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FuzzyRussianHat · 04-18-2023, 07:37 AM

For the first time in the history of the Central American Baseball Association’s Hall of Fame, four players were inducted in one class. In the 1953 edition, 3B Jonny Lucero and SP Ward Wellman were no doubter first ballot guys at 98.3% and 94.6%, respectively. SP Hugo Aguilar made it at 73.5% on his third ballot, while C Chip Perez on his first go received 70.8%. No one else was above 50%.

Two players were dropped after their 10^th attempt at the HOF. SP Sebastian Fernandez had a 15-year career with a 191-170 record, 3.28 ERA, 3183 strikeouts, and 60.5 WAR with Haiti and five other teams. Solid, but generally a “Hall of Very Good” level guy who peaked at 31.1% on his first ballot. Another SP, Livingstone Dixon in a 10-year CABA run mostly with Santiago had a 146-88 record, 2.97 ERA, 2324 strikeouts and 54.1 WAR. A good decade, but not enough longevity or dominance to get in. He peaked at 29.6% on his debut.

Jonny “Worm” Lucero – Third Base/Shortstop – Haiti Herons – 98.3% First Ballot

Jonny Lucero was a 6’0’’, 205 pound switch-hitting infielder from Luquillo, a small northeastern coastal town in Puerto Rico. Lucero was an elite CABA hitter with great contact ability and home run power. He was excellent at drawing walks, leading the league in walks and OBP five times. Still, he struck out more than most and was at his quickest, a slightly below average baserunner. Lucero made about 2/3 of his career starts at third base and the other 1/3 at shortstop. He was generally viewed as around average defensively at 3B and below average at SS. Lucero was also a team captain and leader, well-liked by teammates and fans alike.

After amateur success in his native Puerto Rico, Lucero was picked seventh overall in the 1924 CABA Draft by Haiti. He immediately was a star, posting 7.2 WAR and earning Rookie of the Year, his first of 11 Silver Sluggers, and a second place MVP voting finish. The next year was his first MVP and a career best at 10.6 WAR. Lucero went on to win six MVPs, also taking it in 1927, 1929, 1930, 1932, and 1935. He led the Caribbean League in WAR five times, homes twice, runs twice, RBI once, and OPS four times.

Haiti was a lower-tier franchise for Lucero’s best years despite his efforts, but began to find success finally at the end of the 1930s. In 1937 and 1938, they won their first Caribbean League titles and in 1938, won the CABA Championship with Lucero earning series MVP. In that postseason, he had 21 hits, 11 runs, 3 home runs, and 11 RBI. His final Haiti stats were 2052 hits, 1138 runs, 494 home runs, 1237 RBI, a .297 average, and 103.1 WAR. His #43 uniform was retired, the first for the franchise.

After winning the CABA title at age 35, Lucero decided it was time to leave CABA as he left for the United States and signed with Miami. Back injuries put him out more than half of the year and he was done after season as a Mallard. Lucero went to Charlotte next for two seasons, then spent 1942 in Minneapolis. The Moose traded him to Hartford for 1943, followed by a free agent signing for 1944 with Montreal and for Memphis in 1945. He was never MVP level, but was still a solid starter when healthy, posting 23.5 WAR, 735 hits, 194 home runs, and 473 runs over his seven MLB seasons. Now in his 40s, he returned to CABA at age 43 with Monterrey for the 1946 season and Santo Domingo in 1947. He was able to get his 500^th career homer with the Matadors. A torn Achilles ended his 1947 and Lucero retired in the offseason at the age of 45.

For his entire professional career, he had 700 home runs, 128.7 WAR, 2852 hits, 1637 runs, and 1809 RBI. In CABA specifically, Lucero had 2098 hits, 1164 runs, 311 doubles, 506 home runs, 1271 RBI, 851 walks, a .296/.370/.571, and 105.2 WAR. At retirement, he was one of four CABA hitters with 100+ career WAR. Few hitters in the world were better than Lucero over his impressive 20+ year career and he’s an obvious first ballot choice at 98.3%.

Ward Wellman –Starting Pitcher – Mexico City Aztecs - 94.6% First Ballot

Ward Wellman was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed starting pitcher from San Francisco, California. At his peak, Wellman had 96-98 mph velocity and was known for excellent control and solid movement. He had a six pitch arsenal with a fastball, slider, curveball, changeup, knuckle curve, and splitter with the slider usually cited as the best pitch. Wellman was also considered a solid defensive pitcher and as a very durable and reliable player.

Wellman had a very unlikely path to being a CABA Hall of Famer. He attended Valley Christian High School in San Jose and was a rare high schooler picked in the MLB Draft, picked in the fourth round (185^th overall) by Ottawa in the 1928 draft. He struggled in the minor leagues, getting traded in summer 1931 to Brooklyn’s minor league. The Dodgers cut him after spring training 1932, followed by a two-day stint in Baltimore’s organization.

From there, he went south to Mexico City in late spring 1932 and was an alright reliever for the rest of that season. He was a decent starter in 1933 for the Aztecs, then it finally all clicked for him starting in 1934. For the next decade or so, he became an ace for Mexico City with 12 5+ WAR seasons and eight seasons at 6+ WAR. In 1936, he won the Pitcher of the Year, leading Mexico with a 1.72 ERA and 8.6 WAR. He won it again at age 34 in 1944. He was third in 1937 and second in 1945.

The Aztecs would become a dynasty in the 1930s and Wellman was a big part of that run. Mexico City won the Mexican League in 1934, 36, 40, and 45; and won the overall CABA title in 34, 36, and 45. In 17 postseason starts, Wellman was 10-4 with a 3.00 ERA over 114 innings with 103 strikeouts, only 14 walks, and 2.6 WAR. In 1945, he won the MLCS MVP and was seeing some of his best stats in his mid 30s. His #15 uniform would be retired after his career was over.

Wellman decided to return to the United States and give MLB another shot. With his CABA resume, Las Vegas gave the 37-year old Wellman a two-year deal. He wasn’t elite by any stretch, but was able to keep a spot in a rotation over five MLB seasons. He was with Las Vegas in 1947-48, Oakland in 1949, Cincinnati in 1950, and Oakland once more in 1951. In 1952, he was set to pitch for Cleveland, but a torn rotator cuff in spring training would end his career.

For his entire pro career, Wellman had a 299-180 record, 3.03 ERA, and 99.0 WAR. For his CABA run, he had a 247-126 record, 2.66 ERA, 3441 innings, 3356 strikeouts, 469 walks, 351 quality starts, and 88.4 WAR. He was able to become a legit ace for a decade and was the lead pitcher during Mexico City’s 1930s dynasty. Thus, Wellman deserves the first ballot induction he received at 94.6%.

Hugo Aguilar – Starting Pitcher – Tijuana Toros – 73.5% Third Ballot

Hugo Aguilar was a 5’11’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Victoria, a city in the northeastern Mexican city of Tamaulipas. Aguilar had 97-99 mph velocity and an impressive five-pitch arsenal led by a strong fastball. He added a curveball, forkball, changeup, and splitter and boasted respectable movement and control. Aguilar was also a good defensive pitcher, winning two Gold Gloves and was also known as a hard worker,

Aguilar was a highly sought-out prospect and would be picked first overall in the 1932 CABA Draft by Chihuahua. The Warriors were an abysmal franchise in the 1930s and Aguilar led the league in losses his first two seasons, but would start to show some promise. Before the 1937 season, Aguilar was traded to Tijuana for three prospects. This would be his most known run, playing six seasons with the Toros.

Aguilar finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting three straight seasons from 1938-40. He was one of the few redeeming parts for a struggling franchise, They finally ended a nearly two-decade playoff drought in 1940, but were one and done. Aguilar struggled in his one career postseason start, allowing five runs in three innings. He left for Haiti in free agency at age 33 for the 1943 season. He spent three seasons with the Herons, retiring after the 1945 campaign.

The final stats for Aguilar: 184-187, 3.01 ERA, 3422 innings, 3177 strikeouts, 698 walks, 281 quality starts, 136 complete games, and 63.9 WAR. He’d be the first and only starter in the CABA HOF with a losing record, although his lack of run support could be blamed for a lot of that. Despite that, there were enough voters who liked him and thought his resume was still solid enough. He barely missed the cut in his first two ballots and got over the hump at 73.5% on his third attempt. Aguilar isn’t at the top of the Hall of Fame leaderboards, but he’s in.

Chip Perez – Catcher – Juarez Jesters – 70.8% First Ballot

Chip Perez was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed catcher from San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a hitter, Perez had solid contact ability and strong pop in his bat. He was excellent at hitting doubles despite his slow speed and a reliable 20+ home run guy in his peak. He was okay at drawing walks and had some trouble with strike outs. At a very difficult position physically, he was a reliable 120-130 game starter for most of his run. Defensively, he was also considered elite, winning five Gold Gloves. A hard working intelligent guy, Perez was a fan favorite in his career.

Perez was signed as an amateur free agent by Juarez in 1925, making his professional debut at age 20 in 1929. Starting in 1931, he’d be the Jesters’ full-time starting catcher through 1944. He was consistently the best hitting catcher in Mexico, winning the Silver Slugger 11 times along with his five Gold Gloves. In 1931, he finished third in league MVP voting and in 1936, he finished second. He was a consistent all-star selection and twice was all-star game MVP. Apart from a fractured knee in 1938 and torn abdominal in 1944, he was consistently in the lineup, making 1748 starts with the Jesters. With Juarez, Perez had 2012 hits, 948 runs, 289 home runs, 966 RBI, and 90.4 WAR. He only got to play in the postseason four seasons and the Jesters never claimed a league title.

Perez returned home in 1945 as he was traded Puerto Rico at age 36. His home-country Pelicans were fresh off the CABA Championship and made it back in 1945, falling in the final to Mexico City. Still, Perez finally was able to play in the championship, getting 12 hits in the postseason. His production starting falling and he was moved to the bench for much of 1946 and 1947. Perez retired after the 1947 season at age 39.

His final statistics: 2220 hits, 1048 runs, 476 doubles, 319 home runs, 1102 RBI, a .279/.332/.475 slash and 93.9 WAR. Solid numbers at any position, but especially at the underappreciated catcher spot. His 93.9 WAR is first all-time among CABA catchers and he was rightfully elected on the first ballot, even at a surprisingly low 70.8%.

04-18-2023, 07:37 AM	#250
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,812	1953 CABA Hall of Fame For the first time in the history of the Central American Baseball Association’s Hall of Fame, four players were inducted in one class. In the 1953 edition, 3B Jonny Lucero and SP Ward Wellman were no doubter first ballot guys at 98.3% and 94.6%, respectively. SP Hugo Aguilar made it at 73.5% on his third ballot, while C Chip Perez on his first go received 70.8%. No one else was above 50%. Two players were dropped after their 10^th attempt at the HOF. SP Sebastian Fernandez had a 15-year career with a 191-170 record, 3.28 ERA, 3183 strikeouts, and 60.5 WAR with Haiti and five other teams. Solid, but generally a “Hall of Very Good” level guy who peaked at 31.1% on his first ballot. Another SP, Livingstone Dixon in a 10-year CABA run mostly with Santiago had a 146-88 record, 2.97 ERA, 2324 strikeouts and 54.1 WAR. A good decade, but not enough longevity or dominance to get in. He peaked at 29.6% on his debut. Jonny “Worm” Lucero – Third Base/Shortstop – Haiti Herons – 98.3% First Ballot Jonny Lucero was a 6’0’’, 205 pound switch-hitting infielder from Luquillo, a small northeastern coastal town in Puerto Rico. Lucero was an elite CABA hitter with great contact ability and home run power. He was excellent at drawing walks, leading the league in walks and OBP five times. Still, he struck out more than most and was at his quickest, a slightly below average baserunner. Lucero made about 2/3 of his career starts at third base and the other 1/3 at shortstop. He was generally viewed as around average defensively at 3B and below average at SS. Lucero was also a team captain and leader, well-liked by teammates and fans alike. After amateur success in his native Puerto Rico, Lucero was picked seventh overall in the 1924 CABA Draft by Haiti. He immediately was a star, posting 7.2 WAR and earning Rookie of the Year, his first of 11 Silver Sluggers, and a second place MVP voting finish. The next year was his first MVP and a career best at 10.6 WAR. Lucero went on to win six MVPs, also taking it in 1927, 1929, 1930, 1932, and 1935. He led the Caribbean League in WAR five times, homes twice, runs twice, RBI once, and OPS four times. Haiti was a lower-tier franchise for Lucero’s best years despite his efforts, but began to find success finally at the end of the 1930s. In 1937 and 1938, they won their first Caribbean League titles and in 1938, won the CABA Championship with Lucero earning series MVP. In that postseason, he had 21 hits, 11 runs, 3 home runs, and 11 RBI. His final Haiti stats were 2052 hits, 1138 runs, 494 home runs, 1237 RBI, a .297 average, and 103.1 WAR. His #43 uniform was retired, the first for the franchise. After winning the CABA title at age 35, Lucero decided it was time to leave CABA as he left for the United States and signed with Miami. Back injuries put him out more than half of the year and he was done after season as a Mallard. Lucero went to Charlotte next for two seasons, then spent 1942 in Minneapolis. The Moose traded him to Hartford for 1943, followed by a free agent signing for 1944 with Montreal and for Memphis in 1945. He was never MVP level, but was still a solid starter when healthy, posting 23.5 WAR, 735 hits, 194 home runs, and 473 runs over his seven MLB seasons. Now in his 40s, he returned to CABA at age 43 with Monterrey for the 1946 season and Santo Domingo in 1947. He was able to get his 500^th career homer with the Matadors. A torn Achilles ended his 1947 and Lucero retired in the offseason at the age of 45. For his entire professional career, he had 700 home runs, 128.7 WAR, 2852 hits, 1637 runs, and 1809 RBI. In CABA specifically, Lucero had 2098 hits, 1164 runs, 311 doubles, 506 home runs, 1271 RBI, 851 walks, a .296/.370/.571, and 105.2 WAR. At retirement, he was one of four CABA hitters with 100+ career WAR. Few hitters in the world were better than Lucero over his impressive 20+ year career and he’s an obvious first ballot choice at 98.3%. Ward Wellman –Starting Pitcher – Mexico City Aztecs - 94.6% First Ballot Ward Wellman was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed starting pitcher from San Francisco, California. At his peak, Wellman had 96-98 mph velocity and was known for excellent control and solid movement. He had a six pitch arsenal with a fastball, slider, curveball, changeup, knuckle curve, and splitter with the slider usually cited as the best pitch. Wellman was also considered a solid defensive pitcher and as a very durable and reliable player. Wellman had a very unlikely path to being a CABA Hall of Famer. He attended Valley Christian High School in San Jose and was a rare high schooler picked in the MLB Draft, picked in the fourth round (185^th overall) by Ottawa in the 1928 draft. He struggled in the minor leagues, getting traded in summer 1931 to Brooklyn’s minor league. The Dodgers cut him after spring training 1932, followed by a two-day stint in Baltimore’s organization. From there, he went south to Mexico City in late spring 1932 and was an alright reliever for the rest of that season. He was a decent starter in 1933 for the Aztecs, then it finally all clicked for him starting in 1934. For the next decade or so, he became an ace for Mexico City with 12 5+ WAR seasons and eight seasons at 6+ WAR. In 1936, he won the Pitcher of the Year, leading Mexico with a 1.72 ERA and 8.6 WAR. He won it again at age 34 in 1944. He was third in 1937 and second in 1945. The Aztecs would become a dynasty in the 1930s and Wellman was a big part of that run. Mexico City won the Mexican League in 1934, 36, 40, and 45; and won the overall CABA title in 34, 36, and 45. In 17 postseason starts, Wellman was 10-4 with a 3.00 ERA over 114 innings with 103 strikeouts, only 14 walks, and 2.6 WAR. In 1945, he won the MLCS MVP and was seeing some of his best stats in his mid 30s. His #15 uniform would be retired after his career was over. Wellman decided to return to the United States and give MLB another shot. With his CABA resume, Las Vegas gave the 37-year old Wellman a two-year deal. He wasn’t elite by any stretch, but was able to keep a spot in a rotation over five MLB seasons. He was with Las Vegas in 1947-48, Oakland in 1949, Cincinnati in 1950, and Oakland once more in 1951. In 1952, he was set to pitch for Cleveland, but a torn rotator cuff in spring training would end his career. For his entire pro career, Wellman had a 299-180 record, 3.03 ERA, and 99.0 WAR. For his CABA run, he had a 247-126 record, 2.66 ERA, 3441 innings, 3356 strikeouts, 469 walks, 351 quality starts, and 88.4 WAR. He was able to become a legit ace for a decade and was the lead pitcher during Mexico City’s 1930s dynasty. Thus, Wellman deserves the first ballot induction he received at 94.6%. Hugo Aguilar – Starting Pitcher – Tijuana Toros – 73.5% Third Ballot Hugo Aguilar was a 5’11’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Victoria, a city in the northeastern Mexican city of Tamaulipas. Aguilar had 97-99 mph velocity and an impressive five-pitch arsenal led by a strong fastball. He added a curveball, forkball, changeup, and splitter and boasted respectable movement and control. Aguilar was also a good defensive pitcher, winning two Gold Gloves and was also known as a hard worker, Aguilar was a highly sought-out prospect and would be picked first overall in the 1932 CABA Draft by Chihuahua. The Warriors were an abysmal franchise in the 1930s and Aguilar led the league in losses his first two seasons, but would start to show some promise. Before the 1937 season, Aguilar was traded to Tijuana for three prospects. This would be his most known run, playing six seasons with the Toros. Aguilar finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting three straight seasons from 1938-40. He was one of the few redeeming parts for a struggling franchise, They finally ended a nearly two-decade playoff drought in 1940, but were one and done. Aguilar struggled in his one career postseason start, allowing five runs in three innings. He left for Haiti in free agency at age 33 for the 1943 season. He spent three seasons with the Herons, retiring after the 1945 campaign. The final stats for Aguilar: 184-187, 3.01 ERA, 3422 innings, 3177 strikeouts, 698 walks, 281 quality starts, 136 complete games, and 63.9 WAR. He’d be the first and only starter in the CABA HOF with a losing record, although his lack of run support could be blamed for a lot of that. Despite that, there were enough voters who liked him and thought his resume was still solid enough. He barely missed the cut in his first two ballots and got over the hump at 73.5% on his third attempt. Aguilar isn’t at the top of the Hall of Fame leaderboards, but he’s in. Chip Perez – Catcher – Juarez Jesters – 70.8% First Ballot Chip Perez was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed catcher from San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a hitter, Perez had solid contact ability and strong pop in his bat. He was excellent at hitting doubles despite his slow speed and a reliable 20+ home run guy in his peak. He was okay at drawing walks and had some trouble with strike outs. At a very difficult position physically, he was a reliable 120-130 game starter for most of his run. Defensively, he was also considered elite, winning five Gold Gloves. A hard working intelligent guy, Perez was a fan favorite in his career. Perez was signed as an amateur free agent by Juarez in 1925, making his professional debut at age 20 in 1929. Starting in 1931, he’d be the Jesters’ full-time starting catcher through 1944. He was consistently the best hitting catcher in Mexico, winning the Silver Slugger 11 times along with his five Gold Gloves. In 1931, he finished third in league MVP voting and in 1936, he finished second. He was a consistent all-star selection and twice was all-star game MVP. Apart from a fractured knee in 1938 and torn abdominal in 1944, he was consistently in the lineup, making 1748 starts with the Jesters. With Juarez, Perez had 2012 hits, 948 runs, 289 home runs, 966 RBI, and 90.4 WAR. He only got to play in the postseason four seasons and the Jesters never claimed a league title. Perez returned home in 1945 as he was traded Puerto Rico at age 36. His home-country Pelicans were fresh off the CABA Championship and made it back in 1945, falling in the final to Mexico City. Still, Perez finally was able to play in the championship, getting 12 hits in the postseason. His production starting falling and he was moved to the bench for much of 1946 and 1947. Perez retired after the 1947 season at age 39. His final statistics: 2220 hits, 1048 runs, 476 doubles, 319 home runs, 1102 RBI, a .279/.332/.475 slash and 93.9 WAR. Solid numbers at any position, but especially at the underappreciated catcher spot. His 93.9 WAR is first all-time among CABA catchers and he was rightfully elected on the first ballot, even at a surprisingly low 70.8%. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)