts project. Visit SABR.org/dazzling-debuts to download the free e-book edition, save 50% off the purchase of the paperback, or learn more.
Read articles from Fall 2024 Baseball Research Journal online
With an original cover illustration of Satchel Paige designed by SABR member Gary Cieradkowski, we hope you enjoy the e-book edition of the Fall 2024 Baseball Research Journal! The e-book edition was sent to all SABR members on Thursday, October 24. Anyone who has subscribed to the print edition should receive their copy in the mail in the next 2-4 weeks.
- Click here to download the PDF e-book edition of the Fall 2024 Baseball Research Journal.
- Click here to order a copy of the print edition of the Fall 2024 Baseball Research Journal from Amazon.com.
- Click here to read articles online from the Fall 2024 Baseball Research Journal in the SABR Research Collection.
We hope you enjoy reading the Fall 2024 Baseball Research Journal!
Early registration is now open for 2025 SABR Analytics Conference
Early registration is now open for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held in person from March 14-16, 2025, 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. Register today to join us!
- Registration: Click here to register for the 2025 SABR Analytics Conference. Early-bird registration is $395 for SABR members, $495 for non-members, and $150 for currently enrolled high school or college students. Student-only virtual registration is $50. Students should email Scott Carter with a photo of their student ID to receive the discounted registration link.
- Student Registration: Students should email Scott Carter with a photo of their student ID to receive a special link to register at a discounted rate. 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 14 through Sunday, March 16, and a student-only virtual session on Thursday, March 13. All student registrations also include a one-year SABR membership ($25 value).
- Research Presentations: Present your baseball research at the 2025 SABR Analytics Conference. Deadline to submit an abstract: November 20, 2024.
- Diamond Dollars Case Competition: Click here to register your team for the 2025 Diamond Dollars Case Competition. Registration is $1,750 per team, which includes admission to all SABR Analytics Conference sessions and a one-year SABR membership for each participant.
- Yoseloff Scholarship: Students, apply now for a Yoseloff Scholarship to attend the 2025 SABR Analytics Conference. Deadline: January 3, 2025.
- Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship: Applications are now open for the 2025 Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship. Deadline: January 3, 2025.
- Research Awards: We’re seeking nominations for the 2025 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards. Deadline: December 31, 2024.
- Certification Courses: The first three courses in the online, on-demand SABR Analytics Certification program, including the newest offering Level Three – Introduction to Baseball Programming, are available now. Click here to learn more or to sign up.
Submit your presentation abstract for 2025 SABR Analytics Conference
SABR is excited to announce the call for presentations for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held on March 14-16, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Abstracts of proposed research presentations should be no more than 500 words in length, and must include the abstract’s title, review of previous work on the subject, a summary of the research methodology and preliminary and/or final results, and the expected contribution to the field of baseball analytics offered by this work. Please send all abstracts to this e-mail address: analytics-presentations@sabr.org. Please clearly indicate whether you are submitting for the general track or for the student track of presentations. The submission deadline for all 2025 SABR Analytics Conference presentation abstracts is 11:59 p.m. MST on November 20, 2024.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Apply now for a Yoseloff Scholarship or Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship
With generous funding from The Nanar and Anthony Yoseloff Foundation, Inc., SABR will award up to four Yoseloff Scholarships to high school and college students who wish to attend the SABR Analytics Conference on March 14-16, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. This scholarship will pay for registration, transportation and lodging fees associated with the conference up to a total value of $1,250.
Awarded annually to four recipients, the Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship will provide meaningful professional development and networking opportunities for female identifying students or young professionals pursuing a career in baseball analytics and data science. This scholarship will pay for all registration fees and expenses associated with the 2025 SABR Analytics Conference in Phoenix, Arizona; plus registration for all courses in the online SABR Analytics Certification program. Click here to learn more or to apply.
Click here to learn more about SABR Scholarships.
Playoff Pitch: Encourage new members to sign up for $1!
As we enjoy the World Series, SABR is rolling out its own Playoff Pitch to encourage new monthly membership sign-ups. This limited-time offer will introduce new potential members to all that SABR has to offer by giving them their first month of monthly membership for just $1.
If you have friends or family members that would enjoy SABR, please encourage them to check out SABR.org/playoff-pitch for more details. It’s a fantastic way to dive into the rich history, research, stories, and stats that celebrate our beloved game, so please share our community with anyone you’ve ever thought “would love SABR!” This promotion is only valid for new monthly memberships and expires November 25, 2024.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Watch: 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award ceremony on Sunday night
The SABR Defensive Index (SDI) will be used to help select the winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® and Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™, presented by SABR. The 2024 winners will be unveiled during a one-hour, special-edition ESPN Baseball Tonight broadcast at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, November 3.
Following the show, voting will begin online for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award, presented by SABR. A combination of the SABR Defensive Index and the national fan vote will determine who takes home the honor in each league. The final SABR Defensive Index rankings will be released at SABR.org/SDI on November 3, immediately following the ESPN broadcast. The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners will be unveiled at the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony on Friday, November 8 in New York.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Help us Bring It Home in 2024 and invest in SABR’s future
SABR has made great progress toward our vision of becoming the essential community for the world of baseball, but there is still work to be done to fulfill that goal. By investing in mission-focused initiatives and outreach, SABR will be well positioned to sustain and grow into the future. Key areas of focus to achieve that growth include the continual addition of research resources, expansion and amplification of programming, and an emphasis on connection for our members and the wider baseball community. Gifts from members like you will help us BRING IT HOME, ensuring we achieve a successful 2024 while making investments in our collective future.
You can support SABR’s annual Bring it Home Campaign by making a gift of $150 or more by December 31, 2024. We will use your best gift of $150, $300, $500, or $1,000 to boost SABR’s general operations. Contributions from generous donors like you are critical in supporting SABR as we add to our research resources, expand programming, and strengthen the connection of our baseball community.
Visit SABR.org/donate/2024 to learn more.
Submit new project proposals to SABR Editorial Board by November 1
SABR’s Editorial Board welcomes new project proposals from members to be considered for publication through the Digital Library, SABR.org, or any other multimedia formats. We strongly encourage new proposals that involve collaboration between SABR research committees and/or chapters, and web-based projects with an eye toward enhanced multimedia presentation.
- Click here to submit a SABR project proposal
Next deadline: November 1, 2024 (for publication in early 2026 or 2027)
SABR seeks to publish 2-4 web-based multimedia projects and 6-8 books per year. Book projects should be of a scope that can fit in a single volume, typically between 100,000 and 200,000 total words.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Seeking volunteers for MLB Team Employee Database expansion
SABR’s Business of Baseball Committee is looking for additional volunteers to support the expansion of the newly released MLB Team Employee Database. We need help entering 2024 employees and scouting, player development, broadcasting, and minor league field employees from 2010 to 2024.
The media guide source material necessary for data entry can be made available electronically. The database is an exciting new addition to the available baseball resources. If you are willing to assist with this project, please contact Dan Levitt.
Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.
4 new stories published at SABR Games Project
- July 27, 1971: Philadelphia’s Bobby Pfeil hits his only two career home runs during emergency start behind the plate, by Andrew Harner
- October 2, 1995: Randy Johnson, Mariners beat Angels in AL West tiebreaker to clinch franchise’s first postseason appearance, by Thomas J. Brown Jr.
- October 15, 2007: Westbrook outpitches Matsuzaka as Cleveland takes 2-1 lead in ALCS, by Bill Nowlin
- September 3, 2017: Atlanta’s Max Fried begins dominance of Cubs with victory in first career start, by Madison McEntire
In addition, the following stories from Dodger Stadium: Blue Heaven on Earth (2024) were also posted online this week:
- June 8, 1968: Don Drysdale surpasses the Big Train for consecutive scoreless innings mark, by Richard Cuicchi
- October 9, 1974: Garvey, Wynn, Sutton pace Dodgers’ rout of Pirates in NLCS clincher, by John Fredland
- October 7, 1978: Bill Russell’s walk-off single sends Dodgers back to World Series; Steve Garvey wins NLCS MVP, by Joseph Wancho
- October 11, 1978: In dramatic ninth inning, Bob Welch strikes out Reggie Jackson to secure Dodgers’ win in Game 2, by Alan Stowell
- July 9, 1980: National League wins All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, by Gary Sarnoff
- October 11, 1981: Reuss, Dodgers knock out Ryan, Astros in Game 5, by John Bauer
- October 25, 1981: Dodgers complete home sweep of Yankees to take driver’s seat in World Series, by Chad Moody
- June 30, 1985: Pedro Guerrero ties monthly home run record; Steve Howe ends Dodgers’ career, by Jeff Findley
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
Sandy Koufax
Edited by Marc Z. Aaron, Bill Nowlin, and Glen Sparks
Visit SABR.org 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:
- 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists announced
- Check out highlights, photos, and recordings from the SABR 52 convention in Minneapolis
- Browse the new, searchable SABR MLB Team Employee Database
- Sean Lahman donates Lahman Baseball Database to SABR
- Watch highlights from 2024 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
- D. Bruce Brown selected as 2024 Bob Davids Award winner
- Save the date! SABR 53 will be in Dallas/Fort Worth in 2025
- SABR special committee: 1949-50 Negro American League, independent Black teams are major-league caliber
- Call for papers: Turnstyle: The SABR Journal of Baseball Arts
- Learn more about recipients of SABR Local Grants in 2024
- Find complete collection of SABR-Rucker Archive baseball images online
- Historical Black Newspapers Collection added to SABR Research Resources
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hank Alme | Ellicott City, MD | John Park | La Crescenta, CA | ||
| Mars Breslow | San Francisco, CA | Chris Roose | The Woodlands, TX | ||
| Cole Chapman | Phoenix, AZ | Matt Snyder | Oxford, MS | ||
| Brad Del Barba | Ryland Heights, KY | David Sweet | Lake Forest, IL | ||
| Russ Florence | Oklahoma City, OK | Stefan Szymanski | Ann Arbor, MI | ||
| Bryan Giese | Dousman, WI | Don Vescio | Douglas, MA | ||
| Bishop Lay | Tampa, FL | Quinn Wahl | St. Louis Park, MN | ||
| Phillip Lovas | Merced, CA | Brian West | Louisville, KY | ||
| Daniel Marangiello | Plattsburgh, NY | Micah Wimmer | Cleveland, OH | ||
| Reed Neuman | Great Falls, VA |
Here is a list of SABR supporters for the month of October 2024.
| NAME | NAME | |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Anderson | Allison Levin | |
| Mark Armour | Henry Levy | |
| John Azevedo | Walter Long | |
| Jake Bell | Joseph Luchok | |
| Kurt Blumenau | William Macht | |
| Mark Bonino | Michael Magee | |
| David Boyle | Peter Mancuso | |
| Thomas Bradley | Peter Marcus | |
| Ryan Brecker | Bill Marston | |
| D. Bruce Brown | Bruce McClure | |
| Bruce Bumbalough | Linda McLeland | |
| Ralph Caola | Jeff Meder | |
| Ken Carrano | Stephen Milman | |
| Jeff Carter | Billy Moore | |
| Karl Cicitto | Mark Morowczynski | |
| Vincent Comparato | Linda Nichols | |
| Jim Cox | Bill Nowlin | |
| Harrington Crissey | James Overmyer | |
| Richard Cuicchi | Laura Peebles | |
| Larry DeBoer | Eric Peters | |
| Frank DeSantis | John Rall | |
| John Dewan | Michael Rosenwasser | |
| Chris Dial | Charles Roussel | |
| Mark Drucker | Bob Russon | |
| Mark Dugo | Matthew Schaedler | |
| Woody Eckard | Jason Scheller | |
| Helen Edwards | Douglas Schoppert | |
| Lyn Elsberry | Jeff Schwartz | |
| Jonathan Epstein | Steve Shaiman | |
| Joseph Evancich | Andrew Sharp | |
| John Ezell | Mary Shea | |
| Jeff Findley | Rob Sheinkopf | |
| Steven Finkelstein | Robert Shelton | |
| David Firstman | Kenneth Snell | |
| Adam Foldes | Paul Spyhalski | |
| Edward Fong | W.B. Steverson | |
| Roy Gedat | Thomas Stone | |
| Michael Grieb | Wesley Story | |
| Robert Hagerman | Joseph Thompson | |
| Mike Haupert | John Tierney | |
| Emily Hawks | Neal Traven | |
| Leslie Heaphy | Marlene Vogelsang | |
| Tim Herlich | Joseph Wancho | |
| Aaron Hill | Mike Webber | |
| Rockwell Hoffman | Mark Wendling | |
| Mark Hoose | Steve West | |
| David Hughes | Deb Williams | |
| Rob Janes | John Williams | |
| Donald Jensen | Neal Wilson | |
| Douglas Jordan | Beach Wires | |
| Kim Juhase | Jeffrey Wood | |
| Thomas Larwin | 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 details of all upcoming SABR events.
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from Michael Kane (“Is It Authentic?”). Click here to view video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- November 2: Hank Gowdy Columbus (OH) Chapter book club meeting (9:30 a.m. EDT)
- November 4: Clyde Sukeforth (NH/ME) Chapter meeting with Rick Solomon (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 6: Baltimore Babe Ruth (MD) Chapter meeting with John Burbridge Jr. (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 6: Joint Chapter Meeting with Ed Denta (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 7: Ken Keltner Badger State (WI) Chapter meeting with Melissa Ludtke (7:00 p.m. CST)
- November 9: Bob Davids (DC) Chapter: Talkin’ Baseball with Melissa Ludtke (9:00 a.m. EST)
- November 9: Bud Metheny (VA) Chapter meeting with Danny Spewak (2:00 p.m. EST)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- November 2-3: SABR Board of Directors meeting (Cleveland, OH)
- November 2-3: 2024 Canadian Baseball History Conference (St. Marys, ON)
- November 2: Halsey Hall Chapter fall meeting (Minneapolis, MN)
- November 2: Jack Graney Chapter fall meeting (Cleveland, OH)
- November 6: Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter meeting (Tallahassee, FL)
- November 6: Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter fellowship meeting (St. Louis, MO)
- November 9: Baltimore Babe Ruth Chapter book series (Baltimore, MD)
- November 9: Halsey Hall Chapter vintage baseball game meet-up (Minneapolis, MN)
- November 9: Pacific Northwest Chapter fall meeting (Seattle, WA)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Collegiate Baseball: Fall 2024 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Casey Stengel Chapter: October 2024 newsletter (New York, NY)
- Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter: November 2024 newsletter (Milwaukee, WI)
- Rogers Hornsby Chapter: October 2024 newsletter (Austin, TX)
- Schott-Pelican Chapter: Fall 2024 newsletter (New Orleans, LA)
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:
- Clinton Yates: USA Baseball star Naomi Ryan is having best week ever at World Series (Andscape)
- Jayson Stark: Why Dodgers’ Game 5 win over Yankees was the craziest World Series clincher ever (The Athletic)
- Hannah Keyser: The $1 billion World Series champion Dodgers have everything except complacency (The Guardian)
- Sarah Langs: A dozen eye-popping stats from a thriller of a Game 5 World Series clincher (MLB.com)
- Roger Cormier: (Un)Intentional World Series Consequences (Baseball Prospectus)
- Jay Jaffe: The Dodgers Embellish Their Playoff Dynasty With a Second Championship (FanGraphs)
- Emma Baccellieri: ‘Walker’s Pitching Tonight’: Dodgers Bullpen Secured a World Series Win Like No Other (Sports Illustrated)
- William C. Rhoden: For Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, this World Series title comes with no asterisk (Andscape)
- Tyler Kepner: Inside the Yankees’ grisly fifth inning that proved one of the most costly in World Series history (The Athletic)
- Kaitlyn Tiffany: Why Are Baseball Players Always Eating? (The Atlantic)
- Jared Diamond: The World Series That Turned America’s Pastime Into a National Obsession Halfway Around the World (Wall Street Journal)
- Michael Clair: Ohtani’s hometown of Oshu City hosts watch party at packed City Hall (MLB.com)
- Michael Baumann: On Mistakes that Probably Won’t Come Back to Bite You (FanGraphs)
- Russell A. Carleton: And Then There Were Eleven (Baseball Prospectus)
- Eno Sarris: Bullpen games in the MLB playoffs may not be fun, but they work — for some teams (The Athletic)
- Ben Clemens: Pitch by Pitch With Two Hitting Geniuses (FanGraphs)
- Do-Hyoung Park: 56 changeups in a row? Here’s how wild Tommy Kahnle’s run truly is (MLB.com)
- Stephanie Apstein: Anthony Volpe Lives Out a Childhood Dream (Sports Illustrated)
- Steven Goldman: Will a Steinbrenner Apologize Again? (Baseball Prospectus)
- Daniel Brown: New baseball doc spotlights women across globe: ‘Ready to give them holy heck’ (The Athletic)
- Howard Megdal: With WPBL, pro women’s baseball suddenly appears within reach (The IX)
- Alex Speier: How Craig Breslow is restructuring the Red Sox’ front office (Boston Globe)
- Rob Mains: The Marlins Set a Bonkers Record (Baseball Prospectus)
- Adrian Florido: Japanese American baseball teams play on a WWII internment camp’s restored diamond (NPR)
- Anthony Castrovince: 100 years ago: Negro Leagues hold their first World Series (MLB.com)
- Kevin Warneke/John Shorey: Nebraska saw a rush of Negro League baseball games 75 years ago, thanks to Jackie Robinson (Flatwater Free Press)
- Mark Simon: Celebrating The 2024 Fielding Bible Awards Runners-Up (Sports Info Solutions)
- Roberto José Andrade Franco: No one wanted them to win: Texas’ first high school baseball champions (ESPN.com)
- Max Almenas: Yogi Berra: Baseball legend, family man, and pillar of faith (Jersey Catholic)
- Jeff Cohen/Len Aberman: Baseball and BBQ interview with Clint Cantwell and Jeff Hysen (Baseball and BBQ)
- Steve Dunn: Interview with former major-league outfielder Byron Browne (Pug, Fireball and Company)
- Russ Speiller: Daniel Jacob Horine Tells Baseball Stories Through the Lens of Nostalgic Comic Book Art (SABR Baseball Cards)
- Jeff Katz: My Grading Experience: PSA 3 (SABR Baseball Cards)
- Jason Schwartz: Between the Moon and New York City (SABR Baseball Landmarks)
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: November 1, 2024. Last Updated: November 1, 2024.