This Week in SABR: November 10, 2023
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, November 10, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
SABR Digital Library: New book on Ebbets Field
2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners announced
2 weeks left to submit presentation abstracts for SABR Analytics Conference
Watch a replay of Ballpark Figures with Meg Rowley
Read articles from new Baseball Research Journal
Call for papers: 2024 The National Pastime
 |
 |
 |
SABR Digital Library: Ebbets Field: Great, Historic, and Memorable Games in Brooklyn’s Lost Ballpark
Add a new baseball book to your collection from the SABR Digital Library! Ebbets Field: Great, Historic, and Memorable Games in Brooklyn’s Lost Ballpark, edited by Gregory H. Wolf, tells the story of one of baseball’s most iconic palaces through feature essays and recaps of nearly 100 historic games played there.
Visit SABR.org/ebooks to download your free e-book edition or save 50% on the purchase of the paperback.
2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners announced
For the eleventh consecutive season, the SABR Defensive Index™ was used to help select the winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award and Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™, presented by SABR. The SABR Defensive Index accounts for approximately 25 percent of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process which are added to the votes from the managers and coaches.
The 2023 Gold Glove winners were announced on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on Sunday, November 5.
Voting concluded Friday 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 winners of the Rawlings Platinum Glove Awards will be announced on Friday, November 10.
Click here to view the 2023 Gold Glove Award winners at SABR.org.
2 weeks left to submit presentation abstracts for SABR Analytics Conference
SABR and Sports Info Solutions are excited to announce the call for presentations for the SABR Analytics Conference, which will be held on March 8-10, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona.
The submission deadline for all 2024 SABR Analytics Conference presentation abstracts is 11:59 p.m. MST on November 22, 2023. Click here to learn more or to submit a presentation abstract.
Visit SABR.org/analytics to learn more:
- Registration: Click here to register for the 2024 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 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). SABR membership will be fulfilled after event sign-up and access to Rapsodo course will be delivered after the conference.
- Research Presentations: Present your baseball research at the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference. Deadline to submit an abstract: November 22, 2023.
- Diamond Dollars Case Competition: Click here to register your team for the 2024 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 2024 SABR Analytics Conference. Deadline: December 31, 2023.
- Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship: Apply now for a Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship. Deadline: December 31, 2023.
Stay tuned for more information on speakers, panelists, and presenters soon! Learn more at SABR.org/analytics.
Watch a replay of Ballpark Figures with Meg Rowley
Join us each month for SABR’s Ballpark Figures, a new interview series hosted by Shakeia Taylor. The virtual Zoom event is free and open to all active SABR members.
On Thursday, November 2, our guest was Meg Rowley, managing editor of FanGraphs and co-host of the Effectively Wild podcast.
Visit SABR.org/ballpark-figures to learn more about upcoming shows or view past episodes.
Read articles online from Fall 2023 Baseball Research Journal
Good news! The Fall 2023 edition of the Baseball Research Journal has been mailed out to all SABR members. This issue includes a special illustrated cover of Ty Cobb by SABR member Gary Cieradkowski.
Those of you who receive the print edition should find your BRJ arriving in the next two to four weeks. For digital subscribers, the e-book edition was delivered on Wednesday, November 1.
- Click here to download the PDF e-book edition of the Fall 2023 Baseball Research Journal.
- Click here to order a copy of the print edition of the Fall 2023 Baseball Research Journal from Amazon.com.
- Click here to read articles online from the Fall 2023 Baseball Research Journal in the SABR Research Collection.
We hope you enjoy reading the Fall 2023 Baseball Research Journal!
Find complete collection of SABR-Rucker Archive baseball images online
The complete collection of rare baseball images from the SABR-Rucker Archive is now available online at SABR.org. The Rucker Archive is one of the most extensive collections of baseball imagery in North America, covering the roots of baseball in the 19th century up to current major league teams and players.
Recently uploaded images — which were donated by longtime SABR member and photo archivist Mark Rucker — include rare photos of early baseball in Cuba and Japan; vintage 19th century trading cards; Baseball Magazine cover images; along with photos from World Series and All-Star Games, the Negro Leagues, and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
The first 40,000 Rucker Archive images were uploaded to SABR.org earlier this year. This latest import marks the final batch of original images from the collection.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Call for papers: 2024 The National Pastime
The next SABR convention will be held on August 7-11, 2024, in Minneapolis, and we are seeking articles for our annual convention journal, The National Pastime, on teams, figures, and events around Minnesota and the Twin Cities.
Prospective writers/contributors may now pitch ideas for articles to co-editors Michael Haupert and Cecilia M. Tan. To submit an article idea or abstract, click here to fill out this form by November 30, 2023. Only submissions sent using the online portal will be considered. Authors will be notified of assignments no later than December 15, with first drafts due by April 15, 2024.
A story pitch should include a paragraph about the topic, why it’s important or relevant to the region, what drew your interest, and what resources or sources you’ll pursue to research the topic. (Topics should not duplicate the 2012 journal, The National Pastime: Short But Wondrous Summers, from the most recent Minneapolis convention.)
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Help us Bring it Home in 2023 and build a stronger future for SABR!
Much like circling the baseball diamond, SABR rounds the bases every year through guiding principles of research, participation, and community. At first base is the fundamental component of our mission: research. At second base is participation, through which we produce wonderful baseball research and programming that reaches people everywhere. We round third at community, as we strive towards our vision of becoming the essential community for the world of baseball. Gifts from members like you will now help SABR BRING IT HOME, making 2023 a historic success while building for a bright future.
You can support SABR’s end of year Bring it Home Campaign by making a gift of $150 or more by December 31, 2023. 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 vital as SABR expands research, creates more pathways to participation, and builds a stronger baseball community.
Visit SABR.org/donate/2023 to learn more.
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.
Call for papers: 2024 SABR Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference
SABR’s Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference welcomes proposals for oral and poster presentations from all research fields for the upcoming conference on June 6-9, 2024, at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Previous presenters have included college faculty, public school teachers, graduate students, and independent scholars. Presentations may focus on any topic related to the theme, or other Black baseball topics. Proposals should include a 250-word abstract, plus a brief biographical note with contact information. Deadline to apply: February 1, 2024.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Writing opportunity: 2001 Seattle Mariners book project
The editors of an upcoming SABR book on the 2001 Seattle Mariners are seeking authors to write BioProject biographies on the following players: Al Martin, Mark McLemore, Jose Paniagua, Anthony Sanders, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Bryan Price, and Matt Sinatro.
New projects on Henry Aaron, the 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes, 2005 Chicago White Sox, and First At Bat Home Runs were also recently approved, and are seeking authors, editors, and other contributors. Any SABR member who is interested in contributing to these projects should contact Bill Nowlin.
Click here to learn more about SABR writing opportunities.
Call for volunteers: Weiss Baseball Player Questionnaires
SABR seeks volunteers to help transcribe the Bill Weiss Baseball Player Questionnaires, a collection of self-completed surveys of professional baseball players from 1945-2005, which will soon be made available at SABR.org.
No experience is needed, just a love for baseball, data, and history. We are looking for any volunteers who can spare a few hours a week (or more!) with help reading these questionnaires and writing down the player’s ambitions, background, and signing scout. Please contact Jason Sigler if you would like to be a part of our team.
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 #239 on Monday, November 6 featured Scott Bush, Chief Executive Officer of SABR. 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.
7 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- July 10, 1880: Cleveland’s Jim McCormick, Fred Dunlap end Chicago’s 21-game winning streak, by Larry DeFillipo
- June 18, 1927: Sucker-punch knockout overshadows Pirates’ win over Braves, by Tom Mank
- October 1, 1947: Yankees clobber Dodgers 10-3 in Game 2, by Thomas J. Brown Jr.
- May 30-31, 1949: Greenville pitcher Tommy Lasorda loses control, then finds it, in Sally League games, by Stephen V. Rice
- August 9, 1951: Corning A’s win big for special guest Connie Mack, by Kurt Blumenau
- August 13, 1988: Red Sox win record-setting 24th consecutive home game, by Bill Nowlin
- May 5, 2009: Washington Nationals notch walk-off win over Astros — at Houston’s ballpark, by Laura H. Peebles
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
Nichibei Yakyu: US Tours of Japan, 1907-1958
Edited by Robert K. Fitts, Bill Nowlin, James Forr
Check out new essays on early US baseball tours of Japan in the SABR Research Collection and stay tuned for Volume 2 of this series, on post-1958 tours, coming soon! 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
- Read SABR biographies of 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot candidates
- Watch video highlights from 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
- Maybelle Blair honored with Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award
- Historical Black Newspapers Collection added to SABR Research Resources
- SABR forms new Special Negro Leagues and Teams Committee
- Save the date! 2024 SABR Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference to be held in Cooperstown
- Highlights from the 2023 Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference
- SABR Landmarks Committee unveils new Baseball Grave Map
- Read articles from new 2023 The National Pastime online
- Watch video highlights from 2023 SABR Analytics Conference
- Learn more about the recipients of 2023 SABR Local Grants
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Anderson | Forest Hills, NY | Hiroshi Kanda | Koganei, JPN | ||
| Charles Barnum | Fredericksburg, VA | Emmett Kane | Durango, CO | ||
| Carlos Bauer | San Diego, CA | Frank Kottwitz | Wills Point, TX | ||
| Bob Busser | Fairfield, CA | Lauren Lamborne | Durham, NC | ||
| Paul Cano | Grimsby, ON | Norman Mawby | Media, PA | ||
| Robert Clayton | Washington, DC | Ronald Meyer | Fremont, NE | ||
| Mike DeMazza | Falls Village, CT | Timothy Murphy | Lockport, NY | ||
| Dan Draper | Brisbane, AUS | Patrick Shannon | Alexandria, VA | ||
| Miguel Fernandez | Saddle Brook, NJ | Don Slavik | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Matthew Garza | Bethlehem, PA | Christopher Warner | Portland, OR | ||
| Changhwa Hong | Auburn, AL |
- Events Calendar: Find complete details of all SABR events
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from John Racanelli about the SABR Baseball Map; and authors Zak Ford (Called Up) and Robert Sampson (Ballasts, Dead Beats, and Muffins). Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- November 11: Talkin’ Baseball: Zak Ford (9:00 a.m. EST)
- November 11: Sweet Lou Johnson Lexington (KY) Chapter meeting with Zak Ford (1:00 p.m. EST)
- November 13: Bob Broeg St. Louis (MO) Chapter meeting with John Miller (6:00 p.m. CST)
- November 13: Northern New England Chapter meeting with Donna Muscarella (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 13: Central Florida Chapter meeting with Zak Ford (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 13: Halsey Hall (MN) Chapter research committee meeting (7:00 p.m. CST)
- November 14: Bud Metheny (VA) Chapter meeting with David Krell (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 14: 19th Century Speaker Series: Justin Mckinney (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 14: New SABR Member Experience Meeting (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 14: Bay Area/Sacramento Chapter joint meeting with Lincoln Mitchell (7:00 p.m. PST)
- November 16: Spring Training Committee meeting (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 18: Quebec Chapter meeting with Danny Gallagher (1:00 p.m. EST)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- November 11: Dayton Chapter meeting (Dayton, OH)
- November 11: Halsey Hall Chapter Hot Stove Saturday Morning (Minneapolis, MN)
- November 11: Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter meeting (Milwaukee, WI)
- November 14: Bob Davids Chapter Analytics Meetup (Washington, DC)
- November 15: Baltimore Babe Ruth Chapter meeting (Baltimore, MD)
- November 15: Rocky Mountain Chapter monthly luncheon (Denver, CO)
- November 16: Boston Chapter meeting (Boston, MA)
- November 16: Magnolia Chapter “Third Thursday” meeting (Sandy Springs, GA)
- November 18: Babe ‘n’ Bob Chapter Breakfast (Edgewater, MD)
- November 18: Halsey Hall Chapter fall meeting (Minneapolis, MN)
- November 18: Pacific Northwest Chapter meeting (Seattle, WA)
- November 18: Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter meeting (Chicago, IL)
- November 19: Elysian Fields Chapter brunch (Mountainside, NJ)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Biographical Research: October 2023 newsletter
- Games and Simulations: Learn more about participating in a new Baseball Sim Auction league during the offseason
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter: November 1 meeting recap (Tallahassee, FL)
- Lajoie-Start Southern New England Chapter: November 2023 newsletter (Providence, RI)
- Ted Williams Chapter: 2023 Padres Veterans Day Salute (San Diego, CA)
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:
- Anthony Castrovince: The ongoing search through history to give Negro Leaguers their due (MLB.com)
- Chad Jennings: How Canadian rock star Geddy Lee of Rush became an unlikely archivist of America’s pastime (The Athletic)
- Patrick Dubuque: Heroes Don’t Always Show Up (Baseball Prospectus)
- Mark Simon: The Rangers Did It With Defense (ACTA Sports)
- Robert Orr: Quantifying the Corey Seager Approach (Baseball Prospectus)
- Robert Arthur: The End Of The Shift Helped Left-Handed Line Drive Hitters The Most (Baseball Prospectus)
- Emma Baccellieri: Guardians Take a Chance on a Cliché in Hiring Stephen Vogt (Sports Illustrated)
- Jim Margalus: Jason Benetti did the hard part (Sox Machine)
- Alex Speier: In this baseball offseason, it’s Shohei Ohtani who has the first move (Boston Globe)
- Evan Drellich: As MLB free agency begins, uncertainty in TV revenue looms for some teams (The Athletic)
- Michael Baumann: Welcome to the Dirt, Bryce Harper. How’s Your Elbow? (FanGraphs)
- Ryan Gilder: Greatest strength of women in baseball lies in their community (MLB.com)
- Derrick Goold: Pitching is just one way Cardinals plan to start winter renovations after 2023 ‘disaster’ (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Jay Jaffe: 2024 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee Candidate: Jim Leyland (FanGraphs)
- Ryan Whirty: The Hall of Fame goes silent (Negro Leagues Up Close)
- David Laurila: Under-The-Radar Yankees Prospect Ben Rice Raked This Year (FanGraphs)
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: November 10, 2023. Last Updated: November 10, 2023.