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Hui-Yun Han – Catcher – Atlanta Aces – 79.8% First Ballot

Hui-Yun Han was a 6’4’’, 195 pound switch-hitting catcher from Jinju, South Korea; a city of 345,000 people in the South Gyeongsang Province. Han was a very good contact hitter for a catcher, especially against right-handed pitching. He was outstanding at avoiding strikeouts and respectable at drawing walks. Against righties, Han had a career .861 OPS and 134 wRC+. He was a far less impressive 85 wRC+ and .670 OPS against lefties.

Han had very good gap power in his prime, averaging 35 doubles per his 162 game average. He wasn’t a prolific slugger, but he also got you around 15-25 home runs most seasons. As you’d expect from a catcher, Han was painfully slow and sluggish as a baserunner. All but one of his 2122 career starts came behind the dish.

Defensively, Han graded out as delightfully average. He did call games pretty well with his pitchers posting a 3.70 ERA, besting the league average. Han was also an ironman who started 130+ games each year from 1988-2001; a very difficult task as a catcher. He was very well respected as a strong leader and as one of the hardest working guys in the game.

Han was one of the very first notable amateur free agent discoveries by an MLB team. MLB had only recently even allowed the practice, as previously international-born talent had to come up through the college ranks and get drafted. The only other way for non-American/Canadian talent to come to MLB was once they had played the prerequisite years in their native pro league to qualify for free agency. In the 1980s, MLB scouts began traveling worldwide to try to secure top teenage prospects.

A scout from Atlanta noticed Han while visiting South Korea in March 1981 and brought him to America at age 17. After three seasons in the Aces’ international complex, he officially debuted in 1984 at age 20. Han only played 11 games and spent most of 1984 and all of 1985 in minor league Birmingham. He split in 1986 with 61 MLB games and 27 in the minors.

Han was on the big league roster full-time in a platoon role with 97 games and 90 starts. He earned the full-time gig in 1988 and started 130+ games each year from then through 1999 for the Aces. Atlanta started their Southeast Division title streak in 1987, taking first place eight years in a row. Han certainly was a key part of that success.

Han’s first Silver Slugger came in 1989 with a 6.4 WAR effort. The next year, he led the American Association in doubles with 46 and posted 28 home runs, 120 RBI, a 1.012 OPS, and 8.5 WAR. The 120 RBI is still MLB’s single-season record by a catcher as of 2037. Han picked up his second Slugger and took third in MVP voting. He would earn his third Slugger in a historic 1991 season.

In 1991, Han became one of the few catchers in any world league to earn MVP honors. He led AA with 55 doubles, falling one short of Isaiah Gilbert’s MLB record of 56 from 1973. Han also led in average (.374), slugging (.646), OPS (1.063), wRC+ (185), and WAR (11.0). The WAR, slugging, OPS, and his 212 hits and 366 total bases are all still MLB single-season records for a catcher as of 2037. This effort earned Han an eight-year, $21,560,000 extension in the offseason from Atlanta.

The Aces could never get over the hump in the postseason. During the eight-year streak, they made it to the AACS five times, but were defeated each time. They narrowly missed the playoffs in 1995, 1996, and 1998; but won division titles again in 1997 and 1999. In those years, Atlanta couldn’t get beyond the second round.

Han did his best and was well respected by Atlanta fans for his efforts in the playoffs. Over 77 starts, he had 89 hits, 38 runs, 18 doubles, 9 home runs, 37 RBI, 19 walks, a .299/.335/.470 slash, 118 wRC+, and 2.0 WAR. Han would accept blame as a leader, but most Aces supporters weren’t going to point the finger at him for their playoff woes.

Han’s fourth Silver Slugger came in 1993. He never again put up the MVP numbers, but settled in as a reliably solid starter that would give you 3-4 WAR each year. In total with Atlanta, Han had 2074 hits, 991 runs, 445 doubles, 242 home runs, 1097 RBI, a .303/.349/.490 slash, 125 wRC+, and 66.5 WAR. Han’s #23 would be one of only two jersey numbers retired in Atlanta as of 2037.

After the 1999 season, the now 36-year old Han was a free agent for the first time. He signed a three-year, $17,200,000 deal with Detroit and had a solid start with the Tigers, posting 4.0 and 5.6 WAR in his first two seasons. Han’s bat dropped off in the third year with 1.1 WAR and a 71 wRC+.

With Detroit, Han had 391 hits, 157 runs, 57 doubles, 42 home runs, 191 RBI, a .266/.313/.395 slash, 109 wRC+, and 10.7 WAR. Han joined Hartford in 2003, but only saw 45 games and 26 starts with a 0.3 WAR and 99 wRC+. He retired that winter at age 40.

Han finished with 2486 hits, 1156 runs, 503 doubles, 284 home runs, 1290 RBI, 626 walks, a .295/.343/.471 slash, 122 wRC+, and 77.5 WAR. He’s the all-time leader among catchers in doubles and ranks 36^th among all MLB players as of 2037. Among catchers, he’s ninth in WAR, third in RBI, sixth in hits, and fifth in runs.

It is often difficult for catchers to get Hall of Fame votes with the general accumulations looking comparatively low from the rigors of the position. Han’s resume was hard to argue with and he was one of the most respected guys of his era. He earned the first ballot selection at 79.8% within the 2009 MLB class. Han was the first Korean born player to earn MLB enshrinement.



Samuel Raimundes – Starting Pitcher – Boston Red Sox – 70.2% First Ballot

Samuel Raimundes was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Belmont, Massachusetts, a western suburb of Boston with around 27,000 people. Raimundes was a fireballer with incredible stuff that at his peak was graded by many as 10/10. His sinker reached the 99-101 mph mark and was bolstered by a great forkball, good curveball, and rare changeup. Raimundes had more than just dominant stuff, as his movement and control were both quite solid.

Early in his career, he had fantastic stamina, leading the National Association thrice in innings pitched and twice in complete games. Durability would become an issue in his later seasons, specifically shoulder and hamstring woes. Raimundes was a hard worker and became a popular local favorite during his run in Boston.

Raimundes did leave Massachusetts for Wichita State University. In three college seasons, he had 315.1 innings, a 20-14 record, 2.51 ERA, 344 strikeouts, 72 walks, a 140 ERA+, and 11.3 WAR. Just about everyone was interested entering the 1988 MLB Draft. Raimundes was delighted though to return back home to his favorite childhood team, as Boston selected him with the eighth overall pick.

1989 saw a split season between starting and relief for Raimundes with respectable results. Boston made him a full-time starter from then onward, although a hamstring strain cost him half of 1990. Raimundes stayed healthy for the next nine seasons and pitched at a high level, posting eight seasons worth 6+ WAR. The Red Sox gave him a six-year, $21,120,000 extensiona fter the 1994 campaign.

Raimundes was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1993, leading in wins (22-10) innings (287.2), and strikeouts (282). 1994 saw career bests in ERA (2.30) and Ks (294) as well as both career and NA bests in quality starts (30), complete games (18), shutouts (7), FIP- (57), and WAR (10.6). Raimundes won his lone Pitcher of the Year with this 1994 effort. He also won a Silver Slugger in 1994 with a .284/.299/.347 slash. For his career, Raimundes hit .207/.219/.241; a respectable mark for a pitcher.

His ERA was never quite as strong, although he was third in POTY voting in 1995. Raimundes led in 1995 and 1996 in wins, as well as in 1999 in strikeouts. Boston had some success in this era with playoff appearances in 1992, 1995, 1996, and 1997. The Red Sox lost in the 1992 NACS to Hartford, but won their third pennant in 1995. Boston lost in the 1996 NACS and fell in the second round of 1997.

Raimundes played a big role in getting Boston to the 1995 World Series, where they fell to Denver. In 43 innings, he had a 2.72 ERA and 41 strikeouts. He had a 0.67 ERA over 27 innings in the 1996 effort. For his playoff career, Raimundes had a 6-5 record, 2.69 ERA, 107 innings, 87 strikeouts, 22 walks, 10/14 quality starts, 6 complete games, a 130 ERA+, and 2.3 WAR.

The world stage was a strong one for Raimundes, who pitched in the World Baseball Championship from 1994-2001 for the United States. He was the tournament leader in strikeouts, innings, wins, and quality starts in four different editions. Raimundes had a remarkable 27-3 record over 282.1 innings with a 2.74 ERA, 424 strikeouts, 81 walks, 129 ERA+, and 6.2 WAR.

As of 2037, Raimundes is 21^st all-time in WBC strikeouts. Everyone else who had more Ks pitched in 10 or more WBCs, while Raimundes only pitched in eight. He had plenty of innings though as the Americans dominated during his tenure. Raimundes earned world title rings with the 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001 squads.

Raimundes opted out of his contract after the 1997 season in order to sign a new, larger deal. Boston gave him seven years and $31,880,000 with plans on making the local favorite a lifer. By 2000, injuries started to become an issue. Raimundes missed nearly two months to shoulder issues in 2000. In 2001, a bone spur in his elbow and a strained oblique knocked him out most of the second half.

To the surprise of many, Raimundes opted out of his deal after the 2001 season. With Boston, he had a 205-127 record, 3.02 ERA, 3099 innings, 2971 strikeouts, 677 walks, 270/408 quality starts, 138 complete games, 116 ERA+, and 80.5 WAR. He sacrificed the stability of the Red Sox deal in the hopes of a larger paycheck elsewhere at age 34. He found it as Atlanta signed him at four years and $24,800,000.

Raimundes struggled with a 4.69 ERA over 24 starts with Atlanta. Disappointed in their investment, the Aces traded him at the deadline to Charlotte. He looked okay with the Canaries in only seven starts in 2002. However, Raimundes’ velocity was starting to plummet.

By 2003, he maxed out at 92-94 mph and couldn’t overpower hitters anymore. Raimundes was abysmal with a 6.28 ERA, 64 ERA+, and -1.9 WAR over 173.1 innings for Charlotte. Clearly cooked, he retired that winter at age 35. Although his Boston run had an awkward end, Raimundes was still popular with the Red Sox faithful and his #30 uniform would quickly be retired.

Raimundes had a 220-156 record, 3.27 ERA, 3485.2 innings, 3185 strikeouts, 789 walks, 291/465 quality starts, 149 complete games, 109 ERA+, 81 FIP-, and 80.3 WAR. His sudden decline hurt him with many voters and limited his final accumulations. As of 2037, Raimundes ranks 96^th in pitching WAR and was viewed by some as being borderline.

That said, Raimundes had an impressive peak, good playoff numbers, and great WBC stats. Those factors swayed enough voters for the first ballot nod, albeit narrowly above the 66% requirement at 70.2%. Raimundes rounded out an impressive 2009 MLB Hall of Fame class.