Get ready for an afternoon of baseball, poetry, and the unmistakable swagger of Frank Sinatra, brought to you by the Elysian Fields Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).

Start Spreading the Haikus opens with a presentation reflecting on a well-known stadium anthem and shifts to one that explores the art of capturing the game’s fleeting moments in seventeen-syllable snapshots.  

Together, the two powerhouse presentations capture the rhythm, emotion, and mythology of America’s pastime.  Come, immerse yourself in the sound and the soul of baseball!

Presentations 

“From Hoboken to the Bronx:  How Sinatra's ‘New York, New York’ Became a Yankee Anthem” by Craig Garretson

The Mile Square City's two claims to fame are indelibly linked by "New York, New York," which is not only one of Frank Sinatra's signature songs, but also an unofficial anthem of the New York Yankees.  You'll want to be a part of it as Craig Garretson, a former managing editor at The Jersey Journal and now editor-in-chief of SABR's Eleventh Street Eagle, will start spreadin' the news about how this song came to be A-number one for both Sinatra and the Yankees.

“Outfield Epiphanies:  Capturing Baseball’s Fleeting Moments and Enduring Feelings in Haiku” by Rich Puezer

Baseball has inspired a wealth of poetry of all forms, including haiku.  Rich Puerzer, author of Outfield Epiphanies: Baseball Haiku, will discuss this unique form of poetry and its special relationship with baseball.  He will examine the history of haiku written in both Japanese and English, highlighting some of the most prominent haiku poets. And he will reveal the experiences and feelings that have inspired his haiku, including Little League, trips to Cooperstown, and other baseball road trips, as he reads from Outfield Epiphanies.  A book signing will follow the presentation.

Schedule of Events:

12:00 PM     Social Time and Museum Exploration

12:30 PM     Opening Remarks

12:40 PM      "From Hoboken to the Bronx:  How Sinatra's 'New York, New York' Became a Yankee Anthem

  1:40 PM      Break

  2:00 PM     "Outfield Epiphanies:  Capturing Baseball's Fleeting Moments and Enduring Feelings in Haiku"

  3:00 PM     Closing Remarks, immediately followed by a Book Signing for Outfield Epiphanies

Chapter Information

The Elysian Fields Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is driven by the belief that baseball’s greatest power lies in the connections we build and the stories we uncover and share.  Our mission is to inspire curiosity, spark discovery, and bring together people who see baseball not just as a pastime, but as a rich tapestry of history, culture, and human achievement.  We strive to illuminate the game’s deepest truths, celebrate its enduring magic, and create a welcoming community where every story shared helps keep baseball vibrant, meaningful, and endlessly inspiring.  If you love baseball there is a place for you in SABR Elysian Fields!