SABR’s National Baseball Convention Will Have Lots of Local Flavor
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Intense and hard working. Those words describe a famous Huggins from the University of Cincinnati. But if you said his first name was Bob you might only be half right.
Long before the famous basketball coach walked the urban campus, former Reds second baseman and Yankee skipper Miller Huggins was enrolled in law school at UC, then known as the Cincinnati Law School.
The third of James and Sarah (Reid) Huggins’ four children, Miller James Huggins was born in Cincinnati on March 27, 1879. His father, a former cricket player, was a grocer who had emigrated from England and attended public schools in Cincinnati. James Huggins didn’t want his son to become a professional baseball, which did not necessarily carry the wealth and esteem back then as it carries in present day. But Miller was adamant so he and his father struck a compromise: law school.
Huggins enrolled in law school at Cincinnati and eventually earned his degree as well as being admitted to the bar and inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. However, it would be on the advice of one of his law professors that Miller would choose baseball as a career.
As the story goes, one day Huggins asked one of his professors, who also enjoyed the sport, if he should choose law or baseball. The professor recommended choosing baseball, seeing his enthusiasm for game, and added: “When you do, keep your head high and never take a backward step.” That professor was future president William Howard Taft.
Huggins would make the most of his baseball opportunities as a first class second baseman for the Reds and Cardinals before he became famous for managing the Yankees to their first six pennants and three World Championships.
“In the early days of the 20th Century, Huggins was a fan favorite, helping to draw people to the ballpark. Even though the Reds were not winners during Huggins’ stint with the team, local Cincinnati fans still enjoyed cheering Huggins on, calling him many nicknames, such as ‘Mighty Mite,’ ‘Rabbit’ and ‘Little Everywhere.’ His small size and fighting instincts were admirable according to the fans that came to see him play,” said Stuart Schimler of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), whose biography of Huggins was featured in the recent book, Deadball Stars of the National League (Brassey’s: 2003).
Growing up Cincinnati Tough: Miller J. Huggins by John M. Humenik is one of the many presentations and panel discussions that are scheduled for the 34th Annual national convention of the Society for American Baseball Research taking place being held in downtown Cincinnati at the Westin Hotel, July 15-18. Growing up Cincinnati Tough is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30pm. Humerik’s presentation will focus on what motivated the “Mighty Mite” to overcome naysayers and those who made fun of his diminutive frame. Humerik will also discuss how Huggins, known for his legendary confrontations with Babe Ruth, used his early influences to build intestinal fortitude and demand respect of players twice his size. This presentation uses six years of research to explore how Huggins’ inspiring triumph can inspire and empower.
In addition to Humenik’s research, SABR’s national convention will also feature many other presentations with local flavor including:
- Crosley Field Reds Panel Discussion (Friday, July 16 at 1:30pm) This panel will include discussions and reminiscences with former Crosley Field era Cincinnati Reds players. Scheduled to attend: Joe Nuxhall, Lee May, Chuck Harmon, Jim O’Toole and moderated by Lonnie Wheeler.
- How to Interview a Ballplayer (Friday, July 16 at 5:00pm) Tim Naehring, Director of Player Development for the Cincinnati Reds, is an eight year veteran of the major leagues (1990-1997), all with the Boston Red Sox. Mr. Naehring will be interviewed live during SABR’s Oral History Committee meeting.
- Local Player Panel Discussion (Thursday, July 15 at 1:30pm) The Greater Cincinnati area has produced many players who have gone on to play in the major leagues The panelists will provide commentary and discussion and remembrances regarding some of these players. Panelists include Todd Benzinger, former Reds player who was drafted out of New Richmond High School; Pat Tabler, drafted by the New York Yankees out of McNicholas High School. Mike Cameron, baseball coach at Cincinnati Moeller High School and Glenn Sample, baseball coach at the University of Cincinnati for over 20 years. Moderator for the panel will be Chris Welsh, who attended Cincinnati's St. Xavier High School. He was a major league pitcher for 5 seasons and is currently the Reds TV announcer.
Many popular baseball authors will be available for book signings at the convention. Here is a tentative schedule:
Thursday
11 am Eddie Feigner and Doug Lyons, From an Orphan to a
King
4:30-5:30 pm Authors of articles in convention anthology, Baseball in the Buckeye State
6:00-6:30 pm Authors of articles in Deadball Stars of the National
League
Friday
12:30-1:30 pm Alan Schwarz, The Numbers Game
Daniel Ginsburg, The Fix is In
David Fleitz, Shoeless
Daniel Nathan, Saying It's So A Cultural History of the
Black Sox Scandal (Sport and Society)
Saturday
9:30 am to Noon Burton and Benita Boxerman, Ebbets to Veeck to
Busch
Will Carroll, Saving the Pitcher
Brent Kelley, I Will Never Forget, and San Francisco
Seals
Greg Rhodes and John Erardi, Opening Day at Great
American Ball Park
Steve Steinberg, Baseball in St. Louis
Dan Stupp, Opening Day in Great American
Ball Park
C. Norman Willis, Washington Senators
3:00 to 4:00 pm Marvin Miller, A Whole New Ballgame
