[FuzzyRussianHat]

Eurasian Professional Baseball officially began Hall of Fame voting in 1965 but until 1967, no one had even gotten above 5%. In 1967, closer Krzystzof Lazaridis’s 22.7% was the new high percentage, far from the 66% required. In 1968, Bogdan Chirita was on the ballot and became the first Hall of Famer; a no-doubter at 99.0%. Closer Mircea Ioan’s debut was a respectable 48.6%, still short of induction. Lazaridis got 26.4% on his second try. It would be a three year gap between Chirita’s induction and the next players to get in.



Bogdan Chirita – Starting Pitcher- Bucharest Broncos – 99.0% First Ballot

Bogdan Chirita was a 6’1’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Tiganasi, a small commune of 4,000 people in northeast Romania on the border with Moldova. Chirita was known for having incredible movement on his pitches and great stuff with 96-98 peak velocity, although his control was viewed as merely above average. He only had three pitches, but the break on his cutter, slider, and changeup made Chirita a dominant force.

After World War II ended, Chirita picked up the game in his early 20s in the still young Romanian baseball scene. He quickly emerged as a dominant force locally who considered heading to the European Baseball Federation, but wanted to stay closer to home. In 1955, Eurasian Professional Baseball was formed with his country’s capital Bucharest among the cities with teams. He signed a six-year, $243,600 contract with the Broncos and began his official career at age 28.

Chirita carried his amateur dominance into EPB, leading the European League in ERA five times, wins twice, WHIP four times, FIP- six times and WAR six times. His worst season had a WAR of 9.3 with an unprecedented five seasons with 10+. In 1959, he had the second EPB Triple Crown season for a pitcher. In eight seasons, he won Pitcher of the Year five times (1955, 58, 59, 60, 62) and won league MVP twice (1959, 60). Chirita twice pitched no hitters against Bratislava with the first In 1955 and the second in 1962.

Bucharest was an early European League contender, making the playoffs in its first seven seasons. The Broncos made it to the league championship series thrice and in 1957, claimed the third ever Soviet Series and overall title. Naturally, Chirita was also a great playoff pitcher, posting a 2.54 ERA in 120.2 innings with 105 strikeouts and 4.4 WAR. In the championship season, he had a 1.59 ERA in 39.2 innings with 38 strikeouts. Chirita also was the ace for Romania’s national team in the World Baseball Championship from 1955-64, posting a 3.59 ERA over 170.1 innings with 188 strikeouts.

It was in the 1963 World Baseball Championship were disaster struck for the now 36-year old Chirita, who had shown no signs of regression in his eight years with Bucharest. Chirita would suffer a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, ultimately putting him out for the entire 1963 season. He rehabbed and was back for the 1964 tournament and seemingly ready to return to form for the Broncos. However, Chirita suffered a torn labrum in spring training to end his 1964 before it even started and ultimately his career at age 38.

Chirita’s stats: 151-54, 1.95 ERA, 2045 innings, 2347 strikeouts to 369 walks, 199/255 quality starts, a FIP- of 47 and 88.9 WAR. You would be hard pressed to find a better eight year stretch from any pitcher in any professional league ever. Had Chirita not officially started at age 28 or seen injury end his career early, his final stats may have placed him among the greatest pitchers in any league ever. Chirita’s excellence certainly was appreciated in Romania and with Bucharest, who retired his #41 uniform. It was also appreciated by the EPB baseball community at large with a 99.0% first ballot induction; a very worthy player to be EPB’s first Hall of Famer.