SABR Arizona Fall League Conference
The fourth annual SABR Arizona Fall League Conference was held November 1-3, 2012. The conference featured four AFL games, each at a different ballpark. Guests had a chance to see all six AFL teams, showcasing every major league team's top prospects. The final game on Saturday night was the Rising Stars Game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the crown jewel of Arizona's Cactus League parks.
Photo galleries:
- Click here to view photos from Day 1 of the 2012 AFL Conference
- Click here to view photos from Day 2, with special guest Matt Williams
- Click here to view photos from Day 3, with special guest Bernie Pleskoff
After taking in a game on Thursday afternoon at Hohokam Park in Mesa, guests were treated to dinner at Don and Charlie's, home to one of the great sports memorabilia collections you will ever see.
Friday's schedule included two AFL games and a pregame ballpark dinner at Scottsdale Stadium along with a special guest speaker, former All-Star third baseman Matt Williams.
On Saturday morning, attendees joined members of SABR's Flame Delhi (Arizona) Chapter for their regional fall meeting. Saturday night is always a highlight of the conference as the top prospects from every organization participate in the AFL Rising Stars Game.
The Arizona Fall League (mlbfallball.com) is baseball's premier player development league. In the first three years of the conference, attendees were treated to sneak peeks at Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Buster Posey, Starlin Castro and Stephen Strasburg before they hit the big leagues.
Fourth annual
SABR Arizona Fall League Conference
November 1-3, 2012, Scottsdale, AZ
Conference schedule
Thursday, November 1, 2012
- 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Registration
- 11:45. Depart hotel for game
- 12:35 p.m.: Peoria Javelinas @ Mesa Solar Sox (Hohokam Park)
- 3:30: Return to Holiday Inn Express
- 5:00-6:00: Complimentary beer and wine happy hour at hotel
- 6:30: Depart for dinner at Don and Charlie’s
- 9:15: Return to hotel
Friday, November 2, 2012
- 11:30 a.m.: Depart hotel for game
- 12:35 p.m.: Surprise Saguaros @ Phoenix Desert Dogs (Phoenix Municipal Stadium)
- 3:30: Return to Holiday Inn Express
- 4:30: Depart hotel for dinner and game at Scottsdale Stadium
- 5:00-6:30: Ballpark dinner, guest speaker Matt Williams and silent auction (sorry, no autographs)
- 6:35: Salt River Rafters @ Scottsdale Scorpions (Scottsdale Stadium)
- 9:30: Return to Holiday Inn Express
Saturday, November 3, 2012
- 10:00 a.m-12:30 p.m.: Flame Delhi Chapter Meeting at Holiday Inn Express. Guest speakers and chapter members' research to be presented
- 12:30-3:30: On your own for lunch or to explore the shops of Old Town Scottsdale. Free hotel shuttle available
- 3:45: Depart for Rising Stars Game
- 5:10: Rising Stars Game (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale)
- 8:15: Return to Holiday Inn Express
For stories and photos from the 2011 AFL Conference, click on a link below:
- 2011 AFL Conference coverage: SABR.org/afl/2011
- 2011 AFL Conference photos: View photo galleries from the 2011 AFL Conference