This Week in SABR: September 29, 2023
Welcome to “This Week in SABR” on Friday, September 29, 2023.
Click here to view this newsletter on the web.
SABR Analytics Certification: Sign up now for new Level 3 course
Abstract submissions now open for 2024 SABR Analytics Conference
SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference begins tonight
Join us on October 3 for a special SABR Scholar Session
Pre-register now for Ballpark Figures with Meg Rowley
Submit new project proposals to SABR Editorial Board by November 1
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SABR Analytics Certification: Sign up now for new Level 3 course
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.
Submit your presentation abstract 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. Registration for the conference will open next week.
The SABR Analytics Conference brings together the leading minds in baseball analytics to discuss and debate topics relevant to the quantitative analysis of the game of baseball, including aspects of innovation and technology. Please send all abstracts to this e-mail address: analytics@sportsinfosolutions.com. Please clearly indicate whether you are submitting for the general track or for the student track of presentations. The submission deadline for all 2024 SABR Analytics Conference presentation abstracts is 11:59 p.m. MST on November 22, 2023.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference begins tonight
Join us for the fifth annual SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference, which will be held virtually on September 29-October 1, 2023. Tonight’s Zoom session begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT. 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 next week for a special SABR Scholar Session with Tyrone Brooks, Katie Krall
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.
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, 2022. 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.
In Memoriam: Brooks Robinson
In Baltimore, it was said, nobody named a candy bar after Brooks Robinson. Instead, people named their children after him.
On the field, the Baltimore Orioles third baseman — who died at the age of 86 on Tuesday — redefined his position with extraordinary defensive prowess, racking up 16 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and nearly singlehandedly defeating Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine in the 1970 World Series. He played all 23 of his big-league seasons in Baltimore, earning American League MVP honors in 1964 and leading the Orioles to four pennants and two championships before he was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.
But his impact may have been even greater off the field, where he became the most beloved player in Orioles franchise history and his legendary kindness and generosity inspired generations of fans in his adopted hometown.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
In Memoriam: Dick Beverage
When Richard E. “Dick” Beverage looked back on his childhood, his favorite baseball moment didn’t involve him hitting a home run or watching a complete-game shutout. It was the thrill and anticipation of attending his first professional game: a contest between the Hollywood Stars and Oakland Oaks at Oaks Park when he was 10 years old. That day marked the beginning of a passion for the Pacific Coast League that would stretch decades and reach people all across the world.
Beverage, who served as President of SABR’s Board of Directors from 2003-09 and was the 2013 recipient of the Bob Davids Award, died at the age of 87 on Sunday, September 24, according to his wife of 65 years, Rae. The family is planning to hold a memorial service at a later date.
Click here to read the full announcement at SABR.org.
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.
Research Preservation Committee seeks input
The SABR Board of Directors has created the Research Preservation Committee to advise the Board and the Executive Director. Goals include: 1) acting as the central authority for all research material held by SABR or by others; 2) helping researchers to locate relevant material and prior work; 3) advising the Board and ED about material that might be acquired or digitized by SABR; and 4) developing a master list of work produced by SABR. The committee is chaired by Mark Armour, and includes Steve Gietschier, Leslie Heaphy, Cassidy Lent, Dan Levitt, Andy McCue, and Tom Shieber.
How can you help?
- Please tell us what baseball websites you have bookmarked for your own research so that we can create the best curated guide to using the baseball internet. Your favorite sites could be dedicated to baseball in Wisconsin, or ballpark photography, or baseball uniforms, or a guide to modern analysis. Let us know.
- Are you aware of baseball collections located at libraries? The Branch Rickey Papers are at the Library of Congress, the Marvin Miller papers are at NYU. We know of dozens more, but please tell us what you know.
- Do you know of collections or archives held by members or groups that SABR might be able to help digitize or preserve?
Preservation has been central to SABR’s mission for 52 years. This committee has been created to ensure this continues. Please contact us at sabrpreserve@sabr.org with questions, ideas, or suggestions.
— Mark Armour
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 #233 on Monday, September 25 featured Justine Siegal, founder of Baseball For All; women’s baseball player, coach, and ambassador; and 2022 Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award winner. 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.
3 new biographies published at the SABR BioProject
- Fred Downer, by Donna L. Halper
- Peter Ueberroth, by Zac Petrillo
- Fay Vincent, by Rory Costello
Visit SABR.org/bioproject to learn more about the SABR BioProject or to get involved.
7 new stories published at the SABR Games Project
- October 10, 1904: Rube Waddell salutes last-place Senators; Philadelphia’s Fred Applegate earns sole major-league win, by Phil Williams
- October 9, 1911: Ben Houser has a one-of-a-kind game, hitting grand slam and sealing triple play, by Larry DeFillipo
- September 28, 1947: Dizzy Dean comes out of Browns’ broadcast booth to prove his point, by Richard Cuicchi
- September 28, 1952: Cleveland finishes with win over Tigers; Larry Doby claims AL home-run crown, by Donna L. Halper
- October 1, 1970: Cubs’ Fergie Jenkins prevails in showdown for second place at Shea, by Jeff Allan Howard
- September 30, 2018: Red Sox beat Yankees for franchise-record 108th win, by Bill Nowlin
- September 2, 2019: Pawtucket, Red Sox part ways with dramatic extra-inning win, by Kurt Blumenau
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:
- July 11, 1939: Yankees dominate, but an Indian saves the day in first Bronx All-Star Game, by Vince Guerrieri
- July 2, 1941: Hot Streaks: Joe DiMaggio, the Yankees, and the weather, by Jeff Allan Howard
- October 5, 1953: Billy Martin’s walk-off single lifts Yankees to fifth consecutive World Series title, by Brian Frank
- May 13, 1955: Mantle slams 3 homers against Tigers, including first career switch-hitting pair, by Richard Cuicchi
- September 26, 1961: Roger Maris clubs 60th home run to tie Babe Ruth, by Paul Semendinger
- September 22, 1966: Smallest attendance ever at Yankee Stadium: 413 fans, by Mitchell Manoff (first-time author)
- April 15, 1976: After two years, the Yankees return to the Bronx, by Rich D’Ambrosio
- October 27, 1999: Clemens, Rivera shut down Braves to sweep World Series, by Alan Cohen
- May 28, 2000: Pedro Martinez, Red Sox defeat Roger Clemens, Yankees in a game for the ages, by Alan Raylesberg
- July 8, 2000: Yankees defeat Mets twice in rare twin bill in separate ballparks, by Thomas J. Brown Jr.
Visit SABR.org/gamesproject to learn more about the SABR Games Project or to get involved.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yasser Aguiar | Miami, FL | Jason McCrary | Las Vegas, NV | ||
| Max Almenas | Fort Lee, NJ | John McDowell | Park Hills, MO | ||
| Lome Aseron | Oakland, CA | Frank Overand | Shelby, OH | ||
| Chriss Buckley | Bronx, NY | Will Paz | North Canton, OH | ||
| Douglas Doughty | Chillicothe, MO | Joshua Rattray | Fishers, IN | ||
| Loren Foxx | Bedford, NH | Gene Rose | Centennial, CO | ||
| Alex Hancock | Madison, WI | Ben Stewart | Boulder, CO | ||
| Jose Herrera | Santo Domingo, DOM | Alexandra Watson | Morgantown, WV | ||
| Rahul Iyer | Decatur, GA | John Wells | Staunton, VA | ||
| Stuart Klugman | St. Charlies, IL | Jack Woodiel | Goshen, IN | ||
| Ryan Kratz | Lockport, IL |
- Events Calendar: Find complete details of all SABR events
- Video Replays: This week, we heard from Fred C. Harris, co-winner of the 2023 SABR Jefferson Burdick Award; Fred Worth, on the new SABR Baseball Graves Map; and Dan Taylor (“Babe Ruth’s Greatest Impact”). Click here to view more video replays of virtual SABR events.
Upcoming Virtual Meetings
- September 29-October 1: 2023 SABR/IWBC Women in Baseball Conference
- October 1: Joint “AL Central” SABR Chapter meeting (7:30 p.m. EDT)
- October 2: Northern New England Chapter meeting with Paul Semendinger and Clayton Trutor (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- October 3: Elysian Fields (NJ) Chapter meeting with Ted Curtis (7:00 p.m. EDT)
- October 3: SABR Scholar Session with Tyrone Brooks and Katie Krall (8:00 p.m. EDT)
- October 5: Bay Area/Sacramento Chapter joint meeting with Steve Gietschier (7:00 p.m. PDT)
- October 7: Talkin’ Baseball: Joe Posnanski (9:00 a.m. EDT)
Upcoming In-Person Meetings
- September 30: Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter Research Conference (St. Louis, MO)
- September 30: Rabbit Maranville Chapter Meeting (Springfield, MA)
- October 4: Buck O’Neil/North Florida Chapter meeting (Tallahassee, FL)
- October 4: Bob Broeg St. Louis Chapter fellowship meeting (St. Louis, MO)
- October 7: Forbes Field Chapter meeting (Pittsburgh, PA)
To add your SABR event to our calendar listings, please contact Jacob Pomrenke.
- Nineteenth Century: Fall 2023 newsletter
Sign up for SABR research committee announcements at SABR.org/research/committees.
- Halsey Hall Chapter: October 2023 newsletter (Minneapolis, MN)
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:
- Mark Simon: Brooks Robinson’s Legacy (ACTA Sports)
- Zack Meisel: Terry Francona, quintessential baseball lifer, is ready for uncharted territory (The Athletic)
- Emma Baccellieri: Orioles Make Official One of MLB’s Most Rapid, Radical Transformations Ever (Sports Illustrated)
- Hannah Keyser: How the Braves were built: Inside the extensions that turned Atlanta into a perennial contender (Yahoo! Sports)
- Tyler Kepner: Mariners’ George Kirby is the best control pitcher in baseball — and he’s tougher than you think (The Athletic)
- Rob Mains: Has the Modern Bullpen Helped or Hurt? (Baseball Prospectus)
- David Adler: Running through second base is MLB’s newest baserunning trend (MLB.com)
- Lindsey Adler: Baseball’s Shift Ban May Help Send the Rangers to the Playoffs (Wall Street Journal)
- Daniel R. Epstein: This Could’ve Been a Historic AL MVP Race (Baseball Prospectus)
- Jay Jaffe: Mookie Betts’ Versatility Has Enriched His MVP Case (FanGraphs)
- Ryan Fagan: Inside the history of Ronald Acuña Jr. 40/70 season (The Sporting News)
- Jayson Stark: Scott Rolen’s return to Philadelphia: It’s time to turn the page. Larry Bowa has. (The Athletic)
- Mike Fitzpatrick: With the future of AM unclear, a look back at the powerful role radio plays in baseball history (Associated Press)
- Michael Baumann: The Dogpile, From Across the Fence (FanGraphs)
- Russell A. Carleton: Call the Plumber, We’re Clogging the Bases (Baseball Prospectus)
- Sarah Langs: 12 amazing Miguel Cabrera stats and facts (MLB.com)
- Alex Speier: A season-ending look at where things stand in the Red Sox farm system (Boston Globe)
- David Laurila: Who Are the Most Underrated Players on the 2023 Tampa Bay Rays? (FanGraphs)
- Derrick Goold: How a bunt single ended a wait of exactly seven years, 621 minor-league games (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Bryan Roth: No Rally Caps Needed: Catching Some Optimism With Eno Sarris (Good Beer Hunting)
- Michael Clair: Andy Brown is the only official team portrait artist in baseball (MLB.com)
- Evan Drellich: Will Supreme Court take on latest challenge to MLB’s antitrust exemption? (The Athletic)
- Matthew Ritchie: White Sox 1990 rebrand instilled a sense of pride in fans (MLB.com)
- Steven Goldman: The Rangers Are Still Searching for a Better History (Baseball Prospectus)
- Eric Longenhagen: Let’s Get Small: Hundreds of Minor Leaguers Have Shrunk (FanGraphs)
- Grant Brisbee: Should the Giants fire Gabe Kapler? A closer look at the 2023 season (The Athletic)
- Gary Cieradkowski: Buck Weaver: After the Black Sox (Infinite Baseball Card Set)
- Gabby Vanacore: Martinez Sturgeon manager mixes yoga with the national pastime (Diablo Magazine)
- Dave Wise: Sports Illustrated’s All-Time, All-Star: A Timeless Classic (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: September 29, 2023. Last Updated: September 29, 2023.