[FuzzyRussianHat]

After nine times on the ballot, pitcher Vitorio Pinga earned a spot as the lone member of the 1988 Austronesia Professional Baseball Hall of Fame class. He barely crossed the 66% mark, but did so regardless at 67.3%. Fellow pitcher Kai Diaz barely missed out at 65.6% on his third attempt. Two others on their debut were above 50% with 1B Po-Yu Shao at 60.7% and closer Lee Tira at 57.3%.



SP Jonah Miranda was dropped after ten failed ballots, falling to 3.4% at the end with a peak of 23.0% on his second try. He was hurt by starting late with his official APB stats starting in 1965 and a bad injury in 1971. Still in a short burst, Miranda had a Pitcher of the Year award with a 110-66 record, 2.42 ERA, 1638.1 innings, 1630 strikeouts, and 46.6 WAR between Manila and Tainan. He didn’t have the tenure though to get the nod, although his numbers actually weren’t too dissimilar to Pinga’s.



Vitorio Pinga – Starting Pitcher – Medan Marlins – 67.3% First Ballot

Vitorio Pinga was a 5’10’’, 195 pound right-handed starting pitcher from the capital of the Philippines, Manila. Pinga was best known for having great movement on his pitches while having average stuff and below average control. He had a 95-97 mph fastball and a great splitter along with a good forkball and decent slider. Pinga had good stamina earlier in his career and was known as a strong defensive pitcher, winning a Gold Glove in 1968.

Pinga was already 26-years old and an established top pitcher throughout the Philippines when Austronesia Professional Baseball was formed for the 1965 season. He had numerous suitors and ultimately signed a two-year, $92,400 deal with Quezon. Pinga immediately was the ace for the Zombies, taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1965 with 8.0 WAR. He had three solid seasons with Quezon with a 61-29 record, 2.12 ERA, 836 innings, 784 strikeouts, and 22.5 WAR. Pinga led the Taiwan-Philippine Association in ERA in 1967. Pinga also pitched for his home country in the World Baseball Championship from 1966-71. He made 10 appearances for the Philippines with 55.2 innings, 3.88 ERA, and 48 strikeouts.

Quezon had three solid seasons to start APB, but fell short of Manila for the league title. After signing a one-year extension, Pinga entered free agency for 1968 at age 29. With more money available a few years into APB’s existence, Pinga scored a seven-year, $941,000 deal with Medan. He took second in Pitcher of the Year voting in his Marlins debut; the closest he’d come to winning the award. Medan won the Malacca League in 1968 and 1969, although they fell in the Sundaland Association Championship both seasons. Pinga’s playoff stats were forgettable with a 0-4 record and 3.20 ERA over 25.1 innings.

Pinga had four solid seasons with the Marlins, including a no-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk against Singapore on April 25, 1971. In 1972, Pinga’s production fell off and that summer, he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament. This knocked him out for the entire 1973 season. Pinga attempted a comeback in 1974 with limited use, but he tore the UCL again that summer. He was unsigned in 1975 and retired that winter at age 36.

Pinga’s final stats: 136-82 record, 2.19 ERA, 2066.1 innings, 1917 strikeouts, 485 walks, 194/251 quality starts, 92 complete games, 73 FIP-, and 53.1 WAR. It was a nice run over a short official career, although he still lacked any major awards or big statistical notes. The bar was lower for accumulations for the early Hall of Fame classes, but Pinga’s numbers weren’t enough for many voters. He debuted at 41.8% and bounced around between the 40-50% range for his first six ballots. Pinga surprised many with 62.2% on his seventh ballot, but dropped to 48.2% the next year. With a weak field in 1988 and some voters not wanting a blank ballot, Pinga got the boost to 67.3% to earn a ninth ballot induction.