1 The SABR UK Number 10 Examiner July 1998 THE JOURNAL OF THE BOBBY THOMSON CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN BASEBALL RESEARCH (UK) 1998 SABR UK AGM by Martin Hoerchner from Honourary President Norman Minnesota Twins. Clark is an Macht, and then a message from attorney and the Major League The Seventh Annual So- the big enchilada, SABR Presi- representative for the owners in ciety for American Baseball dent Larry Gerlach, who expressed labour negotiations, and was a his regret at being unable attend negotiator in the strikes of 1980 Research UK Annual Gen- and his appreciation for SABR and ‘81. eral Meeting took place at its UK’s accomplishments. Mike then That was the subject of his spiritual home, the Kings main presentation, the history of Clerkenwell Public of labour negotiations in base- House, on Saturday April ball, which he presented with insight and humour. Clark noted 25. That’s a mouthful, so that the constant conflict of play- I’ll just say that the ‘98 ers vs. owners is as old as the SABR UK AGM was held at game itself, or at least the pro- the “Kings”. fessional game, which game into I think it was our best meet- play in 1869. He noted the im- ing yet, not only in the numbers plementation of the reserve rule attending, but in the quality of in 1879 as a major point of con- the presentations given. flict with the players, but one Hugh Robinson opened the that the owners felt was neces- meeting, explaining that we were sary to avoid plunging the game going to do things backwards. into chaos. The first counterat- We would have the presenta- tack by the players was the for- tions first, and the Chapter busi- mation of the Players’ League in ness second. He introduced 1890, which split baseball at- Graham Winterbone the Secre- tendance three ways and was tary, Patrick Morley the Chair of bound to failure. the British Baseball Historical The next players’ union was Clark Griffith regales the crowd the League Protective Players’ Committee, Harvey Sahker the with his history of baseball Assistant Chair of the BBHC, Association, which lasted from Andy Parkes the Treasurer, and labour relations. 1900-1902. Clark noted with Martin Hoerchner the Examiner dismay that his grandfather and Editor, who was suffering from read apologies from SABR UK namesake was a players’ repre- the worst non-fatal case of laryn- members scattered around the sentative in that union. Then the gitis in history. island. American League was formed, He then introduced Chapter which also had a reserve rule, but Chairman Mike Ross. Mike started Mike then introduced our fea- the inter-league competition and off by reading messages of greet- tured speaker, Clark Griffith, the contract-jumping opened up a new ing from Major League Baseball namesake of his great-uncle and era of freedom for the players on International, who donated two Hall of Fame pitcher, and the son the job market, until the two baseball jackets to auction for the of Calvin Griffith, former owner of leagues made peace and agreed to continued on page 12 Chapter coffers. Then a greeting the Washington Senators and www.sabr.org.uk 2 VIEW FROM THE CHAIR by Mike Ross Martin the editor says I got to Ted as my first hero, not for his states, and certainly bigger than do this, even though I am rushing home runs so much as that he the membership of some states. off to catch a jet plane to the refused to wear a necktie. And he North Dakota is one we beat out promised land to attend my first got away with it; up until now that for sure. ever main SABR event. This is the is. symposium for Joe Jackson in- Leaving town with the SABR Clark Griffith was entertain- spired by Ted Williams. UK AGM in the bank is a joy, ing and enlightening as we knew knowing that I don’t have to help he would be. Allen Synge, a mad Ted is appealing for organise another such event for cricket fan and a writer, managed Jackson’s entry into the Hall of the foreseeable future. Six years to entertain as well despite his Fame. It is about time. While there we have been going and we are passion for that other bat and ball I will attend an 80th birthday party still standing. We’ve battled with game. for Williams at Crystal River, the Philistines and held ground. Florida. His birthday is in August, Well, that cricket crowd can get Our host John Eichler and so I say “an 80th” because it is mighty rough. Let me thank eve- his son in law have joined the certain the queue to honour him ryone who attended and all the membership. is a long one. ones who couldn’t who wrote in This photograph was discovered by Chairman Mike Ross, in a photo shop in London. It is dated 1936. On the back of the photograph are two handwritten titles. The first, confusingly, reads “Streatham Mitcham Rugby League Team leaving for their match with Hull Kingston Rovers on Saturday”. The second, more appropriately, reads “The Streatham Mitcham team (with Napier at Captain, centre) going out for baseball practice”. Is there anyone out there that can shed more light on this photograph? with their hello’s and regrets. It Actually they came in after I am bringing along the sculp- was nice hearing from Cliff the fifth meeting; that shows what ture of Ted swinging the bat which Kachline, one of the original found- attrition can do. I am heading out I made with British artist Tim ers of the great society. He signed now, and will leave the density of Taylor. I am told it is to be placed me up in a St Louis bar, as I often the meeting to the other scrib- atop his birthday cake. As it is in mention, mainly because it shows blers herein contained. bronze, I fear it will sink into the the kind of dedication and enthu- cake up to the bat handle. I have siasm possessed by the early Mike Ross nightmares about it. One such SABR-ites. nightmare had the sculpture go- PS We have pretty much ing through the cake, the table, There were around 1200 promised to have an interim meet- the floor into the basement func- members in ’82 and now we have ing before the next AGM, so that tion rooms of the Ramada Inn nearly 7,000. I venture to say that we can offer more opportunities where the do is being done. our Chapter will never reach that for other members to make pres- amount but I believe we are the entations. Nonetheless, I grew up with largest Chapter outside the 50 US 3 THIS SABR’D ISLE by Martin Hoerchner In my darkest moments, the countries. But I will find out. ally being late with this Examiner. Four European families moved to Last October I started out not hav- I sit alone in my room and America, and here I am! Why did stare into the void and ask ing a great passion for either team. they move? What dream were But as the series went on, I started myself, “Are we really just they following? I won’t be satis- getting more and more angry. We eggheads?” Isn’t what we call fied until I find out why. Will it have on one side a team from a “research” just a cold collection of help me understand myself? Like working class town next to a flam- facts, neatly arranged and col- them, I emigrated, searching a mable lake, with some of the most lated to make some sort of story or dream. long-suffering fans in history. Only argument? My own personal area Not that understanding the three teams have won their last is the origins and ancestry of base- 1904 Giants will help me with my World Series before the Indians’ ball. Does it really matter? Isn’t neuroses. But comparing the last win in 1948. The TV coverage collecting these facts a mere men- 1904 Giants with the 1998 Gi- showed grandfathers with grand- tal exercise, maybe along the lines ants, and the 1888 team, and sons, hoping for their last chance of trainspotting? 1921, 1951, 1985 is a reflection of to see a World Series champion The answer comes back. No. the changes in society through- together. The team, the city, the What we’re doing here is more a out those years. But with a lot people, have known what suffer- spiritual journey than an aca- more detail. ing means. demic exercise. It’s the search for I think the bottom line is that So against them we have the the past, the search for your ori- I’ve always felt that understand- upstart Florida team. One put gins, a social family tree. It’s no ing the past can help you under- together with a chequebook. The coincidence that the beginning of stand the present. In a world only suffering the residents of baseball is like the beginning of searching for answers, following Miami know is when they don’t the Bible - Genesis, Exodus and the progression from the past to squirt enough suntan oil on their Numbers. the present and discovering how bodies. The team’s five years old. It’s a question of “how did we styles, ideas and attitudes have If they lose, you’ve always got the get here from there”? This what evolved is a good key to under- sun and the beach and baseball the spiritual journey means.