Hall Of Famer
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1924 Hall of Fame Class
Dave “Scuba” Douglas – Shortstop – Cincinnati Reds – 71.4 % (3rd Ballot)
Dave Douglas had a lengthy career even with most of his 20s coming in the pre-MLB era. The 6’0’’ 180 pounder from Dallas, Oregon was a right-handed bat who apart from a brief stint at third base and left field at the very end, played his entire career at shortstop. “Scuba” surprisingly only won the Gold Glove once despite a career Zone Rating of 136.8 over 1781 games at short. Five times he was named the best hitter at the position.
By the time Major League Baseball was officially formed for the 1901 season, Douglas was already 27 years old. But he was well known as a very solid all-around hitter, fielder, and leader. As such, Cincinnati used their first pick in the inaugural draft to choose Douglas; 24th overall.
Douglas played eight seasons with the Reds, leading the National Association in WAR in 1901, 1902, and 1905 as well as in runs in 1905. In 1908, Cincinnati had their first-ever playoff berth, falling in the NACS to St. Louis. That would be his last season as a Red as like many others, he chased the big money and allure of the Houston Hornets dynasty. He signed a four year, $15,520 deal at age 35 and played four years with the Hornets.
Douglas would be an integral starter for Houston as they won three straight World Series titles from 1910-1912. Douglas led the American Association with 139 runs in 1910 and 1911, posted a 10.1 WAR for his lone MVP season. During the three-peat, he had 57 playoff hits and 32 runs scored.
After 1912, now age 39, his contract was purchased by the Leon Lions of CABA, which was something allowed in the early days between the two organizations. He was respectable in his year there, but age caught up as he was traded to Haiti in 1914. He made a brief return in 1915 and 1916 to the majors with Atlanta and Las Vegas, but by this point, his days as a premier player was done.
For his MLB career, Douglas finished with 91.4 WAR, 2249 hits and 1392 runs scored with a .286 average and .374 OBP. An always solid defensive presence, reliable hitter, and team leader, Douglas earned his spot among the HOF greats.
Tom “Dash” Guillaume – Starting Pitcher – Phoenix Firebirds – 67.0% (7th Ballot)
The first Canadian inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, Tom Guillaume in rural Alberta. As he got older, the 5’7’’ 195 pound righty was introduced to baseball by some friends. A “fan favorite” personality type, Tom’s work ethic and adaptability made him a quick study despite not being exposed to the game much as a kid.
He was never a dominant pitcher, although his fastball did top out in the 96-98 range. But his stuff and movement were always respectable, his control solid, and his repertoire diverse, switching between a fastball, slider, changeup, splitter, and forkball.
Guillaume was 24-years old when the MLB was officially formed and was well enough liked and known locally in Alberta to get on the radar of the Calgary Cheetahs. In the inaugural draft, he was picked in the 10th round by Calgary; the 463rd player overall.
In his few months with the Cheetahs, he pitched an unremarkable 38.1 innings. In July of 1901, he was involved in a trade with Phoenix, sending a farm boy from rural Alberta to the heat of Arizona. The Firebirds put him in as a starter, but he finished his rookie year with a lousy 5.20 ERA, not exactly a guy seemingly destined for greatness.
The remaining 11 years of his MLB career would be with the Firebirds. He gradually worked on his craft, eventually making his way into an ace role for a team that made the playoffs each year from 1905 to 1910 after struggling in their first years. Tom led the American Association in wins in 1906, 1907, and 1910, while leading in WHIP in 1907.
That 1907 season was his lone Pitcher of the Year, going 27-5 with a 2.77 ERA over 282.1 innings, 42 walks, 224 strikeouts, and a 0.98 WHIP. In five postseason starts, he posted a 4-1 record, 1.77 ERA over 40.2 innings, helping lead Phoenix to their first World Series title. It would be the team’s only Association title in the run, suffering four knockouts in the AACS despite strong win-loss records. Guillaume was a solid playoff performer though, with a career 2.61 ERA in 17 playoff starts with 134.1 innings.
1911 was the end of Phoenix’s run at the top of the Western League and Tom saw a step drop-off in personal production in 1912 at age 35, retiring after that season.
Guillaume finished with a 193-124 record, 3.39 ERA over 2933 innings with 1984 strikeouts and a 56.3 WAR. He was rarely dominant, but a well-liked teammate and reliable starter with a few years atop the staff during a strong run for Phoenix. The lack of flash meant it took him seven tries on the Hall of Fame ballot to narrowly make the cut, but Guillaume found his spot in the Hall of Fame.
Baptiste “Matchbox” Timothee - Starting Pitcher – Havana Hurricanes – First Ballot (77.9%)
The first Central American Baseball Association Hall of Famer, Baptiste Timothee was the first great starting pitcher in the Caribbean League. Born in rural northern Haiti, the hard working Timothee was inducted to the game in his mid 20s and took to it. He had four pitches with a mid 90s fastball, strong slider and forkball, as well as a changeup. “Matchbox” was a right-handed arm, standing at 6’0’’, 200 pounds.
When CABA was officially formed, Timothee was already 28-years old, but his past barnstorming earned him a contract with the Havana Hurricanes. In the first year of CABA, Timothee was the Pitcher of the Year with a league-leading 11.9 WAR, a 23-6 record, 1.59 ERA, and 350 strikeouts. He had three great postseason starts to help the Hurricanes to the first Caribbean league title. The next year, Havana would take the CABA title as well. In 1912, Timothee had the second ever CABA perfect game, striking out 15 against Santo Domingo.
Timothee would again be Pitcher of the Year in 1913 and 1915, leading the Caribbean League in wins and ERA in both. His 1913 season was a 12.8 WAR season with a 1.44 ERA. In only six seasons in Cuba, Timothee had 59.2 WAR.
At age 34, Timothee left Havana and signed a five-year, $15,900 contract with Santo Domingo starting in 1917. Unfortunately, he suffered severe forearm inflammation in late May and missed four months. Timothee was back by the postseason and made two passable starts, helping the Dolphins win their first CABA championship and getting himself a second ring. After a forgettable 1918 season, Timothee retired at the age of 35.
His final numbers; 139-68, 2.25 ERA over 1942.1 innings with 2042 strikeouts and 61.1 WAR. His career was short, but his six years with Havana were among the strongest six consecutive seasons anyone would ever post in CABAs history. This was enough to earn him the honor as the first member of CABA’s Hall of Fame.
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