This Week in SABR: November 3, 2023
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, November 3, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
Read articles from new Baseball Research Journal
Full collection of Rucker Archive images now online
Present your research at the 2024 SABR Analytics Conference
Watch: 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award ceremony on Sunday
Call for papers: 2024 The National Pastime
Apply now for the 2024 Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship
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Fall 2023 Baseball Research Journal is on its way!
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.
Research presentation abstracts now accepted for 2024 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.
Stay tuned for more information on speakers, panelists, and presenters soon! Learn more at SABR.org/analytics.
Watch: 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award ceremony on Sunday night
For the eleventh consecutive season, 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 winners will be unveiled during a one-hour, special-edition ESPN Baseball Tonight broadcast at 7:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 5.
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 5, immediately following the ESPN broadcast. The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners will be unveiled at the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony on Friday, November 10 in New York.
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.
Apply now for the 2024 Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship
Named in honor of baseball researcher, analyst, and SABR member Sarah Langs, SABR is thrilled to introduce the Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship. Awarded annually to two recipients, the 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. Recipients will receive:
- Registration for the SABR Analytics Conference, baseball’s premier analytics symposium, including hotel accommodations and travel stipend
- Registration for all courses in the SABR Analytics Certification program, an online, on-demand curriculum offering professional development and learning opportunities for those interested in elevating their skills and knowledge relating to baseball analytics
- One-year SABR membership, which includes access to quarterly SABR Scholar Session virtual networking events
Click here to download an application form or learn more at SABR.org.
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.
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.
Member Benefit Spotlight: Updating Your Profile
If there have been any changes to your contact information this year, it’s easy to make those updates on your SABR profile. Keeping your profile information up to date ensures that other SABR members are able to contact you through directory searches.
Click here to read this month’s Member Benefit Spotlight, and watch a short video on how to update your membership profile and help make the best use of the SABR membership directory.
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.
September 7 Board minutes posted
Minutes from the Board of Directors conference call on September 7, 2023, have now been posted on the SABR website.
Click here to view all past minutes of SABR Board meetings.
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 #238 on Monday, October 30 featured Chris Lamb, a historian, lecturer, satirist, and columnist, and the author of 12 books, including Stolen Dreams: The Cannon Street Little League All-Stars. 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 bios published at the SABR Biography Project
- Bob Cain, by Chris Betsch
- Gowell Claset, by Kurt Blumenau
- Khalil Greene, by Barrett Snyder (first-time author)
- Billy Hatcher, by Justin Nowell (first-time author)
- Jim McCloskey, by Kurt Blumenau
- Jerry Remy, by H.R. Ryan (first-time author)
- Yam Yaryan, by Stephen V. Rice
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
7 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- May 31, 1858: Winthrop tops Olympic in first match game played under ‘Massachusetts’ rules, by Larry DeFillipo
- July 15, 1945: Bob Elliott hits for the cycle, drives in 6 runs to lead Pirates’ rout over Dodgers, by Mike Huber
- June 15, 1973: Washington, DC viewers watch ‘their Padres’ lose late, by Kurt Blumenau
- November 4, 2001: Luis Gonzalez’s walk-off single lifts Diamondbacks to Game 7 win over Yankees, by Thomas J. Brown Jr.
- September 27, 2004: Bronson Arroyo’s 10th win clinches playoff berth for Red Sox, by Bill Nowlin
- August 12, 2015: Hisashi Iwakuma tosses fifth no-hitter in Seattle Mariners history, by Brian K. Nunnally (first-time author)
- June 29, 2021: Germán Márquez throws a ‘Maddux’ at Coors Field, and hits two doubles, 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Aird | Claremont, NH | Dylan Lynch | Virginia Beach, VA | ||
| Franklin Billingslea | Tallahassee, FL | Lee Mason | Fort Worth, TX | ||
| Anthony Caterina | Staten Island, NY | Connor Mitchell | Ithaca, NY | ||
| Nicholas DeWitt | Oakmont, PA | Arthur Ramos Jr. | Middletown, NY | ||
| Graham Farley | New Orleans, LA | Dan Vogan | Ballwin, MO | ||
| Jonathan Hall | Birmingham, AL | Greg Wells | Wyomissing, PA | ||
| Davis Hebert | Charlotte, NC | Robert Whitmore | Metuchen, NJ | ||
| Dean Holmes | Arlington, TX | Day Yi | Forest Hills, NY | ||
| Henry Koretzky | Harrisburg, PA |
Here is a list of SABR supporters for the month of October 2023:
| NAME | NAME | |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Ãngel | William Macht | |
| Ben Abel | Peter Mancuso | |
| Harry Adamo | Peter Marcus | |
| Tony Adams | Richard Masson | |
| Mark Anderson | Mike McCann | |
| Kirk Arnott | Bruce McClure | |
| Lawrence Baldassaro | Thomas McGrath | |
| Ed Baranoski | Jeff Meder | |
| Ed Barbini | Stephen Milman | |
| John Bauer | Tracy Mohr | |
| Jake Bell | Paulette Morant | |
| Trent Bennett | Mark Morowczynski | |
| Tom Best | Alan Morris | |
| Kurt Blumenau | Tad Myre | |
| David Bohmer | Linda Nichols | |
| Phillip Bolda | Bill Nowlin | |
| Thomas Bradley | Jon Ohman | |
| D. Bruce Brown | Tim Otto | |
| Bob Brown | James Overmyer | |
| Karen Brown | Prisco Panza | |
| Patrick Brown | Virgilio Partida | |
| Ralph Caola | Greg Petty | |
| Ken Carrano | Paul Plaine | |
| Dennis Christensen | Mark Pollak | |
| Dale Christenson | Frank Prusik | |
| Irwin Chusid | John Putnam | |
| Karl Cicitto | John Rall | |
| Phil Coffin | Patrick Ray | |
| Vincent Comparato | Alan Raylesberg | |
| Peter Cottrell | Amar Rehal | |
| Jim Cox | John Rosenfelder | |
| Richard Cramer | Michael Rosenwasser | |
| Keith Crook | Harry Rothgerber | |
| Dennis Degenhardt | Charles Roussel | |
| Lewis Edgers | Larry Rowe | |
| Helen Edwards | Bob Russon | |
| Ron Elliott | William Ryczek | |
| Steven Elsberry | Neal Sarswat | |
| Jonathan Epstein | Matthew Schaedler | |
| Daniel Evans | Jason Scheller | |
| Steven Finkelstein | Steven Schmitt | |
| David Firstman | Douglas Schoppert | |
| Adam Foldes | Jeff Self | |
| Roy Gedat | Tom Shaer | |
| Jeremy Gibbs | Andrew Sharp | |
| Robert Godwin | Mary Shea | |
| Don Gomes | Rob Sheinkopf | |
| Dave Gumbley | Robert Shelton | |
| Jack Gumbrecht | Linda Skory | |
| Robert Hagerman | Richard Smiley | |
| Tom Hall | Janet Marie Smith | |
| Emily Hawks | David Smith | |
| Leslie Heaphy | Hal Smith, Jr | |
| Tim Herlich | Mike Sparks | |
| Aaron Hill | W.B. Steverson | |
| Brenda Himrich | Tom Stone | |
| Rockwell Hoffman | Wesley Story | |
| Karen Holleran | Joseph Thompson | |
| Mark Hoose | Don Thompson | |
| David Hughes | Stew Thornley | |
| Martin Jatlow | Richard B Tourangeau | |
| Donald Jensen | Neal Traven | |
| Dave Jerome | Thomas Van Wazer | |
| Steve Klugman | David Vaught | |
| Bill Lamb | Robert Wakefield | |
| Steven Landau | Thomas Watson | |
| William Larson | Mike Webber | |
| Thomas Lee | Steve West | |
| Joe Leisek | Robert Whelan | |
| Michael Levine | Kat Williams | |
| Henry Levy | Beach Wires | |
| Walter Long | Jeffrey Wood | |
| Joseph Luchok | Alan Zimmer | |
| Melissa Ludtke | Don Zminda | |
| Susan Lundstrom |
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 Lindsay Berra (Yogi Berra: It Ain’t Over); former Houston Astros broadcaster and author Bill Brown; Zak Ford (Called Up), Derby Gisclair (“New Orleans Tobacco Cards”); David Krell (Do You Believe in Magic?), Paul Semendinger (Roy White: From Compton to Bronx), Matt Dahlgren (Rumor in Town). Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- November 4: Ted Williams (CA) Chapter meeting with John Racanelli (10:00 a.m. PDT)
- November 4: Rice-Russell Nashville (TN) Chapter meeting with Jamison Pack (10:00 a.m. CDT)
- November 6: Elysian Fields (NJ) Chapter meeting with Cassidy Lent (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 6: Northern New England (NH) Chapter meeting with Bob Busser (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 6: Central Illinois Chapter meeting with Robert Sampson (7:00 p.m. CST)
- November 7: South Florida Chapter meeting with Mark Simon (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 8: 19th Century Baseball Book Club (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 8: Central Florida Chapter meeting (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 8: Central Illinois Chapter book club (7:00 p.m. CST)
- 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)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- November 4: Maddux Bros.-Las Vegas Chapter meeting (Las Vegas, NV)
- November 4-5: 2023 Canadian Baseball History Conference (Toronto, ON)
- 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)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Minor Leagues: Fall 2023 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter: November 2023 newsletter (Chicago, IL)
- Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter: November 2023 newsletter (Milwaukee, WI)
- Rogers Hornsby Chapter: October 2023 newsletter (Austin, TX)
- Schott-Pelican Chapter: Fall 2023 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:
- Tyler Kepner: The Rangers are finally World Series champions, and it means so much to so many (The Athletic)
- Jay Jaffe: The Big Turnaround, the Big Managerial Comeback and More (FanGraphs)
- Sarah Langs: 13 amazing stats & facts from the Rangers’ first title run (MLB.com)
- Clinton Yates: For Tommy Pham, the World Series is not a game (Andscape)
- Lindsey Adler: Chris Young Won the World Series as a Player—and Now He’s Won It as an Executive (Wall Street Journal)
- Russell A. Carleton: The Tyrannical Spreadsheet? (Baseball Prospectus)
- Emma Baccellieri: Diamondbacks Couldn’t Save Zac Gallen’s World Series Gem (Sports Illustrated)
- Jayson Stark: Celebrating the Rangers’ strange season and Bochy overcoming the odds (The Athletic)
- Derrick Goold: Mike Maddux was golfing in Scotland, retired when Rangers called. Now he’s a first-time champ (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Patrick Dubuque: Leaving It All on the Field (Baseball Prospectus)
- Stephanie Apstein: Corey Seager Can Finally Let Loose (Sports Illustrated)
- Stephen J. Nesbitt: Where did those World Series custom gloves come from? (The Athletic)
- Michael Baumann: These Bullpen Games Are Tearing Me Apart (FanGraphs)
- Rob Mains: Welcome To Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. (Baseball Prospectus)
- Alex Speier: Craig Breslow is a problem solver. His next project? The Red Sox. (Boston Globe)
- Matt Monagan: Tom Lawless’s great World Series bat flip (MLB.com)
- Ryan Fagan: Remembering Deion Sanders’ brilliant 1992 World Series with the Braves that almost didn’t happen (The Sporting News)
- Gary Belleville: The Trailblazing Canadian Trio That Powered the Rockford Peaches Dynasty of 1948-50 (Journal of Canadian Baseball)
- Sharon Hamilton: The Canadian Apprenticeship of Jazz-Age Baseball Superstar Urban Shocker (Journal of Canadian Baseball)
- Patrick Carpentier Taylor Smith: Passage d’un joueur afro- descendant au Québec, 1899-1900 (Journal of Canadian Baseball)
- Gary Cieradkowski: “Happy” Evans: Indispensable Spare Part (Infinite Baseball Card Set)
- Dane Placko: New book reveals Shoeless Joe Jackson’s involvement in Chicago Black Sox Scandal (Fox 32 Chicago)
- Scott Simon: The Baseball Project on their latest musical ode to the sport, ‘Grand Salami Time!’ (NPR.org)
- Randy Maniloff: Pittsburgh’s special role in baseball broadcast history — as a pirate (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- Amanda Lane: Watching the World Series Before Radio and Television (NW Baseball History)
- Andrew Sharp: Hondo: The only expansion Senator fans remember (SABR Baseball Cards)
- Derek Bain: Retro Computer Baseball Game Review: Full Count Baseball (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: November 3, 2023. Last Updated: November 3, 2023.