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Two players made it into the Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 1971. The star of the class was outfielder Grant Duncan, a no-doubt first ballot pick at 98.3%. Joining him was pitcher Tirso Sepulveda, who barely made it on his fifth attempt. Sepulveda finished at 66.2%, just enough to pass the 66.0% threshold needed for induction. Two others were above 50% with 1B Salvador Islas at 55.9% on his seventh ballot and SP Mario Guerrero at 55.5% on his fifth attempt.



Dropped after ten attempts was pitcher Manolas Tellez, who had a 16-year career almost entirely with Costa Rica. He had a 193-215 record, 3.52 ERA, 30005 strikeouts, and 56.9 WAR. A respectable career, but sustained average-ness. He got as high as 48.6% on his seventh ballot but finished at 14.5%. Also worth noting was Renato Ortivez, who was dropped after falling below 5% on his eighth try. In nine CABA seasons, he had two MVPs, 1556 hits, 782 runs, 294 home runs, 862 RBI, and 42.2 WAR. Ortivez also had a Triple Crown season at age 25 with Havana. He spent almost his entire 30s and early 40s in either MLB or OBA, preventing him from getting the stats that might have gotten him across the line for a CABA nod.



Grant “Decoy” Duncan – Left Field – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 98.3% First Ballot


Grant Duncan was a 6’2’’, 200 pound left-handed left fielder from the Jamaican capital Kingston. Duncan had great power and contact ability with good speed and baserunning ability. He averaged around 40 home runs per seron, while also adding around 40 doubles/triples each year as well. Duncan was respectable at drawing walks and decent at avoiding strikeouts. He was a career left fielder and a very solid defender that won three Gold Gloves. Duncan also had a strong work ethic and good durability for most of his career, making him one of the most popular players in the Caribbean during the 1950s and 60s.

Duncan emerged as a stellar prospect in his amateur days in Jamaica, making him highly touted when he became eligible in the 1949 CABA Draft. Santo Domingo drafted him second overall and he’d spend his entire CABA run with the Dolphins. Duncan was immediately the full time starter and held that role whenever he was healthy. He had a decent rookie season and solid second season, eventually emerging as an elite player by year #3.

In 1952, Duncan won his first Silver Slugger and took third in MVP voting. In 1953, he was the All-Star game MVP, a Silver Slugger winner, and second in MVP voting despite missing six weeks with a fractured finger. 1954 saw his third Silver Slugger and first MVP, leading the Caribbean league with 121 runs, 51 home runs, 118 RBI, 1.070 OPS, and 10.7 WAR. Duncan had an even better WAR at 11.7 in 1955 with his second Gold Glove, fourth Silver Slugger, and first Gold Glove. He didn’t win awards in 1956 but still had a strong year, earning a seven-year, $690,000 contract extension with the Dolphins.

After being a mid-tier team early in his run, Santo Domingo became a Caribbean League power in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Dolphins made five playoffs appearances from 1957-62, winning the league title four times (57, 60, 61, 62) and the CABA title twice (1960, 62). Duncan’s third MVP came in 1957 with career bests in home runs (57) and RBI (128), getting his fifth and final Silver Slugger, as well as the CLCS MVP. This was his final MVP, although he’d finish second in 1962 and won a Gold Glove that year and in 1963.

Duncan’s regular season numbers were good but not amazing in this run, but he was a big time playoff performer. In 42 playoff games, he had 51 hits, 34 runs, 13 home runs, 32 RBI, and 2.6 WAR. Duncan was the 1960 CABA Championship MVP and had two CABA rings to his name. In 1960, he hit for the cycle and had a four home run game, while also passing the 1000 RBI, 1000 run, and 400 home run thresholds. Duncan also was a consistent player for his home country Jamaica in the World Baseball Championship, making 135 starts between 1950-68. He had 121 hits, 76 runs, 41 home runs, 77 RBI, and 4.8 WAR in his tournament career.

Duncan saw a bit of a statistical resurgence in his mid 30s, but missed half of 1964 and 1/3 of 1965 to injury. At age 38, he became a free agent for the first time and saw his CABA run end, although he remained beloved by Santo Domingo fans and saw his #24 uniform soon retired. He left for MLB and signed with San Antonio for the 1966 season, still putting up solid power especially at his age. Duncan went to Oakland for 1967, but he struggled in his lone season with the Owls. He was unsigned much of 1968 and had a brief minor league stint in Rochester, opting to retire at age 41 after the season.

Duncan’s final CABA stats: 2422 hits, 1428 runs, 415 doubles, 168 triples, 578 home runs, 1469 RBI, a .297/.354/.602 slash, wRC+ of 162, and 107.9 WAR. He was ninth in WAR among all CABA hitters at retirement. A stellar career and a key part of Santo Domingo’s dynasty run in the late 50s and early 60s. Duncan was an obvious first ballot choice, getting 98.3%.



Tirso Sepulveda – Starting Pitcher – Honduras Horsemen – 66.2% Fifth Ballot

Tirso Sepulveda was a 5’11’’, 190 pound left-handed pitcher from the capital of Nicaragua, Managua. Sepulveda had a five pitch arsenal with 97-99 mph velocity led by a terrific cutter. He had a good fastball, along with a decent curveball, forkball, and changeup. His stuff, movement, and control were rated as above average to good for his career. Sepulveda had strong stamina and durability in his 20s, emerging as one of the top pitchers in CABA.

Sepulveda was an excellent amateur, earning the fifth overall pick by Honduras in the 1948 CABA Draft. He only had 19.1 innings in his first season, then was a part-time starter in 1950. Sepulveda was a full-time starter afterward and in 1951, finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting, He was second again in 1952 with a league-best and career best 9.0 WAR.

In 1953, Honduras started a stretch of regular dominance in the Continental Division. They were Caribbean League champ in 1953 with Sepulveda winning Pitcher of the Year. He was second in 1954, then won it for the second time in 1955. He had a 4.07 ERA in 55.1 playoff innings from 1953-55. Sepulveda was still good, but his production dropped a bit in 1956 and 1957 as the Horsemen missed the playoffs both years. His final stats in Honduras was 141-67, 2.59 ERA, 1990 strikeouts in 1966.1 innings, and 50.3 WAR. Sepulveda also was a regular for his native Nicaragua in the World Baseball Championship from 1950-61, posting a 3.50 ERA over 144 innings with 197 strikeouts and 5.3 WAR.

The now 31-year old Sepulveda became a free agent in 1958, although he still had a solid relationship with Honduras, as the Horsemen would retire his #27 uniform. Sepulveda signed a six-year, $484,000 deal with Haiti. In July, disaster struck with a torn flexor tendon, putting him out for 13 months in total. He returned in late 1959, but was merely an average-at-best pitcher from here on out. Other injuries cost him parts of 1960 and 1961 and after a middling 1961, Sepulveda opted to retire at age 35. With the Herons, he had a 33-30 record, 3.66 ERA, 461 strikeouts, and 9.9 WAR.

The final stats for Sepulveda: 174-97, 2.82 ERA, 2516.2 innings, 2451 strikeouts, 239/325 quality starts, a FIP- of 79, and 60.2 WAR. His overall accumulations are low due to a much shorter career than most Hall of Famers, but was a consistent Pitcher of the Year contender throughout his 20s. Sepulveda was in the 50-60% range on his first three ballots and fell just short on his fourth go at 65.4%. He got the extra percent he needed in 1971 to just get over the line at 66.2%, forever having a spot among CABA’s greats.