2015 Chapter Winter Meeting

THE WINTER MEETING WILL NOW BE HELD SATURDAY, JANUARY 17

Society for American Baseball Research

ROGERS HORNSBY CHAPTER
Ninth Annual WINTER MEETING
 
at TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
OLD MAIN BUILDING, ROOM 320
San Marcos, Texas
 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2015
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
 
 
THE LINEUP (in alphabetical order):
 
JIM BAKER – will handle warm-up duties.
 
ALYSON FOOTER – national correspondent for MLB.com.  Alyson will tell us about media trends in baseball broadcasting
 
BILL GILBERT – will provide his views on the 2015 Houston Astros
 
JIM KENTON – will tell us about the Baseball Reminiscence League, a baseball-related initiative to support fans suffering from Alzheimer’s
 
JAN LARSON – will conduct a discussion and straw poll for 2016 induction to the Hall of Fame
 
WALLY MOON – 1954 NL Rookie of the Year.  Wally will tell us about his baseball experiences with the Cardinals and Dodgers 
 
Copies of Wally’s autobiography, Moon Shots, will be available for purchase.  Wally is offering this book at $15, a bargain.  Cash only, please 
 
DAN WALSH – will present a sabermetric analysis based upon Starting Pitcher Game Scores
 
 
We’ll also have our usual features:
 
LUNCH – register upon arrival and sign up for your lunch choices; it’ll be delivered — all for a nominal charge – $10 again this year.  PLEASE NOTE – 1) We must have your lunch order by 10am in order to get delivery by noontime and 2) We can only accept cash.
 
BOOK EXCHANGE – members are encouraged to bring a baseball book to exchange.
 
MEMORABILIA DISPLAY – there is scheduled time after lunch for memorabilia owners to describe & discuss.
 
DRESS CODE – wearing your favorite team’s cap, jersey, or sportswear is always encouraged.
 

Contact any of the chapter officers if you have any questions or need more info:

Gilbert Martinez : gmartinez46@austin.rr.com

Monte Cely : cely@swbell.net

Jan Larson : jan.a.larson@gmail.com

COME EARLY, STAY LATE, HAVE FUN ! 

The meeting will be on the third floor in the Old Main building on the Texas State University campus. Look for the elevator on the first floor, or use the stairs.

Here’s a photo of Old Main:

 
 
Directions to Texas State University-San Marcos
 
If you’re traveling north from San Antonio, take I-35 and take Exit 206, Aquarena Springs Drive.
 
If you’re traveling south from Austin, take I-35 and take Exit 206, Aquarena Springs Drive.
 
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.
 
If you get lost or need help, call Gilbert Martinez (cell phone: 512-963-1263).
 
Use this link to see a map of the Texas State campus: www.maps.txstate.edu
 

 

November Chapter Meeting Recap

Nine chapter members met Thursday, November 18 at Iron Works BBQ in downtown Austin.  Off-season discussion topics were wide ranging, including current trade and free-agent market activity, the recently completed playoffs and World Series, the Cy Young voting, and the Astros’ new TV contract to appear locally on AT&T u-Verse via ROOT Sports.

Mike Dillon posed a quiz topic that we worked on as a group — With Albert Pujols recently joining the 500-home run club, could we name all the previous 500 home run hitters?  There are now 26 players who have hit at least 500 career home runs.  See how many you can name.

Monte Cely covered the status of the 2015 Hornsby Chapter Winter Meeting agenda.  Wally Moon, 1954 NL Rookie of the Year, and Alyson Footer, MLB network national correspondent, will be our two headliners.  The upcoming Winter Meeting will be held Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Texas State University.  More details will be forthcoming.

Our next chapter meeting will be Tuesday, December 16 at 6pm back at Iron Works BBQ.  A reminder and call for rsvp’s will be emailed to chapter members as that date approaches.

Book Review: Houston Baseball – The Early Years 1861-1961

Title:  Houston Baseball – The Early Years 1861-1961

Editor and Contributors:  

Mike Vance (editor) with Bill McCurdy, Bob Dorrill, Joe Thompson, Steve Bertone, Marsha Franty and Mickey Herskowitz

Published:  2014 by Bright Sky Press; 368 pages; ISBN – 978-1-939055-74-3; $49.95 new

Special purchase offer:  While they last, SABR Hornsby Chapter members can purchase this book for $40.00, delivered.  Send a check made out to "Houston Baseball – The Early Years" c/o Bob Dorrill, 2318 Crimson Valley Court, Kingwood, TX 77345.

This book is a project of SABR’s Larry Dierker Chapter and chronicles baseball in Houston prior to the arrival of the Major League Colt .45s in 1962.  Individual chapters cover different eras of baseball in Houston – including:  Ante-bellum early baseball (1836-1861); pre-professional ball (1861-1887); early professional baseball (1888-1905);  the Texas League and affiliation with the Cardinals; and the Post-WWII era and transition to the Majors.  

Other chapters portray Houston’s ballparks, the Dixie Series, Black baseball, Amateur and Semi-Pro ball, and Spring Training/Exhibition baseball in Houston.  

No matter your particular interests in baseball, this well-researched and richly illustrated book has something for everyone.  Details of ante-bellum baseball (yes, there was baseball in Houston before the Civil War helped the sport to expand), the Buffaloes’ long relationship with Branch Rickey and the Cardinals, and the machinations that brought major league baseball to Houston, all offer revealing insight into the history of baseball in the Bayou City.

Whether or not you’re from Houston, a Buffs or Astros fan, a SABR member should enjoy this outstanding book.   

Chapter members watch Giants get even

A small group of hearty Hornsby members traveled to the northwestern lands of Cedar Park to watch the San Francisco Giants get even with the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 of the 2014 World Series.

Fueled by delicious cheeseburger sliders, cookies and brownies by host Jim Baker along with a mayonnaise-less cole slaw by Raeanne Martinez, five members provided our own commentary to much of the game, which the Giants won 11-4 after trailing early 4-1.

While there was no official World Series trivia quiz, there was plenty of chatter on social media to challenge us. After Giants reliever Yusmeiro Petit (he of the robust .049 batting average) hit a bloop single in the 4th inning, the television broadcast noted that that was the first hit by a reliever in a World Series since Al Leiter did it in Game 4 in 1993 in which the Blue Jays outlasted the Phillies, 15-14.

Jayson Stark of ESPN noted on Twitter the name of the last National League reliever to get a hit in the World Series, so I proffered it as a question. After a few seconds of cranial gear-turning, Ryan Pollack offered, “Jesse Orosco?” Resident Mets fan and expert Jim Baker scoffed and said Orosco was a horrible hitter and couldn’t have been the correct answer, but, of course, it was! Orosco got a hit in Game 7 in 1986! (Later, Raeanne Martinez found Orosco’s career batting average, .169, confirming Baker’s suspicion.)

Speaking of Ryan Pollack, he noted that his first Hornsby Chapter meeting was the year before at the group’s World Series Watch Party. Also, Ryan got married a few weeks after SABR 44 in Houston and watched the stars align to attend ALCS Game 1 in Baltimore – it’s been quite a year for him! (You can read about Ryan’s Game 1 experience by clicking here.)

There was also an update on recently moved-away Eric Robinson, whom we had last heard had moved to West Texas seeking fame and fortune. Raeanne Martinez bumped into him at a book festival in Midland two weeks ago. Eric shared with Raeanne that he met Jim Morris, the relief pitcher who made his MLB debut at age 35 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999.

Many thanks to Jim Baker for hosting the World Series Watch Party for the fourth consecutive year. As I have always found, watching baseball with my knowledgeable Hornsby pals is the best way to watch baseball.

This was the 95th consecutive month in which the Hornsby Chapter has met.

The November meeting hasn’t been scheduled yet, but we’ll announce the date as we get closer.

(Note: Giants vs. Royals graphic illustration by Jim Baker)

Chapter members ponder playoff picture

Eleven chapter members and guests met for barbeque in downtown Austin, chatting about teams fighting for playoff spots in the final week of the regular season.

 

Jan Larson and Gilbert Martinez shared some stories about the last two Astros home games over the weekend. Martinez also did his best to discount the rumor that he fathered Astros phenom Jose Altuve. No one knows for sure, but the rumor appears to have started in West Texas earlier this week.

 

Baseball conversations focused on some of the favorite teams of the members in attendance. Ryan Pollack is encouraged by the play of his Baltimore Orioles, despite losing some key players to injury and suspension. The key down the stretch, he said, has been pitching and defense, but Pollack noted that the O’s have also benefited from the down years by the Rays and Red Sox.

 

Dan Walsh said he feels good about his Los Angeles Dodgers winning the NL West.

 

Mike McNulty and others wondered if the Boston Red Sox will rebound next season. We talked about ESPN writer Jayson Stark’s recent column that posed this question, “Has there ever been a team that lost 111 games or more one year and then won more games than the defending World Series champs the next?” The short answer is no, and, according to Stark, it’s not even close. But, going into games on Tuesday, the Houston Astros had one more win (69) than the Red Sox and was even in losses.

 

The New York Yankees fans in attendance – Jan Larson and Michael Hammond – both think that their team needs a lot of help if Derek Jeter’s final season is to be extended.

 

Speaking of Jeter, Larson has plans to be at Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 25. Of greater interest to Martinez (and perhaps few others), Larson will also be at the Astros-Mets game at Citi Field the next night.

 

Another topic of discussion included the overall improvement by the Astros this season, but some expressed worry about the team’s missteps this season – such as the failure to sign their No. 1 draft pick and two others, and the firing of manager Bo Porter.

 

The chapter will next meet on Saturday, Oct. 25, for Game 4 of the World Series. As we have done in recent years, we’ll gather for a watch party at the Cedar Park home of Jim Baker. More details to follow, including the names of the teams to play in the aforementioned World Series. Stay tuned for more details.

September Meeting

We will be gathering at Iron Works BBQ located at 100 Red River in downtown Austin on Tuesday, September 23 starting at 6:00 p.m.

There is a small parking lot on-site, a larger lot on the south side of Cesar Chavez plus large pay lots across the street to the east.  Please RSVP to Jan Larson at jan.a.larson@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

First, Only and Mostly

 

First, Only and Mostly

by Dan Walsh

(Presented at chapter meeting on August 26, 2014)

Questions 1-14 are worth 1 point, 15-23 worth two points, 24 is worth three points and 25 is worth 5 points.

(Move the mouse over the blank space to see the answer)
1. Name the first designated hitter in major league history.

Ron Blomberg, 1973
2. Name the only pitcher to hit two grand slams HR in one game. Tony Cloninger, 1966.
3.  This pitcher holds the record for most World Series wins during a career. Whitey Ford

4. After Babe Ruth, who was the first player to hit 500 home runs in his career?

 Jimmy Foxx
5. For players who began their career after 1950, the highest career batting average is held by …
 Tony Gwynn, .338 BA
6. This player holds the record for most runs scored during his career. Rickey Henderson
7. Name the youngest player to win a league batting title. Al Kaline, 20 in 1955
 8. The first home run in the Astrodome was hit by …
 Mickey Mantle
 9. This player holds the record for most career hits in All-Star games. Willie Mays
10. The only player to win the World Series MVP award while playing for the losing team. Bobby Richardson, Yankees, 1960

11. Name the only player to win the league MVP award in both leagues.

 Frank Robinson
12. The first player to sign a contract of $1,000,000 per year was …
 Nolan Ryan
13. This player has the most career wins for a left-handed pitcher. Warren Spahn, 363 wins

14. The first player to steal 100 bases in one season.

 Maury Wills, 1962, 104 SB
15. For 50 years, Hank Aaron was the first player listed in the Baseball Encyclopedia or other player registers.  Name the player who replaced Aaron as the first name listed in a player register. David Aardsma

16. The most RBI by one player in a game is 12.  Name the two players who accomplished this feat.

 Jim Bottomley, 1924 and Mark Whiten, 1993
17. The record for most strikeouts by a pitcher in one game is held by …
 Tom Cheney, 21K (16 IP)

18. Name the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter on opening day of a season.

 Bob Feller

19. Name the player who has won the most Gold Gloves during his career.

 Greg Maddux, 18
20. The first relief pitcher to win a Cy Young award was …
 Mike Marshall, 1974
21. Name the only player to win Rookie-of-Year, MVP, and Cy Young awards during his career. Don Newcombe.  RoY (1949), CY & MVP (1956)
22. The first Latin American player to win an MVP was …
 Zoilo Versalles, AL – 1965

23. Name the only player to get a hit for two different teams in two different cities on the same day.

 Joel Youngblood, 8/4/82

24. With a record of 211 wins and 222 losses, this is the only pitcher to win 200 games during his career, and have an overall losing record.

 Bobo Newsom

25. Name the only player in the Hall-of Fame to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat AND he did not hit another home run during his 20 year career.

 Hoyt Wilhelm

 

August Meeting Wrap-Up

Ten members gathered at Iron Works BBQ in downtown Austin for the August meeting of the Rogers Hornsby Chapter.  Topics of discussion included Gary McIntosh’s fantasy baseball league, Jose Altuve’s chase for the Houston Astros’ team record for hits in a season and Mike McNulty’s recent trip to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.  Dan Walsh presented a trivia quiz that was won by Jan Larson.  The date of the September meeting is TBD.  Details will be forthcoming.