19th Annual Winter Meeting kicks off the new year on Jan. 4!

By Jerry Miller

With Christmas behind us, Hanukkah under way and New Year’s on the horizon, it can only mean that the time for our annual Bill Gilbert Winter Meeting is nigh. The meeting is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Old Main Room 320 at Texas State University in San Marcos (directions below).

For our planning purposes, please RSVP by Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.

This year’s meeting, which is free and open to the public, will feature the customary combination of chapter traditions and new presentations, by chapter members and others, including:

  • Former MLB pitcher Ross Ohlendorf will talk about his career pitching for the Yankees, Pirates, Padres, Nationals, Rangers and Reds and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in NPB;
  • Longtime broadcaster for the Round Rock Express Mike Capps will share stories about joining the radio team for the Texas League’s Minnesota Twins affiliate, the Wichita Wind Surge, and for UTSA baseball in 2024;
  • The finalization and announcement of the results of our Hall of Fame voting which, although technically “mock,” has been unusually accurate in predicting the outcome of the BBWAA voting, to be announced Jan. 21, 2025. Texas-style early voting is already under way with online voting until noon Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 (after that, you can vote in person at the winter meeting, but only one vote per person!): online ballot.
  • The awarding of trophies for our annual Predictatron contest by Jim Baker, as well as acknowledgment by Ryan Pollack of the winners of our Awardatron competition;
  • Our annual roundup from Round Rock Express General Manager Tim Jackson;
  • The newly renamed “Ballpark Memories,” in which chapter members briefly share their best moments from the 2024 season, either from the floor or our prepared PowerPoint presentation. (If you wish to submit photos for the PowerPoint, or anything else for the meeting, please contact Jerry Miller as soon as possible at GJMEsq@sbcglobal.net);
  • A variety of presentations from chapter members, including a successful 47-year trek to all 30 MLB ballparks (with stops in Sacramento/Las Vegas and Tampa Bay on the way?), a pandemic-inspired quest to fully document 65+ years of attending hundreds of major league games, a new way of evaluating catchers and more!;
  • A Winter Meeting-themed quiz (with prizes!);
  • Bring your unwanted baseball books for the book swap; and
  • Best of all, the chance to schmooze and socialize with friends new and old about our great game, and to reminisce about seasons past and discuss seasons to come.

In addition to our program, we will again be featuring a baseball-themed lunch of hot dogs, chips and Cracker Jack, courtesy of chapter members Linda and Monte Cely. Cost is $5, cash only (no cards, other than St. Louis), so visit your local ATM before the meeting.

Old Main at Texas State University. The winter meeting will be in Old Main Room 320 on the third floor.

Directions to the meeting are as follows:

  1. From I-35, take exit 206 (Aquarena Springs Dr.).
  2. Travel west on Aquarena Springs Drive, which turns into University Drive.
  3. After crossing the San Marcos River, you will come to a traffic light. Turn right onto Sessom Drive. At the first light, turn left on State Street and go up a steep road toward Old Main (pictured above). Go through a gate (the gate should be up) and continue up the hill.
  4. At the top of the hill, make a sharp left turn and drive up to Old Main.
  5. Look for parking on this road that winds around the side and back of Old Main. You can find additional parking at the Pleasant Street Garage, located at the corner of N. LBJ and Pleasant Street. To reach this garage, after you pass through the gate, continue up the hill, then down the hill to the stop sign on Pleasant Street. Turn left; the entrance to the parking garage will be on your left.

You do not need a parking pass to park on campus – however, do not park in spaces not marked as parking spaces or in handicapped parking (unless you have the appropriate tag displayed).

Meeting is on the third floor – both stairs and elevator are available.

For those unable to join us in person, we’ll have a Zoom option. Please register for the Zoom meeting at this link.

We hope to see you on the 4th!