There was the casino attorney and the university trustee. There was the business executive and the gastroenterologist. There was the “Statman,” as well as several other local business and professional leaders.
And there was me. I was eight years old.
When I was a young boy, sports and numbers always piqued my interest. In fact, a family friend bought me a complete set of over 700 baseball cards when I was only five years old. Captivated, I quickly memorized the statistics, positions, and even the birthdays of the players on every card.
In the winter of 2005 my dad received an invitation to join the Greater Atlantic City Baseball League, a fantasy league composed primarily of middle-aged doctors, businessmen, and lawyers. As a young sports stats geek, when my dad asked me to partner with him, how could I say no?
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However, over the years my strategies to win have constantly evolved. This year, my approach was simple: emphasize hitting over pitching. After extensive statistical research, it became clear to me that such a strategy typically translated into winning. My scheme paid off; the “Cavaliers” won the league for the first time ever. Five years ago, I barely understood how the scoring worked, so it was rewarding to finally win with a newfound understanding of numbers.
I do not know if I love statistics because of fantasy baseball or if I love fantasy baseball because of statistics. Either way, the fantasy league has made me realize how much I want to work in a math-related field. After an extensive search for summer programs related to my interests in sports and statistics, I applied to the Wharton Moneyball Academy at the University of