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FuzzyRussianHat · 04-14-2024, 05:01 AM

Two starting pitchers were first ballot inductees for the Eurasian Professional Baseball 2000 Hall of Fame class. Both with first ballot picks who got in firmly with Lukasz Oleksy at 97.6% and Sergei Maslovskiy at 93.1%. Fellow pitcher Maxim Aivazyan came close on his fifth try, but was still short with 60.5%. The other player above 50% was another pitcher; Petr Bidzinashvili at 53.0% on his third try.

Closer Ramazan Naumov was dropped after ten failed ballots, ending at 24.6% with a peak of 47.1% on his debut. He played with eight teams between EPB, OBA, CABA, and MLB. In EPB, he had 301 saves and 375 shutdowns, 1.97 ERA, 904 innings, 1204 strikeouts, 146 ERA+, and 27.7 WAR. Naumov didn’t have any Reliever of the Year awards or overly dominant seasons though. He didn’t have big enough accumulations or accolades to get across the line with the EPB voters.

Also dropped was 1B Matej Vodzak, who had a 14 year career mostly with Prague. He had one MVP and four Silver Sluggers, posting 1826 hits, 1036 runs, 554 home runs, 1201 RBI, a .238/.289/.502 slash, 145 wRC+, and 67.2 WAR. A very solid power hitter, but one whose accumulations were still a bit below some of EPB’s other notable sluggers of the era. Vodzak peaked at 28.6% in his debut and ended with only 9.0%.

Lukasz “Kingfish” Oleksy – Starting Pitcher – Warsaw Wildcats – 97.6% First Ballot

Lukasz Oleksy was a 6’0’’, 190 pound left-handed pitcher from Lodz in central Poland; the country’s fourth largest city with more than 650,000 inhabitants. Nicknamed “Kingfish,” Oleksy was a fireballer with a stellar 99-101 mph fastball. He had great stuff overall as he knew how to mix in a great slider and changeup as well. Oleksy had above average to good movement and control in his peak. He was excellent at holding runners and was considered a solid defensive pitcher. Oleksy had great durability and respectable stamina. Although a powerful pitcher, he was also considered very intelligent.

Oleksy’s powerful arm became very well known throughout Poland’s amateur baseball ranks. In the 1979 EPB Draft, Warsaw picked him eighth overall. However, Oleksy couldn’t come to terms with the Wildcats and wanted to give the college game a shot. Two years later in the 1981 draft, Warsaw again picked him, this time with the 15^th overall pick. Oleksy signed with the Wildcats and was an immediate starter.

His extra years in college served him very well, as Oleksy debuted with an all-time great rookie season, leading the European League in ERA at 1.52. Oleksy also had 10.4 WAR and 341 strikeouts, easily taking 1982 Rookie of the Year honors. He was the second-ever ROY winner to debut with a 10+ WAR season, behind only Ihor Polvaliy’s 10.5 WAR in 1975. Povaliy won Pitcher of the Year that season, but Oleksy didn’t crack the top three in a loaded field.

Oleksy was now Warsaw’s ace as they looked to become a contender in the tough North Division. In 1985, the Wildcats ended a four-year playoff drought, falling to Minsk in the ELCS. Oleksy was third in Pitcher of the Year voting, leading the European League with 360 strikeouts. Warsaw wisely gave Oleksy a five-year, $2,590,000 contract extension. He was also a regular for Team Poland in the World Baseball Championship. From 1981-93 in the WBC, he tossed 151.2 innings with a stellar 1.60 ERA, 214 strikeouts, 230 ERA+, and 6.7 WAR.

In 1986, Oleksy had a league and career-best 11.8 WAR season, yet amazingly wasn’t a Pitcher of the Year finalist. The next season, his 104 WAR and league-best 0.76 WHIP finally got him the top honor. He had six straight years worth 8+ WAR for the Wildcats. They began a playoff streak in 1988, although didn’t get to the finals during Oleksy’s run. In the playoffs, he had a 1.97 ERA over 64 innings with 97 strikeouts.

Oleksy signed a five-year, $3,900,000 extension with Warsaw in March 1990, seemingly committing for the long haul. That season saw a no-hitter against Kyiv with nine strikeouts and two walks. Shockingly, that was his final year with the Wildcats. Hoping that better batting might get them over the playoff hump, Oleksy was traded straight up to Bucharest for 1B Babemba Ouattara. For his Warsaw tenure, he had a 161-70 record, 2362.1 innings, 3109 strikeouts, 147 ERA+, and 80.4 WAR.

Oleksy looked great in his Bucharest debut, leading in ERA in 1991. He had three great seasons with the Broncos and had 10 scoreless playoff innings in 1991. However, Bucharest would just miss the playoffs in the next two seasons. It stunned everyone, Oleksy included, when his velocity plummeted in 1994. Without a major injury, he now had trouble hitting beyond the low 90s. Bucharest only used him for 11.2 innings all season and he retired that winter at age 36. With the Broncos, Oleksy had a 42-30 record, 1.80 ERA, 735.2 innings, 915 strikeouts, and 25.6 WAR. Warsaw would bring him in soon after and retire his #38.

For his career, Oleksy had a 203-100 record, 1.91 ERA, 3098 innings, 4024 strikeouts, 537 walks, 317/384 quality starts, 102 complete games, 149 ERA+, 58 FIP- and 106.0 WAR. At induction, he was 12^th among pitchers in career WAR and 23^rd in strikeouts. Notably, at induction he had the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher in the HOF and as of 2037, is one of only five starters with a sub-two ERA. If anything, Oleksy seems to have been greatly under-rated in his time. The voters knew the truth though, giving him a slam dunk first ballot induction at 97.6%.

Sergei Maslovskiy – Starting Pitcher – Kyiv Kings – 93.1% First Ballot

Sergei Maslovskiy was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Horlivka, Ukraine; a city with around 240,000 people in the eastern Donetsk Oblast. Maslovskiy was known for having excellent movement and very good stuff, although his control was below average. His fastball regularly was in the 97-99 mph range and was mixed with three other equally potent pitches in a curveball, changeup, and splitter. Maslovskiy had good stamina and durability and was also considered a strong defensive pitcher.

In the 1981 EPB Draft, Maslovskiy was picked 28^th overall by Kyiv. He spent his entire pro career in the Ukrainian capital, debuting as a part-time starter in 1982. He was a full-time member of the rotation after for the next 12 seasons. Maslovskiy also pitched in the World Baseball Championship for Ukraine from 1984-94. In 152.2 WBC innings, he had a 3.30 ERA, 190 strikeouts, 1132 ERA+, and 4.6 WAR.

Kyiv was a regular contender during his tenure, making the playoffs 11 times in his 13 year career. The Kings won the European League title in Maslovskiy’s rookie season, although he wasn’t used in the playoff run. He’d be an important part of the next year’s run as they won the EPB title against Bishkek. Kyiv won the title again in 1986, 1986, and 1992; giving Maslovskiy four rings. In his playoff career, he had a 2.33 ERA, 13-10 record over 27 starts, 205 innings, 215 strikeouts, 121 ERA+, and 4.4 WAR.

Maslovskiy wasn’t generally a league leader, but he was consistently very good. He took third in 1986 Pitcher of the Year voting, third in 1987, and second in 1989. In 1988, Maslovskiy tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and one walk against Budapest. After the 1987 season, Maslovskiy signed a five-year, $3,196,000 extension with Kyiv.

In 1992 at age 33, he had the best year of his career and an all-time great season. Maslovskiy led the European League in ERA (1.14) and WAR (11.0); his only time leading in a major stat. The 1.14 ERA set the EPB record by a starter and would only get passed once in the next 50 years. This earned Maslovskiy his first Pitcher of the Year and a third place in MVP voting. He also had a 1.95 ERA over four playoff starts, helping Kyiv win the championship. In the midst of this historic season, the Kings signed Maslovskiy to a five-year, $4,000,000 extension.

Maslovskiy was great the next year and still pretty good in 1994, but his velocity started to dip. He didn’t suffer a notable injury, but he came into spring training 1995 looking completely cooked. Previously someone regularly hitting the upper 90s, he now barely could get to 90 mph. Maslovskiy was on roster for the entire 1995 season, but wasn’t used as he couldn’t get his mojo back. He retired that winter at age 36 and Kyiv immediately retired his #20 uniform.

For his career, Maslovskiy had a 212-110 record, 2.12 ERA, 3239.1 innings, 3644 strikeouts, 734 walks, 325/400 quality starts, 114 complete games, 134 ERA+, 71 FIP-, and 89.6 WAR. His 1992 effort remains a legendary season and Maslovskiy was a big part of Kyiv’s championships throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He’s not at the very top of the statistical leaderboard, but he was an easy first ballot Hall of Fame choice at 93.1%.

04-14-2024, 05:01 AM	#1152
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,897	2000 EPB Hall of Fame Two starting pitchers were first ballot inductees for the Eurasian Professional Baseball 2000 Hall of Fame class. Both with first ballot picks who got in firmly with Lukasz Oleksy at 97.6% and Sergei Maslovskiy at 93.1%. Fellow pitcher Maxim Aivazyan came close on his fifth try, but was still short with 60.5%. The other player above 50% was another pitcher; Petr Bidzinashvili at 53.0% on his third try. Closer Ramazan Naumov was dropped after ten failed ballots, ending at 24.6% with a peak of 47.1% on his debut. He played with eight teams between EPB, OBA, CABA, and MLB. In EPB, he had 301 saves and 375 shutdowns, 1.97 ERA, 904 innings, 1204 strikeouts, 146 ERA+, and 27.7 WAR. Naumov didn’t have any Reliever of the Year awards or overly dominant seasons though. He didn’t have big enough accumulations or accolades to get across the line with the EPB voters. Also dropped was 1B Matej Vodzak, who had a 14 year career mostly with Prague. He had one MVP and four Silver Sluggers, posting 1826 hits, 1036 runs, 554 home runs, 1201 RBI, a .238/.289/.502 slash, 145 wRC+, and 67.2 WAR. A very solid power hitter, but one whose accumulations were still a bit below some of EPB’s other notable sluggers of the era. Vodzak peaked at 28.6% in his debut and ended with only 9.0%. Lukasz “Kingfish” Oleksy – Starting Pitcher – Warsaw Wildcats – 97.6% First Ballot Lukasz Oleksy was a 6’0’’, 190 pound left-handed pitcher from Lodz in central Poland; the country’s fourth largest city with more than 650,000 inhabitants. Nicknamed “Kingfish,” Oleksy was a fireballer with a stellar 99-101 mph fastball. He had great stuff overall as he knew how to mix in a great slider and changeup as well. Oleksy had above average to good movement and control in his peak. He was excellent at holding runners and was considered a solid defensive pitcher. Oleksy had great durability and respectable stamina. Although a powerful pitcher, he was also considered very intelligent. Oleksy’s powerful arm became very well known throughout Poland’s amateur baseball ranks. In the 1979 EPB Draft, Warsaw picked him eighth overall. However, Oleksy couldn’t come to terms with the Wildcats and wanted to give the college game a shot. Two years later in the 1981 draft, Warsaw again picked him, this time with the 15^th overall pick. Oleksy signed with the Wildcats and was an immediate starter. His extra years in college served him very well, as Oleksy debuted with an all-time great rookie season, leading the European League in ERA at 1.52. Oleksy also had 10.4 WAR and 341 strikeouts, easily taking 1982 Rookie of the Year honors. He was the second-ever ROY winner to debut with a 10+ WAR season, behind only Ihor Polvaliy’s 10.5 WAR in 1975. Povaliy won Pitcher of the Year that season, but Oleksy didn’t crack the top three in a loaded field. Oleksy was now Warsaw’s ace as they looked to become a contender in the tough North Division. In 1985, the Wildcats ended a four-year playoff drought, falling to Minsk in the ELCS. Oleksy was third in Pitcher of the Year voting, leading the European League with 360 strikeouts. Warsaw wisely gave Oleksy a five-year, $2,590,000 contract extension. He was also a regular for Team Poland in the World Baseball Championship. From 1981-93 in the WBC, he tossed 151.2 innings with a stellar 1.60 ERA, 214 strikeouts, 230 ERA+, and 6.7 WAR. In 1986, Oleksy had a league and career-best 11.8 WAR season, yet amazingly wasn’t a Pitcher of the Year finalist. The next season, his 104 WAR and league-best 0.76 WHIP finally got him the top honor. He had six straight years worth 8+ WAR for the Wildcats. They began a playoff streak in 1988, although didn’t get to the finals during Oleksy’s run. In the playoffs, he had a 1.97 ERA over 64 innings with 97 strikeouts. Oleksy signed a five-year, $3,900,000 extension with Warsaw in March 1990, seemingly committing for the long haul. That season saw a no-hitter against Kyiv with nine strikeouts and two walks. Shockingly, that was his final year with the Wildcats. Hoping that better batting might get them over the playoff hump, Oleksy was traded straight up to Bucharest for 1B Babemba Ouattara. For his Warsaw tenure, he had a 161-70 record, 2362.1 innings, 3109 strikeouts, 147 ERA+, and 80.4 WAR. Oleksy looked great in his Bucharest debut, leading in ERA in 1991. He had three great seasons with the Broncos and had 10 scoreless playoff innings in 1991. However, Bucharest would just miss the playoffs in the next two seasons. It stunned everyone, Oleksy included, when his velocity plummeted in 1994. Without a major injury, he now had trouble hitting beyond the low 90s. Bucharest only used him for 11.2 innings all season and he retired that winter at age 36. With the Broncos, Oleksy had a 42-30 record, 1.80 ERA, 735.2 innings, 915 strikeouts, and 25.6 WAR. Warsaw would bring him in soon after and retire his #38. For his career, Oleksy had a 203-100 record, 1.91 ERA, 3098 innings, 4024 strikeouts, 537 walks, 317/384 quality starts, 102 complete games, 149 ERA+, 58 FIP- and 106.0 WAR. At induction, he was 12^th among pitchers in career WAR and 23^rd in strikeouts. Notably, at induction he had the lowest ERA of any starting pitcher in the HOF and as of 2037, is one of only five starters with a sub-two ERA. If anything, Oleksy seems to have been greatly under-rated in his time. The voters knew the truth though, giving him a slam dunk first ballot induction at 97.6%. Sergei Maslovskiy – Starting Pitcher – Kyiv Kings – 93.1% First Ballot Sergei Maslovskiy was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Horlivka, Ukraine; a city with around 240,000 people in the eastern Donetsk Oblast. Maslovskiy was known for having excellent movement and very good stuff, although his control was below average. His fastball regularly was in the 97-99 mph range and was mixed with three other equally potent pitches in a curveball, changeup, and splitter. Maslovskiy had good stamina and durability and was also considered a strong defensive pitcher. In the 1981 EPB Draft, Maslovskiy was picked 28^th overall by Kyiv. He spent his entire pro career in the Ukrainian capital, debuting as a part-time starter in 1982. He was a full-time member of the rotation after for the next 12 seasons. Maslovskiy also pitched in the World Baseball Championship for Ukraine from 1984-94. In 152.2 WBC innings, he had a 3.30 ERA, 190 strikeouts, 1132 ERA+, and 4.6 WAR. Kyiv was a regular contender during his tenure, making the playoffs 11 times in his 13 year career. The Kings won the European League title in Maslovskiy’s rookie season, although he wasn’t used in the playoff run. He’d be an important part of the next year’s run as they won the EPB title against Bishkek. Kyiv won the title again in 1986, 1986, and 1992; giving Maslovskiy four rings. In his playoff career, he had a 2.33 ERA, 13-10 record over 27 starts, 205 innings, 215 strikeouts, 121 ERA+, and 4.4 WAR. Maslovskiy wasn’t generally a league leader, but he was consistently very good. He took third in 1986 Pitcher of the Year voting, third in 1987, and second in 1989. In 1988, Maslovskiy tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and one walk against Budapest. After the 1987 season, Maslovskiy signed a five-year, $3,196,000 extension with Kyiv. In 1992 at age 33, he had the best year of his career and an all-time great season. Maslovskiy led the European League in ERA (1.14) and WAR (11.0); his only time leading in a major stat. The 1.14 ERA set the EPB record by a starter and would only get passed once in the next 50 years. This earned Maslovskiy his first Pitcher of the Year and a third place in MVP voting. He also had a 1.95 ERA over four playoff starts, helping Kyiv win the championship. In the midst of this historic season, the Kings signed Maslovskiy to a five-year, $4,000,000 extension. Maslovskiy was great the next year and still pretty good in 1994, but his velocity started to dip. He didn’t suffer a notable injury, but he came into spring training 1995 looking completely cooked. Previously someone regularly hitting the upper 90s, he now barely could get to 90 mph. Maslovskiy was on roster for the entire 1995 season, but wasn’t used as he couldn’t get his mojo back. He retired that winter at age 36 and Kyiv immediately retired his #20 uniform. For his career, Maslovskiy had a 212-110 record, 2.12 ERA, 3239.1 innings, 3644 strikeouts, 734 walks, 325/400 quality starts, 114 complete games, 134 ERA+, 71 FIP-, and 89.6 WAR. His 1992 effort remains a legendary season and Maslovskiy was a big part of Kyiv’s championships throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He’s not at the very top of the statistical leaderboard, but he was an easy first ballot Hall of Fame choice at 93.1%. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)