Pete Palmer
Encyclopedia
Pete Palmer is a major contributor to the applied mathematical field referred to as sabermetrics
. Along with the Bill James
Baseball Abstracts, Palmer's book The Hidden Game of Baseball is often referred to as providing the foundation upon which the field of sabermetrics was built.
Palmer began his career as a baseball analyst when he worked for the Raytheon Corporation as a radar
systems engineer
. At night, after his co-workers had left for the day, Palmer used the company's (at the time) cutting-edge computers to run advanced simulations analyzing historical baseball statistics. In 1982, Palmer gained notoriety when he recognized a scorekeeper's error as he pored over decades-old box score
s, discovering that Nap Lajoie
's 1910
batting average
was several points higher than Ty Cobb
's, causing the official Major League Baseball
record books to be re-written. Palmer also innovated the Linear Weights method of estimating a player's offensive contributions, an invention that will likely be his lasting legacy.
Many of Palmer's early works were written in partnership with John Thorn
, including The Hidden Game of Baseball and Total Baseball
; the latter book also featured, in later editions, the contributions of editor Michael Gershman
. Palmer edited or served as a consultant for many of the sports reference books produced by Total Sports Publishing
. Palmer's most recent work has been in collaboration with Gary Gillette
. Since 2003, the pair has produced five editions of the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia, and several other baseball annuals.
, compiling the official statistics for the team's home games. Palmer continued this task through the 2005 season.
In 1988, Palmer published The Hidden Game of Football
, with co-authors Thorn and Bob Carroll
. The book was updated and re-released in 1998, and is still considered the seminal work on football analysis. He was also co-editor (with Gillette, Sean Lahman
, et al.) of the ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia.
Sabermetrics
Sabermetrics is the specialized analysis of baseball through objective, empirical evidence, specifically baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research...
. Along with the Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
Baseball Abstracts, Palmer's book The Hidden Game of Baseball is often referred to as providing the foundation upon which the field of sabermetrics was built.
Palmer began his career as a baseball analyst when he worked for the Raytheon Corporation as a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
systems engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. At night, after his co-workers had left for the day, Palmer used the company's (at the time) cutting-edge computers to run advanced simulations analyzing historical baseball statistics. In 1982, Palmer gained notoriety when he recognized a scorekeeper's error as he pored over decades-old box score
Box score
A box score is a structured summary of the results from a sport competition. The box score lists the game score as well as individual and team achievements in the game....
s, discovering that Nap Lajoie
Nap Lajoie
Napoléon "Nap" Lajoie , also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island...
's 1910
1910 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award**Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers, OF**Nap Lajoie, Cleveland Naps-MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:...
batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
was several points higher than Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
's, causing the official Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
record books to be re-written. Palmer also innovated the Linear Weights method of estimating a player's offensive contributions, an invention that will likely be his lasting legacy.
Many of Palmer's early works were written in partnership with John Thorn
John Thorn
John Thorn is a noted sports historian, and the Official Baseball Historian for Major League Baseball.-Early life:Thorn was born in Stuttgart, West Germany. His Polish Jewish parents had come there as refugees. He immigrated to the United States in 1949...
, including The Hidden Game of Baseball and Total Baseball
Total Baseball
Total Baseball is a baseball encyclopedia first compiled by John Thorn and Pete Palmer in 1989. The latest edition, published in 2004, is its eighth...
; the latter book also featured, in later editions, the contributions of editor Michael Gershman
Michael Gershman
Michael Gershman was a writer, publicist, and music producer.After graduating from Brown University, Gershman worked briefly as a newspaper reporter before joining the Dorothy Ross Agency in New York. There, he served as a press agent for comedians Woody Allen, Dick Cavett, and Joan Rivers...
. Palmer edited or served as a consultant for many of the sports reference books produced by Total Sports Publishing
Total Sports Publishing
Total Sports Publishing refers to a book publishing company based in Kingston, New York, that operated from 1998 to 2002. Prominent author John Thorn served as the division's publisher throughout its existence.-Total Sports:...
. Palmer's most recent work has been in collaboration with Gary Gillette
Gary Gillette
Gary Gillette is a baseball writer, author, and editor. He is co-editor of both the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia and the ESPN Football Encyclopedia. For both series of books, he partnered with renowned statistician Pete Palmer, as well as writers Sean Lahman and Matt Silverman. As of October 2008 he...
. Since 2003, the pair has produced five editions of the ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia, and several other baseball annuals.
Football work
Palmer has also played a significant role in the field of football statistics. In the seventies, he served as editor for several editions of the A.S. Barnes football encyclopedia. In 1973, he joined the stat crew of the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, compiling the official statistics for the team's home games. Palmer continued this task through the 2005 season.
In 1988, Palmer published The Hidden Game of Football
The Hidden Game of Football
The Hidden Game of Football is an influential book on American football statistics published in 1988 and written by Bob Carroll, John Thorn, and Pete Palmer...
, with co-authors Thorn and Bob Carroll
Bob Carroll (author)
Robert Nuehardt Carroll, Jr. was an American historian and author.Carroll was best known for his contributions to American football research. He was the founder and executive director of the Professional Football Researchers Association , and edited the group's newsletter, The Coffin Corner until...
. The book was updated and re-released in 1998, and is still considered the seminal work on football analysis. He was also co-editor (with Gillette, Sean Lahman
Sean Lahman
Sean Lahman is an award-winning author and journalist.-Sports Research:He is most noted for the Lahman Baseball Database, a collection of baseball statistics for every team and player in Major League history...
, et al.) of the ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia.