The Society for American Baseball Research and its members accomplish incredible things together. To learn more about what we accomplished between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009, read the latest edition of the SABR Annual Report. And imagine what we will accomplish this year....

On a sadder note, the SABR community was deeply saddened to learn of two recent deaths to two leaders in the organization: founder Dan Ginsburg and NWSABR leader Paul Andresen. Dan was only 15 years old when he attended the 1971 meeting that would grow to be the SABR we know today, Ginsburg established himself as a first-class researcher. A full obituary is posted on the SABR website.

Andresen served on the SABR national board and was a fixture in the NWSABR Chapter. His obituary can be found here.

If you are looking for a way to get together with SABR members and keep your baseball fix going after the regular season ends, consider attending the inaugural SABR Arizona Fall League Conference November 12-14, 2009.

The registration fee of $75 include:

tickets to four AFL games
round trip bus transportation between the hotel and the ballparks
an Arizona Fall League media guide
an Arizona Fall League program
the kickoff breakfast (speakers include AFL found Roland Hemond, AFL president Steve Cobb, and MLB General Manager (TBA))
ballpark dinner
Registration for the Arizona Major League Alumni dinner is sold separately at $75 person. The dinner will feature presentation of the Arizona Baseball Awards honoring the top Major and Minor League players from Arizona as well as the top college, junior college, and prep baseball and softball players.

The Rocky Mountain SABR chapter holds its 12th annual banquet on November 13, 2009. This year's banquet is themed Baseball Music and Art. The event will feaure baseball recording artist Chuck Brodsky, San Diego SABR member Andy Strasberg, former New York Yankees shortstop Bobby Meacham, and Rockies owner Dick Monfort. As part of the festivities, the SABR is sponsoring an exhibit of baseball-related art from artists around the country that will be on display for two weeks before the banquet and auctioned off the night of the banquet. For more information, contact Paul Parker at: ballparkptp@comcast.net.

McFarland and Co. has plans to publish a new series on historic ballparks, which will be edited by members David Cicotello and Angelo Louisa. The publisher is currently taking requests for proposal for the series. Details are available on the SABR website.

For those who were unable to attend SABR 39 in Washington, DC, we have posted a recap of some of the awards and other highlights on the convention website. A summary of events will also be included in the next issue of the SABR Bulletin.

Want to look great in some new SABR duds? Visit the SABR Store and take advantage of our online birthday sale. Selected shirts, books, and other merchandise are heavily discounted (by 38%) through September 8.

And don't forget to tell your baseball-loving friends and family who haven't yet joined SABR about the September Special. They can join today and for only an additional $9.95, their membership will be paid through the end of 2010, plus they'll receive a free copy of the SABR List and Record Book and the last of the 2009 publications (North American addresses only).

Send them the link to the SABR Store now!

Yours in baseball,

John Zajc, Executive Director