Society for American Baseball Research
Rogers Hornsby Chapter
Central and South Texas
Annual Report, June 2015 – May 2016
By Gilbert D. Martinez
Chapter Commissioner
Rogers Hornsby Chapter
The Rogers Hornsby Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research in Central Texas continued its consecutive meeting streak, reaching 114 straight months with a meeting in May 2016.
The chapter’s 10th Annual Winter Meeting in January 2016 was the highlight of the year. Thirty-nine members and guests met at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and heard from Evan Drellich, Astros beat writer for the Houston Chronicle (now with the Boston Herald covering the Red Sox), and Mike Capps, award-winning broadcaster with the Round Rock Express.
Another highlight for the chapter is our baseball reminiscence project with Alzheimer’s Texas, now in its third “season.” We have held sessions at the local Alzheimer’s office, at an area senior living facility, and at the Veterans Administration in Kerrville, Texas. The VA in Texas may have interest in hosting this program at other sites around the state. We have also fielded requests from SABR members in San Diego, California, and Connecticut who are interested in the program. Six chapter members, led by Jim Kenton, are currently volunteering their time for this effort. The project provides an enjoyable and memory-filled program for our Alzheimer’s participants and their caregivers, several of whom have joined SABR.
Through the rest of the year, chapter members met for BBQ, watched Round Rock Express games at the Dell Diamond and gathered to watch the World Series in October at a chapter member’s home. In addition, the chapter met for lunch on SABR Day.
In addition, the Hornsby Chapter provided support to chapter member David Skelton for hosting the inaugural Fall Forum in Waco in September. The forum featured former Major League pitcher Lindy McDaniel and a variety of baseball presentations.
For the sixth consecutive year, chapter member Monte Cely covered the Caribbean World Series, which in 2016 was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Cely posted updates, summaries and photos on the Hornsby Chapter website chronicling Mexico’s undefeated run to a fourth Serie del Caribe win in the last six years.