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The European Baseball Federation inducted the first members of its Hall of Fame in 1965. Both additions were pitchers with Sem Outjes at 97.3% and Elih Cruz at 86.2%. Three other players were above 50%, but short of the 66% threshold. Closer Ken Jacob had 58.1%, CF Joe Ramet at 54.0%, and closer Promoz Kucinic at 53.4%.



Sem “Ping” Outjes – Starting Pitcher – Vienna Vultures – 97.3% First Ballot

Sem Outjes was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Eindhoven, the fifth largest city in the Netherlands. He was a well-rounded pitcher with good to great stuff, movement, and control. His velocity topped out at 96-98 mph and his arsenal was a forkball, sinker, splitter, and changeup. Post-war, he emerged as arguably the best pitcher in the Netherlands. Outjes would join the European Baseball Federation in its second season in 1951, signing with Vienna at age 28.

Outjes was the conference leader in FIP- in six straight seasons to start his EBF career, getting 9.8+ WAR in all six years. He was the ERA leader in 1951, 1953, and 55; and the strikeout leader in 1954 (335) and 1955 (305). Despite these great numbers, Vienna was a lower-end team and he only earned Pitcher of the Year once; coming in 1955. He did take second three times; in 1954, 56, and 58. On April 25, 1954, Outjes threw a perfect game against Munich with 11 strikeouts. Outjes also pitched in the World Baseball Championship 11 times for the Dutch team, posting a 2.53 ERA over 139 innings with 168 strikeouts.

In 1957, the 34-year old Outjes suffered a torn labrum, ending his season. Vienna let him go, but he returned to his home nation and signed with Amsterdam. He bounced back with a great 1958 and was on his way in 1959 until forearm tendinitis took him out at the end of the season. Outjes entered free agency and stayed in the Netherlands, signing with Rotterdam. Sadly, he never pitched an inning for the Ravens. In spring training of 1960, Outjes suffered his second torn labrum, this time ending his career at age 37.

The final stats for Outjes: 147-72 record, 1.91 ERA, 1977.1 innings, 2486 strikeouts, 286 walks, 208/253 quality starts, 47 FIP-, and 82.8 WAR. For pitching only eight full seasons, Outjes’s stats are incredibly impressive. The WAR tally still looks solid on the later Hall of Fame leaderboards, although the other numbers are less impressive with the lack of longevity. Outjes was an impressive pitcher in the first decade of the EBF, deserving of the first ballot Hall of Fame induction at 97.3%.



Elih Cruz – Starting Pitcher – Amsterdam Anacondas – 86.2% First Ballot

Elih Cruz was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Donostia, a city in the northeastern Basque Country of Spain. Like HOF classmate Sem Outjes, Cruz was considered good to sometimes great with stuff, movement, and control. His velocity was 96-98 mph with a fastball, slider, and changeup. Cruz was a decent batter for a pitcher as well, winning a Silver Slugger and posting 152 hits, 68 runs, 57 RBI, and a .200 average. Bruz was also a great leader and hard worker.

He also joined the European Baseball Federation in its second season after putting up solid semi-pro and amateur numbers in his 20s in Spain. He was signed to a seven-year, $214,200 deal with Amsterdam at age 29 for the 1951 season. The Anacondas were the second European Champion with Cruz posting a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings and 31 strikeouts. Five of his first six EBF seasons were worth 10+ WAR with the lead in ERA in 1953 (1.88), and strikeouts in 1954 (372). Cruz won Pitcher of the Year in 1953 in the Northern Conference, taking second in 1951 and third in both 1955 and 1956.

Amsterdam was a regular playoff contender in the 1950s and Cruz posted a 3.11 ERA in 92.2 playoff innings with 105 strikeouts. Cruz earned European Championship rings in 1951 and 1954. He also pitched for Spain in the World Baseball Championship from 1950-59. In 24 starts, he had 168.1 innings, 4.17 ERA, and 218 strikeouts.

Late in 1957, Cruz suffered a torn rotator cuff. Amsterdam let him go after seven seasons and the 36-year old signed with Madrid in 1958. Cruz had a respectable debut with the Conquistadors, then saw his production wane in his second year. Cruz opted to retire after the 1959 campaign at age 37.

The final stats: 163-78 record, 2.55 ERA, 2325.2 innings, 2555 strikeouts, 328 walks, 211/290 quality starts, a 58 FIP-, and 82.9 WAR. Like Outjees, Cruz put up impressive WAR totals despite only nine EBF seasons. If both had their full 20s with EBF stats, they might both be near the top of the Hall of Fame leaderboards. Regardless, Cruz’s 1950s dominance made him deserving of induction on his first ballot at 86.2% as part of the first inducted class.