We had a small but vibrant meeting on Oct. 17 at Middlesex Community College.

Highlights:

PAUL MOEHRINGER led off with a presentation of his Pyramid Rating System.  It’s an iterative system, wherein he ranks each season’s players using a standard deviation measure, eliminates the extreme value, reruns the ranking process, and repeats for all players.

MARJORIE ADAMS reviewed her 4 year quest that has led to the inclusion of her Great Great Grandfather, Daniel Lucious ‘Doc’ Adams, on the Pre-Integration Era Ballot for 2016 Hall of Fame voting.  She brought two marvelous displays showing copies of dozens of artifacts from the 1830’s to late 19th Century.  Marjorie is not taking no for an answer, promising that she will continue to lobby for Doc if he doesn’t make it in for 2016.

JEFF DOOLEY, the radio and tv voice of the Hartford Yard Goats (formerly New Britain Rock Cats), AA affilate of the Colorado Rockies, talked about the new $60 million stadium under construction in Hartford.  (Dunkin Donuts Stadium.)  Jeff shared info about tickets, seating and accomodations. In addition to 71 Yard Goats games per year, the target of 500,000 total attendance could be reached with non-Eastern League events including a UConn-UMass ballgame in May, several movie nights, 2 to 3 concerts in 2016 and an AHL Winter Hockey Classic in 2017.

ALAN COHEN talked about the new SABR books that are available including one about the 1965 Minnesota Twins, and some of the upcoming books like the one that documents all of the major league players who had guest roles on the Fox animated series The Simpsons.  Alan also gave us an update on his newest research findings about The Hearst Sandlot Classic, a schoolboy all star game that was played annually from 1946 to 1965.  His research has led to his finding out about the Esquire’s All-American Boys’ Baseball Game which was held from 1944 through 1946. These games not only showcased young players such as Richie Ashburn, Billy Pierce, and Curt Simmons that would become major league players, but also featured Mel Ott, Connie Mack, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner as managers in various years. Alan also told the story of a curious coincidence when he, likely the most knowledgeable person about the Hearst Classic, went to dinner at the First & Last Tavern in Avon, CT and randomly noticed on the wall a team photo of the 1946 Esquire’s Game managers (Cobb and Wagner) of all things!  Fate.

ALAN and KARL CICITTO recapped Mike Sandlock’s 100^th Birthday Party which they attended earlier in the day.  This was a private family celebration that honored Sandllock, MLB’s oldest living former player, on the day he reached the century mark.  PETER SEIDEL and DON HARRISON joined Alan and Karl in presenting to Sandlock an uncorrected manuscript of “100:  The 100 Year Journey of a Baseball Journeyman”.  They also presented a letter of greeting from Commissioner Manfred and a Proclamation from Gov. Dannel Malloy.  Sandlock was talkative, energetic and didn’t look a day over 80.  When asked about Ebbets Field he said, “Oh, how I loved it.  Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds were special places and how I miss them dearly today.”  He also recalled being fed sandwiches by Dodger fans between the games of double headers and how he enjoyed beating Ralph Kiner at Golf at Innis Ardens GC.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/OTHER:

–Devon Whyte, former major leaguer with 3 ASG’s and 7 Gold Gloves, is the guest speaker at the World Series Club of Hartford County on Nov. 5.  “Devo” played in 3 Fall Classics and won 3 rings.

–The Nap Lajoie (R.I.) Chapter will hold its annual Thanksgiving Weekend meeting on Nov. 28 at St. Phillips Parish Center in Greenville, RI.  Steve Payne, a Miami Marlin scout, will appear. Rick Elliott, author of “Clem Labine, Always A Dodger”, will present and offer his book for sale. Rich Gedman may attend if his schedule allows. There will be a book raffle, trivia quiz, presentations and lunch. Len Levin conducts a wonderful chapter meeting so be there if you can.

–The Rabbit Maranville (Springfield, MA) Chapter had a large crowd in attendance to hear former Globe columnist Bob Ryan speak on Sept. 21.

–The Gardner-Waterman (VT) Chapter has set a tentative date of Nov. 7 for a general meeting in beautiful Burlington.

–The Boston Chapter will hold its fall meeting on Nov. 7 at The Non Profit Center, 89 South Street, Boston, close to South Station. The Center is easy to get to, by the Red Line or by parking at the garage at Two Financial Center, right next door.  (More info on sabr.org under Events).

–There was discussion about holding a future regional meeting involving all New England chapters.

–STEVE KREVISKI led an open discussion of the recent National which was held at the swanky Palmer House Hilton in the Windy City.  All agreed it was a terrific city in which to gather.

–Steve led off the Trivia segment with this stumper:  Who is the only HOF’er to come from Morocco?  It is Sam Rice, of course.  (Morocco, Indiana.)

–Steve also led a discussion about where to hold the Holiday Luncheon.

–Deadline for the January issue of The Wood Pile newsletter is Dec. 15.  If you are already committed to contributing please send to Karl your piece(s) by Dec. 15.  (kcicitto@cox.net)  If you are interested in contributing please let Karl know.

–The next meeting of the Hartford Stadium Authority  is on Nov. 3 at 3 pm and is open to the public.  It will be at City Hall in Hartford.

–Our Media Panel event on SABR Day needs a Player.  Do you have contact with a former MLB player that lives locally?  We’d like to add a player to the media panel event, which is held on SABR Day.  (Usually on Saturday, 8 days before the Super Bowl.)  Please let Karl know if you have a local player contact.  (kcicitto@cox.net)

Thanks, all.

-Karl

The Greenwich Old Timers Athletic Association is proud to announce that it will be holding its 55th Annual Sports Awards Dinner on Friday, November 13, 2015 at 6:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenwich, CT.

This year the Old Timers take enormous pleasure in presenting both Wesley Walker and Sparky Lyle as our National Honorees.  Sparky Lyle played for the World Series Champion New York Yankees in 1977 & 1978; he also played for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox. In 1977, Sparky Lyle won the American League CY Young Award. Wesley Walker played for the New York Jets from 1977 to 1989 as a Wide Receiver. In his thirteen seasons with the Jets, he averaged nineteen yards per reception, which is still a Jet team record. Wesley Walker led the NFL in receiving yards in 1978 and received All-Pro honors in both 1978 & 1982.

The Old Timers are equally pleased and excited to present our local honorees; they are Sue Baker, Larry Chiappetta, Ralph Mayo and Tim Ostrye.  Each of these individuals has assisted the young men and women of our community to grow and mature through their participation in athletics. Due to their dedication and spirit, the athletes they have had an influence on have grown into productive, active members of the Greenwich community.

The Greenwich Old Timers Athletic Association’s mission, since it was founded in 1960, is to support and contribute to youth sports and programs that use sport to augment their services.  Monies raised as a result of the communities participation in the Annual Sports Awards Dinner and the Branca Golf Tournament will help to fund individual scholarships and to provide critical financial support to allow local families’ children to participate in athletic programs. The organization also provides funding for youth programs held by many local organizations. To date, the Old Timers have awarded college scholarships to over 100 student-athletes and exceeded $650,000 in total contributions in support of youth athletic programs and student athletes in Greenwich.
For further information regarding tickets and seating, please contact Jim Loughran at 203-223-0485 or by email at jlock1@optonline.net or Marita Valenti at 203-869-9200 or by email at mmvalenti@griffitheharris.com. The Old Timers Athletic Association encourages our membership and sponsors to visit our website for additional information about this event and our organization at www.greenwicholdtimers.org.