OOTP Developments Forums - Baseball: The World's Game

Page 78 of 113

« First

Last »

Show 50 post(s) from this thread on one page

OOTP Developments Forums (https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com//index.php)

- OOTP Dynasty Reports (https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com//forumdisplay.php?f=12)

- - Baseball: The World's Game (https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com//showthread.php?t=335179)

FuzzyRussianHat

08-21-2024 06:48 PM

2011 in CABA

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

After missing the playoffs the prior two seasons, Chihuahua emerged as the Mexican League’s top seed at 102-60. The Warriors hadn’t won the North Division since their 1961 CABA Championship and it was only their fourth playoff appearance in 51 years. They held off a strong 98-64 Monterrey squad, who took the first wild card. The Matadors earned their second wild card in three years.

Defending CABA champ Ecatepec kept its hold of the South Division at 100-62, winning a fifth consecutive division title and their 17<sup>th</sup> in 19 years. For the second wild card, Juarez and Leon tied at 91-71. The Jesters won in the tiebreaker game to end a four-year playoff drought. Last year’s second wild card Torreon dropped to 85-77. Hermosillo, who had a five-year playoff streak, fell off hard at 70-92.

Leading Chihuahua’s turnaround was Mexican league MVP Diego Carmona. In his 11<sup>th</sup> year for the Warriors, the 32-year old Mexican first baseman led in hits (222), runs (136), home runs (53), total bases (438), average (.366), slugging (.723), OPS (1.123), wRC+ (216), and WAR (10.2). His 143 RBI fell nine short of a Triple Crown. Unfortunately for Chihuahua, Carmona left in the offseason to MLB on a five-year, $91,000,000 deal with Indianapolis.

In only his second season, Monterrey’s Jimeno Calleros won Pitcher of the Year. The 23-year old Honduran righty posted the first CABA pitching Triple Crown since 2004 with a 23-6 record, 2.20 ERA, and 303 strikeouts. Calleros also led in WHIP (0.91) and posted 5.7 WAR over 253.1 innings with 169 ERA+. This was the one standout year in an otherwise unremarkable tenure, going down as one of the true “one-hit wonders” in baseball history.

Chihuahua survived in five over Juarez in the first round, while Ecatepec swept Monterrey. The Explosion earned their fifth straight Mexican League Championship Series berth and their 16<sup>th</sup> in 19 years. The Warriors hadn’t gotten that far since 1962. Even though Chihuahua was the top seed, the defending champ Ecatepec was the favorite in the minds of many.

The 2011 MLCS was a seven-game classic that came down to the wire. Chihuahua won game seven 8-7 on a walkoff to end a 49-year title drought. The Warriors became six-time champs (1922, 26, 46, 48, 61, 2011). This denied Ecatepec’s repeat bid and put them at 1-5 in their last seven MLCS appearances.

https://i.imgur.com/DOMn7OL.jpg

Nicaragua had the Caribbean League’s #1 seed for the third straight year and set a franchise-record at 107-55. The Navigators earned a third Continental Division crown in-a-row and a fourth consecutive playoff berth. Honduras was a distant second in the division at 96-66, but this was the second-best record in the league. The Horsemen ended a three-year playoff drought as the first wild card.

Santo Domingo had gotten repeat wild cards, but this time took the Island Division title at 94-68. The Dolphins hadn’t been a division champ since 1994. Jamaica was a close second at 91-71, ultimately edging out Panama (90-72) and Guatemala (87-75) for the second wild card. The Jazz ended a playoff drought dating back to 1982.

Meanwhile, reigning Caribbean champ Haiti fell short at 86-76. This ended a 14-year playoff streak, which was the longest in CL history and second-longest in CABA behind Monterrey’s 18-year run from 1988-2005. The Herons still grew their streak of winning seasons to 18 seasons.

Panama narrowly missed the playoffs, but they had the most runs in CABA at 824. Leading that effort was Caribbean League MVP Hasan Alvizo, who led in runs (134), hits (215), total bases (417), triple slash (.373/.429/.723), OPS (1.152), wRC+ (200), and WAR (9.1). The 28-year old Nicaraguan first baseman also had 48 homers, 127 RBI, and 34 doubles.

Nicaragua’s Montell Donald repeated as Pitcher of the Year. In his second season with the Navigators, the 28-year old Curacaoan righty led in wins (17-6), ERA (2.24), WHIP (0.83), K/BB (13.1), quality starts (22), and WAR (7.7). Donald added 261 strikeouts in 241 innings with a 171 ERA+.

Honduras upset Santo Domingo 3-2 in the first round, while Nicaragua ousted Jamaica 3-1. The Horsemen were back in the Caribbean League Championship Series after a three-year layoff. The Navigators were the favorite, but were knocked off for the third consecutive season. Honduras won the CLCS 4-2 for their first pennant since 2004. This was the 18<sup>th</sup> pennant for the Horsemen, tying Monterrey for the most of any CABA team.

https://i.imgur.com/WgLPM7p.png

Honduras returned to the pinnacle, winning the 101<sup>st</sup> Central American Baseball Association Championship 4-3 over Chihuahua. In the series, all seven games were won by the home team. This gave the Horsemen their eighth CABA ring (1926, 40, 42, 58, 63, 93, 03, 11). 1B Salvador Soliz won finals MVP in his eighth year for Honduras. In 17 playoff starts, the 30-year old Guatemalan lefty had 16 hits, 7 runs, 4 doubles, 4 home runs, and 10 RBI.

https://i.imgur.com/EZMEX9m.png

Veteran pitcher Sergo Pierre also had a historic postseason for Honduras. The 33-year old Hatian threw 30 scoreless innings in four starts with six hits, 4 walks, and 18 strikeouts. He set still-standing playoff records with a perfect ERA, as well as in H/9 (1.8), opponents’ average (.064), opponents’ slugging (.085), and OPS (.187).

Other notes: Casimiro Salceda became the 43<sup>rd</sup> member of the 500 home run club. LF Ozzie Collard won his ninth consecutive Gold Glove.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-22-2024 07:05 AM

2011 in MLB

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

Hartford ended a five-year postseason drought and took the National Association’s top seed at 103-59 atop the Northeast Division. The Huskies did it with a strong pitching staff with 1481 strikeouts, only eight behind the NA single-season record set the prior year by Indianapolis. Hartford’s 8.97 K/9 ranked third-best in National Association history. The Northeast also had a strong 94-68 Montreal, who took the first wild card and ended an 11-year playoff drought.

The #2 seed went to Brooklyn at 96-66 atop the East Division. The Dodgers earned repeat playoff berths, but it was their first division title since 1988. They fought off Baltimore and Virginia Beach, who tied for the second wild card at 91-71. The Orioles beat the Vikings in a tiebreaker game to end a 24-year playoff drought dating to 1986. That was tied with Omaha and Louisville for the longest active drought in the National Association.

Reigning NA champ Philadelphia missed the cut at 87-75 to end a four-year streak of 100+ win seasons. That was only the second playoff miss in nine years for the Phillies. Quebec City at 88-74 was also in the mix, but couldn’t repeat as a wild card.

Detroit repeated in the Upper Midwest Division at 94-68 and won a third division title in four years. Omaha was their closest foe at 88-74, six short in the division and three back for the last wild card. Indianapolis repeated at 93-69 in the Lower Midwest Division. The Racers were 11 games ahead of their closest foes St. Louis and Kansas City. Only two years removed from back-to-back pennants, Cincinnati dropped to 74-88. That was the first losing record for the Reds since 1999.

Virginia Beach right fielder Ezekiel Thomas won National Association MVP and made history. The 27-year old New Yorker recorded the sixth-ever hitting Triple Crown in MLB, a feat that hadn’t been seen since Sebastian Lunde in 1946. Thomas had 51 home runs, 143 RBI, and a 355 average. He also led in slugging (.659), total bases (392), OPS (1.072), wRC+ (222), and WAR (9.7), while adding 114 runs and 211 hits.

That was Thomas’ final year with the Vikings, as he looked to make pro baseball history in free agency. Montreal rewarded him handsomely with an eight-year, $177,600,000 deal. In his peak seasons, Thomas was to make $28,200,000; a record for the time.

Pitcher of the Year was Hartford’s Seth Southworth in only his third season. The Rhode Islander missed a month to a strained hamstring, but still led in wins at 22-3. The 23-year old lefty had a 2.16 ERA over 225.1 innings, 253 strikeouts, 6.0 WAR, and a 162 ERA+.

The first round of the playoffs had Indianapolis 2-0 over Montreal and Detroit 2-0 over Baltimore. The top seeds won in round two as Hartford swept the Racers and Brooklyn survived 3-2 versus the Tigers. For the Huskies, their last National Association Championship Series appearance came with their 1992 World Series win. The Dodgers drought was even longer, dating back to 1961. Brooklyn pulled off the upset 4-2 over Hartford, giving the Dodgers only their second-ever pennant (1966).

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

The American Association had a number of intense division battles, none tighter than in the South Central. Austin and Houston both finished at 99-63 with a tiebreaker game giving the winner the #1 seed. The Amigos prevailed for their third division title in six years. The Hornets were the first wild card, which gave them eight playoff appearances in a decade.

The Southeast Division saw the #2 seed go to Charlotte at 99-63, narrowly fending off 96-66 Tampa. That ended a 24-year playoff drought for the Canaries, which was the third longest active skid in the AA with only Miami (39) and San Antonio (25) worse. Charlotte had also never won the division since the 1982 re-alignment; their last time in first place was 1941 in the old Southern League. The Thunderbolts got the second wild card for repeat playoff appearances.

One game separated Los Angeles (94-68) from Phoenix (93-69) in the Southwest Division. The Angels saw repeat playoff berths, while the Firebirds fell three short in the wild card race. Defending World Series champ San Diego was delightfully mid at 82-80, missing the cut. Las Vegas (87-75) missed out on three straight playoff berths.

The weakest division champ was Denver at 89-73 atop the Northwest Division. The Dragons matched their 2010 record to repeat as division champs. Seattle and Calgary were their closest foes both at 81-81.

Leading the way for Denver was LF Isaac Cox, the American Association MVP. In his fourth season, the 24-year old lefty from Idaho led in homers (53), runs (123), and slugging (.676). Cox added 119 RBI, a .313 average, 1.065 OPS, 188 wRC+, and 9.3 WAR. The Dragons didn’t hesitate to lock him up long-term in the winter, giving Cox an eight-year, $125,900,000 extension to remain the face of the franchise.

Austin’s Archer Calloway became a two-time Pitcher of the Year winner, having also taken it in 2006. He worked his way back to excellence after missing all of 2008 to a torn flexor tendon. The 31-year old Texan lefty led in strikeouts (258), WHIP (0.96), and quality starts (24). Calloway added 6.9 WAR, a 22-7 record, 2.94 ERA, and 127 ERA+ over 284.2 innings. Unfortunately, more injuries led to a fairly steep decline for Calloway.

Denver used home field advantage as a division winner to survive 2-1 over Houston in the first round of the playoffs. Tampa overcame that challenge 2-1 against Los Angeles. The Thunderbirds continued to roll, ousting top seed Austin 3-1 in round two. The Dragons kept their momentum as well, knocking off Charlotte 3-2.

Denver earned back-to-back berths in the American Association Championship Series, while Tampa hadn’t gotten that far since 1968. The Thunderbirds cruised to a 4-1 victory for their second-ever pennant. Their only other title came all the way back in the inaugural 1901 season, 110 years earlier.

https://i.imgur.com/U8lOxsR.png

The 111<sup>th</sup> World Series had essentially two newcomers. Brooklyn was looking for its first-ever title with their only prior appearance being a 1958 defeat. Basically no one was still alive from Tampa’s lone championship in 1901. The Thunderbirds made world baseball history with the longest gap between championships at 109 years, as they defeated the Dodgers 4-2.

World Series MVP was 2B Americo Leal in his second season as a starter. The 24-year old Colombian had 32 hits and 13 runs in 18 playoff starts with 2 doubles, 6 triples, 8 RBI, and 9 stolen bases. Leal’s hits mark was the fourth-most in a MLB postseason and he joined Jess Lewis’ 1948 as the only playoff runs with six triples.

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

The defeat for Brooklyn leaves them as one of ten original MLB teams without a World Series ring in 111 seasons. Counting expansion teams, 16 squads haven’t won it all as of 2011. The only original teams without at least one appearance are Buffalo, Omaha, San Antonio, and Oakland. Expansion squads Salt Lake City, Austin, Orlando, Wichita, and Quebec City also still haven’t gotten a pennant.

Other notes: Olen Lack and Monty Moody became the 56<sup>th</sup> and 57<sup>th</sup> MLB players to reach 3000 career hits. Daniel Hecker and Lukas Warrell both got to 500 home runs, a mark now reached by 75 MLB sluggers.

Pitcher Theron Summers and CF Damien Yang both became ten-time Gold Glove winners. Summers tied the MLB record for most by a pitcher. CF Morgan Short won his tenth consecutive Silver Slugger, a position record. 3B Daniel Hecker and SS Joel Tournier both became eight-time Slugger winners.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-22-2024 12:22 PM

2011 Baseball Grand Championship

FuzzyRussianHat

08-22-2024 06:55 PM

2012 MLB Hall of Fame

Major League Baseball’s 2012 Hall of Fame ballot had a wide open field with no debuts of note. The top debut was SP Rizwan Rehman at a mere 20.3%. Six players topped 60%, but only two managed to narrowly breach the 66% requirement to earn induction in 2012. On his ninth ballot, longtime Ottawa outfielder Xavier Chojnacki made it in with 70.8%. Joining him was 2B Chaz Cimarron with 66.9% in his fifth ballot.

https://i.imgur.com/2R5HXfe.png

Just missing the cut was OF Will Kemme at 64.1% on his eight ballot, SP Dirk Hughes also at 64.1% for his fourth try, RF Brian Ostrovskaya at 62.3% on his eighth ballot, and CL Brendan Gordon with 60.9% for his seventh try. Two others were above 50%, but below 60%. C Elliott McKay got 56.6% in his fifth ballot and SP Bob Gallagher had 50.5% for his second go.

Dropped after ten failed ballots was 1B Beckett Gatter, who had an 18-year career with five teams. Gatter won two Silver Sluggers and led in home runs thrice, posting 2431 hits, 1384 runs, 569 home runs, 376 doubles, 1481 RBI, a .269/.330/.511 slash, 134 wRC+, and 61.1 WAR. He had nice power, but was also stuck on terrible teams and never saw a playoff game. Gatter was a “Hall of Pretty Good” guy who peaked at 48.2% in 2006 and ended at 44.5%.

Also dropped was pitcher Travis Vest, who bounced between nine teams over 18 seasons. Vest had a 253-203 record, 3.66 ERA, 4279.2 innings, 3158 strikeouts, 1320 walks, 188 complete games, 104 ERA+, 62.9 WAR, and one Gold Glove. Vest was best known for a stellar playoff run in 1982 with a 0.84 ERA over 32.1 innings, helping St. Louis win the World Series. Otherwise, he was a tenured but above average pitcher. Vest peaked at 42.2% in 2007 and ended with 20.6%.

https://i.imgur.com/A6BRG3f.png

Xavier Chojnacki – Right/Left Field – Ottawa Elks – 70.8% Ninth Ballot

Xavier Chojnacki was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed corner outfielder from Barrie, Ontario; a city of around 147,000 located around 90 kilometers north of Toronto. Chojnacki was a very good contact hitter and was excellent at avoiding strikeouts with a 5.9% strikeout rate in his career. He was around average in terms of drawing walks.

Chojnacki didn’t have tremendous power, but he wasn’t just a singles hitter. He had a 162 game average of 26 doubles, 7 triples, and 19 home runs. Chojnacki was a very intelligent baserunner and crafty base stealer despite having merely above average speed.

His range was limited in the outfield, making about 3/4s of his career starts in right field and the rest in left. Defensively, he graded as merely below average in RF and mediocre in LF. He had a few notable injuries in his 30s, but Chojnacki was fairly durable in his prime. He was a fan favorite, beloved for his work ethic and selflessness. He was one of the most likeable and friendly players of his era.

Although he grew up in Canada, Chojnacki left for the United States to play college baseball at the University of Kentucky. In three years as a Wildcat, he had 144 starts, 164 hits, 100 runs, 36 doubles, 31 home runs, 31 RBI, a .274/.337/.500 slash, 149 wRC+, and 6.9 WAR. In the 1978 MLB Draft, Chojnacki was picked in the second round with the 64<sup>th</sup> overall pick by Ottawa. He ultimately spent his entire pro career in the Canadian capital.

Chojnacki only saw limited action initially as a part-time starter in 1979 and 1980. He earned the full-time role in 1981 and apart from a brief benching in 1984, held the spot uninterrupted for a decade. Chojnacki wasn’t generally on top of any leaderboards, but he was a reliable starter as Ottawa became a playoff regular. From 1980-92, the Elks earned ten playoff appearances and five Northeast Division titles.

Ottawa had an impressive 115-47 record in 1982, but suffered an embarrassing one-and-done in the playoffs. They had the #1 seed again in 1983 at 105-57 and that time took care of business, winning the World Series over Calgary. Chojnacki had a big playoff run, winning National Association Championship Series MVP against Baltimore. In 17 playoff starts, he had 23 hits, 13 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 9 RBI.

Chojnacki didn’t have any playoff runs quite as impressive, but still had a solid career over 67 games with 81 hits, 34 runs, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 33 RBI, a .301/.345/.454 slash, 137 wRC+, and 2.6 WAR. Ottawa won the NA title again in 1986, but lost in a World Series rematch with Calgary. In all of their other berths during Chojnacki’s tenure, the Elks lost in either the first or second round.

In July 1985, Chojnacki signed an eight-year, $11,400,000 extension with Ottawa. 1986 would be perhaps his finest season, leading the NA in runs scored (121) and posting a career best 7.1 WAR. He won his first Silver Slugger and was second in MVP voting; his only time as a finalist. Chojnacki won his second Slugger in 1987, leading in runs, hits, and total bases. He had four seasons worth 7+ WAR in his career.

Chojnacki was very popular in Ottawa, but became loved throughout all of Canada for his work in the World Baseball Championship. From 1982-97, he had 159 games and 140 starts, 176 hits, 102 runs, 33 doubles, 33 home runs, 98 RBI, a .318/.365/.571 slash, 169 wRC+, and 8.4 WAR. Chojnacki won world titles with the 1986, 1991, and 1995 Canadian squads. He was also third in WBC MVP voting in 1992, leading all players that tournament in hits, RBI, and WAR.

1992 would be a tough year for Chojnacki, suffering a broken kneecap in July that ended his season. Still, Ottawa gave him another four years and $8,480,000 that winter. He saw more of a part-time role for much of his 30s, but was still a popular figure. The Elks slipped more towards the middle tier in the mid 1990s, seeing their real competitiveness come to a close.

Chojnacki kept chugging along with playable numbers until his final season in 1998. That year, he hit .195 in 200 at-bats, especially lousy for a career .304 hitter. Chojnacki retired that winter at age 40. Although his #25 uniform was never retired, it’s not uncommon to still see those jerseys at the ballpark.

The finals stats had 2859 hits, 1466 runs, 426 doubles, 109 triples, 316 home runs, 1311 RBI, 560 walks, 345 stolen bases, a .304/.348/.473 slash, 145 wRC+, and 74.8 WAR. Chojnacki was very much “ol’ reliable” for nearly two decades for Ottawa. However, he was generally not an MVP-level guy and only had two Silver Sluggers. Chojnacki’s tallies were nice, but far from groundbreaking compared to other inductees. Plus, voters often expected big power numbers out of a corner outfielder.

Chojnacki did have popularity and a prominent role in an era of success for the Elks. Staying with one franchise for your entire run does also resonate with certain voters. Still, Chojnacki had a bit of an uphill climb. He was never lower than 46.8% in 2005, but he usually hovered around the 50-60% range. Prior to induction, he topped 60% twice with 60.9% in 2008 and 60.6% in 2010.

2012 was the penultimate opportunity for Chojnacki with no one strong debuting. The wide open ballot allowed him to get re-evaluated by some skeptics, bumping Chojnacki just across the line at 70.8%. He was only the fifth player to make the MLB Hall of Fame on their ninth or tenth ballot. Regardless, Chojnacki was in in 2012.

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

Chaz “Rhino” Cimarron – Second Base – Cincinnati Reds – 66.9% Fifth Ballot

Chaz Cimarron was a 5’11’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting second baseman from Mexico City. Nicknamed “Rhino,” Cimarron was a great contact hitter and one of the best ever at avoiding strikeouts, retiring with a 3.7% strikeout rate. He rarely drew walks, but he filled the role of the traditional leadoff hitter. Cimarron had excellent speed and was one of the slickest baserunners of the era.

You weren’t going to get much home run power from Cimarron, whose career high season was 12. He still got plenty of doubles and turned many of those into triples with his speed. Cimarron averaged 27 doubles and 14 triples per 162 games. He showed impressive durability, starting 140+ games in all but two of his 17 seasons.

Cimarron was exclusively a second baseman defensively. Although he never won a Gold Glove, he was reliably solid at the spot. As of 2037, he has the sixth most starts of any MLB 2B. Cimarron was one of the most well respected players in the game and was a team captain. His work ethic, leadership, loyalty, and intelligence made him a valuable clubhouse presence.

Despite growing up in the Mexican capital, Cimarron decided to skip the CABA amateur ranks and play college baseball in the United States. He attended Georgia Tech and in three seasons had 144 games, 153 hits, 67 runs, 25 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, 42 stolen bases, a .267/.318/.373 slash, 103 wRC+, and 2.3 WAR. Cimarron wasn’t a top-ranked prospect and with the regional restrictions, he wasn’t eligible until later in the draft anyway.

Early in the fourth round in the 1985 MLB Draft, Cimarron was picked by Cincinnati with the 179<sup>th</sup> overall pick. He spent all of 1986 in minor league Dayton and won a Silver Slugger there. The Reds made him a full-time starter in 1987 and he earned Rookie of the Year in 135 games. He remained a full-time starter for the next six seasons for Cincinnati, leading the National Association thrice in stolen bases and twice in triples.

Cimarron won his first Silver Slugger in 1989 and his second in 1991. The latter was his only time as an MVP candidate, finishing second. That year was his lone batting title with a .361 and a NA-best 8.2 WAR and 232 hits. Both were career highs, as was his 32 doubles, 20 triples, and .922 OPS.

Cincinnati made it to the second round of the playoffs in 1989, but no deeper. The Reds were stuck in the middle of the standings generally in Cimarron’s tenure. However, they collapsed at the end of his run with 61 wins in 1992 and 64 wins in 1993. Cimarron considered trying to see the franchise through the dark period, but they decided to trade him after the 1993 season.

With the Reds, Cimarron had 1380 hits, 637 runs, 189 doubles, 95 triples, 68 home runs, 370 RBI, 426 stolen bases, a .316/.351/.450 slash, 133 wRC+, and 39.2 WAR. It was his most impressive statistical run and the team Cimarron identified most with in his career, although he played almost as many games later with a more prominent Indianapolis franchise.

Before that though, Cimarron spent two years in Calgary, getting traded for SP Odera Ola and OF Roberto Lemus. He had two subpar seasons offensively, but still provided positive value with his defense. The Cheetahs had made back-to-back World Series berths prior to Cimarron’s arrival. They won 106 games in 1994, but suffered a one-and-done, then missed the playoffs in 1985.

For the Cheetahs, Cimarron had 383 hits, 186 runs, 55 doubles, 31 triples, 15 home runs, 117 RBI, a .285/.306/.406 slash, 92 wRC+, and 6.5 WAR. He became a free agent for the first time at age 30 and some teams figured his best years were done. Indianapolis thought Cimarron had plenty of value and gave him a generous seven-year, $28,360,000 deal.

Although he played professionally in the US and Canada, Cimarron did return home to Mexico for the World Baseball Championship with 125 games and 113 starts from 1987-2001. In that time, he had 120 hits, 71 runs, 27 doubles, 9 triples, 8 home runs, 40 RBI, 70 stolen bases, a .273/.324/.431 slash, 110 wRC+, and 3.5 WAR.

Cimarron was boom-or-bust offensively with Indianapolis. He had an impressive 7.1 WAR effort in 1997 and 5.7 WAR in 2000, but was often a below average bat in his other seasons. He led the NA twice in triples and once in steals. Still, his reliable defense and steady leadership helped Indy find team success.

The Racers had five straight playoff berths from 1996-2000 with another one in 2002. Indy won the NA pennant in 1996, but lost in the World Series to Edmonton. They earned another title in 1999, but lost again in the Fall Classic to the Eels. Cimarron had good playoff stats with 51 starts, 66 hits, 28 runs, 11 doubles, 5 homers, 3 triples, 15 steals, a .313/.341/.464 slash, 132 wRC+, and 1.4 WAR. The Racers lost in the first or second round in their other berths.

Cimarron’s deal ran out after the 2002 season, giving him 1170 hits, 539 runs, 159 doubles, 88 triples, 58 home runs, 361 RBI, 248 stolen bases, a .279/.311/.400 slash, 108 wRC+, and 26.3 WAR with Indianapolis. He hoped to still play in 2003, but teams felt his bat was no longer starter quality. After going unsigned, Cimarron retired in the winter at age 38.

The final stats for Cimarron: 2933 hits, 1362 runs, 403 doubles, 214 triples, 141 home runs, 848 RBI, 403 walks, 768 stolen bases, a .296/.328/.423 slash, 117 wRC+, and 72.5 WAR. He was a reliably steady leadoff man, but it was often tough for them to get Hall of Fame notice with the lack of power stats. Without the power or walks, advanced stats pegged Cimarron as a merely above average bat.

As of 2037, he also ranked 16<sup>th</sup> in WAR among second basemen. For many voters, he was a “Hall of Pretty Good” type. But he had good defense, was a beloved clubhouse leader, and helped Indianapolis to two National Association pennants. Cimarron was very much a borderline case, debuting in 2008 at 58.6%.

He dropped to 52.9% in 2009, then hit 61.0% and 61.9% the next two years. 2012 was a great opportunity with a wide open field. Cimarron just barely got the bump across the 66% threshold. With 66.9%, he was a fifth ballot inductee and the second member of MLB’s 2012 class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-23-2024 07:22 AM

2012 CABA Hall of Fame (Part 1)

https://i.imgur.com/Fvulq3D.png

The 2012 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame ballot was a historic one with five players receiving first ballot inductions. This was the second time that had happened, joining the 2010 class. Home run king Hugh Boerboom and SP Tyson Flowers were the co-headliners of the group with both earning 98.5%.

Pitcher Vicente Chung was next at 84.0%. 1B Stevie Montoya (72.8%) and OF Pedro Nugent (67.8%) had thinner margins, but still made it across the 66% requirement. No one else was above 50% and only one returner on the ballot cracked 1/3 of the vote. There also weren’t any players dropped following ten failed ballot tries.

https://i.imgur.com/Z8eRk4A.png

Hugh Boerboom – Center Field – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 98.5% First Ballot

Hugh Boerboom was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed center fielder from Savaneta, Aruba; a town of around 11,000 and the oldest village on the island. Boerboom was known for his excellent and reliable home run power, posting 13 consecutive seasons with 45+ homers and topping 50+ five times. He always made hard contact, although his overall contact skills were average at best. Boerboom’s eye for walks and avoiding strikeouts were both generally considered merely decent.

Boerboom was quite quick and known as a solid baserunner with above average stealing ability. His ability to find the gap was surprisingly poor though with a 162 game average of only 14 doubles and 7 triples. Boerboom was very much a flyball hitter, but his ability to send those over the fence made him a Caribbean superstar.

Defensively, Boerboom played exclusively in center field and graded for his whole career as above average. He was considered an excellent defender in his early career and thrice won Gold Gloves. However, his career totals were weakened by staying out there in his twilight years even as his range and arm strength diminished with age.

Many considered Boerboom to be an ironman, especially considering the physical toll of center field. He started 138+ games each year from 1986 to 2003. It’s no surprise that an ironman that socked dingers became an absolutely beloved figure among CABA fans.

Despite his obvious talents, Boerboom wasn’t among the absolute top prospects in the 1984 CABA Draft. Some scouts thought his middling contact skills would limit him, while others just missed him since he grew up in Aruba. Santo Domingo took notice though and grabbed Boerboom with the 25<sup>th</sup> pick of the second round and 54<sup>th</sup> overall. The Dolphins kept him on the reserve roster for all of 1985, then debuted Boerboom as a full-time starter in 1986.

Boerboom would spend 13 seasons starting in center field in the Dominican capital, although he hadn’t developed the power stroke in his first two seasons. In fact, Boerboom graded as a well below average batter in his first two years. Great defense still made him valuable, winning his first Gold Glove in 1987. He repeated as a Gold Glover in 1988 and 1989.

He found his power stroke in 1988, starting his streak of 45+ homer seasons. Santo Domingo missed the playoffs narrowly in 1987 and 1988 after having posted a dynasty run earlier in the decade. The Dolphins made it back with five playoff berths from 1989-94. However, they couldn’t make it beyond the Caribbean League Championship Series, falling in 1989, 1991, and 1994.

A lack of playoff success would be a critique against Boerboom. In 36 playoff starts for Santo Domingo, he had 32 hits, 17 runs, 4 doubles, 3 triples, 13 home runs, 27 RBI, a .241/.266/.609 slash, 140 wRC+, and 1.1 WAR. Dolphins fans hoped for another dynasty run, but had no luck. Still, Boerboom was beloved for his power and signed an eight-year, $18,900,000 extension after the 1990 season.

Boerboom was second in MVP voting in both 1989 and 1990. 1989’s 8.6 WAR would be the highest he’d post in his career. In 1991, he led in home runs for the first time (56) and led in runs (117), total bases (365), and slugging (.629). That finally got him his first Silver Slugger and the MVP. It’d be his first of four consecutive Slugger winners.

1993 saw a career and league-best 134 RBI and his second 8+ WAR season. This also had his best OPS at 1.025. 1994 was Boerboom’s second MVP, leading again in homers, total bases, and slugging. His third MVP came in 1996 with a career and league best 57 home runs. Boerboom also led in RBI for the second time and in both slugging and total bases for the third time.

His power showed no signs of slowing into mid 30s, although his overall value was dropping slightly due to less defensive value. Boerboom won two more Silver Sluggers with SD in 1996 and 1997. His big Santo Domingo deal expired after the 1998 season and heading into his age 36 season, Boerboom opted to leave for free agency. He’d remain beloved by Dolphins fans and his #32 uniform would later be retired.

Boerboom finished in Santo Domingo with 2113 hits, 1215 runs, 189 doubles, 94 triples, 594 home runs, 1374 RBI, 533 stolen bases, a .282/.322/.570 slash, 141 wRC+, and 73.6 WAR. He ended up signing a three-year, $8,240,000 deal with Honduras. The Horsemen had been a playoff regular in the 1990s, but had suffered early exits in their most recent appearances.

1999 was an impressive debut in Tegucigalpa with 55 home runs, 133 RBI, and 7.7 WAR. Boerboom also had a career high 118 runs scored, taking second in MVP voting and winning his seventh Silver Slugger. He struggled in the playoffs though as the Horsemen last in the CLCS. Honduras fell again in the 2000 and 2001 CLCS, then lost in the first round in 2002. Boerboom’s lackluster playoff stats disappointed many in the area.

His 45+ homer streak ended after the 2000 season, but he still topped 30+ four more times and won an eighth Silver Slugger in 2002. Boerboom signed a two-year extension before the 2001 season worth $6,800,000. Fans were excited to see if Boerboom could catch Solomon Aragon’s all-time home run record of 772. In 2001, he became the only the fourth CABA slugger to reach the 700 club.

Boerboom hit 41 home runs in 2002 at age 39 to tie Aragon’s 772 at the end of the season. He bested the mark early in 2003 to become the all-time CABA leader and shortly after crossed the 800 mark. 2003 would also be significant as Boerboom earned his first-ever championship ring with Honduras, who beat Ecatepec in the CABA Championship.

The Horsemen made it back in 2004, but fell in a rematch with the Explosion. Boerboom struggled in the 2003 run, but had a nice 2004 campaign and won that year’s CLCS MVP. For his playoff tenure with Honduras, Boerboom was unremarkable in 49 starts with 40 hits, 24 runs, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, 17 RBI, a .227/.284/.420 slash, 94 wRC+, and 0.4 WAR.

Still, he finally got that elusive ring. For his combined playoff career, Boerboom had 85 starts, 72 hits, 41 runs, 11 doubles, 20 home runs, 44 RBI, a .233/.276/.502 slash, 113 wRC+, and 1.5 WAR. Age would finally catch up to the ironman, who missed parts of 2004 and 2005 to injury.

Boerboom provided negative value in 2005, but became the ninth to join the 3000 hit club. He was actively bad and benched in 2006 with only 48 games and 8 starts, but was able to become the fifth to reach 2000 career RBI. Boerboom retired that winter at age 43. For his Honduras run, he had 970 hits, 593 runs, 70 doubles, 272 home runs, 634 RBI, a .257/.297.511 slash, 120 wRC+, and 22.9 WAR.

For his entire career, Boerboom had 3023 games, 3083 hits, 1808 runs, 259 doubles, 130 triples, 866 home runs, 2008 RBI, 676 walks, 751 stolen bases, a .274/.313/.550 slash, 134 wRC+, and 96.5 WAR. Noah Breton would eventually pass Boerboom as the home run king in the late 2020s, but Boerboom still is #2 as of 2037.

He also still ranks 13<sup>th</sup> in hits, 7<sup>th</sup> in RBI, and 6<sup>th</sup> in runs scored. Despite his defensive value, Boerboom is only 36<sup>th</sup> in WAR among position players as of 2037. His lack of all-around hitting value beyond the homers keeps him out of conversations for CABA’s GOAT hitter despite being the home run king. Plus, his unremarkable playoff stats ding him when discussing the absolute inner circle.

That said, being the home run king makes you a stone cold Hall of Fame lock and a superstar. Few players in baseball history provided such reliable power. Boerboom received 98.5% to co-headline the impressive five-player 2012 CABA Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-23-2024 03:06 PM

2012 CABA Hall of Fame (Part 2)

https://i.imgur.com/I52ifcO.png

Tyson Flowers – Starting Pitcher – Ecatepec Explosion – 98.5% First Ballot

Tyson Flowers was a 5’11’’, 165 pound right-handed pitcher from Belize City, the country’s largest city. Flowers made history as the first-ever Hall of Fame inductee from Belize. With his relatively smaller size, he wasn’t an overwhelming power pitcher and only had 92-94 mph peak velocity. Still, Flowers had very solid stuff and movement along with average control.

Flowers had a four-pitch arsenal with a sinker, curveball, changeup, and knuckle curve. The knuckle curve was considered his most deadly pitch and drew whiffs-a-plenty. Compared to most other aces of the era, Flowers’ stamina was considered average. His durability was excellent though and he tossed 210+ innings each year from 1992-2005.

Defensively, Flowers was excellent, winning four Gold Gloves. He was also a fantastic athlete overall that was quick and dynamic on the basepaths. Especially for a pitcher, Flowers was also a reliably above average hitter. He wasn’t considered a true two-way guy, as he only played one inning ever defensively off the mound. Still, Flowers would get some pinch hitting opportunities on off days. He was a very hard worker and was a popular fan favorite of his era.

Flowers wasn’t an immediate success though and as a prospect, some teams weren’t sure if made sense more as a pitcher or hitter. He was picked 28<sup>th</sup> overall by Salvador in the 1985 CABA Draft, but didn’t debut with the Stallions until the 1990 season at age 24. Flowers looked lousy in his rookie season with a 4.85 ERA, but he fared much better in 1991. That also marked the first of four consecutive Gold Gloves.

The 1992 playoffs were the first time he got stronger attention after posting a 1.64 ERA over 11 innings. Salvador had an impressive bounce-back from a terrible 64-win 1991, losing in the 1992 Caribbean League Championship Series to Trinidad. They missed the playoffs in 1993, but Flowers looked like a legitimate ace. A 7.1 WAR, 2.75 ERA effort earned him a third place in Pitcher of the Year voting.

1994 would begin a dynasty run for Salvador, who won five Caribbean and three CABA titles in the next six years. The Stallions beat Monterrey for the 1994 CABA Championship with Flowers leading the league in wins that year at 23-10. Salvador fell in an upset CLCS loss in 1995 to Santiago. For his part, Flowers had a 2.13 ERA over 50.2 playoff innings with the Stallions with 53 strikeouts and a 182 ERA+.

Flowers was second in POTY voting in 1994 and third in 1995. In 1995, he led in strikeouts for the first time and led in WHIP the only time in his career. Although Salvador soon had a dynasty run, Flowers wouldn’t be there for the entirety. After the 1995 season, he opted for free agency heading into his age 30 season.

With Salvador, Flowers had a 94-61 record, 3.33 ERA, 1437 innings, 1402 strikeouts, 347 walks, 117 ERA+, and 33.8 WAR. It would be a different dynasty run Flowers participated, inking a six-year, $14,960,000 deal with Ecatepec. The Explosion won the 1994 Mexican League title, but suffered a surprisingly 71-91 campaign in 1995. Ecatepec hoped Flowers could stabilize the rotation and get them back on track.

It worked, as 1996 started a decade-long streak of division titles. Flowers led the ML in strikeouts (306) and WAR (8.5) in his debut season, although his higher ERA kept him from awards conversations. Flowers ultimately never won Pitcher of the Year. He would take second once more in 1999, posting league and career bests that year in strikeouts (330), innings (278.1), quality starts (27), complete games (17), and WAR (9.0). Flowers’ best ERA in CABA also came in 1999 at 2.59.

In the playoffs with Ecatepec, Flowers’ had unremarkable stats, although the FIP- suggested he might have had bad luck. He had a 4.12 ERA over 18 starts with a 4-9 record, 126.2 innings, 136 strikeouts, 91 ERA+, 75 FIP-, and 3.5 WAR. For his CABA playoff career, he had a 3.38 ERA over 186.1 innings with 197 strikeouts, 112 ERA+, and 5.6 WAR.

Ecatepec lost in the 1996 and 1997 MLCS, but would win six straight Mexican League titles from 1999-2004. They won the CABA title with Flowers in both 1999 and 2000, including in a 1999 showdown with Flowers’ former Salvador squad. Many say that was the passing of the torch moment between one great CABA dynasty to the next.

1997 was Flowers’ best offensive season with an impressive .392/.409/.704 slash over 137 plate appearances. That year had 6 home runs, 15 runs, 22 RBI, a 209 wRC+, and 2.3 WAR. For his offensive career, Flowers had a .287/.323/.453 slash, 112 wRC+, 10.3 WAR, 383 hits, 163 runs, 70 doubles, 30 home runs, 160 RBI, and 106 stolen bases.

With the Explosion, Flowers had a 2.99 ERA, 107-55 record, 1567.1 innings, 1753 strikeouts, 344 walks, 138/196 quality starts, 59 complete games, 126 ERA+, and 41.5 WAR. His contract expired after the 2001 season at age 36. Flowers was still effective in CABA, but he ultimately couldn’t land the deal he wanted. He would surprise many by leaving the Western Hemisphere altogether to continue his baseball career.

Flowers ended up in the Asian Baseball Federation, signing a three-year, $9,160,000 contract with Turkey’s Ankara Alouettes. He had three strong seasons there and took second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 2002. Ankara was a playoff team in all three of his years, but injuries kept Flowers out of the 2002 and 2004 runs.

In 2003, he was iffy with a 4.07 ERA over 24.1 playoff innings. Still, Flowers helped Ankara won the East League championship, falling to Multan in the ABF Championship. With the Alouettes, Flowers had a 52-27 record, 2.59 ERA, 714.2 innings, 877 strikeouts, 139 walks, 132 EERA+, and 20.6 WAR. Flowers was a free agent again after the 2004 season heading into his age 39 season.

Flowers returned to CABA and signed a two-year, $5,360,000 deal with Havana. He had a solid 5.0 WAR return season in 2005 as the Hurricanes made it to the playoffs. Flowers would fall off in 2006 and be relegated to only 77.1 innings with a 4.54 ERA. He had a 3.77 ERA over 295.2 innings with 6.1 WAR with Havana. Flowers retired after the 2006 campaign at age 40.

For his entire pro career, Flowers had a 271-159 record, 3.10 ERA, 4014.2 innings, 4333 strikeouts, 898 walks, 343/515 quality starts, 122 ERA+, and 101.9 WAR. Just in CABA, Flowers had a 219-132 record, 3.20 ERA, 3300 innings, 3456 strikeouts, 759 walks, 275/420 quality starts, 105 complete games, 120 ERA+, and 81.4 WAR.

As of 2037, Flowers ranked 35<sup>th</sup> in pitching WAR, 36<sup>th</sup> in strikeouts, and 40<sup>th</sup> in wins. He wasn’t at the tip-top of leaderboards, but his excellent offensive and defensive value also boosted his resume. Flowers had a role with two dynasty runs and was a fan favorite, making him an easy choice. He co-headlined Hugh Boerboom with 98.5% atop CABA’s 2012 Hall of Fame class.

https://i.imgur.com/5a0BoTa.png

Vicente Chung – Starting Pitcher – Ecatepec Explosion – 84.0% First Ballot

Vicente Chung was a 6’3’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Alvinopolis, Brazil; a town of 15,000 in the southeastern Minas Gerais state. Chung was a fireballer with great stuff and very good control along with decent movement. His fastball regularly hit the 98-100 mph range, but his forkball, changeup, and curveball were all equally potent.

Chung’s stamina was below average compared to most aces of the era and he had some injury issues. He was a good defender and could hold runners effectively. Chung was a very hard worker and stayed loyal in his career with Ecatepec, garnering much respect in the clubhouse.

It was unusual for South American players to end up in CABA and not the Beisbol Sudamerica umbrella. Chung was spotted though at a camp in 1985 as a teenager by a visiting scout for Ecatepec. They signed Chung in late November, bringing him to Mexico. He spent six seasons in their developmental system before debuting as a part-time starter in 1992 at age 22.

Chung struggled as a rookie, but made the full-time roster for 1993. He had a respectable second season, but it ended with a torn meniscus at the end of the season. Chung was healthy for 1994 and 1995, but wasn’t used at all by the Explosion. He missed out on the 1994 Mexican League pennant season. Ecatepec fell off in 1995 though and gave Chung another look, bringing him up for 1996.

That was a winning decision as Chung led the league in wins, quality starts, and K/BB. With a 2.67 ERA in 236.1 innings, 297 strikeouts, and 7.9 WAR, Chung received Pitcher of the Year honors. He also posted a 1.23 ERA in his two playoff starts as the Explosion lost in the MLCS to Monterrey. Still, this started a ten-year division title streak for Ecatepec. Chung had a 1.38 ERA in 1997’s playoffs, but the Explosion again fell to the Matadors in the MLCS.

Chung signed a four-year, $11,680,000 extension in April 1997. He had a good 1997, but missed the second half of 1998 to an elbow strain. Chung bounced back with a career and league best 1.99 ERA in 1999. He took third in Pitcher of the Year voting, only pitching 194 innings due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament. This put Chung out for 10 months. He earned his first CABA championship ring that fall while in a sling.

Ecatepec won six straight Mexican League titles from 1999-2004 and won the CABA title in 1999, 2000, and 2004. Chung had some trouble post-injury in 2000 and was used as a reliever in the playoffs, but his 13.2 scoreless innings in relief helped the Explosion to the title. In 2001, Chung had a league and career best 8.4 WAR and had a career-high 300 strikeouts. He struggled in that playoff run though with a 5.90 ERA in 29 innings.

Still, a 32-year old Chung earned a five-year, $19,600,000 extension in March 2001. He had a strong 2002, then won his second ERA title in 2003 at 2.26. Chung also led in wins (22-5) and WHIP (0.82) to win his second Pitcher of the Year award. He would look solid the next two years and do just enough in the playoffs to help keep the dynasty rolling.

For his playoff career, Chung had a 3.23 ERA over 147.2 innings, 11-4 record, 159 strikeouts, 16 walks, 10/18 quality starts, 114 ERA+, and 4.9 WAR. He also pitched in five editions of the World Baseball Championship from 1999-2005 for his native Brazil with a 2.22 ERA over 44.2 innings, 61 strikeouts, 165 ERA+, and 1.3 WAR.

Late in the 2005 season, Chung suffered ulnar nerve entrapment. Ecatepec voided the team option in his deal, but ultimately re-signed him to a new three-year, $12,360,000 deal. The injury helped weaken Chung’s velocity down to the mid 90s after previously being able to hit triple digits. Chung looked very average in 2006, a season which saw Ecatepec’s playoff streak end at 80-82. Chung retired that winter at age 37 and immediately had his #9 uniform retired by the Explosion.

Chung ended with a 183-95 record, 2.97 ERA, 2664.2 innings, 2911 strikeouts, 355 walks, 1.04 WHIP, 237/355 quality starts, 126 ERA+, and 71.0 WAR. Chung didn’t quite have the longevity or innings to rank very high on the leaderboards. As of 2037, he’s 60<sup>th</sup> in WAR among CABA pitchers.

Still, there were other Hall of Famers who made the cut with similar stats. Plus, Chung had two Pitcher of the Year awards and a prominent role in Ecatepec’s great 1990s-2000s dynasty. That was plenty to give Chung a first-ballot nod at 84.0% as the third of five in the 2012 CABA class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-23-2024 06:21 PM

2012 CABA Hall of Fame (Part 3)

https://i.imgur.com/RpKn0ex.png

Stevie Montoya – First Base – Honduras Horsemen – 72.8% First Ballot

Stevie Montoya was a 6’7’’, 200 pound left-handed first baseman from Victoria, Mexico; a city with 432,000 inhabitants in the country’s northeast. Montoya’s prime was brief, but he was an elite power hitter in his peak. He was a great contact hitter that was respectable at drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. Montoya had good gap power with 23 doubles and 9 triples per his 162 game average. His home run power was excellent and he averaged 50.7 dingers per season during his 1997-2003 peak.

Despite his lanky frame, Montoya had above average speed with decent baserunning instincts. He was a career first baseman, but was considered a mediocre defender. Montoya was a team captain with a strong work ethic and excellent leadership skills. This gave him an important role in the clubhouse even when he physically wasn’t able to perform.

Montoya was a highly touted prospect for the 1991 CABA Draft and was the #2 overall pick by Juarez. Despite the hype, he barely saw the lineup with the Jesters. In five seasons, he only had 41 starts over 399 games. Montoya missed much of 1993 to a fractured rib, but was otherwise healthy for most of the run. He posted 4.3 WAR, 143 hits, 89 runs, 29 home runs, and a 149 wRC+ with Juarez.

Although Montoya had a leadership role, you expected more at-bats from such a high draft pick. Confusingly, Juarez gave him a massive eight-year, $21,280,000 extension in April 1996, but still only started him in 1996 in 12 games. The Jesters would trade him that winter to Honduras for SP Sebastian Gomez and RF Niles Quintero.

With the Horsemen, Montoya finally had an opportunity to start after a bizarre run with Juarez. He had a strong debut season with 40 home runs and 6.9 WAR, although Honduras missed the playoffs. They began a decade-long playoff streak from 1998-2007. The Horsemen would lose in the 1999, 2000, and 2001 Caribbean League Championship Series appearances.

From 1998-2000, Montoya emerged as the best hitter in CABA with three straight MVPs and three Silver Sluggers. Each year, he led in WAR, wRC+, OPS, slugging, and RBI. In 1998, Montoya tied the single-season RBI record with 164, a mark that held until 2031. He also broke Kiko Velazuqez’s single-season runs record of 145 by scoring 148. That held as the top mark until 2005 and still ranks third as of 2037.

Montoya’s 1.194 OPS in 1999 at the time was the second-best single season and ranks 11<sup>th</sup> as of 2037. Similarly, his .776 slugging that year was the second-best ever and still sits ninth. That year had a career-best 64 home runs, 208 wRC+, and 10.9 WAR. Montoya posted 30.4 WAR, 175 home runs, 450 RBI, and 405 runs during that remarkable three year run, which forever goes as one of the best-ever three year stretches.

He was still solid with a Silver Slugger in 2001, took third in MVP voting, and won LCS MVP despite Honduras’ defeat to Haiti. Montoya was still a strong starter the next two seasons and helped the Horsemen get over the playoff hump. They won 110 games in 2003, winning the CABA Championship over Ecatepec.

Montoya suffered a tough ruptured foot tendon that cost him five months in 2004. He made it back late in the regular season and stepped in big in the playoffs with a .912 OPS over 16 starts. Honduras again won the Caribbean title, but lost a CABA finals rematch to Ecatepec. In an impressive playoff career, Montoya had 54 games, 69 hits, 38 runs, 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 29 RBI, a .335/.369/.583 slash, 156 wRC+, and 2.8 WAR.

Honduras gave him a qualifying offer for 2005. A strained oblique knocked him out two months and he looked merely good when healthy. The Horsemen gave him another year, but he regressed and was used as a bench piece in 2006. Montoya had 45 games and 9 starts that year, retiring after the season at age 37. Honduras quickly retired his #7 uniform for his brief brilliance.

Montoya’s career numbers were almost entirely from the Horsemen run, finishing with 1712 hits, 995 runs, 232 doubles, 87 triples, 417 home runs, 1085 RBI, a .329/.375/.647 slash, 171 wRC+, and 62.6 WAR. The briefness of his success meant Montoya’s accumulations were very low compared to most Hall of Famers, but his rate stats were brilliant. Among any CABA hitter with 3000 plate appearances, Montoya ranks 14<sup>th</sup> in OPS and 11<sup>th</sup> in slugging.

Three MVPs was also an accomplishment few players had reached. Plus, Montoya was a great leader during a prolonged era of success for Honduras. This was enough for a majority of voters to give Montoya the first ballot nod. He only crossed the 66% requirement with 72.8%, but that was plenty to join the five-player 2012 CABA Hall of Fame class.

https://i.imgur.com/7emuuAi.png

Pedro Nugent – Left Field – Monterrey Matadors – 67.8% First Ballot

Pedro Nugent was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed outfielder from the capital of Jamaica, Kingston. Nugent was best known for having excellent gap power, getting 25 doubles and 21 triples per his 162 game average. He had nice speed and was a stellar baserunner who could regularly leg out extra bases. Nugent also successfully stole bases on 71.6% of his attempts, becoming one of the most efficient thieves of the era.

He could also go deep too, topping 30+ home runs six times and 40+ once. Nugent was a quite solid contact hitter with a good eye, emerging as one of the most well-rounded offensive threats of the era. He had strong popularity, but wasn’t looked at for clubhouse leadership.

The vast majority of his starts were in left field, although he saw occasional starts in center and right. Nugent graded as a reliably good and occasionally great in the corners. He struggled in center as he lacked the range required to thrive there. Nugent had sporadic injury issues, but still managed a 17-year career.

In December 1983, Nugent was signed by a scout from Monterrey as a teenage amateur, making a move from Jamaica to Monterrey. He officially debuted in 1988 at age 21, but he saw limited action in his early years. The Matadors began their historic dynasty run right as Nugent arrived, making 18 straight playoff appearances from 1988 to 2005.

He primarily was a pinch hitter in his first four seasons with only 72 starts and 135 games. Monterrey won three straight CABA Championships from 1990-92. Nugent earned 10 starts in the 1991 postseason and had a .834 OPS. He became a full-time starter in 1992 and looked great, but he missed the final half of the season to a concussion. Nugent made it back for the end of the postseason to help earn his third ring.

1993 was Nugent’s first full season as a starter and had career highs in WAR (10.8), OPS (1.051), and runs (122). He won his first Silver Slugger, his lone Gold Glove, and took third in MVP voting. This was his lone season as an MVP finalist. Monterrey won a fourth straight Mexican League title, but Honduras denied them a four-peat in the CABA Championship. This run still prompted the Matadors to give Nugent an eight-year, $20,260,000 extension in July 1994.

Nugent won additional Silver Sluggers in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001. He posted eight seasons worth 7+ WAR, but wasn’t typically a league leader. Nugent led thrice in triples and had a career-best 44 home runs in 1999. He also hit above .300 in six seasons.

His best playoff run came in 1996, where he won CABA Championship MVP. In 16 playoff starts, Nugent had 16 hits, 13 runs, 5 home runs, 5 triples, and 11 RBI. Monterrey won three more Mexican titles from 1995-97 and won the 1996 and 1997 CABA titles. They also made it to the MLCS in 1994, 1998, and 1999, but couldn’t advance those years.

For his playoff career, Nugent had 114 games, 105 starts, 107 hits, 61 runs, 14 doubles, 11 triples, 18 home runs, 49 RBI, 22 stolen bases, a .257/.310/.474 slash, 121 wRC+, and 2.6 WAR. While playing in Mexico, Nugent still returned home to Jamaica for the World Baseball Championship. From 1990-2005, he had 121 games, 110 hits, 62 runs, 14 doubles, 7 triples, 24 home runs, 54 RBI, 43 stolen bases, a .249/.322/.475 slash, 132 wRC+, and 3.9 WAR.

Monterrey signed Nugent to a three-year, $17,900,000 extension after the 2002 season. The Matadors’ playoff streak continued in his later years, but they had six straight first round exits from 2000-2005, showing that the dynasty run had ended. Nugent had statistically strong efforts, including 7.0 WAR in 2004 at age 37. Injuries started to keep him out for parts of years by the end.

Nugent got another two years and $8,240,000 after the 2005 campaign. 2006 would be a rough year that started with a strained hamstring in the first two months. He ultimately had only 28 games and 3 starts that year and retired in the winter at age 39. Monterrey soon retired his #24 uniform for his key role in the great dynasty.

The final stats for Nugent: 2292 hits, 1380 runs, 332 doubles, 282 triples, 423 home runs, 1270 RBI, 688 walks, 596 stolen bases, a .300/.359/.583 slash, 172 wRC+, and 98.3 WAR. He was almost quietly good and didn’t rack up the big accumulations or black ink many voters wanted.

The rate stats showed his value, as Nugent sits 35<sup>th</sup> in WAR among position players as of 2037. He’s also 75<sup>th</sup> in OPS among all CABA hitters with 3000 plate appearances. Nugent also sits 14<sup>th</sup> all-time in triples and 49<sup>th</sup> in runs, but doesn’t crack the top 100 for hits, homers, or RBI.

Being a key starter during a historic dynasty also goes a long way. Still, there were voters that thought Nugent just didn’t have the counting stats needed to make the cut. With a loaded 2012 field, Nugent only barely crossed the 66% requirement with 67.8%. That was enough for the first ballot nod as a fine capped for the five-player 2012 class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-24-2024 06:33 AM

2012 EAB Hall of Fame (Part 1)

The East Asia Baseball 2012 Hall of Fame voting saw four players earn induction, led by 3B Si-Hun Lee with 89.7%. Closer Hyeon-U Cho at 77.6% and SP Toyoji Kawara at 72.8% also secured first ballot nods. 3B Shigefumi Tsukehara joined them in his fifth ballot, receiving the bump up to 73.5%. No one else was above 50%.

https://i.imgur.com/u6wbV25.png

Dropped after ten failed ballots was SS/2B Katsunan Higashida, who was hurt by having a nine-year MLB run in between EAB stints. He won seven Silver Sluggers and a MVP and helped Kitakyushu win the 1994 title. In total, he had 1864 hits, 829 runs, 330 doubles, 294 home runs, 961 RBI, a .310/.348/.521 slash, 150 wRC+, and 57.1 WAR.

Had Higashida stayed, he probably would’ve been an easy pick. For his combined career, he had 3174 hits, 1426 runs, 529 doubles, 495 home runs, 1613 RBI, a .299/.339/.497 slash, 135 wRC+, and 86.3 WAR. The EAB tenure just wasn’t long enough for most voters with Higashida peaking at 42.0% in 2010. He got as low as 6.9% the prior year and finished in 2012 at 37.5%.

Pitcher Min-Hyeok Pang was also dropped after ten ballots, peaking at 44.0% in 2006 and ending at 16.9%. He played 15 years with seven teams and had 282 saves, a 106-106 record, 2.81 ERA, 1692.2 innings, 1590 strikeouts, 134 ERA+, and 37.0 WAR. He split between relief and starting and had a nice run, but wasn’t considered elite generally. Pang was thrice a Reliever of the Year finalist, but never won that top honor.

https://i.imgur.com/MKZpPY8.png

Si-Hun Lee – Third Base – Yongin Gold Sox – 89.7% First Ballot

Si-Hun Lee was a 6’2’’, 200 pound switch-hitting third baseman Ansan, South Korea, a city of nearly 650,000 within the Seoul National Capital Area. Lee was a tremendous contact hitter that won six batting titles in his career. He was also great at avoiding strikeouts and regularly put the ball into play. He wasn’t one to draw many walks, but got enough hits to still lead the league thrice in on-base percentage.

Lee was stellar at finding the gap and even with subpar speed and lackluster baserunning, still posted 41 doubles and 9 triples per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to hit many home runs with a career-best of 15, but did top double-digits eight times. Despite lacking big power, Lee did have a strong arm, leading to a posting at third base.

Defensively, Lee graded out as reliably good to occasionally great at the hot corner. He had great durability at a demanding spot, playing 139+ games in all but his final two seasons. Lee was likeable in the clubhouse and was a popular figure on some impressive championship teams.

Lee attended Seoul’s Sungkyunkwan University and showed his stellar contact hitting at the college level. Yongin would pick him second overall in the 1991 EAB Draft and immediately make him a starter. Lee hit .306 as a rookie, but took the Korean baseball world by storm with a record-setting sophomore campaign.

Lee became EAB’s first-ever .400 hitter in 1993 with a .411 batting average. At the time, this was the second-best in all of world baseball history, only beaten by Jagger Sweebe Jr.’s .415 in the 1986 CABA season. A .400 mark would be breached twice more in EAB, but Lee still holds the #1 season as of 2037. His 252 hits also broke the prior EAB single-season record. That only held for four seasons, but still ranks third best as of 2037.

The 1993 season also had a league best 45 doubles and .438 OBP. The OBP was a career best for Lee, as was his 112 runs, .597 slugging, 1.035 OPS, 180 wRC+, and 9.9 WAR. He won his first Silver Slugger, but only took third in MVP voting. The Gold Sox just missed the playoffs, but soon would have a dynasty run.

Lee was the WARlord in 1994 and again led in hits, doubles, average, and OBP. His average and hits tallies were at the time the second-best EAB single seasons only behind his prior seasons’ effort. Lee was a Slugger winner again and this time second in MVP voting. The lack of home run power meant Lee never ultimately won the top award. 1994 would also saw a 37-game hit streak, which ranks fifth-longest in EAB history. Lee had a 32-game streak in 1993 and 31-game stretch in 1996.

More importantly for Lee, Yongin ended a six-year playoff drought in 1994 and won the Korea League title. They fell to Kitakyushu in the EAB Championship, which capped off a three-peat for the Kodiaks. Lee had a strong playoff run, winning KLCS MVP with 22 hits, 9 runs, 9 extra base hits, and 17 RBI over 15 playoff starts.

After the 1994 campaign, the Gold Sox gave Lee an eight-year, $14,800,000 extension. Lee won a third straight batting average title in 1995 and again was KLCS MVP, posting 23 hits, 8 runs, 10 extra base hits, and 14 RBI in 13 playoff starts. Yongin repeated as KL champs and this time won the EAB Championship over Tokyo. He surprisingly opted out of his deal after the 1996 season, but renegotiated for more cash on a new eight-year, $22,200,000 deal.

Lee was second in MVP voting in 1996 and won his fourth straight batting title and Silver Slugger. He also led in OBP for the third time and WAR for the second time. This was one of four seasons with 9+ WAR and one of nine worth 5+. Yongin would suffer a first-round playoff exit, but bounced back to win it all in 1997 over Sapporo. Lee’s stats dipped slightly that season, but he again played a huge role in the playoffs.

In 1998 and 1999, Lee again was the league leader in batting average and hits. He also led in doubles in both 1998 and 2000. Lee’s fifth and final Silver Slugger came in 1999 along with a second place in MVP voting with a 9.0 WAR season. Yongin surprisingly missed the playoffs in 1998, but made three more berths from 1999-2001.

Again a savvy businessman, Lee opted out of his contract after the 1999 season in order to get a new, richer deal. This time, he signed eight years at $38,220,000. After going one-and-done in 1999 and 2000, the Gold Sox won their fourth pennant in eight years in 2001. Kawasaki bested them in the EAB Championship, but Lee again was MVP of the KLCS.

In the playoffs for Yongin, Lee had 71 starts, 104 hits, 39 runs, 21 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 56 RBI, a .355/.375/.587 slash, 157 wRC+, and 3.6 WAR. He did also play in this era for South Korea in the World Baseball Championship, but was unremarkable there. In 58 games from 1996-2001, Lee had 53 hits, 26 runs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homers, 16 RBI, a .257/.314/.359 slash, 89 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR.

Lee had posted a career worst 2.5 WAR season in 2001, but bounced back with a 5.5 WAR effort in 2002. Yongin had an off year at 73-89 and Lee again opted out of his deal, hoping to get another big bump. His value had dropped and the Gold Sox no longer felt he was worthy of a raise. They let Lee walk heading into his age 33 season.

For the Gold Sox, Lee had 2328 hits, 951 runs, 445 doubles, 98 triples, 117 home runs, 974 RBI, a .354/.386/.505 slash, 140 wRC+, and 73.1 WAR. He remained a popular figure and was remembered very fondly for his role in Yongin’s title runs. The Gold Sox eventually retired his #22 uniform.

Lee would make less money annually on his next deal, but still earned a very respectable $20,000,000 in five seasons for Seongnam. His playoff excellence again shined through, helping the Spiders win the 2003 EAB Championship. Lee earned finals MVP and in 16 playoff starts had 24 hits, 13 runs, 6 doubles, 10 RBI, and a .353 average. Seongnam would fall in the 2004 KLCS and in the first round in 2005.

Perhaps the most enduring part of Lee’s legacy was his playoff excellence. As of 2037, he’s the playoff career hits leader (133) and doubles leader (31). Lee also ranks eighth in runs (53) and third in RBI (69). He finished with 93 games, 10 triples, 10 home runs, a .352/.372/.566 slash, 152 wRC+, and 4.3 WAR. Those stats plus three LCS MVPs, one finals MVP, three EAB Championship rings, and five Korean League titles make Lee an all-time clutch big game hitter.

Some thought early on that he could be an all-time hits leader candidate. However, Lee’s gap power significantly declined in his third season with Seongnam. Even though he hit .300, his 108 wRC+ and 1.7 WAR led to a more limited role, starting only 107 games in 2005.

Lee stunk and was benched in 2006 with only 47 games and 9 starts, posting negative WAR and a .254 average. Lee would retire after the 2006 campaign at age 36. Still, for his relatively brief Seongnam tenure he had 507 hits, 206 runs, 102 doubles, 18 triples, 29 home runs, 202 RBI, a .325/.360/.469 slash, 123 wRC+, and 10.9 WAR.

The final stats had 2835 hits, 1157 runs, 547 doubles, 116 triples, 146 home runs, 1176 RBI, a .348/.381/.498 slash, 137 wRC+, and 84.0 WAR. Lee retired as the career batting average leader and as of 2037 still sits second among any hitter with 3000 plate appearances. As of 2037, he’s 38<sup>th</sup> all-time in hits and 10<sup>th</sup> in doubles. Yet, Lee’s only 93<sup>rd</sup> in WAR among position players.

The advanced stats are less remarkable due to the lack of home run power. But Lee’s contact skills are arguably the best-ever in EAB history. That plus playoff excellence made him a fine headliner for the impressive four-player 2012 EAB Hall of Fame Class. Lee earned his first ballot induction with 89.7%

https://i.imgur.com/5cWnETT.png

Hyeon-U Cho – Relief Pitcher – Suwon Snappers – 77.6% First Ballot

Hyeon-U Cho was a 6’5’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Seongnam, South Korea. Cho had excellent stuff with solid movement, although his control often subpar. His cutter was dominant and regularly hit 97-99 mph. Cho mixed it with a curveball for a tough one-two punch. His stamina was solid and he had excellent durability, which led to a brief run as a starter despite two-pitch guys usually ending up in the bullpen. Cho was also known for a tireless work ethic.

Cho was spotted as a teenage amateur and signed by Suwon in September 1987. He spent most of seven years in their developmental system, officially debuting with five relief appearances in the regular season of1994 at age 23. Cho did see three playoff relief appearances as the Snappers fell in the first round. Cho was a mid-relief guy with mixed results in 1995

1996 was his first year in the closer role with 34 saves and a 2.18 ERA. He got lit up in the playoffs, allowing six runs in 4.2 innings. Suwon would have five straight berths from 1996-2000, but suffered four early exits and a 1997 Korea League Championship Series defeat.

The Snappers split Cho between the starting rotation and relief in 1997 with good results, although he was again iffy in the playoffs. Cho was a full-time starter in 1998 and 1999 and posted 4.5 and 6.8 WAR. Suwon opted to move him back to the bullpen in 2000, where he remained for the remainder of his career.

Cho was third in 2000’s Reliever of the Year voting, leading the KL in saves and games pitched. He earned the award in 2001 with 39 saves and a 2.01 ERA over 89.1 innings. This marked the end of his Snappers tenure with a 73-61 record, 144 saves, 2.92 ERA, 988.1 innings, 1155 strikeouts, 221 walks, 130 ERA+, and 28.1 WAR. That was enough to also later get his #28 uniform retired by Suwon.

Around that time, he also pitched for South Korea from 2000-2003 in the World Baseball Championship. He had three starts and 15 relief appearances with a 4-1 record, 9 saves, 39.2 innings, 57 strikeouts, and 153 ERA+.

For 2002, a 31-year old Cho signed a two-year, $4,960,000 deal with Daegu. He had an impressive debut, leading in saves (45) and games (78) while posting a 1.49 ERA over 90.1 innings and 132 strikeouts. Cho won his second Reliever of the Year and even placed third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Cho finally had a good postseason, allowing one run in nine innings. The Diamondbacks ultimately lost in the KLCS to Incheon.

Cho repeated and won his third Reliever of the Year in 2003, leading in saves (41) for the third time. This also saw a career best 1.31 ERA and 289 ERA+ with 5.1 WAR. Cho was rocked in his one playoff appearance as Daegu went one-and-done. In two seasons for the Diamondbacks, he had a 1.40 ERA, 86 saves, 179.2 innings, 269 strikeouts, 277 ERA+, and 9.5 WAR.

Now age 33, Cho signed a two-year, $5,440,000 deal with Nagoya. He looked merely okay in his few months with the Nightowls, who traded him in July to his hometown Seongnam. He maintained the closer role and had looked decent for the defending EAB champs. The Spiders lost in the KLCS to Seoul, although Cho was alright in the playoffs.

Cho led in saves for the fourth time in 2005 and Seongnam won the North Division, but he got hammered in two relief appearances. His career playoff stats weren’t anything special, although it was the small sample size that comes with relief. He had a 5-7 record and 4 saves over 4 starts and 18 relief appearances, a 3.72 ERA, 55.2 innings, 71 strikeouts, 13 walks, 103 ERA+, and 0.9 WAR.

In total with Seongnam over a year-and-a-half, Cho had 2.39 ERA, 49 saves, and 5.4 WAR over 124.1 innings with 183 strikeouts. Gwangju gave him a two-year, $6,960,000 deal for 2006. However, Cho only had 18.1 innings with a 6.87 ERA in 2006. He retired that winter at age 36.

For his career, Cho had 294 saves and 308 shutdowns, a 98-94 record, 2.74 ERA, 1358.1 innings, 1693 strikeouts, 303 walks, 139 ERA+, and 43.3 WAR. His accumulations are a bit higher than many other relievers in the EAB Hall of Fame, but he did get the bump from starting for a few years. As of 2037, he only ranks 41<sup>st</sup> in saves.

Cho did have the benefit of three Reliever of the Year wins and leading in saves four times, which appeased many traditionalist voters. Advanced stats showed that Cho was far less dominant than many of the others that got in. Some scholars point at him as one of the weaker first-ballot inductees into EAB’s HOF. Regardless, he got 77.6% and secured his spot with the second-most votes in the four-player 2012 class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-24-2024 01:37 PM

2012 EAB Hall of Fame (Part 2)

https://i.imgur.com/skF8SUc.png

Shigefumi “Pizza” Tsukehara – Third Base – Hiroshima Hammerheads – 73.5% Fifth Ballot

Shigefumi Tsukehara was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Yokohama, Japan. Nicknamed “pizza” for his love of a splendid pie, Tsukehara was the prototype of the traditional leadoff hitter. He was an excellent contact hitter who put the ball in play at a very high rate. Tsukehara very rarely drew walks, but also was a master at avoiding strikeouts. He had excellent speed and was a good baserunner.

Tsukehara’s gap power was great and he often turned singles into doubles and doubles into triples. He led the Japan league in triples seven times and was good for 20-30 doubles and 20-30 triples most years. Tsukehara had no home run power though, only hitting 18 for his entire career. Despite the lack of power, he had a respectable arm, placing him at third base for most of his career.

Defensively, Tsukehara graded as below average to mediocre at third base. He had some starts early in his career in left field and was terrible there. Tsukehara also saw some use at shortstop, but was abysmal there. Despite his defensive deficiencies, Tsukehara’s ability to get hits and his reliable durability made him a valuable piece.

Tsukehara was a top prospect coming out of Yokohama Shogyo High School and his childhood dream came true in the 1983 EAB Draft. He was picked by his hometown Yellow Jackets 14<sup>th</sup> overall. Tsukehara became a very rare player to debut at age 18 with five pinch-hit at-bats in 1984. His time with Yokohama would be brief with 129 games and 13 starts from 1984-86. Tsukehara wasn’t ready yet, posting -0.8 WAR in that stretch. He did play six playoff games in 1986 as the Yellow Jackets won the Japan League title.

Yokohama gave up on their hometown boy, trading him to Niigata in February 1987 with RF Motoaki Sakai for veteran LF Hiroomi Inoue. Tsukehara was still a backup primarily in his first three seasons with the Green Dragons, but had some sporadic starts with respectable results. In his seventh year in the bigs at age 24, Tsukehara finally earned a starting job in 1990.

Niigata won back-to-back JL titles in 1990 and 1991. Tsukehara was the left fielder those years and was a decent starter. The Green Dragons lost the 1990 EAB Championship to Seongnam, but won it all in 1991 over Goyang. Tsukehara stepped up in 1991, winning JLCS MVP. In 14 playoff games, he had 22 hits, 9 runs, and 10 stolen bases.

Tsukehara’s Niigata run ended with that title, finishing with 513 hits, 209 runs, 80 doubles, 59 triples, a .320/.344/.450 slash, 136 wRC+, and 8.2 WAR. He became a free agent at age 26 and other teams weren’t sure what to make of him. Tokyo ended up picking Tsukehara up on a one-year, $1,340,000 deal for 1992.

In his one year with the Tides, Tsukehara helped them snap a 14-year playoff drought, falling to Kitakyushu in the JLCS. He led the league in triples for the first time and posted 4.9 WAR. A free agent again, Tsukehara this time signed a five-year, $6,900,000 deal with Hiroshima. That would be his most noted run and cemented Tsukehara over at third base.

All four of his Silver Sluggers (1993, 94, 96, 97) came with the Hammerheads. Tsukehara posted 5+ WAR in all five seasons for Hiroshima and led the league in batting average and hits in 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. Tsukehara also led in triples four times and stolen bases twice during his Hammerheads tenure. 1994 had a career-best .376 batting average.

Hiroshima earned the top seed in 1995, but suffered a stunning round one loss to Tokyo. The Hammerheads were the top seed again in 1996, this time winning the Japan League title over Sapporo with Tsukehara winning JLCS MVP. Hiroshima lost the EAB Championship against Ulsan. Tsukehara had 23 hits, 5 triples, and a .460 batting average in the playoff run. For his full playoff career, Tsukehara had 62 games and 49 starts, 71 hits, 31 runs, 8 doubles, 9 triples, 25 stolen bases, a .351/.377/.525 slash, 177 wRC+, and 2.5 WAR.

In total with Hiroshima, Tsukehara had 1063 hits, 390 runs, 137 doubles, 146 triples, 310 RBI, 378 stolen bases, a .358/.379/.512 slash, 170 wRC+, and 30.2 WAR. His deal expired after the 1997 season, making Tsukehara a free agent now at age 32. He signed a five-year, $13,800,000 deal with Sendai.

The Samurai were a non-factor during Tsukehara’s tenure. Tsukehara led in triples twice, but couldn’t match his peak Hiroshima production. Still, Tsukehara had 779 hits, 320 runs, 90 doubles, 75 triples, 273 stolen bases, a .320/.340/.424 slash, 128 wRC+, and 13.5 WAR over his Sendai tenure. Sendai would move Tsukehara to a bench role in his final season with only 62 games and 31 starts. He was unsigned in 2003, retiring that winter at age 38.

Tsukehara finished with 2582 hits, 1003 runs, 336 doubles, 308 triples, 18 home runs, 655 RBI, 251 walks, a 7.0% strikeout rate, 896 stolen bases, a .334/.355/.464 slash, 146 wRC+, and 56.1 WAR. As of 2037, Tsukehara’s batting average ranks 19<sup>th</sup> among all players with 3000+ plate appearances. He also ranks 18<sup>th</sup> in triples.

However, advanced stats aren’t as kind with his lack of home run power and poor defense. His WAR ranks among the worst of any EAB Hall of Famer. It was tough for leadoff guys to get attention generally, but Tsukehara’s resume seemed borderline either way. Working in his favor was four batting titles, which resonated with traditionalists. Tsukehara also had some notable playoff runs, playing in four EAB Championships.

Tsukehara debuted in 2008 with 59.2% and dropped to 52.4% in 2009. He missed the 66% cut narrowly in 2010 at 64.3%, then dropped back to 58.9%. It was surprisingly with a loaded 2012 group that Tsukehara earned a big boost up to 73.5%. This got him a fifth ballot induction as the third member of the 2012 class. Some scholars argue Tsukehara is one of the weakest EAB inductees, but he’s in regardless.

https://i.imgur.com/OIRC80Q.png

Toyoji Kawara – Starting Pitcher – Hiroshima Hammerheads – 72.8% First Ballot

Toyoji Kawara was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Kawachinagano, a city of just over 100,000 inhabitants in Japan’s Osaka Prefecture. Kawara was a hard thrower with strong stuff along with above average to good movement and control. His 98-100 mph fastball was excellent, but he could also beat you with a good curveball and forkball, or with a decent slider and changeup.

Kawara liked to go deep and had strong stamina, although injuries would limit his innings at time. He led the Japan League in shutouts four times. Kawara was a great defensive pitcher, winning a Gold Glove in 1994. His excellent fastball made him a top prospect coming out of Rikkio University. Kawara was picked ninth overall by Hiroshima in the 1991 EAB Draft.

The Hammerheads used him as a reliever in his rookie season with subpar results. Kawara was a full-time starter from 1993 onward and emerged as an ace by his third season, which saw his lone Gold Glove. He wasn’t a league leader, but Kawara did top 5+ WAR in four seasons.

Hiroshima ended a five-year playoff drought in 1995 with the top seed at 103-59. Elbow inflammation kept Kawara out of the playoffs and the Hammerheads suffered a round one upset defeat. His lone time as a Pitcher of the Year finalist was a second place in 1996. That year saw 7.7 WAR, six shutouts, and career bests in wins (20-6), ERA (2.27), and strikeouts (293).

Hiroshima would take the top seed again in 1996 and this time win the Japan League title, losing to Ulsan in the EAB Championship. Kawara had an excellent playoff run with a 1.95 ERA and 3-0 record over 32.1 innings with 46 strikeouts, 170 ERA+, and 1.3 WAR. At the time, 46 Ks was the fifth-most in EAB history over a single playoff run. The Hammerheads remained solid, but missed the playoffs back-to-back seasons after that.

Although not an awards finalist, Kawara’s best year by WAR was 1997 with 8.6. He also led the league with 14 complete games and 6 shutouts. Kawara helped Hiroshima back to the playoffs in 1999, but allowed four runs in eight innings in his lone playoff start in a series defeat to Kawasaki. That marked the end of the Hammerheads tenure, as Kawara left for free agency at age 29.

With Hiroshima, Kawara had a 113-63 record, 2.79 ERA, 1758.2 innings, 1961 strikeouts, 306 walks, 144/211 quality starts, 66 complete games, 24 shutouts, 118 ERA+, and 39.7 WAR. He was arguably the top pitcher on the market for 2000 and signed a six-year, $23,040,000 deal with Kobe. The tenure started with catastrophe with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in only his sixth appearance for the Blaze.

Kawara missed the rest of 2000 and never reached his peak levels again. The injury especially damaged the control of his arsenal. Kawara would post a solid 2004, but was otherwise above average at best with Kobe. 2004 was their lone playoff berth during his tenure with Kawara struggling in two playoff starts, allowing 8 runs in 11.1 innings.

With Kobe, Kawara had a 78-60 record, 3.11 ERA, 1243.1 innings, 1222 strikeouts, 322 wlaks, 108 ERA+, and 15.4 WAR. His deal expired after the 2005 season and the 35-year old Kawara found a new home with Nagoya. He was split between the rotation and bullpen with unremarkable results, posting 1.3 WAR over 123.1 innings. Kawara retired that winter at age 36.

Kawara finished with a 199-131 record, 2.95 ERA, 3125.1 innings, 3291 strikeouts, 666 walks, 256/387 quality starts, 103 complete games, 32 shutouts, 113 ERA+, and 56.5 WAR. It was a nice career, but certainly a borderline resume. As of 2037, Kawara doesn’t crack the top 100 in pitching WAR. He also lacked major awards or any big stats.

The biggest positive was his playoff run in 1996, helping Hiroshima to the JL pennant. Many scholars look back at Kawara as one of the weaker inductees, but the voters felt he had the goods, remembering that great fastball. Kawara received 72.8% on the first ballot, endingup as the fourth member of the 2012 EAB Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-24-2024 06:41 PM

2012 BSA Hall of Fame (Part 1)

Three players were inducted into Beisbol Sudamerica’s Hall of Fame in 2012, each on their first ballot. Pitcher Aaron Casas (91.9%) and OF Jose Sanchez (89.6%) both made it with very little opposition. SP Pacheta Castaneda joined them, narrowly crossing the 66% requirement at 69.7%. Closer Raymond Angeles almost made it a four-player class, but missed by one point (65.0%) in his debut. The top returner was C Moises Avalos, the only other player above 50% with 57.2% on his fourth ballot.

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

The ballot had some cleaning with three guys dropped following ten failed tries. Highest ranked among them was pitcher Harvey Rizo, the 1995 Bolivar League Pitcher of the Year. In 13 seasons between Lima and La Paz, he had a 195-157 record, 3.25 ERA, 3315.1 innings, 3095 strikeouts, 469 walks, 111 ERA+, and 63.7 WAR.

Even the pitcher-friendly BSA voters thought Rizo was more a Hall of Good type who didn’t quite have the longevity for accumulations or the dominance to overlook that. Rizo debuted at 49.5% and hovered around the 30-50% range most of the time, but he ended at a low of 13.8%.

Pablo Baia also fell off, debuting at 49.8% but ending with a mere 8.4%. He pitched 11 years mostly with Belo Horizonte with a 146-111 record, 2.81 ERA, 2465.2 innings, 2631 strikeouts, 420 walks, 119 ERA+, 140 complete games, and 62.9 WAR. Baia helped the Hogs win the 1991 Copa Sudamerica, posting a stellar 1.00 ERA over 36 playoff innings in that run. That run led to Baia’s #49 getting retired by Belo Horizonte.

His rate stats were more in line with other Hall of Famers, but Baia’s career had an abrupt end at age 32 from a torn rotator cuff. If he could’ve stuck around a few more years to get accumulations, Baia likely would’ve made the cut.

Reliever Pascal Escareno also fell off, having pitched a decade with Recife, followed by five MLB seasons. He won two Cups and two Reliever of the Year awards with the Retrievers, posting a 1.66 ERA in 655.1 innings, 251 saves and 330 shutdowns, 952 strikeouts, 192 ERA+, and 27.5 WAR. Although they won two titles, his playoff 4.29 ERA was uninspiring.

Again, Escareno might have made the cut with a bit more longevity within BSA. He debuted at 47.4% in 2003, but pretty much only fell down. Escareno ended at 6.1% in 2012. He did at least earn ring of honor recognition with his #8 uniform retired by Recife.

https://i.imgur.com/icqrkh3.png

Aaron Casas – Starting Pitcher – Asuncion Archers – 91.9% First Ballot

Aaron Casas was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Ciudad del Este, Paraguay; a city of 300,000 inhabitants on the southeastern border. Casas had excellent stuff, good to great movement, and average control. His fastball regularly hit the 97-99 mph range, although his curveball was his most devastating pitch. Casas also boasted a great cutter and a good splitter.

His stamina was low compared to most BSA aces, but he had good durability for much of his run. Casas was an excellent defensive pitcher, winning four Gold Gloves. He could hit better than most pitchers with a career .258/.285/.361 slash, winning Silver Sluggers in 1995 and 2000. Casas’ strong work ethic also pushed him to a successful career.

Casas was considered the best Paraguayan prospect in the 1992 BSA Draft and the capital Asuncion had the #1 overall pick. They selected Casas in hopes he could lead the downtrodden franchise to success. The Archers had only one playoff berth in 62 years of history to that point, averaging an abysmal 67.7 wins per season. Many Asuncion fans figured they just weren’t allowed to have nice things.

In his rookie year, Casas was split between the rotation and bullpen with decent results. He was a full-time starter after that, although he was merely above average in his first few seasons. Asuncion still hoped he’d live up to the billing, giving Casas a five-year, $12,040,000 extension in May 1997. He would post six straight 6+ WAR seasons from there.

1997 would be the breakout year for Casas with a 2.10 ERA and 6.0 WAR, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. This also marked the turnaround for Asuncion, earning their first playoff berth since their lone 1939 appearance. Even better, the Archers won the Southern Cone League title, although they lost Copa Sudamerica to Lima.

Casas’s lone Pitcher of the Year came in 1998, leading the league in wins (24-2) and ERA (1.86), both career bests. Asuncion won the Southern Cone League again and fell in a Copa Sudamerica rematch with Lima. Casas surprisingly struggled in the playoffs with an abysmal 8.31 ERA over 26 innings. He led the league with a career best 352 strikeouts in 1999 and had a career-best 8.2 WAR.

2000 started a four year streak of Gold Gloves for Casas. Asuncion made it back and won their third Southern Cone League pennant in four years, although Bogota denied them the Cup. Casas redeemed his prior poor postseason effort, tossing 36 innings with 49 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA. In 2001, he led in WHIP with a career best 0.81 and in wins at 23-7, taking second in POTY voting.

2001 was historic for Asuncion with a franchise-best 110-52. They won their fourth pennant in five years and finally won their first Copa Sudamerica, getting revenge against Lima. Casas had a huge postseason, going 5-0 in seven appearances with a 1.38 ERA over 39 innings, 46 strikeouts, and 1.6 WAR. That run forever justified the #1 overall pick usage for Casas a decade earlier.

Casas was one of Paraguay’s most well-known baseball figures. He also pitched from 1994-2004 in the World Baseball Championship with excellent results. He had a 1.98 ERA over 145.1 innings with 183 strikeouts, 50 walks, a 9-6 record, 181 ERA+, and 4.3 WAR.

2002 saw a third place finish in Pitcher of the Year voting for Casas. He was okay in his one playoff start, as Asuncion lost in the first round. The Archers would have first round exits in 2003 and 2004 as well. For his playoff career, Casas had a 10-4 record, 3.24 ERA, 136 innings, 168 strikeouts, 18 walks, 100 ERA+, and 4.1 WAR. The 2000 and 2001 excellence would forever mark his legacy.

Casas was a free agent for the first time heading into his age 32 season after the 2002 campaign. He ultimately stayed with Asuncion, signing a six-year, $29,280,000 deal. Casas had a good 2003, but missed the final month and the playoffs to a ruptured finger tendon. He was never the same after that with the injury tanking his control. Casas was mediocre in 2004 and 2005, eventually moved out of the rotation.

The magic seemed to be over as Asuncion collapsed in 2005 at 64-98. They had resurgence with five straight playoff berths after that. At 87-75, the Archers made a surprising run to their second Copa Sudamerica ring, beating Caracas in the final. Casas only had 51.1 innings in the regular season and one relief appearance in the playoffs, but he got to lift up the Cup for a second time. He retired with that at age 35 and immediately had his #27 uniform retired.

Casas finished with a 192-104 record, 2.78 ERA, 2851.2 innings, 3241 strikeouts, 603 walks, 270/372 quality starts, 51 complete games, 16 shutouts, 120 ERA+, and 59.5 WAR. Just based on raw stats, Casas’ numbers aren’t much different than the guys who fell off the ballot after ten failed tries. He didn’t crack the top 80 in WAR, wins, or strikeouts. Without the context, Casas seemed like a “Hall of Pretty Good” type.

With the context, he was the ace that helped turn a historically abysmal franchise into a contender with five pennants and two championship rings. Casas also had an ERA title and a Pitcher of the Year to go along with it. Even if the pure tallies were underwhelming, voters saw Casas as a headliner. He received 91.9% on the first ballot to leadoff BSA’s 2012 Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-25-2024 07:04 AM

2012 BSA Hall of Fame (Part 2)

https://i.imgur.com/F5o4yhP.png

Jose Sanchez – Right/Left Field – Bogota Bats – 89.6% First Ballot

Jose Sanchez was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed outfielder from Cucuta, Colombia, a city of roughly 750,000 inhabitants on the northeastern border of Venezuela. Sanchez wasn’t incredible at anything as a batter, but he was above average to good across the board in terms of contact, power, and eye. Across his 162 game average, Sanchez had 28 home runs, 25 doubles, and 12 triples per season.

Sanchez’s greatest offensive strength came as a baserunner. He was lightning quick with stellar instincts, emerging as one of the most efficient thieves in BSA history. Sanchez was one of the best at legging out extra bases and often won when challenging the arms of opposing outfielders.

Defensively, Sanchez had about 2/3s of his starts in right field with around ¼ in left and a couple starts in center. He graded out as reliably solid in the corners, but he struggled in his limited try in center. With a scrappy, sparkplug work ethic, Sanchez emerged as one of Colombia’s most popular stars of the era. Sanchez also had excellent durability in his career, playing 144+ games each year from 1992-2005.

In the 1989 BSA Draft, Sanchez was picked 18<sup>th</sup> overall by Bogota. He played his entire pro career in the Colombian capital and was a full-time starter for 14 years. Sanchez only had 54 games and 11 starts in his rookie year. He played 123 games in his second year in a part-time role with 72 starts, helping the Bats to a wild card. This won him the full-time job for the next decade-plus, helping Bogota turn into a regular contender.

Sanchez had nine seasons worth 6+ WAR, but otherwise wasn’t generally a league leader. Bogota had three straight playoff berths from 1991-93, but suffered first round exits each year, including in an 112-win 1992. The Bats missed the 1994 playoffs, but then rattled off a seven-year playoff streak.

1995 was a banner year that saw Sanchez’s first Silver Slugger. It was the only time he led in hits (201) and runs scored (110). Bogota earned a wild card, but earned the Bolivar League title. Sanchez was Copa Sudamerica MVP despite the Bats losing a seven-game battle with 115-win Recife. In the playoff run, Sanchez had 18 hits, 10 runs, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, and 5 stolen bases over 15 starts.

Bogota rewarded Sanchez with a five-year, $12,600,000 extension that winter. 1996 saw numerous career bests for Sanchez including in WAR (9.8), wRC+ (180), OPS (.980), home runs (33), doubles (37), hits (210), and RBI (121). He won his second Slugger and took second in MVP voting. The Bats won 101 games, but suffered a first round defeat.

Sanchez was third in 1997 MVP voting, his final time as a finalist. Bogota lost to Lima in the BLCS that year. They kept the streak alive, but had first round exits in 1998 and 1999. Sanchez kept chugging along for the Bats and for Colombia in the World Baseball Championship. From 1992-2005, Sanchez had 140 WBC games with 121 hits, 73 runs, 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 52 RBI, 61 stolen bases, a .252/.318/.444 slash, 121 wRC+, and 4.6 WAR.

2000 saw Bogota finally win Copa Sudamerica for the first time in franchise history, topping Asuncion in the final. In the playoffs, Sanchez had 18 hits, 13 runs, 8 extra base hits, and 10 RBI over 15 starts. His contract was up after this and he tested free agency as a 33-year old. After only two weeks of searching, Sanchez went back to Bogota with a five-year, $19,600,000 deal.

Sanchez won his third Silver Slugger in 2002 and posted a career high and league-best 94 stolen bases in 2003. Bogota suffered a BLCS loss to Lima in 2001, then missed the 2002 playoffs by a game. The Bats had the top seed at 112-50 in 2003, but suffered an upset BLCS loss to Caracas. In 2004, Bogota earned its second Copa Sudamerica win, besting Salvador in the final.

Again, Sanchez had a solid postseason run with 17 hits, 11 runs, and 9 stolen bases. The Bats gave him a two-year, $7,600,000 extension after the 2004 campaign. 2005 would be the weakest of his career with a low 2.4 WAR. However, he stepped up again when it mattered with 19 hits, 11 runs, and a 1.064 OPS in the postseason. Bogota earned a Copa Sudamerica repeat, defeating Fortaleza in the final. This gave Sanchez his third Cup and fourth pennant with the Bats.

Age fully caught up by 2006 and Sanchez was relegated to a bench role, only playing 57 games with 12 starts. Bogota won another division title, but Sanchez didn’t see the field in the playoffs as they lost in the divisional series. He retired that winter at age 39 and saw his #34 uniform immediately retired by the Bats.

Sanchez finished with 2763 hits, 1492 runs, 373 doubles, 180 triples, 414 home runs, 1274 RBI, 1116 stolen bases, a .309/.349/.529 slash, 142 wRC+, and 90.1 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 57<sup>th</sup> in WAR among position players, 13<sup>th</sup> in stolen bases, 28<sup>th</sup> in runs, and 40<sup>th</sup> in hits. While not at the tip-top of leaderboards, Sanchez still ranked quite well.

For his playoff career, he had 125 hits in 114 games, 75 runs, 23 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 58 RBI, 43 stolen bases, a .272/.304/.503 slash, 119 wRC+, and 3.4 WAR. At retirement, he had the most playoff runs scored and second most hits and would only later be passed in both spots by Niccolo Coelho. Sanchez also ranks fourth in playoff steals as of 2037.

Sanchez played a major role in Bogota being a regular contender in the Bolivar League in the 1990s through the mid 2000s. He was one of the most reliable and hardworking guys in the league, well deserving of his first ballot induction. At 89.6%, Sanchez was the second member of BSA’s 2012 Hall of Fame class.

https://i.imgur.com/Z0SVxjV.png

Pacheta Castaneda – Starting Pitcher – Lima Lobos – 69.7% First Ballot

Pacheta Castaneda was a 6’3’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from Piura in northwestern Peru; the country’s seventh most populous city with around 485,000 inhabitants. Castaneda had very good stuff and control along with average movement. His fastball only peaked around 91-93 mph, but Castaneda was a master of changing speeds. He had a great curveball, along with a slider and changeup.

Castaneda had tremendous stamina and loved going deep into games. He led the Bolivar League seven times in innings pitched. Castaneda also had excellent durability and avoided injuries. However, he was viewed as lazy and greedy at times, which didn’t make him many friends in the clubhouse.

Despite his lack of overpowering velocity, scouts noticed Castaneda’s potential as a teenager. He was picked 24<sup>th</sup> overall by Lima in the 1988 BSA Draft and spent two full years on the reserve roster. Castaneda was a sporadic starter in 1991 and 1992 with limited success. It was also tough for a young player to crack Lima’s lineup, as they were in the midst of an impressive playoff streak.

From 1988-2001, Lima had 14 consecutive playoff appearances. Castaneda wasn’t used in the 1991 postseason, while saw a Bolivar League title and Copa Sudamerica loss to Belo Horizonte. He also didn’t see the field for their one-and-done in 1992. In 1993, the Lobos won the BL pennant again, falling in the finale to Sao Paulo. That season, Castaneda looked promising with 5.3 WAR and five shutouts over 245.1 innings. He had trouble in four playoff starts with a 4.30 ERA over 29.1 innings.

Castaneda was demoted back to a part-time role with only 19 starts between 1994 and 1995. He again didn’t see the playoffs with a BLCS loss in 1994 and first round exit in 1995. Now 27-years old, Castaneda finally broke through as an ace in 1996, leading in K/BB and shutouts. He took second in Pitcher of the Year voting, but got rocked in his one playoff start. Lima was the #1 seed at 111-51, but suffered an upset divisional round defeat to Medellin.

1997 saw a career-best 10.1 WAR and 356 strikeouts for Castaneda, who also led in innings pitched for the first time. He finished third in Pitcher of the Year voting and tossed 31 playoff innings with 40 strikeouts and a 3.48 ERA. Lima finally won it all for the first-time in their 10-year playoff streak, beating Asuncion in Copa Sudamerica. That offseason, Castaneda signed a five-year, $12,400,000 extension with the Lobos.

Castaneda’s lone Pitcher of the Year came in 1998, leading the league in WAR, strikeouts, WHIP, innings, quality starts, and complete games. His postseason was rough with a 4.95 ERA over 36.1 innings, but Lima earned repeat titles and won a Copa Sudamerica rematch with the Archers. The Lobos would suffer first round exits in 1999 and 2000. Castaneda would take second in 2000’s POTY voting, leading in wins at 23-9 and posting 9.1 WAR. That was his final time as a POTY finalist.

2001 was the last stand of the Lima run, winning their sixth Bolivar League pennant of the 14-year playoff run. They met Asuncion again in the final, but this time the 110-win Archers took the title. Castaneda had a 3.21 ERA over 33.2 innings in this run. The Lobos gave him another four years and $16,800,000 in the winter.

For his playoff career though, he had below average numbers with a 7-9 record in 22 starts, 3.94 ERA, 166.2 innings, 159 strikeouts, 93 ERA+, and 3.5 WAR. Still, his #6 uniform would later get retired by Lima for his role in their playoff streak and titles.

Castaneda continued to eat innings, leading the league again in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He led in strikeouts in 2003, but his ERA began to slip. By 2004, Castaneda had a terrible 4.97 ERA. Lima missed the playoffs in 2002 and 2003, but got back in 2004. Castaneda was rocked in his one start and they lost in the first round.

Lima benched Castaneda for 2005, giving him only 64.1 innings over seven starts and seven relief appearances. He became a free agent for the first time for 2006 and Barquisimeto gave him a one-year deal. Castaneda’s already low velocity had plummeted to the 85-87 mph peak range by this point. He had a 6.26 ERA in 82 innings for the Black Cats and retired in the winter at age 38.

Castaneda finished with a 197-147 record, 3.50 ERA, 3303.1 innings, 3203 strikeouts, 483 walks, 237/398 quality starts, 171 complete games, 109 ERA+, and 72.2 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 71th in WAR among pitchers. He would also have the second worst ERA of any BSA inductee behind only Orlando Salas’ 3.59. Castaneda’s weak playoff stats also was a knock along with his relatively low accumulations.

Still, Castaneda had a few year peak as a top three pitcher and was the ace during a decade of dominance for Lima. Even if the playoff stats weren’t great, spending almost your entire team with one team and finding team success goes a long way for many voters. Castaneda only narrowly breached the 66% requirement, but crossed it at 69.7% for a first ballot induction. He rounded out the three-player 2012 BSA Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-25-2024 01:13 PM

2012 EBF Hall of Fame (Part 1)

The European Baseball Federation had a mammoth five-player Hall of Fame class in 2012. It tied the largest-ever class for EBF, as 2000 also saw five inductees. The top four in the 2012 group were first ballot picks with limited opposition. CF Remy Morel got 95.6%, 3B Giordano Dupuis had 94.9%, OF Gabriel Cadete received 88.5%, and P/C Tommaso Notti snagged 77.6%.

The fifth member was pitcher Vincent Cassar, who finally breached the 66% requirement with 66.4% on his ninth try. He was a surprise, especially considering the loaded group. Cassar had only been above 50% once and had fallen to a mere 24.9% in his eight ballot. SP Spyridon Sidiropoulou very nearly made it a six-player, but he barely missed with 64.4% in his debut.

https://i.imgur.com/xI7VDDL.png

Two other returners were above 50%, but short of 60%. RF Mitchel Dekker had 59.7% on his second ballot and SP Reggie Hobart was at 54.9% on his penultimate try. Only one other player cracked 1/3 with closer Rafael Dorflinger at a distant 34.6% second ballot.

Dropped after ten failed ballots was SS Aldo Krcelic, who had a 17-year run between Lisbon and Seville. He won one Silver Slugger and hlped the Clippers win the 1995 EBF title. Krcelic finished with 2143 hits, 1419 runs, 350 doubles, 169 triples, 238 home runs, 857 RBI, 926 walks, 904 stolen bases, a .259/.334/.428 slash, 115 wRC+, and 59.4 WAR. He was merely an okay defender and didn’t have impressive enough batting tallies to stand out. Krcelic peaked at 29.1% in his debut and ended at 15.6%.

https://i.imgur.com/U3WJ27k.png

Remy Morel – Center Field – Paris Poodles – 95.6% First Ballot

Remy Morel was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed center fielder from Clamart, France; a Paris suburb with around 55,000 people. Morel was an excellent contact hitter and was terrific at avoiding strikeouts, although he was merely okay at drawing walks. He was outstanding at finding the gap with 40 doubles and 17 triples per his 162 game average. Morel wasn’t a super slugger, but was still good for 15-20 home runs per season.

Morel had pretty good speed and was an above average baserunner. He was a career center fielder and a reliably good-to-great defender. Morel held up physically well much of his career despite the demands of the position, playing 150+ games each of his first 11 seasons. He was a team captain and a leader of men, becoming one of the most beloved French baseball superstars.

Growing up in the Paris metro, Morel was a Poodles fan growing up. He quickly rose through the amateur ranks and was considered the best French prospect by many entering the 1993 EBF Draft. His childhood dream came true as Paris picked him fourth overall. Morel signed a five-year, $8,650,000 deal as a rookie and ultimately played his entire career in the French capital.

Morel was a full-time starter immediately and a successful one with 5.0 WAR in 1994, taking second in Rookie of the Year voting. 1995 started a streak of ten consecutive 6+ WAR seasons. Morel led in hits and won his first Silver Slugger in 1995. This also helped Paris end a decade-long playoff drought, notching their first Northwest Division title since 1970. The Poodles ultimately lost in the first round of the playoffs, then missed the postseason in 1996. Morel’s highlight of 1996 was a 30 game-hit streak in the spring.

1997 was Morel’s finest, leading the Northern Conference and posting career highs in hits (251), doubles (57), batting average (.384), and OPB (.420). The 251 hits were the second-most ever in an EBF season only behind Franco Gilbert’s 254 in 1988 and the 57 doubles fell one short of Franco Pulvirenti’s 58 from 1963. Both marks are still second-best all-time as of 2037.

Morel also had career bests in slugging (.592), OPS (1.012), wRC+ (191), and WAR (9.7), winning his second Silver Slugger and taking second in MVP voting. Paris won the division and won the European Championship over Lisbon with Morel leading the way. In 17 playoff starts, he had 29 hits, 16 runs, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 13 RBI, 1.5 WAR, and a .392/.416/.662 slash.

That run forever made Morel a Parisian hero, although he actually had negative WAR over the rest of his playoff career. He finished with 62 starts, 79 hits, 38 runs, 17 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, 22 RBI, 21 stolen bases, a .303/.324/.441 slash, 117 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. When your first big playoff run is a great one, people will overlook later failures.

Morel did also have respectable stats in the World Baseball Championship, but nothing groundbreaking. He made 110 starts for France from 1995-2005 and had 130 hits, 49 runs, 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 45 RBI, 30 stolen bases, a .288/.325/.417 slash, 118 wRC+, and 2.0 WAR. Morel helped France to division titles in 2000 and 2005.

1998 saw another Silver Slugger for Morel, although Paris lost in the first round of the playoffs. 1999 would be his fourth Slugger and his lone MVP win, leading in hits (241) and posting 9.3 WAR. He was good with 20 hits and 8 runs in the postseason, but the Poodles lost the conference championship in an upset to Hamburg. In March 2000, Paris would extend Morel for seven years at $29,000,000, locking him up for the long haul.

Morel won his second batting title in 2000 and was third in MVP voting. Paris won a fourth straight division title, but suffered a first round defeat. The Poodles were stuck outside the playoffs in the mid-tier for the next three seasons. Morel still performed great, leading in hits, doubles, and batting average in both 2001 and 2002. He won Sluggers both seasons and was third in 2001’s MVP voting.

2003 and 2004 were still strong regular seasons for Morel. Paris got back to the conference final in 2004, but lost to eventual EBF champ Copenhagen. That was the last great year for Morel, who started 2005 with a sprained ankle. He struggled significantly and was quickly benched, batting .249 over 78 games and only 38 starts. Morel was moved to a part-time starting role in 2006, although he fared much better. In 118 games and 93 starts, he hit .333 with 3.5 WAR.

Paris made the conference finals again in 2006, but Morel struggled with a .167 batting average as they were ousted by Kyiv. The Poodles bought out the remainder of Morel’s contract, making him a free agent for the first time. He hoped to still play, but no one signed him and he retired in the winter of 2007 at age 37. Paris quickly brought him home to retire his #20 uniform in front of a packed house.

Morel finished with 2614 hits, 1180 runs, 469 doubles, 205 triples, 183 home runs, 1036 RBI, 586 stolen bases, a .351/.383/.543 slash, 162 wRC+, and 89.3 WAR. As of 2037, he has the sixth-best batting average among any player with 3000+ plate appearances. Morel also ranks 58<sup>th</sup> in WAR among position players and third in WAR accrued in center field.

Plus, he played for his hometown team for 13 years, winning an MVP and a European Championship. It’s no surprise that Morel was a lock even with a loaded 2012 EBF Hall of Fame group. He received 95.6% as the headliner and as one of the top pure hitters in European baseball history.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-25-2024 07:22 PM

2012 EBF Hall of Fame (Part 2)

https://i.imgur.com/e96xlXc.png

Giordano “Tangles’ Dupuis – Third Base – Paris Poodles – 94.9% First Ballot

Giordano Dupuis was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch-hitting third baseman from Saint-Cloud, France; a western Paris suburb with around 30,000 people. Dupuis was known for having a powerful bat, solid contact ability, and a good eye. He especially raked against right-handed pitching in EBF with a career .942 OPS and 162 wRC+. Dupuis wasn’t a scrub against lefties, but had a less dominant .757 OPS and 112 wRC+.

Dupuis topped 30+ home runs ten times and topped 40+ four times. He also got you 25-35 doubles and a couple triples each year. Dupuis also was a very smart and crafty baserunner that could grab a few extra bags despite having below average speed. Apart from some occasional back trouble, Dupuis also showed excellent durability, playing 135+ games in 15 different seasons.

He had a cannon arm, which led to every single inning of his career being at third base. Dupuis’ range and glove work was subpar though, leading to below average career stats defensively. He was still very playable there, especially with his bat. Dupuis would end up being a beloved French baseball icon after a 19-year pro career.

Like his Hall of Fame classmate Remy Morel, Dupuis grew up a Paris Poodles fans growing up near the French capital. After an excellent college career, his hometown squad picked him 9<sup>th</sup> overall in the 1990 EBF Draft. Dupuis started 109 games his rookie year with subpar results, then looked solid over 115 starts in 1992. Dupuis earned the full-time gig in 1993 and became a fixture for the next decade.

By his fourth season, Dupuis found his home run stroke, smacking 40 dingers. He had hit only 32 total over his first three seasons. Dupuis also posted 8.9 WAR and a 1.014 OPS. It would be one of four seasons with an OPS above one and one of nine seasons worth 6+ WAR or more.

In 1995, Dupuis took third in MVP voting and led the Northern Conference in on-base percentage (.403) and wRC+ (199) while posting 9.1 WAR. Paris ended their playoff drought, but went one-and-done with Dupuis missing the postseason to a severe hip strain. Still, the Poodles felt he would be important to continued success, signing Dupuis that winter to an eight-year, $21,800,000 extension.

1995 was also his first season as a full-time starter for France in the World Baseball Championship. From 1993-2009, Dupuis played 108 games with 88 starts, posting 73 hits, 56 runs, 19 doubles, 30 home runs, 69 RBI, a .220/.322/.554 slash, 148 wRC+, and 3.7 WAR.

After a good 1996, Dupuis had his best year in 1997, leading the conference and posting career highs in WAR (11.5), wRC+ (204), OPS (1.072), slugging (.662), total bases (399), and RBI (155). He also had career bests in home runs (49), hits (209), runs (130), walks (61), stolen bases (25), and OBP (.411). Dupuis won his lone MVP and one of two Silver Sluggers. Sluggers were hard to come by sharing a position and conference with seven-time winner Robert Beck.

Dupuis’s excellence carried into the playoffs as Paris won the European Championship against Lisbon. He was named finals MVP, posting 20 hits, 13 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 16 RBI, and a .290/.338/.623 slash in 17 playoff starts. It was a dream come true for Dupuis to win it all for his hometown team.

The next few seasons were still very good for Dupuis, although he wasn’t a league leader save for his 142 RBI in 2003. His other Silver Slugger came in 1999. Paris made the playoffs again from 1998-2000 with their deepest run being a conference finals loss in 1999. The Poodles would miss the postseason from 2001-03. Still productive and a beloved veteran, a 35-year old Dupuis signed a three-year, $19,600,000 extension after the 2003 season.

A hamstring strain cost Dupuis about two months in 2004. He remained a strong starter for three more years, helping Paris get to the conference finals in both 2004 and 2006. They couldn’t make it back to the final with defeats by Copenhagen and Kyiv. For his playoff career with the Poodles, Dupuis had 58 starts, 64 hits, 39 runs, 10 doubles, 17 home runs, 43 RBI, a .278/.328/.570 slash, 155 wRC+, and 2.7 WAR.

Dupuis posted 6.0 WAR in his final season with Paris, showing he was still great heading into his age 39 season. The Poodles didn’t re-sign him and Dupuis began accepting worldwide bids. He ended up moving to the United States, getting a two-year, $17,400,000 with MLB’s Atlanta Aces.

Dupuis was a full-time starter both years, although he missed six weeks in 2008 to a fractured thumb. He still scored positive WAR, although his hitting stats fell below league average. Dupuis had a .229/.298/.394 slash, 89 wRC+, and 3.4 WAR with Atlanta. Denver signed him for 2009 for one season and $7,300,000 and he posted similar numbers with 1.4 WAR and 86 wRC+ in 149 games.

Dupuis went unsigned in 2010 and retired that winter at age 42. Upon returning home to France, Paris retired his #25 uniform. For his entire pro career, Dupuis had 2896 hits, 1648 runs, 507 doubles, 558 home runs, 1755 RBI, 900 walks, a .286/.347/.518 slash, 141 wRC+, and 103.6 WAR.

Just in EBF with Paris, Dupuis had 2576 hits, 1462 runs, 465 doubles, 76 triples, 495 home runs, 1575 RBI, 774 walks, 159 stolen bases, a .297/.357/.539 slash, 150 wRC+, and 98.8 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 34<sup>th</sup> in WAR among position players. He didn’t rack up tons of awards, but Dupuis was a reliably good to great third baseman for 16 years in Paris.

Dupuis had an excellent career and it was fitting that he and Remy Morel went into the Hall of Fame together as local stars who helped Paris win it all. At 94.9%, Dupuis was a first ballot pick and the second of the five members of the 2012 EBF Hall of Fame class.

https://i.imgur.com/ZwTPr5D.png

Gabriel “Weasel” Cadete – Center Field – Zurich Mountaineers – 88.5% First Ballot

Gabriel Cadete was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed center fielder from Amadora, Portugal; a city in the Lisbon metropolitan area with around 175,000 people. The nickname “weasel” came from how fast and sly Cadete was on the basepaths, as he was considered one of the top baserunners of his era. He certainly didn’t have a weasel personality, known for being a team captain and all around standup guy. There were few men more reputable in the game than Cadete.

He was an excellent contact hitter and filled the role of the traditional leadoff guy. Cadete was terrific at avoiding strikeouts and putting the ball in play, although he rarely drew walks. He had fantastic gap power and used his legs to regularly get doubles and triples. Cadete had 32 doubles and 26 triples per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to go deep often, but still got you 10-15 home runs most years.

Cadete made around 4/5s of his starts in center field. He was considered below average defensively, but far from a liability. Cadete also played in left a bit later in his career with average results and had sporadic starts in right. Knee and back trouble would plague Cadete at various points in his career, but he remained remarkably consistent when he was in the lineup.

In September 1987, a teenaged Cadete was spotted and signed to a developmental contract with Zurich, making the move from Portugal to Switzerland. Cadete’s whole European career would be spent near the Alps, officially debuting in 1991 with 17 games and 5 starts at age 20. He earned a full-time job in 1992 and made a splash right away, leading the Southern Conference with 38 triples and earning a Silver Slugger.

Back trouble cost Cadete part of 1993, but he stepped in the playoffs. 1993 was the 21<sup>st</sup> consecutive division title for Zurich, but they hadn’t been able to get over the playoff hump. They had five conference titles in the prior 20 seasons, but lost each time in the European Championship. They hadn’t won the conference since 1984 and had suffered four consecutive first round exits.

Cadete helped finally get the Mountaineers that covered EBF title, besting Birmingham in the final. In 14 playoff starts, he had 23 hits, 12 runs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 8 RBI, and 9 stolen bases. Even though he arrived right at the end of the dynasty run, Cadete would hold a special place with Zurich fans for helping them finally win it all.

He lost almost half of 1994 to back troubles, although he still posted 6.4 WAR in 99 games. Zurich’s playoff streak came to an end at 84-78. They would make it back with division titles from 1995-97, but each of those years ended with a first round loss. In 1996, Cadete earned a batting title at .366 and led in hits (211) and triples (35). He won his second Silver Slugger and took third in MVP voting; his only time as a finalist.

Cadete signed an eight-year, $32,200,000 extension in April 1998 to stay put in Zurich. He would still return home to Portugal, playing 138 games with 132 starts in the World Baseball Championship from 1993-2009. In the WBC, Cadete had 149 hits, 74 runs, 26 doubles, 10 triples, 8 home runs, 49 RBI, 65 stolen bases, a .288/.338/.423 slash, 121 wRC+, and 4.8 WAR.

1998 was Cadete’s second batting title and his lone time leading in OBP. He also led in triples for the third time despite missing a month to injury. Cadete wouldn’t lead the conference again, but still put up consistently strong numbers. He won his third and final Silver Slugger in 1999.

Zurich made it to the conference final in 2000, but lost to Madrid. They also had wild cards in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006; but couldn’t make any ground in the playoffs. For his playoff career, Cadete had 39 starts, 10 48 hits, 23 runs, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 1 homer, 17 RBI, 21 stolen bases, a .293/.308/.433 slash, 99 wRC+, and 1.0 WAR. Most of his value was from the 1993 title run.

Cadete would have trouble staying healthy into his early 30s, but he still provided five 4+ WAR seasons in his 30s. His deal expired after the 2006 season heading into his age 36 season. Zurich ultimately let him walk, but they would bring him back to retire his #45 uniform only a few years later. This did mark the end of Cadete’s EBF career.

He would make a run at Major League Baseball, signing a three-year, $24,900,000 deal with Chicago. Cadete physically broke down though with a fractured ankle costing him most of 2007 and back spasms keeping him out much of 2008. He struggled in his limited use early in 2009 and was released by the Cubs in late May.

For his MLB tenure, Cadete had only 100 games and 86 starts, 102 hits, 39 runs, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, a .295/.331/.399 slash, 121 wRC+, and 2.1 WAR. He went unsigned for the rest of 2009 and retired that winter at age 38.

In EBF with Zurich, Cadete finished with 2754 hits, 1360 runs, 398 doubles, 340 triples, 159 home runs, 949 RBI, 972 stolen bases, a .344/.371/.538 slash, 153 wRC+, and 91.1 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 50<sup>th</sup> in WAR among position players, as well as 12<sup>th</sup> in batting average among players with 3000 plate appearances. Cadete also is 12<sup>th</sup> in triples and 20<sup>th</sup> in stolen bases.

Cadete is another guy who wasn’t a regular MVP candidate, but he was a reliably great starter for a long time. Staying with one team in EBF and helping them finally win it all put Cadete over the top for most voters. He received 88.5% on his first ballot, taking the third of five slots in the 2012 EBF Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-26-2024 06:30 AM

2012 EBF Hall of Fame (Part 3)

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

Tommaso “Yard Man” Notti – Pitcher/Catcher – Rome Red Wolves – 77.6% First Ballot

Tommaso Notti was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher and catcher from Trebisacce, Italy; a commune of 9,000 people in the southern Calabria region. Although Europe had seen its share of great two-way players, a pitcher/catcher combo was an incredibly unusual sight. The physical demands alone make that seem like an impossible combo, but Notti managed to make it work.

Notti was strongest as a pitcher, known for having very good stuff with excellent movement and control. He had a wicked 99-101 mph fastball and a stellar forkball, along with the occasional curveball and changeup. Notti had good stamina early in his career and his catching instincts made him a good defender.

The arm strength and speed didn’t directly translate to catching though, as Notti graded as a mediocre defensive catcher overall. He was a better batter than most though with solid contact ability, a good eye, and a great knack for avoiding strikeouts. Notti’s 162 game average had 25 doubles and 16 home runs. That power would be uninspiring in most spots, but was definitely better than most pitchers and superior to a lot of catchers. Notti was also a good leader and well known for his unique skill set.

His unique two-way exploits in the college ranks quickly drew attention amongst the Italian baseball community. Notti was very determined to be a two-way guy, although many scouts were skeptical that anyone would physically hold up. His pitching potential was considered so much stronger that many scouts hoped he’d just fully commit to that. In the 1988 EBF Draft, Notti would be picked 14<sup>th</sup> overall by Rome.

Notti only saw limited relief pitching use in his first year. He had a few starts, but mostly relief in 1990. Forearm inflammation would knock him out in the final two months of the year. In 1991, Notti made his debut as a full-time starter on the mound and excelled, leading the Southern Conference with 8.5 WAR and earning his lone Pitcher of the Year award. He also made a couple starts catching with 0.8 WAR at the plate.

Rome earned its first playoff berth since 1968 as a wild card, but went one-and-done. Notti gave up five runs over 6.1 innings in what would be the only playoff start of his career. The Red Wolves did earn berths in 1994 and 2000, but Notti missed out both times to injuries. They ultimately oscillated between the bottom and middle of the standings during his time. Still, he provided some moments of excitement and hope.

Notti led in pitching WAR again in 1993. From 1991-96, he had 5.5+ WAR in the mound each year. Notti was second in 1994’s Pitcher of the Year voting. He also came into his own offensively during that same stretch, getting 3+ WAR each year offensively from 1992-96. Notti had 10+ WAR combined seasons in 1993, 1994, and 1996 and barely missed it in 1995 at 9.9. 1993 was his strongest season with a combined 12.4 WAR. He managed to stay mostly healthy during this stretch.

From 1992-2003, Notti also was a two-way player for Italy in the World Baseball Championship. He made 20 starts on the mound with 143 innings, a 9-7 record, 2.90 ERA, 174 strikeouts, 125 ERA+, and 3.6 WAR. Notti struggled at the plate in 39 games with a .157/.222/.231 slash, 26 wRC+, and -0.7 WAR.

Rome gave Notti a six-year, $19,000,000 extension in April 1995. The wheels would start to fall off though with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow suffered in late September 1996. Many worried this would end his pitching career, with Notti only throwing 9.2 innings in 1997. He would still play 49 starts that year as a catcher, but were merely middling numbers.

Notti returned to the rotation in 1998 and 1999 and looked good when healthy pitching. Elbow inflammation plagued him both years, along with a partial labrum tear in spring training 1999. Notti continued to play both ways when he could, although he was merely slightly above average offensively at this point.

In spring training 2000, Notti suffered a damaged elbow ligament, costing him the entire season. His future was in doubt at age 31, but Rome did give him a two-year, $7,160,000 extension that winter. The Red Wolves wanted to keep him and hoped he’d bounce back, but were leery of a longer commitment. Notti still had elbow inflammation, but had a mostly full 2001 campaign. His pitching stats were still quite solid, although his bat was subpar. Notti would see his season end in September with a bone spur in his elbow, which also kept him out of the following WBC.

2002 was a revival season for Notti, who led the conference in ERA (2.13), WHIP (0.81), K/BB (14.1), shutouts (5), FIP- (56) and pitching WAR (8.6). Notti finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting and also bounced back for a 2.6 WAR effort at the plate. Notti proved that when healthy, he could still be an elite player. This would ultimately be the end of his time in the Italian capital.

With his stock back at a high, Notti received big money offers internationally. The 34-year old went to Major League Baseball on a four-year, $32,500,000 deal with Los Angeles. His time in America would be cursed, starting with elbow inflammation in spring training 2003. Then in his fourth start on the mound, Notti tore his flexor tendon again, putting him out for 12 months.

He made it back in the summer of 2004, but suffered yet another flexor tendon tear in August after only 11 starts. Notti struggled in a 2005 comeback attempt with a 5.37 ERA over 58.2 innings, then was shut down again with elbow inflammation. He didn’t reach the vesting criteria for the fourth year of the deal with the Angels.

In three MLB seasons, Notti had a 10-9 record, 3.80 ERA, 154 innings, 88 strikeouts, 103 ERA+, and 2.4 WAR, while only playing six games offensively going 7-18. His deal went down as an all-time MLB bust. Notti tried an EBF comeback in 2006 with Glasgow, but a torn back muscle and more elbow inflammation kept him out basically the entire year. Notti finally resigned himself to retirement that winter at age 38.

Rome would honor him by retiring his #29 uniform. In EBF, Notti finished on the mound with a 155-72 record, 2.93 ERA, 2146 innings, 2224 strikeouts, 343 walks, 178/294 quality starts, 67 complete games, 132 ERA+, and 67.0 WAR. The rate stats on the mound alone made Notti worthy of consideration. The accumulations were on the lower end, but pretty impressive still for only really a decade of pitching.

At the plate, Notti had 1032 games and 817 starts, 893 hits, 385 runs, 161 doubles, 108 home runs, 433 RBI, a .298/.335/.473 slash, 124 wRC+, and 24.8 WAR. The combined 94.2 career WAR helped win over some skeptics, getting Notti a first ballot nod at 77.6%.

Notti goes down as one of the great “what-if?” players. Even with the injuries, he ranks 21<sup>st</sup> in career WAR in world history among two-way guys. Some still think he could’ve been an all-timer on the mound if he committed there. Regardless, Notti was still unique and special enough to join EBF’s 2012 Hall of Fame class.

https://i.imgur.com/T1sMGv5.png

Vincent Cassar – Starting Pitcher – Munich Mavericks – 64.4% Ninth Ballot

Vincent Cassar was a 5’11’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher from Birkirkara, Malta; the second most populous city on the island with around 24,000 people. He would become Malta’s first-ever Hall of Fame inductee. Cassar was best known for his pinpoint control, which allowed him to succeed despite having merely average stuff and above average movement.

His fastball peaked in the 92-94 mph range, while his best pitch was his sinker. Cassar also had a curveball and changeup in the arsenal. His stamina was on the lower end compared to most EBF aces. However, a tireless work ethic helped Cassar exceed the expectations placed on a smaller guy without overpowering velocity.

It wasn’t always easy for Maltese prospects to get attention. The fact that the Malta Marvels franchise was a perennial loser didn’t help the island’s reputation for talent. Still, Cassar stood out to a visiting German scout as a teenager. He signed a developmental deal in December 1976 with Munich and would spend his entire pro career in Germany.

Cassar debuted in 1983 and spent his first four seasons largely in a part-time/back-end starter role with okay results. The Mavericks started an 11-year division title streak in 1983, although they would fall in the first round of the playoffs from 1983-87. By 1987, Cassar was a full-time starter. That year, Munich had the top seed at 114-48, but again did nothing in the playoffs.

1988 was finally the breakthrough year for the Mavericks, winning the European Championship against Amsterdam. Cassar had a respectable regular season and stepped up in the playoffs with a 2.40 ERA over 30 innings. This began a five-year streak of Southern Conference Championship appearances for Munich. In May 1989, Cassar signed a four-year, $5,200,000 extension.

Cassar still wasn’t quite viewed as elite yet, but more as a respectable starter. The Mavericks fell in the 1989 and 1990 conference finals, but took the pennant in 1991. They ultimately fell to Birmingham in the European Championship. It was an odd year for Cassar, who despite being healthy only made 27 appearances with 181 innings. In that limited role, he led the conference in ERA (2.34), WHIP (0.91), and K/BB (9.2).

In eight relief appearances in the playoffs, Cassar had a 2.92 ERA. For his playoff career, he had a 3.15 ERA over 105.2 innings, 6-3 record, 3 saves, 88 strikeouts, 13 walks, 123 ERA+, and 2.5 WAR. Munich fell in the 1992 conference final to Lisbon. They went one-and-done in both 1993 and 1995 before falling towards the middle of the standings for the rest of the decade.

1992 was Cassar’s strongest season by WAR with 6.3. That gave the now 32-year old a five-year, $7,400,000 extension in March 1993. However, he would like average in 1993 and downright mediocre in 1994, ultimately getting bumped from the rotation.

Cassar used his work ethic to battle back into the rotation with an impressive 1995 season. That year, he won the ERA title at 1.92 and led in WHIP at 0.92. At 17-5 with 5.7 WAR and a 202 ERA+, Cassar was named Pitcher of the Year. His great control made many optimistic that his game would age well for a few more seasons.

Unfortunately, a torn flexor tendon in 1996 ruined those plans. Cassar had only two starts that year, but did look decent in a comeback attempt in 1997 over 126.2 innings. His already low velocity dropped into the upper 80s as a peak and he was only used for two relief appearances in 1998. Cassar decided to retire that winter at age 38.

The final stats: 177-86 record, 3.17 ERA, 2549.2 innings, 2121 strikeouts, 363 walks, 226/322 quality starts, 78 complete games, 122 ERA+, 90 FIP-, and 45.5 WAR. The advanced stats aren’t kind to Cassar due to his low strikeout rate. By WAR, Cassar ranks as the worst of the EBF Hall of Fame starters. His accumulations are also fairly low since he wasn’t one to regularly deliver big innings.

Cassar debuted at 36.2% in 2004 and many figured he was a “Hall of Good” type guy. He bumped up to 48.5% in 2008, then plummeted to 23.6% in 2009. Cassar shockingly bounced back to 59.2% in 2010, but then fell off a cliff again to 24.9% in 2011. With a loaded group of debuts on the 2012 ballot, most weren’t expecting any big numbers from Cassar.

However, Cassar received a surprising big boost on his ninth ballot to 66.4%, just crossing the 66% requirement. Enough voters appreciated solid playoff numbers, two ERA titles, a POTY, and a career spent with just one team. Most scholars agree that Cassar is one of the weakest inductees, but he rounded out the five-player 2012 EBF Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-26-2024 12:08 PM

2012 EPB Hall of Fame

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

Two players were added into the Eurasian Professional Baseball Hall of Fame upon their ballot debut in 2012. Pitcher Procopie Lungu was a no-doubter at 97.0%, while fellow pitcher Artyom Tagilov received a very respectable 79.0%. The only other player above 50% was reliever Nijat Arzhanov with 57.2% on his third try. No players were dropped following ten failed allots in 2012.

https://i.imgur.com/fXiXZj2.png

Procopie Lungu – Starting Pitcher – Almaty Assassins – 97.0% First Ballot

Procopie Lungu was a 6’8’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from the capital of Moldova, Chisinau. He would become the second Moldovan Hall of Famer, joining class of 1971 Alexandru Spinu. Lungu had very good stuff, strong control, and above average movement. A 95-97 mph cut fastball was his hardest pitch, although his curveball and changeup were both equally potent.

Lungu’s stamina was considered around average in the EPB environment where you were expected to go deep regularly. He still gave you plenty of innings with strong durability over his 19 year career. Lungu was a hard worker, loyal, and adaptable; skills that served him well and made him a popular pitcher with fans and teammates alike.

A teenaged Lungu was spotted at a prospects camp in the Moldovan capital by a visiting scout from Kazakhstan. In October 1981, he inked a developmental deal to join Almaty. Lungu spent five full seasons in the system before debuting in 1987 at age 22. He struggled in 59.2 innings as a rookie, but the Assassins’ still moved him to the rotation full-time in 1988. Their patience paid off soon enough.

In 1989, Lungu tossed a no-hitter in September with six strikeouts and one walk against Novosibirsk. He was surprisingly reduced to a part-time role despite good numbers and being healthy in 1990. Lungu was back full-time in 1991 and took third in Pitcher of the Year voting, leading the Asian League in WHIP.

1992 saw a Pitcher of the Year win for Lungu with a league and career best 1.54 ERA, 25-5 record, and 0.71 WHIP. The WHIP mark remains a top ten all-time season as of 2037 in EPB. With 368 strikeouts, Lungu fell only nine short of a Triple Crown behind Igor Bury. This would be the first of six seasons worth 8+ WAR for Lungu. He’d top 7+ in nine different seasons.

Almaty would earn six straight playoff appearances from 1991-96, but lost in the first round each time. Lungu largely held up his end, posting a 2.37 ERA over 49.1 playoff innings for the Assassins with 58 strikeouts, 120 ERA+, and 1.8 WAR. Almaty gave Lungu a five-year, $8,120,000 extension in May 1994.

Lungu led in strikeouts for the first time with a career-best 394 in 1993. He led in WHIP again in 1994, taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Lungu was the WARlord at 9.9 in 1995, which secured a second place POTY finish. He was third again in 1996 with a career-best 10.3 WAR and a league-best 390 strikeouts. In 1997, Lungu tossed his second no-hitter, striking out 11 with no walks against Dushanbe on July 1.

After the 1998 season, Lungu declined his contract option and entered free agency at age 34. With Almaty, he finished with a 196-95 record, 2.25 ERA, 2911.2 innings, 3638 strikeouts, 478 walks, 128 ERA+, and 73.4 WAR. To the annoyance of many Assassins fans, Lungu stayed within the division on a four-year, $8,960,000 free agent deal with Bishkek.

The Black Sox became a contender in 2000, losing in that year’s ALCS to Tashkent. That would be their final EPB season, as Bishkek was among the Asian League teams that left for the Asian Baseball Federation. Lungu went along with them and made his ABF debut with an ERA title at 1.64. Lungu also led in WAR (8.9) to earn his second Pitcher of the Year, becoming one of a select few to win the top honor in two different leagues. He finished third in POTY in 2002.

Bishkek lost in the East League championship in 2001, then went one-and-done in 2002. Lungu’s playoff numbers were okay with a 3.38 ERA over 42.2 innings. In total over four years with the Black Sox, Lungu had a 75-42 record, 1.96 ERA, 1049.1 innings, 1338 strikeouts, 149 walks, 153 ERA+, and 30.8 WAR. He was a free agent again at age 38 and his game seemed to be aging well.

Lungu stayed in ABF and ended up in Iran on a two-year, $8,880,000 deal with Isfahan. He had two respectable years with the Imperials, although he missed some time in 2004 to injuries. With Isfahan, Lungu had a 24-20 record, 2.39 ERA, 451 innings, 493 strikeouts, 143 ERA+, and 10.8 WAR. He was a free agent again after the 2004 season at age 40 and decided to return to EPB.

His ABF tenure was the second half of the Bishkek run and his Isfahan seasons. In four seasons, Lungu had a 76-51 record, 2.12 ERA, 1246.1 innings, 1534 strikeouts, 186 walks, 151 ERA+, and 35.2 WAR. Lungu’s EPB return saw a two-year, $6,640,000 deal with Moscow. His return allowed him to become the 26<sup>th</sup> EPB pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts.

Lungu looked good in the front half of 2005, but missed the back half to elbow inflammation. He was back just in time for the playoffs with the Mules losing the EPB Championship against Krasnoyarsk. Lungu had a lackluster 4.26 ERA over 12.2 playoff innings.

In 2006, Moscow experimented with Lungu as an opener. He started 26 games with 33 appearances total, but only threw 84 innings. This role didn’t work in the regular season very well, although he did toss 4.2 scoreless innings in the playoffs. The Mules won the EPB Championship over Yekaterinburg. After getting his first ring, Lungu decided to retire at age 42.

For his EPB career, Lungu had a 219-116 record, 2.24 ERA, 3392.2 innings, 4131 strikeouts, 549 walks, 318/432 quality starts, 127 complete games, 129 ERA+, and 82.9 WAR. As of 2037, Lungu ranks 54<sup>th</sup> in pitching WAR, 37<sup>th</sup> in wins, 28<sup>th</sup> in strikeouts, and 41th in ERA among those with 1000+ innings. Bishkek leaving in the exodus did hurt his final accumulations in EPB.

Altogether, Lungu had a 295-167 record, 2.20 ERA, 4639 innings, 5665 strikeouts, 735 walks, 449/595 quality starts, 154 complete games, 41 shutouts, 134 ERA+, and 118.1 WAR. Any way you slice it, Lungu was one of the best pitchers in the world in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was an easy Hall of Famer, headlining EPB’s 2012 class at 97.0%.

https://i.imgur.com/ISDQZm5.png

Artyom Tagilov – Starting Pitcher – Ulaanbaatar Boars – 79.0% First Ballot

Artyom Tagilov was a 6’3’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Kalkaman, a village of 3,000 people in northeastern Kazakhstan. Tagilov was a fireballer with strong stuff and excellent movement, although his control was often lousy. His fastball regularly hit the 99-101 mph mark and his excellent cutter was often just as fast. Tagilov also had a curveball and changeup in his arsenal.

Tagilov’s stamina was quite solid and he had good enough durability. Even with his control issues, Tagilov still usually gave you a healthy amount of innings each year. He was a good defender and was effective at holding runners. Tagilov was a hard worker, but he wasn’t considered a cerebral pitcher.

Although he came from very humble origins, Tagilov emerged as an elite prospect in college in Kazakhstan. By the 1990 EPB Draft, he was viewed as the top prospect by many scouts. Ulaanbaatar had the #1 overall pick and brought Tagilov to Mongolia. He only had 37 innings in his rookie season, then became a full-time starter for the next decade with the Boars.

Control issues plagued Tagilov early, leading the Asian League in walks in both 1992 and 1993. While he never had good control, he would become more “effectively wild” as he gained experience. Ulaanbaatar was still a bottom rung team in Tagilov’s early years, as they wouldn’t post a winning season between 1989-1997.

Tagilov was on a strong run in 1997, but missed the final month to bone chips in his elbow. He bounced back excellently, winning Pitcher of the Year in 1998. Tagilov led in wins (23-7), complete games (28), and shutouts (9), while adding a 1.64 ERA over 279.1 innings, 281 strikeouts, and 6.8 WAR. Among the shutouts was a no-hitter on June 18 against Baku with 14 strikeouts and two walks.

Ulaanbaatar ended a 13-year playoff drought in 1998, earning the Asian League’s top seed at 101-61. The Boars made it to the ALCS, but lost to Tashkent. Tagilov held up his end with a 1.82 ERA over 29.2 playoff innings with 41 strikeouts. Now 30-years old, Tagilov signed a four-year, $10,000,000 extension in the winter with Ulaanbaatar.

Despite his lengthy stay in Mongolia, Tagilov would return home to Kazakhstan for the World Baseball Championship. From 1992-2005, Tagilov had 139 innings, a 3.76 ERA, 5-10 record, 6 saves, 168 strikeouts, 84 walks, 95 ERA+, and 1.6 WAR.

Unfortunately, Ulaanbaatar collapsed to 61-101 in 1999 and wouldn’t post a winning season again until 2008. Tagilov had three more solid seasons with the Boars and finished with a 149-127 record, 2.66 ERA, 2768.1 innings, 2727 strikeouts, 847 walks, 109 ERA+, and 51.3 WAR. Ulaanbaatar would eventually retire his #38 uniform as well.

With one year left on his deal, Tagilov was traded by Ulaanbaatar in November 2001 to Minsk for three prospects. The Miners had won back-to-back EPB titles and wanted to keep a dynasty run going. Tagilov had a banner year with a career and league best 1.59 ERA over 220.2 innings. He took second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Tagilov posted an unremarkable 4.22 ERA in 10.2 playoff innings, but earned a ring as Minsk won a third straight EPB Championship.

Tagilov was now a free agent for the first time at age 34. He signed a four-year, $6,640,000 deal with Volgograd, who joined EPB in 2000 as an expansion team. Tagilov had a nice debut season, leading the European League in complete games (24), shutouts (6), and innings (301.2). He also posted a career-high in strikeouts at 314.

2004 was solid as well for Tagilov, but he looked merely okay in the front end of 2005. In late June, bone chips in his elbow ended his season. Tagilov didn’t meet the vesting criteria for his fourth season with the Voyagers. In total for Volgograd, Tagilov had a 30-44 record, 2.57 ERA, 693 innings, 651 strikeouts, 149 walks, 104 ERA+, and 12.9 WAR.

Now 37-years old, Tagilov signed with Yekaterinburg on a one-year, $2,080,000 deal. Elbow troubles cost him part of the season, plus his velocity dropped to the low 90s. He only tossed 18 innings for the Yaks and retired that winter at age 38.

Tagilov finished with a 196-177 record, 2.58 ERA, 3700 innings, 3619 strikeouts, 1048 walks, 315/437 quality starts, 237 complete games, 53 shutouts, 111 ERA+, and 68.2 WAR. Advanced stats aren’t high on him, especially with the walks. Tagilov only ranks 90<sup>th</sup> in pitching WAR as of 2037. He also sits 57<sup>th</sup> in strikeouts, 17<sup>th</sup> in complete games, and 11<sup>th</sup> in shutouts.

His ERA doesn’t look out of place compared to some other Hall of Famers in EPB. EPB voters are pitcher-friendly and felt that Tagilov’s resume was plenty good. One ERA title and a Pitcher of the Year goes a long way. Tagilov got 79.0% for a first ballot induction with EPB’s 2012 class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-26-2024 06:53 PM

2012 OBA Hall of Fame

https://i.imgur.com/8mV5uOs.png

Two first-ballot guys earned induction for the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2012. Pitcher Jim DeRossi (97.6%) and shortstop Woody Bolling (87.7%) earned their spots among the greats. SP Kurt Sanders came close in his eighth ballot at 62.3%, just missing the 66% requirement. Also above 50% were CF Mario Harris (56.5%, 4<sup>th</sup>), CF Jonathan Buai (55.0%, 7<sup>th</sup>), and RF Will Lee (53.5%, 5<sup>th</sup>). No one was dropped after ten failed ballots.

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

Jim DeRossi – Starting Pitcher – Sydney Snakes – 97.6% First Ballot

Jim DeRossi was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Coffs Harbour, Australia; a city of 78,000 inhabitants in New South Wales. DeRossi had great control despite having very high velocity. His stuff and movement both graded as strong, led with a 99-101 mph cutter. DeRossi also had a quick slider and knew how to change speeds with his changeup.

DeRossi had tremendous stamina and was durable for most of his career, leading the Australasia League eight times in innings pitched and seven times in complete games. He also was considered a solid defensive pitcher that could effectively hold runners. DeRossi was very intelligent, allowing him to maximize his arsenal and pitch efficiently.

By the 1993 OBA Draft, DeRossi was considered by many to be the top Australian prospect. He was picked second overall by Sydney, who used him as a closer in his rookie season with 35 saves over 84 innings. DeRossi was a starter from year two onward, leading in innings and complete games for the first time in 1995. By his third season, he was the leading pitcher in WAR.

In 1997, DeRossi was the AL leader in WAR (10.2), K/BB (9.2), innings (328.2), complete games (20), and shutouts (7). He also posted a 2.38 ERA, 140 ERA+, and 366 strikeouts; earning Pitcher of the Year. Sydney also snapped a decade-plus streak of losing seasons, finishing second at 88-74. The Snakes had been a historically inept franchise at that point and there was hope that DeRossi could turn things around.

DeRossi signed a four-year, $7,940,000 extension after the 1997 season. Sydney would hover around .500 for the rest of his tenure plus or minus three or four games. DeRossi never got to play for an OBA title, but he did compete on the World Baseball Championship stage for Australia. From 1995-2006, DeRossi had a 3.10 ERA over 189 innings, 13-9 record, 232 strikeouts, 40 walks, 116 ERA+, and 4.8 WAR.

1999 was a career year and a historic one for DeRossi, posting league and career bests in wins (30-8), ERA (1.61), WHIP (0.78), K/BB (13.7), quality starts (31), complete games (26), and WAR (10.7). 30 wins tied the world record set by OBA’s Nathaniel Doloran in 1974 and the ERA mark ranks 13<sup>th</sup> best in an OBA season as of 2037. DeRossi also had a career high 369 strikeouts, earning his second Pitcher of the Year and a third place in MVP voting.

DeRossi led in wins, innings, strikeouts, WHIP, quality starts, complete games and shutouts in 2000 for his third POTY. He led in Ks, innings, and complete games again in 2001, finishing third in voting. That summer, the 30-year old DeRossi signed a seven-year, $23,520,000 extension to keep him in Sydney for the long haul.

In 2002, DeRossi became a Triple Crown winner and four-time Pitcher of the Year with a 19-13 record, 2.62 ERA, and 351 strikeouts. He also led in WHIP for the third time and WAR for the fourth time, while again having the most complete games, innings, and shutouts. As of 2037, he is one of seven in OBA history to win Pitcher of the Year four or more times.

DeRossi finished third in 2003 POTY voting and led again in innings in2 004, although his ERA went up noticeably and his strikeouts dropped. His life would change in spring training 2005, suffering a torn rotator cuff on March 11. DeRossi missed the entire 2005 season, but was determined to make a comeback in 2006.

Sadly, his stuff took a noticeable drop after the injury, although he still had good enough control to be decent. Torn biceps cost him most of the front end of 2006. DeRossi decided to retire that winter at age 35 and Sydney immediately honored him by retiring his #4 uniform.

DeRossi ended with a 210-170 record, 2.84 ERA, 3487 innings, 3421 strikeouts, 526 walks, 290/420 quality starts, 193 complete games, 37 shutouts, 125 ERA+, and 81.0 WAR. The abrupt end to his career limited his spot on the accumulation leaderboards, but as of 2037 he’s still fifth all-time in complete games. He also ranks 21<sup>st</sup> in pitching WAR, 28<sup>th</sup> in strikeouts, and 25<sup>th</sup> in wins.

Perhaps because he was with some mid Sydney teams, DeRossi’s name doesn’t come up as much as other OBA aces in the all-time conversations. But four POTYs and a Triple Crown make you an easy Hall of Fame lock. DeRossi was one of Australia’s finest-ever pitchers, headlining the 2012 class at 97.6%.

https://i.imgur.com/y8c5zqh.png

Woody Bolling – Shortstop – Gold Coast Kangaroos – 87.8% First Ballot

Woody Bolling was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed shortstop from Nerang, Australia; a suburb of Gold Coast with 17,000 people. Bolling was a very solid contact hitter with an above average eye for walks and avoiding strikeouts. His gap and home run power were unspectacular, but still decent. Over a 162 game average, Bolling got you 21 homers, 26 doubles, and 9 triples. He was sneaky good at stealing bases despite having merely average speed.

Bolling was a career shortstop and was an excellent defender. He only won a single Gold Glove since he shared a league with ten-time winner and legendary gloveman Jay Lawrence. However, Bolling was reliably great and ranks fourth in shortstop zone rating as of 2037 in OBA. Bolling dealt with some major injuries, but managed to play 21 years at a very demanding spot. He was very popular with fans and was known as a prankster in the clubhouse.

Growing up around Gold Coast, his potential quickly got noticed during his high school years. The Kangaroos signed him to a developmental deal in November 1984 and he’d ultimately play his entire OBA career with his hometown team. Bolling officially debuted in 1989 at age 20, but he only saw 22 games and 8 starts in 1989 and 1990. He did see two plate appearances in the 1989 OBA Championship, which was sadly his only time playing in the final.

He started 110 games in 1991, winning his first Silver Slugger despite missing some time. Bolling won six straight Silver Slugger from 1991-96, then won again in 1998 and 1999. He placed third in 1993 MVP voting and ended up topping 8+ WAR in six different seasons.

In September 1993, Bolling inked an eight-year, $10,520,000 extension with the Kangaroos. Gold Coast was rarely bad during his time as a starter, but they were stuck in the middle tier, averaging 81.2 wins per season. Bolling was a reason to come to the ballpark in the 1990s and 2000s and would see his #24 uniform retired by the franchise.

Bolling became a very popular hometown player and one adored throughout all of Australia. He played for the national team from 1992-2007 in the World Baseball Championship with 109 games and 98 starts. In that run, he had 92 hits, 45 runs, 16 doubles, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 26 stolen bases, a .243/.279/.426 slash, 101 wRC+, and 1.2 WAR.

A strained hamstring cost Bolling six weeks in 1995, but he still was the lead leader in batting average (.331), wRC+ (170), and WAR (9.0), earning Australasia League MVP honors. After a strong 1996, Bolling would miss the entirety of the 1997 season to a torn PCL suffered in spring training. He would bounce back with the two best seasons of his career.

In 1998 and 1999, Bolling led both years in WAR and batting average. The 11.1 and 11.0 WAR seasons got him back-to-back MVPs, which wasn’t easy for a guy without big power numbers. He did lead in hits and RBI in 1999 and saw a career-best 28 home runs in 1998. The next two seasons would be frustrating for Bolling as hamstring issues caused him to miss significant time.

Still, Gold Coast gave him a five-year, $13,800,000 extension in March 2001 at age 32. Bolling would take third in MVP voting in 2002, leading in WAR for the fourth time. He won his ninth and final Silver Slugger in 2006 and his lone Gold Glove in 2005. Bolling’s batting numbers waned a bit in his later years, but he was still starter quality and provided great defense.

In his final season with Gold Coast, hamstring issues again put Bolling out for much of the year. His contract expired after the 2006 campaign, making Bolling a free agent for the first time at age 38. His popularity and reputation earned him a look at Major League Baseball. Bolling secured the bag with a three-year, $30,900,000 deal with Austin.

A strained hamstring cost him three months of 2007, although Bolling looked terrible when healthy. He was passable in 2008, but posted negative value in 2009 and dealt with injuries in both years. With Austin, Bolling had 228 hits in 298 games, 104 runs, 37 doubles, 22 home runs, 104 RBI, a .217/.268/.327 slash, 73 wRC+, and 0.6 WAR.

Despite those struggles, Omaha gave him a look in 2010 where he posted 0.7 WAR over 52 games and 22 starts. Bolling signed a minor league deal with Jackson, but only played three games before suffering a torn PCL. That effectively ended Bolling’s career at age 43.

For his OBA run with Gold Coast, Bolling had 2362 hits, 1057 runs, 349 doubles, 127 triples, 281 home runs, 1118 RBI, 418 stolen bases, a .299/.334/.482 slash, 138 wRC+, and 105.1 WAR. The defensive value especially made Bolling important and he ranks sixth in WAR among OBA position players.

His hitting accumulations aren’t high on the general leaderboards, but among shortstops he is the all-time leader in 2037 in WAR, homers, RBI, hits, total bases, and runs. Most still rightly have Jimmy Caliw above him as the best-ever hitter at the position, but Caliw did split his career between short and second base.

Specifically at shortstop, Bolling’s nine Silver Sluggers is the OBA position record. He’s also one of only 13 OBA players to win MVP thrice. Bolling certainly gets quickly mentioned when discussing OBA’s best-ever shortstops. At 87.8%, he was a first ballot Hall of Famer in the 2012 class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-27-2024 06:12 AM

2012 APB Hall of Fame

Two pitchers received first ballot Hall of Fame inductions in 2012 from Austronesia Professional Baseball. Heng-Hsiao Liao was nearly unanimous at 97.8%, while Franklin Sto. Tomas only narrowly crossed the 66% requirement at 67.5%. Closer Chang-Heng Chang came painfully short with 65.6% on his fourth ballot. RF Basuki Sustanti wasn’t far away either at 60.8% on his second ballot. Also above 50% was CF Fransisco Hartati debuting with 51.0%.

https://i.imgur.com/Idw4Jro.png

Pitcher Resky Hadi lasted ten ballots and got as high as 40.5% in 2009 before ending at a lousy 4.8%. He had a 15-year career with five times, posting a 167-140 record, 2.22 ERA, 3024.2 innings, 3228 strikeouts, 592 walks, 109 ERA+, and 54.9 WAR. Hadi had no black ink, awards, or playoff notables; thus (rightfully) condemning him to the Hall of Good.

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

Heng-Hsiao “Rags” Liao – Starting Pitcher – Taoyuan Tsunami – 97.8% First Ballot

Heng-Hsiao Liao was a 6’6’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from the capital of Taiwan, Taipei. Liao had excellent movement on his pitches, along with good to sometimes great stuff and control. He had a 96-98 mph cutter as his hardest pitch, but Liao’s forkball, changeup, and curveball were often more dangerous.

Compared to most APB aces, Liao’s stamina was considered merely average. However, he had excellent durability over his 19 year career, becoming one of eight APB pitchers with 4000+ career innings. Liao was a gamer, known for his sparkplug work ethic and adaptability.

Liao emerged as a top prospect even as he attended Taipei’s Gubao High School. He was a rare high school draft pick, selected 10<sup>th</sup> overall in the 1985 APB Draft by Taoyuan. He officially debuted in 1988 at age 20 with 41.1 innings. The Tsunami moved him into the rotation full-time in 1989, a role he kept for the next 13 seasons for Taoyuan. His first full season was iffy, leading the Taiwan-Philippine Association in losses.

His first few years were respectable, but Liao emerged as a true ace by 1993, which was his first of eight seasons worth 6+ WAR. Liao helped turn things around for Taoyuan, who had bottomed out at 58-104 in 1988. 1993 was their first winning season in a decade and they’d become Taiwan’s top team in the mid 1990s.

In 1994, Liao tossed a no-hitter on May 26 with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks against Tainan. Taoyuan would win the TPA Championship over Davao, but lose to Bandung in the Austronesian Championship. In 1995, Liao had a second no-hitter, this time on May 11 with eight strikeouts and 1 walk against Davao. The Tsunami won the Taiwan League again, but lost the Association final to the Devil Rays. Now 28-years old, Taoyuan gave Liao a six-year, $14,520,000 extension in March 1996.

The next two seasons saw back-to-back APB Championship wins for Taoyuan, besting Singapore in the 1996 final and Batam in the 1997 edition. Liao had a career and TPA-best 1.44 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 1996, earning Pitcher of the Year. In 1997, he was especially dominant in the playoffs, going 3-0 in 21.1 innings with an 0.84 ERA and 26 strikeouts.

For his playoff career with Taoyuan, Liao had a 6-1 record, 1.93 ERA, 65.1 innings, 67 strikeouts, and 145 ERA+. His role in their championships led to his #12 uniform later being retired. Liao also pitched from 1991-98 in the World Baseball Championship for Taiwan, posting a 9-2 record over 124.1 innings, 2.82 ERA, 135 strikeouts, 127 ERA+, and 2.4 WAR.

Taoyuan would finish just above .500 from 1998-2000, then fall towards the bottom of the standings for five years after that. Liao chugged along, even throwing his third no-hitter on June 27, 2001 with nine strikeouts and two walks versus Davao. As of 2037, Liao is one of 17 APB pitchers with three or more no-hitters in their career.

With Taoyuan, Liao finished with an 180-148 record, 2.25 ERA, 3212 innings, 3276 strikeouts, 630 walks, 123 ERA+, and 77.3 WAR. Liao had one year left on his deal after the 2001 season, which saw the Tsunami fall to 69-93. Looking to begin a rebuild, Taoyuan traded a 34-year old Liao to Kaohsiung for outfielders Tung-Hua Yu and Jing-Ren Lai.

Liao’s one year with the Steelheads was impressive, leading in ERA (1.66) and WHIP (0.80) for the second time in his career. He placed second in POTY voting with a 5.7 WAR effort. Kaohsiung finished one game behind Tainan for the Taiwan League title. Now a free agent at age 35, Liao’s stock was still high. He ended up going to the Titans on a three-year, $14,040,000 deal.

Tainan won the Taiwan League all three years Liao was there, but couldn’t get the pennant. He had a 3.52 ERA over his 15.1 playoff innings. Liao was still a solid starter in the first two years, although he was switched to a hybrid starter/relief role in his final season. For Tainan, Liao had a 42-29 record, 2.52 ERA, 671.1 innings, 724 strikeouts, 112 ERA+, and 15.3 WAR. With the Titans, Liao also became the 13<sup>th</sup> APB pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts.

Next up, Liao signed a two-year, $8,560,000 deal with Taichung. He was limited to a part-time role, but still had 2.1 WAR over 153 innings, a 2.29 ERA and 126 ERA+ in 2006. Liao decided to retire after the 2006 season at age 39.

For his full run, Liao had a 243-193 record, 2.26 ERA, 4280 innings, 4358 strikeouts, 826 walks, 0.94 WHIP, 416/557 quality starts, 123 ERA+, 107 complete games, and 100.4 WAR. For his playoff career, Liao had a 7-2 record, 2.23 ERA, 80.2 innings, 77 strikeouts, 17 walks, 126 ERA+, and 1.6 WAR.

As of 2037, Liao ranked 15<sup>th</sup> in pitching WAR, 14<sup>th</sup> in strikeouts, 8<sup>th</sup> in wins, and 5<sup>th</sup> in innings pitched. He wasn’t often considered the tip-top pitcher during his career, but Liao was reliably strong for almost two decades and helped Taoyuan to a dynasty run. Thus, Liao was a lock for the 2012 APB Hall of Fame class, headlining at 97.8%.

https://i.imgur.com/mInc9bY.png

Franklin Sto. Tomas – Starting Pitcher – Palembang Panthers – 67.5% First Ballot

Franklin Sto. Tomas was a 6’2’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from San Fernando, Philippines; located in the regional center of Central Luzon with 354,000 people. Sto. Tomas had very good movement on his pitches along with above average stuff and respectable control. His fastball topped out at 93-95 mph, but he expertly fooled hitters with his changeup. Sto. Tomas also had a curveball in his arsenal and saw an extreme groundball tendency.

Sto. Tomas had excellent stamina and was very durable until a labrum tear in his mid 30s. From 1992-2002, he tossed 260+ innings each season. Sto. Tomas was a poor defensive pitcher, but was an okay hitter for a pitcher. He won a Silver Slugger in 1998 with a .250 average and finished with a .173 career batting average. Teammates and coaches appreciated Sto. Tomas’s loyalty throughout his career.

In April 1985, a young Sto. Tomas was spotted and signed by Palembang to a developmental deal. He spent most of six years in the academy, officially debuting with one inning of relief in 1990 at age 21. Sto. Tomas was a part-time starter in 1991 and became a full-timer from 1992 onward. 1993 was a strong year with a career-best 1.61 ERA, leading the Sundaland Association in complete games (18) and shutouts (7).

Sto. Tomas regressed with a lackluster 1994, but bounced back with reliable consistency for the next six years for Palembang. He led in quality starts and innings in 1998, but otherwise wasn’t a league-leader. Sto. Tomas also never was a Pitcher of the Year finalist, although he did top 5+ WAR four times for the Panthers. It wasn’t easy to get noticed as Palembang was generally mediocre in his run. They averaged 76.3 wins per season during Sto. Tomas’s tenure with no playoff berths and only three winning seasons.

The highlight of Sto. Tomas’s run came on July 18 1997, as he threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and 1 walk against Depok. Palembang gave him a three-year, $7,440,000 extension in April 1998. With the Panthers, Sto. Tomas had a 139-128 record, 2.27 ERA, 2607.1 innings, 2457 strikeouts, 572 walks, 253/310 quality starts, 144 complete games, 35 shutouts, 112 ERA+, and 38.8 WAR.

Although the bulk of his pro career came in Indonesia, Sto. Tomas did pitch for his native Philippines from 1996-2005 in the World Baseball Championship. Over 135.2 WBC innings, he had a 9-4 record, 3.65 ERA, 135.2 innings, 151 strikeouts, 47 walks, 99 ERA+, and 1.8 WAR.

Sto. Tomas was 32-years old after the 2000 season with a year remaining on his contract. Palembang opted to trade him and 2B Tony Lacbawan to Tainan for three prospects. Sto. Tomas had one okay season with the Titans with an 89 ERA+, but his ability to eat innings still made him worth 4.6 WAR.

He entered free agency for the first time and returned to his home country, signing a five-year, $16,200,000 deal with Davao. Sto. Tomas helped out in a turnaround 2002 season for the Devil Rays, who went from 67 wins to 94. They ended a six-year stretch of losing seasons and won the Taiwan-Philippine Association pennant. Davao lost to Semarang in the Austronesia Championship. Sto. Tomas had a 2.23 ERA over 32.1 playoff innings with 28 strikeouts.

Unfortunately, Sto. Tomas’s Davao run peaked there thanks to a torn labrum suffered in his sixth start of 2003. He looked subpar in his 2004 return effort and was traded to Jakarta near the deadline for two prospects. With the Devil Rays, Sto. Tomas had a 29-17 record, 2.56 ERA, 443.1 innings, 406 strikeouts, and 6.1 WAR.

It ended up being an important acquisition for Jakarta, who earned their first playoff berth since 1993. Although Sto. Tomas wasn’t great in the regular season, he stepped up in the playoffs, going 3-0 over 22.2 innings with a 1.59 ERA. This helped the Jaguars win the APB Championship against Zamboanga.

That was the last hurrah for Sto. Tomas. A second torn labrum kept him out almost all of 2005 and he only saw 17.2 innings of relief in 2006. He only had 112 innings total for Jakarta with a 3.05 ERA and 1.7 WAR. Sto. Tomas went unsigned in 2007 and retired in the winter at age 39.

Sto. Tomas’s career numbers saw a 189-166 record, 2.39 ERA, 3442.2 innings, 3225 strikeouts, 765 walks, 327/411 quality starts, 174 complete games, 108 ERA+, and 51.2 WAR. His career tallies are relatively unremarkable and as of 2037, he doesn’t crack the top 100 in pitching WAR. He ranks 41<sup>st</sup> in wins and 59<sup>th</sup> in strikeouts. By any measure, he was very much a borderline case.

Additionally, Sto. Tomas was never a Pitcher of the Year candidate and lacked black ink outside of innings pitched. Still, APB voters were very pitcher-friendly and his heroics in the 2004 playoffs for Jakarta’s championship team was still a fairly recent memory. Sto. Tomas got 67.5% on his ballot debut, just enough to cross the 66% requirement for induction in the 2012 APB Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-27-2024 02:23 PM

2012 CLB Hall of Fame

FuzzyRussianHat

08-27-2024 07:15 PM

2012 WAB Hall of Fame

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

West African Baseball added two players into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Both guys were first ballot picks with LF Amewu Murry at 80.3% and 2B Korian Idi at 79.6%. No one else breached 50% with the top returner being closer Corliss Ganiyu at 46.5% on his seventh try. No players were removed from the ballot after ten failed tries.

https://i.imgur.com/zAZ5R2Q.png

Amewu Murry – Left Field – Kano Condors – 80.3% First Ballot

Amewu Murry was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch-hitting outfielder from Nkawkaw, Ghana; a town in the country’s south with 61,000 inhabitants. Murry was a tremendous contact hitter, ranking as a 9/10 for much of his career. He also had a good eye for drawing walks with a respectable strikeout rate. Murry had a nice pop in his bat, topping 30+ home runs five times and 30+ doubles six times. Although a great batter, Murry was a very slow and sluggish baserunner.

He also had pitiful range in the outfield, although he at least had respectable arm strength. Murry made around 3/5s of his starts in left field with the remainder split between right field and first base. He graded as an abysmal defender at every spot. Injuries also were a recurring issue, although his work ethic still meant Murry grinded his way to a 19-year pro career. His bat, work ethic, and loyalty made Murry a fan favorite throughout his run.

Murry quickly rose through the amateur ranks and was considered by many to be the best batter entering the 1992 WAB Draft. He was picked #2 overall by Kano, who was coming off four straight seasons with 64 or fewer wins. Murry would be one of the catalysts to return the Condors to the top, establishing an all-time great dynasty in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Murry started immediately, taking third in 1993’s Rookie of the Year voting. Injuries cost Murry two months of the 1994 campaign, but Kano earned back-to-back winning seasons to start his run. 1995 would begin a 12-year playoff streak for the Condors, who advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series in all 12 seasons. Murry led in OBP in 1995 at .422 and had his first of five 8+ WAR seasons. He won his first Silver Slugger and was second in MVP voting.

A torn groin muscle cost Murry the majority of the 1996 season. Kano suffered back-to-back ELCS defeats in 1995 and 1996. Then in 1997, the dynasty began, starting a historic streak of nine straight Eastern League pennants. Murry was an indispensible part of the early dynasty, as Kano won three straight WAB Championships from 1997-99, peaking with a 123-win 1999 campaign. The Condors won a record 125 games in 2000, but were upset by Abidjan in the WAB Championship.

From 1997-2000, Murry led each season in batting average, peaking with .386 in 1998. He also had a wRC+ above 200, 8+ WAR, and an OPS above one each year. Murry led in OBP in both 1999 and 2000. He also led in doubles in 1997, RBI in 1998, and hits in 1999. Murry won four straight Silver Sluggers and finished second in MVP voting all four seasons.

Murry was also a critical piece in the playoffs, winning WAB Championship MVP in both 1998 and 1999. In that stretch, he had 2.3 WAR over 37 starts with 50 hits, 25 runs, 17 doubles, 8 home runs, and 22 RBI. In March 1999, Kano locked him in with a seven-year, $19,400,000 extension. Murry had become a beloved favorite playing for the Condors in Nigeria.

The popularity extended back to his home country Ghana. Murry represented Ghana from 1994-2010 in the World Baseball Championship with 156 starts, posting 152 hits, 83 runs, 31 doubles, 32 home runs, 91 RBI, a .277/.383/.508 slash, 161 wRC+, and 7.3 WAR. Ghana saw its first-ever division titles in 1995 and 1997. As of 2037, Murry leads all Ghanaians in WBC runs, doubles, home runs, RBI, and WAR.

Murry would start to physically break down in his early 30s. He missed the entire 2001 season to a torn PCL in his left knee. Murry played 29 games in 2002 before tearing the PCL in his right knee. Various injuries limited him to 46 games in 2003, while a fractured ankle cost him three months in 2004.

Kano’s win totals weren’t as dominant as in Murry’s prime, but the loaded franchise still kept the dynasty rolling. They won three straight WAB titles from 2001-03. Murry played two games in the 2003 run, but was there for the entire 2004 playoffs. Although they lost the WAB Championship that year to Kumasi, Murry won his third finals MVP, a feat achieved by very few players in any world league.

Murry played 109 games in 2005, the most he had managed since 2000, and still looked quite solid when healthy. He had another strong playoff run, helping Kano win the title over Monrovia. In total, the Condors had nine straight finals appearances and came away with seven rings. Murry officially had six, as he didn’t qualify in 2001 as he played zero games.

In his playoff career, Murry had 70 starts, 95 hits, 50 runs, 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 54 RBI, a .351/.417/.624 slash, 197 wRC+, and 4.4 WAR. As of 2037, Murry ranked fifth all-time in WAB playoff hits, eighth in runs, second in doubles, and 11<sup>th</sup> in home runs. He was the doubles leader until finally passed by Junior Jose in the 2030s.

With the injuries though, Kano decided to buy out the remainder of his contract after the 2005 season. That made Murry a free agent for the first time at age 36 and ultimately ended his WAB career. He remained a beloved fan favorite and his #26 uniform was eventually retired by the Condors for his role in the dynasty.

Murry still had suitors and ended up in Germany, signing a three-year, $15,900,000 with EBF’s Hamburg. He missed almost all of 2006 to injury, but was solid starting around 3/4s of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The Hammers made the playoffs twice, but lost both times in the first round. In 277 games, Murry had 313 hits, 162 runs, 55 doubles, 43 home runs, 158 RBI, a .330/.411/.545 slash, 161 wRC+, and 8.0 WAR.

Now 39-years old and a free agent again, Murry stayed in Europe on a three-year, $14,560,000 deal with Valencia. Torn ankle ligaments cost him most of 2009 and the Vandals got relegated to the European Second League. Murry was respectable in 108 games in 2010, giving him 2.9 WAR over 170 games with Valencia.

Murry played one more year in the Second League, signing for 2011 with Nottingham. He again missed some time to injury, but also got relegated to a bench role. Murry retired that winter at age 42, finishing his combined pro career with 2236 hits, 1154 runs, 443 doubles, 365 home runs, 1184 RBI, a .339/.407/.582 slash, 180 wRC+, and 79.2 WAR.

With just Kano in WAB, Murry had 1709 hits, 903 runs, 347 doubles, 300 home runs, 927 RBI, a .354/.415/.621 slash, 192 wRC+, and 67.1 WAR. The 192 wRC+ proves he was absolutely elite. Among all WAB hitters with 3000 plate appearances in 2037, Murry ranks sixth in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, 20<sup>th</sup> in slugging, and eighth in OPS. At retirement, he was the all-time leader in average and OBP and second in OPS.

The injuries keep Murry outside of the top 100 of most of the counting stats, although he still ranks 32<sup>nd</sup> in WAR among position players. Had he stayed healthy, Murry might have ended up among the Hall of Fame’s inner-circle. There were a couple voters that held the low final tallies against him, giving him 80.3% on his debut ballot.

That still was enough to headline the 2012 WAB Hall of Fame class. Very few WAB hitters can match Murry’s offensive efficiency and few stepped up as big in the playoffs. Murry was an integral part in Kano’s dynasty, which ranks among the most impressive runs any team has had in any world league.

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

Korian “Fireball” Idi – Second Base – Freetown Foresters – 79.6% First Ballot

Korian Idi was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed second baseman from Tessaoua, a city of 43,000 in south central Niger. The nickname “Fireball” came from his blistering speed and base stealing ability. Idi was one of the great traditional leadoff hitters, known for great contact ability and avoiding strikeouts. Idi wasn’t one to draw many walks, but his high average still meant he led the league twice in on-base percentage.

Idi’s gap power was terrific and his speed regularly led to extra bases. He had 34 doubles and 20 triples in his 162 game average. Idi wasn’t going to go yard often, topping double-digit home runs only once. He was a career second baseman and graded as below average defensively, although he wasn’t a liability. Idi’s bat was far better than what you’d usually get at the position, making his defense acceptable.

With a strong work ethic, loyalty, and selflessness, Idi became a fan favorite his whole career. Injuries did limit him in his 30s, especially recurring back troubles. Still, Idi pulled off a 17-year career and became the first player from Niger to become a Hall of Famer. He also represented his country from 1991-2000 in the World Baseball Championship with 72 starts, 76 hits, 27 runs, 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 29 RBI, a .280/.338/.387 slash, 110 wRC+, and 1.6 WAR.

Idi’s entire WAB run would take place in Sierra Leone, getting picked 4<sup>th</sup> overall by Freetown in the 1987 WAB Draft. He wasn’t immediately thrown into the fire, spending all of 1988 on the reserve roster with only 9 games in 1989. Idi was a part-time starter in 1990, getting the full-time job in 1991. It was a strong debut as a full-timer, winning a Silver Slugger and leading the Western League in hits and triples.

In 1992, Idi posted an MVP season with a league-best 10.3 WAR, 101 stolen bases, .364 batting average, .404 OBP, 29 triples, and 29 hits. His WAR, 168 wRC+, .974 OPS, 101 steals, and 29 triples were all career highs. Idi also won his second Silver Slugger. Freetown finished with a winning record for a fourth straight season, but their playoff drought grew to 14 seasons.

The Foresters lost in the wild card round of 1993, but Idi missed most of the season to a damaged elbow ligament. He bounced back with an excellent 1994, leading in hits (232), triples (29), and average (.355). Idi set career bests in hits and runs (119), winning his third Silver Slugger. Freetown just missed the playoffs, but they felt Idi had them on the right track. At age 27, he signed an eight-year, $7,978,000 extension.

Back issues cost him a few weeks in 1995 and 1996, although he still led the latter season in batting average (.372) and OBP (.405); both career bests. Freetown made the playoffs in 1996 to start a streak of six straight WLCS appearances. Unfortunately for the Foresters, they went 0-6 in those tries. Idi was there for the first four, posting 25 playoff starts, 30 hits, 1 4runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 10 RBI, 10 stolen bases, a .319/.354/.426 slash, 115 wRC+, and 0.7 WAR.

Idi led in hits in 1997 and batting average in 1999. His fourth and final Silver Slugger came in 1997, which included a second place in MVP voting. Idi opted out of the remainder of his contract after the 1999 campaign, becoming a free agent at age 32. Some Freetown fans were disappointed that he left, abandoning a shot of a title run. Idi stayed very popular with most though and eventually had his #15 uniform retired.

Idi had international attention and inked a six-year, $40,800,000 Major League Baseball deal with Hartford. Injuries meant he never quite had a full season in what was a five-year tenure for the Huskies. Still, Idi was a reliable starter when healthy with 612 hits, 231 runs, 74 doubles, 52 triples, 15 home runs, 192 RBI, a .303/.338/.414 slash, 123 wRC+, and 13.2 WAR.

Hartford earned wild cards in 2002 and 2003, but had no luck during Idi ‘s run. After not reaching the vesting criteria for the sixth year of the deal, Idi was a free agent at age 37. His best year with Hartford was his last year in 2004 with a 4.0 WAR over 125 games and 98 starts.

Denver was hopeful for that production, giving Idi a one-year, $5,700,000 deal, but he was mediocre at best with -0.1 WAR and 89 wRC+ over 109 games and 82 starts. Idi still wanted to play and returned to WAB on a one-year deal with Port Harcourt.

The return season had two notable hitting streaks, one for 23 games and one for 29 games. Overall, it was a nice return season with 3.5 WAR over 125 games in 2006 for the Hillcats. Idi seemed like he could still go and provide positive value, but no one gave him a shot for 2007. He retired that winter at age 39.

For his entire pro baseball career, Idi had 2589 hits, 1131 runs, 410 doubles, 254 triples, 74 home runs, 874 RBI, 762 stolen bases, a .329/.363/.474 slash, 137 wRC+, and 76.7 WAR. Removing the six MLB seasons weakened his accumulations, finishing in WAB with 1889 hits, 873 runs, 325 doubles, 195 triples, 58 home runs, 652 RBI, 675 stolen bases, a .341/.374/.501 slash, 145 wRC+, and 63.5 WAR.

Like his Hall of Fame classmate Amewu Murry, Idi was outside of the top 100 of most of the big counting stats. That said, he still ranked as of 2037 41<sup>st</sup> in WAR among position players, 39<sup>th</sup> in stolen bases, and 25<sup>th</sup> in triples. His batting average also ranked 24<sup>th</sup> among all hitters with 3000+ plate appearances. Specifically at second base, Idi is second all-time in WAB and first in batting average.

Idi has to be on the shortlist of WAB’s top second basemen. Being a fan favorite as well also helped him overcome the lack of final accumulations for most voters. At 79.6%, Idi made the first ballot and joined the WAB Hall of Fame in 2012.

FuzzyRussianHat

08-28-2024 06:52 AM

2012 SAB Hall of Fame

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:17 AM.

Page 78 of 113

« First

Last »

Show 50 post(s) from this thread on one page