£1.00/$2.00 1 The SABR Examiner The Journal of the Bobby Thomson Chapter of SABR (UK) SPORTS Number 2 June 1993 FINAL SABR INVADES THE NORTH!

British baseball enthusiasts Also, Ian Smyth presented a detailed ensure continuity. Members were were out in force on May 8 for the first- study of the development of baseball asked to submit any views they might ever SABR meeting in Manchester. in Northern England between 1935 have to the Chairman or Editor. Baseball fans from far afield turned and 1939. In addition, Peter Dawson up for the occasion; some of them gave an entertaining and evocative Martin Hoerchner offered his travelled from as far as the West report on the history and activities of services as Editor of the Newsletter, Country in one direction and Scot- the Stretford Saints baseball club. and it was warmly accepted. He was land in the other. Almost everyone Their enthusiasm and skill had gratified by his appointment, and aims had a contribution to the meeting, brought them the English baseball to make the SABR(UK) Newsletter a which made it a meeting of minds as championship in the 60's. It is hoped good mix of informative articles and much as anything. The confab was to have these reminiscences summa- entertaining writing. On the techni- enlivened by the veterans of the rised in the next Newsletter. cal side, the assembly was told that Stretford Saints Baseball Club, win- anyone ordering American baseball ners of the English Baseball Champi- Barry Winetrobe of , the videos on the American standard can onship for three years running. They birthplace of Bobby Thomson, gave get them converted at reasonable rates regaled the audience with accounts of an entertaining account of his meet- (much cheaper than in Britain) in the British Baseball in the 60's and 70's. ing with Bobby. He told of writing him States. Details can be had from the The Chairman reported on the without a proper address, and receiv- Stretford Saints via Hugh Robinson. setting up of a study group on the ing a lengthy handwritten reply. He For the uninitiated, television world- history of baseball in the United King- went on to recount how he met Bob in wide is recorded and broadcast in a dom, with Patrick Carroll as chair- 1992 when he returned to Scotland large number of different standards, man. He quoted various articles and for a golfing holiday after many years all mutually unintelligible. The Brit- reports on the development of the away. He even had photographic ish standard gives the better picture game here, ending with a quote from evidence of the encounter! It's heart- quality - it has 625 lines to the Ameri- former president warming that, despite living most of can 525. The advantage of the Ameri- John K. Tener: "Baseball is the very his life in America, Bobby Thomson can standard was that it was compat- watchword of democracy. England is still regards the land of his birth with ible with black and white television a democratic country but it lacks the affection and pride. when it was introduced in the early finishing touch of baseball." Patrick 50's, and didn't make the earlier TV Carroll spoke of the need for an au- The Chapter voted to send a receivers obsolete. There is an alter- thoritative history of the game in the formal vote of thanks to SABR Treas- native to tape conversion - Martin British Isles and hoped all members urer Norman Macht for his splendid Hoerchner told of his recent acquisi- would try to supply him with as much contribution to the success of the tion of a multi-standard VCR, which information as possible. Since Brit- London meeting in January. In par- enables him to play U.S. videos on ain is, after all, the place where base- ticular, his presentation on Bobby British televisions without conversion. ball (or its precursors) originated, we Thomson, including a taped inter- They are more expensive than regular are in a unique position to further view, was the highlight of the occa- VCR's, but if you can get someone to research into the game's past. The sion. In appreciation of all he did, the pick one up in Hong Kong or Japan meeting approved his appointment Chapter voted to ask Norman if he will (which he did), they can be had for and gave its blessing to the project. agree to become our honorary Presi- about £250. His clarion call for research appears dent. If he accepts, it is planned to The meeting ended with a tax- on page 2. present him with a memento of the ing Trivia Quiz, lovingly and cleverly occasion. devised by Brian Williams. It was a Several presentations were The Deputy Treasurer proposed team quiz in two parts and the ulti- given. Tony Darkin gave an intrigu- that the chapter should consider mate winners were the side compris- ing analysis of pitcher run support, smaller and possibly more frequent ing Patrick Carroll, Martin Hoerchner based on a study of Jack Morris, Jim local meetings in addition to the larger and Dave Halliwell. The chapter's Abbott, Melido Perez and Scott Sand- meetings. The Chapter Secretary, three officers finished runners up, erson in 1992. The most striking fact Patrick Morley, writes about this on beaten out of sight! to emerge was that Morris achieved page 8. The southern contingent has All in all, the meeting was a his success that year not against an ideal meeting place - there is a raving success, and all attendees are second-rate pitchers, who might had station on the Kent Link line named looking forward to the next one, wher- been expected to give up more runs, Bat and Ball. The suggestion was ever and whenever it may be. but against front line starters. Against raised that the officers should remain them he had a startling 13-0 record. in office initially for three years to 2 AN EPISTLE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear SABR (UK) Mem- their journey, certainly not through you're thinking about it. Non-mem- our slim-line treasury but perhaps bers in the future will not receive the bers and Friends: through some sort of endowment. At same benefits as members. To make Our Secretary has been so effi- any rate it is on the agenda. Ideas things easier, you can send the ster- cient and speedy in keeping you up to please! ling equivalent of $50 (figure $1.53 to date with the news that I have hardly As for future conferences, No- the £ currently) to me and I will had cause to write to you. With vember has been mentioned, although arrange the proper transfer to SABR Patrick Morley and the efforts of Hugh perhaps we could get by, this year, in bucks. Robinson, our deputy in Manchester, with selected local gathering, thus We are hoping to raise funds for the SABR ship has been plodding giving us plenty of time to plan for the SABR(UK) treasury, so as to as- along with nary the whisper of storm spring and fall 1994. And certainly a sist with research expenses and pub- warnings. You will find Patrick Carroll SABR meet at the time of the Lords licity to attract other would-be mem- down below stoking the boiler of his- game is an inviting option for next bers hiding in the woods. Members tory (we let him up on Sundays and year. At any rate, I would like to are invited to advertise their baseball holidays), while Brian Williams lan- arrange for a semi-official get together, wares or wants free, through this guishes on the top deck dreaming up in London, where we could meet for a journal - that is if you are willing to another demanding trivia quiz. Glen full session, day and evening, with the share the wealth, i.e. a 10% commis- Sportun and David Halliwell are per- notion that we'll talk baseball, indulge sion up to £10, 15% over. Write or fecting their speedy outfield play, that in some trivia, and watch a game. I phone Martin with details of goods, which held our victorious squad to- was thinking of either a summer meet and your selling price. gether in Manchester (without a right and/or a hot stove session in mid-late fielder, you can imagine the chore). November. Don't forget these sort of To kick-start the great baseball Andy's health is improving and Hugh's gatherings can materialize as long as bazaar: I have some model stadiums shoulder is mending on schedule - you have at least two or three mem- retailing for £20 - to you for £10 + £! that's after break II (that one while bers ready to set the stage. p&p. Also media guides and team making a diving catch in his dreams Members are invited to submit uniforms, logos, badges, all going at - honest). material and ideas - anything at all - rock bottom rates. Stadiums include for the SABR Times, Telegraph, Sun, Ebbetts Field, Tiger Stadium, New On a sadder note I spoke with Mirror, Ratter, Tattler, Star, Post Dis- Comiskey Park, and a few Fenways. the other evening who patch, Examiner, Bugle, Guardian, Money back if you don't like them. phoned me to inform me of a friend of Independent to Martin Hoerchner, Assorted media guides going back to his who was coming to London for a address listed elsewhere. The Exam- 1982, for between £5-£7.00 (depend- visit. We discussed the unfortunate iner will examine, the Mirror will re- ing on the number of pages) + 60p. passing away of the wife of his former flect, the Times will be current, the The badges are the best I've seen. teammate which Monte described as Tattler will tell all; the Star will be Were selling @ £5.95+; to SABR for "A real tragedy". Apparently it wasn't sensational, the Sun will dazzle; the £4.00+30p. The uniform ones are old age that had caught up with the Bugle will blow its own horn... I hope replicas of official team jerseys. You late Mrs. Bob Thomson; Monte de- to include in the next bulletin an can phone me or write and tell me scribed her as "young and beautiful, a article sent to me by Geraint Johnes what team(s) you are interested in. I wonderful person". Our collective categorically stating, with proof, that will telephone you with availability. regrets will be conveyed by Irvin who baseball was invented in England(!!!) Hugh Robinson is still holding pic- had just learned of what happened Roll up your research sleeves. tures of the Bobby Thomson signed and is planning to write Bob. photo. Monte spoke of possibly coming If you have not yet sent in your Watch for David Mankelow's to England with Bob for a SABR(UK) SABR membership but wish to carry regular baseball column in Friday's conference which we would endeav- on receiving the Journal and various Daily Telegraph. And don't forget to our to organize at their convenience. mailouts, please send a cheque for stay in touch with your ideas or opin- Not that easy, but let's think positive. £3.50 made out to SABR(UK), send it ions. And write if you get work. It might be an idea to select a target to Martin and he will keep you on the date coinciding with the visit of the mailing list. We figure the cost of Yours, Mike Ross, Chairman Major Leaguers to Lords (an event production per issue will be about more than a pipe dream and no less 50p, postage 18ph, so the £3.50 will P.S. In case I neglected to men- than a pretty sure thing) in early cover four issues and various second tion it, I have taken over as baseball October, 1994. Of course, we would class mailings. Don't forget to renew editor of Anglo-American Sports. have to find some means to subsidize your membership, or to join up if

OFFICERS AND GENTLEMEN

Chairman: Mike Ross, 2 Maida Avenue, Suite B, Little Venice, London W2 1TF (Tel: 071 723 9848; Fax: 071 266 3166) Secretary: Patrick Morley, Spring Cottage, The Batch, Hill Road, Sandford, Bristol BS19 5RH (Tel: 0934 822781) Treasurer: Andy Parkes, 84 Hillingdon Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8PJ (Tel and Fax: 061 865 2952) Deputy Treasurer: Hugh Robinson, 567 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8JQ (Tel: 061 864 1250) Chairman of British Baseball Historical Committee: Patrick Carroll, 10 Court Barton, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7HP (Tel: 0460 74183) Newsletter Editor: Martin Hoerchner, 48 Mildmay Road, London N1 4NG (Tel: 071 254 3492) 3 "R" IS FOR RESEARCH by Patrick Carroll ing been given by Albert Goodwill him- So, if we can organize a mecha- self. The same man who brought Ameri- nism whereby individuals take up what- can teams of touring professionals to ever they run across that arouses their When Mike Ross in- this country as early as 1874. And interest and allows them to say: "I'll what of the other - the earliest - aspect follow this." Follow it through oral formed me - and I say 'in- of this, which is that these visitors were history from people they know and can formed'; there was no re-importing a game that came from speak to; through local record offices, these shores to begin with. Whether through newspapers, through... You question of choice here - you want to call it 'one old cat' or 'town find this kind of information in the ball' or 'stool ball' or 'base ball' in two goddamnedest places. And if you can that I had been appointed words, or whatever, it has a history in connect things, one name with... Here's (again, 'appointed' is the this country that goes back into the an example. A piece was once written mists. There is the theory that cricket about a team of Americans that toured operative word) to the and baseball both derive from 'stool this country in 1938: it was essentially chair of the British Base- ball'. You threw the ball at a stool; that the American Olympic baseball team. was the target; a three-legged stool. Is ball History Committee of anyone an expert on this? And who's LES MANN ... MIRACLE interested enough to go and dig it out? this organization I was at As an end product it's been mooted BRAVES some pains to point out to by various people that what we would like to have eventually it an authorita- Baseball was not an Olympic him what I didn't know tive history of baseball in Britain and medal sport at that time but Les Mann, about the history of Brit- Ireland. In Ireland still they play what who also ran an energetic campaign to is called 'base rounders', which is an have it made an Olympic sport, brought ish Baseball is about on a par obvious derivative. Tough game too. his players here. They played various with what I don't know about the Fast pitch, underarm with a run up British teams and lost...two out of three Peloponnesian Wars, which is practi- from thirty feet. Ain't easy. I've seen or three out of four. But the Brits beat cally nothing. The only things that I them play it. It's a tough game and them. In fact, most of the 'British' play- have picked up, except from word of practically like fast-pitch softball. And ers were foreign-born, mostly Canadi- mouth, came through ephemera and they consider it a Gaelic game, under ans. Les Mann, who managed the short accounts, some of which are fas- the same heading as hurling and Gaelic losing Americans, had during his own cinating. And, if you have a lot of them, football, administered by the same or- Major League career played for the and the detective instincts and the ganization. That, like the variation 1914 'Miracle Braves', the team that historical methodology to being piecing peculiar to parts of Wales, is an area of was in last place in mid-July and wound them all together, it's an intriguing study. To have such an end-product, up winning the World Series in four story which I think has been called 'an and even to be able to produce bits out straight. Mann drove in the winning underground, secret story' that is of it as a 'work-in-progress' would have run in one of the Series games and then largely unknown to people who haven't a double-edge advantage for us in that, jumped to the Federal League the fol- participated in it. Whether the sup- for one thing, we're finding out about lowing year. We'd love to know the pression of this story is a conspiracy or the games, which is what... Well, 'Base- inside story of that. Where did that a cock up, or comes under the heading ball Research': that's the name of the individual - who had his place in Brit- of the 'cocked up conspiracy' theory organization. And the other aspect is ish baseball history - come from, and (which is my own view), is something to as a vehicle for our own publicity, and what became of him afterwards? There be found out through research. the publicity of the game itself. The are many other individuals of that kind average person in this country doesn't who can be cited and studied and re- CAME AS A BLANK... think of baseball as a game that really corded, and made pieces - however small exists in this country, let alone has a and seemingly unconnected, of the mosaic of British baseball history and, The only thing I can say in my history in this country that pre-dates therefore, the history of baseball in its own defence for even considering tak- the history of the game in the New existing and continuing entirety. ing this position is that I at least come World. And for anyone of a sporting to it a blank. I don't have any precon- turn of mind, for genuine sporting ceptions about it. I don't know any- ecumenists - that, I think, if anything, thing about the politics that my have ties us all together. It isn't that we are gone on in 1938 or 1928 or 1893 or fanatics about one game alone, but GET WELL, ANDY whenever. It's no nevermind to me one rather about the principle of games, way or the other, except as a matter of the principle of sport. It is simply that The big disappointment at the sporting historical interest. There are this is the game that we happen to like Manchester meeting was that Andy individuals who are important in the best of all, or nearly best of all. If you Parkes wasn't well enough to attend. history of the British game - some of are speaking to anyone who loves sports He had done the lion's share of all the you may know them. There are Ameri- on that basis, it is not an imperialistic work in arranging the gathering and can figures, especially Albert Spalding. thing: you are not trying to displace one the meeting paid tribute to his efforts. What, for instance, has become of the game with another game. To say that A warm vote of thanks to Andy was Spalding Cup? Which was, I'm told, you don't like cricket and that you do passed unanimously with the mem- the first British amateur champion- like baseball is to say that you don't like ber's good wishes. Get well soon, ship trophy, played for at least through maple trees but you do like oak trees. Andy. the First World War, and so-called hav- What you want is a healthy forest. 4 THE MANCHESTER MEETING : A PERSONAL VIEW wards the middle of the room difficult. nearest pub. Back to the youth scene. I think I was the only The meeting ended with a trivia con- The pub was full of fresh-faced young one at the recent SABR meet- test expertly prepared by Brian people on the pull. I'm honestly not ing that had never been to Williams. Our team was taking a that old (hint: Bobby Thomsom hit commanding lead when it sounded the Shot Heard Round the World the Manchester. I didn't know like the voice of God echoed through- year before I was born), but I felt it much about Manchester - out the room. Perhaps this was the that night. My cohorts and I spent the all I really knew about it visitation I was looking for; but no, it rest of the evening discussing the was just a sound check from a P.A. 1947 Dodgers to thumping rock mu- before I moved to Britain system somewhere in the complex. I sic (thank God it was more Abba than seven years ago is that there think some evening festivities were Ice T); but it was near closing time and was a song about it in "HAIR", about to begin. The noise, combined they threw us out before any real with a compelling thirst, drove us damage could be done to our ears. in which some guy from from the conference room to the pub, Back to the hotel and the stillness of Queens wishes he was from where the trivia contest was won by a the spirit world. A lesson in con- Manchester England Eng- team consisting of Patrick Carroll, trasts. We parted, weary, and I went David Halliwell, and myself, beating to my room and watched a bit of land, which he supposes infinitely out the Chapter officers in a decisive "Catch 22" with the sound off while I more interesting than New York City. victory. They got questions like "Who tried to tune in AFN. When I finally This attitude reflects a common Ameri- said 'Nice guys finish last?'" while we found them, they were broadcasting can misapprehension, prevalent in got questions like "What connects basketball, a frenetic sport. All in all, the 60's, in which the entire country 'Far from the madding crowd', Hoss it was an incredible afternoon and was viewed as a collection of towns Radbourne, and the 1945 St. Louis evening. But nothing in all that could and villages straight out of a Hovis Browns? (Answers on a postcard, have prepared us for the bizarre qual- advertisement. This seems to me a please). I'm not mentioning 1919, but ity of the next day's game. reaction to the souless miles of long draw your own conclusions. Towards - Martin Hoerchner straight roads dotted with lighted signs the end of the contest music from advertising fast food joints which seem outside started getting louder and the to populate America, at least Califor- pub started filling out with a number nia. So I finally made it to Manches- of barely dressed teenage women with ter. I can't say a lot about the city, figures that would arouse pity in a WHO ARE WE? having only seen it from the charming sub-Saharan famine relief camp. tram that runs from the main BR Surely these couldn't be late-arriving Controversy has been stirred station to Stretford, but it did seem baseball fans? yet again by the name of this Newslet- cleaner and more modern than Lon- ter. In the search for an appealing don (or Queens, for that matter). But title, many names have been kicked charming and romantic?..Well, we THE EVENING FESTIVITIES around, but all have withered under weren't always right in the sixties. WERE STARTING... the distaste of at least one of the Chapter's officers. I think it's about GHOST OF STRETFORD PAST When we left the pub, these time the issue be thrown open. We'd women were everywhere, including like a title that's not too bland - some- So then I get to the conference the men's room. Towards the main thing with a catchy title that not one hotel, the Greatstone. This place is entrance there was a monstrous dark SABR member will come to despise. not luxurious, but has incredible at- room with a loud band, laser lights, Mike Ross and I discussed the idea of mosphere. There was a suit of ar- and thousands of young people flail- using a rotating series of titles, all mour in the living room, and medieval ing themselves about to some imag- taken from the names of famous U.S. artefacts hung on the walls like so ined beat. They were even getting papers (with famous baseball writ- many Old Masters. My first thought ecstatic in the lobby. I felt like sug- ers), e.g. the Examiner is the name of was that I hoped it was haunted. gesting that we take a vote whether a San Francisco paper; the Times is Alas, the ghost of Stretford past did we should stay or not; I was wearing found both in New York and Los An- not make an appearance that night. a 1923 New York Giants jersey, and geles, the Tribune is in Chicago. Ideas Then the taxi takes us to the Bowlers, with my American accent I'm sure I such as "The SABR Rattler" were met smack dab in the middle of a huge could have convinced someone that I with disapproval "unless we can have industrial park. This place is the size was in "Field of Dreams". ("Is this a rattlesnake logo in the paper". A of the space shuttle hangar; when the heaven?", he asked. "No, it's Stretford", title taken as a direct quote from cab pulled up I had in mind a huge the answer came back.) But my en- Shakespeare, "This SABR'd Isle", was meeting of thousands of baseball en- thusiasm was dimmed by the sight of rejected out of hand as "atrocious". thusiasts from all over Europe. Upon an army of bouncers that looked like I'd like to say that the winner of the entering, however, I found that it was they could have beaten Mike Tyson to competition will win an all-expenses split up into a large number of differ- a pulp; I quickly dropped the notion of paid trip to see the next World Series. ent sports facilities, and of course staying and we made it back to the That would be a lie. We don't have the what seems to be everyone's favourite hotel. funds to send someone to San Fran- sports facility, a pub. cisco this year. But the person who The hotel, by contrast, was quiet comes up with a universally agree- So the SABR meeting was in one as a the in 1958. It only able name to the Newsletter will have of the conference rooms, which was had a small bar that served warm our eternal gratitude, everlasting good- large enough to make hearing to- beer, so we took directions to the will. -Martin Hoerchner 5 COMPUTERS ARE FUN - HONEST! 1951 BOOK Baseball is by far the most sta- is interested in finding out how to set tistical of sports; it is the easiest to up set a spreadsheet to keep track of OFFER... quantify performance, whether it be baseball statistics, I will gladly offer to batting, pitching, defence, base run- help them. It's not hard. An offer with McFarland, ning, you name it. This wealth of One more thing: for those of you statistics has not only kept Bill James graphic instead of statistic computer the American book pub- and Macmillans in clover for years, users out there - I have designed lisher, has recently been ne- but can also be fun and extremely three baseball icons that you can use gotiated through SABR(UK). interesting for anyone with a minimal with Microsoft Windows to activate interest and knowledge of computer any computer baseball games you Normally McFarland's books software. I used to think computers might have, or anything else for that are difficult to impossible to were only for nerds, but no!. Comput- matter. I have also converted these to get in the U.K., and with ers are fun! wallpapers, which means that no I'm not an extremely numerate matter what you doing in Windows corresponding prices. But person who devours obscure personal you can always have a reminder of they are offering a special statistics for some obscure end. But The Game behind you. Contact the price to SABR(UK) members I am interested in finding out, say, Editor for details. who was the most successful team for Harvey Rosenfeld's during the Dead Ball Era (1901-1920), - Martin Hoerchner- or which team had the best decade of "The Great performance. To this end, I have manually entered the year-by-year results of the teams in the Major STANDINGS 1876-1992 Chase", an ac- Leagues from 1871-1992 on a spreadsheet. A spreadsheet is simply This is a summary of the count of the an arithmetical tool that lets you add, standings of all Major League teams total, multiply, divide, etc. any combi- throughout the entirety of their exist- nation of numbers or range of data ence, compressed as if in a single 1951 National that you care to handle. With a 162-game season. Teams are fol- simple knowledge of how it works, lowed throughout their geographical you can calculate the won-loss per- moves, e.g. the Atlanta Braves started League pen- centages throughout a team's his- as the Boston Red Caps in 1876. The tory, or discover the team standings include their stint nant race. over any period of time, from a year to as the St. Louis Browns. Here is the a century. I have entered these sta- story so far: tistics from the Baseball Encyclope- dia on Supercal, however, it might be NATIONAL LEAGUE In the forward, Ernie exportable into spreadsheets such as Harwell says "Harvey Lotus 1-2-3 or Excel. To show you W L PCT GB what you can do with spreadsheets, GIANTS 87 75 .540 - brings us a true insight at the end of this article there is a DODGERS 85 77 .523 2 with deep research and summation of the records of all Major CUBS 84 78 .518 3 League teams throughout there exist- PIRATES 84 78 .518 3 interesting quotes from ence. Try counting this up by hand! REDS 82 80 .506 5 Of course, baseball doesn't only CARDINALS 82 80 .505 5 many of the principles exist in history. There are games BRAVES 79 83 .486 8 of that season. He has being played daily from April to Octo- EXPOS 79 83 .485 8 ber. You can also use spreadsheets ASTROS 78 84 .482 9 done the job accurately to keep daily current track of METS 76 86 .467 11 and thoroughly". The standings. Channel 3 teletext, page PHILLIES 75 87 .465 12 162, gives reasonably accurate scores PADRES 73 89 .450 14 book normally retails for of games from the preceding day - and £25.95, but SABR(UK) it's an easy number to remember. I've found that it's not always perfect; members can have it for sometimes it omits a late game, and YANKEES 91 71 .562 - £19.95 - a great price for forget Bank Holidays, but it's usually TIGERS 84 78 .518 7 up to date; maybe an occasional ref- ROYALS 84 78 .517 7 such an excellent book! erence to USA Today will confirm up- RED SOX 83 79 .510 8 dates. You can combine the daily INDIANS 82 80 .506 9 Contact the SABR(UK) reference to Teletext with spreadsheet WHITE SOX 81 81 .503 10 Examiner for details, c/ software to keep accurate day-by-day BLUE JAYS 80 82 .496 11 standings. In contrast, USA Today is ANGELS 79 83 .485 12 o the Editor, Martin a day behind and is useless on the ATHLETICS 78 84 .480 13 Hoerchner, at 48 weekends. I am also aware of two TWINS 78 84 .480 13 Major League Baseball scores hotlines BREWERS 77 85 .478 14 Mildmay Road,. London that are good, but they too aren't ORIOLES 77 85 .476 14 N1 4NG, phone 071 254- complete on the weekends. If anyone RANGERS 74 88 .454 17 MARINERS 69 93 .427 22 3492. 6 SABR ALL-STARS EDGE WE'LL MEET AGAIN We've now had two full-scale meetings of SABR UK. That's enough STRETFORD SAINTS, 12-11 to show that it's well worthwhile going by Martin Hoerchner, Sports Correspondent man was as good as an inside-the- on. The support is there and so is the park ." With two out, the interest and enthusiasm. So what The SABR All-Stars edged the Saints scored run after run. "Each form should future meetings take? Stretford Saints 12-11 on Sunday, one was right over my head", said We could stick to the same format as but it was never as close as that. In Hoerchner. "If I was a few inches now. but the answers to the Mem- one of the biggest upsets since the taller maybe I could have caught bers' Questionnaire and ideas raised 1914 World Series, a ragtag group of them." The game finally (and merci- at the Manchester meeting suggest baseball enthusiasts, historians, and fully) ended with a slow grounder to we could do better. trivia experts beat out the British Hoerchner, who tossed it to Ross cov- Baseball Champions of three con- ering at second for a force play, The First of all, at Manchester a lot secutive years in the 1960's. SABR batting champion, David of people travelled from far and wide Halliwell, said "It was close...too for a meeting that effectively ended in Beat the British Baseball close...but we pulled it out in the end. the early evening. Why travel all that Champions We had a good game against the way and then pack up so soon? A Saints, and that's all that matters." good many of those present either lived locally or weren't going home The real hero of the game was SABR's 4 1 1 1 3 0 2 12 until the next day. Shouldn't we SABR's Hugh Robinson, who pitched capitalise on that fact? Part of the three shutout innings before having SAINTS 0 0 0 1 3 1 6 11 trouble was we had no fixed place to to leave the game with an injury sus- go in the evening. So ought we to tained while running out a ground. T: 1:53 A: 12 think about having ONE meeting place His injury was later diagnosed as a that combines hotel accommodation broken collar bone and he is expected and conference room - and a confer- to be out the rest of the season. ence room that has video, audio and Patrick Carroll,who managed the film facilities? That would certainly SABR team, also had to leave the HAVE A SAY help those giving presentations with game because of an injury. Carroll stats and diagrams. played first base until he injured his The call is going out for sub- Achilles tendon stretching for a wide missions. The editorial staff of If we had one place that was throw while trying to keep his foot on this Newsletter is concerned that ours for the whole afternoon and the bag. These injuries had a devas- the SABR Examiner reflects the evening we needn't then break up and tating effect on the SABR All-Stars: go rushing back to the hotel, or feel the Stretford Saints seem to improve views of the members of the Bobby Thomsom of SABR(UK), and not hurried at the meeting itself. The as the game went on, while the SABR's meal could be a leisurely affair and just the editor's. To that end, we faded. "It was like the battle of Water- the setting for a discussion of all sorts loo out there", said manager Patrick are putting out the call for sub- of topics followed perhaps by a Trivia "Little Napoleon" Carroll. "The in- missions. What are we looking Quiz, board games or computer jured just littered the field". for? Research papers on baseball games. You name it. But if we've gone in Britain or America are ideal. to the trouble of going to a meeting, THE INJURED LITTERED Another idea - you've got an opin- let's MEET and stay met! THE FIELD ion. Most sentient beings do. Who was better, Ty Cobb or Babe Ruth? One suggestion that's been It got so bad that spectators Who's not in the Hall that should made is that we should be in effect a mini SABR convention once a year, were recruited to fill the gaps, includ- be? Great ideas for a paper. Any- ing a man with one hand who pitched extending over the whole weekend. one with something to say will Finding a venue might cost more, but brilliantly and a 10-year-old boy who have a forum to air an idea or ran the bases with a ferocity not seen it's only once a year. Isn't it worth it? create a controversy. Here's an- since Ty Cobb. Because of the inju- ries, the SABRites were forced to play other one: reminiscences. When We could also have smaller, lo- without a right fielder in the later baseball people get together, they cal meetings which wouldn't involve innings. This was not a factor until usually start asking each other, much travelling for those attending. the seventh and final inning. The "What was the most exciting mo- They could be in a pub or even in bottom of the seventh started with the ment you've ever seen at a game?", people's homes. A half a dozen people attending should be no problem. It score 12-5 and the Saints at bat. The "What was your first baseball second baseman, Martin Hoerchner, would also mean that members would memory?", or even "What was it have such long distances to travel - taunted them, saying "All you need is like being at Ebbetts Field?". I'd eight runs!" This was a mistake; they we lose attendance that way. certainly like to know. Any sub- almost got them. The Saints scored These are only suggestions. It's six runs in the inning and most of missions will be considered. So your Chapter and they're your meet- these came with two outs. Shortstop get creative! SABR is not just a ings. We want to get the best out of Mike Ross said, "All of a sudden these social club! Have a say! them. Let us know what you think. right-handed hitters started to hit to - Martin Hoerchner Take part! the opposite side. Without a right - Patrick Morley, fielder, a shot over the second base- Chapter Secretary