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The 1972 ballot for the Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame was an uncharacteristically small group with only five first-time players eligible and only one of those getting above 3%. This left an opening for those returning to the ballot to maybe get a bump in aided by weaker competition. That worked ultimately for two players who both barely crossed the 66% mark to earn induction. 1B Salvador Islas on his eighth ballot got 67.6% and SP Mario Guerrero on his sixth go had 66.7%. Two players finished with 53.6%, 3B Diego Sierra on his third ballot and SP Danny Ledo on his eighth. No players were on their tenth ballot in the 1972 group.



Salvador Islas – First Baseman – Hermosillo Hyenas – 67.6% Eighth Ballot

Salvador Islas was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting first baseman from Huejutla, a city of around 115,000 in the central-eastern Mexican state of Hidalgo. At as batter, Islas was known for having a terrific eye, leading the league in walks seven times in his career. He was respectable at avoiding strikeouts, but was an average to below average contact hitter. When Islas made contract, he had a solid pop in his bat, averaging around 25-30 home runs and around 30-40 doubles/triples per season. He had average speed and was a career first baseman. Islas was considered the premiere defender at the position in his career, winning a then position-record 11 Gold Gloves. He was well known, but polarizing for being a very outspoken player.

Islas was a top prospect coming out of the amateur ranks and was picked fifth overall in the 1942 CABA Draft by Merida. He was a bench player in his first two seasons and a part-time starter in year three, finally earning the full-time gig in 1946. That season was his most impressive offensively from a power standpoint with career highs in home runs (44) and RBI (100), earning him a third place finish in MVP voting. It would be his only time as a finalist and he’d never win a Silver Slugger. As mentioned, he was an elite defender, winning Gold Gloves from 1945-55 and in 1958. Islas also played 71 games for Mexico in the World Baseball Championship from 1947-58, although he made only 18 starts. He posted 21 hits, 23 runs, 16 home runs, and 27 RBI.

His only opportunity in the playoffs for his whole career was 1946 with the Mean Green, who fell in the Mexican League Championship Series to Chihuahua. Islas played five years with Merida, posting 433 hits, 246 runs, 111 home runs, 259 RBI, and 19.4 WAR. The Mean Green traded the now 28-year old Islas before the 1948 season to Hermosillo for Hall of Fame pitcher Miguel Martinez and outfielder Manuel Figueroa. This began his longest tenured and most memorable run.

The Hyenas won the 1947 CABA Championship, but never made the playoffs in Islas’ tenure, being generally competitive but just shy of the division crown. He ultimately played seven years in Hermosillo with solid production throughout, posting three 7+ WAR seasons. He led the league in runs with 116 in 1948 and led in walks drawn six times. In total, Islas had 1001 hits, 625 runs, 153 doubles, 112 triples, 206 home runs, 552 RBI, a .263/.360/.524 slash line and 43.3 WAR.

Islas opted for free agency at age 35 and signed a four-year, $214,800 deal with Havana for the 1955 season. The Hurricanes were competitive, but again not quite good enough to make the playoffs in his run. After a strong debut, aging and injuries saw his production decline. In four years, he had 498 hits, 317 runs, 91 home runs, and 15.1 WAR. Islas became a free agent again at age 39 and signed back with Hermosillo as a bench player for his final season of 1959.

Islas’ final stats: 1932 hits, 1188 runs, 294 doubles, 226 triples, 408 home runs, 1114 RBI, 1090 walks, a .259/.353/.523 slash, 158 wRC+ and 77.8 WAR. Some of the advanced stats were favorable, but he was low on some of the sexier stats, like being short of 2000 hits. Walking a lot and great defense don’t tend to get you much attention and as such, Islas seemed like a long shot for the Hall of Fame. He debuted at only 40.7% and was as low as 34.8%, but he bumped up into the 50-55% range on ballots four through seven. With a very small group and voters loath to leave their ballot blank, Islas got enough of a boost on the eighth try to just cross the line at 67.6%.



Mario Guerrero – Starting Pitcher – Honduras Horsemen – 66.7% Sixth Ballot

Mario Guerrero was a 5’10’’, 180 pound right-handed pitcher from Barillas, a small Guatemalan town of around 17,000 people. Guerrero had solid stuff and movement with a peak velocity of 95-97 mph, boasting a three-pitch arsenal of a slider, changeup, and cutter. His control was considered below average and he could get into trouble with walks. Guerrero had solid stamina and was generally viewed as quite durable and reliable. He was also a team captain and considered a great clubhouse leader.

Guerrero emerged a promising prospect in continental Central America and was picked fourth overall by Honduras in the 1947 CABA Draft. His entire pro career was with the Horsemen, although he’d make 32 appearances for his native Guatemala in the World Baseball Championship. From 1948-60 in the tournament, he had a 3.65 ERA over 150.1 innings with 165 strikeouts and 2.6 WAR.

He was a full-time starter immediately for the then-struggling Honduras franchise, but he was considered average at best in his first three seasons. Still, he was third in Rookie of the Year voting purely on innings. 1951 was his first notable year, leading the league in innings pitched, quality starts, and complete games, earning a third place in Pitcher of the Year voting. Guerrero was third again in 1953, leading again in innings and this time in wins.

Honduras had emerged as a contender by 1953 and would make the playoffs in seven of Guerrero’s nine remaining seasons. They were the Caribbean League champion in 1953, 1958, and 1959; and took the overall CABA title in 1958. In 15 playoff starts, Guerrero had a 7-5 record, 2.87 ERA, 113 innings, 107 strikeouts, and 1.9 WAR. 1954 would be his finest season with his lone Pitcher of the Year, leading in ERA (1.86) and wins (26-3) and adding a career-best 6.1 WAR. The season featured a no-hitter with five strikeouts and four walks against Panama on August 13. He even finished third that year in MVP voting.

This would be Guerrero’s last time in any sort of award or league-leading conversations. He had okay 1955 and 1956 seasons, then struggled in parts of 1957, getting demoted for a time to the bullpen. He was back in the rotation the next two years and provided innings, but with middling production. After great durability, Guerrero suffered a torn rotator cuff late in the 1960 season, putting him out almost a full calendar year. He made four starts in late 1961 in a return attempt, but opted to retire after that season at age 36.

Guerrero’s final stats: 193-161, 3.39 ERA, 3389.1 innings, 2805 strikeouts to 975 walks, 262/429 quality starts, 129 complete games, an FIP- of 98 and 47.0 WAR. Honduras retired his #28 uniform as well. Advanced stats placed him as only slightly above average for his career and among CABA starters, his totals are well near or at the bottom of the leaderboards. He started at 34.1% on his first ballot, but slowly climbed up to 55.5% by his fifth try. Guerrero was a benefactor of the weak and small 1972 group, getting just across the line on his sixth attempt at 66.7%. He’s not the first pitcher anyone thinks of in the Hall, but staying one a single team and helping in their 1950s playoff success was enough to get Guerrero in.