Robert Shapiro High Speed Films

Collection

Identifier: BA RMA 015

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

A collection of 16mm films and vhs cassettes created by Dr. Robert Shapiro. Ph.D, during his master's degree thesis study and while working as a scientific consultant to the Chicago White Sox team physician, Dr James Boscardin, M.D. The films and video contain high speed motion study of pitchers and batters and were utilized to help prevent injury and develop peak performance.

Dates

1974-1989

Creator

Shapiro, Robert, Dr., PH.D (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Due to the condition of the media, or the lack of operational equipment for playback, these materials are unavailable until they can be professionally cleaned, scanned and digitized.

Conditions Governing Use

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum provides use copies of materials to facilitate private study, scholarship, and research. The Museum welcomes you to use materials in our collections that are in the public domain and to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by copyright law and with proper citation. Permission to publish materials must be obtained from: Giamatti Research Center, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, 25 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 13326 Phone: 607.547.0330 E-mail: research@baseballhall.org

Biographical / Historical

After being offered a position in Penn State's Sports Research Institute as a research assistant, Dr. Shapiro began his master's degree thesis on baseball batting mechanics. Part of that work included high speed film analysis of the batting mechanics of members of the Penn State baseball team. This led to the development by Dr. Shapiro of a methodology to perform 3D analysis of movement as it applied to baseball batting as well as pitching. This work caught the eye of the Chicago White Sox management which led to a position with the team as a scientific consultant. The high speed films and video collected during his time as consultant, as well as a report written in 1984 titled "Pitching Mechanics and Performance of Members of the Chicago White Sox Team" are preserved in this collection.

Extent

72 Reels (in 72 16mm film reels)

8 Cassettes (in 8 vhs cassettes)

1 Sheets (in 1 file folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection documents the study of biomechanics by Dr. Robert Shapiro as he applied this to the analysis of baseball batting mechanics and baseball pitching motion for his master's thesis and eventually as a scientific consultant to the Chicago White Sox team physician, Dr. James Boscardin, M.D. The high speed 16mm films and vhs tapes created during this study make up the majority of the collection. Dr. Shapiro's preliminary report on pitching mechanics and performance of members of the Chicago White Sox in 1984, co-authored with Dr. Boscardin, is included as part of this collection.

Arrangement

The materials were numbered by the donor and packed in no particular order. After accessioning and processing of the films and videocassettes, the collection was ordered by date created.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

The video cassettes are located in cold vault storage and must be acclimated before delivery to the research room.

Physical Location

Recorded Media Archives, Aisle 07, Bay E, Shelf 05, box 1-3

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 2019 (BL-2019-00274)

Appraisal

No materials were removed during accessioning or processing.

Processing Information

Materials were sorted by date created and placed within the Recorded Media Archives at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. VHS cassettes are stored in their original slip cases or boxes, if provided.