One Thing Did Happen In Dallas

Dave · December 9, 2011 at 6:55 pm · Filed Under Mariners 

I’m not really much of a toot-my-own-horn kind of guy, so I considered not posting about this here, but in the end I decided that it’s probably something that I should share with those of you who have been so supportive over the last few months. So, I’m putting it up on a weekend, and then we’ll get back to talking about the Mariners on Monday.

Every year at the winter meetings, the Baseball Writer’s Association of America has an annual meeting where they vote on in-house business stuff. For instance, this year they voted to add a few shows on MLB Network that will highlight the finalists for the postseason awards. At these meetings, they also vote on whether to approve new organizations and members.

On Tuesday morning, the BBWAA took a vote on whether FanGraphs should be accepted as an approved organization, and more specifically, whether I should be voted in as a new member. Both measures passed, and so beginning next season, I’ll officially be a member of the Baseball Writer’s Association of America.

While the association has earned their share of derision over the years, they’re clearly working towards a more inclusive approach that allows somewhat untraditional baseball writers to join the club and receive the privileges that go along with being recognized as an official member. I’m proud to be a member, and look forward to using the responsibility I’ve been given to improve my writing overall.

When I started writing about baseball back in, I don’t know, 1998 or so, I never imagined it would turn into a career or that I’d ever be considered an Official Baseball Writer. The world is full of interesting twists and turns, though, and I’m happy to be able to walk through this newest open door.

Comments

77 Responses to “One Thing Did Happen In Dallas”

  1. BillyJive on December 10th, 2011 8:57 am

    Congrats Dave. Even though I don’t always agree with your opinions you have opened my eyes to a new way of looking at baseball…and I thank you for that.

  2. MrZDevotee on December 10th, 2011 9:56 am

    Congrats Dave! Although a part of me worries about the effect on your health…

    So, I have to ask… Can you please refrain from banging your head against the wall too hard when sitting around a table with a bunch of senior Baseball Writers, who explain to you they were “writing about RBI’s when you were still in DIAPERS!”

    (kidding)
    Congrats!

  3. ck on December 10th, 2011 10:01 am

    Congratulations, Dave! I am looking forward to many more years of great analysis. I hope your credentials will permit access to sources that might not yet know you, and then your own sincerity will build relationships all around baseball. I hope that you will continue USS Mariner forever.

  4. PackBob on December 10th, 2011 10:16 am

    Good work, Dave. And by that I mean you have put out an amazing amount of good work over the years. It’s nice to see good work recognized. Have fun!

  5. moyerLIVES on December 10th, 2011 10:35 am

    What a cool thing. Congratulations Dave.

  6. Sriram on December 10th, 2011 10:36 am

    Congrats Dave!

  7. GarForever on December 10th, 2011 10:46 am

    Excellent news, and well-deserved! Congratulations, Dave.

  8. thedude1987 on December 10th, 2011 11:27 am

    Oh, snap! congrats Dave. Mariners represent.

  9. awakeling on December 10th, 2011 11:46 am

    This is the best thing to happen to the best baseball writer in the modern era. Congratulations!

  10. Swungonandbelted on December 10th, 2011 12:10 pm

    Congratulations Dave!

  11. thedude1987 on December 10th, 2011 1:14 pm

    i think the best thing that has happened to the best baseball writer in the modern era is when he dominated his health issues.

  12. bubba_gump on December 10th, 2011 1:49 pm

    What a year it has been for you, Dave. Congratulations!

  13. yofarbs on December 10th, 2011 1:56 pm

    Open-minded thinking by the BBWA leads to a great decision. Congratulations, Dave.

  14. mwb on December 10th, 2011 2:21 pm

    Congratulations!

  15. vertigoman on December 10th, 2011 2:26 pm

    Awesome. You rock!
    I think it would be very appropriate to conduct a legit BBWAA phone interview with Chuck Armstrong from your mother’s mysterious basement of baseball analysis.

    Congratulations dude.

  16. Bryce on December 10th, 2011 2:27 pm

    Congrats, Dave. From alt.sports.baseball.seattle-mariners to the BBWAA. Who knew? I demand you change your twitter picture to one where you’re wearing a fedora and are chewing on an unlit cigar.

  17. kenshabby on December 10th, 2011 3:12 pm

    Congratulations on something well-earned. Since I became an Official Serious Consumer of Baseball Knowledge about 5 years ago I ‘ve been an avid reader of Fangraphs and of your writing. No doubt this signifies another positive shift in the paradigm of baseball journalism and analysis.

  18. Carson on December 10th, 2011 5:54 pm

    Congrats, Dave. Not bad for a nerd in his mother’s basement.

    Seriously, though, you deserved some good karma. In ten years, I trust you’ll use this power for good and vote for deserving HOF members.

  19. harry on December 10th, 2011 8:23 pm

    Congratulations, Dave. Well deserved. Been reading you for years, and you’re, quite seriously, the most thoughtful and insightful public baseball analyst I’ve come across.

  20. JerBear on December 10th, 2011 9:08 pm

    Frick, Dave – quit sounding so apologetic every time you talk about yourself. 🙂 That’s a hell of a well-deserved accomplishment, and we’re all thrilled for you!

  21. henryv on December 10th, 2011 9:51 pm

    Congratulations Dave.

    And also, I’m sorry, because of the whole “being in a world-famous organization that has a website that looks like it’s from 1994” thing.

  22. stevemotivateir on December 11th, 2011 9:31 am

    Congratulations Dave! Very good news!! You certainly deserved this!

  23. section331 on December 11th, 2011 10:29 am

    Awesome! It is a decision they will not regret, for sure. Good job, Dave! 🙂

  24. davepaisley on December 11th, 2011 2:04 pm

    Fantastic news, Dave. Well done, and very well deserved.

    Couldn’t be happier for you.

    And good for the BBWAA who are, it appears, changing in significant ways for the better.

  25. Zero Gravitas on December 11th, 2011 4:22 pm

    Awesome news-congratulations!

  26. StatisticallyInsignificant on December 12th, 2011 10:56 am

    Congrats Dave!

  27. downwarddog on December 14th, 2011 12:49 pm

    What amazing news! Many congratulations. You couldn’t deserve it more than you do!

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