April 14, 2014

Twenty-eight chapter members braved extremely cold temperatures and stormy weather to hear three outstanding research presentations from local chapter members at the April 14 meeting..

First Jim Kreuz,, following an exhaustive search, provided us with letters and documents from Branch Rickey's personal papers on Rickey's efforts in 1943 and 1944 to sign the first black player in organized baseball, Cuban baseball star Silvio Garcia. When Rickey was unable to get a consesus on Garcia's baseball abilities he shifted gear and went after Jackie Robinson, Monte Irvin and Roy Campanella. The rest is history.

Daid Skelton talked abolut his passion to get biographical information on his boyhood heros, the Philadelphia Phillies. He told many interesting stories regarding his search and concluded with a fascinating tale about how his 2 year old son met Sandy Koufax. "Where is Sandy Koufax?"

Tom Murrah has become an expert on local high school and college baseball and brought with him a collection of newspaper articles, yearbooks and photographs on the subject dating back to 1913. He filled us in on how the sport evolved here and how it was not unusual for local high school and college teams to play against professional and international traveling clubs.

Greg Lucas won the trivia contest prepared by Tom White with Messrs Lucas and Liebman providing great prizes.

Bob Dorrill updated the chapter on SABR 44 and urged everyone to register for the convention asap. He also bragged about the Houston Babies doubleheader wins last Saturday. Our next meeting is scheduled for May 19th.