This Week in SABR: September 22, 2023
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, September 22, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
1 week away from 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
Join us in October for a special SABR Scholar Session
Pre-register now for Ballpark Figures with Meg Rowley
Coming soon: Third course in SABR Analytics Certification program
Submit new project proposals to SABR Editorial Board by November 1
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1 week away from 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
Join us for the fifth annual SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference, which will be held virtually on September 29-October 1, 2023. All baseball fans are welcome to attend!
- Click here to register for the 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
- Schedule: Click here to view the full schedule of panels and presentations
This year’s conference — co-sponsored by SABR and the International Women’s Baseball Center and hosted by Rockford University — is a virtual event with the theme “Through the Lens of Baseball.” The conference will feature research presentations, panels, pylon unveiling, presentation of the Dorothy Award and keynote speaker Melissa Ludtke.
Visit SABR.org/women-in-baseball-conference for complete details. Hope to see you there!
Join us on October 3 for a special SABR Scholar Session
All student and young professional members of SABR are invited to our first SABR Scholar Session, held virtually on Zoom at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
Join host Tyrone Brooks, Senior Director, Front Office and Field Staff Diversity Pipeline Program at Major League Baseball, for a new quarterly virtual series created exclusively for SABR student and young professional members. Our guest will be Katie Krall, Senior Product Manager, Baseball Strategy at Hawk-Eye Innovations and former Boston Red Sox Development Coach.
- To learn more or to pre-register for the SABR Scholar Session on Zoom, please contact Jessica Smyth.
Join us on October 12 for 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, October 12, our guest will be 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.
Coming soon: Third course in SABR Analytics Certification program
We’re excited to announce that in the coming weeks, we will introduce the newest course in the SABR Analytics Certification program, Level Three – Introduction to Baseball Programming.
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 to be notified as soon as Level Three is available, or to learn more about previous courses, visit SABR.org/analytics/certification.
Call for papers: 2024 Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference
All SABR members are invited and encouraged to submit a Research Presentation Proposal Abstract on any topic of 19th-century baseball for the 2024 Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The 15th annual Ivor-Campbell Conference is scheduled for April 19-20, 2024. The deadline for proposal Abstracts is October 31, 2023.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
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, 2023 (for publication in early 2025 or 2026)
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.
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 #232 on Monday, September 18 featured Wayne Krivsky, longtime baseball scout and executive who served as General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds from 2006 to 2008. 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 biographies published at the SABR BioProject
- Jim Boyle, by David E. Boyle
- William Brown, by Vincent T. Ciaramella
- Bill Davidson, by Scott M. Johnson
- Bill Davidson vs. the Barker-Karpis Gang, by Scott M. Johnson
- Ted ‘Double Duty’ Radcliffe, by Thomas Kern
- Carlos Rodríguez, by Tony Oliver
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
16 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- September 21, 1861: Harry Wright plays his first base ball game as a professional, by Larry DeFillipo
- September 25, 1899: Beaneaters’ Bill Ging earns only big-league win against Giants, by William H. Brewster (first-time author)
- July 5, 1912: ‘Magician-like’ Christy Mathewson sours Brooklyn’s grins while earning 300th career win, by Andrew Harner
- September 23, 1942: Larry French nearly perfect, as patriotic Dodgers collect scrap metal, keep pennant hopes alive, by Thomas E. Merrick
- July 6, 1944: All-Star Bob Johnson hits for the cycle in Red Sox rout of Tigers, by Mike Huber
- September 14, 1947: For the 76th time, Connie Mack neither wins nor loses, by Kurt Blumenau
- April 30, 1952: Negro League star Buster Clarkson makes his National League debut for Boston Braves, by Mark Shirk (first-time author)
- April 10, 1958: Rutgers edges St. John’s on Paul Tootleman’s three-hitter at empty Ebbets Field, by Steven C. Weiner
- September 25, 1964: Phillies suffer 5th straight defeat despite late homers by Johnny Callison, Dick Allen, by Steve Ginader
- June 11, 1966: Ernie Banks gets advice from Stan Musial, becomes oldest player to hit three triples in game, by Laura H. Peebles
- April 24, 1967: Dodgers finally knock out Cardinals’ Jaster; Dick Egan gets his only big-league win, by Glen Sparks
- April 25, 1979: Oakland’s Craig Minetto picks up only major league win, by Bob Webster
- September 15, 1983: Terry Francona pulls Expos to within a half-game of first place in NL East, by Gary Belleville
- September 25, 2003: Carlos Delgado hits four home runs in one game, by Thomas J. Brown Jr.
- September 22, 2004: Red Sox win second straight walk-off over Orioles, move closer to clinching wild-card spot, by Bill Nowlin
- September 26, 2011: Michael Morse’s clutch 9th-inning homer seals victory for Atahualpa Severino, by Luis A. Blandón Jr.
In addition, new stories from the SABR Digital Library book, Yankee Stadium 1923-2008: America’s First Modern Ballpark, are now available to read online at the SABR Games Project:
- October 14, 1923: An epic wedding anniversary for Yankees’ battery in Game 5, by Kirk C. Jenkins
- April 12, 1927: Murderers’ Row Yankees kick off new pennant chase amid overflowing crowds, by Tara Krieger
- May 19, 1929: Death at Yankee Stadium: Two fans die after rain stampede, by Craig Garretson (first-time author)
- May 3, 1936: Next in line: Joe DiMaggio makes Yankees debut, by Kevin Larkin
- August 27, 1938: Monte Pearson tosses Yankee Stadium’s first no-hitter, by Tara Krieger
- April 30, 1946: Cleveland’s Bob Feller no-hits the Yankees, 1-0, by Lyle Spatz
- May 28, 1946: Yankees have trouble hitting Dutch Leonard’s knuckleball in first night game at Yankee Stadium, by Aaron Tallent
- October 2, 1949: Yankees come out on top in winner-take-all contest, by Mike Whiteman
- October 10, 1962: Tom Tresh’s heroic homer moves Yankees one game closer, by Bill Johnson
- July 20, 1965: Yankees pitcher Mel Stottlemyre hits inside-the-park grand slam, by Bruce Harris
- June 24, 1970: Bobby Murcer hits 4 home runs in a doubleheader, and much more, by Lew Insler (first-time author)
- May 19, 1998: Benitez beanball begins big brawl between Baltimore Birds, Bronx Bombers, by Jake Bell
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
New addition to The Baseball Index: Pavitt Sabermetric Database
Charlie Pavitt’s database of sabermetric and scientific research has been added recently to The Baseball Index, SABR’s online catalog of baseball literature, a “first base for baseball research.” Pavitt’s database contains more than 3,800 books, articles and websites covering topics from Aerodynamics to wOBA, from sources that include academic and scientific journals, statistical analysis and fantasy baseball articles, and websites aimed at the analytically minded.
Pavitt will continue his work through TBI, which now boasts over 270,000 entries to help any baseball researcher get started. Visit baseballindex.org to learn more or to begin your search.
The Stars Shone on Philadelphia: The 1934 Negro National League Champions
Edited by Frederick C. Bush and Bill Nowlin
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
- 40,000 rare images now available in SABR-Rucker Archive
- 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
- Announcing finalists for 2023 Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award
- SABR Defensive Index rankings released through August 13
- 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Ben | Toronto, ON | Steve Morano | Finksburg, MD | ||
| Michael Calabro | Boston, MA | Mike O’Hare | McKinney, TX | ||
| Gary English | Baton Rouge, LA | Ethan Peterson | Lincoln, NE | ||
| Zac Epperson | Blacksburg, VA | Nicholas Renteria | Fairfax, VA | ||
| John-William Greenbaum | Bloomington, IN | Adam Roth | San Diego, CA | ||
| Claire Hegarty | Halifax, ENG | Matt Ryan | Pittsburgh, PA | ||
| Marcus Jacobs | Miles, IA | Siddharth Srinivasan | Liberty Township, OH | ||
| Mike Millsap | Delavan, WI |
- Events Calendar: Find complete details of all SABR events
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from baseball video game designer Don Daglow, the Louisville-Milwaukee joint chapter meeting (Eddie Mathews and the National Pastime) and the 19th Century Book Club (A Sporting Time). Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- September 23: Baseball Cards Committee: Jefferson Burdick Award ceremony (3:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 24: Baltimore Babe Ruth (MD) Chapter meeting with Dan Taylor (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 24: South Florida Chapter meeting (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 25: Northern New England Chapter meeting with Loren Foxx (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 25: Larry Dierker (TX) Chapter meeting with Brett Chaucey and Eric Huysman (7:00 p.m. CDT)
- September 25: Pacific Northwest Chapter meeting (6:00 p.m. PDT)
- September 28: Baseball Landmarks meeting with Fred Worth (8:00 p.m. EDT)
- September 29-October 1: 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
- October 1: Southern Michigan Chapter meeting (7:30 p.m. EDT)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- September 23: Williamsport Chapter meeting (Williamsport, PA)
- September 23: Central Florida Chapter ballgame/meet-up (St. Petersburg, FL)
- September 23: Detroit Historical Society: Black Baseball Book Talk (Detroit, MI)
- September 30: Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter Research Conference (St. Louis, MO)
- September 30: Rabbit Maranville Chapter Meeting (Springfield, MA)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Biographical Research: August 2023 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Bob Davids Chapter: September 2023 newsletter (Washington, DC)
- Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter: September 2023 newsletter (Milwaukee, WI)
- Rickwood Field Chapter: September 2023 newsletter (Birmingham, AL)
- Rogers Hornsby Chapter: September 2023 newsletter (Austin, 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:
- Mike Lynch: Historical Franchise Nicknames Altered on Baseball Reference (Sports-Reference.com)
- Rob Mains: The Advanced Stats Don’t Always Agree. And That’s Just Fine. (Baseball Prospectus)
- Shakeia Taylor: Comedian Roy Wood Jr. on being a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan (Chicago Tribune)
- Bill Pearch: Hack Wilson Finally Gets The Historical Marker He Deserves (IBWAA.com)
- Lindsey Adler/Jared Diamond: The ‘Mini-Bombs’ Blowing Up the Elbows of Baseball’s Top Pitchers (Wall Street Journal)
- Emma Baccellieri: Yankees Workhorse Gerrit Cole Is the Last of a Dying Breed (Sports Illustrated)
- Derrick Goold: Cardinals great Adam Wainwright wills his way to 200th win. ‘For tonight, I was me.’ (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Anthony Castrovince: The ragtag team that saved Darryl Strawberry’s career (MLB.com)
- Alex Speier: Trevor Story sees better things ahead with Red Sox after he can ‘flip the page’ on the last two years (Boston Globe)
- Jay Jaffe: For These Teams, Letting the Kids Play Has Paid Off (FanGraphs)
- Daniel R. Epstein: The A’s Are the Best Team in MLB (at Catching Basestealers) (Baseball Prospectus)
- Davy Andrews: Collisions and Kindness at Home Plate (FanGraphs)
- Matt Monagan: The crowdsourced uniform that became an instant classic (MLB.com)
- Stephanie Apstein: Yusei Kikuchi’s Guide to a (Very) Good Night’s Sleep (Sports Illustrated)
- Russell A. Carleton: The Value of Buzzing in the Periphery (Baseball Prospectus)
- Michael Baumann: The Jewel Box Under End-Stage Capitalism (FanGraphs)
- Michael Clair: Jordan Lawlar knows he’s in the big leagues now — and not just because he’s on a baseball card (MLB.com)
- Gary Cieradkowski: Len Koenecke: Trains, Planes and Fire Extinguishers (Infinite Baseball Card Set)
- David Laurila: Gavin Williams Lets His Fastball Do the Talking (FanGraphs)
- Amanda Lane: The Tacoma Amocats: The Team Too Good for Walter Johnson? (NW Baseball History)
- Harry Deitz: Former newspaper editor profiles Coal Region baseball star lost to history (WFMZ.com)
- Jeff Cohen: Baseball and BBQ interview with Joe Posnanski (Baseball and BBQ)
- Jason Schwartz: Carl Hubbell mini-mystery (SABR Baseball Cards Blog)
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: September 22, 2023. Last Updated: September 22, 2023.