NINE Journal of Baseball History Conference

Tucson, AZ, March 15-18, 2007

Steve will be presenting a paper on the Methuselah of the Mound, Jack (John Picus) Quinn, whose career spanned more than three decades, including 23 years in the majors. When Julio Franco hit a home run for the Mets in 2006, he broke Jack
Quinn’s record for the oldest player to homer in a game. Jack still retains other longevity records and made repeated remarkable comebacks after teams had released him for being “too old.”

Steve’s paper is entitled World War One & Free Agency:

The Fateful 1918 Battle for Jack Quinn

between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox

The Jack Quinn ruling had a profound impact on baseball’s governing body and paved the way for the emergence of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis a couple of years later.

Steve will begin his presentation with a photo overview of Jack’s career. His talk will tie in with and be preceded by one given by a Jack Quinn relative, Michael Scott, on dramatic genealogical revelations that clear up the true origins of this mystery pitcher.

Spend a few days in sunny Arizona, taking in baseball presentations in the mornings and early evenings, while doing “fieldwork” (attending spring training games) in the afternoons. Enjoy an intimate gathering of less than 100 attendees, many of them academicians, and others simply fans of the game’s history. The conference’s keynote speaker is Robert Creamer, the first senior editor of Sports Illustrated, from 1954 to 1984. He also wrote a classic biography of Babe Ruth, one of his many books. For more information on the NINE conference, go to www.ninejournalofbaseball.com.