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FuzzyRussianHat · 04-03-2023, 06:33 AM

The East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame inducted two into the 1950 class, both on the first ballot around 85%; Closers Tokugoro Takahashi and Kazuo Ogiwara. Coming close but just short on his first attempt was SP Shinji Miizuguchi. Two others were above 50%; Ji-Hyun Kim and Kazuo Udagawa.

Kim was dropped after his 10^th ballot at 54.2% on the final go. In a field with a lot of closers, he was left out and peaked at 54.9% on his eighth ballot. The 1929 Reliever of the Year had 328 saves, 2.00 ERA, 1204 strikeouts, and 37.0 WAR over his EAB career with Chiba and Yongin. Combined with four seasons in MLB, he had 392 saves, but the two guys ahead of him in the class both had 400+ EAB saves. Also dropped after 10 tries was LF Toma Dobashi, who in 15 seasons with Pyongyang had five Silver Sluggers, 2561 hits, 1308 runs, 247 home runs, 1083 RBI, and 77.8 WAR. Solid numbers, especially since he started his EAB career at age 29. Yet, the lack of power numbers still kept him to no better than 34.8%.

Tokuguro Takahashi – Closer – Kyoto Kamikaze – 85.8% First Ballot

Tokugoro Takahashi was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Yao, part of Japan’s Osaka Prefecture. Takahashi threw hard with a stellar fastball regularly in the 99-101 mph range. He mixed it with a solid curveball and above average control and movement. He attended the University of Tokyo and was picked 30^th overall in the 1931 EAB Draft by Kyoto, where he’d spend his entire pro career.

Takahashi became the Kamikaze closer in his second season and maintained that role for the rest of his career. Although Kyoto struggled as a franchise and only made the playoffs once in his run, Takahashi was a solid constant and was beloved by the fans. His #12 would be the first jersey retired by the Kamikaze and he’d remain an ambassador for the franchise for many years after his playing career ended.

In 1938, he led Japan in saves at 44 and won his lone Reliever of the Year with a 1.23 ERA, 147 strikeouts, and 5.6 WAR. He was second for the award in 1939 and 1943 and took third in 1942. He became the second EAB pitcher to hit 400 career saves and would be one of seven to achieve the feat in the 20^th Century. He showed no signs of slowing down and many thought he could be the first to 500 saves, but a catastrophic torn labrum in August 1944 forced his retirement at age 35.

The final numbers for Takahashi; 416 saves and 484 shutdowns, a 1.81 ERA, 1037 innings, 1556 strikeouts, 212 walks, and 39.2 WAR. He was about as reliable as you could be out of the bullpen and was a bright light for a struggling franchise. Even those who generally shrug at relievers agreed that he was a worthy Hall of Fame choice, getting the nod at 85.8% on his first ballot.

Kazuo “Condor” Ogiwara – Closer – Hiroshima Hammerheads – 85.4% First Ballot

Kazuo Ogiwara was a 5’10’’, 190 pound left-handed closer from Nagareyama, a city in the northwestern corner of Japan’s Chiba Prefecture. He was known as an incredibly hard worker and well respected in the clubhouse. Ogiwara’s velocity topped out at 95-97 mph, but he had solid movement on both a fastball and slider, along with a rarely used changeup. He played college baseball at Tokyo’s Meiji University and was drafted by Hiroshima in the third round, 83^rd overall, in the 1930 EAB Draft.

Ogiwara spent a decade with the Hammerheads and was the closer in that entire run. Four times, he was deemed the best, winning Reliever of the Year in 1932, 36, 37, and 39. Ogiwara took second in 1938 and third in 1940. He led the league in saves twice and was a big part in Hiroshima’s first EAB title in 1939. He had five saves and a flawless ERA with 35 strikeouts over 15.1 postseason innings. In total with the Hammerheads, he had 362 saves, a 1.76 ERA, 1399 strikeouts over 875 innings, and 39.4 WAR. His #3 jersey would be the first retired by the franchise.

Hiroshima fell off after the 1939 title and began to rebuild, trading Ogiwara to Kawasaki at age 32 for the 1941 season. He again was a big playoff performer, picking up six saves with a 0.64 ERA over 14 innings as the Killer Whales won the 1941 EAB title. Disaster struck in spring training 1942 as Ogiwara suffered a torn UCL, putting him out for the entire season. He was a shell of himself in 1943 when he returned and was done as the closer. In 1944, he showed a resurgence as a setup man, but opted to retire at the end of that year at age 35.

His final statistics: 411 saves and 498 shutdowns, a 1.85 ERA, 1067.2 innings, 1670 strikeouts, and 45.3 WAR. By many metrics, a better player than his HOF classmate Takahashi. Both were excellent closers who were in the elite few to have 400+ EAB saves and both guys who saw injuries end their careers in their mid 30s. Ogiwara got in similarly on the first ballot at 85.4%.

04-03-2023, 06:33 AM	#218
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,915	1950 EAB Hall of Fame The East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame inducted two into the 1950 class, both on the first ballot around 85%; Closers Tokugoro Takahashi and Kazuo Ogiwara. Coming close but just short on his first attempt was SP Shinji Miizuguchi. Two others were above 50%; Ji-Hyun Kim and Kazuo Udagawa. Kim was dropped after his 10^th ballot at 54.2% on the final go. In a field with a lot of closers, he was left out and peaked at 54.9% on his eighth ballot. The 1929 Reliever of the Year had 328 saves, 2.00 ERA, 1204 strikeouts, and 37.0 WAR over his EAB career with Chiba and Yongin. Combined with four seasons in MLB, he had 392 saves, but the two guys ahead of him in the class both had 400+ EAB saves. Also dropped after 10 tries was LF Toma Dobashi, who in 15 seasons with Pyongyang had five Silver Sluggers, 2561 hits, 1308 runs, 247 home runs, 1083 RBI, and 77.8 WAR. Solid numbers, especially since he started his EAB career at age 29. Yet, the lack of power numbers still kept him to no better than 34.8%. Tokuguro Takahashi – Closer – Kyoto Kamikaze – 85.8% First Ballot Tokugoro Takahashi was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Yao, part of Japan’s Osaka Prefecture. Takahashi threw hard with a stellar fastball regularly in the 99-101 mph range. He mixed it with a solid curveball and above average control and movement. He attended the University of Tokyo and was picked 30^th overall in the 1931 EAB Draft by Kyoto, where he’d spend his entire pro career. Takahashi became the Kamikaze closer in his second season and maintained that role for the rest of his career. Although Kyoto struggled as a franchise and only made the playoffs once in his run, Takahashi was a solid constant and was beloved by the fans. His #12 would be the first jersey retired by the Kamikaze and he’d remain an ambassador for the franchise for many years after his playing career ended. In 1938, he led Japan in saves at 44 and won his lone Reliever of the Year with a 1.23 ERA, 147 strikeouts, and 5.6 WAR. He was second for the award in 1939 and 1943 and took third in 1942. He became the second EAB pitcher to hit 400 career saves and would be one of seven to achieve the feat in the 20^th Century. He showed no signs of slowing down and many thought he could be the first to 500 saves, but a catastrophic torn labrum in August 1944 forced his retirement at age 35. The final numbers for Takahashi; 416 saves and 484 shutdowns, a 1.81 ERA, 1037 innings, 1556 strikeouts, 212 walks, and 39.2 WAR. He was about as reliable as you could be out of the bullpen and was a bright light for a struggling franchise. Even those who generally shrug at relievers agreed that he was a worthy Hall of Fame choice, getting the nod at 85.8% on his first ballot. Kazuo “Condor” Ogiwara – Closer – Hiroshima Hammerheads – 85.4% First Ballot Kazuo Ogiwara was a 5’10’’, 190 pound left-handed closer from Nagareyama, a city in the northwestern corner of Japan’s Chiba Prefecture. He was known as an incredibly hard worker and well respected in the clubhouse. Ogiwara’s velocity topped out at 95-97 mph, but he had solid movement on both a fastball and slider, along with a rarely used changeup. He played college baseball at Tokyo’s Meiji University and was drafted by Hiroshima in the third round, 83^rd overall, in the 1930 EAB Draft. Ogiwara spent a decade with the Hammerheads and was the closer in that entire run. Four times, he was deemed the best, winning Reliever of the Year in 1932, 36, 37, and 39. Ogiwara took second in 1938 and third in 1940. He led the league in saves twice and was a big part in Hiroshima’s first EAB title in 1939. He had five saves and a flawless ERA with 35 strikeouts over 15.1 postseason innings. In total with the Hammerheads, he had 362 saves, a 1.76 ERA, 1399 strikeouts over 875 innings, and 39.4 WAR. His #3 jersey would be the first retired by the franchise. Hiroshima fell off after the 1939 title and began to rebuild, trading Ogiwara to Kawasaki at age 32 for the 1941 season. He again was a big playoff performer, picking up six saves with a 0.64 ERA over 14 innings as the Killer Whales won the 1941 EAB title. Disaster struck in spring training 1942 as Ogiwara suffered a torn UCL, putting him out for the entire season. He was a shell of himself in 1943 when he returned and was done as the closer. In 1944, he showed a resurgence as a setup man, but opted to retire at the end of that year at age 35. His final statistics: 411 saves and 498 shutdowns, a 1.85 ERA, 1067.2 innings, 1670 strikeouts, and 45.3 WAR. By many metrics, a better player than his HOF classmate Takahashi. Both were excellent closers who were in the elite few to have 400+ EAB saves and both guys who saw injuries end their careers in their mid 30s. Ogiwara got in similarly on the first ballot at 85.4%. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)