This Week in SABR: November 8, 2024
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, November 8, 2024.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners announced
2 weeks left to submit presentation abstracts for SABR Analytics Conference
Playoff Pitch: Encourage new members to sign up for $1!
2025 SABR Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference to be held in Louisville
The SABR Bookshelf: Fall 2024
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2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners announced
Since 2013, the SABR Defensive Index™ has been 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 2024 Gold Glove winners were announced on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on Sunday, November 3.
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 8.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
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) 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 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.
2 weeks left to submit SABR Analytics presentation abstracts
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.
Save the date! 2025 SABR Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference to be held in Louisville
Save the date! SABR’s 25th annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference will be held on Thursday, August 7 to Saturday, August 9, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky.
All baseball fans are welcome to attend. Registration information will be available at SABR.org/malloy in early 2025.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
Read SABR biographies for 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame candidates
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced the eight-player ballot that will be considered by its Classic Baseball Era Committee for Hall of Fame election for the Class of 2025.
The Classic Baseball Era ballot includes Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Vic Harris, Tommy John, Dave Parker, and Luis Tiant. Click on a link above to read their SABR biographies. The results of the Classic Baseball Era Committee vote will be announced live on MLB Network on Sunday, December 8.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
The SABR Bookshelf: Fall 2024
Periodically throughout the year, SABR.org publishes The SABR Bookshelf, a listing of new books that are received at the SABR office.
- Click here for more detailed information on dozens of new baseball books published in Fall 2024.
To view previous listings in The SABR Bookshelf, click here.
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.
New book, website: Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs
Dazzling Debuts: First At-Bat Home Runs, edited by Giselle Stancic, Bill Nowlin, and Jacob Pomrenke, launched last week with a new book from the SABR Digital Library and a companion website at SABR.org. The ebook is a free download for all SABR members or save 50% off the purchase of the paperback.
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!
Our special Featured Spotlight web project at SABR.org/dazzling-debuts complements the new Digital Library book. 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).
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.
September 5 Board minutes posted
Minutes from the Board of Directors conference call on September 5, 2024 have now been posted on the SABR website.
Click here to view all past minutes of SABR Board meetings.
Find new updates to the SABR Research Collection below, including the Baseball Biography Project, Games Project, and Oral History Collection.
9 new stories published at SABR Biography Project
- Ryan Lavarnway, by Bill Nowlin
- Wickey McAvoy, by Kurt Blumenau
- John McMullin, by Steve Hatcher
- Del Paddock, by Terry Bohn
- Albert Pujols, by Madison McEntire
- Tommy Sheehan, by Chris Betsch
- Harry Swan, by Vincent T. Ciaramella
- Jeff Torborg, by Joseph Wancho
- Gacho Torres, by Tony Oliver
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
6 new stories published at SABR Games Project
- April 19, 1890: Rochester registers its first win in American Association, by Larry DeFillipo
- July 19, 1933: Rick Ferrell homers off brother Wes, who also homers, in Cleveland’s 13-inning win, by Richard Cuicchi
- August 22, 1961: From Twilight Zone to strike zone: Rod Serling visits NY-Penn League game, by Kurt Blumenau
- July 26, 1978: Comedian Bill Murray smacks pinch-hit single in Northwest League game, by Gary Belleville
- October 9, 1992: Tim Wakefield’s complete-game win keeps Pirates alive in NLCS, by John Fredland
- June 18, 2002: Cardinals’ Darryl Kile beats Angels in his final career start, by Harrison Golden
In addition, the following stories from Dodger Stadium: Blue Heaven on Earth (2024) were also posted online this week:
- September 29, 1963: Dodgers’ Tommy Davis secures second consecutive NL batting title, by Alan Stowell
- August 5, 1969: Pirates’ Willie Stargell hits a home run completely out of Dodger Stadium, by Dave Lande
- September 22, 1972: Don Sutton throws 11-inning shutout against the Giants, by Joseph Wancho
- May 24, 1973: New Yorkers listen to baseball with their breakfast in 19-inning win over Dodgers, by Alan Cohen
- October 12, 1974: Joe Ferguson’s fantastic throw only a footnote as Oakland wins World Series opener, by Mark S. Sternman
- October 5, 1980: Dodgers force NL West showdown against Astros, by Mike Bell (first-time author)
- September 25, 2016: Vin Scully bids farewell to Los Angeles fans in final game at Dodger Stadium, by Thomas Baird (first-time author)
- October 1, 2018: Rookie Walker Buehler beats Rockies as Dodgers win NL West title, by Paul Hofmann
- July 19, 2022: Dodgers’ unbeaten Gonsolin unable to stop AL from 9th consecutive All-Star win, by Richard Cuicchi
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:
- Read articles from Fall 2024 Baseball Research Journal online
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Blair | Lexington, KY | Matthew Lassman | Seattle, WA | ||
| Keith Calligan | Levittown, PA | Adam Lea | Caldwell, ID | ||
| Colin Campbell | Weston, MA | Josh Lewis | Chandler, AZ | ||
| Thomas DiSilverio | Colorado Springs, CO | Bryan Melvin III | Grosse Pointe Park, MI | ||
| Bruce Duncan | Niceville, FL | Ruben Quezada | Alameda, CA | ||
| Dan Farkas | Rochester, MI | Rocky Roodhouse | St. Petersburg, FL | ||
| Armando Jimenez | Eau Claire, WI | Waldy Upchurch | Saint Louis, MO | ||
| Henry Jones | Omaha, NE | Mickey Wilson | Denver, CO | ||
| Doug Kenison | St. Paul, MN | Lee Wright | Ruffin, NC |
- Events Calendar: Find details of all upcoming SABR events.
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from authors John Rosengren (The Fight of Their Lives); Melissa Ludtke (Locker Room Talk); Rick Solomon (“Ron Guidry and Billy Martin”); John Burbridge Jr. (“Willie Mays at the Polo Grounds”); and Ed Denta (“A Geek’s Peek at Streaks”). Click here to view video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- 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)
- November 12: Clyde Sukeforth (NH/ME) Chapter meeting with David W. Smith (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 12: Joint AL Central Chapter season recap (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 12: 19th Century Speaker Series with Bill Humber (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 13: Baltimore Babe Ruth Chapter meeting with Rob Fitts (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 13: New SABR Member Experience meeting (8:00 p.m. EST)
- November 14: Casey Stengel NYC Chapter meeting with Eric Gray (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 14: Pee Wee Reese (KY) Chapter meeting with Keith O’Brien (7:00 p.m. EST)
- November 17: Oklahoma Chapter meeting (2:00 p.m. CST)
- November 17: Mathewson-Plank (PA) Chapter meeting with Joe Caracciolo (7:00 p.m. EST)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- 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)
- November 11: Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter meeting (St. Louis, MO)
- November 16: Babe ‘n’ Bob Chapter Breakfast (Edgewater, MD)
- November 16: Dayton Chapter meeting (Dayton, OH)
- November 16: Halsey Hall Chapter Hot Stove Saturday Morning (Minneapolis, MN)
- November 16: Roush-Lopez Tampa Bay Chapter meeting (St. Petersburg, FL)
- November 16: Bob Davids Chapter: National Postal Museum exhibit tour (Washington, DC)
- November 16: Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter game night (St. Louis, MO)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Biographical Research: October 2024 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter: Fall 2024 newsletter (St. Louis, MO)
- Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter: Fall 2024 newsletter (Chicago, IL)
- Lajoie-Start Southern New England Chapter: November 2024 newsletter (Providence, RI)
- Larry Dierker Chapter: Fall 2024 newsletter (Houston, 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:
- Call for papers: 2025 NINE Spring Training Conference
- Clinton Yates: Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts will haunt Boston Red Sox forever (Andscape)
- Sarah Wexler: Dodgers fans celebrate 2024 World Series title at parade (MLB.com)
- Jay Jaffe: 2025 Classic Baseball Ballot Is Long on Familiarity, Short on Imagination (FanGraphs)
- Rustin Dodd: At Baseball-Reference, WAR gets a long-awaited leadoff spot (The Athletic)
- Ryan Divish: Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, Dylan Moore share excitement, pride in Gold Glove awards (Seattle Times)
- Roger Cormier: Thanks For Nothing, Mr. MVP (Baseball Prospectus)
- Evan Drellich: Will MLB’s broadcast uncertainty impact franchise values? An early test case looms (The Athletic)
- Derrick Goold: TV deal done. Sports betting Amendment passed. So what’s it all mean for Cardinals payroll? (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- William C. Rhoden: At World Series, two unruly fans are sign of the times (Andscape)
- Jason Coskrey: BayStars turn tables on Hawks to capture Japan Series title (Japan Times)
- Alex Speier: Knowing he needs to be on the field, Rafael Devers is approaching offseason differently (Boston Globe)
- David Laurila: Diamondbacks Prospect Gino Groover Discusses the Controlled Violence in His Swing (FanGraphs)
- Cody Christie: Final SDI Rankings Point to Improvement Areas for 2025 Twins (Twins Daily)
- Benjamin Hochman: A Cardinals World Series hero gives insight to Rob Cerfolio, new Cards executive (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Eno Sarris: Roki Sasaki and Major League Baseball: How effective would his pitching arsenal be? (The Athletic)
- Richard Goldstein: Joey Jay, First Little Leaguer to Get to the Majors, Dies at 89 (New York Times)
- Timothy Jackson: Which Teams Could be Ready for A SEAGER Jump? (Baseball Prospectus)
- Davy Andrews: Which Catcher Is the Best at Scrunching Himself Into a Tiny Ball? (FanGraphs)
- Mark Simon: Free Agent Defensive Standouts (Sports Info Solutions)
- Russell A. Carleton: The Year In New Baseball Words, 2024 Edition (Baseball Prospectus)
- Allen Tait: Jay Justin Clarke and the Ennis, Texas Ballpark (Journal of Canadian Baseball)
- Tim Arango: Japanese American Baseball Players Return to Manzanar Internment Camp (New York Times)
- Steven Goldman: Baseball Players and Addiction (Baseball Prospectus)
- Laura Baisas: Baseball’s legendary ‘magic mud’ finally analyzed by scientists (Popular Science)
- Bill Williams: The Tale of the ‘Louisville Slugger’ (Playing Pasts)
- Roy Carlson: More Stories Unfold About 1970 Topps Baseball Booklets (Sports Collectors Daily)
- Jason Schwartz: Bob Laughlin’s earliest sets (SABR Baseball Cards)
- Jeff Katz: Stamping Out an Old Set (SABR Baseball Cards)
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 8, 2024. Last Updated: November 11, 2024.