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FuzzyRussianHat

04-17-2024 04:23 AM

2000 World Baseball Championship

FuzzyRussianHat

04-17-2024 12:15 PM

2000 in AAB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-17-2024 05:10 PM

2000 in ALB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-18-2024 04:39 AM

2000 in ABF

FuzzyRussianHat

04-18-2024 11:12 AM

2000 in SAB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-18-2024 05:20 PM

2000 in WAB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-19-2024 04:52 AM

2000 in CLB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-19-2024 11:48 AM

2000 in APB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-19-2024 07:16 PM

2000 in OBA

FuzzyRussianHat

04-20-2024 05:19 AM

2000 in EPB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-20-2024 11:07 AM

2000 in EBF

With great fanfare, 2000 began the 48-team era of the expanded European Baseball Federation. There were many questions from fans and observers as to how the new teams would fare and how the general flow of the EBF would look. Offensive numbers went up slightly in the Southern Conference from the prior year, but stayed around the same for the Northern Conference. In that regard, the influx didn’t make a noticeable dent.

https://i.imgur.com/j4TZCVq.jpg

Making an explosive debut was Kharkiv, who had been the two-time defending champion of Eurasian Professional Baseball. The Killer Bees posted the EBF’s best record in their debut at 107-55, winning a stacked North Central Division. Counting their EPB days, this gave Kharkiv a six-season playoff streak. They had 306 doubles offensively, the second-most in conference history behind Paris’s 311 in 1950. Both wild cards came out of the division with defending conference champ Hamburg at 100-62 and Berlin at 96-66. The Barons extended their playoff streak to five years. Warsaw was fourth in the division at 91-71, ending a 12-year postseason run for the Wildcats. On the other end, newcomer Prague was 45-117, setting a conference record for the worst season in EBF history. Their 5.05 team ERA and 903 runs allowed were the worst since the inaugural 1950 season.

Both Glasgow and Paris won division titles at 100-62, but the Highlanders had the tiebreaker for the first round bye. Glasgow extended its playoff streak to five years, finishing eight games ahead of Dublin in the British Isles Division. The Poodles earned a fourth straight Northwest Division, taking it by 18 games. Copenhagen clobbered the Northeast Division competition at 98-64. It was the Corsairs’ second division title in three years.

Northern Conference MVP was Hamburg’s Ulf Alstrom. The 25-year old Swedish first baseman led in OPS (1.051), and wRC+ (195). He added 43 home runs, 123 RBI, a .353 average, and 8.7 WAR. Kharkiv’s Igor Kuchkowski won his first Pitcher of the Year in EBF. It was his third overall, having taken it in EPB in 1997 and 1999. The 33-year old Polish lefty led in wins (21-6), ERA (1.93), and WHIP (0.80). He had 320 strikeouts over 260.2 innings and an 8.3 WAR.

The new first round of the playoffs saw Copenhagen edge Hamburg 2-1 and Berlin upset Paris 2-1. Glasgow rolled to a sweep of the Barons, but Kharkiv had to scrap by the Corsairs in five games. This was the Highlanders’ third Northern Conference Championship in four years, hoping to break a pennant drought back to 1976. The newcomer Kharkiv denied Glasgow’s hopes, taking the series 4-1. It was the Killer Bees’ third straight pennant, carrying over their dynasty from EPB.

https://i.imgur.com/esVZ46z.jpg

Defending European Champion Madrid had the best record in the Southern Conference at 106-56 atop the Southwest Division. Milan, newly moved into the division with them, had the SC’s second best record at 98-64 to earn the first wild card. That ended a decade-long playoff drought for the Maulers. It also marked the end of Lisbon’s nine-year playoff streak. The Clippers were third in the division at 87-75, falling six games short of the second wild card spot.

Two divisions saw ties for the top spot. Zurich and Rome both were 93-69 in the South Central Division, while Athens and Budapest were both 92-70. The Mountaineers and Red Wolves both were guaranteed playoff spots, but a tiebreaker win meant a first round bye and a loss meant you were the second wild card. Zurich prevailed to end a two-year playoff drought, while Rome ended a five-year skid without a playoff berth or winning season.

In the East Central, Athens took the tiebreaker game over Budapest. The Anchors won a fourth straight division title, while the Bombers were denied a shot at the playoffs in their EPB debut. Budapest hadn’t seen a playoff appearance since 1978. One EPB exodus playoff representative was expected out of the Southeast Division, since five of the six teams were teams that jumped. Tirana (84-78) edged out Bucharest (83-79), Sofia (80-82), and expansion Odessa (79-83) for the spot. The Trojans earned their first playoff appearance since winning the 1972 EPB European League pennant.

Leading Tirana in their new league was catcher Robert Erhan, who won Southern Conference MVP. The 28-year old Romanian was the WARlord (9.7), adding a .381 average, 181 wRC+, and 25 home runs. Erhan wouldn’t stay in Albania, inking a massive seven-year, $63,000,000 deal in the offseason to jump to MLB’s Toronto Timberwolves. Erhan would have a great debut in Canada, but flame out quickly in part due to knee issues. Lisbon’s Geza Sebestyen repeated as Pitcher of the Year, leading in wins at 21-7. The 25-year old Hungarian righty had a 2.79 ERA over 238.1 innings, 299 strikeouts, and 6.5 WAR. Sebestyen also had a 14 strikeout, one walk no-hitter in June against Zagreb. The Clippers committed to their ace with a five-year, $16,240,000 extension in the offseason.

The first round of the playoffs saw Tirana sweep Milan 2-0 and Athens edge Rome 2-1. Round two had Madrid over the Trojans 3-1 and a Zurich sweep of the Anchors. The Conquistadors had a shot to repeat as Southern Conference Champions, while the Mountaineers hoped for their first pennant since 1993. Madrid would take it 4-2 over Zurich to become seven-time conference champions.

https://i.imgur.com/Yb94upL.png

The 51<sup>st</sup> European Championship was a “dream match” for European baseball junkies as the defending EBF champ (Madrid) met the two-time defending EPB champ (Kharkiv). This type of “best of the best” encounter wouldn’t be a reality until the Baseball Grand Championship was introduced in 2010. The newcomer Killer Bees defeated the Conquistadors 4-2, giving Kharkiv its first EBF title and a three-peat between leagues. Pitcher Jiri Taborsky was finals MVP, having joined the Killer Bees in a trade with Prague in the offseason. The 28-year old Czech righty had a 2.35 ERA in three playoff starts with 19 strikeouts in 23 innings.

https://i.imgur.com/KPBoGTy.png

Kharkiv’s win cemented a dynasty as one of the finest runs for any European baseball team in either EBF or EPB. It also cemented that the expansion was a tremendous success for both the EBF and most of the new teams. The added eyeballs and cash from new markets certainly also pleased even the most skeptical among the EBF old guard.

Other notes: EBF had three perfect games thrown in 2000, making it 23 in EBF history. The first was by Marseille’s Enrico Gini on May 3 with 14 strikeouts against Belgrade. On June 11, Kharkiv’s Petro Mihalko fanned 11 against Dublin. Then July 12, Birmingham’s Wawasani Vehajuddin did it with 11 Ks against Cologne. Budapest’s Kristijan Acevski had a 38-game hitting streak, which was tied for the fifth longest in EBF history to date.

Lindsey Brampton became the third pitcher to 5000 career strikeouts. Khaled Jabri became the sixth pitcher to 250 wins. He pitched two more years and ended at 272, retiring third all-time. Robin Morrison and Willy Fierro became the seventh and eighth to 1500 runs scored. In his final EBF season, Fierro won his eighth Silver Slugger in center field. He would play the next eight years in MLB. Morrison also became the 12<sup>th</sup> to 1500 RBI and the 17<sup>th</sup> to 2500 hits.

FuzzyRussianHat

04-20-2024 05:32 PM

2000 in BSA

FuzzyRussianHat

04-21-2024 05:09 AM

2000 in EAB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-21-2024 11:52 AM

2000 in CABA

FuzzyRussianHat

04-21-2024 06:17 PM

2000 in MLB

FuzzyRussianHat

04-22-2024 05:43 AM

2001 MLB Hall of Fame

2001 had two first ballot inductees into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. 3B Bentley Wade led the way at 96.9% and was joined by catcher Mike Bastiani at 80.1%. Closer Alex Cantos was close on his third try, but just short of the 66% requirement with 63.4%. Also above 50% were 2B Rodrigo Badillo at 59.9% on his third try, C Peter Wacker at 53.7% in his ninth, and OF/DH Zach Santo at 53.7% on his tenth and final ballot.

https://i.imgur.com/D1nFzAR.png

For Santo, he played 18 seasons with Dallas, winning two Silver Sluggers and helping them to two World Series rings. He had 2535 hits, 1316 runs, 396 doubles, 461 home runs, 1557 RBI, a .303/.365/.521 slash, 138 wRC+, and 60.8 WAR. The Filipino native was very popular as a tenured franchise guy, but lost points for spending half his career as a designated hitter. Santo wasn’t a league leader and he hovered around the 30-45% range most of the time on the ballot. He ended with a high of 53.7%, but wasn’t considered dominant enough to warrant the nod.

Also dropped was Emilson Aranda, a Spaniard who had a 13-year tenure most notably with Indianapolis. He had a 183-129 record, 3.17 ERA, 2874.1 innings, 2653 strikeouts, 118 ERA+, 80 FIP-, and 68.6 WAR. Aranda led the National Association in strikeouts thrice. He didn’t quite have the longevity or hardware to stand out amongst other elite pitchers. Aranda peaked at 33.1% in his second ballot and ended at 10.2%, forever banished to the Hall of Pretty Good.

https://i.imgur.com/TVwXDdl.png

Bentley “Hands” Wade – Third Base – Memphis Mountain Cats – 96.9% First Ballot

Bentley Wade was a 6’0’’, 205 pound right-handed third baseman from Fayetteville, North Carolina; a city of around 200,000 people in the Sandhills. Wade was a tremendous contact hitter and earned the nickname “Hands” for his quick hand speed. He was also excellent at avoiding strikeouts and above average at drawing walks. Wade had very solid gap power, averaging around 25 doubles and 15 triples per year. He wasn’t a prolific home run swatter, but still got you around 15 most years.

Wade had outstanding speed and was considered one of the most savvy baserunners and base stealers of all-time. Defensively, he was primarily a third baseman and considered reliably solid at the spot. Wade was also very durable, making 130+ starts each year from 1977-90. His entire pro career would be in the Deep South and he’d be quite popular. However, Wade was quite outspoken, making him a “love him or hate him,” type of guy with fans and teammates.

Wade attended the University of Florida in college. In 147 games as a Gator, he had 158 hits, 83 runs, 23 doubles, 11 triples, 17 home runs, 54 RBI, 33 stolen bases, a .292/.359/.469 slash, and 4.8 WAR. Wade projected quite highly on the boards for the 1975 MLB Draft and was picked sixth overall by Memphis. He played 138 games with 113 starts in his rookie year, posting respectable numbers in his debut. Wade held the starting gig for the next decade with the Mountain Cats.

Memphis was incredibly mid during his run, averaging 78 wins per season but never once making the playoffs. Wade was a star though, winning Silver Sluggers in 1977, 1978, and 1980. After the 1979 season, the Mountain Cats signed him to an eight-year, $5,790,000 extension. He led the American Association in triples in 1977, hits in 1985, and stolen bases in 1979.

Wade also played for the United States from 1980-92 in the World Baseball Championship, playing 223 games with 252 hits, 164 runs, 39 doubles, 11 triples, 25 home runs, 98 RBI, a .300/.365/.462 slash, 146 stolen bases, and 8.9 WAR. His 146 steals was a WBC record until demolished by Morgan Short’s 20 year run, but it still is second most as of 2037. Wade was third in 1984 MVP voting and second in 1988. He won world titles with the American team in 1981, 82, 84, 85, 88, and 92.

For his time in Memphis, Wade had 2069 hits, 1006 runs,, 246 doubles, 147 triples, 148 home runs, 817 RBI, 553 stolen bases, a .322/.369/.475 slash, 127 wRC+, and 58.9 WAR. He would remain a popular figure with Mountain Cats fans, despite playing in an unremarkable era for the team. The franchise would later retire his #35 uniform. Although he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Memphis orange, his second half in Atlanta was arguably more memorable.

Entering the last year of his contract in 1987, the 32-year old Wade was traded to the Aces for three prospects and a draft pick. Atlanta quickly inked him to a five-year, $8,780,000 extension. In his first three years with the Aces, Wade led the AA in triples thrice, hits once, total bases once, batting average twice, and WAR once. He won Silver Sluggers in 1988, 1989, and 1990; living up to the deal.

1988 would be Wade’s lone MVP season with career bests in average (.363), WAR (9.1), hits (221), triples (25), and total bases (358). He was a big part of Atlanta’s eight-year Southeast Division title streak from 1987-94. However, some gave him the label of a playoff choker. The Aces made the AACS five times in this run, but never won the pennant. Wade in 61 games had 68 hits, 33 runs, 11 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 27 RBI, 20 stolen bases, a .280/.312/.440 slash, 103 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. Not awful, but pedestrian compared to his typical regular season production.

Injuries cost him a decent chunk of 1991, his first time missing more than a few weeks. Still, that season Wade joined the 3000 hit club. Atlanta extended him for three years and $5,800,000. He had two more good years, leading in triples for a fifth time in 1993. The Aces added another three years at $9,880,000 to his deal. In 1994, Wade struggled noticeably with a .247 average, well below his .321 mark for his career. He reached a key milestone though as the 11<sup>th</sup> MLB batter to reach 3500 career hits.

Wade managed to have his best postseason in 1994 at age 39 with a .362 average and 17 hits. He looked like his old self and Atlanta hoped they could get one more run out of him. Unfortunately, he was abysmal in 1995 with a -2.1 WAR in only 67 games. He was relegated to the bench and Atlanta’s playoff streak came to an end. Wade retired that winter at age 41 with a bit of a bitter taste from how it all ended.

Wade’s final stats saw 3548 hits, 1755 runs, 458 doubles, 278 triples, 248 home runs, 1363 RBI, 888 stolen bases, a .321/.368/.481 slash, 127 wRC+, and 101.0 WAR. He fell seven triples short of Raymond Boisvert’s all-time mark of 285 and still sits second as of 2037. As of 2037, Wade is also fifth in steals, 13<sup>th</sup> in hits, 36<sup>th</sup> in runs scored, and 51<sup>st</sup> in WAR among position players. At third base specifically, Wade is the leader in hits and is fifth in WAR. Most would agree that he was the best third baseman of his era, making Wade an easy first ballot pick at 96.9%.

https://i.imgur.com/2AE6zB1.png

Mike “Skid Row” Bastiani – Catcher – Las Vegas Vipers – 80.1% First Ballot

Mike Bastiani was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting catcher from Scottsdale, Arizona; a city of around 240,000 people within the Phoenix metropolitan area. Bastiani was one of the finest offensive catchers of all-time and was a well-rounded hitter with solid contact, eye, and power skills. He was good for around 25 doubles and 20-25 home runs most seasons while keeping a fairly low strikeout rate. Bastiani was cartoonishly slow though and was a laughably bad baserunner.

Bastiani was one of the game’s longest tenured catchers ever, playing a long time at a very physically demanding position. His 2322 starts at the position remains a MLB record as of 2037. Bastiani graded out as a good to sometimes great defender behind the plate. He ended being a very popular figure, but his outspoken personality did make him controversial at times.

Bastiani attended Kansas State, where he played 134 games with 118 starts, 130 hits, 81 runs, 20 doubles, 36 home runs, 86 RBI, a .281/.384/.563 slash, 164 wRC+, and 6.0 WAR. A catcher who could hit that well and still play good defense was a rarity, making Bastiani a hot commodity. In the 1973 MLB Draft, he was picked 14<sup>th</sup> overall by Las Vegas. Bastiani was a part-time starter with respectable results in his rookie year, earning the full-time gig the next season. His sophomore campaign had a .342 average and 7.1 WAR, earning his first Silver Slugger.

Las Vegas put together a dynasty run and Bastiani played a significant role.. The Vipers made the playoffs six times from 1976-82, winning the American Association pennant in 1976, 1978, and 1979. LV won it all in 1976 and 1979. In 64 playoff starts, Bastiani had 74 hits, 44 runs, 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 39 RBI, a .308/.385/.546 slash, 151 wRC+, and 3.0 WAR. He was clutch in the playoffs, winning 1978 AACS MVP.

Bastiani won additional Silver Sluggers in 1976 and 1979 and was second in 1977 MVP voting. He earned a batting title in 1979 at .360 and a career best 7.4 WAR. The next year saw a fractured finger cost him the first three months of the season. Las Vegas had their best win total of the run at 110-52, but lost the AACS to Atlanta. The run was winding down for the Vipers. They would earn a wild card in 1982, but start a decade-long rebuild after that.

For his Las Vegas career (including a later one-off), Bastiani had 1237 hits, 620 runs, 206 doubles, 189 home runs, 677 RBI, a .305/.374/.502 slash, 135 wRC+, and 43.8 WAR. He’d remain a popular figure in Sin City years later for his role in their dynasty run with his #21 uniform getting taken out of circulation. Bastiani was due for free agency after the 1982 season and made it known he wanted to test the waters. Wanting to get value, the Vipers traded him near the deadline to St. Louis for RP Lanny Carter and SS Cosmin Gheorghe.

The Cardinals earned a wild card and went on an impressive playoff run, winning the 1982 World Series. Bastiani in 16 playoff starts had 19 hits, 11 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, and a .328/.381/.500 slash. Although his time was brief, St. Louis fans remember him fondly for helping them get that ring. Now a free agent at age 30, Bastiani signed a four-year, $4,280,000 deal with Houston.

Bastiani won his lone Gold Glove in 1983 with the Hornets and earned Silver Sluggers in 1984 and 1985. Houston made the playoffs thrice in his run, but they never got beyond the second round and Bastiani’s stats were forgettable. In four seasons though with the Hornets, he had 541 hits, 268 runs, 91 home runs, 312 RBI, a .286/.355/.490 slash, 125 wRC+, and 19.8 WAR. Bastiani would struggle in his last year in Houston with a .224 average, making some wonder if his career was coming to an end.

The 34-year old landed a four-year, $6,020,000 deal with San Diego. He looked respectable in his Seals debut, then posted an excellent 1988 season with 6.7 WAR and a .338 average, winning his fifth and final Silver Slugger. Bastiani had a decent 1989, but was relegated to a part-time role in 1990. San Diego was firmly middling during this run with Bastiani posting 15.3 WAR, 476 hits, 229 runs, 76 home runs, 252 RBI, and a .285/.353/.464 slash.

Now age 38, Las Vegas brought him back as a fan favorite in a part-time role for 1991. Bastiani still felt he could be a full-time starter, and got that opportunity with Cincinnati in 1992. He posted 3.6 WAR at age 39, which inspired Ottawa to give him a three-year, $7,000,000 deal starting in 1993. Bastiani was still a very sturdy starter for two years with the Elks, although knee tendinitis cost him more than two months in 1994.

Bastiani failed to meet vesting criteria, becoming a free agent in 1995. Virginia Beach signed him to a three-year, $9,360,000 deal; an impressive haul for someone of his vintage. Bastiani only played 48 games with 27 starts, looking firmly below average. He retired that winter at age 42, one of a very small group of catchers historically to play that long and still at a high level.

Bastiani’s final stats: 2666 hits, 1299 runs, 459 doubles, 406 home runs, 1423 RBI, a .291/.358/.482 slash, 128 wRC+, and 91.4 WAR. As of 2037, he’s the all-time leader among catchers in hits, runs, at-bats, total bases, and RBI. Bastiani is also still fifth in WAR and second in home runs among catchers. Hall of Fame voters often disregard catchers for the lower accumulations that naturally come with the position, but Bastiani’s resume was pretty impeccable. His playoff heroics and role in three World Series titles went a long way as well. He earned the first ballot nod at 80.1% to round out the 2001 Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

04-22-2024 11:44 AM

2001 CABA Hall of Fame

FuzzyRussianHat

04-22-2024 05:07 PM

2001 EAB Hall of Fame

Two players got slam dunk inductions into the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. 1B Jun-Seong Noi had 98.3% and 3B Ju-Kan Yoo received 95.1%, easily picking up the first ballot honor. SS U-Seong San came very close on his second try, but missed the 66% requirement at 64.7%. LF Seong-Jae Kang and LF Jay-Hoon Cho both also had nice showings on their sixth ballots, but missed at 62.2% and 60.5%, respectively.

https://i.imgur.com/f72fcx1.png

Two fell off after ten ballots. 1B Yuma Watanabe had a 14-year career mostly with Chiba, winning three Silver Sluggers and posting 1937 hits, 1151 runs, 384 doubles, 558 home runs, 1351 RBI, a .278/.341/.585 slash, 163 wRC+, and 61.4 WAR. Watanabe was hurt by being on some weak Comets teams and being at a position with more impressive sluggers. He still got as high as 51.6% on his second ballot, but was down to 26.2% by his last attempt.

Pitcher Hisataka Otsuka also fell off the ballot. He had a 14-year career with four teams and won 1979 Pitcher of the Year, winning two EAB titles with Kyoto and one with Sapporo. Otsuka had a 191-139 record, 3.06 ERA, 3021.1 innings, 2468 strikeouts, 116 ERA+, and 52.4 WAR. He had a lot of playoff opportunities as well with a 14-8 record, 3.25 ERA, 185.1 innings, 133 strikeouts, and 110 ERA+. Otsuka wasn’t overly dominant outside his POTY season, leading some voters to view him as a Hall of Pretty Good type. He made it to an even 50% on his second ballot as a peak, but was down to 19.9% by the end.

https://i.imgur.com/DP2GaDQ.png

Jun-Seong “Sonny” Noi – First Base – Changwon Crabs – 98.3% First Ballot

Jun-Seong Noi was a 6’3’’, 195 pound right-handed first baseman from Incheon, South Korea. Noi was a very good contact hitter that was great at putting the ball in play, although he rarely drew walks. He had incredible speed with outstanding baserunning and base stealing ability. Noi still had a strong pop in his bat and wasn’t a singles slap hitter. His 162 game average saw 29 doubles, 14 triples, and 18 home runs per year.

That was an unusual profile for a guy that played exclusively at first base in his career. Noi was a reliably good gloveman as well. He’d become renowned as his era’s Iron Man, starting 148+ games in all but his first two seasons. Noi was always available and had a tremendous work ethic, making him one of Korea’s most beloved baseball figures in a career that spanned three decades.

Noi attended Woosung High School and his unique talents were evident even as a teenager. Changwon picked him fourth overall in the 1972 EAB Draft out of high school. The Crabs kept him in developmental in 1973, but used Noi as a part-time starter in 1974 at age 20. He struggled and clearly wasn’t ready yet, spending 1975 back on the reserve roster. He looked decent in 1976 with 62 starts, which earned him a starting job for the next 19 years after.

Noi finally reached his potential in 1978, his first of four straight seasons leading the Korea League in hits. He had the best batting average in 1980 and thrice led in stolen bases. Noi won Silver Sluggers in 1979 and 1980. In 1980, he earned Korea League MVP, helping the Crabs end a 15-year playoff drought. They fell in the first round, but Changwon extended their fan favorite with an eight-year, $5,220,000 deal.

Noi was popular throughout South Korea as well, although he only sporadically played in the World Baseball Championship for the national team. In six WBCs, he only had 37 games and 21 starts with forgettable results. Noi got noticed even though Changwon was outside of the playoff mix in the next few years. They usually were above .500 in the early 1980s, but not quite good enough to make the cut. Noi remained a good starter, but wasn’t an award winner for the next few years.

Noi would opt out of his Changwon contract after the 1985 season, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 32. It disappointed some Crabs fans, but he remained extremely popular and would see his #13 uniform later retired. In a decade with Changwon, Noi had 1953 hits, 878 runs, 272 doubles, 145 triples, 173 home runs, 840 RBI, 883 stolen bases, a .326/.348/.506 slash, 134 wRC+, and 47.7 WAR. He would end up signing a five-year, $4,300,000 deal to join Busan.

The Blue Jays didn’t break through in Noi’s run and he only spent two years there, again eventually opting out of his deal. He was plenty good in his two seasons with 12.2 WAR, 407 hits, 180 runs, and a .331/.360/.515 slash. While in Busan, he crossed 1000 career stolen bases. Now 34 years old, he signed a five-year, $5,300,000 deal with Ulsan.

The Swallows had won the Korea League pennant the prior year and Noi hoped this would get him closer to a championship. Alas, Ulsan fell to 82-80 in 1988 and bottomed out at 60-102 in 1990. Noi was his usual reliable self in the first two years, but struggled to a 95 wRC+ in 1990. With Ulsan, he had 567 hits, 245 runs, a .310/.326/.478 slash, and 11.9 WAR. Looking to rebuild completely, the Swallows traded Noi to Gwangju before the 1991 season for two prospects.

Noi had a remarkable career resurgence in 1991, winning his second Korea League MVP 11 years after his first one. He also had his third Silver Slugger, leading the KL in hits, stolen bases, and batting average with 8.2 WAR. The Grays won 101 games, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs. The next year, Gwangju got to the KLCS, but lost to Suwon. This was the closest Noi would get to a pennant in his career.

Notably in that 1992 season, he became EAB’s all-time stolen base king, passing Taek-Hyun Kim’s mark of 1347 that had been finalized in 1989. In only two seasons with Gwangju, Noi had 14.1 WAR with 402 hits, 195 runs, a .343/.362/.538 slash, and 151 wRC+. That showed he could still play at a high level even as he approached age 39. The iron man would earn a nice payday with a two-year, $4,480,000 MLB deal with Virginia Beach.

Noi was a respectable starter in his two years with the Vikings, posting 4.3 WAR and a 110 wRC+. The highlight came in 1994, hitting for the cycle against Washington. He came back to South Korea for 1995 on a one year deal with Seoul. Noi had a nice season and reached numerous milestones; 1500 stolen bases, 3500 hits, 1500 runs scored, and 1500 RBI. He hoped to play in 1996, but went unsigned and retired that winter at age 42.

Noi’s final stats in EAB saw 3519 hits, 1576 runs, 481 doubles, 251 triples, 318 home runs, 1554 RBI, 1557 stolen bases, a .325/.347/.504 slash, 134 wRC+, and 89.7 WAR. He remains EAB’s stolen base king as of 2037 and still sits fourth in hits. At induction, his combined 1656 stolen bases from EAB/MLB was the second most of any player in pro baseball history behind only Ishmael Perla, the 1973 Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Famer with 1721 steals between BSA and MLB. Few players in EAB history were more exciting to watch on the basepaths, earning Noi the easy first ballot induction at 98.3%.

https://i.imgur.com/sPPMQMB.png

Ju-Kan Yoo – Third Base – Hamhung Heat – 95.1% First Ballot

Ju-Kan Yoo was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Singpyong, North Korea; a county of around 63,000 people in the country’s North Hwanghae Province. Yoo was known as a strong home run hitter with respectable contact ability. His strikeout rate and ability to draw walks were both above average as well. Yoo averaged 35 home runs per 162 games with around 21 doubles and 9 triples. Despite his bigger frame, he had solid speed, although he was around 50/50 on steal attempts.

Yoo exclusively played at third base and as of 2037, is the EAB all-time leader at the position in games, starts, assists, putouts, total chances, and innings. He had a rocket arm, but weak range, grading out as below average for his career. Yoo was an iron man with outstanding durability, playing 144+ games every year from 1977-94.

Yoo attended Kamimura Gakuen High School and got noticed even as a teenager. In the 1969 EAB Draft, he was picked in the second round by Hamhung with the 43<sup>rd</sup> overall pick. He officially debuted in 1973 at age 21, but he had only 16 at bats in pinch hit appearances between 1973 and 1974. After going back to the reserve roster in 1975, he spent half of 1976 active with 28 starts. Yoo earned the full-time gig in 1977 and was the fixture at third for the Heat for the next 17 years.

1978 was his finest year and only year as a league leader, topping Korean baseball in runs (105), RBI (122), and batting average (.336). Yoo won his first of seven Silver Sluggers and finished second in MVP voting. He won additional sluggers in 1979, 80, 81, 84, 88, and 89. Yoo was the definition of reliable. He also played for North Korea in the World Baseball Championship from 1978-95 with 138 games, 106 hits, 69 runs, 40 home runs, 75 RBI, a .235/.307/.534 slash, and 3.3 WAR.

Hamhung was stuck in the middle tier in the early 1980s, but Yoo was still a popular attraction. In April 1979, he signed a four-year, $2,102,000 contract extension, Yoo became a free agent after the 1983 season, but re-signed with the Heat on a five-year, $3,350,000 deal. At this point, Hamhung finally found some sustained success. From 1986-90, the Heat won four North Division titles. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs each time. Yoo was unremarkable in 23 playoff games with a 98 wRC+ and 0.1 WAR.

Hamhung regressed hard after their last division win in 1990, spending the rest of the century in the bottom of the standings. Yoo inked a three-year, $3,000,000 extension after the 1988 campaign, followed by another three years at $3,840,000 before the 1991 season. His numbers stayed remarkably steady through his 30s, finally seeing a notably dip in 1993. That would be his final year with the Heat.

In total with Hamhung, Yoo had 2808 hits, 1535 runs, 360 doubles, 589 home runs, 1774 RBI, a .283/.329/.528 slash, 136 wRC+, and 83.9 WAR. The Heat would later retire his #13 uniform. They were in full fire sale mode after the 1993 campaign, trading Yoo to Suwon for three prospects. Despite coming off his worst year, the Snappers still extended Yoo two weeks later to a three-year, $4,980,000 extension.

Yoo had an impressive bounce back year in 1994, turning back the clock and tying his career best with 39 home runs at age 42. The Snappers won 100 games and the division, but fell in the first round of the playoffs. Yoo would struggle the next year and get relegated to a bench role. He would reach notable milestones with Suwon, becoming the 24<sup>th</sup> to 600 home runs and the 16<sup>th</sup> to 3000 hits. Yoo retired after the 1995 season at age 44, having posted 6.4 WAR and 53 home runs with the Snappers.

For his full career, Yoo had 3009 hits, 1656 runs, 383 doubles, 160 triples, 642 home runs, 1889 RBI, 603 stolen bases, a .282/.329/.529 slash, 137 wRC+, and 90.3 WAR. As of 2037, he’s the all-time leader among EAB third basemen in total bases and RBI. At induction, he was sixth in EAB in RBI and still sits 10<sup>th</sup> as of 2037. Yoo’s remarkable longevity and consistency gave him totals you couldn’t deny, earning the first ballot pick at 95.1%.

FuzzyRussianHat

04-23-2024 05:26 AM

2001 BSA Hall of Fame

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Beisbol Sudamerica saw three first ballot inductees for the 2001 Hall of Fame class. IF Dyjan Rondo was nearly unanimous at 99.4%, joined by pitcher Arnau Emilio at 94.3% and LF Rafael Gasso at 81.6%. Two others were very close to the 66% threshold with 1B Bastian Martin at 62.7% for his second ballot and CL Andreo Ferrari at 62.0% for his debut. RF Yago Prata also notably had 56.3% in his second ballot. No players were dropped following ten tries in 2001.

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Dyjan Rondo – Third Base/Infield – Fortaleza Foxes – 99.4% First Ballot

Dyjan Rondo was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed infielder from Sao Jose dos Pinhais, a municipality of around 330,000 people in southern Brazil. Rondo was a great contact hitter with a great pop in his bat. He regularly got you around 35-45 home runs and around 25-35 doubles per season. Rondo was talented at drawing walks, but he did still have a below average strikeout rate.

On the basepaths, he was sluggish and lackluster. Despite his poor speed, he proved to be a versatile defensive infielder. Rondo primarily played at third base and was very talented, winning six Gold Gloves. He had starts at all of the infield spots in his career with average results at first and second and subpar results at shortstop. Rondo was incredibly durable and played 130+ games in each year of his 16 year professional career. His skillset helped make him one of Brazil’s most beloved baseball figures on his era.

Rondo showed great potential in his amateur career, earning the seventh overall pick by Fortaleza in the 1983 Beisbol Sudamerica Draft. His entire 12-year BSA career was as a Fox, earning a full-time starting gig as a rookie. Rondo was the 1984 Rookie of the Year and had his first Silver Slugger in 1985. He won nine Sluggers in total (1985-90, 92-95) and six Gold Gloves (1989-94).

In 1987, Rondo was second in MVP voting as he dominated the Southern Cone leaderboards, posting the top mark in runs, doubles, walks, total bases, OBP, slugging, OPS, wRC+, and WAR. He would be the WARlord thrice in his career and also lead in RBI thrice, runs twice, walks thrice, total bases twice, and OBP twice. Rondo was second again in MVP voting in 1990, 1994, and 1995.

Rondo’s national popularity came from the World Baseball Championship, playing for Brazil from 1989-98. He helped them to world titles in 1989 and 1990, taking third in WBC MVP voting. Over 147 games, he had 124 hits, 101 runs, 15 doubles, 56 home runs, 117 RBI, a .244/.345/.603 slash, 171 wRC+, and 7.2 WAR.

He helped Fortaleza to playoff berths in 1987 and 1989, although his playoff numbers were poor. The Foxes fell in the LCS in 1987 and the first round in 1989. Fortaleza hoped Rondo could take them to the promised land, signing him to an eight-year, $8,930,000 extension after the 1987 season. Rondo continued to play great into the early 1990s, although the Foxes found themselves stuck just outside of the postseason. Rondo would post a remarkable 57-game on-base streak from 8/30/90 to 5/3/91.

Fortaleza fell to 73-89 in 1993, but bounced back with a wild card appearance in 1994. Rondo’s playoff stats weren’t great, but the Foxes made a run to the Southern Cone championship, falling to Quito in Copa Sudamerica. They just missed the playoffs in 1995, but Rondo exploded with career bests in runs (116), home runs (52), RBI (133), total bases (375), and WAR (10.6). That earned him his lone MVP award at age 34. It also happened to be the final year of his deal with Fortaleza.

Rondo decided to leave for free agency and ultimately left Brazil. He would remain beloved by Foxes fans and his #39 uniform would later be retired. As a reigning MVP, Rondo had plenty of suitors worldwide. He ended up going to MLB on a three-year, $9,960,000 deal with the Charlotte Canaries. Rondo had a great debut season with 36 home runs, 6.5 WAR, and an all-star game appearance.

1997 was still a good year as a starter for Rondo, but his third year was the weakest of his career with 1.5 WAR and 103 wRC+. In total with the Canaries, he had 474 hits, 253 runs, 93 home runs, 253 RBI, a .277/.329//.487 slash, and 11.6 WAR. His defensive range had also significantly slipped at this point, lowering his stock as a 38-year old free agent. Rondo ended up in Morocco of all places, signing with the Arab League’s Casablanca. He spent one season as a slightly above average designated hitter. Rondo still wanted to play, but was unsigned in 2000 and retired that winter at age 40.

For his BSA career, Rondo had 2138 hits, 1105 runs, 361 doubles, 446 home runs, 1292 RBI, a .319/.386/.586 slash, 174 wRC+, and 105.0 WAR. As of 2037, he has the best OBP among all BSA third basemen. At induction, he was 16<sup>th</sup> among BSA position players in career WAR and still ranks 28<sup>th</sup> as of 2037. Rondo was one of the finest bats of his era and a surefire Hall of Fame pick, taking 99.4% to leadoff the three-player 2001 ballot.

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Arnau Emilio – Starting Pitcher – Santiago Saints – 94.3% First Ballot

Aranu Emilio was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from the capital of Chile, Santiago. Emilio had great stuff with above average to good movement and control. His best pitch was a 97-99 mph cutter, but he also had an excellent changeup and a good curveball. Emilio’s stamina was okay, but he threw fewer complete games than most other great BSA starters. He had great durability though, allowing for 220+ innings each year sans his rookie season. Emilio was also a stellar defensive pitcher, winning seven Gold Gloves in his career.

Emilio was a successful amateur in Chile and was picked by his hometown Santiago 12<sup>th</sup> overall in the 1979 BSA Draft. His entire BSA career was with the Saints, becoming well known throughout the capital. Emilio remained on the reserve roster in 1980, then debuted primarily as a reliever in 1981. He was moved to the rotation full time in 1982 and stayed there for 14 years with Santiago.

Emilio’s great defense got noticed early on, winning his first of seven Gold Gloves in 1983. He won it again in 1984, 85, 86, 94, 95, and 97. While not typically a league leader, his pitching quickly earned notice too. Emilio was third in 1984 Pitcher of the Year voting. That winter, Santiago extended him for five years at $2,738,000 total. Emilio also tossed 206.2 innings for Chile in the World Baseball Championship from 1982-96. He had a 2.70 ERA, 267 strikeouts, 74 walks, 137 ERA+, and 5.2 WAR.

In his late 20s, Emilio was consistently good, but not in the awards conversations. Still, in August 1989, the Saints gave Emilio a six-year, $6,960,000 extension. After a down period, Santiago finally started contending again in 1990. From 1990-95, they won five division titles, although they didn’t do anything in the postseason. 1993 saw an LCS defeat, while the other years were first round exits for Santiago. Emilio in the playoffs was unremarkable with a 3.93 ERA in eight starts, 52.2 innings, 55 strikeouts, and a 83 ERA+.

However, Emilio had his best seasons during this stretch with four seasons worth 7+ WAR. He led in wins in 1990 and 1991, had the best WHIP and most quality starts in 1991, and was the WARlord in 1992. Emilio picked up Pitcher of the Year honors in 1991 and 1992, cementing his legacy as an all-time great. He was a rare case of someone seeing their best years come in their mid 30s.

Emilio’s Santiago run ended with the 1995 season and to the surprise of many, he left South America. The Saints would retire his #26 uniform two years later. Emilio ended up leaving for Australia, signing a two-year, $3,080,000 deal with Melbourne. He was merely average in one season with the Mets, who traded him in the offseason to Samoa. Emilio was still respectable with the Sun Sox, but saw his season ended with a torn meniscus. He opted to retire with that at age 40. His two-year OBA stint saw a 3.30 ERA over 548.2 innings, 102 ERA+, and 8.6 WAR.

In his Santiago and BSA run, Emilio had a 242-139 record, 2.72 ERA, 3602 innings, 4076 strikeouts, 638 walks, 325/446 quality starts, 92 complete games, 124 ERA+, 77 FIP-, and 86.6 WAR. Emilio put together a very solid resume with his hometown team, earning his spot in the 2001 Hall of Fame class on the first ballot at 94.3%.

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Rafael Gasso – Left Field – Brasilia Bearcats – 81.6% First Ballot

Rafael Gasso was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed left fielder from Dois Corregos, a small city of around 27,000 people in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state. Gasso was a strong slugger that had 11 seasons with 40+ home runs. He was an above average contact hitter with an okay strikeout rate, although he didn’t draw nearly as many walks as you’d expect from a power guy, Gasso’s gap power was merely decent with around 20-25 doubles/triples per year.

Despite that profile and frame, Gasso was a crafty baserunner with better speed than you’d think. He was a career left fielder known for having a very strong arm. Gasso graded out as a consistently good defender. He was quite durable and reliable, making 135+ starts in 16 straight seasons. Gasso kept his head down and worked hard, making him very popular throughout his career.

Gasso was picked in his late teens by Brasilia with the 19<sup>th</sup> pick in the 1976 BSA Draft. The Bearcats kept him on the reserve roster for almost all of his first three years, apart from eight games in 1979. Gasso’s proper debut came in 1980 and it was an excellent one with 40 home runs and 6.6 WAR. He was Rookie of the Month thrice and ran away with Rookie of the Year honors. Gasso became a fixture for Brasilia for the next decade and change.

His second full year saw him lead the Southern Cone League with 50 home runs. Gasso also had a career high 116 RBI and 8.0 WAR, taking third in MVP voting. He had a career best 51 homers in 1982 and 375 total bases, earning his first Silver Slugger and a second in MVP voting. Gasso didn’t lead the league in stats the rest of his run, but you could expect very reliably solid power. He won additional Silver Sluggers in 1986, 87, and 90.

Gasso was also a key slugger during Brazil’s success in the World Baseball Championship in the 1980s. He played 179 games with 177 starts from 1981-93, posting 149 hits, 100 runs, 49 home runs, 109 RBI, a .234/.299/.505 slash, 129 wRC+, and 5.0 WAR. Gasso won world titles with the 1987 and 1989 Brazilian squads and was third in 1988’s WBC MVP voting.

Brasilia committed long-term to Gasso on an eight-year, $5,463,000 extension starting in 1985. Despite his efforts, the Bearcats never made the playoffs in his tenure, averaging 78 wins per season. The fans loved him and his #3 uniform eventually would be retired. Gasso’s power numbers did start to drop a bit as he entered his early 30s, but he still provided solid value throughout his whole run. He signed another four-year extension after the 1991 season worth $5,400,000.

For his Brasilia run, Gasso had 2144 hits, 1123 runs, 249 doubles, 513 home runs, 1163 RBI, 413 stolen bases, a .289/.318/.552 slash, 158 wRC+, and 74.8 WAR. After winning 90 games in 1991 and showing playoff potential, the Bearcats dropped to 73 wins in 1992. They were sellers and moved Gasso in late June to Rosario for four prospects.

The Robins were making a late push and Gasso’s addition paid off. They were a 90-72 wild card, but went on a postseason run and won Copa Sudamerica for the first time in franchise history, beating Ciudad Guayana for the title. Gasso stepped up in his only postseason, winning MVP in their LCS win over Belo Horizonte. In 14 playoff starts, Gasso had 18 hits, 11 runs, 4 doubles, 5 home runs, 11 RBI, and 0.9 WAR; forever earning a warm place in the hearts of Rosario fans.

The Robins regressed to the bottom of the standings the next three seasons. Gasso still provided positive value, posting 449 hits, 254 run, 129 home runs, 301 RBI, a 126 wRC+, and 11.8 WAR during his tenure. His deal ran out after the 1995 season and he decided to call it quits at age 38.

Gasso finished with 2593 hits, 1377 runs, 304 doubles, 642 home runs, 1464 RBI, 530 stolen bases, a .279/.308/.540 slash, 151 wRC+, and 86.5 WAR. He was the ninth player in Beisbol Sudamerica history to join the 600 home run club and was seventh all-time at induction. He’s still 19<sup>th</sup> as of 2037 even with the 21<sup>st</sup> Century explosion in offense. The man socked dingers and helped Rosario win a title. Gasso wasn’t THE star of the era, but he was strong enough to get a first ballot induction at 81.6% to round out the impressive 2001 Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

04-23-2024 10:51 AM

2001 EBF Hall of Fame

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Three players were added into the European Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 2001. Two were no-doubt slam dunk first ballot guys with SP/LF Edgar Miranda at 99.6% and LF Jack Kennedy at 98.5%. They were joined by SP Johannes Soderberg, who narrowly crossed the 66% requirement. In his fourth ballot, Soderberg got the jump to 69.7%. 2B JF Bourelly had a nice debut, but fell short at 59.2%. Also above 50% was SP Cornelius Danner at 50.9% on his eighth try. No players were dropped from the ballot after ten tries.

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Edgar “Slap” Miranda – Starting Pitcher/Left Field – Seville Stingrays – 99.6% First Ballot

Edgar Miranda was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher and outfielder from Leganes, Spain; a city of around 185,000 inhabitants within metropolitan Madrid. Miranda was well rounded on the mound with very good stuff, movement, and control. His fastball regularly hit 97-99 mph and he countered it with an all-time epic 10/10 changeup. Miranda also had a strong curveball he could go to, but the one-two punch earned plenty of whiffs. He had great stamina and durability, tossing 270+ innings each season except his first and last.

Miranda’s pitching alone was elite, but his two-way ability made him a true legend. He was a great batter with a .301 career average and 38 home runs per 162 games. Miranda had a solid eye, respectable strikeout rate, and good gap power, especially against lefties. He was a smart baserunner, but was pretty slow. Still, Miranda managed to have respectable range in left field, where he started when not pitching. He graded out as above average defensively in left and below average as a pitcher, as his ability to hold runners was iffy.

There had been a few two-way guys in EBF’s early years, but none that could call themselves elite at both spots. Miranda emerged in the Spanish amateur ranks as someone who had the tools to be special. Seville had the #1 overall pick in 1981 and used it on Miranda, who would spend nearly his entire pro career with the Stingrays. He was a full-time two-way starter immediately and his durability would be legendary. Every year with Seville had 30+ starts on the mound and 110+ starts at the plate.

Miranda took second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1982. He was easily the top hitter among regular pitchers, winning his first of nine consecutive Silver Sluggers in his rookie campaign. He would post 11 straight seasons worth 4+ WAR offensively despite losing some games due to the nature of the split. He had eight seasons with 30+ home runs.

That didn’t slow the workload down, leading in innings pitched in his second and third seasons. In his fourth season, he topped the Southern Conference in strikeouts with a career-best. Seville snapped a seven-year playoff drought, although they lost in the first round. The Stingrays would sign him after this campaign to a six-year, $6,050,000 contract extension.

Miranda also was a rarely-seen two-way player in the World Baseball Championship for Spain from 1982-95. As a pitcher, he had 213.2 innings with a 12-10 record, 3.33 ERA, 285 strikeouts, 110 ERA+, and 5.5 WAR. Miranda had 58 games at the plate with 53 hits, 35 runs, 12 doubles, 16 home runs, 39 RBI, a .265/.336/.585 slash, 160 wRC+, and 2.5 WAR.

1986 was his best year by WAR at 9.7 on the mound, plus 5.8 at the plate. He led in quality starts and complete games, but took third in Pitcher of the Year voting and second in MVP voting. The next year, he led in wins at 24-5, which Miranda grab his first MVP. He continued his two-way excellence, but Seville couldn’t get over the hump, missing the playoffs from 1986-91. Still, Miranda received a four-year, $6,320,000 contract extension in March 1991.

In 1992, Miranda was the leader in innings, strikeouts, and WAR, while posting a career best 2.35 ERA. He also had 35 home runs and 4.9 WAR at the plate. This got him his second MVP and his lone Pitcher of the Year at age 33. Seville made it back to the playoffs and Miranda had a 2.65 ERA in two starts, but they again were one-and-done. This would be his last time playing in the postseason.

Miranda had two more solid seasons, but the Stingrays retreated back to the middle of the standings. He decided to decline the contract option remaining, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 36. He would remain popular with Seville and see his #36 uniform eventually retired. Miranda surprised many by signing with Belgrade, who had been a bottom-rung team in recent memory. He inked a three-year, $7,680,000 deal with the Bruisers.

He only lasted one season with Belgrade. Miranda looked surprisingly pedestrian on the mound with the Bruisers, although his batting numbers remained quite good. However, on July 27, 1995, Miranda suffered a torn labrum. This ended his season and also his career, as he decided to retire that winter at age 37.

As a pitcher, Miranda finished with a 246-160 record, 3.21 ERA, 3822.2 innings, 3936 strikeouts, 663 walks, 309/480 quality starts, 178 complete games, 118 ERA+, 81 FIP-, and 89.5 WAR. At induction, he was ninth all-tie in wins, ninth in strikeouts, and 12<sup>th</sup> in pitching WAR. He’s still top 20 in each as of 2037, boasting a pitching resume that on its own would get Miranda a Hall of Fame spot.

Offensively, he had 1834 hits, 1021 runs, 280 doubles, 416 home runs, 1069 RBI, a .301/.365/.563 slash, 158 wRC+, and 68.1 WAR. If Miranda had just his batting numbers, you could still credibly argue in favor of induction. His combined WAR of 157.6 placed him at induction only behind Jacob Ronnberg (169.2) and Christophoros Zarkadis (164.0).

At this point, only EPB legend Igor Bury had him beat in combined WAR for a two-way guy (180.0 total, although he was more skewed with 138.9 on the mound. As of 2037, he has the third most WAR of any two-way player and the second most offensive WAR. When discussing two-way guys, Miranda is a top-five level guy in world baseball history. His lack of playoff success was probably the one thing keeping him from being a unanimous Hall of Famer, getting 99.6%.

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Jack “Fingers” Kennedy – Left Field – Zurich Mountaineers – 98.5% First Ballot

Jack Kennedy was a 6’0’’, 195 pound left-handed left fielder from Newbridge, Ireland; a town of 24,000 people located about an hour southwest of Dublin. Kennedy was a prolific home run hitter that also hit effectively for average. He had seven seasons with 50+ home runs and 12 with 40+. Kennedy was good at drawing walks, but did have a poor strikeout rate. He wasn’t just about dingers, averaging around 25-35 doubles/triples per season.

Kennedy was a very savvy and crafty baserunner despite having subpar speed. He was a career left fielder and was firmly mediocre with his glove. Kennedy had good durability though and socked dingers at a remarkable clip, making him extremely popular. His notoriety among the general public almost approached that of another famous Jack Kennedy.

Kennedy’s power potential caught the eye of a scout from Zurich in attendance at a prospects camp in Dublin. As a 16-year old, he signed a developmental deal with the Mountaineers in late 1970. It would be one of all-time great finds, as Kennedy played a huge role in Zurich’s historic division title streak. He became one of a select few to debut at age 19 with 39 games and 5 starts in 1974. That would be the second year of the record 21-season streak.

Kennedy was a full-time starter in 1975 and immediately succeeded with 6.6 WAR and a career and conference best 38 doubles. This earned him his first of three straight Silver Sluggers. In 1976, he took third in Southern Conference MVP voting with a 10.3 WAR, 54 home run season. Kennedy had 9.1 WAR in only 130 games in 1977 and led in slugging at .682. That earned him second in MVP voting.

A hamstring strain and elbow inflammation cost Kennedy half of the 1978 campaign. Kennedy bounced back to take third in 1979 MVP voting and third in 1982. Just before the 1980 season, Zurich inked him to an eight-year, $5,350,000 contract extension. The Mountaineers hoped he could finally get them over that hump. During their historic division title streak, Zurich had 12 Southern Conference Championship appearances. They won the pennant in 1976, 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1984. However, each time they were denied in the European Championship.

In his playoff career, Kennedy played 162 games with 158 starts, picking up 145 hits, 79 runs, 21 doubles, 38 home runs, 84 RBI, a .233/.276/.454 slash, 110 wRC+, and 3.7 WAR. Although not bad numbers, he did get some flack for not being more dominant in the postseason, shouldering some blame for their lack of a title. He also played for Ireland from 1976-96 in the World Baseball Championship and dominated that field. In 175 games, he had 169 hits, 127 runs, 83 home runs, 145 RBI, a .265/.341/.700 slash, 188 wRC+, and 10.5 WAR.

From 1982-84, Kennedy led the conference each year home runs and led twice in runs. 1983 also had the lead and career bests in RBI (137), slugging (.726), OPS (1.121), and wRC+ (225) along with a blistering 11.8 WAR. This finally won Kennedy the MVP, a tough egg to crack sharing a conference with guys like Richard Rautenstrauch and Jacob Ronnberg. 1984 had a career high 65 home runs and 129 RBI. Kennedy won Silver Sluggers in 1983 and 1984 and took second in 1984 MVP voting.

In 1987, the 32-year old Kennedy suffered a ruptured MCL in early August, knocking him out nine months. Still, Zurich gave him another five years and $5,120,000. He was still great in these next few years, but generally less dominant and bothered by nagging injuries. From 1985-92, the Mountaineers’ playoff woes were more pronounced with five one-and-dones and three conference finals defeats.

Kennedy started racking up career accolades. In 1990, he was the third to reach 700 career home runs and the 11<sup>th</sup> to 2500 hits. By 1992, he was EBF’s home run king, passing Zarkadis’ career mark of 795. Kennedy had a resurgence with 54 homers in 1992, leading the conference for the fourth time in his career. In 1993, Kennedy crossed 2000 RBI, a mark only reached by Ronnberg a month earlier. It was now a battle between Kennedy and Ronnberg seemingly as to who would finish atop the leaderboards. 1993 also had Kennedy join the 3000 hit club.

1993 was the 21<sup>st</sup> season of the Zurich division title streak and the year they finally got over the hump. The 38-year old Kennedy stepped up in the playoffs with 15 hits, 9 runs, 3 homers, and 10 RBI in 13 games, finally earning the European Championship. It was the crowning moment in an all-time career, grasping the ring after having so many shots.

Kennedy’s contract expired with that title and he was a free agent for the first time at age 39. He didn’t want to end his career yet, signing a two-year, $3,880,000 deal with Amsterdam. Kennedy was merely okay in one season with the Anacondas. This season, Kennedy crossed 2000 career runs, a mark only reached by Ronnberg two months earlier.

After one season with Amsterdam, he was traded in the offseason back to Zurich for two pitchers. Unfortunately, he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in April 1995, effectively ending his career. Kennedy tried to find a home in 1996, but went unsigned. He played one final WBC with Ireland in 1996, then retired that winter at age 42. Zurich immediately retied his #31 uniform.

Kennedy’s final statistics were 3155 hits, 2021 runs, 553 doubles, 124 triples, 875 home runs, 2107 RBI, 1008 walks, 364 stolen bases, a .299/.362/.623 slash, 173 wRC+, and 140.3 WAR. Kennedy retired the home run king and would only be passed by Harvey Coyle in the 2020s. He retired second to Ronnberg in both RBI and runs scored and as of 2037 still sits fourth and third, respectively. Kennedy also was the all-time doubles leader at retirement and remains fifth. He was third in WAR among position players and remains fifth in 2037.

In the playoffs as of 2037, Kennedy is also second all-time in home runs, fifth in RBI, fifth in runs, and sixth in hits. Any conversation about EBF’s all-time best hitters includes Kennedy, who makes the top five list of just about anyone putting such a list together. He received 98.5% to join the 2001 EBF Hall of Fame class.

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Johannes Soderberg – Starting Pitcher – Stockholm Swordsmen – 69.7% Fourth Ballot

Johannes Soderberg was a 6’0’’, 170 pound left-handed pitcher from Gothenburg; Sweden’s second largest city with around 600,000 people. Soderberg was known for having outstanding movement on his pitches and very good stuff, although his control was below average. His fastball only was 93-95 mph, but he was a very rare guy with six different pitches. Soderberg’s curveball was his best pitch, but his forkball, splitter, slider, and changeup were all threats.

Soderberg’s stamina was decent, but he didn’t have as many complete games as most other all-time greats. Injuries did cost him chunks of many seasons, but his ability to change speeds and switch between pitches allowed him to still thrive.

Soderberg stood out in high school career as one of Sweden’s rising baseball stars. Stockholm decided to pick him out of high school with the 10<sup>th</sup> overall pick in the 1971 EBF Draft. They kept him on the developmental roster for 1972 and 1973. Soderberg debuted at age 21 with four starts in 1974 with limited success. He would then be a part-time starter in 1975 and struggled with a 4.64 ERA.

In 1976, Soderberg looked like the ace that Stockholm hoped he could be, leading the Northern Conference in ERA with 1.66. However, he suffered a torn flexor tendon in late July. A setback in his recovery required surgery, keeping Soderberg out 19 months in total and putting his career future in doubt. He missed the entire 1977 season.

Soderberg made a remarkable comeback in 1978, leading the conference with 9.2 WAR and posting career bests in wins at 23-8 and 328 strikeouts. He won Pitcher of the Year and helped Stockholm extend their postseason streak to five years. The Swordsmen again went one-and-done though. They had a seven-year streak from 1974-80 with five one-and-dones and two defeats in the conference final.

Soderberg earned a three-year, $1,510,000 contract extension beginning in 1980. 1979 would see another major injury with a fractured elbow in August. He bounced back with good efforts and had a huge 1982 postseason. Stockholm snuck into the playoffs that year at 83-79, but put together an unexpected run to the European Championship. Soderberg went 4-1 in five playoff starts with a 2.48 ERA over 36.1 innings, 32 strikeouts, and 140 ERA+. 1982 also featured a no-hitter on July 6 against Athens with six strikeouts and two walks. Two weeks after the no-hitter, Soderberg signed a five-year, $3,900,000 extension.

In addition to his Stockholm run, Soderberg regularly pitched for Sweden in the World Baseball Championship. From 1979-91, he had 29 appearances with 170.2 innings, 14-10 record, 3.06 ERA, 219 strikeouts, 121 ERA+, and 5.1 WAR. In 1983 and 1984, Soderberg led the Northern Conference in ERA both years. He was third in 1983 Pitcher of the Year voting and won the award for the second time in 1984.

Stockholm fell to the bottom of the standings soon after, bottoming at 64 wins in both 1986 and 1987. A strained triceps cost Soderberg three months in 1986. The Swordsmen looked to be sellers as they were rebuilding and traded Soderberg in May 1987 to Munich for three prospects. He looked solid with the Mavericks, but was beat up in his one playoff start for Munich. For his entire playoff career, Soderberg had a 3.49 ERA over 90.1 innings with 66 strikeouts.

Between Stockholm and Munich in 1987, Soderberg had 7.1 WAR and still looked to be a top-level arm. Now 35 years old, Soderberg was a free agent for the first time. MLB came calling and Cleveland signed him to a three-year, $4,460,000 deal. Soderberg was delightfully average in his one season as a Cobra. Cleveland would trade him and CF Aaron Gale to Atlanta in the offseason for three prospects.

Soderberg looked okay in four starts with the Aces, but they decided to cut him. He was unemployed for only six days, signing with Brooklyn. Soderberg had decent success with the Dodgers, but a herniated disc cost him the second half. His efforts were good enough though for Brooklyn to give him a two-year, $3,600,000 extension.

A sprained ankle cost Soderberg half of 1990, but he still was a serviceable arm in the back of the rotation. In May 1991, he suffered a torn rotator cuff, putting him out for ten months. That ended his four year run in MLB with a 25-29 record, 3.31 ERA, 585.1 innings, 412 strikeouts, 107 ERA+, and 8.8 WAR.

Soderberg wanted to keep pitching and Stockholm brought him home on a one-year, $1,440,000 deal. Sadly, the injury tanked his velocity with his fastball now at 86-88 mph. Soderberg stunk with a 5.33 ERA and retired after the season at age 40. Still, the Swordsmen honored him by retiring his #12 uniform.

For his EBF tenure, Soderberg had a 169-120 record, 2.74 ERA, 2788.1 innings, 2977 strikeouts, 739 walks, 262/374 quality starts, 59 complete games, 129 ERA+, 72 FIP-, and 76.2 WAR. His rate stats were very good, but his accumulations were on the low end compared to other Hall of Famers. Soderberg was above 60% in his first three ballots, but fell just short each time of the 66% requirement. In 1999, he was less than a point shy at 65.5%. 2001 saw the bump to 69.7%, giving Soderberg a fourth ballot induction as part of a strong EBF class.

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