Back in June, I wrote that I was asked to join the SABR Nineteenth Century Overlooked Legend committee by chairman Joe Williams (joining committee members Bob Gregory, Ralph Peluso, and Charles Faber). The committee is tasked with selecting “a 19th century player, manager, executive or other baseball personality not yet inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.” In our last election—my first as part of the group—Ross Barnes was selected.

I’m taking on a larger role for the 2014 election. Joe has stepped down as the chair of the committee and the group has asked me to assume the role. I accepted, knowing that I will have Joe to guide me (as he will still be an active member of the group).

Yesterday, the announcement was made in the Nineteenth Century Committee Fall 2013 newsletter:

Darowski Assumes Overlooked Legend Chair

Adam Darowski has been named Chairman of the 19th Century Overlooked Legend Committee. Chairman Joe Williams has stepped down after five years of service.

In these last five years under Williams’ leadership the Overlooked Legends Committee has taken the concept of identifying, recognizing overlooked 19th century baseball legends from an idea to a SABR-wide annual selection process. The Committee has conducted five elections all the while soliciting and increasing the input of our Nineteenth Century Committee membership in the process.

The 2014 Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legends selection process will follow the newly expanded 2013 process which included a January primary/nomination process for 19th Century Committee members, the annual general election in the Spring and the announcement and publication of the election results at next Summer’s SABR 44 convention in Houston, Texas. Adam can be reached at adarowski@gmail.com.

What a crazy world we live in—where a thirty-something stat geek can be named the chair of a nineteenth century baseball committee. It may seem odd, but stats are artifacts of stories, and the stories are what I love. The stats led me to Deacon White (the first Overlooked Legend selection to be elected to Cooperstown). They led me to Barnes. They led me Jack Glasscock.

I want to thank Joe for taking the committee to where it is now. I’m still very new to SABR, but he (in particular) welcomed me, gave me real ways to contribute, and encouraged me to take this next step. I’m looking forward to getting the process underway for the 2014 election.