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The 1996 East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame class was a historic one with six different players earning induction. There had been five player classes before, but never before in any world league had there been a six player group. All six got it on their first ballot too, although at different intervals. The top marks went to SP Katsuo Nakayama (93.7%), RF Jun-Seong Gwan (93.7%), and SP Fumihiko Ueda (93.3%). CL Hagane Miya****a at 85.3% and SS Sol Kim at 78.3% were both pretty solidly in as well. RF Hiroshi Koike was the one who got in by the thinnest margin, but his nice 69.0% got across the 66% requirement. One other player got above 50% with LF Jay-Hoon Cho debuting with 55.7%. No players were dropped after ten tries and the best mark for a returner was a lowly 28.3%.



Katsuo Nakayama – Starting Pitcher – Tokyo Tides – 93.7% First Ballot

Katsuo Nakayama was a 6’5’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Kashiwa, a city of around 430,000 people in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture. Nakayama was known for having great control of his arsenal with solid movement and above average stuff. His fastball regularly hit the 97-99 mph range and was mixed with a curveball, splitter, and changeup. Nakayama was a good defensive pitcher and was a master at holding runners. He had strong stamina and was known for great durability, pitching 200+ innings in all but two of his 20 seasons. The knock on Nakayama was that he was a mercenary type who lacked loyalty. He didn’t end up staying in any one place too long throughout his career.

Nakayama’s talent was undeniable as he dominated college competition with Hosei University in Kawasaki. Tokyo picked him with the #1 overall pick in the 1970 EAB Draft and used him mostly as a reliever in his rookie season. Nakayama struggled as a rookie and was below average in his second year as a full-time starter. He would put it together and become a solid presence at the top of the rotation soon after. In 1975, Nakayama posted a 2.38 ERA and earned the Japan League Pitcher of the Year.

Nakayama played a notable role as Tokyo was a contender in the 1970s. The Tides earned four playoff berths from 1973-77 and won the JL pennant in 1973 and 1975, although Daegu dropped them both times in the East Asian Championship. Nakayama had a 2.98 ERA over 57.1 playoff innings with 44 strikeouts and 1.0 WAR. In total with Tokyo, he had a 92-79 record, 3.34 ERA, 1524 innings, 1355 strikeouts, and 26.0 WAR. The Tides wanted to keep him and hopefully keep contending, but Nakayama was excited to test free agency. At Age 30, he signed a four-year, $1,392,000 deal with Kitakyushu.

Nakayama led the Japan League in ERA with 2.36 in 1978, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. This was his only time in his career leading a major category, but he was fairly consistently making top tens. The Kodiaks made the JLCS in 1978 and 1979, but were denied both times. Although Nakayama had a 4-1 record in the playoffs with Kitakyushu, that was a misnomer as he struggled to a 4.42 ERA. They dropped below .500 in 1980 and were sellers at the trade deadline. Nakayama’s two-and-a-half seasons with the Kodiaks saw a 34-29 record, 3.10 ERA, 652.2 innings, 642 strikeouts, and 14.8 WAR.

Kitakyushu sent Nakayama to Sapporo for three prospects. The Swordfish made it to the JLCS in 1980, falling to Fukuoka. They made it back in 1981 and won the EAB Championship. Nakayama had a huge part in the title run with a 1.85 ERA and 4-1 record over six playoff starts with 36 strikeouts over 48.2 innings and 1.0 WAR. He also won his second Pitcher of the Year in 1981, posting a career-best 2.20 ERA. This was a contract year for Nakayama and he delivered, deciding to leave Sapporo for free agency again at age 34.

Nakayama’s big payday came from Yokohama on a five-year, $2,950,000 deal. He spent four seasons with the Yellow Jackets, who were middling at this point. Nakayama did his part with a 3.21 ERA, 23.2 WAR, 1058 innings, 52-56 record, and 939 strikeouts in that tenure. Before the final year of his deal, Yokohama traded him to Nagoya for two prospects. He had one respectable year with the Nightowls, then entered free agency again at age 39.

Despite his age, Nakayama remained steady and continued to give you consistent innings. Sapporo brought him back in on a two year deal and he posted a strong 6.0 WAR season in 1988. The Swordfish continued a playoff streak in his return, but they couldn’t get out of the first round. For his two runs, he had a 2.33 ERA over 85 playoff innings, 73 strikeouts, and 1.9 WAR. Between the stints with Sapporo, Nakayama had a 58-24 record, 2.61 ERA, 863 innings, 759 strikeouts, and 17.6 WAR. His brief times there were easily his most effective and impactful, although Nakayama was inducted with Tokyo based on that being his longest tenure by a notable margin.

Nakayama was a free agent yet again for 1989 at age 41 and signed with Osaka. By WAR, his 1989 was impressively a career best 6.9 despite his age. Nakayama again stepped up in the postseason, going 3-1 over 31 innings with a 2.03 ERA and 22 strikeouts. This helped the Orange Sox claim the 1989 EAB title. He also earned his 14th playoff win, which tied Nakayama for the EAB postseason record. For his playoff career, he was 14-7 with a 2.83 ERA, 210 innings, 173 strikeouts, and 4.2 WAR. At induction, Nakayama had the most playoff innings and second most pitching WAR.

Age finally caught up to Nakayama in 1990 as he struggled to a 3.93 ERA, 108 strikeouts, and 1.9 WAR; the worst numbers he had posted since the beginning of his career. His stamina and control were still great, but his velocity plummeted from the 93-95 mph range in his later years to 86-88 mph at the end. Nakayama wouldn’t be used in the 1990 postseason and opted to retire that winter at age 42.

The final stats for Nakayama saw a 279-228 record, 3.14 ERA, 4858.1 innings, 4208 strikeouts, 722 walks, 394/595 quality starts, 86 FIP-, and 94.3 WAR. With his impressive longevity, at induction he was sixth all-time in wins, 10th in strikeouts, and 11th in pitching WAR. Nakayama’s playoff accolades with multiple teams was impressive as well. He wasn’t overly dominant and he didn’t stay long enough to be any franchise’s icon, but his Hall of Fame bonafides were clear and he was a first ballot pick at 93.7% atop the loaded 1996 EAB class.



Jun-Seong Gwan – Right Field/Designated Hitter – Daegu Diamondbacks – 93.7% First Ballot

Jun-Seong Gwan was a 5’9’’, 185 pound left-handed right fielder from Seongnam, South Korea. Gwan was renowned for having a terrific eye as one of the all-time best at drawing walks. He was also an above average contact hitter and had solid home run power despite his smaller frame. Gwan averaged around 30-40 home runs per season, but only around 20 doubles. He was a painfully slow and poor baserunner with awful range defensively. Gwan made about half of his starts in right field with around 40% as a designated hitter and most of the rest at first base. In any spot, his defense was abysmal, but Gwan’s durability and ability to get on base still made him a very valuable player.

Gwan left South Korea to play college baseball at Chuo University in greater Tokyo. He impressed pro scouts across East Asia and was picked fifth overall in the 1968 EAB Draft by Daegu. The Diamondbacks kept Gwan in the developmental system in 1969, then used him sparingly in 1970. He was a full-time starter in 1971, although shoulder inflammation cost him a big chunk of the season. Still, Gwan had 29 home runs and 4.7 WAR in only 113 games, showing his big time potential as a hitter.

1972 saw Gwan lead the Korea League in runs (107) and walks (77). He put up regular solid production as Daegu began their dynasty in the 1970s. He won Silver Sluggers in 1973 and 1974, plus took third in MVP voting in 1974. The Diamondbacks would make the playoffs seven straight seasons from 1973-79. They won five KL pennants (1973, 74, 75, 76, 78) and took the EAB Championship in 1973 and 1975. Gwan stepped up in the playoffs, winning the 1976 KLCS MVP. In the postseason with Daegu, he made 67 starts, 73 hits, 39 runs, 16 home runs, 36 RBI, a .299/.369/.533 slash, 149 wRC+, and 2.6 WAR.

The Diamondbacks signed Gwan to a six-year, $2,400,000 extension just before the 1976 season. He also made some appearances with South Korea in the World Baseball Championship. From 1972-79 and then from 89-91, he had 70 games and 39 starts in the WBC with 36 hits, 27 runs, 19 home runs, 34 RBI, a .222/.335/.580 slash and 2.1 WAR.

Daegu’s dynasty ended as the 1980s dawned. They didn’t fall to the bottom of the standings, but they would be stuck in the mid-tier outside of the playoff picture. Gwan remained a popular player, but 1982 was the final year of his deal and they weren’t expected to contend. At the trade deadline, the Diamondback sent Gwan to Changwon for pitchers Sang-Cheon Moon and Jung-Nam Pak. After finishing the season with the Crabs, Gwan was a free agent for the first time at age 35.

Gwan would sign for 1983 with Gwangju, but posted the worst full season of his career. Daegu brought him back in 1984 and he bounced back with a respectable season. The Diamondbacks would later retire Gwan’s #5 uniform and between the two stints, he had 2006 hits, 1129 runs, 233 doubles, 434 home runs, 1241 RBI, 951 walks, a .292/.377/.524 slash, and 55.7 WAR.

Gwan managed to have a bit of a renaissance in his final few seasons, leading the league in walks drawn thrice. He signed a three-year deal for 1985 with Incheon, but was traded before the 1986 campaign to Daejeon. In his second season with the Ducks, he posted 35 home runs and 4.6 WAR despite only playing 124 games because of a stretched elbow ligament. That earned Gwan his third Silver Slugger.

He was a free agent again at age 40 and coming off a major injury, but Seoul signed Gwan to a three-year, $2,850,000 deal. He had two great years with the Seahawks, even leading the Korea League with a career best .415 OBP in 1989. Gwan was third in MVP voting at age 41. He also crossed the 1500 runs scored, 3000 hits, and 600 home run milestones in Seoul. Gwan would fall off in his final season with the Seahawks, entering free agency for 1991. He played in that year’s WBC, but couldn’t find an EAB home. Gwan retired at age 44 that winter.

For his career, Kwan had 3034 hits, 1698 runs, 366 doubles, 663 home runs, 1841 RBI, 1547 walks, a .285/.375/.513 slash, 143 wRC+, and 80.0 WAR. His 1547 walks was second-most all-time in EAB behind Ji-U Shin’s 1549. At induction, he was 15th in hits, seventh in runs, 11th in home runs, and eighth in RBI. Gwan put together very solid hitting accolades over a lengthy career and was a big part of Daegu’s 1970s dynasty. This gave Gwan the first ballot induction at 93.7%.



Fumihiko Ueda – Starting Pitcher – Osaka Orange Sox – 93.3% First Ballot

Fumihiko Ueda was a 6’2’’, 190 pound left-handed pitcher from Hamura, a city with around 57,000 people within the Tokyo metropolis. Ueda was known for having great stuff despite only having a fastball peaking in the 91-93 mph range. He was great at changing speeds between that, his slider, and changeup. Ueda did have poor movement and had trouble allowing home runs. His control was respectable with very reliable stamina. Ueda was also an ironman who never missed a start to injury, which made him a reliable arm despite his flaws.

Ueda was noticed as a talent at Nichidai Fujisawa High School. He was picked in the second round of the 1970 EAB Draft, 43rd overall, by Osaka. Despite it being his most famous team and who drafted him, Ueda didn’t actually debut with the Orange Sox. He only spent a few months in the developmental system before being traded in the summer of 1971. Osaka sent him and reliever Woo-Jong Son to Fukuoka for veteran 2B Seiichi Chiba. Ueda spent 1972 in developmental and debuted in 1973 at age 20 with four relief appearances.

Ueda struggled as a part-time starter in 1974. The Frogs made him a full-time starter the next year and he held that role for the rest of his Fukuoka tenure. He was steady for a struggling Fukuoka franchise, but then broke out along with the Frogs in 1980. Ueda led the Japan League with a career best 350 strikeouts and had a career best 9.2 WAR. Fukuoka earned its first playoff berth since 1929 and went on a surprise run all the way to the EAB title. Ueda had a strong postseason with a 2.48 ERA over 40 innings with 41 strikeouts.

For his Fukuoka tenure, Ueda had an 84-78 record, 3.56 ERA, 1566 innings, 1781 strikeouts, and 31.2 WAR. He had this breakout season in a contract year and decided to cash in on free agency at age 28. Ueda went back where he was drafted on a seven-year, $3,458,000 deal with Osaka. He was a bit iffy initially with the Orange Sox, but improved his strikeouts and ERA later in the run. In 1985, he was third in Pitcher of the Year voting, his only time as a finalist for the award. That season, he led the JL in wins at 20-7.

1985 also saw Osaka end a 27 year postseason drought. The Orange Sox led the league at 104-58 and went onto win it all. Ueda had a tremendous postseason, going 3-0 in four starts with a 1.16 ERA over 31 innings and 33 strikeouts. His playoff starts were less impressive in Osaka’s 1986 and 1987 efforts, going one-and-done both years. For his playoff career though, Ueda had a 2.71 ERA over 86.1 innings with 84 strikeouts. In total with the Orange Sox, Ueda had a 120-75 record, 2.81 ERA, 1792.1 innings, 2118 strikeouts, and 31.1 WAR.

A free agent again at age 35, Ueda inked a three-year, $2,790,000 deal with Kawasaki. He led the league in strikeouts in his first season as a Killer Whale, posting his fifth 300+ K season. Ueda was closer to average the next year, then found himself moved out of the rotation during the 1990 season. He would pass the 4500 strikeout milestone, becoming only the fourth to do so in EAB. Ueda retired after the 1990 campaign at age 38. In his three seasons with Kawasaki, he had a 30-33 record, 3.02 ERA, 604.1 innings, 678 strikeouts, and 10.7 WAR.

Ueda’s career stats were a 234-186 record, 3.14 ERA, 3962.2 innings, 4577 strikeouts, 874 walks, 316/503 quality starts, 117 complete games, 88 FIP-, and 73.0 WAR. He quietly climbed the strikeout chart and still sits seventh best as of 2037. Ueda did lack the dominance or advanced stats that most Hall of Fame pitchers have. However, lots of strikeouts, longevity, and two impressive postseason runs made Ueda a lock for most voters, putting him in at 93.3% as the third member of the six-player 1996 class.