As Derek Jeter strolls toward the plate, the announcer tosses out a smattering of statisticsfrom hitting streaks to batting averages. But what do the numbers mean? And how can Americas favorite pastime be a model for learning about statistics? Sandlot Stats is an innovative textbook that explains the mathematical underpinnings of baseball so that students can understand the world of statistics and probability. Carefully illustrated and filled with exercises and examples, this book teaches the fundamentals of probability and statistics through the feats of baseball legends such as Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williamsand more recent players such as Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, and Alex Rodriguez. Exercises require only pen-and-paper or Microsoft Excel to perform the analyses. Sandlot Stats covers all the bases, including descriptive and inferential statistics linear regression and correlation probability sports betting probability distribution functions sampling distributions hypothesis testing confidence intervals chi-square distribution Sandlot Stats offers information covered in most introductory statistics books, yet is peppered with interesting facts from the history of baseball to enhance the interest of the student and make learning fun.
Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction 1. Basic Statistical Definitions 2. Descriptive Statistics for One Quantitative Variable 3. Descriptive Measures Used in Baseball 4. Comparing Two Quantitative Data Sets 5. Linear Regression and Correlation Analysis for Two Quantitative Variables 6. Descriptive Statistics Applied to Qualitative Variables 7. Probability 8. Sports Betting 9. Baseball and Traditional Descriptive Measures 10. Final Comparison of Batting Performance between Aaron and Bonds 11. Probability Distribution Functions for a Discrete Random Variable 12. Probability Density Functions for a Continuous Variable 13. Sampling Distributions 14. Confidence Intervals 15. Hypothesis Testing for One Population 16. Streaking 17. Mission Impossible: Batting.400 for a Season 18. Postseason Appendix A: Hypothesis Testing for Two Population Proportions Appendix B: The Chi-Square Distribution Appendix C: Statistical Tables Index
""The book is very readable and well organized... High school statistics teachers could use this book as a course supplement or an enrichment source for sports-crazy students. Any college professor teaching a sports statistics course or looking for ways to enliven a traditional course would also find it interesting. Even baseball fans wanting to learn more about descriptive measures used in the game could benefit from Rothman's interesting exposition.""
