On Saturday, January 11th 2020 we’ll gather at Old Main Building on the Texas State University campus in San Marcos, TX for our 14th annual Winter Meeting, the second to be named in honor of chapter founder Bill Gilbert.

We cordially invite all SABR members and their guests to join us.

Keynote: Jon Pessah

Jon Pessah was a founding editor of ESPN the Magazine. He has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, managed the sports departments for Newsday and the Hartford Courant, and edited, wrote, and ran the investigative team for ESPN the Magazine.

Jon is the author of two baseball books:

• The Game — an insider’s account of the run-up to 1994 player’s strike that cancelled the World Series and set the tone for future labor/owner relations in MLB. Featuring Bud Selig, Don Fehr, and current MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred as well as a supporting cast of owners and players.
• Yogi: A Life Behind the Mask — a forthcoming biography of Yankees icon Yogi Berra. Releasing Spring 2020.

Jon will join us remotely via video chat.

Featured Speakers: Tim Jackson & Mike Capps, Round Rock Express

Tim Jackson is the General Manager of the Round Rock Express. He joined the Express staff in March of 2010. He was promoted to General Manager in October 2015 after serving as assistant GM, baseball operations for one season. Tim oversees the day-to-day business and baseball operations of the team.

Mike Capps serves as the Director of Broadcasting for the Round Rock Express and has been the voice of the Express since day one. An author, reporter and T.V. anchor, Mike brings over 25 years of news experience to the Express. He has been broadcasting baseball for the last 19 years, including three major league games with ESPN Radio, one in 2005 and two in 1998.

Tim and Mike will discuss all things Astros, major and minor leagues, and provide commentary on the ongoing Professional Baseball Agreement negotiations.

Member Presentations

In addition to our keynote and featured speakers, our agenda includes the following:

• Eric Robinson will talk about the Chinese national baseball team’s experience with the Texas AirHogs
• Monte Cely will discuss the new rules that apply to the 2020 season
• Tom Thayer will present on competitive balance throughout baseball history
• Mike McNulty will update us on the BasebALZ group
• Peter Myers will talk about the 1953 Hall of Fame Game

And as always we will have quizzes, trivia, mock HOF voting, a baseball book exchange, memorabilia show and tell, and more!

Remember to Bring

• $12 cash for lunch from Which Which. Exact change is preferred. Checks are not accepted.
• Any memorabilia you’d like to share or discuss. We’ll have a table for display and have scheduled time for people to present their items to the group.
• Any baseball-related books you’d like to exchange.

Timeframe

We plan to begin at 9:30 AM and envision ending around 4:30 PM. There will be a 45-minute break for lunch as well as a 15-minute afternoon break.

Directions

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.
4. Just before the first light, turn left on State Street and go up a steep road toward Old Main.
5. Go through a gate (the gate should be up) and continue up the hill.
6. At the top of the hill, make a sharp left turn and drive up to Old Main.
7. 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).
The meeting room is on the third floor in Room 320. There is an elevator on the first floor, or you can take the stairs.

Tell your friends! Hope to see you there!

For ten years the Hornsby chapter has held an annual Winter Meeting where Central and South Texans can talk baseball during the offseason. It’s a full day of baseball content, and it’s always a blast. This year’s conference will be no different!

Details

• When: Saturday January 14th, 2017
• Time: 9:45 AM – 4:30 PM
• Where: Old Main Building, third floor. Texas State Campus, San Marcos TX
• You’ll have the opportunity to purchase lunch for $10 from Which Which as you enter the meeting. Please bring cash for this purpose.
• Directions:

  From I-35, take exit 206 (Aquarena Springs Dr.) Travel west on Aquarena Springs Drive, which turns into University Drive. After crossing the San Marcos River, you will come to a traffic light. Turn right onto Sessom Drive. Just before the first light, turn left on State Street and go up a steep road toward Old Main. Go through a gate (the gate should be up) and continue up the hill. At the top of the hill, make a sharp left turn and drive up to Old Main. 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).

  The meeting room is on the third floor in Room 320. There is an elevator on the first floor, or you can take the stairs.

Lineup

Dr. Bobby Brown

• Former player, New York Yankees
• President, American League, 1984-1994

Dr. Bobby Brown is a national baseball treasure. Born in 1924, he played for the New York Yankees from 1946-1952 and again in 1954. He is a lifetime .279 hitter but will be known mostly as a four-time World Series champion (1947, 1949, 1950, 1951) who hit .439 in the Fall Classic.

After retiring as a player, Dr. Brown settled in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to practice cardiology. But his passion for baseball could not be extinguished. He became an executive with the Texas Rangers, and in 1983 he was elected president of the American League. He remained in that position for ten years, resigning in 1994.

In addition to his baseball and medical accomplishments, Dr. Brown served in both World War II and the Korean War, earning medals for his valor and bravery. We are honored to have him speak at this year’s Winter Meetings.

Mike Acosta

Authentication Manager, Houston Astros

Mike Acosta is historian and official MLB authenticator for the Houston Astros. He started as a broadcast intern with the Astros in 1999 and has worked in a variety of departments since then, including customer service. For about 13 years, he has been in charge of the Astros archive. In 2009, he became the team’s authenticator, verifying game-used items such as baseballs, bats and uniforms.

Mike Capps

Director of Broadcasting, Round Rock Express

Mark Saccomanno

Former first baseman, Houston Astros

Mark Saccomanno is a native Texan who played baseball in the Houston Astros organization. At age 17, Mark was awarded the Klein Forest High School Golden Glove Award and was selected to the 17-and-under AAU National All-Tournament Team. At 18, Mark was named to the Second-Team All-District 16-5A as a shortstop and received the National Scholar Athlete Award.

After playing baseball for Baylor University, Mark was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2003. He made his major-league debut on September 8, 2008 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is one of the select few major leaguers who homered on their first major-league pitch. Mark’s came off Ian Snell in the bottom of the 5th to give the Astros a 1-0 lead. They would go on to win the game by that same margin, 3-2.

Bo Carter

Co-author, Dizzy: Dean of Baseball and My Podnah

Bo Carter, a veteran of 40-plus years in college media relations, is no stranger to college athletics,  communications and the business world. Carter has worked with college athletics since September 1970 and also has taught journalism and worked as a syndicated columnist for the last two decades. He also has been a consultant and columnist with the National Football Foundation since August 2006  after working with the Big 12 Conference for 10 years and the Southwest Conference from 1986-96 as media relations director. Carter, a native of Sheffield, Ala., and 1974 cum laude graduate in classics at Vanderbilt, was was named to the College Sports Information Directors Hall of Fame in July 2005 and completed a Masters degree in journalism at the University of North Texas in Aug. 2006.

Bo will have books for sale for $27 (includes tax). He will also be signing copies.

Activities

In addition to the these speakers, we’ll have the following activities planned:

• Quiz Bowl / Trivia hosted by Jim Baker
• Mock Hall of Fame balloting hosted by Jan Larson
• Baseball Alzheimer’s Project update by Jim Kenton
• Memorabilia show-and-tell presentations
• Donated baseball books you can take home

This event is open to all. You do not have to be a SABR member or a member of the Hornsby chapter to attend. Come hang out and have fun talking baseball!