Category: Event Announcements

July meeting coming to the Wolff, trivia team on SABR53 podium

Greetings, Hornsbyites. We bring news regarding trivia at SABR53 and our upcoming July meeting. This month, we’ll be heading to Wolff Stadium on Saturday, July 19 at 7:05 p.m. when the Missions host the Amarillo Sod Poodles. We’ve scoped out Section 204 for a block of seats in rows R, S, T, and U, seats 1-6, listed at $26.52 each. Please purchase your tickets directly from the Missions website (link below goes directly to Section 204) as soon as possible to secure a seat in this block. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Sod Poodles vs Missions, Sat, July 19, 2025, 7:05 p.m.

Now, for highlights from our chapter participation in last week’s SABR53 conference. I counted 15 heads from the Hornsby Chapter at the Westin in Irving, including four presenters: Eric Bynum, John Fredland, new member Brenden Gilbreath, and Ira Siegel. We also stormed the new-format trivia contest, which featured three competitions: team trivia, individual trivia, and Immaculate Feud (a mashup of Immaculate Grid and Family Feud, with 5-person teams using Baseball Reference questions and data from the last eight months for responses).

Several of our members attempted the insanely hard written questions in the preliminary round of the individual competition, with none advancing. The Hornsby Team, consisting of Mike Lassman, Jim Baker, Cy Morong, and Eric Bynum, took on the 40-question written-response team preliminary on Thursday, where the top team scored 24. The top six, plus ties, advanced, and we scored 18 points in a tie for the last spots. In the eight-team semifinal with 40 more questions, we placed a solid second with 20 points.

The final team trivia round shifted to a live Jeopardy format on Saturday night. The board presented six categories: Mascot Names, That Sounds Familiar, Numbers Game, Cy Young Colleges, Rookies of the Year, and Texas Trades. With Cy, Jim, and Mike firing first, we took an early lead before the ringers on the other team (all-stars from the individual competition!) got going. Mid-game, Eric dominated the Texas Trades category to mount a comeback. Still, as the board emptied, we fell behind (OMG, 2002 NL RoY Jason Jennings and mascot Dinger were two answers), lacking enough points to close the gap with their correct final Jeopardy answer of Ugueth Urbina as a double-unique name no other player has. It was a valiant effort and a fantastic runner-up achievement, nonetheless, in a highly competitive field.

Here are a few more photos I caught of our folks at SABR53.

Our presenters received kudos for their strong presentations from the judges, and everyone I spoke to had a great time at the conference – still, I’m glad to be home. See you all soon.

 

 

It’s June, and we said, “What about breakfast at Rudy’s?”

Our next Hornsby Chapter monthly meeting brings us together at an earlier start time, 9:30 a.m., Saturday, June 14, for an inviting selection of breakfast tacos and self-serve beverages on the covered patio of Rudy’s Country Store, just off TX 360 at Stoneridge Road (drivers may notice the Shell station first).

Ryan Pollack will host our trivia quiz, and I’m pretty sure the 2025 Colorado Rockies will not be any of the correct answers. It’s sure to be intriguing where this month’s quiz goes. We will also have insight on the field for Omaha and the 2025 Men’s College World Series by that time.

While seating should be open in the 9:30 a.m. window, hitting the mobile-friendly RSVP form helps us know who and how many to expect, especially if you are joining us for the first time (or first in a while). We’ll see you there!

June 2025 Monthly Meeting RSVP form

 

May game outing to see the Express on the 17th will feature Star Wars Night

Our 222nd consecutive monthly meeting is planned for our second game outing in 2025, this time to see the Round Rock Express take on the Oklahoma City Comets at Dell Diamond on Saturday, May 17, game time 7:15 p.m. It’s Star Wars Night in the park, with two chances for Hornsby members to socialize that evening:

  • Some members gather for an optional dinner at the Salt Lick BBQ adjacent to Dell Diamond. Salt Lick policy is only to seat complete parties, so we ask members and their guests to RSVP using our mobile-friendly form for an accurate headcount and arrive by 5 p.m. *sharp*. An added benefit of early arrival is free parking in or near the Salt Lick parking lot, and after dinner, it’s a short walk over to the stadium.
  • Game attendees should purchase their tickets via the Round Rock Express site. We are eying a block of seats down the right field line in section 125, rows 16, 17, 18, and 19, seats 16-24 (with 24 being an aisle), where tickets are $23 each. Purchase seats as soon as possible to ensure being close to the group.

Dell Diamond is cashless, and card or mobile device payments are accepted for parking and at all concession booths. Join us on Saturday the 17th – significant others and kids are welcome. Where else will you get lightsaber lessons, a drone show, and baseball?

RSVP for the Salt Lick BBQ PreGame

Purchase tickets for the Express-Comets game

April backyard meeting at the Halls coming up on the 13th

The 2025 regular season has begun in earnest with all 30 teams in action. Gold-lettered Dodger unis, a Rays walkoff HR in their rented stadium, and a White Sox win highlighted Opening Day. Every team still has hope, which may change by the time we meet next.

For our 221st consecutive monthly meeting on Sunday, April 13th, at noon (note the slightly earlier start time), once again we have the privilege of gathering at the home of the Halls – Nicole, Brian, and Bailey. For privacy’s sake, it’s in this square, about a mile west of the University of Texas campus.

Lunch will feature hot dogs, chips, and light dessert, as well as bottled water, courtesy of the Halls. Members and guests are encouraged to bring your own beverage of choice. Team Hall is also devising the baseball quiz.

Please RSVP for this meeting – if you need the exact address of the Hall’s home, check Yes to the last question on the form, and we’ll email it directly to you. The RSVP form will be open until Thursday, April 10th.

We look forward to seeing you all there! Yay, 2025 baseball!

It’s a mild Hurricane (Grill & Wings) for our March 16 meeting

One of the more interesting developments around Spring Training so far has been MLB measuring player heights to the millimeter to help calibrate the ABS strike zone experiment. More than one player listed at 6′ 0″ is suddenly just a bit shorter, according to the league.

We won’t be measuring anyone’s height, I promise, but topics like ABS are sure to come up in discussions at this month’s lunch with SABR Hornsby friends on Sunday, March 16, 1 pm, at Hurricane Grill & Wings (2701 Parker Dr., Suite D-200, Round Rock). 

As always, we’re requesting RSVPs to ensure seating for everyone at the restaurant. Our mobile-friendly Google Form works great to RSVP – just let us know you’re coming, how many people are in your group, your name(s), and if you’re a first-timer to a Hornsby meeting, and hit submit when you’re done.

Please have your RSVP in by Thursday, March 13. Hope you can join us!

December hot stove meeting over BBQ set for the 15th

Close out your 2024 baseball fascination at lunch with SABR Hornsby friends on Sunday, December 15th, 1pm, at County Line on the Lake (Ranch Road 2222 off Capital of Texas Highway 360).

With Snell and Kikuchi off the board, Soto and many others still out there as I write, and Winter Meetings coming up, there’s sure to be a lot to discuss.

As always, we’re requesting RSVPs to ensure seating at the restaurant. We’re introducing a Google Form you can use with a few clicks from a phone or desktop, and no Google account is required.

Rogers Hornsby Chapter - Society for American Baseball Research - Austin | San Antonio | Central and South Texas | Est. 2006

Here’s the Dec 2024 RSVP form – check the box, select how many people you’re bringing, tell us their names, check the box for first-timers, and hit the red submit button – you should see a thank you when successful. Since this is our first use of a form, if you have any difficulty, let me know at donalddingee [at] gmail.com so we can be sure you are RSVPed.

The last day for RSVPs is Thursday, December 12th. Hope you can join us!

 

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!

March BBQ

Our March lunch meeting will be held at the birthplace of the Rogers Hornsby 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 Saturday, March 23.  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.