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FuzzyRussianHat · 12-23-2023, 12:27 PM

Pitcher Sebastian Wiens was the one addition to the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 1987, getting a first ballot induction at 83.9%. Two other pitchers on their sixth try came close, but just short of the 66% mark with Honore Waheo at 62.5% and Ryan Cudiaboo at 61.1%. The only other player above 50% was another pitcher with Kent Thackray at 57.9% for his third attempt.

First baseman Dawson Schnee was dropped after ten failed attempts. He was an American player who spent his first chunk of his career as a lower-level MLB guy, coming to OBA at age 30. He won four Silver Sluggers and a MVP in a decade plus with five OBA teams and posted 1730 hits, 740 runs, 319 doubles, 247 home runs, 864 RBI, a .271/.316/.449 slash and 46.0 WAR. Schnee wasn’t around long enough or stuck with one team enough though to hit all the checkmarks to get the nod. He peaked at 40.7% on his fourth try and ended at 23.5%.

Sebastian Wiens – Starting Pitcher – Tahiti Tropics – 83.9% First Ballot

Sebastian Wiens was a 6’3’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from Des Moines, Iowa. He had very solid control, although his stuff and movement were often viewed as merely above average. Wiens’ velocity peaked at 94-96 mph, but he had a filthy changeup as his biggest out pitch. He mixed it with a fastball, cutter, and forkball. He had solid stamina later in his career and was a respectable defender, although considered poor at holding runners. Wiens was also very durable, which served him well in OBA’s unique four-man rotation setup.

Like other American ballplayers, he wanted to success in America first. Wiens attended LSU in college but was a rather middling college pitcher with a 3.74 ERA over 187.2 innings. He was a late pick in the 1966 MLB Draft in the seventh round by Boston, 331^st overall. Wiens was cut after spring training though by the Red Sox and didn’t have any MLB teams chomping at the bit to sign him. He decided to look internationally to continue his career and OBA’s Auckland was willing to sign him to a developmental contract for 1967.

Wiens made his OBA debut with a few forgettable appearances in 1968. He’d get a couple starts here and there with the Avengers, but was used more often out of the bullpen. In four years in Auckland, Wiens had a 3.20 ERA, 24-34 record, 477.2 innings, 479 strikeouts, and 4.3 WAR. At this point, he certainly wasn’t looking like someone destined for the Hall of Fame. Auckland decided to trade Wiens in the 1971 offseason to Tahiti, which began what would be his signature run.

He showed a bit more potential in his debut season with the Tropics and began seeing more use. In July 1973, Wiens tossed a 10 strikeout no-hitter against Fiji. In 1974, he led the Pacific League with a career-best 1.81 ERA. This also began a streak of three consecutive PL titles for Tahiti, who won the OBA championship in 1975. Wiens was moved more to the bullpen in 1975, but still had regular use. He was back with a solid starting role in 1976 and had a career best 10.4 WAR, earning third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Wiens was third again in 1977, but never won the top prize. He threw his second no-no in 1977, fanning 10 versus Guam.

Wiens in the postseason had a 1.95 ERA over 32.1 innings with 32 strikeouts and 1.1 WAR, helping earn a spot in the hearts of Tahiti fans. His #22 uniform would later be retired by the franchise. The Tropics fell to the bottom of the standings to close the decade and Wiens was still working hard with 300+ inning seasons. He still had a solid 6.0 WAR season in 1981, but decided he wasn’t going to overstay his welcome, retiring at age 35. With Tahiti, Wiens had a 159-140 record, 2.40 ERA, 2842.1 innings, 2806 strikeouts, and 60.6 WAR.

For his pro career, he finished with a 183-174 record, 2.52 ERA, 3320 innings, 3285 strikeouts, 500 walks, 291/400 quality starts, 117 complete games, 85 FIP-, and 64.9 WAR. Wiens is more towards the bottom of the Hall of Fame leaderboard statistically and didn’t have the dominant award winning seasons you’d expect from a guy who got in on the first ballot. Some felt he would’ve had more impressive accumulations if he hadn’t retired early. Enough voters were solid on his resume to give Wiens a first ballot nod at 83.9%.

12-23-2023, 12:27 PM	#813
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,249	1987 OBA Hall of Fame Pitcher Sebastian Wiens was the one addition to the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 1987, getting a first ballot induction at 83.9%. Two other pitchers on their sixth try came close, but just short of the 66% mark with Honore Waheo at 62.5% and Ryan Cudiaboo at 61.1%. The only other player above 50% was another pitcher with Kent Thackray at 57.9% for his third attempt. First baseman Dawson Schnee was dropped after ten failed attempts. He was an American player who spent his first chunk of his career as a lower-level MLB guy, coming to OBA at age 30. He won four Silver Sluggers and a MVP in a decade plus with five OBA teams and posted 1730 hits, 740 runs, 319 doubles, 247 home runs, 864 RBI, a .271/.316/.449 slash and 46.0 WAR. Schnee wasn’t around long enough or stuck with one team enough though to hit all the checkmarks to get the nod. He peaked at 40.7% on his fourth try and ended at 23.5%. Sebastian Wiens – Starting Pitcher – Tahiti Tropics – 83.9% First Ballot Sebastian Wiens was a 6’3’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from Des Moines, Iowa. He had very solid control, although his stuff and movement were often viewed as merely above average. Wiens’ velocity peaked at 94-96 mph, but he had a filthy changeup as his biggest out pitch. He mixed it with a fastball, cutter, and forkball. He had solid stamina later in his career and was a respectable defender, although considered poor at holding runners. Wiens was also very durable, which served him well in OBA’s unique four-man rotation setup. Like other American ballplayers, he wanted to success in America first. Wiens attended LSU in college but was a rather middling college pitcher with a 3.74 ERA over 187.2 innings. He was a late pick in the 1966 MLB Draft in the seventh round by Boston, 331^st overall. Wiens was cut after spring training though by the Red Sox and didn’t have any MLB teams chomping at the bit to sign him. He decided to look internationally to continue his career and OBA’s Auckland was willing to sign him to a developmental contract for 1967. Wiens made his OBA debut with a few forgettable appearances in 1968. He’d get a couple starts here and there with the Avengers, but was used more often out of the bullpen. In four years in Auckland, Wiens had a 3.20 ERA, 24-34 record, 477.2 innings, 479 strikeouts, and 4.3 WAR. At this point, he certainly wasn’t looking like someone destined for the Hall of Fame. Auckland decided to trade Wiens in the 1971 offseason to Tahiti, which began what would be his signature run. He showed a bit more potential in his debut season with the Tropics and began seeing more use. In July 1973, Wiens tossed a 10 strikeout no-hitter against Fiji. In 1974, he led the Pacific League with a career-best 1.81 ERA. This also began a streak of three consecutive PL titles for Tahiti, who won the OBA championship in 1975. Wiens was moved more to the bullpen in 1975, but still had regular use. He was back with a solid starting role in 1976 and had a career best 10.4 WAR, earning third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Wiens was third again in 1977, but never won the top prize. He threw his second no-no in 1977, fanning 10 versus Guam. Wiens in the postseason had a 1.95 ERA over 32.1 innings with 32 strikeouts and 1.1 WAR, helping earn a spot in the hearts of Tahiti fans. His #22 uniform would later be retired by the franchise. The Tropics fell to the bottom of the standings to close the decade and Wiens was still working hard with 300+ inning seasons. He still had a solid 6.0 WAR season in 1981, but decided he wasn’t going to overstay his welcome, retiring at age 35. With Tahiti, Wiens had a 159-140 record, 2.40 ERA, 2842.1 innings, 2806 strikeouts, and 60.6 WAR. For his pro career, he finished with a 183-174 record, 2.52 ERA, 3320 innings, 3285 strikeouts, 500 walks, 291/400 quality starts, 117 complete games, 85 FIP-, and 64.9 WAR. Wiens is more towards the bottom of the Hall of Fame leaderboard statistically and didn’t have the dominant award winning seasons you’d expect from a guy who got in on the first ballot. Some felt he would’ve had more impressive accumulations if he hadn’t retired early. Enough voters were solid on his resume to give Wiens a first ballot nod at 83.9%. __________________ 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)