Monday, 15 June 2009

The Data Deluge - 1987 Style

The earliest reference I have yet found to a 'Data Deluge' is in the New York Times 22 years ago (30th June 1987).

This article describes how mad baseball fans can get "...the ultimate service for the most avid baseball addict: daily, detailed reports on 16 minor leagues encompassing 154 teams and more than 3,000 players". This data deluge is made possible by facsimile machines installed in more than 150 minor league ball parks.

'Official scorers or a club official are supposed to file the information within an hour after the game and then the phone-line cost to the team is minimal since the fax transmissions take about 40 seconds each.