Resources
Marshall Kelner to be Featured Guest at Spring Chapter Meeting
Marshall Kelner—a lawyer who has worked with sports organizations and was a play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Twins affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida—will be the featured guest at the Halsey Hall Chapter Spring Meeting Saturday, April 25 at the Plymouth branch of the Hennepin County Library system, 15700 36th Ave North, Plymouth 55446. Registration begins when the library opens at 9:00 a.m. with the program beginning soon after, so punctuality is encouraged. Instead of a set admission price, it will be a Pay as You Can with donations of all amounts accepted.
Members are invited to submit a proposal to make a research presentation at the meeting. Proposals may be sent to Research Committee co-chairs Dave Lande or Gene Gomes and include a title and brief outline of what the presentation will consist of with emphasis on the research that will be included. Standard oral presentations are 20 minutes (with an additional eight minutes for questions) although the duration may be longer or shorter depending on the needs of the presenter and of the schedule.
One presentation slot is always reserved for a first-time presenter until four weeks before the chapter meeting (March 28). If a slot remains after that, any member can submit a proposal until April 11, two weeks before the meeting, when the Research Committee will wrap up the schedule of presentations.
Two presentations have been approved so far:
The 1937 St. Paul Kohn’s: Minnesota’s First National Baseball Champions by Armand Peterson
Kris Hard on the business of baseball and agents
Howard Luloff will conduct his Jeopardy-style quiz before lunch, when the business meeting will be held.
Elections
During the business meeting, an election will be held for president-elect and director in accordance with the revised by-laws. Any SABR member may run for director, which will be a three-year term. Candidates for president-elect must have served at least one year of the board of directors within the last five years. A nominating committee is being assembled, and anyone may indicate interest in running by contacting Ed Edmonds, edmonds.7@nd.edu. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor.
To check anyone’s eligibility for running for president-elect, check the Officers and Chapter History page.
With the by-laws revision, several of the procedures have been updated and added. Those on the board or considering serving on the board or holding a leadership position (such as a committee chair) are advised to check the Chapter Procedures page.
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Other Upcoming Events
The annual outing to see the Minnesota Gophers will be Sunday, March 1 when they play the Kansas Jayhawks at U. S. Bank Stadium at 1:05 p.m. A pre-game breakfast gathering at 10:30 will be at the Hen House Eatery (formerly Peter’s Grill), 114 South 8th Street in Minneapolis. For more information, contact Howard Luloff, 952-994-5217.
The Fred Souba Hot Stove Saturday Morning, an informal breakfast gathering for the purpose of talking baseball, will be Saturday, March 14 at 9:00 a.m. at the Shortstop Bar and Grill, 1298 East Moore Lake Drive, Fridley 55432.
The next Book Club meeting will be Saturday, April 11 at Barnes & Noble in Har Mar Mall at 9:30 a.m. The book selection is The Celebrant by Eric Rolfe Greenberg.
Brent Heutmaker has organized a list of all the book selections since the book club started in August 2002: Halsey Hall Book Club Selections.
The 2026 SABR convention in Cleveland will be Wednesday, July 29 to Sunday, August 2 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. The Arizona Diamondbacks will be in town to play the Guardians during the convention.
Willie Steele was the SABR Day guest for a joint meeting of the Halsey Hall and Keltner Badger State chapters for a presentation, Going the Distance: The Life and Baseball Works of W. P. Kinsella. Willie has written two books on Kinsella, including his biography. More than 40 members tuned in for the Zoom presentation.
Keep up to date with chapter activities on social media:
SABR Halsey Hall Chapter Facebook page
SABR Halsey Hall Chapter Bluesky page
Halsey Hall Chapter Twitter page
Please visit the pages, and, if you haven’t yet, “Like” the Facebook page and “Follow” the Bluesky page and set your notifications to be alerted to new posts. (The Bluesky page has 116 followers, the Facebook page 340 members, and the Xwitter page 797 followers. Bob Komoroski has established rules—essentially, don’t be a dink. The page is still public although Bob has set up a series of questions for new members to cull out spammers, wankers, trollers, and other degenerates.)
Also:
Regular Events
Video Archives of Past Events
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Get to Know ‘Em: Kris Hard
Editor’s Note: A new (and regular if it catches on) feature of the newsletter is Get to Know ‘em with profiles of existing members, similar to the profiles of new members. Yes, Get to Know ‘Em is stolen from the Minnesota Twins, who used it for the 2001 season, a slogan that worked well in a big bounce-back year with a lot of exciting players—much better than their This Is How We Baseball slogan for 2016, which drew initial ridicule for using “baseball” as a verb and even more when the Twins lost 103 games that year. And don’t worry: There never will be a This Is How We SABR slogan. Meanwhile, meet Kris:
Kris Hard is a life-long baseball fan, and Covid isolation gave him the nudge to pursue baseball as more than a fandom. In October 2021, Kris earned a scouting certificate from The Baseball Bureau in a week-long, in-person class during the the Arizona Fall League. This led to the following certificates: General Manager and Scouting, Player Development, Analytics, Agent and Athlete Management from Sports Management World Wide. Having earned five certificates from Sports Management World Wide, Kris was awarded an Advanced Certificate, Baseball Front Office. The natural progression for him was to become a baseball agent/adviser with Sports Management World Wide.
Kris enjoys judging CrossFit events, is a five-time Granite Games Judge and five-time Dakota Games Judge, and has judged a dozen GameDay Competition events.
In 2024, Kris earned a certificate from the American Red Cross for donating platelets 20 times.
Kris shares his January 23 birthday with Ben Shibe, Don Nottebart, Jeff Samardzija, Chico Carrasquel, Jack Saltzgaver, Addison Russell, Mark Wohlers, Sam Jethroe, Cot Deal, Yosver Zulueta, Erubiel Durazo, Randy Gumpert, Frank Sullivan, Charlie Spikes, Paul Ratliff, Joey Amalfitano, Mariska Hargitay, Randolph Scott, Norah OˆDonnell, Vicki LaMotta, Ernie Kovacs, Jeanne Moreau, Arlene Golonka, Dan Duryea, Rutger Hauer, Potter Stewart, John Hancock, Giant Baba, Princess Caroline of Monaco, and XXXTentacion.
Anyone else willing to share his/their/her story may contact the newsletter editor.
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Research Roundtable
Research projects, web pages, and blogs of chapter members are highlighted on the home page of the Research Committee.
Ed Edmonds will be doing presentations on baseball’s anti-trust exemption at the National Judicial Conference in Phoenix and on a Zoom call for the Florida State University Law School.
Glenn Renick is working on a book on the pictoral history of baseball cards.
Several chapter members attended the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies conference February 20-21 to promote SABR scholarships for students. At the Friday night social. At the Friday night social (shown above with board member Caitlin Ruhl presiding), a member found a particularly enthusistic teacher, such a fan that her children are named Kirby, Wrigley, and Durham. The next day, Ed Edmonds and Mike Haupert staffed a table at the conference and talked to teachers and administrators about baseball research and writing opportunities for their students.
The next Research Committee meetings, via Zoom, will be March 16 and April 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Research Committee members are co-chairs Dave Lande or Gene Gomes as well as Brenda Himrich, Sarah Johnson, Dan Levitt, Doug Skipper, Stew Thornley, Rich Arpi, Hans Van Slooten, Mike Haupert, Bob Tholkes, Daniel Dorff, Darryl Sannes, Tom Swift, David Karpinski, Glenn Renick, John Buckeye, Terry Bohn, Ed Wehling, John Gregory, Art Mugalian, John “Sparky” Seals, Ed Edmonds, Mike Zarling, Chrstian Towalski, and Bob Komoroski.
Let a committee member know if you would like to attend a meeting and/or join the committee.
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Ed Edmonds’s Quiz
For the February 16 Research Committee meeting, Ed Edmonds presented this quiz:
- This lefty died recently (February 4, 2026). A native of Portland, Oregon, he retired as a member of the San Diego Padres. In 1970 he lost 19 games. He rebounded to win 25 in 1971 when he started 45 games and completed 29.
- This great control pitcher is best known for his years with the Cincinnati Reds. In a career total of 3,646 innings, he walked only 761 batters, an outstanding average of 1.88 per nine innings. He was a six-time All Star who won 25 games in 1939 and 20 in 1940. He had four 20-win seasons and won two games in the 1940 World Series.
- He pitched a total of 20 years for the Cleveland Indians, and he led the American League with a 2.95 ERA in 1933. He won 15 or more games in eight consecutive seasons (1932-1939). He was also a noted pitching coach and manager.
- This tall, dominating right-hander from Van Nuys, California, had a career 2.95 ERA. From 1962-1965, he led all of MLB with 40 or more games started in each year. One of his nicknames was Airedale.
- Although perhaps best known for being the key Orioles player in the trade to the Reds for Frank Robinson, this pitcher should be remembered for his place in the theme of this trivia quiz. In his 17-year career, he also pitched for the Cubs and Braves. He recorded double-digit wins from 1959-1968, and he twice won 17 games in 1971 and 1972.
- In his 15-year career from 1915-1929, he was a feared and irascible pitcher. Noted for provoking a critical lawsuit over a move from the Red Sox to the Yankees, I am not going to give you the easy giveaway clue.
- This two-time MVP in the mid-1940s, this lefty was one of the greatest hurlers of his generation during and after WWII. He was as difficult and unpopular as the “gentlemen” in questions number 2 and 6. He played most of his 17-year career in his hometown. In 1945 and 1946, he put together back-to-back sub-2.00 ERA seasons.
- This pitcher was born in Nitro, West Virginia, and pitched for 18 years in the big leagues. He won games 2, 5, and 7 in the 1957 World Series. He was involved in trades that included Glen Hobbie, Bob Sadowski, Gene Oliver, and Johnny Sain. He strung together ten double-digit wins seasons from 1953-1962.
- This lefty is best known for his years with the Chicago White Sox before one notable season with the Giants when he won his lone World Series victory. He was a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in strikeouts in 1953, and he finished his career with 1,999 Ks. Eleven times he had double-digit loss seasons.
- This pitcher landed on the exact key number that is part of the theme of this quiz. His 17-year career included stints with the Indians, Tigers, Yankees, and Giants. He pitched in two games in the 1920 World Series, his only postseason appearances. He started a total of 368 games in a career that included 513 game appearances. In 1923, he won 26 games. In 1926, he won 27 while completing 32 or his 36 games started.
- If you have not yet figured out the theme, it might help you to know that these individuals are also part of the same group: Stan Coveleski, Charles Bender, Eddie Cicotte, Rube Marquard, Orel Hershiser, Vida Blue, Charlie Root, Jim Bunning, and Catfish Hunter.
Answers below
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New Member: Gavin Erdmann
Gavin Erdmann is a junior in high school in Harrisburg, South Dakota, where he plays baseball as a pitcher, first baseman, and outfielder. He plans on pursuing statistics, actuarial science, or data science in college.
“As a fan I went to my first game before I was old enough to remember, but I do know that it was a St. Paul Saints game, the most significant event that I witnessed in person was the debut of the Minnesota Twins City Connect Jerseys, a game that was capped off by a Max Kepler walk-off single. ”
Gavin shares his March 20 birthday with Taj Bradley, Colton Cowser, Brad Hand, Joe McGinnity, Jonny Venters, Chris Hoiles, José Tena, Elvis Peguero, Justin Garza, Manny Alexander, Mike Griffin, Steve McCatty, George Altman, Pat Corrales, Fred Rogers, Ozzie Nelson, Carl Reiner, Hal Linden, Holly Hunter, Spike Lee, Jane March, Kathy Ireland, Jerry Reed, Karl Kassulke, Bobby Orr, Brian Mulroney, Abe Beame, B. F. Skinner, and Barron Trump.
Know a potential member? Here are resources for getting that person happily involved in SABR:
Membership application
Get more out of your membership experience by checking out SABR Member Benefit Spotlight Series.
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Thoughts for the Month
Leslie Nielsen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien: on various topics.
Regarding Naked Gun: “We know that we’re being funny, but you can’t let the audience know for one second that you’re trying to be funny, not for one second.”
Responding to O’Brien’s if he even took his fart machine anywhere where he thinks it’s inappropriate: “Well, you’re always taking a chance, I’ll tell you . . . When you’re doing any kind of comedy, there’s just no way that there’s not gonna come that time when you step over the line because that’s the chance you take. And there’s just gonna be sometimes, especially with this, when you seem to step over the line. And in that case . . . I’ll apologize . . . ”
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Cow Pies
Four members have articles in the new SABR book, Henry Aaron, which is available for free downloading for members:
- Rich Bogovich—Henry Aaron and Brother Tommie, His Baseball Teammate
- Dave Lande—July 14, 1956, Braves Beat Dodgers, 3-2, Sweep Four Games: Aaron’s Fourth Hit Wins in 10th Inning
- Tim Rask—Henry Aaron in Eau Claire
- Dennis Degenhardt—July 27, 1963, Aaron Drives Reds Crazy
The February 2026 edition of Keltner’s Hot Corner, the newsletter of the Ken Keltner Badger State Chapter, is on-line:
Keltner’s Hot Corner, February 2026
Past Keltner’s Hot Corner newsletters:
Keltner’s Hot Corner
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Answers to Ed Edmonds’s Quiz
- Mickey Lolich
- Paul Derringer
- Mel Harder
- Don Drysdale
- Milt Pappas
- Carl Mays
- Hal Newhouser
- Lew Burdette
- Billy Pierce
- George Uhle
- Won at least 200 but fewer than 225 games in the majors
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Calendar
March 1—Minnesota Gophers versus Kansas Jayhawks, U. S. Bank Stadium, 1:05 p.m. with pre-game debauchery at the Hen House Eatery at 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact Howard Luloff, 952-994-5217.
March 14—Fred Souba Hot Stove League Saturday Morning, 9:00 a.m., Shortstop Bar and Grill, Fridley. For more information, contact John Buckeye.
March 16—Research Committee meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m. via Zoom. For more information, contact Dave Lande or Gene Gomes.
April 11—Book Club, Barnes & Noble, Har Mar Mall, Roseville, 9:30 a.m., The Celebrant by Eric Rolfe Greenberg. Contact Ed Edmonds for more information.
April 19—Halsey Hall Chapter Board of Directors meeting, 7:00 p.m. For more information on attending, contact Ed Edmonds.
April 20—Research Committee meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m. via Zoom. For more information, contact Dave Lande or Gene Gomes.
April 25—Spring Chapter Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Hennepin County Library, Plymouth. For more information, contact Howard Luloff, 952-994-5217, or Bob Komoroski.
July 29-August 2—SABR convention in Cleveland.
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Board of Directors 2025-2026
President—Ed Edmonds
Vice President—Mike Haupert
Secretary—John Buckeye
Treasurer—Rich Arpi
Terry Bohn
Howard Luloff
Jacob Sayward
Events Committee Co-Chairs—Howard Luloff, Bob Komoroski
Research Committee Co-Chairs—Dave Lande, Gene Gomes
Membership Committee Co-Chairs—Stew Thornley, John Buckeye
MVP Chapter Committee Chair—Gene Gomes
The Holy Cow! Editor—Stew Thornley
Ass. Editors—Jerry Janzen, Brenda Himrich, and John Buckeye
Webmaster—John Gregory
Ass. Webmasters—Hans Van Slooten and Stew Thornley
Social Media Directors—Bob Komoroski, Facebook and Bluesky; John Buckeye, Twitter
Halsey Hall Chapter Web Page
Past issues of The Holy Cow! are available on-line.
Chapter History
Chapter Procedures and By-Laws
Society for American Baseball Research
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Resources
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