Exploring the Lahman Database Pt. I

Published at November 24, 2018 ·  8 min read

Play Ball! I think some of the appeal that baseball has always had for me comes from the data and stats that are intertwined in the game. I grew up playing little league and supporting the Seattle Mariners (sorry Jays, west coast proximity factor). I went to my first MLB game in 2001 at Safeco Field and instantly fell in love with the magic of the big leagues. More than just the hot dogs and garlic fries at the ballpark, I found my attention constantly being drawn to the player’s stats - batting averages, doubles, triples, home runs - displayed prominently on the Jumbotron scoreboard, and the giant LED pitch speed clocks scattered around the park....