BasebALZ opens at Sun City Texas

January 8th was Opening Day for the BasebALZ program at Sun City Texas.  Thirty participants, caregivers, and volunteers kicked off the Sun City “season” at the Wesleyan at Estrella in Georgetown, Texas.

This new program at Sun City continues the  partnership between SABR and Alzheimer’s Texas to provide baseball reminiscence programs in Central Texas.  BasebALZ project leader Jim Kenton worked closely with volunteers in Sun City, led by fellow SABR member Bob Wakefield, to get the program started there.  Alzheimer’s Texas coordinated the facility, paid for lunch, and handled publicity and registration.

Here’s a quote from one of the caregivers who attended with her husband: “I just wanted to tell you that this program is excellent, fun, and my husband, who has been very depressed and lonely, enjoyed the session greatly.  It was the first time, in a long time, that he was engaged, laughed some, and interacted so well with the volunteers, the other participants, and the presentations.  He especially liked the fact that you provided the Allman Brothers connection.  I also met another caregiver, who is experiencing similar issues as I am, and we have already exchanged phone numbers.”  

Some of the baseball experiences shared by those in attendance:

One went to three of the four games of the 1946 World Series with his Dad at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis.  He is a big Stan Musial fan.

Another played ball as a youngster with Jimmy Piersall, in Waterbury, CT.

Still another is a big Rocky Colavito fan.

The local newspaper, the Williamson County Sun, covered the program in a front page article here: The Sun BasebALZ

2020 is off to a great start!  Sun City will continue on a bi-weekly basis.  The monthly program at the Kerrville V.A. held its first monthly session on January 10.  Season 2 of the San Antonio program kicks off on January 23rd.  And our original program in Austin begins Season 14 (its fifth year) on January 27th.

14th Annual Bill Gilbert Winter Meeting of the Rogers Hornsby Chapter of SABR

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!

Holiday treats, barbecue and hot stove topics abound at December meeting

Fourteen chapter members and guests enjoyed delicious baked goods from Linda and Monte Cely with healthy side portions of barbecue and hot stove topics on Sunday.

As has become a holiday tradition anticipated all year, the Celys brought platters of cookies and treats to share with the group. They also brought holiday baggies so that we could each take an assortment of goodies home with us. Many thanks to Linda and Monte!

One of the main topics of discussion that day was the reported trade of two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians to the Texas Rangers. When Tribe fan Tom M. joined us for lunch, we didn’t know if he had heard the morning news and were hesitant to share it with him. He revealed that he had heard and said, dejectedly, that he half-jokingly hoped that the owner’s next move isn’t to move the team. Several of us thought that the Rangers picked up a quality arm for relatively little. Time will tell.

We also talked about the commissioner’s office’s ongoing investigation of the Houston Astros and the alleged use of live cameras to steal signs in 2017 and beyond. Many of us agreed that the charges – if true – do considerable damage to the Astros and their remarkable run the last three seasons. Some of us expect that fines imposed on the team and suspensions in the Astros’ front office are the likely outcomes.

Perhaps in relation to the investigation, this was the first meeting in recent memory in which Astros gear – a cap, shirt, etc. – was not represented among the monthly meeting participants. Instead, we saw gear representing the Nationals, Cardinals, Yankees, Orioles, Phillies, Indians and Rangers. Also represented were the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, Shea Stadium, George Washington University and UCLA’s baseball national championship in 2013. Jerry paired the UCLA shirt with a cool Santa ballcap. I wore a Seibu Lions ballcap and a Japan World Baseball Classic champions shirt from 2006.

We also discussed Gerrit Cole’s record-breaking deal with the Yankees, making them the early favorites for next season.

This was our 157th consecutive month with a meeting, a streak that started this month 13 years ago. We hope you join us for next month’s Bill Gilbert Winter Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at Texas State University. More information to come. In the meantime, best wishes for a great holiday and New Year!

December Meeting

The December meeting of the Rogers Hornsby Chapter will be held at the birthplace of the Chapter – the County Line BBQ located at 5204 Ranch Road 2222 in Austin (a short distance east of Hwy 360 on 2222) at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 15.  Linda Cely will be bringing her annual holiday treats so combined with the BBQ, attendees are encouraged to arrive hungry. Members, guests and baseball fans in general are welcome to attend.

Please RSVP to Jan Larson at jan.a.larson@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

World Series, MLB awards and new rules for next season among topics at chapter lunch

A wide range of baseball teams and players were represented at the November chapter meeting yesterday, from the suddenly suspect Astros to Rangers, Dodgers, Indians and San Antonio Missions.

We also saw Josh Gibson’s No. 20 jersey for the Washington Homestead Grays, sported by Jerry. Monte wore the jersey and cap for Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. I wore a shirt featuring Ichiro Suzuki.

A dozen chapter members and guests enjoyed a Tex-Mex lunch in southwest Austin. It was the 156th consecutive month with a meeting for the chapter. We also welcomed Chuck, a Rangers fan, to the lunch. He’s a friend and a former coworker of Tom Wancho.

Topics during the lunch included the MLB awards announced earlier in the week. We also discussed the runner interference call in World Series Game 6 that loomed large at the time but probably did not change the outcome of the series. Some of us thought that the interference call was the correct call but wondered if MLB might review this rule in the off-season.

We also considered new rules for next season, including the 26-man roster through most of the season (expands to 28 in September). We also talked about the new rule requiring relief pitchers to face at least three batters or pitch to the end of an inning.

Mark your calendars for the December chapter meeting, which will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at County Line on the Lake (FM 2222 and Loop 360). Linda Cely plans to bring her annual holiday treats, so bring your appetites!

Astros even World Series at chapter watch party

Jim Baker’s companion Ike takes comfort from the Astros rally towel just as Astros fans took comfort from Urquidy’s start and Bregman’s grand slam in World Series Game 4 win.

Fourteen chapter members and guests – and one very good dog – gathered to watch World Series Game 4 to find out if the Washington Nationals would push their advantage to a 3-games-to-1 lead or if the Houston Astros would even the best-of-seven series.

With a dominating five innings from Jose Urquidy, only the third Mexican pitcher to start a World Series game (Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers and Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals are the others), and a two-run home run by Robinson Chirinos and a grand slam by Alex Bregman, the Astros knotted the Series to two games apiece, winning the game 8-1.

For the eighth time in the last nine years, Jim Baker hosted the annual World Series watch party on Saturday at his home, grilling burgers and hot dogs: a feast for baseball-loving fans.

Baker also rolled out his World Series-themed trivia quiz, challenging members with questions about team and individual exploits in the World Series. Jerry Miller, sporting a Washington Nationals jersey and a Montreal Expos cap, won the quiz with 61 points, outpacing second-place finisher Tom Thayer, who had 57 points, and the rest of the field. For his effort, Miller won a mini-figures set of characters from The Simpson’s “Homer at the Bat.” Tom won the Armed Service Edition paperback version of “You Know Me, Al” by Ring Lardner.

Jerry Miller shows off his prize for besting everyone on Jim Baker’s World Series quiz.

To try your hand at Baker’s quiz, click here. The questions are listed first with answers at the end of that page.

Baker also shared an autograph from Bosox slugger Carl Yastrzemski. A friend of the family secured the personalized autograph for a 7- or 8-year-old Jimmy Baker in 1967.

“To Jimmy Baker, Best Wishes — Carl Yastrzemski” (1967)

This was the 155th consecutive month with a chapter meeting, a streak that dates to December 2006. Many thanks to Jim for hosting the World Series Watch Party.

Next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Serranos in southwest Austin (MoPac and 290). A request for RSVPs will be issued in early November. By then, we’ll know the World Series champion along with the season award winners.

Jim Baker’s World Series quiz

Jim Baker wrote and administered this quiz at the World Series Watch Party on Saturday, Oct. 26. Answers are listed at the end. Jerry Miller won the quiz with 61 points, and Tom Thayer was second with 57 points.

TEAM SECTION

The first World Series of the so-called Modern Era was played in 1903. Since then, how many seasons did not end in a World Series and which seasons were they? (1 point each)

The Nationals (nee, Expos) are in their franchise’s first World Series this year, leaving just one franchise never to have made it to the Fall Classic. Which team is that? (1 point)

Since the advent of the LDS format in 1995, which two teams became World Champions while losing only one postseason game, going 11-1? (Team, 2 points each; Year, 1 point each)

In the same era, which two teams became World Champions in spite of losing seven postseason games? (Team, 2 points each; Year, 1 point each)

If the Nationals win the World Series in 2019, they will have to win 12 games to do it and will become the second wildcard team to do so since the advent of the play-in game in 2012. Name the first team to do it (Team and Year, 2 points each)

Which team had the worst regular season record ever for a World Champion? (1 point)

  1. 1985 Royals
  2. 2006 Cardinals
  3. 1987 Twins
  4. 2000 Yankees

INDIVIDUAL SECTION

Two legendary players were on either end of the first run scored in modern World Series history. Who was the pitcher who surrendered it and the player who got the RBI? (2 points each)


Who won the very first World Series MVP Award? (1 point)

  1. Mickey Mantle
  2. Lew Burdette
  3.  Don Larsen
  4.  Johnny Podres

Name the two Florida Marlins who were World Series MVPs. (2 points each)

Four Red Sox players have been World Series MVPs in the 21st Century. Which one of these players is NOT one of them? (1 point)

  1. Mike Lowell
  2. David Ortiz
  3. Curt Schilling
  4. Steve Pearce

Which of these players has the lowest career WAR ever by a Series MVP? (2 points)

  1. Larry Sherry, 1959 White Sox
  2. Ray Knight, 1986 Mets
  3. Bobby Richardson, 1960 Yankees
  4. Pat Borders, 1992 Blue Jays

Owing to ties, there are 13 players in the top 10 all-time World Series home run hitters. Of the 13, only four never appeared with the Yankees in a World Series. Three are Hall of Famers and the fourth is a recently retired second baseman who averaged a home run every 8 World Series plate appearances. Can you name any or all of the four? They have 11, 8, 7 and 7 Series homers respectively. (4 points each)

Three men have hit five homers in a Series and nine have hit four. Of those nine, who is the only one to do it in a sweep? It took him just 17 plate appearances. (3 points)

Who turned the first—and so far, only—unassisted triple play in World Series history? (3 points and an extra point each for naming his team and the year in which it took place and another point on top of that if you spelled his name correctly)

Give yourself a point for every member of the 1919 Chicago White Sox outside the infamous eight you can name (provided they appeared in the World Series). There are 11 of them, including a Hall of Famer, a player who shares his name with a famous modern comedian and another who shares his name with a famous sabermetrician. (11 points in total)

Did you put Lefty Williams on that list? Take him off! He was crooked and lost three games for the Black Sox in 1919. Now name the only pitcher who lost three games in a single World Series while trying to win. (3 points)

Name the only two pitchers with two World Series home runs. They each hit theirs in consecutive seasons over a four-year period from 1967 to 1970. (1 point each)

ANSWERS: Team Section

1904, 1994

The Seattle Mariners, born 1977

1999 Yankees and 2005 White Sox.

2011 Cardinals and 2017 Astros.

2014 Giants

2006 Cardinals, 82-79

ANSWERS: Individual Section

Cy Young of Boston and Honus Wagner of Pittsburgh

Johnny Podres, 1955

Livan Hernandez (1997) and Josh Beckett (2003)

Curt Schilling. Manny Ramirez was the fourth in 2004

Borders, 3.6; Sherry, 5.8; Richardson, 8.2; Steve Pearce, 9.7; Ralph Terry, 11.9; Bob Turley, 13.2; Ray Knight, 13.3

Duke Snider 11, Frank Robinson 8, Goose Goslin 7 and Chase Utley 7 in 56 PA

Lou Gehrig, 1928

Bill Wambsganss, 1920 Indians

Eddie Collins, Shano Collins, Bill James, Dickey Kerr, Nemo Leibold, Grover Lowdermilk, Byrd Lynn, Erskine Mayer, Eddie Murphy, Ray Schalk, Roy Wilkinson.

George Frazier, 1981 Yankees.

Bob Gibson, 1967 and 1968; Dave McNally, 1969 and 1970.

World Series Watch Party

Hornsby chapter member, Jim Baker, will be hosting his annual World Series watch party on Saturday, October 26. Game time for Game Four between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals is 7:07 p.m. CDT. Jim will be providing food. Bring along something to drink if you have specific beverage requirements. Please RSVP to Jim at jimbaker1066@yahoo.com if you plan to attend and for directions, if required, to Jim’s house in Cedar Park, TX.

As season winds down, Baker wins journeymen quiz at September meeting

Eleven chapter members and guests pondered the final two weeks of the season while enjoying an Italian lunch on Saturday.

Inspired by a discussion of journeymen players at a prior meeting, I put together a quiz asking participants to name the franchises that the top five journeymen have played for. Edwin Jackson, currently pitching for the Detroit Tigers, is the all-time leader with 14 franchises, followed by Octavio Dotel (13), and Mike Morgan, Matt Stairs and Ron Villone (each with 12). Details can be found at baseball-reference.com (https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/leaders_most_franchises.shtml).

Jim Baker bested the field with 35 total points, correctly naming the most franchises for these players. For his effort, Jim took home a framed poster with baseball sayings by famous ballplayers (see photo above). For example, Rogers Hornsby is quoted on the poster (“I don’t want to play golf. When I hit the ball, I want someone else to go chase it”). Yogi Berra is also featured (“All pitchers are liars or crybabies”). And Nolan Ryan (“It helps if the hitter thinks you’re a little crazy”). Baker said he’s looking forward to adding the poster to his baseball-themed library at home.

Baseball-themed gear represented at our meeting included the Astros, Yankees, Cardinals, Orioles, Athletics, Rangers and Indians. Also making an appearance were the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate Round Rock Express, the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball and the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League. Jerry Miller sported a cool baseball shirt with a clever equation: 6+4+3 = 2.

Also, Linda Nichols, who attended Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League Championship Series the night before, shared the giveaway for fans: a 2005 National League Championship Replica Ring with Craig Biggio’s name (see photo below)

Mike Dillon posed an interesting question for discussion — are starting pitchers worth or valued less today because they’re typically not pitching deep into games like in years past, or are pitchers who pitch 200+ innings worth or valued more today? Jan Larson surmised that in the coming years, the value for starting pitchers will likely decrease as they’re not expected to go much longer than five innings. It made us wonder: Would you rather have a pitcher go seven innings but give up two runs, or a pitcher that goes five innings with no runs?

With this meeting, the chapter met for the 154th consecutive month, matching the amount of games played in a baseball season before it was expanded to 162 games in 1961. This streak dates to 2006.

Next month’s meeting will be the long-anticipated World Series Watch Party at Jim Baker’s house on Saturday, Oct. 26. We don’t yet know who the pennant winners will be, but we do know that we’ll be watching Game 4 of the World Series. A call for RSVPs and details will be forthcoming in mid-October.