The talks usually cover a wide range of topics that are of interest to baseball fans in general, and this year was no exception. Somewhat surprisingly, there was not much talk about SABRMetrics. This year’s event covered issues that talked about the history of the game and the personal dynamic of various players.
Jane Leavy, acclaimed author of The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood and Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy, among others, gave a great talk. She shared her observations with us about Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, and baseball at large. There was lot of discussion about how players of previous generations had a “collegial sense of community that [today’s players] are missing out on”. She tackled other issues as well.
Is Sandy Koufax really a recluse? (He is not) How would Koufax’s career have been different if he lived in the age of Tommy John surgeries and other medical advances? If Mantle had lived beyond the years of the press looking the other way, how would his life have been different? Would the negative press from his alcohol-induced misdeeds have been a wake-up call? Would his friends or the Yankees have gotten him some help? It was a frank and thought-provoking discussion, one that I will keep in my mind for a while.
Is Sandy Koufax really a recluse? (He is not) How would Koufax’s career have been different if he lived in the age of Tommy John surgeries and other medical advances? If Mantle had lived beyond the years of the press looking the other way, how would his life have been different? Would the negative press from his alcohol-induced misdeeds have been a wake-up call? Would his friends or the Yankees have gotten him some help? It was a frank and thought-provoking discussion, one that I will keep in my mind for a while.
Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, came and spoke to us about the latest happenings in Cooperstown. For those that do not know, this year is the 75th anniversary of the Hall, and there are many events going on. We heard about the upcoming induction ceremony, the planning of a concert in Cooperstown, the release of a commemorative coin for the 75th anniversary, and other great stuff. The Q&A was full of all the topics you would expect – the latest election, who got in and who didn’t, the merits and flaws of the current voting system, PED’s, the Dan Le Batard controversy, and more.
Leila Dunbar, noted appraiser of sports memorabilia and regular contributor on the Antiques Roadshow, gave a riveting presentation on sports collectibles and stories of people making rare finds. It was very cool to see some of the items that have gone for sale and their sale prices. It made lots of us formulate plans to search our attics, basements, and storage units.
The final presentation was a makeshift round table discussion on the 1969 Mets. I know we are not a Mets site, but there was something special about seeing these old-timers who were in attendance during the '69 Series, giving first-hand accounts of their experiences. It almost felt like I was looking into my future, one day telling my stories to some kid in 2033 who only knows Don Mattingly as the name on a plaque in Monument Park. It was a special time.
Speaking of age brackets, I loved getting the chance to chat with the younger people in attendance. I had the chance to talk to Max Mannis and Max Melamed, and talking to them was inspiring and gave me hope for the future. Have you ever had a 12-year old explain to you why BABIP is the best statistical indicator of the value of a hitter to a team? I did – and it was amazing.. Not to mention how much fun it was listening to them quizzing each other on baseball stats and history, reminding me of my own teenage years. By the way, Max Mannis is a blogger on sikids.com, and you should check him out. A note to my editor – in a few years, you are going to want to want to sign this kid up – keep an eye on him!
Regardless of how you feel about SABRMetrics, this group does some great work for those who love the game of baseball. If you ask the people who organize this, they will tell you that this group focuses on the love of the game. They support issues that focus on the social history, the human dimension of the game as well as the statistics. They address topics that talk about not just the players, but the managers, scouts, owners, agents, and anyone associated with the game. It is a welcome place for anyone who loves baseball, regardless of how much they know about baseball. It was a great time, one that would not have been possible with the hard of work of a few individuals.
Regardless of how you feel about SABRMetrics, this group does some great work for those who love the game of baseball. If you ask the people who organize this, they will tell you that this group focuses on the love of the game. They support issues that focus on the social history, the human dimension of the game as well as the statistics. They address topics that talk about not just the players, but the managers, scouts, owners, agents, and anyone associated with the game. It is a welcome place for anyone who loves baseball, regardless of how much they know about baseball. It was a great time, one that would not have been possible with the hard of work of a few individuals.
Ernestine Miller, Evelyn Begley, and the rest of the crew who run the chapter work tirelessly every year to get speakers, plan the event, and put on a great show. Well done, folks!
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