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FuzzyRussianHat · 01-20-2025, 06:43 PM

Two players were added into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame from the 2024 voting, led by first ballot SP Seth Southworth at 78.3%. Another pitcher narrowly crossed the 66% requirement to join him as Rinat Khan got 68.0% on his third attempt. SP Victor Burke was also in the hunt, but fell short at 62.3% on his sixth ballot.

Six other players were above 50%, but below 60%. CL Sebastian Gomez was the lone debut in that group at 59.8%. 3B Jeanpaul Vick on his fifth try and C Sebastian Van Velzen on his eighth both received 59.4%. 3B Kieran Wilson earned 58.7% for his fifth ballot. 2B Adrian Vega had 56.6% in his fourth try and CL Jeremy Dau saw 52.3% on his third attempt.

Reliever Emery Gulbranson was the lone player dropped after ten failed ballots, peaking at 33.5% in 2016 and ending at 10.0%. He had a 17-year journeyman career between nine different teams, finishing with a 100-87 record, 283 saves, 398 shutdowns, 2.68 ERA, 1004.1 innings, 1142 strikeouts, 301 walks, 130 ERA+, and 26.3 WAR. Gulbranson’s 813 games pitched are the 38^th most as of 2037, but he had no accolades or notables beyond longevity.

Seth “Acrobat” Southworth – Starting Pitcher – Hartford Huskies – 78.3% First Ballot

Seth Southworth was a 6’2’’, 195 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Smithfield, Rhode Island; a town of 22,000 people. Southworth was known for having incredible stuff along with excellent control and good movement. He had a three-pitch arsenal with each being equally potent with a 98-100 mph fastball, curveball, and changeup. All three were top shelf pitches and looked the same out of his hand, making Southworth unhittable when he was on his game. The nickname “Acrobat,” came from his unusual windup motion.

His stamina when he was healthy was pretty good. Southworth was a solid defender and knew how to hold runners respectably. He had impressive power and an extreme groundball tendency. Unfortunately, numerous major injuries shortened and limited Southworth’s career. In the clubhouse, he was very well respected as an impressive team captain leader. Southworth’s character and his dominance made him one of MLB’s most popular ever pitchers.

Southworth attended the University of Minnesota and was dominant in his first two seasons. His first injury issue came in the third start of his junior year with a partially torn UCL, knocking him out seven months. For the Golden Gophers, Southworth had a 19-6 record, 1.93 ERA, 228 innings, 29 starts, 305 strikeouts, 41 walks, 169 ERA+, and 12.6 WAR. The injury scared a few teams for the 2008 MLB Draft, but others knew his ceiling was quite high if he stayed healthy.

With the 39^th pick, Southworth was selected by Hartford. He started about 2/3s of 2009 was solid results, posting 4.0 WAR, a 2.47 ERA, and a second place in Rookie of the Year voting. Southworth had an impressive 7.0 WAR in 2010 over 167.1 innings, but missed the final two months to a torn back muscle. In 2011, he also missed around six weeks to a strained hamstring.

Still, Southworth’s 2011 was impressive enough in only 27 starts to win Pitcher of the Year. He led the National Association in wins at 22-3 and posted a 2.16 ERA, 253 strikeouts, and 6.0 WAR. Hartford ended a five-year playoff drought and got the #1 seed at 103-59, falling to Brooklyn in the AACS. In three playoff starts, Southworth had a 2-1 record, 2.53 ERA, and 22 strikeouts over 21.1 innings. The Huskies would miss the postseason in the next two seasons.

Southworth stated healthy from 2012-14, leading the NA in both WAR and strikeouts in both 2012 and 2014. He surprisingly finished third in POTY voting both years Southworth’s 352 strikeouts in 2014 were the third-most in an MLB season to that point and still ranks seventh-best as of 2037. Hartford knew they had their ace and gave Southworth a six-year, $104,600,000 extension after the 2013 season.

Hartford would get four wild cards from 2014-18, but never got further than the second round of the playoffs. For his playoff career, Southworth had a 4-2 record in seven starts, 2.38 ERA, 53 innings, 58 strikeouts, 7 walks, 146 ERA+, and 2.2 WAR. In June 2015, the now 27-year old Southworth suffered a full UCL tear, costing him 14 months with a return in summer 2016.

Southworth was healthy in 2017 for his first ERA title at 2.01 along with 7.7 WAR and an association-best 0.87 WHIP, placing second in Pitcher of the Year voting. 2018 would then be his finest season with an incredible 1.34 ERA, setting a new MLB single-season record that still holds as of 2037. Southworth also had a career best 10.7 WAR, 15 complete games, and 9 shutouts along with an NA-best 291 strikeouts. At 19-8, he missed the Triple Crown by two wins. It was also only the eighth time in MLB history that an ace posted 9+ shutouts.

That effort obviously won his second Pitcher of the Year and had fans excited for what was still to come for the now 31-year old Southworth. No one knew watching that 2018 campaign though that those would be the final innings of his professional career. 2018 was his first time in the World Baseball Championship with a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings. In 2019, Southworth allowed only one run over 16 WBC innings, setting expectations high for the upcoming MLB campaign.

In spring training, Southworth suffered severe shoulder inflammation that was expected to keep him out for the first half. He had a major setback though in June and required surgery, knocking him out another eight months. That coincided with the end of his Hartford deal, making Southworth a free agent at age 32. Many teams were leery of his medical reports and didn’t want to commit the big money that his 2018 season would still command.

Southworth was determined to come back and opened up his search internationally. He found a buyer in Scotland, inking a five-year, $101 million deal with Edinburgh. Sadly in spring training, Southworth suffered the third torn UCL of his career. Doctors told him he had to retire, ending his career shortly after turning 33. Southworth returned home to the United States and Hartford immediately retired his #12 uniform.

In total, Southworth had a 142-63 record, 2.24 ERA, 1994.1 innings, 2280 strikeouts, 386 walks, 196/251 quality starts, 100 complete games, 30 shutouts, 152 ERA+, and 65.1 WAR. The shortened career greatly lowered his accumulations, missing the top 100 in all counting stats. However, Southworth’s efficiency and rate stats certainly showed his dominance.

Among all MLB arms with 1000+ innings as of 2037, Southworth’s ERA ranks 11^th, but all ten in front of him were relievers. His 0.92 WHIP ranks 5^th, his opponent’s OPS of .566 is 9^th, while his .203/.247/.319 slash line ranks 9^th/3^rd/23^rd. Amongst all of the world’s Hall of Fame starters, Southworth’s 152 ERA+ ranks 25^th best. It’s a shame he broke down physically, as he might have ended up as an inner-circle level pitcher all-time.

There were still some voters who couldn’t look past the low totals and Southworth only received 78.3% on his debut. That was plenty though to earn a first ballot slot to headline Major League Baseball’s 2024 Hall of Fame class. Even if his peak was brief, prime Southworth was as good as any pitcher MLB ever had. On top of that, his high character made him an excellent ambassador for the game and beloved superstar into his retirement.

Rinat Khan – Starting Pitcher – Pittsburgh Pirates – 68.0% Third Ballot

Rinat Khan was a 5’9’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Shchuchinsk, a small city of 45,000 people in north central Kazakhstan. He unsurprisingly was the first-ever Kazakh Hall of Famer for MLB and only the sixth Asian-born HOFer to that point for MLB. The stout Khan had great stuff and movement along with outstanding control. He had a three-pitch arsenal with a 99-101 mph fastball, changeup, and curveball. Khan could certainly overpower you, but his change was often considered his most dangerous offering.

Khan’s stamina was considered above average relative to most MLB aces, but nothing incredible. However, his ironman durability meant you’d still get plenty of innings, tossing 200+ in all but his rookie season. Khan was okay at holding runners and did struggle defensively. He was a team captain known for his leadership, loyalty, and work ethic. Khan became one of the more respected guys of his era in the clubhouse, even if he was perhaps under-rated in his career by many fans and media.

As a teenager, Khan’s family moved from Kazakhstan to the United States. He quickly got on the radar of college teams and committed to Arizona State from 1998-2000, posting a 2.86 ERA over 245.2 innings, 17-12 record, 249 strikeouts, 63 walks, 122 ERA+, and 8.4 WAR. With the regional restrictions still in place at that time in the MLB Draft, players born outside of the US or Canada weren’t eligible until round four. With the fourth pick of the fourth round, 177^th overall, Khan was picked in the 2000 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh.

Khan had a part-time starting role in 2001 with decent results, then took over a full-time spot in the Pirates rotation for the next eight years. His production was steady, then emerged as elite in 2004 with a National Association best 8.2 WAR. With a 14-13 record on a sub-.500 team, Khan didn’t get any awards looks. He stayed above 7+ WAR from 2004-09 with the Pirates, leading again in 2008 at 7.9. Khan’s career best was 9.6 in 2006, a year that also saw a 18-6 record, 2.24 ERA, and 239 strikeouts. That year had a second place in Pitcher of the Year voting while 2008 had a third place finish.

Because he didn’t lead in the traditional counting stats, Khan didn’t get a ton of attention in the media. Pittsburgh was plenty happy though and gave him a six-year, $61,500,000 extension after the 2006 season. They were mostly middling during Khan’s run, suffering first round exits in their lone playoff berths in 2003 and 2006. In his two Pirates playoff starts, Khan allowed only 3 runs over 15 innings.

Khan did get to play on the World Baseball Championship stage as he regularly returned home to represent his native Kazakhstan. From 1999-2016, he tossed 207 innings with a 2.61 ERA, 14-11 record, 282 strikeouts, 32 walks, and 7.0 WAR. As of 2037, Khan leads all Kazakhs in strikeouts and pitching WAR while ranking second in wins and third in innings pitched.

Pittsburgh completely collapsed by the end of the 2000s, falling to 58-104 in 2008 despite Khan leading all pitchers in WAR that year. They were only marginally better in 2009 and Khan decided to out of his deal that winter. For the Pirates, Khan had a 116-111 record, 2.75 ERA, 2167.2 innings, 1986 strikeouts, 423 walks, 123 ERA+, and 61.0 WAR. While there were some feelings of abandonment by some in the organization, those feelings faded and Khan’s #4 uniform would later be retired.

Now 30-years old, Khan stayed in Pennsylvania and signed a six-year, $106,200,000 deal with Philadelphia. The Phillies had been a playoff regular during his career, winning the National Association pennant in 2001 and 2005. They did it again in 2010, but fell to San Diego in the World Series. Khan won his lone ERA title that year with a career-best 2.19, but still only finished third in Pitcher of the Year voting. He was a stud in the playoff run with a 1.62 ERA over 39 innings and five starts, 3-0 record, and 29 strikeouts.

2010 was the first-ever Baseball Grand Championship and the only one that had a split division format and a best-of-seven for the winners. Philadelphia and San Diego had a rematch and the Phillies came out on top this time to become the first-ever Grand Champion. Khan had a 3.86 ERA and 2-0 record in his three BGC starts, striking out 29 over 23.1 innings.

Khan led in quality starts and shutouts in 2011 and posted his eighth straight 7+ WAR season, but Philadelphia narrowly missed the playoffs. He had a 6.2 WAR effort in 2012, although his ERA increased to 3.05. The Phillies got the last wild card and went on a tear, eventually upsetting Phoenix in the World Series. Khan struggled in that playoff run with a 4.68 ERA over 25 innings. He did better in the BGC with a 2.23 ERA over 32.1 innings. Philly finished at 12-7 in a five-way tie for first, officially placing third after the tiebreakers were sorted out.

Many were surprised as Khan opted out of his deal after only three years, returning to free agency at age 33. For Philadelphia, he had a 54-31 record, 2.57 ERA, 774.2 innings, 738 strikeouts, 118 walks, 132 ERA+, and 23.0 WAR. Khan moved on to Houston with a five-year, $130,800,000 deal. The Hornets had seen some early playoff exits in recent memory and hoped Khan could get them across the line. Unfortunately, they were below .500 for his entire tenure.

Khan was done as an elite pitcher by this point, but he was an ironman and could still reliably eat innings. He had four seasons for Houston with a 48-61 record, 3.78 ERA, 1023.1 innings, 760 strikeouts, 164 walks, 103 ERA+, and 20.3 WAR. After a career-worst 4.29 ERA in 2016, Khan decided to retire just after his 37^th birthday instead of playing the final year of his deal.

In total, Khan had a 218-203 record, 2.98 ERA, 3965.2 innings, 3484 strikeouts, 705 walks, 358/502 quality starts, 190 complete games, 45 shutouts, 119 ERA+, 75 FIP-, and 104.3 WAR. As of 2037, Khan is 18^th in pitching WAR, 35^th in strikeouts, 99^th in innings pitched, and 45^th in shutouts. His .628 opponent’s OPS is 84^th among all with 1000+ career innings and his 1.04 WHIP ranks 34th.

Many traditionalists though were held up by the win-loss record, which was underwhelming compared to other inductees. Khan also never won Pitcher of the Year and had limited traditional black ink apart from the one ERA title. It didn’t help that his final seasons with Houston were aggressively mid, hurting him via recency bias. The majority of his career also came on some forgettable Pirates squads.

More advanced metrics like WAR and FIP- though argued that Khan was definitely among the elite of his time. As of 2037, he’s one of only 26 pitchers through MLB’s lengthy history with 100+ WAR. Khan also had generally good playoff numbers, helping win two NA pennants, a World Series ring, and the inaugural Grand Championship with Philadelphia.

Still, the hard-liners kept Khan out in his first two ballots at 62.4% and 64.2%, narrowly missing the 66% requirement. He didn’t win over very many new voters in 2024, but got just enough for 68.0%. With that, Khan received a third ballot selection to cap off a two-pitcher 2024 Hall of Fame class for Major League Baseball.

01-20-2025, 06:43 PM	#1995
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,897	2024 MLB Hall of Fame Two players were added into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame from the 2024 voting, led by first ballot SP Seth Southworth at 78.3%. Another pitcher narrowly crossed the 66% requirement to join him as Rinat Khan got 68.0% on his third attempt. SP Victor Burke was also in the hunt, but fell short at 62.3% on his sixth ballot. Six other players were above 50%, but below 60%. CL Sebastian Gomez was the lone debut in that group at 59.8%. 3B Jeanpaul Vick on his fifth try and C Sebastian Van Velzen on his eighth both received 59.4%. 3B Kieran Wilson earned 58.7% for his fifth ballot. 2B Adrian Vega had 56.6% in his fourth try and CL Jeremy Dau saw 52.3% on his third attempt. Reliever Emery Gulbranson was the lone player dropped after ten failed ballots, peaking at 33.5% in 2016 and ending at 10.0%. He had a 17-year journeyman career between nine different teams, finishing with a 100-87 record, 283 saves, 398 shutdowns, 2.68 ERA, 1004.1 innings, 1142 strikeouts, 301 walks, 130 ERA+, and 26.3 WAR. Gulbranson’s 813 games pitched are the 38^th most as of 2037, but he had no accolades or notables beyond longevity. Seth “Acrobat” Southworth – Starting Pitcher – Hartford Huskies – 78.3% First Ballot Seth Southworth was a 6’2’’, 195 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Smithfield, Rhode Island; a town of 22,000 people. Southworth was known for having incredible stuff along with excellent control and good movement. He had a three-pitch arsenal with each being equally potent with a 98-100 mph fastball, curveball, and changeup. All three were top shelf pitches and looked the same out of his hand, making Southworth unhittable when he was on his game. The nickname “Acrobat,” came from his unusual windup motion. His stamina when he was healthy was pretty good. Southworth was a solid defender and knew how to hold runners respectably. He had impressive power and an extreme groundball tendency. Unfortunately, numerous major injuries shortened and limited Southworth’s career. In the clubhouse, he was very well respected as an impressive team captain leader. Southworth’s character and his dominance made him one of MLB’s most popular ever pitchers. Southworth attended the University of Minnesota and was dominant in his first two seasons. His first injury issue came in the third start of his junior year with a partially torn UCL, knocking him out seven months. For the Golden Gophers, Southworth had a 19-6 record, 1.93 ERA, 228 innings, 29 starts, 305 strikeouts, 41 walks, 169 ERA+, and 12.6 WAR. The injury scared a few teams for the 2008 MLB Draft, but others knew his ceiling was quite high if he stayed healthy. With the 39^th pick, Southworth was selected by Hartford. He started about 2/3s of 2009 was solid results, posting 4.0 WAR, a 2.47 ERA, and a second place in Rookie of the Year voting. Southworth had an impressive 7.0 WAR in 2010 over 167.1 innings, but missed the final two months to a torn back muscle. In 2011, he also missed around six weeks to a strained hamstring. Still, Southworth’s 2011 was impressive enough in only 27 starts to win Pitcher of the Year. He led the National Association in wins at 22-3 and posted a 2.16 ERA, 253 strikeouts, and 6.0 WAR. Hartford ended a five-year playoff drought and got the #1 seed at 103-59, falling to Brooklyn in the AACS. In three playoff starts, Southworth had a 2-1 record, 2.53 ERA, and 22 strikeouts over 21.1 innings. The Huskies would miss the postseason in the next two seasons. Southworth stated healthy from 2012-14, leading the NA in both WAR and strikeouts in both 2012 and 2014. He surprisingly finished third in POTY voting both years Southworth’s 352 strikeouts in 2014 were the third-most in an MLB season to that point and still ranks seventh-best as of 2037. Hartford knew they had their ace and gave Southworth a six-year, $104,600,000 extension after the 2013 season. Hartford would get four wild cards from 2014-18, but never got further than the second round of the playoffs. For his playoff career, Southworth had a 4-2 record in seven starts, 2.38 ERA, 53 innings, 58 strikeouts, 7 walks, 146 ERA+, and 2.2 WAR. In June 2015, the now 27-year old Southworth suffered a full UCL tear, costing him 14 months with a return in summer 2016. Southworth was healthy in 2017 for his first ERA title at 2.01 along with 7.7 WAR and an association-best 0.87 WHIP, placing second in Pitcher of the Year voting. 2018 would then be his finest season with an incredible 1.34 ERA, setting a new MLB single-season record that still holds as of 2037. Southworth also had a career best 10.7 WAR, 15 complete games, and 9 shutouts along with an NA-best 291 strikeouts. At 19-8, he missed the Triple Crown by two wins. It was also only the eighth time in MLB history that an ace posted 9+ shutouts. That effort obviously won his second Pitcher of the Year and had fans excited for what was still to come for the now 31-year old Southworth. No one knew watching that 2018 campaign though that those would be the final innings of his professional career. 2018 was his first time in the World Baseball Championship with a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings. In 2019, Southworth allowed only one run over 16 WBC innings, setting expectations high for the upcoming MLB campaign. In spring training, Southworth suffered severe shoulder inflammation that was expected to keep him out for the first half. He had a major setback though in June and required surgery, knocking him out another eight months. That coincided with the end of his Hartford deal, making Southworth a free agent at age 32. Many teams were leery of his medical reports and didn’t want to commit the big money that his 2018 season would still command. Southworth was determined to come back and opened up his search internationally. He found a buyer in Scotland, inking a five-year, $101 million deal with Edinburgh. Sadly in spring training, Southworth suffered the third torn UCL of his career. Doctors told him he had to retire, ending his career shortly after turning 33. Southworth returned home to the United States and Hartford immediately retired his #12 uniform. In total, Southworth had a 142-63 record, 2.24 ERA, 1994.1 innings, 2280 strikeouts, 386 walks, 196/251 quality starts, 100 complete games, 30 shutouts, 152 ERA+, and 65.1 WAR. The shortened career greatly lowered his accumulations, missing the top 100 in all counting stats. However, Southworth’s efficiency and rate stats certainly showed his dominance. Among all MLB arms with 1000+ innings as of 2037, Southworth’s ERA ranks 11^th, but all ten in front of him were relievers. His 0.92 WHIP ranks 5^th, his opponent’s OPS of .566 is 9^th, while his .203/.247/.319 slash line ranks 9^th/3^rd/23^rd. Amongst all of the world’s Hall of Fame starters, Southworth’s 152 ERA+ ranks 25^th best. It’s a shame he broke down physically, as he might have ended up as an inner-circle level pitcher all-time. There were still some voters who couldn’t look past the low totals and Southworth only received 78.3% on his debut. That was plenty though to earn a first ballot slot to headline Major League Baseball’s 2024 Hall of Fame class. Even if his peak was brief, prime Southworth was as good as any pitcher MLB ever had. On top of that, his high character made him an excellent ambassador for the game and beloved superstar into his retirement. Rinat Khan – Starting Pitcher – Pittsburgh Pirates – 68.0% Third Ballot Rinat Khan was a 5’9’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Shchuchinsk, a small city of 45,000 people in north central Kazakhstan. He unsurprisingly was the first-ever Kazakh Hall of Famer for MLB and only the sixth Asian-born HOFer to that point for MLB. The stout Khan had great stuff and movement along with outstanding control. He had a three-pitch arsenal with a 99-101 mph fastball, changeup, and curveball. Khan could certainly overpower you, but his change was often considered his most dangerous offering. Khan’s stamina was considered above average relative to most MLB aces, but nothing incredible. However, his ironman durability meant you’d still get plenty of innings, tossing 200+ in all but his rookie season. Khan was okay at holding runners and did struggle defensively. He was a team captain known for his leadership, loyalty, and work ethic. Khan became one of the more respected guys of his era in the clubhouse, even if he was perhaps under-rated in his career by many fans and media. As a teenager, Khan’s family moved from Kazakhstan to the United States. He quickly got on the radar of college teams and committed to Arizona State from 1998-2000, posting a 2.86 ERA over 245.2 innings, 17-12 record, 249 strikeouts, 63 walks, 122 ERA+, and 8.4 WAR. With the regional restrictions still in place at that time in the MLB Draft, players born outside of the US or Canada weren’t eligible until round four. With the fourth pick of the fourth round, 177^th overall, Khan was picked in the 2000 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh. Khan had a part-time starting role in 2001 with decent results, then took over a full-time spot in the Pirates rotation for the next eight years. His production was steady, then emerged as elite in 2004 with a National Association best 8.2 WAR. With a 14-13 record on a sub-.500 team, Khan didn’t get any awards looks. He stayed above 7+ WAR from 2004-09 with the Pirates, leading again in 2008 at 7.9. Khan’s career best was 9.6 in 2006, a year that also saw a 18-6 record, 2.24 ERA, and 239 strikeouts. That year had a second place in Pitcher of the Year voting while 2008 had a third place finish. Because he didn’t lead in the traditional counting stats, Khan didn’t get a ton of attention in the media. Pittsburgh was plenty happy though and gave him a six-year, $61,500,000 extension after the 2006 season. They were mostly middling during Khan’s run, suffering first round exits in their lone playoff berths in 2003 and 2006. In his two Pirates playoff starts, Khan allowed only 3 runs over 15 innings. Khan did get to play on the World Baseball Championship stage as he regularly returned home to represent his native Kazakhstan. From 1999-2016, he tossed 207 innings with a 2.61 ERA, 14-11 record, 282 strikeouts, 32 walks, and 7.0 WAR. As of 2037, Khan leads all Kazakhs in strikeouts and pitching WAR while ranking second in wins and third in innings pitched. Pittsburgh completely collapsed by the end of the 2000s, falling to 58-104 in 2008 despite Khan leading all pitchers in WAR that year. They were only marginally better in 2009 and Khan decided to out of his deal that winter. For the Pirates, Khan had a 116-111 record, 2.75 ERA, 2167.2 innings, 1986 strikeouts, 423 walks, 123 ERA+, and 61.0 WAR. While there were some feelings of abandonment by some in the organization, those feelings faded and Khan’s #4 uniform would later be retired. Now 30-years old, Khan stayed in Pennsylvania and signed a six-year, $106,200,000 deal with Philadelphia. The Phillies had been a playoff regular during his career, winning the National Association pennant in 2001 and 2005. They did it again in 2010, but fell to San Diego in the World Series. Khan won his lone ERA title that year with a career-best 2.19, but still only finished third in Pitcher of the Year voting. He was a stud in the playoff run with a 1.62 ERA over 39 innings and five starts, 3-0 record, and 29 strikeouts. 2010 was the first-ever Baseball Grand Championship and the only one that had a split division format and a best-of-seven for the winners. Philadelphia and San Diego had a rematch and the Phillies came out on top this time to become the first-ever Grand Champion. Khan had a 3.86 ERA and 2-0 record in his three BGC starts, striking out 29 over 23.1 innings. Khan led in quality starts and shutouts in 2011 and posted his eighth straight 7+ WAR season, but Philadelphia narrowly missed the playoffs. He had a 6.2 WAR effort in 2012, although his ERA increased to 3.05. The Phillies got the last wild card and went on a tear, eventually upsetting Phoenix in the World Series. Khan struggled in that playoff run with a 4.68 ERA over 25 innings. He did better in the BGC with a 2.23 ERA over 32.1 innings. Philly finished at 12-7 in a five-way tie for first, officially placing third after the tiebreakers were sorted out. Many were surprised as Khan opted out of his deal after only three years, returning to free agency at age 33. For Philadelphia, he had a 54-31 record, 2.57 ERA, 774.2 innings, 738 strikeouts, 118 walks, 132 ERA+, and 23.0 WAR. Khan moved on to Houston with a five-year, $130,800,000 deal. The Hornets had seen some early playoff exits in recent memory and hoped Khan could get them across the line. Unfortunately, they were below .500 for his entire tenure. Khan was done as an elite pitcher by this point, but he was an ironman and could still reliably eat innings. He had four seasons for Houston with a 48-61 record, 3.78 ERA, 1023.1 innings, 760 strikeouts, 164 walks, 103 ERA+, and 20.3 WAR. After a career-worst 4.29 ERA in 2016, Khan decided to retire just after his 37^th birthday instead of playing the final year of his deal. In total, Khan had a 218-203 record, 2.98 ERA, 3965.2 innings, 3484 strikeouts, 705 walks, 358/502 quality starts, 190 complete games, 45 shutouts, 119 ERA+, 75 FIP-, and 104.3 WAR. As of 2037, Khan is 18^th in pitching WAR, 35^th in strikeouts, 99^th in innings pitched, and 45^th in shutouts. His .628 opponent’s OPS is 84^th among all with 1000+ career innings and his 1.04 WHIP ranks 34th. Many traditionalists though were held up by the win-loss record, which was underwhelming compared to other inductees. Khan also never won Pitcher of the Year and had limited traditional black ink apart from the one ERA title. It didn’t help that his final seasons with Houston were aggressively mid, hurting him via recency bias. The majority of his career also came on some forgettable Pirates squads. More advanced metrics like WAR and FIP- though argued that Khan was definitely among the elite of his time. As of 2037, he’s one of only 26 pitchers through MLB’s lengthy history with 100+ WAR. Khan also had generally good playoff numbers, helping win two NA pennants, a World Series ring, and the inaugural Grand Championship with Philadelphia. Still, the hard-liners kept Khan out in his first two ballots at 62.4% and 64.2%, narrowly missing the 66% requirement. He didn’t win over very many new voters in 2024, but got just enough for 68.0%. With that, Khan received a third ballot selection to cap off a two-pitcher 2024 Hall of Fame class for Major League Baseball. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)