Article: Interested in Baseball Research? Join SABR!

[John Bonnes]

'Baseball research' in modern circles tends to be seen solely in the analytical sense. However, the group for which sabermetrics was named (by Bill James), the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR), is so much more than analytics. In fact, they are a research society focused on every aspect of baseball research which includes committees ranging from ballparks and the Black Sox to statistical analysis and Women in Baseball. Not currently researching anything or not really planning on researching anything? No worries, most of us are just there because we enjoy talking about baseball. You don't need to be a researcher to be a member and take part.The Halsey Hall Chapter of SABR is based in the Twin Cities and welcomes everyone interested in baseball to come to any of our events. We meet semiannually at our chapter meetings (in the fall and the spring) and have a number of research presentations as well as guest speakers. At our most recent meeting in November, we had former Twins pitcher Dick Stigman and Gulf Coast League umpire Emma Charlesworth-Seiler.

 

We have a number of events upcoming in the new year, including:

• Halsey Hall will have a table at TwinsFest, January 19th-21st. Stop by and say "hi"!
• We will be having our spring chapter meeting in April (specific date TBD)
• Our research committee meeting is Monday, December 18th at 7PM at the Hennepin County Southdale Library, 7001 York Avenue South, Edina. It is continuing its work on an exhibit displaying the names of Hall of Famers who played in Minnesota prior to the arrival of the Twins.
• The next Fred Souba Hot Stove Saturday Morning, an informal breakfast gathering for the purpose of talking baseball, will be at 9:00 AM on Saturday, January 6 at Bunny’s Northeast, 34 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis 55413

In addition, the national organization has its Analytics Conference in Phoenix from March 9th-11th and its National Convention is in Pittsburgh on June 20th-24th.

 

If you are interested in keeping track of what we are doing and want to know when our next event is, you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (HalseyHallSABR).

 

For more details about joining SABR or attending Halsey Hall Chapter events, feel free to contact me, Hans Van Slooten. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

 

Hans Van Slooten is the Membership Committee Chair for the Halsey Hall Chapter of SABR as well as the Manager of Baseball Operations at Sports Reference

 

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[mikelink45]

I am amused by your group name.  Having grown up with Halsey as the cigar smoking, hacking, raspy voice behind the old time stories and lots of laughter.  It there is someone who does not represent Sabr thinking I believe Halsey would be an icon!

[ashbury]

I am amused by your group name.  Having grown up with Halsey as the cigar smoking, hacking, raspy voice behind the old time stories and lots of laughter.  It there is someone who does not represent Sabr thinking I believe Halsey would be an icon!

Depends on what you believe SABR thinking to be.

[mikelink45]

 

Depends on what you believe SABR thinking to be.

I admire Sabr, BUT Halsey was best with a cigar, a whiskey, and an audience.  I can still hear his laugh in my memory and also the stories that would go from inning to inning until he forgot what he was talking about.  If there was ever a broadcaster that was meant for the hot stove league, when they really did sit around the old hot stove, he is it.

 

[ashbury]

I admire Sabr, BUT Halsey was best with a cigar, a whiskey, and an audience.  I can still hear his laugh in my memory and also the stories that would go from inning to inning until he forgot what he was talking about.  If there was ever a broadcaster that was meant for the hot stove league, when they really did sit around the old hot stove, he is it.

Come to a chapter meeting sometime, if you're in the vicinity. Cigars are banned from the venue, though you could probably smuggle whiskey if that's really your thing on a Saturday morning, but you'll likely hear more stories and laughter than you seem to be expecting. And obviously the chapter's name is meant with reverence.

[mikelink45]

 

Come to a chapter meeting sometime, if you're in the vicinity. Cigars are banned from the venue, though you could probably smuggle whiskey if that's really your thing on a Saturday morning, but you'll likely hear more stories and laughter than you seem to be expecting. And obviously the chapter's name is meant with reverence.

Thanks for the invite.  If I do not make it, it is the 110 mile drive not the name!  

 

[Doomtints]

The sheer size of SABR can be daunting, and as John said, advanced metrics are but a small part of it (and the people involved with stats are probably the least accessible, btw, so don't join just for that ... reach out to people on Fangraphs if your only concern is nerding out on stats). 

 

If you love baseball, and love meeting others who love baseball, and especially if you have an esoteric interest in some small part of baseball that no one else seems to have ... join SABR and you will find people to converse with.

 

The meetings are great and the publications are great. A membership gets you access to the publications for free, and these are real books, such as:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Pennant-Twin-Cities-Minnesota-Digital-ebook/dp/B0163TRTHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513201641&sr=8-1&keywords=minnesota+twins+1965

Edited December 13, 2017 by Doomtints

[spinowner]

 

I admire Sabr, BUT Halsey was best with a cigar, a whiskey, and an audience.  I can still hear his laugh in my memory and also the stories that would go from inning to inning until he forgot what he was talking about.  If there was ever a broadcaster that was meant for the hot stove league, when they really did sit around the old hot stove, he is it.

From what I understand this is a lie. I believe Halsey was a gin drinker.

[mikelink45]

 

From what I understand this is a lie. I believe Halsey was a gin drinker.

You could be right about what he drank - I was too young then to be accurate on what was in the glass, but I certainly remember him enjoying something - here is a fun video - https://vimeo.com/113401282 - but I have since learned - gin and onions was the Hall drink of choice.

[hvs]

As I mentioned, the idea that SABR is about sabermetrics is an accident of history because Bill James named his creation after SABR. Ironically, analytics was and is only a very small part of SABR. It is mostly historical research and comraderie.

[Sarah]

I am a member of the local chapter and we have lots of events throughout the year whatever your interest is. We have a book club where we choose a baseball related book to read and some people come to those events even if they haven't read the book just because they like to talk baseball. :-)