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Two first basemen made up the 1992 Hall of Fame Class for the Central American Baseball Association. CABA home run king and RBI leader Solomon Aragon was nearly unanimous with 99.7% and was joined by Raioby Barajas, who also received a first ballot selection with 85.8%. CF Wilmer Mora missed out narrowly with 60.4% in his fifth ballot. The only other player above 50% was catcher Hansel Morel at 53.8% in his second attempt.



One player fell off the ballot after ten failed tries. Closer Emanuel Saucedo debuted at 30.8%, but only fell and ended at 5.7%. He won three Reliever of the Year awards and was dominant in six seasons with Jamaica, leading in saves four times. But the second half of his career was unremarkable and split between MLB and CABA. He had 254 saves, 2.21 ERA, 1167 strikeouts over 729.2 innings with 28.0 WAR over a split career.



Solomon Aragon – First Base – Mexico City Aztecs – 99.7% First Ballot

Solomon Aragon was a 6’7’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from San Lucas Sacatepequez; a town of around 20,000 people in south central Guatemala. The tall Aragon was one of the most consistent contact and power hitters of his era, regularly hitting around 40 home runs per year with around a .300 average and 30 doubles. Despite his strengths, he was merely okay at drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. Aragon was a slow and sluggish baserunner, but was considered a steady and average defender. He was exclusively a first baseman in his career and was an ironman. Aragon had a 20 year stretch with 140+ games and 135+ starts. A very hard worker, Aragon was one of the most popular players of his era in CABA.

Aragon was spotted in his late teens as a top prospect in Central America, getting picked 27^th by Honduras in the 1962 CABA Draft. He spent two seasons in the Horsemen’s developmental system and officially debuted at age 22 in 1965 with a few pinch hit appearances. This was near the end of their dynasty run and open spots in the lineup were hard to come by. Looking to extend their short-term competitive window, Aragon was traded before the 1966 season to Mexico City with another prospect in exchange for veteran catcher Enrique Ruiz.

Aragon would become a critical part of the dynasty run for the Aztecs, who would win seven consecutive Mexican League titles from 1967-73 with CABA championship rings in each season sans 1968. He was used as a pinch hitter primarily in 1966, but became the full-time starter from 1967 onward. Aragon won a batting title in 1969 and his first Silver Slugger in 1971. Although he didn’t win many regular season accolades with Mexico City, his postseason heroics would make him beloved by Aztecs fans.

Aragon was the 1968 MLCS MVP, 1970 CABA Championship MVP, 1972 MLCS MVP, and 1972 CABA Championship MVP. In total with Mexico City in the playoffs, he played 69 games with 84 hits, 46 runs, 16 doubles, 20 home runs, 62 RBI, a .332/.388/.632 slash, 188 wRC+, and 3.5 WAR. Aragon began getting more award attention by this point, taking second in 1971 and 1972 for league MVP voting. In total with the Aztecs, he had 1184 hits, 605 runs, 223 doubles, 244 home runs, 680 RBI, a .321/.378/.593 slash, and 42.3 WAR.

Although remembered by many as a key part of the Mexico City dynasty, Aragon’s run was only seven seasons. He would be gone for their final title in 1973, as he opted for free agency at 30. Aragon signed with Puerto Rico on an eight-year, $2,360,000 contract. The Pelicans run was his most impressive for individual accolades, winning Silver Sluggers in 1973, 74, 75, 76, and 79. Aragon was second in 1974’s MVP voting, but again fell short of the top award. He led the Caribbean League with a career best 138 RBI that year and matched his career high of 46 home runs. In 1976, he led in hits with 200 and led with 38 doubles in 1977.

Puerto Rico would make the CLCS in 1974, but were otherwise a middling franchise despite Aragon’s efforts. He continued his steady reliable efforts, posting 1299 hits, 628 runs, 199 doubles, 273 home runs, 779 RBI, a .307/.348/.562 slash, 147 wRC+, and 37.8 WAR. Aragon opted out of the final year of his contract and was a free agent again before the 1980 season. Now 37 years old, Santo Domingo signed him on a three-year, $1,314,000 deal.

Aragon’s signing helped put the Dolphins over the top, as they began their own dynasty run in the 1980s. Santo Domingo won five Caribbean League titles from 1981-85 and won the CABA title in 1982, 84, and 85. Aragon won Silver Slugger in 1981 (his seventh) and was the CLCS MVP in 1984. His numbers weren’t as dominant in this later run, but he was again steady and still very reliable even into his early 40s. Aragon signed a three-year extension after the 1982 season and ultimately played seven seasons with SD.

In the playoffs with the Dolphins, he had 65 starts, 54 hits, 27 runs, 10 doubles, 12 home runs, 38 RBI, a .214/.237/.405 slash and 0.5 WAR. Although less dominant than his Mexico City heroics, this helped Aragon emerge as CABA’s most prolific playoff hitter. He had eight CABA rings and 10 league titles to his name with 152 hits, 80 runs, 27 doubles, 33 home runs, 105 RBI, a .278/.317/.512 slash, and 4.4 WAR. At retirement, Aragon was the CABA playoff leader in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI. As of 2037, he still has the most RBI and remains top four in the other stats.

In total with Santo Domingo, Aragon had 1133 hits, 546 runs, 160 doubles, 255 home runs, 676 RBI, a .285/.315/.527 slash, 138 wRC+, and 28.5 WAR. He reached a number of impressive milestones with the Dolphins, becoming the third CABA hitter to 3500 hits, the third to 700 home runs, the third to 2000 RBI, and the seventh to 1500 runs scored.

In 1985, Aragon passed Prometheo Garcia as the CABA home run king (Garcia had more when counting his MLB run, but ended with 753 in CABA). He hit 44 home runs at age 42, but notably became the all-time leader despite never leading the league or hitting 50. Aragon was the model of consistency with ten seasons of 40+ homers. He finally struggled and was a sub-par hitter for the first time in 1986, but this final season allowed him to pass Wesley Dubar for the all-time RBI mark. Aragon retired after the season at age 44.

Aragon’s final stats: 3619 hits, 1780 runs, 585 doubles, 772 home runs, 2137 RBI, a .304/.347/.559 slash, 152 wRC+, and 108.7 WAR. At induction, he was CABA’s all-time leader in home runs, RBI, games played, and at-bats. He was fourth in runs scored, second in hits, and second in doubles. Despite those tallies, he was only 12^th in batting WAR, damaged by his poor baserunning, lack of walks, and average defense at first. As of 2037, Aragon is third in homers and RBI, fourth in hits, third in games played, and fourth in doubles. He was the model of consistency and reliability, as well as a clutch performer in the postseason, but the lack of MVPs and black ink keep him out of the GOAT hitter conversations despite the tallies. A true ironman, Aragon was a Hall of Fame lock at 99.7%.



Rafioby “Wall” Barajas – First Base – Hermosillo Hyenas – 85.8% First Ballot

Rafioby Barajas was a 6’2’’, 195 pound right-handed first baseman from Tehuacan, a city of around 250,000 people in the Mexican state of Puebla. At the plate, Barajas wasn’t incredible, but he was a reliable solid contact and power hitter. His career batting average was just below .300 while averaging around 30 home runs and 30 doubles per season. Barajas was middling at drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts and was also a slow baserunner. His nickname “Wall” came from his tremendous defense at first base. Barajas spent his entire career there and is considered by many as the greatest defensive 1B in CABA history. Like his Hall of Fame classmate Solomon Aragon, Barajas was also an ironman. He made 140+ starts in every season sans his final year.

Barajas was one of the premiere Mexican prospects in the 1968 CABA Draft. He was picked 4^th overall by Hermosillo and would spend his entire 18 year pro career with the Hyenas, becoming one of the most popular players in Mexican baseball. He was a full-time starter immediately and took second in 1969’s Rookie of the Year voting.

Barajas also won his first Gold Glove in 1969. He’d miss it in 1970, but would he’d rattle off 13 straight from 1971-83. As of 2037, his 14 Gold Gloves is the most for any CABA player at any position. As of 2037, Barajas is also one of only five players across all of the world leagues to have 14+ Gold Gloves specifically at first base. His 100.7 Zone Rating is the top mark at the position in CABA history by a strong margin (next closest is 69.8) and he’s the CABA leader in assists at first base with 1729.

His defense got a lot of deserved attention, but Barajas wasn’t a scrub as a hitter. He was never a league leader, but he won three Silver Sluggers at the competitive position, coming in 1972, 1974, and 1982. Barajas did not win MVP, but was third in 1972 voting. After that season, Hermosillo locked him up long-term with an eight-year, $2,812,000 contract extension. He was beloved by Hyenas fans and one of the few reasons to come to the ballpark, as Hermosillo consistently stunk in his tenure. From 1969-79, they had no playoff appearances and only twice finished above .500.

Barajas remained a steady presence into the 1980s and into his 30s as fortunes finally changed for Hermosillo. In 1980, the Hyenas snapped a 16-year playoff drought and won their first Mexican League pennant since 1947. From 1980-86, Hermosillo earned five playoff appearances with ML titles in 1980, 83, and 85; plus a CABA Championship in 1983. Barajas was MLCS MVP in 1980 and played a big role in their postseason success. In 57 playoff games, he had 63 hits, 33 runs, 11 doubles, 9 home runs, 45 RBI, a .292/.328/.495 slash, and 2.1 WAR.

That run cemented his status as a beloved figure in Mexican baseball, helping turn a begotten franchise into a winner. In his later years, he also played for Mexico in the World Baseball Championship, earning nationwide appreciation. In 96 starts from 1978-84, Barajas had 91 hits, 64 runs, 14 doubles, 35 home runs, 74 RBI, a .269/.346/.627 slash, and 4.8 WAR. He also had a World Championship ring, helping the Mexican team to the 1978 title.

Barajas’ longevity got him to milestones late in his run, crossing 1500 RBI in 1984, 500 home runs in 1985, and 3000 hits in 1986. He ended up splitting time in the lineup in his final year of 1986 despite seemingly still having similar success to his prior years. Barajas became a free agent after the season and wanted to carry on, but he couldn’t find a suitor in 1987. He retired that winter at age 41.

Barajas final stats: 3011 hits, 1329 runs, 485 doubles, 516 home runs, 1697 RBI, a .296/.340/.507 slash, 150 wRC+, and 95.5 WAR. At induction, he was seventh all-time in hits, sixth in RBI, and 20^th in hitting WAR. Barajas took a different path to greatness than his HOF classmate Aragon, but he also had an impressive career and played a big role in the postseason. Hermosillo retired his #36 uniform and he remains the franchise leader in games played and hits as of 2037. Only a small group of voters held his lack of offensive accolades against him, as Barajas was a first ballot selection at 85.8%.