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FuzzyRussianHat · 01-10-2025, 06:04 AM

The European Baseball Federation’s 2023 Hall of Fame class had three inductees, headlined by 1B Alan Dikov at 96.6%. Two returners made it across the 66% requirement with LF/1B Andriy Boychuk getting 73.5% on his third ballot and 3B Isaad Dorgham at 70.1% for his eighth attempt. SP Martin Kukoc narrowly missed at 60.4% on his penultimate chance. No one else was above 50% and no players were dropped after ten failed ballots.

Alan Dikov – First Base – Warsaw Wildcats – 96.6% First Ballot

Alan Dikov was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from Kotlas, Russia, a town of 60,000 inhabitants in the country’s European Arkhangelsk Oblast. Dikov was best known for his excellent home run power, smacking 50+ in eight different seasons. He was also a solid contact hitter with a decent eye for drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. While his power was concentrated on homers, he did also get 23 doubles per his 162 game average. Dikov wasn’t going to get extra bags with his legs though as he was an abysmally slow and clumsy baserunner.

Dikov made all of his career starts at first base and was a poor defender, but his home run power more than covered for his shortcomings. His durability was fairly good and he had an excellent work ethic. When you’re a hard-working guy who socks dingers, you’re going to become a very popular player. Dikov was the star as Warsaw made their transition from Eurasian Professional Baseball into the EBF.

He would be only the second Russian inducted into EBF’s HOF, as the vast majority play in EPB. Dikov was planning on the same, as Warsaw was still EPB territory when Dikov signed a developmental deal in February 1996. In 2000, the Polish capital was among the many teams that left EPB for EBF. Dikov’s pro debut would come after that move was made.

Dikov spent most of seven years in the Wildcats academy. He did see limited action in 2001 and 2002 with 75 games and 10 starts between the two years. 2003 marked his full-time debut with great success, leading the conference in slugging (.729), OPS (1.131), and wRC+ (211). Dikov finished second in MVP voting and help lead Warsaw to their first-ever EBF playoff berth,

Not only that, but the Wildcats won the Northern Conference pennant in only their fourth EBF season. Warsaw fell in the European Championship to former EPB rival Budapest, who also made the jump in 2000. In 19 playoff starts, Dikov had 20 hits, 16 runs, 5 doubles, 8 home runs, and 16 RBI. That run made him a star in Poland, although his later playoff stats would be underwhelming. The Wildcats made four more berths from 2004-08 and won two division titles, but they couldn’t get beyond the second round.

Dikov exploded in 2007 for his lone MVP and a Silver Slugger, leading the conference with career highs in runs (122), home runs (61), RBI (137), total bases (431), slugging (.739), OPS (1.165), and wRC+ (215). Dikov also had his career bests in hits (213), batting average (.365), OBP (.425), and WAR (10.2). He missed a Triple Crown season by only six points. That effort got the soon-to-be 28-year old Dikov paid, signing an eight-year, $75,400,000 extension that winter.

He remained a very steady power hitter over that deal, but never reached MVP status again. Dikov led in home runs in 2008 with 56 and won a Silver Slugger in 2010. He smacked 50+ homers with 100+ RBI seven times from 2008-2014. Even with his efforts, Warsaw regressed towards the middle of the standings. The Wildcats were usually just above .500, but they wouldn’t get back to the playoffs for the rest of Dikov’s run.

Dikov remained a reason to come to the ballpark, earning his 600^th home run and 2000^th hit both in 2014. His power dropped sharply in 2015 with only 24 home runs though. Out of respect, Warsaw gave him a qualifying offer for 2016 and he bounced back somewhat with 34 homers in 117 games. Back spasms would bother Dikov throughout the spring. That winter, Warsaw let him leave for free agency at age 37. He retained a strong relationship though with the Wildcats and his #25 uniform would soon be retired.

While very popular in Poland, Dikov was also popular back home in Russia despite not playing in EPB. He did represent his country in 62 games with 50 starts from 2005-13 in the World Baseball Championship. Dikov posted 57 hits, 29 runs, 6 doubles, 17 home runs, 35 RBI, .273/.335/.545 slash, 154 wRC+, and 2.1 WAR.

In 2017, Dikov signed a one-year deal with Ljubljana, where he picked up his 1500^th RBI. He wanted to make a run at 700 home runs, but fell nine short. Dikov had 25 homers and only 0.7 WAR with a 100 wRC+ starting for the Juggernauts. He retired after the season shortly after his 38^th birthday.

Dikov finished with 2379 hits, 1312 runs, 326 doubles, 691 home runs, 1506 RBI, 622 walks, .297/.349/.607 slash, 166 wRC+, and 83.4 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 11^th in home runs, 36^th in RBI, 68^th in runs, 74^th in hits, and 73^rd in WAR among position players. Among all batters with 3000+ plate appearances, his slugging ranks 48^th and his OPS of .956 is 73^rd.

He was one of the finest sluggers of his era and was a key superstar in helping Poland integrate successfully from EPB into EBF. Dikov was an easy Hall of Fame choice at 96.6%, headlining a three-player 2023 class for the European Baseball Federation.

01-10-2025, 06:04 AM	#1963
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,309	2023 EBF Hall of Fame (Part 1) The European Baseball Federation’s 2023 Hall of Fame class had three inductees, headlined by 1B Alan Dikov at 96.6%. Two returners made it across the 66% requirement with LF/1B Andriy Boychuk getting 73.5% on his third ballot and 3B Isaad Dorgham at 70.1% for his eighth attempt. SP Martin Kukoc narrowly missed at 60.4% on his penultimate chance. No one else was above 50% and no players were dropped after ten failed ballots. Alan Dikov – First Base – Warsaw Wildcats – 96.6% First Ballot Alan Dikov was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from Kotlas, Russia, a town of 60,000 inhabitants in the country’s European Arkhangelsk Oblast. Dikov was best known for his excellent home run power, smacking 50+ in eight different seasons. He was also a solid contact hitter with a decent eye for drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. While his power was concentrated on homers, he did also get 23 doubles per his 162 game average. Dikov wasn’t going to get extra bags with his legs though as he was an abysmally slow and clumsy baserunner. Dikov made all of his career starts at first base and was a poor defender, but his home run power more than covered for his shortcomings. His durability was fairly good and he had an excellent work ethic. When you’re a hard-working guy who socks dingers, you’re going to become a very popular player. Dikov was the star as Warsaw made their transition from Eurasian Professional Baseball into the EBF. He would be only the second Russian inducted into EBF’s HOF, as the vast majority play in EPB. Dikov was planning on the same, as Warsaw was still EPB territory when Dikov signed a developmental deal in February 1996. In 2000, the Polish capital was among the many teams that left EPB for EBF. Dikov’s pro debut would come after that move was made. Dikov spent most of seven years in the Wildcats academy. He did see limited action in 2001 and 2002 with 75 games and 10 starts between the two years. 2003 marked his full-time debut with great success, leading the conference in slugging (.729), OPS (1.131), and wRC+ (211). Dikov finished second in MVP voting and help lead Warsaw to their first-ever EBF playoff berth, Not only that, but the Wildcats won the Northern Conference pennant in only their fourth EBF season. Warsaw fell in the European Championship to former EPB rival Budapest, who also made the jump in 2000. In 19 playoff starts, Dikov had 20 hits, 16 runs, 5 doubles, 8 home runs, and 16 RBI. That run made him a star in Poland, although his later playoff stats would be underwhelming. The Wildcats made four more berths from 2004-08 and won two division titles, but they couldn’t get beyond the second round. Dikov exploded in 2007 for his lone MVP and a Silver Slugger, leading the conference with career highs in runs (122), home runs (61), RBI (137), total bases (431), slugging (.739), OPS (1.165), and wRC+ (215). Dikov also had his career bests in hits (213), batting average (.365), OBP (.425), and WAR (10.2). He missed a Triple Crown season by only six points. That effort got the soon-to-be 28-year old Dikov paid, signing an eight-year, $75,400,000 extension that winter. He remained a very steady power hitter over that deal, but never reached MVP status again. Dikov led in home runs in 2008 with 56 and won a Silver Slugger in 2010. He smacked 50+ homers with 100+ RBI seven times from 2008-2014. Even with his efforts, Warsaw regressed towards the middle of the standings. The Wildcats were usually just above .500, but they wouldn’t get back to the playoffs for the rest of Dikov’s run. Dikov remained a reason to come to the ballpark, earning his 600^th home run and 2000^th hit both in 2014. His power dropped sharply in 2015 with only 24 home runs though. Out of respect, Warsaw gave him a qualifying offer for 2016 and he bounced back somewhat with 34 homers in 117 games. Back spasms would bother Dikov throughout the spring. That winter, Warsaw let him leave for free agency at age 37. He retained a strong relationship though with the Wildcats and his #25 uniform would soon be retired. While very popular in Poland, Dikov was also popular back home in Russia despite not playing in EPB. He did represent his country in 62 games with 50 starts from 2005-13 in the World Baseball Championship. Dikov posted 57 hits, 29 runs, 6 doubles, 17 home runs, 35 RBI, .273/.335/.545 slash, 154 wRC+, and 2.1 WAR. In 2017, Dikov signed a one-year deal with Ljubljana, where he picked up his 1500^th RBI. He wanted to make a run at 700 home runs, but fell nine short. Dikov had 25 homers and only 0.7 WAR with a 100 wRC+ starting for the Juggernauts. He retired after the season shortly after his 38^th birthday. Dikov finished with 2379 hits, 1312 runs, 326 doubles, 691 home runs, 1506 RBI, 622 walks, .297/.349/.607 slash, 166 wRC+, and 83.4 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 11^th in home runs, 36^th in RBI, 68^th in runs, 74^th in hits, and 73^rd in WAR among position players. Among all batters with 3000+ plate appearances, his slugging ranks 48^th and his OPS of .956 is 73^rd. He was one of the finest sluggers of his era and was a key superstar in helping Poland integrate successfully from EPB into EBF. Dikov was an easy Hall of Fame choice at 96.6%, headlining a three-player 2023 class for the European Baseball Federation. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)