1 The SABR(UK) Number 6

Examiner October 1995

THE JOURNAL OF THE BOBBY THOMSON CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN RESEARCH (UK) SABR(UK) 1995 AGM Report

more historical group. In England, it alive and a request through SABR in On Saturday, 6 May 1995, is often the only chance our members the USA had produced someone who most of the world was celebrat- have to talk baseball. He noted that had researched seven members of the the Chapter’s main function is re- ing the fiftieth anniversary of U.S. team. Interest was mentioned in search, and reinforced his interest in the end of World War II. While the connections between baseball and the Spalding Trophy. Mike also said the final defeat of fascism in cricket, a complex and technical topic. that he was trying to bring Mike Ross reported on his unusual this century was not far from over from his home in Florida, but encounter with a man who claimed to our minds, another, smaller, that funding would have to be found. have inside information about a long- And speaking of funding, Andy group spent the sweltering searched-for relic. It was a real Mal- Parkes gave his Treasurer’s report. weekend at the SABR(UK) An- tese Falcon episode; see Mike’s col- He said our assets were in four fig- umn on Page 2. “This is the stuff nual General Meeting, celebrat- ures, and that’s counting the deci- dreams are made of”, Bogart said. ing the return of baseball, the mals. Fundraising continues to be an Martin Hoerchner then reported issue. Andy mentioned that funds history of baseball, and just on the Newsletter. He said that it had could be raised through auctions of baseball in general. no regular schedule, but that the pub- certain items, such as his famous Our venue again was the won- lication would depend on his prior Stretford team’s memorabilia. He derfully quirky and extremely hospi- time commitments and numbers of pointed out that, as 1997 would be table Kings of Clerkenwell pub, ap- articles submitted for publication. the 50th anniversary of the founding propriately situated in the heart of There was applause from all present of the Saints, he would try to organise Clerkenwell in the heart of London. when the Examiner was described by a reunion of the players. And being a wonderfully sunny Satur- a member as “excellent”. Martin of Research then took centre stage. day, of course there was a wedding at course humbly demurred. Patrick Carroll, Chairman of the Brit- the church right outside the door. After the official business ended, ish Baseball Historical Committee, Life goes on despite anniversaries and the meeting continued with a viewing gave his report. He talked about the AGMs. SABR(UK) had had some of an “inning” of Ken Burns’ “Base- Burns’ Night meeting at Mike Ross’ smaller meetings in recent months, ball”. A vote was taken, and the flat; you’ll read about that later. One e.g. the Burns Night meeting and the Fifties was the decade chosen to central issue that interests the Com- Mark Alvarez get-together, but this is watch. A section of the silent film mittee is the ‘mists of time’ period, the first time in a while that the entire “Speedy” was also shown, in which otherwise known as the ‘black hole’ of group could get together. Harold Lloyd picks up and British baseball. Why did it die out as Because of the timing, the Bobby whizzes him through the streets of a mass sport in the country of its Thomson Chapter accepted the apolo- New York. Afterwards Tony Darkin, origin? Patrick said that answers to gies from a number of key members SABR’s reigning statistician, gave an these questions would produce an who could not be present that week- exacting baseball quiz. It was won by essay which ultimately would be the end. After these were read, the Chap- a team headed by Patrick Carroll, but introductory chapter of a book on the ter took care of some of the usual only after a tie with the team headed history of baseball in the UK and business, like reading the last meet- by Martin Hoerchner was settled by a Ireland. ing’s minutes (I don’t think there were tie-breaker. Yeah, we wuz robbed! Patrick then listed projects that any, because we lack a Secretary). The food, as always, was incred- were in varying stages of completion. Mike Ross then stood up and ible, and the guv’nor, John Eichler, Among the topics of study were Welsh gave the Chairman’s report. He said showed hospitality supreme. It was baseball, Francis Ley (who built Der- that the Chapter had to be clear of its an afternoon thoroughly enjoyed by by’s “Baseball Ground”), semi-pro ball identity and its purpose. Unlike Ameri- all present. Baseball is and always in the West of England, the London can fans, he said, British baseball shall be, despite the troubles. fans don’t have the opportunity to major league of the mid-30’s, and the 1938 five-game Test Series between absorb baseball all the time. In the - Martin Hoerchner States, with baseball everywhere for England and America. On the last half the year, SABR becomes a much topic, Ross Kendrick’s widow was still 2

VIEW FROM THE CHAIR by Mike Ross

Those of you who attended see copies of them I was told I phy had been stripped of its base- the very first meeting of SABR UK, could not, that he feared he would ball trimmings (here's the trav- or read the subsequent minutes, turing him with two trophies. One esty) and was converted into a portions of which have been pub- has been identified as the Spalding soccer trophy, before being re- lished by Martin Hoerchner in the Trophy which he claimed to be in tired to safety, who knows when. Examiner, will recall mention of his possession. I believe he has a Furthermore there is mention in the Spalding Cup which disap- Spalding Trophy, not the Spalding said article of the "John Moores peared around 100 years ago. At Trophy. Trophy" presented to Moores in the time I sort of jokingly sug- 1930's by John Heydler, Presi- gested that we should try to dis- I have been rather sworn to dent of the in the cover its whereabouts, and to treat secrecy so cannot name the man U.S., for the benefit of British the cup as the Holy Grail of British or the city but I am at liberty to say amateur baseball. This article Baseball. that the trophy was discovered states that the Moores trophy is several years ago in the safe of a "safely under lock and key in Liv- I believe - let's say dreamed - burnt-down hotel somewhere in erpool". Another item quoted at the mystery of the disappearance Britain, and that the gentleman the first meeting has it that "the of the cup and its subsequent in question was originally writing [Moores] trophy went missing in discovery would, lo and behold, a book on sports history for his the Liverpool area around 1959". take us back to the golden days of particular locale. He was not aware yesteryear, and with accompany- of who Spalding was, and when he A.G. Spalding, the master ing clues we would learn how the learned about the British tour of himself, presented his cup to hon- game went astray and failed as a 1874, he was surprised to find out our the champions of British base- British sport. that the affair was common knowl- ball. One has to wonder how edge to most SABR members. baseball's heavenly growth in In other words, the America and subsequent attempts Philistines who stole our cup and Recently, in hopes of getting at promotion over here, with all trivialised its significance surely him out of the closet and into the the enthusiasm put to the task by are the very villains that squelched SABR mainstream, I sent him a Spalding & Co., failed to make a the growth of the game. This is National Pastime and Research lasting impression. heady stuff for our SABR research Journal hoping he'll disclose his and part of our raison d'etre. full secret. I also sent him a Thinking further into the ca- illustrated article with the cap- lamitous situation: the game prin- Well, all joking aside, a few tion: "the London Thespians, UK cipally was invented in England clues have miraculously surfaced Champions 1893-4", who are seen and taken to America by its own that may lead us closer to the with "the Spalding sons, and developed there. With cup's whereabouts and perhaps Trophy...contested until 1896 its impeccable blood lines which to the other lost cups. when it was stolen. It has not lead back home to the dreamy been seen since." fields of yore, how did it fail to It all started one evening impress the land of its fathers, months back with a phone call This trophy, along with the cousins, uncles, brothers, sons from a gentleman claiming to have one from the burnt-out hotel, are and daughters? It is all a bit odd rare baseball photos for sale. The the ones pictured with his grand- if you ask me. I would like to price suggested that they were father on his wall of his home. He understand it. I need to under- printed on gold. When I asked to has since disclosed that his tro- stand it.

OFFICERS AND GENTLEMEN

Chairman: Mike Ross, 2 Maida Avenue, Suite B, Little Venice, London W2 1TF (Tel: 0171 723 9848; Fax: 0171 266 3166) Treasurer: Andy Parkes, 84 Hillingdon Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8PJ (Tel and Fax: 0161 865 2952) Procedural Advisor: Hugh Robinson, 567 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8JQ (Tel: 0161 864 1250) Chairman of British Baseball Historical Committee: Patrick Carroll, 10 Court Barton, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7HP (Tel: 01460 74183) Publications Editor: Martin Hoerchner, 3 Sheridan Crescent, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5RZ (Tel: 0181 467 2828; E-Mail: [email protected]) European Co-ordinator: Laurens De Jong, Carnisseweg 61, 2993 Ad Barendrecht, Netherlands 3

THIS SABR'D ISLE by Martin Hoerchner I’ve just come back from holiday No! I swear that’s what he said! Can computer image. The photograph was in Greece. “Yeah”, I hear you grum- it really be another amazing predic- that one taken in Hilltop Park, show- ble, “that’s why the Examiner’s late!” tion? The announcer continues, and ing the Highlanders in a game against So I found myself in a bookshop with I realize he’s talking about the Devils, the White Sox. You could use the old books from many countries, look- the ice hockey team from New Jersey computer to magnify any section you ing for something to read. And I found that won the last Stanley Cup. Whew! wanted, to go as deep as you wanted, it. I was not familiar with the title of That was a close one. My nerves are and then move on to another section. the book - “The Year the Yankees Lost shattered. There should be a law It was amazing the detail you could the Pennant” - but I did recognize the against Satanic nicknames. The Devil get. It was like that machine in “Blade straddling figure of Gwen Verdon on is not some cute little cuddly red guy Runner “ that he used to scan the the cover. Yes, it was the book that with horns and a pitchfork. He is the photograph, panning and zooming to the film “Damn Yankees” was based evil force that stripped New York of voice commands. You could read the on. two beloved baseball teams in 1957. smallest of the outfield advertise- The story is based on the legend I’ll tell you who sold their soul to ments. You could see the detail of the of Faust, a man who sold his soul to the Devil - those slimeballs that sold uniforms, close enough to, using Mark Satan in exchange for having his off the name of Candlestick Park. I Okonnen’s Baseball Uniform book, dream fulfilled. I confess to never don’t care how much money they got, narrow down the time frame to a having seen the film - I didn’t read I’ll never call it “Widget 6 Stadium”. I single year. It was 1909. This kind of Faust either - but the book fascinated note with increasing dismay the con- examination brings out the character me. It was first published, if not tinuing commercialization of the game. and flavor of the time in sharp detail. written, in 1954, and my copy was a Many ballparks have now started It was like being there. It was like 1958 printing. The story’s events putting huge advertisements right travelling in time. take place in the year 1964, ten years behind the backstop, in constant view The last time I was in the States, in the future from the writer’s stand- of the television camera whenever the I saw a TV show called “Sliders”, point. Given this perspective, it’s delivers to the batter. This about four people who go zapping bound to be interesting. And it was cheapens the game. A player of the around to alternate realities. It got me fascinating. This book is uncanny in stature of Ken Griffey Jr. is dwarfed thinking; these sorts of what-if’s fas- some of the predictions. It has the by a gigantic “Schmaltzputz Lager” cinate me. I wondered what it would Yankees taking 10 straight pennants sign. I will resist this movement every be like if the same spark that ignited after 1954. That prediction was in- step of the way. This seems to be the baseball from a being a children’s correct. The Yankees only took 9 out standard in Europe (yes, including game to become a fully-developed of 10. This figure is close to impossi- Britain), but it’s not right. Commer- adult pastime - if it had happened in ble (certainly it has never been ap- cial interests shouldn’t overshadow Britain instead of America. Well, a proached), yet it was almost foretold. the game at hand. I know many speak copy of the SBBR Examiner from that The book’s prediction of the year that of fondness about Gem Blades and alternate reality dropped on my door- broke the Yankee’s stranglehold on Abe Stark, but this new wave is more step last week, no doubt through a the is also stun- insidious. And in case that sounds a pan-dimensional wormhole. I’ll quote ning, though again a tad bit off. 1965, bit paranoid, a few weeks ago I heard from it: not 1964, marked the end of the Yan- a baseball broadcaster telling us about “This has been a good year for kees’ dynasty. And the team that the “NRA play of the game”. What’s British Baseball, and both Leagues overthrew them was, as the book fore- next, the Michigan Militia Most Valu- showed healthy profits. A lot of the tells, the Washington Senators, able Player? It’s time to fight back! excitement was caused by the pen- though transplanted to Minneapolis Maybe it’s about time I change nant race between the Canterbury and renamed. And the team they the subject, before I get into big trou- Royals and the Oxford Athletics, which faced in the was, again ble. You never want to give them an went down to extra innings on the last predicted, the Dodgers, though also excuse to go after you. One of the day of the season, and the resurgence transplanted. things I really enjoy about being a of the once-lowly York Mets, who took One entry I found really topical. SABR member in England, is that you the crown in the Northern League. In it the Devil confesses his hatred for get a chance to meet a lot of interest- The Dean of baseball writers, Mike the Dodgers (so we have something in ing SABRites from the States. When Ross, said it was the most exciting common, except for that other thing), they travel over here, the first thing year for baseball drama he’d ever and says that is why they have never they do is to look up the local mem- seen. Patrick Carroll, the head of won a World Series. But then there is bers. A few of us got to meet Mark SBBR, said “I don’t think baseball has a footnote stating that “he means, of Alvarez, the Publications Editor for had this exciting a year since 1826, course, the .” This SABR (and my international counter- the year of the triple pennant playoff comment could only have been writ- part, I suppose) at Mike Ross’ a while contest.” Andy Parkes, of ten in 1958 - the 1955 Brooklyn Dodg- back. He was younger than me and the Stretford Saints, said he’d never ers won the World Series, they moved full of interesting stories. And early seen a year like it, even though his after the 1957 season, and the 1959 this year, in a pub off Russell Square, team was pipped at the post. Tony Los Angeles team won the World Se- I met Tom Schrier, who had just gotten Darkin, compiler of the Baseball En- ries (against the White Sox, the only his article “The Evolution of the Dia- cyclopedia, stated that records were year in that time span the Yankees mond” published by SABR. He is also set in many offensive and defensive didn’t win the pennant). the Chair of the Pictorial History Com- categories, while Martin Hoerchner, So I’m writing this now, just mittee. editor of the , said that finishing up this train of thought, and Old photographs fascinate me. his staff of writers enjoyed this year I’ve got AFN on behind me. Then I I told Tom about how I scanned an old more than any since their beer allow- hear that a certain player just signed baseball photo, i.e. converted it to a ance was taken away.” a multi-year contract with the Devil. 4 Starting from Home

I chose the title deliberately English translation of the order, the quotation from Shakespeare’s to indicate that this is my first taken from the first recorded in- Cymbeline cited by Mike in his attempt, however minor, at base- stance in 1331-2, is as follows: article: ball research, and that this is a “Our Lord the King forbids on Posthumus: “He, with two look at an aspect of the possible pain of imprisonment that any child striplings, - lads more like to run origins of baseball in this country. or others should play in the area of The country base than to commit It arose from Mike Ross’ article in the palace of Westminster, during such slaughter, With faces fit for the January 1995 Examiner, the Parliament which is summoned masks, or rather fairer Than those “1847 Sporting Life articles shed there, at barrs or other games, nor with preservation cas’d, or shame, light”, and seeks to firm up some at knocking people’s hats off nor Made good the passage; ....” [Act of the references cited in that ar- laying hands on them nor any V scene ii lines 19-23; editions ticle. As such, this piece can other hindrance which would pre- vary] hardly be regarded as a piece of vent each person from peacefully For our purposes, the most original work, but it might assist going about their business.” All interesting citation is the OED’s fellow SABRites in their work. the orders cited use this phrase- reference to Strutt’s Sports and What intrigued me about ology, some with minor variations, pastimes, also cited in Mike’s ar- Mike’s article initially was the ref- except the two marked * above ticle. Joseph Strutt’s “The sports erence to an order of Parliament which do not have the “a bares” and pastimes of the people of Eng- during the reign of Edward III ban- phrase in which we are interested. land” (1801) is a beautiful book ning the playing of ‘base’ around It is the “bares” which Mike’s arti- with stunning illustrations, and it the Palace of Westminster. I had cle cites as ‘base’. The crucial contains a lengthy description of just been working with the vol- question is “Does the Old French ‘base’ or ‘bars’ or ‘prisoner’s bars’ umes of Parliamentary material of word ‘bare’ either mean ‘base’ in a or, citing Johnson’s Dictionary, that period and was sure that they baseball sense, or refer to some ‘bays’. Unfortunately there were would contain the full, official ver- game which itself can be regarded no illustrations of the game that I sion of the relevant order. The as an ancestor of baseball?” could see. As this book may not be index to the Parliamentary Rolls easily accessible to all SABRites, I records not one but 14 (!) different The entry for ‘bares’ in Robert will quote at length from Strutt orders of this type during Edward Kelham’s “A dictionary of the Nor- [pp61-3]: III’s reign. In these early days, man or Old French language” Base “is a rustic game ... and Parliament did not meet on a regu- (1779; Tabard Press, 1978) is “at as the success of this pastime de- lar 5-yearly cycle as we have nowa- barrs, a game so called.” Not very pends upon the agility of the candi- days. The King would summon a helpful beyond confirmation that dates and their skill in running, I Parliament, which may have lasted it is a game. So, if in doubt, go to think it may properly enough be only a number of days or weeks, the obvious source, the Oxford introduced here. It was much prac- as and when he needed money or English Dictionary. Under ‘bar’ it tised in former times, and some other assistance from his sub- has an entry for the plural ‘bars’: vestiges of the game are still re- jects, so new Parliaments may “the game of ‘prisoner’s base’ or maining in many parts of the king- have been summoned a number ‘chevy.’ The players, after choos- dom.” Strutt then says that the of times a year, and orders, such ing sides, occupy two camps or first mention he had found was as the one in which we are inter- enclosures, and any player leav- the Parliamentary order in Edward ested, will have be issued anew ing his enclosure is chased by one III’s time, and, as his text is virtu- each time. of the opposite side, and, if caught, ally word for word that of the 1947 made a prisoner. Still used in TSL article quoted by Mike, it is As SABR is a research body, northern dialect”. It cites several safe to assume that the TSL piece I will disturb the flow of my narra- examples back to c1400. was based, at least in part on tive to provide you with the full Dr Samuel Johnson’s “Dic- Strutt’s book. Strutt also quotes citation for those who may wish to tionary of the English Language”, the lines from Cymbeline, again look up these orders: Rotuli has an entry for ‘base’ in similar in the form cited in the TSL rather Parliamentorum pp64a (1331-2), terms: “An old rustick play, writ- than the version quoted above. 66a-b (1332), 68b (1332), 103a ten by Skinner, bays; and in some Base was “most assuredly played (1339), 107a (1339*), 112a (1340), counties called prison bars; in by the men, and especially in 117b (1340), 126a (1341), 135a which some are pursuers, and oth- Cheshire and other adjoining coun- (1343), 146b (1344), 157a (1346), ers are prisoners, one party being ties, where formerly it seems to 164a (1347*), 235a (1350-1) and opposed to another in the trial of have been in high repute.” 236b (1351-2). All the orders are swiftness. It is yet in use.” [Todd’s Strutt then explained how in Old French, which, with Latin, ed., 1827]. Johnson also cites sev- the game was played. “The per- was the official language. The eral uses of the word, including formance of this pastime requires 5

(or back to basics) by Barry Winetrobe two parties of equal number, each two prisons, which are stakes ‘make the history fit’. We can see of them having a “base“ or home, driven into the ground, parallel in the ‘prisons’ a form of ; as it is usually called, to them- with the home boundary, and the London game Strutt saw be- selves at the distance of about about thirty yards from them; and tween representatives of two twenty or thirty yards. The play- every person who is touched on Northern English counties for “a ers then on either side taking hold either side in the chase, is sent to considerable sum of money” may of hands, extend themselves in one or other of these prisons, where resemble a mixture of length, and opposite to each other, he must remain till the conclusion barnstorming and the early days as far as they conveniently can, of the game, if not delivered previ- of professional baseball in the USA, always remembering that one of ously by one of his associates, and and so on. Whatever the truth of them must touch the base; when this can only be accomplished by these theories, it does seem that any of them quits the hand of his touching him, which is a difficult Mike’s suggestion that ‘barrs’, fellow and runs into the ‘base’ or ‘prisoner’s field, which is called giv- bar’ may be part of ing the chase, he is im- the origin of the mediately followed by running game in one of his opponents; he baseball is very again is followed by a possible. Of course second from the former running and ‘tag’ side, and he by a sec- games must be as ond opponent; and so old as humanity on alternately, until as itself, and there are many are out as choose no doubt many to run, every one pursu- variants in every ing the man he first fol- country, and we lowed, and no other; cannot pounce too and if he overtake him eagerly on any- near enough to touch thing which hap- him, his party claims pens to contain the one towards their game” word ‘base’ or [Strutt here has a foot- something similar note: “It is to be ob- to it. Look at any served, that every per- good dictionary son on either side who and you will see touches another during Barry Winetrobe pictured with our Chapter’s the many deriva- the chase, claims one namesake, Bobby Thomson tions of the word, for his party, and when most of which many are out, it fre- have nothing to do quently happens that many are task, requiring the performance of with the origins of baseball. I had touched.”] “and both return home. the most skilful players, because a brief moment of excitement on They then run forth again and the prison belonging to either party a recent visit to Hampton Court again in like manner, until the is always much nearer to the base Palace, which has a courtyard area number is completed that decides of their opponents than to their called ‘Base Court’. Unfortunately the victory; this number is op- own; and if the person sent to it simply means that it is the lower, tional, and I am told rarely ex- relieve his confederate be touched secondary courtyard. ceeds twenty.” by an antagonist before he reaches The idea that baseball is an him, he also becomes a prisoner, amalgam of several games, i.e. He then recalled a game of and stands in equal need of deliv- running games and ball-and-stick base he saw “about thirty years erance.” He concluded his short games, seems very plausible. If back”, i.e. c1770, “in the fields piece by noting that “the addition ‘barrs’/’base’ is part of that origin, behind Montague House, ie the of the prisons occasions a consid- then at some point not only did British Museum”. This game was erable degree of variety in the pas- the two aspects of running and played by “twelve gentlemen of time, and is frequently productive ball-and-stick games combine, Cheshire against twelve of Derby- of much pleasantry.” but so did the methods of scoring shire, for a considerable sum of of each game. How these amalga- money, which afforded much en- Now, it is all too tempting mations took place, presumably a tertainment to the spectators”. when doing any form of historical long slow process over centuries, Strutt described the Essex varia- research, especially that which may well be the answer to the tion of base “with the addition of seeks the origin of something, to question of the origins of baseball. 6 The Best Young Talent in Baseball by Tony Darkin

This is a study that was first 3. Griffey 114 Hitters Total done by Bill James in his 1984 Base- 4. Belle 107 Cleveland NL East ball Abstract. The object of the exer- 5. Baerga 71 Cleveland 1. Atlanta* 175 260 435 cise is to try and identify which teams 6. Rodrigues 68 Texas (Grissom 57, Justice 37) have the most young talent. I make 7. O'Neill 66 New York 2. Montreal* 136 258 394 no apologies for reporting that the 8. Fryman 57 Detroit (Alou 51, Lansing 31) 1984 effort based on 1983 statistics 8. B. Williams 57 New York 3. New York 99 234 323 predicted that Cal Ripken, Rickey 8. Salmon 57 California (Kent 43, Vizcaino 37} Henderson, , Lloyd There are no pitchers on either 4. Florida 88 194 282 Moseby and were the list. This is because predicting their (Sheffield 49, Conine 43) American League's five most valuable futures is difficult and generally they 5. Philadelphia 53 185 238 pieces of real estate. If it worked then do not stay in the game as long. Four (Jeffries 43, Stocker 30) it should work now. of the five players that lead the Ameri- NL Central I do not wish to get technical by can League are almost certain to go to 1.Houston* 114 392 506 writing down all the mathematical the Hall of Fame. The 1984 study was (Gonzalez 37, Plantier 35) formulas involved, but I feel that a done when Ripken had played 285 2. Cincinnati 166 283 449 little background is necessary before major league games, and Boggs 257 - (Larkin 49, Boone 49, R. Sandscon) going any further. Bill James in- less than two full seasons. The sys- 3. Chicago* 93 234 329 vented a stat called the Value Ap- tem has worked incredibly well. Ten (McRae 38, Wilkins 33) proximation Method. The VAM meas- years down the road it will be interest- 4. St. Louis 78 219 297 ures player performance in a series of ing to see how well these guys have (Lankton 38, Cooper37, Zeile 37) scales; for example 1 point for hitting done. An average regular player would 5. Pittsburgh 75 172 247 .250, 2 points for over .275, etc. There normally have an Approximate Value (Bell 43, C. Garcia 31) are other scales for slugging percent- of 9 or 10, so do not be surprised if NL West age, stolen bases, defensive position, Frank Thomas is still around in the 1. San Francisco* 86 288 374 fielding average etc. For non-pitchers year 2010 aged 42. (Clayton 47, Lewis 43) there are thirteen different calcula- As stated earlier, pitchers are 2. Los Angeles* 54 311 345 tions and for pitchers five. The sys- harder to figure. The top five Ameri- (Karros 37, DeShields 35) tem does not claim absolute accuracy can League pitchers in the 1984 study 3.San Diego 120 218 338 in identifying the best player. It at- were Richard Dotson, , (Gwynn 41, Cedeno 38) tempts only to sort seasons into groups Dan Petry, LaMarr Hoyt and Storm 4.Colorado* 81 230 311 of similar value. If you look at groups Davis. Having evaluated over 800 (Walker 43, Weiss 28) of players who are valued at 12 or 9 or players based on their 1994 stats I 5 you will find them to be comparable. will list the top ten pitchers in both AL East The tool can be used to evaluate which leagues. 1. New York* 137 273 406 club has had the best farm system in (Stanley 20, Polonia 20, P.Kelly) recent years, how good is a team's NL Pitchers: 2. Boston 85 281 366 General Manager in trades and can 1. Maddux 59 Atlanta (Vaughan 56, Jn. Valentin 43) help provide answers to many other 2. Jones 39 New York 3. 113 252 365 questions. Using VAM James then 3. P.J. Martinez36 Montreal (Palmeiro 46, Barbarie 37) developed a formula which, when 4. Trasumel 36 Chicago 4. Toronto 113 196 309 using a players age and value, would 5. Nen 33 Florida (Alomar 49, Olerud 43) predict that the average remaining 6. Hoffman 30 San Diego 5. Detroit* 32 206 238 Value Approximation Method would 6. Beck 30 SFrancisco (Curtis 49, Gomez 42) be say for a 25-year-old player with an 8. Ruffin 29 Cincinnati AL Central AV of 12. This method is called Res- 8. Hamilton 29 San Diego 1. Cleveland* 89 494 583 ervoir Estimation Technique and this 10. Carrasco 27 Cincinnati (Thome 47, Ramirez 45) is what I have used for the study. 2. Chicago* 162 280 442 The first charts show the ten AL Pitchers: (Ventura 38, Johnson 20) players expected to have the brightest 1. Alvarez 43 Chicago 3. Milwaukee 98 234 332 futures in both leagues: 2. Messina 40 Baltimore (Nilsson 56, Js Valentin 38) 3. Hentgen 40 Toronto 4. Minnesota 64 224 288 NL Hitters: 4. Bere 36 Chicago (Knoblauch 56, Puckett 36) 1. Bagwell 114 Houston 5. Ayala 34 Seattle 5. Kansas City 106 118 224 2. Mondesi 80 Los Angeles 5. Benes 34 Milwaukee (Hamblin 37, Jose 24) 3. Bichette 72 Colorado 7. McDonald 30 Baltimore AL West 3. Bonds 72 S Francisco 8. Wetteland 30 New York 1.Seattle* 95 305 400 5. Sosa 71 Chicago 5. Williams 71 S Francisco 9. Sele 27 Boston (Buhner 34, T. Martinez 31) 5. Piazza 71 Los Angeles 10. Gordon 26 K.C. 2. Texas* 61 288 349 8. Cordero 68 Montreal (Gonzalez 47, Palmer 35) 9. Bell 63 Houston The final chart lists the total 3. California* 48 192 240 10. McGriff 60 Atlanta "future value" of each team in their (DiScarcina 37, Edmonds 21) 10. Biggio 60 Houston respective divisions. The players name 4. Oakland 60 169 229 to the right are the two expected to (Javier 28, Bordick 24) AL Hitters: have the brightest futures. Asterisks 1. Thomas 154 Chicago show that a club has additional play- 2. Lofton 125 Cleveland ers in the top ten. - continued on page 8. 7

An Historical Burns Night - by Patrick Carroll The first formal meet- sarily have important roots in Britain. history. Among them are Sir Francis Mike Ross, Martin Hoerchner and Ley, the industrialist and late-Victo- ing of the SABR (U.K.) Brit- myself as Chair of the Committee rian baseball enthusiast who built ish Baseball History Com- particularly are intent on pursuing the Baseball Ground in Derby, whose and identifying these developments life is being studied by Pico Brown. mittee -- in the various games with special Other figures whom Committee mem- The house in the Little Venice reference to answering the question bers wish to research include Harry quarter of London where Bobby of why baseball in these islands never Wright and his family, as well as the Thomson Chapter Chairman, Mike evolved, as it did in America, from a other (and, as far as we know, unre- Ross, lives has recently been adorned casual childrens’ pastime into a ma- lated) Wright, Joseph, whose fasci- by a Blue Plaque commemorating the turely-codified, mass-participation nating papers concerning the Mid- late English comic actor Arthur Lowe, sport, considered a suitable challenge dlesbrough Pioneers club give us the best known to most people as the star for the most gifted and accomplished clearest insight we now have into of the highly popular television series of athletes. This is a question that British baseball around the turn of “Dad’s Army”. On January 28th last has, of course, not only purely sport- the century. There is also old Albert another army (or, at least, platoon) ing but also important social, eco- Goodwill himself, funder of the origi- gathered at Mike’s in order to carry on nomic and even political aspects. We nal forerunner of the British Baseball the good fight of promoting baseball regard this study and its results to be Federation and contributor of the research in Britain. The get-together the starting point for our present ulti- Spalding Cup, the long-lost English had been hailed as a double-barrelled mate aim: to create as definitive a baseball championship trophy, con- Burn’s Night during which we would history as is possible of baseball in cerning which we may soon be hear- meet, schmooze about baseball, pos- Britain and Ireland. For us the first ing some remarkable revelations. sibly take a dram or two of Robert formal steps in this process have been Another personality of interest to us Burns’ and our Chapter Patron’s na- Mike Ross’ and my visits to the British is Sir John Moores, founder of the tive tipple, view the first “inning” of Library Periodical Library where we Littlewood’s Pools empire, who sup- the Ken Burns “Baseball” documen- are attempting to gather material for ported the semi-professional base- tary and, most importantly, to hold an index-matrix to be put at the dis- ball that flourished in the North of the first formal meeting of the British posal of British baseball researchers. England in the 1930s, a study of Baseball History Committee. In the This, like almost all worthwhile re- which was the subject of an excellent event a good round dozen of us were search, is going to be a long, time- paper by Committee member Ian present. We had, reluctantly, to ac- consuming business, but one that Smyth. Ian (who could with some cept regrets from some of our most has already given us some valuable justice be termed the current ace of diligent members who, through ill- and intriguing information and a good the SABR(UK) research staff) is pres- ness, unavoidable prior commitments deal of solid satisfaction. ently engaged on a study of the 1938 or lack of time to make the journey to ‘Test Series’ between England and the London, were unable to attend. As In order to further this project American Olympians. He is grateful well as the Burns film and the good the meeting resolved that the Com- to have been aided in his research by baseball talk, highlights of the evening mittee apply for a Reader’s Ticket for members of the SABR Minor Leagues included the wonderful 15-year-old the British Library’s main reading Committee, and has lately made con- Glenmorangie whisky thoughtfully room in the British Museum. In our tact with both the widow and a surviv- provided by our -for the occasion - application for this jealously-rationed ing playing colleague of Ross Kendrick, most appropriately named member, privilege we will hope for support not the Canadian-born pitching star of Robert Bruce, and the appearance of only from the SABR Executive but the England team in the 1938 series. SABR (UK) Examiner editor, Martin also from our colleagues in the Asso- Ian has further plans to go into the Hoerchner, resplendent in an authen- ciation of Sports Historians, espe- post-World War II history of baseball tic full replica uniform of the New York cially ASH President, Dr Wray in the North of England, a study which Giants, circa 1923. However, the main Vamplew. will necessarily involve some research business of the meeting was to review into the history and evolution of the our present position, and to plan our As well as examining this key- British Baseball Federation itself; a future strategy as a newly-accredited stone project, other Committee mem- study which Ian, as a serving officer of SABR Committee. After the proceed- bers outlined some of their own par- the Federation is well-placed to pur- ings were opened with the reading of ticular lines of enquiry. Regionally, sue. As well as the excellent Malt, a welcome letter from SABR stalwart Hugh Robinson and Andy Parkes will Robert Bruce also brought to the Norman Macht, who has been instru- be haunting the libraries and news- meeting his resolve to delve into the mental in encouraging and champi- paper archives of Manchester, Hugh complex historical relationship - sport- oning both our Chapter and Commit- with particular reference to his speci- ing, technical and cultural - between tee, we moved on to specifics. ality of English baseball in the years baseball and cricket. This must be a immediately proceeding and post-dat- rich field, the gleanings from which Several members have as a pri- ing World War I. Martin Dodd will be will certainly be of use to all of our ority the subject that some of us have doing similar work in Birmingham. researches. Although he was unable come to think of as “The Mists of Harvey Sauker has developed an in- to attend the meeting, we are assured Time” or “Black Hole” Department. terest in the game of Welsh baseball, that Daniel Bloyce is continuing his This reflects a desire to study as closely which has a long history of its own researches into the various visits to as possible the actual evolutions and and which still thrives in the Princi- Britain and Ireland by American base- differentiations within the family of pality and on Merseyside. There are ball professionals, beginning with the bat and ball games from which base- also, of course, many salient indi- Wright/Spalding tour of 1874. ball springs: a study that must neces- viduals involved in British baseball - continued on page 8. 8

Fan Fest Attracts 90,000 Burns’ Night, continued

-by David Ballheimer All in all a useful and mutually instructive meeting. We are aware An estimated 90,000 peo- Ryan. that there is a massive amount of The video screen flickers into ple attended Major League work to be done, but many hands life and the pitcher of choice is shown make shortstops - sorry, short work - Baseball International’s Fan on the mound going into his wind-up. and the overall picture is beginning Fest in London’s Covent Gar- This is taken from a real game, with slowly to become more coherent, and den over the weekend of 5, 6 the pitcher displaying his usual man- all the members of the History Com- and 7 August. It was the first nerisms ( was the least mittee are becoming clearer about the popular pitcher with the operators figures in the British Baseball land- foray into Europe for this cav- because of his deliberate wind-up). scape that particularly engage and alcade of baseball fun. As the pitcher releases the ball on interest them. The Fan Fest was essentially screen so a real ball comes through a - Patrick Carroll, Chair, the same one that had been seen hole in the image, travelling at a quite- British Baseball History Committee three weeks earlier during the All- quick-enough 53 mph. A booming Star Came “cybervoice” events at imitates a Arlington, bench Texas. It jockey be- contained tween Best Young Talent, continued numerous pitches. participa- The Before you go betting the mort- tory enter- only par- gage on Cleveland and Houston a few tainments, ticipation words of warning. These figures are including booth based on 1994 performance and the batting which was system will not predict accurately how tees, pitch- not free a player coming back from injury will ing-speed was the perform in the future e.g. Mark timers, McGwire. Highly touted rookies like timed Baseball are not yet eligible to astroturf Card tent. be included, although Bill James in- basepaths, There, for vented a formula for translating mi- a baseball only £2 (£1 nor league stats. Again using the AV card booth for chil- of 10 as a productive season for a and a video dren), regular you can look for 58 seasons of batting baseball good hitting from the Cleveland lineup, cage. fans could who have three players in the top ten There have their and two not far out. Frank Thomas were also a photo- alone accounts for more than half of small exhi- graph the expected future hitting of the White bition of taken Sox, although their pitching is not too baseball wearing shabby. Likewise Bonds and Williams memora- the uni- account for half of the Giants’ hitting. bilia (un- form of Whilst I expect the figures to be fortu- their fa- highly accurate, they are only one of a nately, a vourite number of indicators that can be used replica Major to measure future performance. baseball uniform was stolen on the League team in batting pose. The Thanks to Bill James for giving me the first night, and an item on the 1927 picture is then put on a Donruss inspiration to complete this exercise. Yankees was illustrated with Babe , on the back of which Apologies to him for lines that have Ruth’s famous called shot against the are the person’s name, birthplace and taken directly from the book. If you Cubs in 1932), a store selling modern position, just like a real card, together ever get to read this, Bill, please don't baseball merchandise, a BBF tent with random statistics, all of which a jump on the phone to your lawyer. and a video cinema which showed a superstar would kill for. Your corre- Should anyone want to discuss selection of videos introducing base- spondent, for instance, batted .338 in this study with me please write to 46 ball. 1994 (slugging .714), blasted 45 home Adelaide Road, Stockport, Cheshire By general consent, the video runs, 112 RBI’s, stole 60 bases, had SK3 9LP or phone 0161 477-5658. batting cage was the best of all. This 92 walks and struck out 34 times. If involves a batter (who must wear a only! helmet) stepping into a batters’ box in The Fan Fest was aimed pre- Next issue: Baseball on the a darkened tent 60 feet 6 inches away dominantly at the younger fan, and from a video screen. The batter is almost everyone who particpated in Internet. It’s out there, and then given the chance to face one of one of the events was given a me- there’s a lot of it! six pitchers: Jim Abbott, Roger mento, either a cap, batting glove, Clemens, Tom Clavine, Dwight mitt, or one of several posters. All in Gooden, Randy Johnson or Nolan all, a good time was had by all.