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Pitcher Joshua Chaillot was the only member of the 1986 Hall of Fame class for the European Baseball Federation, getting a first ballot induction at 85.3%. Only one other guy even got above 50% with 1B Isak Steffensen at 51.7% for his fourth attempt.



One player fell off after ten failed ballots in closer Jesse Legault, who bounced around over 14 years between EBF, MLB, and OBA. Combined, he had 2.35 ERA, two Reliever of the Year awards, 252 saves, 836.1 innings, 1192 strikeouts, and 26.4 WAR. That resume is likely short on its own and keep in mind this included three leagues of totals. Still, he managed to get 45.8% on his debut before plunging to 11.3% by the end.



Joshua Chaillot – Starting Pitcher – Rotterdam Ravens – 85.3% First Ballot

Joshua Chaillot was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Ajaccio, a French commune with around 70,000 people and the capital of the island of Corsica. Chaillot had very good stuff with solid movement, which allowed him to succeed despite below average control. His velocity topped out in the 96-98 mph range and he had four equal potent pitches with a fastball, curveball, screwball, and forkball; plus a weak changeup. Chaillot was also a solid batter for a pitcher and occasionally got pinch hit appearances, posting a .235/.306/.392 slash with 3.1 WAR and 16 home runs in his career.

Chaillot left for England’s RAF College Cranwell to play college baseball, although he wasn’t a top end prospect. He was picked in the third round of the 1966 EBF Draft with the 77^th overall pick by Rotterdam. Chaillot made only three appearances in 1967 and then was a part-time starter the next year. He earned a full-time spot in the rotation in 1969, although injuries hurt him early on. He suffered a torn back muscle in August 1969 and missed the postseason run as the Ravens won the European Championship. Chaillot needed surgery for bone chips in his elbow in July 1970.

For the next few years after that though, he became a solid ace for the Ravens, who remained a consistent contender in the 1970s. Chaillot was the leader in quality starts twice and FIP- thrice. He wouldn’t lead the big categories generally though and never won Pitcher of the Year, although he was third in 1971, second in 1972, third in 1974, and second in 1977. Chaillot also pitched for France in the World Baseball Championship from 1971-75, posting a 3.86 ERA over 39.2 innings with 63 strikeouts.

It was the postseason where Chaillot excelled and really earned his Hall of Fame spot. Rotterdam made it to the Northern Conference Championship eight times in his tenure and won the European Championship four times. Over 161 career playoff innings, Chaillot had an 11-3 record, 1.51 ERA, 205 strikeouts, and 6.5 WAR with 18/21 of his starts being quality starts. At induction, he was second all-time in playoff strikeouts and third in pitching WAR.

1975 saw a major setback with a torn UCL in late September. He battled back with a career-best 1.50 ERA in his limited action in 1976 and had a 0.32 ERA over 28 playoff innings. In 1977, Chaillot tossed a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and two walks against Luxembourg. 1978 saw Chaillot lead in ERA for the first time in his career, although forearm inflammation cost him from a full season. Injuries started to catch up into his mid 30s with only 86.2 innings in his last season. The Ravens bought out the final year of his big 1974 contract and Chaillot retired at age 36. That winter, Rotterdam held a ceremony to retire his #35 uniform.

Chaillot’s final stats: 185-79 record, 2.41 ERA, 2473.1 innings, 2958 strikeouts to 646 walks, 241/333 quality starts, 68 FIP-, and 71.3 WAR. The accumulations are on the lower end with fewer innings, but his ERA and rate stats are more than belonging. Chaillot’s clutch performances in the playoffs generally won over voters who might have felt he have enough innings to deserve the distinction. Chaillot was a first ballot nod at 85.3% and the lone member of EBF’s 1986 Hall of Fame class.