Some of you who’ve been on TalkNats for a while may remember a few posts a year ago about the annual meeting of the local chapter of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR). Several TN regulars attended and found the day enjoyable and educational. The 2016 posts can be found here and here.
This year’s event (the 46th annual meeting of this chapter) is coming up, and it’s open to members and non-members alike. Here are the details, courtesy of Chapter President David Raglin:
Date: Saturday, February 4, 2017, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Site: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge, 1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, VA 22209-1602, (703) 807-2000 — walking distance from the Rosslyn Metro station on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines. Parking is free in the hotel’s parking deck.
Cost: $37 for SABR members and guests (in honor of Stephen Strasburg); $19 for ages 15 and under.
Includes a lunch buffet with chicken parmesan, vegetarian lasagna, tomato-basil mozzarella salad, antipasto salad, garlic bread, assorted desserts, coffee, water and iced tea, and morning and afternoon coffee service.
Raglin also provided a schedule, which includes some interesting and familiar names:
* Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
* Jerome Nelson, a baseball arbitrator who gave a “Talkin’ Baseball” talk on “Resolving Baseball Disputes: Arbitration of Salaries, Grievances, Drug Programs, Sexual Assault, and Abuse.” He’ll speak about the baseball arbitration process and the new Basic Agreement.
* Bruce Adams and Tim Wendel, on Cuba. Bruce went to Cuba last summer with the Cal Ripken Baseball League, and Tim is the author of two fictional works on Cuban baseball and has been to Cuba three times.
* Mark Pankin will be subbing for Dave Smith and will present Smith’s talk from the 2016 SABR Convention, “The Myth of the Closer,” winner of the Doug Pappas Research Award for the best oral presentation.
* Paul Dickson, who will speak on his upcoming book, “Leo Durocher: Baseball’s Prodigal Son.” Paul is a recipient of SABR’s Chadwick Award as one of baseball’s best researchers.
* Glenn Donnellan, National Symphony violinist and National Anthem performer at Nats games on his “Electric Slugger” custom-made baseball bat violin.
A raffle is held throughout the day (tickets sold for $1), with the many winners getting to choose from a large number of used baseball books and memorabilia items. Last year I came home with several fun books including a bio of Sandy Koufax and a book about the hidden ball trick. Bring something from your own collection to donate to the cause if you like.
Registration is old school – by January 30, send a check payable to SABR to Dave Paulson, 5400 Vantage Point Rd. #801, Columbia, MD 21044. Provide your name and address, and if you want confirmation that your registration was received, provide your phone number or email address as well.
Thanks to David Raglin for allowing us to post this info. (I borrowed liberally from his email invitation.) Those of us who attended last year really enjoyed ourselves. If you decide to go, make sure to let folks here know in the comments so we can find each other. Hope to see you there!
