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FuzzyRussianHat · 12-16-2023, 01:02 PM

Relief pitcher Hao-Ming Lu was the lone member of the 1986 Austronesia Professional Baseball Hall of Fame class. He barely made the cut with 68.5% on his third ballot, but earned the spot regardless. Starting pitcher Vitorio Pinga was just short again with 62.2% on his seventh try, a new peak for him. The only other above 50% was pitcher Kai Diaz at 58.6% on his debut ballot.

One player was cut after ten ballots in starter Perumal Jayaweera. He was hurt by having his debut at age 28 and playing his last two years in CABA. In only seven APB seasons, he won Pitcher of the Year twice and had a 97-53 record, 1.91 ERA, 1411.2 innings, 1287 strikeouts, and 44.3 WAR. Better timing might have gotten him in, but he ended at 10.4% after peaking at 35.7% on his third ballot.

Hao-Ming “Big Time” Lu – Closer – Taipei Tigercats – 68.5% Third Ballot

Hao-Ming Lu was a 5’9’’, 175 pound relief pitcher from Sanchung, a district with 380,000 people in the western part of Taiwan’s New Taipei City. “Big Time” had a big time triple-digit fastball, considered one of the fastest in baseball history. He mixed it with a fast sinker and had very good control and solid movement, making Lu very tough to face. He was also quite durable for a reliever with good stamina, never missing time to injury. His great work ethic, plus the spectacle of a consistent 100+ fastball, made Lu a popular player worldwide.

Lu attended college in the Tatung Institute of Commerce and Technology and was drafted 15^th overall by Taipei in the 1967 APB Draft. He was immediately thrown into the closer role and held that for his entire six year run with the Tigercats. Lu led the Taiwan-Philippine Association in saves three times and won Reliever of the Year in 1970, 71, and 72; and took third in 1969. The “Big Time” moniker in part came from the 1968 postseason where a rookie Lu had six saves and a 0.53 ERA over 17 playoff innings with 33 strikeouts, helping Taipei to the APB championship.

In just six seasons, he posted a 1.11 ERA, 217 saves and 260 shutdowns, 553 innings, 959 strikeouts, and 38.4 WAR. The Tigercats started to struggle though and blew up the team before their historically bad 43-win 1974 season. Lu was moved to defending APB champ Kaohsiung for two prospects in a trade. He took second in Reliever of the Year voting and again was a beast in the playoffs, tossing 16 scoreless innings with five saves and 33 strikeouts. This helped Kaohsiung win back-to-back titles and cement Lu’s status as a lights out closer. It also marked the end of his APB run, as his fastball earned international attention.

Lu left for America on a four-year, $1,592,000 deal with Portland. He ended up playing six seasons with the Pacifics and primarily had the closer role. In 1977, he won the American Association’s Reliever of the Year, his fifth award between MLB and APB. Lu also took third in Reliever of the Year voting in 1979. That year was also his lone appearance for Taiwan in the World Baseball Championship. He made his presence known by starting a game against Portugal and throwing a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts and one walk. He also had two relief appearances for a 0.61 ERA over 14.2 innings with 26 strikeouts, earning WBC Best Pitcher honors.

His only playoff chance in Portland came in 1978 and he struggled. For the Pacifics run though, Lu had 159 saves and 184 shutdowns, 19.4 ERA, 403.2 innings, 477 strikeouts, and 16.6 WAR. Portland moved the now 35-year old Lu before the season to Los Angeles in a trade. He only made one appearance with the Angels, who surprisingly cut him. Chicago signed Lu two weeks later, but traded him at the deadline to Atlanta. Buffalo signed Lu to be their closer in 1982 with okay results, then traded him to Oklahoma City. Lu struggled in limited use with the Outlaws and retired after the season at age 38. For his MLB career, he had a 2.29 ERA, 197 saves, 607 strikeouts, and 18.3 WAR.

For Lu’s entire career, he had 448 saves and 547 shutdowns, 1217 innings, 1767 strikeouts, FIP- of 38, and 64.2 WAR; totals that suggest one of the all-time best closers period. Just in APB, he had 251 saves and 305 shutdowns, 1.13 ERA, 658.1 innings, 1160 strikeouts to 131 walks, FIP- of 11, and 45.9 WAR. Even with a small sample size, Lu provided tremendous value and played a big role in championship runs for both Taipei and Kaohsiung. Many voters couldn’t get over the short APB tenure and few innings, causing Lu to miss the cut at 61.0% and 61.8% on his first two ballots. With a quiet 1986 group, he got the slight bump to 68.5% and earned his place as a third ballot Hall of Famer.

12-16-2023, 01:02 PM	#792
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,368	1986 APB Hall of Fame Relief pitcher Hao-Ming Lu was the lone member of the 1986 Austronesia Professional Baseball Hall of Fame class. He barely made the cut with 68.5% on his third ballot, but earned the spot regardless. Starting pitcher Vitorio Pinga was just short again with 62.2% on his seventh try, a new peak for him. The only other above 50% was pitcher Kai Diaz at 58.6% on his debut ballot. One player was cut after ten ballots in starter Perumal Jayaweera. He was hurt by having his debut at age 28 and playing his last two years in CABA. In only seven APB seasons, he won Pitcher of the Year twice and had a 97-53 record, 1.91 ERA, 1411.2 innings, 1287 strikeouts, and 44.3 WAR. Better timing might have gotten him in, but he ended at 10.4% after peaking at 35.7% on his third ballot. Hao-Ming “Big Time” Lu – Closer – Taipei Tigercats – 68.5% Third Ballot Hao-Ming Lu was a 5’9’’, 175 pound relief pitcher from Sanchung, a district with 380,000 people in the western part of Taiwan’s New Taipei City. “Big Time” had a big time triple-digit fastball, considered one of the fastest in baseball history. He mixed it with a fast sinker and had very good control and solid movement, making Lu very tough to face. He was also quite durable for a reliever with good stamina, never missing time to injury. His great work ethic, plus the spectacle of a consistent 100+ fastball, made Lu a popular player worldwide. Lu attended college in the Tatung Institute of Commerce and Technology and was drafted 15^th overall by Taipei in the 1967 APB Draft. He was immediately thrown into the closer role and held that for his entire six year run with the Tigercats. Lu led the Taiwan-Philippine Association in saves three times and won Reliever of the Year in 1970, 71, and 72; and took third in 1969. The “Big Time” moniker in part came from the 1968 postseason where a rookie Lu had six saves and a 0.53 ERA over 17 playoff innings with 33 strikeouts, helping Taipei to the APB championship. In just six seasons, he posted a 1.11 ERA, 217 saves and 260 shutdowns, 553 innings, 959 strikeouts, and 38.4 WAR. The Tigercats started to struggle though and blew up the team before their historically bad 43-win 1974 season. Lu was moved to defending APB champ Kaohsiung for two prospects in a trade. He took second in Reliever of the Year voting and again was a beast in the playoffs, tossing 16 scoreless innings with five saves and 33 strikeouts. This helped Kaohsiung win back-to-back titles and cement Lu’s status as a lights out closer. It also marked the end of his APB run, as his fastball earned international attention. Lu left for America on a four-year, $1,592,000 deal with Portland. He ended up playing six seasons with the Pacifics and primarily had the closer role. In 1977, he won the American Association’s Reliever of the Year, his fifth award between MLB and APB. Lu also took third in Reliever of the Year voting in 1979. That year was also his lone appearance for Taiwan in the World Baseball Championship. He made his presence known by starting a game against Portugal and throwing a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts and one walk. He also had two relief appearances for a 0.61 ERA over 14.2 innings with 26 strikeouts, earning WBC Best Pitcher honors. His only playoff chance in Portland came in 1978 and he struggled. For the Pacifics run though, Lu had 159 saves and 184 shutdowns, 19.4 ERA, 403.2 innings, 477 strikeouts, and 16.6 WAR. Portland moved the now 35-year old Lu before the season to Los Angeles in a trade. He only made one appearance with the Angels, who surprisingly cut him. Chicago signed Lu two weeks later, but traded him at the deadline to Atlanta. Buffalo signed Lu to be their closer in 1982 with okay results, then traded him to Oklahoma City. Lu struggled in limited use with the Outlaws and retired after the season at age 38. For his MLB career, he had a 2.29 ERA, 197 saves, 607 strikeouts, and 18.3 WAR. For Lu’s entire career, he had 448 saves and 547 shutdowns, 1217 innings, 1767 strikeouts, FIP- of 38, and 64.2 WAR; totals that suggest one of the all-time best closers period. Just in APB, he had 251 saves and 305 shutdowns, 1.13 ERA, 658.1 innings, 1160 strikeouts to 131 walks, FIP- of 11, and 45.9 WAR. Even with a small sample size, Lu provided tremendous value and played a big role in championship runs for both Taipei and Kaohsiung. Many voters couldn’t get over the short APB tenure and few innings, causing Lu to miss the cut at 61.0% and 61.8% on his first two ballots. With a quiet 1986 group, he got the slight bump to 68.5% and earned his place as a third ballot Hall of Famer. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)