Crafting
the language
of sports

Elias Sports Bureau 1969

Leading
Elias today

Elias historians

Chris Thorn

For over four decades, Chris has been an integral part of Elias, blending his love for sports and technology. Joining just after the company's first mini-computer arrived, Chris was tasked with modernizing Elias’ historical archives and nightly stats collection. Chris’ software innovations in data collection, reporting and distribution, solidified Elias’ role as Official Statisticians with leagues and widened possibilities for media clients. Consulting on the launch of USA Today and developing software for the Associated Press made Elias’ stats widely accessible to sports fans, accelerating the popularity of fantasy sports. Chris takes great pride in the groundbreaking work accomplished at Elias, bridging the gap between sports, technology, and fans.

Joined Elias in 1979

John Labombarda

John started out as an 18-year-old intern inputting MLB play-by-play data, before spending 35 years on the Sunday NFL crew—entering NFL game data and answering client questions. Today he is best known as Elias' liaison to the MLB Commissioner's office, media relations for all 30 MLB teams, and MLB official scorers. In 2023, John accepted an invitation from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to join the Negro League Statistical Review Committee. John has represented Elias at 17 Stanley Cup Finals, 12 World Series, 3 Super Bowls and 2 NBA Finals; but his most cherished accomplishment is the long-lasting relationships he's nurtured with league offices and media clients.

Joined Elias in 1980

Santo Labombarda

Over 40+ years, Santo has evolved into Elias' authority on leagues' rules and regulations. He plays a crucial role in reviewing NFL plays weekly, collaborating with league officials and fielding inquiries from coaches, players, agents, and occasionally, fans. During the final weeks of the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and MLS seasons, Santo deciphers tiebreaker scenarios—a task requiring deep understanding of the rules. He is a Baseball Writers Association member with Hall of Fame voting privileges. Through Santo, Elias serves as a neutral, reliable intermediary. Santo’s long-standing expertise and trustworthiness play an important role in upholding the reputations of the leagues Elias serves.

Joined Elias in 1982

Alex Stern

Alex is most celebrated for his ongoing contributions to Monday Night Football, since the 1990s. His extraordinary knowledge of NFL and MLB history has made him an indispensable resource for Elias’ broadcast partners—NFL Network, ESPN, and MLB Network. His thoughtfulness and dedication to the people he works with is what sets him apart. Alex started at Elias writing content for Topps and Fleer baseball and basketball cards. During the 1980s and '90s, he gained experience working on Salary Arbitration cases with MLB clubs. He broadened his impact through the creation of the Elias Coaches Report—an early analytics tool for NFL coaches. Driven by his love of sports, Alex travels the country to witness feats and write them into history.

Joined Elias in 1986

Highlights from Elias history

2023

Elias becomes the Official Statistician of Minor League Baseball.

2020

Elias becomes the Official Statisticians of the PGA. This same year Collin Morikawa wins the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in his debut.

2019

Joe Gilston, a grandson of Seymour Siwoff, steps up to lead Elias.

2010

Elias launches AccessElias. The first self-serve research tool built on the Elias database.

1997

Elias becomes the founding statistician of the WNBA. In the first game of the season Los Angeles Sparks’ Penny Toler scores the first basket in WNBA history.

1996

Elias becomes the founding statistician of Major League Soccer. The first match in league history is San Jose Clash vs D.C. United.

Early 1990s

Elias establishes lasting partnerships with ESPN and other sports media organizations, as sports entertainment explodes on cable television.

Early 1980s

Elias revolutionizes the use of sports statistics on TV to craft compelling storylines for ABC’s Monday Night Football, which draws 20+ million viewer weekly in primetime.

1970-71

Elias becomes the Official Statisticians of the NBA. This is the same year NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) wins the first of his six championship rings.

1961

Elias becomes the Official Statisticians of the NFL. This is the same season Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers demolish the New York Giants 31-0 en route to the NFL Championship—5 years before the Super Bowl Era.

1952

Seymour Siwoff purchases the Al Munro Elias Baseball Bureau from Al Munro and Walter Elias's widows. He runs the company as its president for 67 years, changing the name to the Elias Sports Bureau to reflect his vision of expanding beyond baseball into all major professional sports.

1937-38

Seymour Siwoff joins the Al Munro Elias Baseball Bureau as an intern while studying at St. John's University.

This is the same year Yankee legend Lou Gehrig plays his 2000th consecutive MLB game, en route to 2130, a record that would stand for more than 60 years.

1916

The New York Telegram daily newspaper subscribes to, and publishes, the Al Munro Elias Baseball Bureau's weekly compilation of "averages".

This was the year Babe Ruth and the Boston Red Sox win the World Series, and three years before he is traded to the Yankees, beginning the fabled curse.

1913

Al Munro Elias and his brother Walter Elias establish the Al Munro Elias Baseball Bureau, Inc. The company initially sells printed scorecards with baseball stats directly to fans.

This was the year “Cactus” Gavvy Cravath of the Philadelphia Phillies led all of MLB with 19 home runs. This was 7 years before the beginning of the live-ball era.