Retrosheet
Encyclopedia
Retrosheet is a non-profit organization
whose website features major league baseball box scores and play-by-play narratives for almost every contest from 1871–1872, 1874, 1911 NL, and 1918–2010. It also includes scores from every Major League Baseball
game played since the 1871 season, as well as all All-Star, League Championship Series
and World Series
games.
Retrosheet was founded in 1989 by Dr. David Smith
, a biology professor at the University of Delaware
. Building on momentum begun by writer Bill James
' Project Scoresheet in 1984, Smith brought together a host of like-minded individuals to compile an accessible database of statistical information previously unavailable to the general public.
Smith originally contacted teams and sportswriters in order to gain access to their scorebooks, while other contributors researched old newspapers for play-by-play accounts. Marshalling the computer expertise of a number of these people, Smith used these accounts to build a wealth of new data. The end result has allowed fans and historians to explore new aspects of baseball history by using pertinent information.
While all teams eventually contributed to the project, gaps occurred with some teams, most notably the Atlanta Braves
, Houston Astros
and Pittsburgh Pirates
of the late 1960s. The Braves, Pirates and Cincinnati Reds
have also been lacking information from previous eras.
Surprisingly, the first 40 years of the 20th century have uncovered more play-by-play coverage than the period of the 1940s. The lack of television (and prior to that, radio) accounts serve as the main reasons for this disparity, while World War II limited the space that had been used for such information.
In 1994, the organization began sending out a quarterly newsletter to interested parties, then added a website in 1996. Following publication of the January 2002 newsletter, the organization chose to end sending out the paper version. Instead, they added periodic updates via the website.
Retrosheet's Board of Directors meets each year in conjunction with the Society for American Baseball Research
's annual convention. Many of Retrosheet's contributors are SABR members.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
whose website features major league baseball box scores and play-by-play narratives for almost every contest from 1871–1872, 1874, 1911 NL, and 1918–2010. It also includes scores from every 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...
game played since the 1871 season, as well as all All-Star, League Championship Series
League Championship Series
The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...
and World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
games.
Retrosheet was founded in 1989 by Dr. David Smith
David Smith (baseball historian)
David W. Smith is a baseball researcher and historian. He is best known as the founder of Retrosheet, an organization whose mission is to collect, digitized, and distribute play-by-play accounts from every game in Major League Baseball history...
, a biology professor at the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
. Building on momentum begun by writer 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...
' Project Scoresheet in 1984, Smith brought together a host of like-minded individuals to compile an accessible database of statistical information previously unavailable to the general public.
Smith originally contacted teams and sportswriters in order to gain access to their scorebooks, while other contributors researched old newspapers for play-by-play accounts. Marshalling the computer expertise of a number of these people, Smith used these accounts to build a wealth of new data. The end result has allowed fans and historians to explore new aspects of baseball history by using pertinent information.
While all teams eventually contributed to the project, gaps occurred with some teams, most notably the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
of the late 1960s. The Braves, Pirates and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
have also been lacking information from previous eras.
Surprisingly, the first 40 years of the 20th century have uncovered more play-by-play coverage than the period of the 1940s. The lack of television (and prior to that, radio) accounts serve as the main reasons for this disparity, while World War II limited the space that had been used for such information.
In 1994, the organization began sending out a quarterly newsletter to interested parties, then added a website in 1996. Following publication of the January 2002 newsletter, the organization chose to end sending out the paper version. Instead, they added periodic updates via the website.
Retrosheet's Board of Directors meets each year in conjunction with the Society for American Baseball Research
Society for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
's annual convention. Many of Retrosheet's contributors are SABR members.