R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Finally, Bill James is getting some respect -- from the WSJ no less.

After 25 years on the outside, Bill James was invited to take a seat at the center of the baseball universe. Since Mr. James, the statistical oracle and author of the Bill James Baseball Abstracts, was hired by the Boston Red Sox in 2002, the team has broken the Curse of the Bambino, won the World Series and is currently tearing up the American League.

For those of you who don't know, Bill James used his free time on a job as a night watchman (or something like that), his ability with numbers, and his insane love of baseball to produce a series of Bill James' Baseball Abstracts in the 1970s and '80s. Though it might be an exaggeration, one could say he's the reason SABR exists, or at least why anyone other than uber nerds knows about it. By the way, if you haven't read Moneyball, do it now. If you have even a microscopic interest in baseball, I guarantee you'll enjoy it. If for no other reason, you should read it because it (and books like it) drive Joe Morgan nuts!