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Ural Atabekov – Starting Pitcher – Tbilisi Trains – 86.8% First Ballot

Ural Atabekov was a 6’4’’, 205 pound left-handed pitcher from the capital of Russia, Moscow. Atabekov was known for having excellent stuff with above average to sometimes good movement and control. His fastball was regularly 97-99 mph, mixed with a very good slider and changeup. Atabekov’s stamina was above average and he was great at holding runners. He also had great durability and avoided major injuries until his later years.

The downside is that Atabekov was not well liked by teammates and management. Words like “lazy,” “greedy,” “disloyal”, and “dumb,” were among those often ascribed to him. Still, Atabekov had an impressive skillset and managed to have an excellent career despite his personality traits.

Growing up in Moscow, you’re able to earn plenty of attention if you’re good. Atabekov did that as a teenager and a visiting Georgian scout was impressed. He signed the then teenaged- Atabekov in the summer of 1983 to a developmental deal with Tbilisi. He would make his debut at age 22 in 1989 as a part-time starter. Atabekov earned a full-time spot in the rotation for the next eight years for the Trains.

Atabekov was merely average in his first couple of years, but started to look more like an ace as time went on. He took third in Pitcher of the Year voting in both 1993 and 1995, then took second in 1996. The 1996 season was an impressive 10.0 WAR effort with a career-best 1.55 ERA. Atabekov also led in wins in 1994, K/BB and shutouts in 1995, and quality starts in 1996.

Tbilisi had been a terrible team for most of Atabekov’s run, although they broke a 17-year playoff drought in 1993. They got to the Asian League Championship Series that year, but fell to eventual EPB champ Irkutsk. Atabekov had a 2.52 ERA over 25 playoff innings. The Trains were out of the absolute cellar for Atabekov’s remaining years, but couldn’t get back to the playoffs. This was part of the reason he was reluctant to re-sign, although part of it was wanting the big free agency paycheck.

Atabekov’s stock was at an all-time high after his contract year in 1996, entering free agency at age 30. For his Tbilisi tenure, Atabekov had a 128-95 record, 2.44 ERA, 2133.1 innings, 2329 strikeouts, 380 walks, 120 ERA+, and 45.7 WAR. He wouldn’t have much of a relationship with the franchise after that and never saw his number retired, in part because he was an unlikeable jerk.

Still, he was a talented jerk and Warsaw was the buyer, signing Atabekov to a six-year, $12,240,000 deal. The Wildcats were in the midst of a nine-year playoff streak with three pennants and an EPB title from 1993-95. They hoped Atabekov could get them back to playoff success after a one-and-done in the 1996 season.

Warsaw kept their playoff streak alive in their final three years in EPB, although they had two one-and-dones and an ALCS defeat. Atabekov lived up to the deal though with three straight 8+ WAR seasons, including a 10.2 WAR 1999. His playoff numbers weren’t great though with a 4.06 ERA over 37.2 innings with 36 strikeouts and a 70 ERA+.

1999 included his lone-time leading the league in strikeouts with a career best 387, as well as a career best in wins (23-8) and near best in ERA (1.56). That was the closest he came to the top honor, finishing second in Pitcher of the Year and third in MVP voting. Atabekov was also second in 1998’s POTY voting, a season that featured a no-hitter on May 20 with nine strikeouts and three walks with Bratislava.

1999 marked the end of his EPB run, as Warsaw left in the exodus to the European Baseball Federation. Atabekov finished in EPB with a 189-123 record, 2.29 ERA, 2960.2 innings, 3420 strikeouts, 549 walks, 126 ERA+, 76 FIP-, and 73.2 WAR. The advanced stats are pretty favorable, even if he didn’t have the top award or big accumulations to go with it. Despite being a jerk, Atabekov’s resume impressed the EPB voters enough for a first ballot addition at 86.8% as the third member of the seven-man 2005 class.

He pitched two more years for Warsaw in the EBF and was still quite good, although not elite. Atabekov declined his contract option and was an EBF free agent for the first time at age 35. Birmingham gave him a three-year, $12,360,000 deal, but his stay in England went poorly. Shoulder inflammation in both 2002 and 2003 cost him significant time and productivity.

He only had 163.1 innings in two years with the Bees, posting a 3.91 ERA, 5-11 record, 146 strikeouts, 92 ERA+, and 2.2 WAR. Atabekov was let go and signed a one-year deal for 2004 with Stockholm. He made a couple starts and a few relief appearances with unremarkable results, posting 0.1 WAR in 93.1 innings. Atabekov retired that winter at age 38. His EBF tenure had a 38-36 record, 3.04 ERA, 733.1 innings, 747 strikeouts, 121 ERA+, and 14.2 WAR.

For his entire pro career, Atabekov had a 227-159 record, 2.44 ERA, 3694 innings, 4167 strikeouts, 727 walks, 330/442 quality starts, 188 complete games, 125 ERA+, and 87.4 WAR. With the full career, you can see why most were inclined to put Atabekov in, warts and all. Even the EPB numbers with a few less years of accumulations got him across the line fairly easily.



Fyodor “Big Cat” Dolmatov – Starting Pitcher – Kazan Crusaders – 85.2% First Ballot

Fyodor Dolmatov was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Nevinmomyssk, a city of around 118,000 in southern Russia’s Stavropol Krai. Dolmatov had great stuff, along with very good movement and control. His fastball hit the 97-99 mph range regularly, although a similarly fast cutter was his strongest pitch. Dolmatov also had a nice changeup to keep batters off balance. Both his stamina and durability were considered quite good, as was his defense.

Dolmatov was a popular player with fans but was especially appreciated by teammates. He was known as a team captain with excellent leadership, loyalty, and work ethic. Considered a true titan of a man, Dolmatov earned the affectionate nickname “Big Cat” for his status in the clubhouse.

The Big Cat had plenty of attention on him as he entered the 1988 EPB Draft, getting selected by Kazan with the 14^th overall pick. His first three years were maybe the most impressive three years ever seen by a pitcher-ever, posting 12.0 WAR, 12.5 WAR, and 10.7 WAR. Dolmatov led in FIP- each of those years and led in strikeouts in both 1990 and 1991.

The 12.0 WAR was the third-most in world history by a Rookie of the Year winner, only behind West African Baseball Hall of Famer Kouadio Diao’s 13.7 in 1977 and the Asian Baseball Federation’s Vahid Hadadi with 12.4 in 1990. With some intense competition among EPB pitchers though, this surprisingly didn’t make a big blip. Dolmatov wasn’t even a finalist for Pitcher of the Year any of those years. Kazan being stuck in the middle of the standings didn’t help Dolmatov get the recognition.

The advanced stats showed that he continued to be an absolute beast. He led in strikeouts once more in 1992, also leading that year in quality starts and complete games. He was WARlord again in 1997 at 11.9, his seventh season with 10+ in nine years with Kazan. His two “down years” were still worth 9.5 and 7.6. Still, he never won Pitcher of the Year, but did take third in 1993, second in 1994, and third in 1997. 1994 also featured a 45-inning scoreless streak. The Crusaders signed Dolmatov to a four-year, $6,460,000 extension after the 1994 season.

Dolmatov was also a captain for Russia from 1989-2002 in the World Baseball Championship, which made him one of the country’s most respected players. He posted a 20-7 record over 244.1 innings with a 2.65 ERA, 329 strikeouts, 55 walks, 136 ERA+, and 7.7 WAR. Dolmatov was a beast in 1990, which saw Russia fall in the final to Brazil. He had a 0.84 ERA and 59 strikeouts over 43 innings worth 2.2 WAR and a 5-1 record.

His chances to step up in the big game were limited with Kazan. The Crusaders wee a wild card in 1994, but went one-and-done. They were a wild card again in 1997, but one at 107-55 in a loaded European League. The Crusaders went on a run and won the EPB Championship over Irkutsk. In five playoff starts, Dolmatov had a 1.99 ERA over 40.2 innings, 49 strikeouts, and 1.6 WAR. That run alone was a big reason why Dolmatov’s #20 uniform would be retired.

That 1997 season also featured an impressive 16 strikeout, one walk no-hitter on May 24 against Bratislava. Dolmatov was at a career peak here it seemed, but decided to decline his contract option year and become a free agent. This ended the EPB and Kazan run for Dolmatov, who felt like he had little more to accomplish in EPB. Although the exodus was still a few years away, he also felt the rumblings of discontent within EPB and the post-Soviet world.

With Kazan, Dolmatov had a 163-113 record, 2.07 ERA, 2588.1 innings, 3288 strikeouts, 417 walks, 240/296 quality starts, 177 complete games, 137 ERA+, 53 FIP-, and 96.5 WAR. The advanced stats really pump up how tremendous he was in only a nine year run, sitting 23^rd all-time as of 2037 in pitching WAR. Later scholars really pump Dolmatov up as an all-time under-rated player, but he was still appreciated enough to still earn the first ballot nod at 85.2%. Dolmatov was the fourth-highest vote getter of the massive 2005 EPB class.

Like many of his classmates, his career continued beyond EPB. A free agent at age 32, Dolmatov signed with MLB’s Memphis Mountain cats for 1998 on a five-year, $18,800,000 deal. He didn’t adjust to the majors particularly well, although he ate innings in four years for Memphis. Dolmatov had a below average debut and around average second year. He did have a quite solid third season, but struggled in year four.

The run did have a big highlight on July 26, 2000; a no-hitter with five strikeouts against Phoenix. That made Dolmatov one of a very select few to throw a no-hitter in multiple world leagues. In total with Memphis, Dolmatov had a 52-70 record, 3.86 ERA, 1105.1 innings, 794 strikeouts, 283 walks, 100 ERA+, and 10.8 WAR. He executed his option year for 2000 in the contract, but Memphis decided to cut him a few weeks later.

Dolmatov signed with Nashville to start 2002, but was cut at the end of spring training. Atlanta picked him up, but he mainly stayed in the minors with only nine relief appearances. The Aces cut him in July and he was employed by Seattle for a month, but made only one appearance with them. Dolmatov briefly had a minor league deal with Memphis to end the year, but didn’t see the field.

He wasn’t ready to retire yet, but his goose was cooked. San Diego gave him a chance in spring training, but cut him before the season. He had a two-day contract with Wichita, then ended up with Jacksonville. Dolmatov did pitch 40.2 innings and finish the year with the Gators, but a partially torn labrum knocked him out most of the year. He still wanted to play, but no one signed the Big Cat in 2004. He finally retired at age 39.

In MLB, Dolmatov was an unremarkable 54-71 with a 3.84 ERA, 1182.2 innings, 835 strikeouts, 309 walks, 101 ERA+, and 10.9 WAR. Added to his full pro totals you have a strong career at 217-184, 2.63 ERA, 3771 innings, 4123 strikeouts, 726 walks, 240 complete games, 123 ERA+, 70 FIP-, and 107.4 WAR. Dolmatov was also just so well respected that you’d be remiss to find someone to speak ill of him. Thus, he became a fine addition into EPB’s Hall of Fame.



Geza Aranyi – Starting Pitcher – Omsk Otters – 80.6% First Ballot

Geza Aranyi was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from the capital of Hungary, Budapest. Aranyi was a flamethrower in his prime with overpowering stuff and great movement, although his control was often subpar. His cutter was stellar with 99-101 mph velocity along with a great slider. Aranyi also had a curveball and changeup, although both were less effective.

His stamina was relatively average for an EPB ace of his era. Aranyi was viewed as great at holding runners and was a pretty good defensive pitcher. He had solid durability and was viewed by teammates as a loyal, strong leader.

Aranyi was spotted by a visiting Russian scout from Omsk at a prospects showcase in Budapest. He signed the teenaged Aranyi in May 1978, keeping him in the Omsk academy for the next few years. Aranyi debuted with 19 relief appearances in 1983 at age 21, showing mixed results. He became a full-time starter after that and became a fixture in the Otters rotation for the next 14 years.

Unlike most of his Hall of Fame classmates, Aranyi wasn’t particularly flashy. He never led in any major stat or posted eye-popping numbers, although he did have eight seasons worth 6+ WAR. Despite strong stuff, Aranyi wasn’t a huge strikeout guy, often getting groundballs. In his first full season, he took second in Rookie of the Year voting. Aranyi was also third in 1988’s Pitcher of the Year voting; his only time as a finalst.

Aranyi stayed steady and loyal to Omsk, signing a four-year, $4,240,000 extension before the 1993 season. He also was loyal to his home country, playing for Hungary in the World Baseball Championship from 1984-96. In the WBC, Aranyi had a 2.95 ERA, 164.2 innings, 223 strikeouts, 66 walks, 126 ERA+, and 3.9 WAR.

Omsk was strong in the mid 1980s, winning the Asian League pennant in 1985 and 1987. They lost the EPB Championship in 1985 to Minsk and fell in 1987 to Kyiv. The Otters also had first round exits in 1986 and 1989. Aranyi had a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings in 1985, but only saw limited use in the later postseasons. He finished with a 1.88 ERA over 43 career playoff innings.

Omsk had a playoff drought from 1990-96, finally snapping it in 1997. Aranyi was a reliable fixture throughout. On April 1, 1996, Aranyi had a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and 1 walk against Asgabat. That season also saw him cross 200 career wins and 3500 strikeouts. He would regress to more average stats in 1997, which was ultimately his final year with the Otters. His #32 uniform would soon be retired.

With Omsk and in EPB, Aranyi had 213-167 record, 2.30 ERA, 3477 innings, 3825 strikeouts, 732 walks, 318/425 quality starts, 149 complete games, 127 ERA+, and 83.4 WAR. He was less dominant than his HOF classmates, but steady service for one franchise is an appreciated trait for EPB’s voters. That earned 80.6% and a first ballot induction for Aranyi, the fifth member of the massive 2005 EPB class.

Aranyi would play six more pro seasons, making some interesting stops along the way in the Western Hemisphere. He went to Brazil in 1998, signing a one-year deal with Sao Paulo. Aranyi had an impressive 1.95 ERA in 180 innings, although back spasms cost him the final two months of the season. Still, that greatly bumped up his stock as a 37-year free agent entering 1999.

Next was Cuba, playing with Havana in 1999. He was delightfully average there, but caught the attention of Honduras. Aranyi spent three years as a reliable middle of the rotation guy for the Horsemen, posting 8.6 WAR, 118 ERA+, and 3.32 ERA over 724.2 innings. In CABA, Aranyi had 10.3 WAR, a 69-33 record, 3.50 ERA, 937.2 innings, and 692 strikeouts.

Aranyi’s velocity fell off though at this point, limiting his value. He went to Venezuela in 2003 with Caracas, but was only used for 18 innings. He spent all of 2004 in Mexico under contract with Ecatepec, but he never saw the field. Aranyi finally retired in the winter of 2004 at the age of 42.

For his full career, Aranyi had a 295-205 record, 2.54 ERA, 4612.2 innings, 4698 strikeouts, 939 walks, 411/570 quality starts, 125 ERA+, and 98.8. WAR. No one ever considered him the best pitcher in the league, but Aranyi had a fine tenure worthy of honoring.