Baseball: The World's Game

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The first-ever European Baseball Federation season in 1950 was a tremendous success as fans across the continent embraced the introduction of the new league. In the debut season, the best overall record went to Copenhagen and Amsterdam; both at 108-54. The Anacondas took the Northwest Division, 11-games ahead of Paris. The Corsairs claimed the North Central by 16 games over Hamburg. Glasgow won the British Isles Division at 92-70. The Northern Conference’s wild card went to the Poodles at 97-65, who was five games better than the Hammers.

The first Northern Conference MVP went to Copenhagen’s Aleksandr Gultyaev. The 29-year old RF from Moscow led the NC with 128 runs scored, adding 51 home runs, 129 RBI, and 7.9 WAR. Pitcher of the Year went to Glasgow’s Seok-Jae Song; a South Korean journeyman who left for the new EBF after struggling with Yongin in 1949. Song had a 19-7 record, 2.17 ERA, and 6.1 WAR.



The best record in the Southern Conference went to Barcelona at 104-58, giving them the Southwest Division title. Their Spanish rival Madrid was second at 99-63, comfortably taking the wild card with the second best record in the entire conference. Vienna won the Southeast at 93-69, 10 games better than Munich. Meanwhile, Milan at 94-68 grabbed the South Central, 11 games ahead of Naples.

Madrid RF Mauro Chavez was the SC’s first MVP. A 33-year old Spaniard, he led the SC in WAR (7.7), slugging (.588), OPS (.990) and wRC+ (169), while adding 207 hits, 35 home runs, and 115 RBI. American Nate Conner won the Pitcher of the Year for the Conquistadors as well. Conner was an MLB seventh round draft pick by Washington who was cut and unsigned in 1949. The 22-year old tried his hand in the new EBF and had a 24-6 season, 2.51 ERA, and 6.5 WAR. As the local talent grew significantly soon after, Conner quickly flamed out.

In the Northern Conference, the first round of the playoffs saw Amsterdam edge Paris in five games and Copenhagen sweep Glasgow in three. In the Southern Conference, Barceona swept Madrid and Milan edged Vienna 3-2. The first NC Championship saw the Corsairs prevail in six games over the Anacondas, while the SC Championship had the Bengals best the Maulers in five. The first European Championship would have Copenhagen defeat Barcelona 4-1, sending the first EBF title to Denmark.

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Bogota had a franchise-record 111-51 season in 1950 to win back-to-back Bolivar North Division titles, leading the league in both runs scored (708) and allowed (508). Meanwhile, two-time defending league champ Cali won their fourth straight South Division title with a 100-62 finish. Lima was a distant second at 90-72.

The Bats had the league MVP and the Cyclones had the Pitcher of the Year. 24-year old 3B Pedro Quintana had a fantastic sophomore season, tying the league single-season record with 227 hits. He also led the Bolivar League in runs (104) and average (.361), posting 8.2 WAR for the season. PotY Tomas Cruz also was in his sophomore season, leading in ERA (2.03) and WHIP (0.84) with 8.4 WAR and 308 strikeouts. Sadly, Cruz required elbow ligament reconstruction surgery in September and would never again pitch a full season. He would accumulate only 3.5 WAR for the rest of his career. Bogota also had Alex Aldeinha win his third straight Reliever of the Year, leading in saves at 41 with 1.72 ERA and 152 strikeouts.



After missing the playoffs last year, 1948 Copa Sudamerica champ Belo Horizonte won their fourth Brazil Division title in five seasons. The Hogs finished first at 97-65, eight games ahead of Rio de Janeiro. Last year’s overall champ Salvador fell to third at82-80. In the South Division, Cordoba won their first division title in a decade. The Chanticleers had the best record in Liga Cono Sur at 98-64, eight games ahead of Buenos Aires for the division title.

League MVP was Santiago CF Emiliano Sauceda. The 28-year old led the league in hits (187), runs (119), slugging (.640), OPS (1.027), and WAR (11.4). He added 43 home runs and 99 RBI. Pitcher of the Year went to Belo Horizonte veteran Omar Kung. The 30-year old had a career best 23-5 record with a 1.91 ERA, 317 strikeouts, and 9.8 WAR.

The Bolivar League Championship Series was a rematch and unlike last year’s sweep, went seven games in 1950. The final result was the same as Cali beat Bogota, giving the Cyclones a third straight league title. In the Southern Cone Championship, Belo Horizonte bested Cordoba in six games to give the Hogs their second title in three years. The Chanticleers are now 0-3 all time in the league final. Copa Sudamerica was a rematch of 1948 and yet again, Belo Horizonte beat Cali, this time 4-2. The Hogs get their second overall title in three years, while the Cyclones have now been the runner-up three straight seasons; the first franchise to suffer that fate.





Other notes: Two perfect games were thrown in 1950. On April 30, Lima’s Hernan Alatorre struck out eight in a perfecto against Valencia. Then on September 18, AJ Fernandez of Valencia struck out 10 against Barquisimeto. Buenos Aires ace Evan Yho became the third pitcher to 4500 strikeouts, while Alatorre crossed 4000 Ks and 200 wins. Yho and Tilson Garcia became the third and fourth pitchers to 250 career wins. Saul Vargas became the first BSA player to 1500 runs scored. Shortstop Jamie Escoto won his 10^th Gold Glove, the second player to win ten. SS Diego Pena won his record 12^th Silver Slugger.

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For the 1950 season, East Asia Baseball instituted similar rule changes to the ones Beisbol Sudamerica had recently applied with the intent of increasing offensive production. In the Japan League, the batting average for the league went up from .232 to .247 with the changes and the league ERA went from 3.03 to 3.38. In the Korea League, the average went from .243 to .260 and the ERA went from 3.39 to 3.79. Runs per game in Japan went from 3.4 to 3.8 and in Korea went from 3.8 to 4.2.



Along with this explosion saw a record-setting season for Sapporo, finishing 121-41 atop the Japan League North Division. This was a Japanese record and only behind Hamhung’s 122-win 1926 for most wins in a season by an EAB team. This also gave the defending EAB champs their eighth playoff berth in nine years. In the South Division, Kitakyushu earned only their second ever playoff berth (1924). The Kodiaks finished 92-70, three games better than both defending division champ Kobe and Kyoto.

Sendai at 95-67 was second to Sapporo and boasted the league MVP in Maozhen Wang. The 27-year old 1B China had a career season with the league lead in runs (104), hits (213), average (.346), OBP (.388), and WAR (8.7), while adding 38 home runs and 98 RBI. The Swordfish meanwhile had Pitcher of the Year Yoko Nishii. The 30-year old veteran led in wins (22), strikeouts (283), quality starts (27), WHIP (.086), and K/BB (9.8) while adding 7.2 WAR and 2.14 ERA.



Things were chaotic in Korea with the war beginning between the recently created separate DPRK and ROK, but even as the conflict carried on, baseball was allowed to continue relatively uninterrupted. Incheon in the North Division won their first-ever division title with an impressive 113-49 season, while defending league champ Seoul was a distant second despite being 98-64. In the South Division, Daejeon earned only their second-ever playoff berth at 101-61, while last year’s division winner Changwon dropped to 78 wins in fourth. Daegu was second at 92-70.

Seoul LF Chong-Chun Pak won his third straight league MVP. The 28-year old led in RBI (134), slugging (.673), OPS (1.068), wRC+ (178), and WAR (7.8) while adding 40 home runs and 190 hits. Leading the Ducks to their division title was Ji-Yoon Park, getting his third Pitcher of the Year at age 29. He was one ERA point away from a Triple Crown, going 22-5 with a 2.27 ERA and 370 strikeouts. He added a league-best 11.1 WAR in 250 innings.

Sapporo’s dynasty continued as they cruised to a five game win over Kitakyushu in the Japan League Championship Series, giving the Swordfish their fifth league title in seven seasons. Meanwhile, the Korea League Championship Series was guaranteed a first-time winner. Incheon bested Daejeon in six games to advance. The East Asian Championship was a seven game classic and set a record for most combined wins between the two competitors with Incheon at 113 and Sapporo at 121. The series ended with the Inferno upsetting Sapporo to deny the repeat.





Other notes: On April 27, Seongnam’s Moon-Suk Ham threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts against Daegu. Ulsan’s Ha-Jun Na had a 31-game hitting streak. Suwon’s Bum-Young Ahn became the sixth EAB hitter to 2500 career hits. Ju-Won An crossed 3500 strikeouts.

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Mexicali won the Mexican League North Division for the second straight season, taking the top spot at 98-64. Hermosillo was their closest competitor at 91-71. In a tight South Division, Guadalajara narrowly took it at 96-66, better than Merida by one game. Ecatepec was six games back and defending champ Puebla was fourth at 86-76.

Leading the Maroons was a record-setting season from 1B Timmy Ramirez. The 28-year old won his third MVP and set the new single-season record with 65 home runs, beating the prior record of 61 he set two years earlier. Ramirez also had the first 150+ RBI season in CABA history with 154. He also led the league in runs (120), slugging (.710), OPS (1.102), and WAR (10.9). Pitcher of the Year went to Hermosillo’s Timothy Sandoval with the 30-year old American leading the league in wins (21) and WAR (7.6) with a 2.83 ERA and 271 strikeouts.



The Caribbean Island Division came down to the wire with Jamaica taking it at 97-65, only one game ahead of defending CABA champ Havana 96-66. In the Continental Division, Nicaragua was first at 92-70, three better than Honduras. For the Navigators, this is their third-ever playoff berth and first since 1919.

Leading Nicaragua’s effort was 26-year old RF Ricardo De Jesus, who won league MVP. He had a league-best 7.7 WAR, .317 average, and .899 OPS. Guatemala’s Edgar Andunvar won his third straight Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old lefty nicknamed “Penguin”, led the Caribbean in ERA (2.10), WAR (8.3), and FIP- (52).

In the Mexican League Championship Series, Mexicali bested Guadalajara in six games to give the Maroons their first-ever league title in three MLCS appearances. The Caribbean League Championship Series went seven games for the fourth time in five seasons. Jamaica edged Nicaragua to give the Jazz their fourth league title and first since their early 1930s dynasty. Jamaica added its third CABA title by taking the overall championship over Mexicali in five games.





Other notes: Jeong-Hyeon Pin became the second CABA batter to reach 600 career home runs. Pin would play one last season in CABA in 1951 and finish with 634 home runs, passing Diomar Glas for the all-time lead. He’d surrender the lead by the end of the 1950s to Prometheo Garcia. Pin also crossed 2500 hits in 1950 along with Sandro Villanueba. SS Emmanuel Zavala would win his 16^th and final Silver Slugger, a number that wouldn’t be caught as of 2036.

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After just missing the playoffs in the prior two seasons, Philadelphia was back atop the Eastern League standings in 1950 with a 100-62 record. 1948 World Series champ Hartford, who missed the playoffs last year on a tiebreaker game, took the second place spot at 97-65. Defending World Series champion Montreal missed out by taking third at 92-70. Toronto, who had been strong in recent years, fell to ninth at 76 wins. In the Midwest League, Chicago won back-to-back titles with a 97-65 finish. Columbus took the second place spot at 92-70, one better than St. Louis and three ahead of both Cleveland and St. Louis. This gives the Chargers the longest active postseason steak in the National Association at four seasons.

NA MVP went to Cubs 3B Jimmy Morris. The 27-year old led in doubles (52) while adding a .354 average, 218 hits, and 8.1 WAR. Indianapolis ace Rayan Orozco won his second Pitcher of the Year in three seasons. The 25-year old Puerto Rican was the leader in WAR (8.4) with a 20-7 record, 2.37 ERA, 255 strikeouts, and 6 shutouts.

In the first round of the playoffs, Hartford went to Chicago and upset the Cubs in four games, while Columbus stunned Philadelphia on the first in five games. The Huskies took the National Association Championship Series in six games over the Chargers in a rematch of the 1948 NACS. The Huskies win their fourth NA title, while Columbus is now 0-7 all-time in the NACS.



The Southern League had a tie for first place at 94-68 between Jacksonville and San Antonio. The tiebreaker went to the Gators for their third league title and fourth playoff appearance in the last five seasons. Both advanced to the playoffs with Houston third at 89-73. In the Western League, San Francisco took the top spot at 104-58 for their first playoff berth and WL title since 1932. Las Vegas at 103-59 was one back, earning their first playoff berth since 1939. Defending American Association champ Los Angeles fell hard, dropping to 11^th at 66-96.

New Orleans RF Stan Provost had a career rebirth for his second MVP. The 37-year old set a record for longest gap between MVPs, having won back in 1939 with Cincinnati. In his one and only year with the Mudcats, Provost led the AA in the triple slash (.370/.438/.682) for a 1.120 OPS and 8.8 WAR. He added 44 home runs and 135 RBI. Provost also passed 3000 career hits and 500 home runs this season. New Orleans also had the Pitcher of the Year despite being fifth in the SL. Ayaz Shainidize, a 23-year old from Georgia (the country, not the state) led the AA in WAR (8.9) and innings (304.2) with 23 complete games and 6 shutouts with a 2.81 ERA.

The first round saw the Western League prevail as Las Vegas got a road sweep over Jacksonville and San Francisco bested San Antonio in four. In the American Association Championship Series, the Gold Rush dropped the Vipers in five games, giving SF their first title since 1929 and fourth in franchise history. They added their second World Series title as the Gold Rush edged Hartford in seven games with all seven games won by the home team.






Other notes: JR Osborn crossed 3000 career hits and 1500 runs scored. Eliot Cote passed both 1500 runs and 1500 RBI in late May with Cash Watson and Jack McCoy also getting to 1500 runs scored. Passing 200 pitching wins were Juwan Oliver, George Friend, Finn Jean-Pierre, and Luigi Mariko. Oliver and Millard Barkley crossed 3000 strikeouts.

Jacksonville closer Nick Hedrick won his second straight Reliever of the Year in his Gators debut. His 6.3 WAR was the most by a winner of the award, as he had a 0.99 ERA and 35 saves with 139 strikeouts. 2B Hunter Pride won his 11^th and final Gold Glove.

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Major League Baseball has now completed 50 seasons of play with some interesting results thus far. Here are the players selected for the Major League Baseball 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team.

C: Gary Nodine (1910-29) – 7 Silver Sluggers, 2 Gold Gloves, 2626 hits, 1127 runs, 282 home runs, 1218 RBI, 87.3 WAR.

1B: Elijah Cashman (1919-36) – 7 MVPs, 11 Gold Gloves, 9 Silver Sluggers, 3455 hits, 1794 runs, 750 HR, 2050 RBI, .327 Avg, 136.6 WAR

2B: Archie Meredith (1909-28) – 1 MVP, 3 Gold Gloves, 7 Silver Sluggers, 2964 hits, 1674 runs, 626 home runs, 1752 RBI, .284 Avg, 119.8 WAR

SS: Kyle Bartz (1905-23) – 4 Silver Sluggers, 3383 hits, 1657 runs, 163 HR, 1210 RBI, .303 Avg, 62.7 WAR

3B: Caleb Yang (1928-47) – 1 MVP, 8 Silver Sluggers, 1 Gold Glove, 3208 hits, 1772 runs, 625 HR, 1831 RBI, .320 Avg, 127.5 WAR

LF: Andrei Tanev (1928-45) – 6 MVPs, 7 Silver Sluggers, 3 Gold Gloves, 2842 hits, 1719 runs, 616 HR, 1869 RBI, .309 Avg, 110.1 WAR

CF: Jax Sanders (1922-41) – 1 MVP, 7 Gold Gloves, 5 Silver Sluggers, 3609 hits, 1786 runs, 227 HR, 1196 RBI, .302 Avg, 928 Stolen Bases, 101.8 WAR

RF: Jason Salvage (1903-21) – 3 MVPs, 8 Silver Sluggers, 1907 World Series MVP, 2167 hits, 1497 runs, 559 HR, 1588 RBI, .284 Avg, 99.1 WAR

DH: Kaby Silva (1928-47) – 4 MVPs, 5 Silver Sluggers, 3218 hits, 1665 runs, 731 HR, 1895 RBI, .321 Avg, 108.1 WAR.

SP: Ned Giles (1929-1949) – 5x Pitcher of the Year, 356-232, 3.10 ERA, 5346 innings, 4561 strikeouts, 151.7 WAR

SP: Newton Persaud (1910-1928) – 5x Pitcher of the Year, 328-241, 3.41 ERA, 5356.2 IP, 4655 strikeouts, 145.9 WAR

SP: Bailey Johnson (1918-1935) – 1x Pitcher of the Year, 2 Gold Gloves, 276-184, 2.83 ERA, 4277.1 IP, 4064 strikeouts, 119.0 WAR

SP: Jeremy Frechette (1902-1915) – 5x Pitcher of the Year, 233-104, 3.32 ERA, 3080.1 IP, 2522 strikeouts, 92.5 WAR

SP: Josh Davis (1905-1915) – 6x Pitcher of the Year, 196-109, 2.53 ERA, 2862.0 IP, 2763 strikeouts, 90.1 WAR

CL Rovaldis Arvelo (1928-1947) – 3x Reliever of the Year, 128-84, 438 saves, 2.26 ERA, 1170 IP, 1430 strikeouts, 51.5 WAR.

Below is a look at the National Association through the first 50 seasons.



With their 1940s dynasty especially, Philadelphia has the most World Series wins (7) and appearances (9), most Association Finals appearances (11), and playoff berths (19). Ottawa actually has the highest average win total of any National Association team at 87.4. The Eastern League has been stronger than the Midwest League on average with eight EL teams averaging a winning record over 50 years to only two in the Midwest League. Brooklyn is the only EL team without an association finals appearance and has the fewest playoff appearances at one. They’re also the only EL team without a first place finish.

Milwaukee has the most playoff appearances of the Midwest League teams but oddly is eighth in wins with a lot of parity in the ML. Two teams, Omaha and Chicago, have never been to the Association final, but all teams have finished first. Despite having the best winning percentage of the group, Louisville has the fewest first place finishes with only one. They’re also the only ML team with two World Series wins. The Midwest League has only made it to the World Series 18 times compared to 32 for the Eastern League.


Switching over to the American Association after the first 50 seasons.



Houston has been the most dominant franchise as a whole averaging 89.1 wins per season and has the most playoff appearances (21) of any MLB team and the most Association Finals berths (13) and most first places (15). They’re behind Philly in titles by one. The rest of the SL is generally weaker than the Western League with Jacksonville as the only other team averaging a winning record. Yet, in part because of Houston, the SL has 28 World Series appearances compared to 22 for the WL. 10 of the 12 SL teams have been to the World Series once. San Antonio has the fewest wins of any MLB team, but it is Oklahoma City who are the only one without a single playoff spot. They’re also the only team without a first place in the SL.

Denver at 88 wins per season has the second most wins of any team, but still only sees 5 AACS appearances. San Diego may be the most unlucky team with an average 84.2 wins per season, but only five playoff appearances compared to some teams with less sustained success. Every WL team has been to the AACS at least once.

Meanwhile, here are the college baseball national champion and conference champion results in the first 50 years of baseball.

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The 1951 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class was an impressive one with four first-ballot inductees. The star was LF Andrei Tanev at 98.7%, followed by 1B Kent Price (92.0%), SP Randy Trainor (91.0%), and 3B Isaac Epperson (89.1%). SP Andy Cowan was close to making it a five-person class on the second ballot at 61.7%. Two closers; Otto Thurston and Cliff Bettis, made it above 50% along with C Elijah Watson.



One player was dropped after a 10^th ballot. SP Wyatt Maman had 15 seasons with Cincinnati and was the 1928 Pitcher of the Year. He had a 171-190 record, 3.21 ERA, 2505 strikeouts, and 81.1 WAR. He peaked at 37.6% on his first go on the ballot.



Andrei “Frisky” Tanev – Left Fielder – New Orleans Mudcats – 98.7% First Ballot

Andrei Tanev was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed left fielder born in Ulyanovsk, a city on the Volga River in Russia. Tanev was one of the best all-around batters of the 1930s and 40s, combining very good contact ability, power, eye, and speed. He was a career left fielder and considered a good to sometimes great defender, winning three Gold Gloves early in his career. Tanev was also a team captain and tremendous leader, beloved in every clubhouse he played in.

Tanev left the Soviet Union as a teenager and played college baseball at Wichita State, In the 1927 MLB Draft, he was drafted 157^th overall in the fourth round by Memphis. Tanev immediately found success with the Mountain Cats, winning the 1928 Rookie of the Year with 37 home runs, 118 RBI, and 6.3 WAR. In 1932 and 1933, he won the American Association MVP, leading both of those seasons in runs, home runs, RBI, and OPS. He helped Memphis get wild card berths in 1933 and 34 after struggles throughout the 1920s. In seven years with the Mountain Cats, Tanev had 1165 hits, 732 runs, 278 home runs, 830 RBI, .301 average, and 49.1 WAR.

Tanev left for free agency for the 1935 season and at age 28, signed an eight-year, $159,600 contract with New Orleans. In their prior 34 seasons, the Mudcats had never made the playoffs, but in his first year there, Tanev led New Orleans to their first World Series title. He won his third MVP, again leading in runs, home runs, RBI, and OPS. In the postseason, he had 17 hits, 8 runs, 3 home runs, and 9 RBI. Instantly, “Frisky” became beloved by the Mudcats fans as a hero.

New Orleans made the playoffs thrice more in his tenure, but didn’t again make a big run. Still, Tanev was a beast, winning MVPs in 1936, 1940, and 1941; giving him six for his career. Four of his six Silver Sluggers came with New Orleans, including a career-best 10.7 WAR in 1941. In his run, Tanev had 1384 hits, 814 runs, 287 home runs, 855 RBI, a .318 average, and 51.1 WAR. Late in his run with the Mudcats, he earned his 2500^th hit, 1500^th RBI, and 1500^th run scored. His #7 jersey was the first retired by the franchise.

The 36-year old Tanev became a free agent again and signed with Seattle in 1943, where he spent his final three MLB seasons. Injuries and age started to catch up, including a torn PCL that put him out almost all of 1944. He did cross 600 home runs with the Grizzlies, the 6^th player to do so. Tanev spent his final two seasons in CABA with Monterrey. After going unsigned in 1948, Tanev retired from professional baseball at age 42.

The final MLB line for Tanev: 2842 hits, 1719 runs, 372 doubles, 208 triples, 616 home runs, 1869 RBI, 966 walks, 380 stolen bases, a .309/.376/.595 slash and 110.1 WAR. He was one of four with 200+ triples at retirement and at retirement, his was fourth all-time in RBI. His .595 slugging percentage was the all-time top mark of the 21^st century. Tanev was well deserving of a near-unanimous first ballot induction.



Kent Price – First Baseman – Baltimore Orioles – 92.0% First Ballot

Kent Price was a 5’11’’, 195 pound left-handed first baseman from Sea Cliff, a small town on Long Island New York. Price was a terrific contact hitter who added solid reliable home run power with a pretty good eye. He was a poor baserunner and a career first baseman, considered an average to decent defender. Price played college baseball at Western Michigan and was selected second overall in the 1927 MLB Draft by Baltimore. He’d spend his entire 18-year pro career with the Orioles, where he’d become a fan favorite.

Price saw an impressive debut by winning Rookie of the Year in 1928 with 35 home runs and 6.1 WAR. He’d win two Silver Sluggers spread out, one in 1933 and the other in 1943. Price never won MVP, but did finish third in 1933. He very rarely was a league leader, but he was an iron man who reliably hit 30-40 home runs, around 100 RBI, and roughly 5-6 WAR. In 1943, he had a career-best 50 home run season at age 36 and in 1932, led the National Association in 142.

He became the face of the Orioles, who were almost always above .500 but had trouble breaking through. They finally did in 1939, winning the Eastern League title and ultimately the World Series. In the postseason, he had 20 hits, 7 runs, 3 home runs, and 14 RBI. Unsurprisingly, his #11 uniform would be retired by Baltimore. After his huge 1943 at age 36, he fell off in 1944 and spent 1945 as a bench player. Price was released after the 1945 season and after going unsigned in 1946, retired at the age of 40.

The final statistics: 2940 hits, 1604 runs, 418 doubles, 577 home runs, 1707 RBI, 949 walks, a .309/.378/.540 slash and 96.4 WAR. He almost quietly built the Hall of Fame resume by being a consistently solid performer for almost two decades. Any Baltimore fan though would tell you that he was a Hall of Fame talent and indeed he was, picked on the first ballot at 92.0%.



Randy Trainor – Staring Pitcher – Kansas City Cougars – 91.0% First Ballot

Randy Trainor was a 5’8’’, 175 pound left-handed pitcher from the small town of Choctaw, part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Despite his smaller stature, Trainor threw hard with velocity in the 98-100 mph range. His movement was good, but his great control was his calling card. Trainor had a six-pitch repertoire with a slider, curveball, forkball, changeup, cutter, and circle change. He was a solid defensive pitcher and for a pitcher, a decent batter with a .198 average and 98 hits. He earned a Silver Slugger in 1937.

Trainor played college baseball at Iowa and earned the 11^th overall pick by Kansas City in the 1930 MLB Draft. After limited relief as a rookie, he became a full-time starter for the rest of his career. He finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting in both 1935 and 1936 for the Cougars and in 1937, won the award for the only time in his career. That season finally saw KC break through a more than decade-long playoff drought, winning the National Association title. He had a 2.10 ERA over 30 playoff innings. With Kansas City, he had a 108-63 record, 3.02 ERA, 1392 strikeouts over 1623.1 innings, and 38.3 WAR.

Fresh off an award-winning season, Trainor left for free agency and signed a seven-year, $156,800 contract with Calgary at age 28. He finished third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1939 and twice led the American Association in WAR with the Cheetahs. In 1940, Calgary won the AA title and Trainor had a 3.27 ERA over 41.1 innings for 1.6 WAR. Although inducted as a Cougar, his Cheetah run was arguably better. In seven seasons, he had a 120-77 record, 3.35 ERA, 1888 innings, 1227 strikeouts, and 50.9 WAR. Trainor began to struggle in his last year at age 34 in 1944. He was briefly rostered by Houston and San Diego before eventually spending most of the year with Cincinnati’s affiliate in Dayton. At that point, he was washed and retired at age 35.

The final line for Trainor: 228-140, 3.20 ERA, 3513.1 innings, 2620 strikeouts and 611 walks, 282/435 quality starts, 179 complete games, and 89.2 WAR. Trainor was a reliably solid starting pitcher for two franchises and perhaps a bit underappreciated in his time. The Hall of Fame voters appreciated him though, adding Trainor on the first ballot to the 1951 class at 91.0%.



Isaac Epperson – Third Baseman – Detroit Tigers – 89.1% First Ballot

Isaac Epperson was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Lebanon, a small town in central Indiana. Epperson was an excellent contact hitter who regularly put the ball in play, as he rarely walked but also rarely struck out. He had solid gap power and was an excellent doubles hitter who also could get you 15-20 home runs per season. He wasn’t a particular fast baserunner and was exclusively a third baseman defensively, considered an above average to good defender. Epperson was also thought of as an ironman, very rarely missing games due to injury.

He stayed in the Midwest by playing college baseball at Akron, then was picked 15^th overall in the 1925 MLB Draft by Detroit. The Tigers were his longest stay of his lengthy career, becoming a full-time starter after his rookie year for the next seven seasons. He won his first Silver Slugger at 1929 and led the National Association in hits with 221 in 1932. That season, the Tigers were NA champs with Epperson getting 26 hits, 12 runs, and 0.7 WAR over their postseason run, falling in the World Series to Jacksonville. With Detroit, he had 1446 hits, 621 runs, 136 home runs, a .325 average, and 42.1 WAR. He was well liked enough in this run that his #2 jersey was the first to be retired by the Tigers.

Epperson left for free agency and signed at age 28 with Calgary. He spent 1934-36 with the Cheetahs, winning Silver Sluggers in 1935 and 36. In 1935, Epperson had his highest MVP voting finish at third, winning the batting title at .339. The Cheetahs made it to the American Association Championship series in 1935. Despite his success, Epperson opted out two years early from his Calgary contract, signing with San Diego at age 31 for the 1937 season.

His fourth and final Silver Slugger came in his first year with the Seals. Epperson ultimately spent four years with San Diego, struggling immensely in 1940. Fearing his was washed, the Seals traded him to Louisville for the 1941 season. He bounced back with a solid 5.8 WAR year with the Lynx, his last great season. He also spent 1942 with Louisville, where he picked up his 3000^th career hit.

Epperson signed with Memphis in 1943 at age 43 and was traded the next year to New Orleans. He spent one season with the Mudcats, then signed for his final year in 1945 with the New York Yankees. In that last season, he crossed 1500 runs scored and 1500 RBI. He became the third player to pass 3500 career hits, retiring third all-time. He also ended with 579 doubles; second most all-time at retirement.

The final stats for Epperson: 3551 hits, 1519 runs, 579 doubles, 333 home runs, 1557 RBI, a .310/.338/.457 slash and 86.7 WAR. Epperson was one of the most dependable players in Major League Baseball for 20 seasons and was generally liked by each team and fanbase he met. Even in a loaded four-person Hall of Fame class, Epperson earned a first ballot selection with 89.1% of the vote.

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The 1951 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame class had two players get in, although both barely crossed the 66% threshold in a weak field. On his third attempt, first baseman Mason Mick made the cut at 67.8%. On his fifth try, pitcher Dusty Louis crossed the line at 66.9%. Pitcher Hugo Aguilar almost joined them on his first attempt, just missing it at 64.4%. No one else was above 50% and no one was dropped after 10 tries.



Notably dropped on his 8^th try was pitcher Yusdel Ximenez, the 10^th pitcher in CABA to cross 200 wins. He had a 211-213 record over a lengthy career with 3.21 ERA, 3109 strikeouts, and 61.1 WAR. He peaked at 23.2% on the first attempt.



Mason Mick – First Baseman – Hermosillo Hyenas – 67.8% Third Ballot

Mason Mick was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from the tiny Maine town of Bar Harbor. Mick would become known as someone with a tremendous eye and the ability to draw walks like none other. He still did strike out a lot and was at best an average contact hitter. He would eventually hit for respectable home run power. He was a poor baserunner and played the vast majority of his career at first base and was considered an above average defender.

Mick had an unusual path to the Central American Baseball Association as a guy from Maine who played college baseball at Kent State. He wasn’t at all highly touted as a prospect, but did get drafted by Boston in the third round, 140^th overall, in the 1919 MLB Draft. He was a bench player in minor league Providence in 1920 and was then cut before the 1921 season. In May, he went to Mexico and signed with Hermosillo. He was a reserve roster guy who didn’t play for two seasons, then spent three seasons with the Hyenas as a bench player. A late bloomer, Mick finally became a full-time starter in 1926 at age 27 and would remain a full-time starter until his mid 40s.

Mick won his three Silver Sluggers in 1926, 1927, and 1929. In his second season as a starter in 1927, Mick won the Mexican League MVP, leading the league in home runs (37), walks (76), OBP (.374), slugging (.547), OPS (.921), and wRC+ (204). He won again the next season with a league lead 8.7 WAR and drew 106 walks, which was second-most in a season at the time. Mick would lead the league in walks nine times in his career.

In 1930 and 1933, Hermosillo won the Mexican League title and Mick had a big postseason in both. In 1930, he had five home runs, 15 RBI, and five doubles. In 1933, he added three homers and eight RBI. As he entered the 1930s, Mick was no longer an MVP candidate, but he consistently was a solid starter throughout his 30s and into his 40s as a reliable ironman. Torn ankle ligaments put him out for most of 1935, but outside of that, he regularly started full seasons or close to it. In his time with Hermosillo, Mick had 1514 hits, 803 runs, 279 home runs, 826 RBI, 794 walks, and 60.8 WAR. His #22 jersey would get retired at the end of his career.

After his injury shortened 1935, Mick was traded to Jamaica for three players. When the Jazz got him at age 37, they probably didn’t expect to get solid production for another eight seasons. The Jazz weren’t a playoff team in his time, but he was a bright spot with a reliable 3-4 WAR, 25 home run, 125 hits or so each year. He finally played his last year at age 44 in 1943, posting 985 hits, 562 runs, 189 home runs, 627 RBI, and 23.3 WAR in his time in Jamaica.

The final stats for Mick: 2499 hits, 1365 runs, 361 doubles, 468 home runs, 1453 RBI, 1350 walks, a .263/.359/.458 slash and 84.1 WAR. At retirement, no player in CABA had drawn more walks and he’d hold the career record until the 2020s. Still, walks aren’t sexy and with that as his calling card, it would take three tries to get Mick into the CABA Hall of Fame. He barely missed at 65.7% in his second year and just got over the hump at 67.8% in his third try to join the greats in 1951.



Dusty Louis – Starting Pitcher – Jamaica Jazz – 66.9% Fifth Ballot

Dusty Louis was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. At his peak, Louis had 97-99 mph velocity with four pitches; his most dangerous being a splitter. He added a fastball, slider, and changeup and had respectable movement and control. He was also generally thought off as a good defensive pitcher and someone great at holding runners.

After his amateur career in his native Haiti, he was drafted in the 1927 CABA Draft by Jamaica in the second round with the 44^th overall pick. He spent two seasons on the reserve roster, making his debut as a part-time starter in 1930 at age 22. He struggled in four postseason starts, but the Jazz prevailed anyway and won the CABA title in 1930. In 1931, Louis won the Pitcher of the Year with the league lead in ERA (2.08), wins (23), quality starts (30), and WAR (8.6). A biceps strain in late September kept him out of the postseason run.

Jamaica would make the playoffs five straight seasons from 1930-34, also winning the CABA title in 1933 and Caribbean title in 1934. Louis was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1933 and third in 1932. He was much stronger in these later postseason runs with a sub 1.50 ERA in eight starts between 1932-34. Jamaica would go into a playoff drought for the rest of the 1930s, but Louis kept a warm spot in Jazz fans’ hearts as a big part of a mini dynasty. His #7 jersey would be retired after retirement.

In late May 1935, a partially torn UCL put Louis out for 13 months, ending his season and putting him out for a chunk of 1936. He was back pitching full seasons in 1937 and 1938, but the now 30-year old Louis was no longer a dominant pitcher. At the end of the 1938 season, Louis was traded to Monterrey for prospects. He spent 1939 with the Matadors, then signed with Puerto Rico in 1940 and Juarez in 1941. In summer 1941, Louis suffered a partially torn labrum and after going unsigned in 1942, retired at age 34.

His final statistics: 173-88, 2.76 ERA, 2386.1 innings, 2025 strikeouts, 450 walks, 214/312 quality starts, and 45.2 WAR. His peak with Jamaica was electric, but he was never the same over the UCL injury. He was impressive in a short burst, but his career numbers were thought by many as a “Hall of Very Good” type. But Louis had enough defenders to keep him around the 50% mark in his first four ballots. In a relatively weak 1951 field, he got enough of a bump to barely cross the 66% threshold at 66.9%.

[RMc]

(see title)

[FuzzyRussianHat]

Originally Posted by RMc

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Sadly I don't have one, especially from far back. The actual save itself is in the year 2037 and so massive and complex that it really doesn't play that great anymore.

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Two players were inducted in the East Asia Baseball 1951 Hall of Fame Class. Slugger Danzu Min was a first ballot selection at 96.3%, while Pitcher Shinji Mizuguchi on his second try got in at 73.2%. SS Jun-Yeong Dang on his debut barely missed the 66% cut with 65.1%. Three others were above 50%, all starting pitchers in Toshihiro Tsukahara, Kazuo Udagawa, and Ping’an Xie.



Two players were cut after 10 tries on the EAB ballot. Pitcher Tadakatsu Kyuki was the 1928 Japan League Pitcher of the Year with Chiba and between them and Yokohama in 13 years had a 162-124 record, 2.52 ERA, 2596 strikeouts, and 59.5 WAR. He fell off too early though to accumulate the requisite numbers, peaking on his second ballot at 21.2%. Meanwhile, closer Kazuto Ichihara peaked at 35.9% on his second attempt. The 1925 Reliever of the Year had 13 seasons primarily with Sapporo and Seongnam, posting 294 saves, a 2.14 ERA, 1399 strikeouts, and 31.7 WAR. A solid closer, but not quite HOF worthy.



Danzu Min – Third Baseman – Nagoya Nightowls -96.3% First Ballot

Danzu Min was a 6’2’’, 205 pound switch-hitting third baseman from Shenyang, a metropolis in northeast China. He was very much a “three true outcomes” player who had tremendous home run power and the ability to draw walks, but also was someone who struck out a ton. He was a poor contact hitter, but made up for that with raw power and run scoring ability as a respectable baserunner. Min was a career third baseman who was an average to above average defender.

Min’s family moved to Japan and he attended Tsuda Gauken High School in Kuwana. He was a rare player drafted straight out of high school in EAB, but picked late, as Nagoya selected Min 128^th overall in the fifth round of the 1922 EAB Draft. He had nine at-bats over 1923-1926 as they trained him up. He struggled in 31 games in 1927 and spent his entire 1928 on the reserve roster. He played his first full-time season at age 24 in 1929 and was a full-time starter the next year.

Nagowa became a contender as Min came to prominence with four straight 100+ win seasons from 1931-34, winning the EAB title in 1931 and 1934. In 1931, Min won the Japan League MVP with the league lead in home runs (54) and RBI (116). He had an incredible postseason with eight home runs, 12 runs, and 13 RBI over 12 games as the Nightowls took home a ring. He won his second MVP in 1932 and set the single-season home run record of 64, while adding 120 RBI, a .985 OPS, and 10.1 WAR.

That would be his peak season, but he’d remain a solid contributor for Nagoya into the mid 1940s. The Nightowls won the Japan League title again in 1937 and the EAB championship in 1940. At retirement, Min was the all-time EAB playoff home run and RBI leader with 28 dingers and 49 RBI. He won four Silver Sluggers in total, led in homers three times, walks thrice, and runs twice. Notably, he also led in strikeouts nine times and at retirement had whiffed more than any other EAB player at 3205. Min’s unusual #97 uniform would get retired by Nagoya, who he finally left after the 1945 season at age 40. In 1944, he became the first EAB hitter to 600 career home runs and was the career leader at retirement. He tried one year post-war in MLB with the New York Yankees in 1946. He hit 27 home runs at age 41, but led the league in strikeouts and retired at season’s end.

The final EAB stats for Danzu Min: 1879 hits, 1355 runs, 237 doubles, 658 home runs, 1431 RBI, 986 walks, 3205 strikeouts, 494 stolen bases, a .214/.300./490 slash and 93.9 WAR. His power, especially in the playoffs, was legendary. He was a key crusher for Nagoya despite being the all-time whiff king. All of Danzu’s dingers meant he was a no-doubt first ballot selection at 96.3%.



Shinji Mizuguchi – Starting Pitcher – Sapporo Swordfish – 73.2% Second Ballot

Shinji Mizuguchi was a 5’10’’, 195 pound right-handed starting pitcher from Tokyo, Japan. He was a hard thrower with 98-100 mph velocity and solid control with average movement. Mizuguchi mixed a fastball, slider, splitter, and changeup. Mizuguchi was a college standout at the University of Tokyo and was picked sixth overall by Sapporo in the 1929 EAB Draft.

After spending his rookie year as a reliever, Mizuguchi became a fulltime starter for the Swordfish for the next 12 seasons. Although he never was a Pitcher of the Year finalist, Mizuguchi was a reliable innings eater. He led the Japan League six times in complete games and lead in innings three times. He consistently put up around 5-6 WAR, 250 or so strikeouts and around an upper two/low three ERA. Sapporo found success in the early years for Mizuguchi, winning the EAB title in 1932 and Japan League title in 1933. He had a strong 1932 postseason with a 1.89 ERA over 33.1 innings with 29 strikeouts.

Mizuguchi kept chugging along into his 30s and stayed loyal to the Swordfish, despite the team struggling in the later 1930s. They started an upswing into the 1940s and would get back top form in 1944 and 45, but Mizuguchi would miss that. In September 1942, he suffered a catastrophic ruptured ulnar collateral ligament. He made one regular season and one playoff start the next year and was not re-signed by Sapporo, although they would retire his #23 uniform. In 1944, he had 11.1 relief innings for Chiba and would retire that offseason at age 37.

The final line for Mizuguchi: 194-157, 2.78 ERA, 3305.2 innings, 3197 strikeouts, 601 walks, 280 quality starts, 163 complete games and 65.8 WAR. Quiet and reliable, but not at all flashy. Without the injury, he surely would’ve crossed 200 wins and maybe 250 as he had remained steady up until that fateful day. Still, he was a key player for some solid 1930s Sapporo teams and that earned the attention of the Hall of Fame voters, who put Mizuguchi in on his second try at the ballot with 73.2%.

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The 1951 Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame Class consisted of two starting pitchers both making it on their first ballot. Cato Arias was a slam dunk at 97.7%, while Ivo Sovereira checked in with a solid 85.0%. It was very nearly a three pitcher class with Rey Parisi falling less than one percent short on his third attempt at 65.4%. No one else was above 50% and there were no players who were dropped after a 10^th ballot.



Cato Arias – Starting Pitcher – Rosario Robins – 97.7% First Ballot

Cato Arias was a 6’4’’, 210 pound left-handed pitcher from the town of Rio Gallegos in southern Argentina. His velocity peaked around 95-97 mph and he expertly mixed up four solid pitches with decent control and movement. His arsenal was a fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter. He was viewed as an effective fly ball pitcher and a pretty solid defender, once winning a Gold Glove.

Arias was part of the first Beisbol Sudamerica amateur draft in late 1931 and had garnered attention in his native Argentina, getting selected fourth overall by Cordoba. He spent his entire 14-year professional career with the Chanticleers, throwing 209 innings in his rookie year. He became a regular ace for the team, peaking in 1936 with his lone Pitcher of the Year season. Arias posted a dominant league-best 1.34 ERA with 362 strikeouts over 283 innings with 32 quality starts, 18 complete games, and 11.1 WAR. He also had a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and two walks that season against Rio de Janeiro.

He never had another year quite that good, but did take second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1938 with a 1.60 ERA and 9.1 WAR. He had nine seasons of 6+ WAR, nine seasons with 275+ strikeouts and finished below 2.00 in ERA five times.

His #22 uniform was the first to be retired by Cordoba and he was a bright spot for a generally low to mid-tier franchise. The Chanticleers only made the playoffs in 1937 and 1940 while Arias was there and he missed the 1940 run with a partially torn UCL that put him out most of the year. Even after that injury at age 30, Arias had four more very solid seasons with Cordoba before finally falling off at age 35. He was still under contract in 1946 but didn’t play a game, retiring at age 37 at the end of the year.

The final line for Arias was 220-136, 2.10 ERA, 3330.2 innings, 3593 strikeouts, 719 walks, 302 quality starts out of 407, 165 complete games, and 79.2 WAR. Arias was a reliable face of a franchise for a good decade or so and certainly worthy as an early Hall of Famer, getting in impressively at 97.7%.



Ivo Sovereira – Starting Pitcher – Belo Horizonte Hogs – 85.0% First Ballot

Ivo Sovereira was a 5’7’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Santa Maria, a city in the southernmost state in Brazil. The thick Sovereira was known was having excellent control along with strong 97-99 mph velocity on his fastball. He mixed it up with a curveball, changeup, and forkball. As pitchers go, he was a decent hitter with a career .198 average and 121 hits, winning a Silver Slugger once. Defensively, he was fairly average. He was reliable and an ironman with his longest injury outage being three days for food poisoning.

Sovereira was drafted fifth overall by Belo Horizonte in the 1931 Beisbol Sudamerica amateur draft. He made some starts and relief as a rookie and struggled in a -2.0 WAR season, but fared much better in year two and was excellent by year four. He never won Pitcher of the Year, but took second in both 1935 and 1936. In 1939, the Hogs made their first playoff appearance and advanced to Copa Sudamerica with Sovereira posting a 1.53 ERA over 29.1 innings in the playoff run. In total with Belo Horizonte, he was 143-82 with a 2.42 ERA over 2053 innings with 2036 strikeouts and 49.8 WAR.

At the 1940 trade deadline, he was traded to Quito at age 31. He spent four seasons with the Thunderbolts and posted a career best 1.56 ERA in 1943 at age 34. The Thunderbolts turned around from being bottom-tier while he was there, but they were still just short of being a playoff team. In his tenure, he was 60-42 with a 2.17 ERA, 1017 strikeouts, and 27.6 WAR. With Quito, he picked up his 3000^th strikeout and 200^th win. Sovereira returned home to Brazil in 1945 on a three-year contract with Brasilia, but retired after one lackluster season at age 37.

The final statistics for Sovereira: 209-132, 2.34 ERA, 3131.2 innings, 3157 strikeouts, 467 walks, 330/423 quality starts, and 78.5 WAR. His #94 uniform was the first to be retired by Belo Horizonte and he would be well known as a franchise ambassador after retirement. One of Brazil’s top pitchers of the 1930s and although his final numbers aren’t at the top of the Hall of Fame leaderboards, it is understandable why he was a first ballot pick at 85.0%.

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The fifth World Baseball Championship took place in 1951 in San Diego, California. The United States went unbeaten dominating Division 1 at 11-0, three games ahead of Argentina, Germany, and North Korea. In Division 2, Venezuela and South Korea tied for the top spot at 9-2 with Colombia one back and Spain two back. Venezuela advanced to the round robin stage on the tiebreaker. In Division 3, Brazil prevailed at 9-2, finishing a game better than Peru and two ahead of Canada, Dominican Republican, Ecuador, and England. And in Division 4, defending world champ Mexico and Japan tied for first at 8-3. Japan had the tiebreaker, sending them to the final four.

1951 would be the final season using this postseason format with the final four playing a three-round robin against each other. The Americans had the top mark at 8-1, advancing to the championship along with Japan at 5-4. Brazil was third at 3-6 and Venezuela was fourth at 2-7. In the best-of-seven World Championship, the USA defeated Japan in five games. The Americans have taken three of the first five championships. It was the first finals appearance for Japan.





Adam Lewis was tournament MVP for back-to-back seasons. The 26-year old Baltimore CF had 42 hits, 26 runs, 10 doubles, 8 home runs, 20 RBI, a .412/.465/.765 slash and 2.0 WAR over 24 games. The Best Pitcher went to Mexico’s Aaron Reyes. A 33-year old veteran currently with Seattle, he had 12.2 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts, four hits allowed, and one walk.

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Year two of the European Baseball Federation saw some record setting seasons. In the Northern Conference, Paris dominated the Northwest Division at 124-38, the first-ever 124 win season in any of the professional league. Last year’s division champ Amsterdam had a 107-55 mark, easily taking the wild card spot. Stockholm cruised to the North Central Division at 112-50, while the first European Champion Copenhagen fell off hard to 75-87. The Corsairs would have to wait until the 1980s to make the playoffs again. Glasgow was the British Isles champ again with a 94-68 record, beating Dublin by five games.

Amsterdam CF Joe Ramet was the NC MVP. The 32-year old Frenchman had 131 runs, 207 hits, 60 home runs, 142 RBI, and 13.2 WAR. The WAR total would remain a top 10 single-season mark even into the 21^st Century. Pitcher of the Year went to Stockholm’s Pietro Ribsi. The 26-year old Italian had the first Triple Crown pitcher season with a 25-6 record, 2.05 ERA, and 328 strikeouts. He also had a conference-best 293.2 innings, 28 quality starts, and 11.9 WAR.



Believe it or not, Paris didn’t have the best record in the EBF in 1951, as Madrid finished at 125-37. It was the first 125 win season in professional baseball and wouldn’t be matched in any league again until 2000 during Kano’s West African Baseball dynasty. Last year’s Southern Conference champ Barcelona took the wild card at 109-53, the second-best record in the SC. Munich won a tight Southeast Division at 99-63, finishing two ahead of defending division champ Vienna. The South Central Division was decided by one game with Milan successfully defending their title at 92-70, edging 91-71 Zurich.

Munich’s Orion McIntyre won the Southern Conference MVP. The 35-year old Northern Irish 3B crushed 68 home runs, which would be the EBF single-season record until 1984. He added 140 RBI, 1.051 OPS, and 10.4 WAR. The Mavericks also had the Pitcher of the Year in Todd Sandstrom. The 27-year old Swede had a 2.13 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 292 strikeouts, and 8.7. WAR.

Despite the record-setting seasons, both Paris and Madrid were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. Amsterdam downed the Poodles in four games, while Barcelona swept the Conquistadors. Glasgow edged Stockholm in five games and Munich outlasted Milan in five games. The Northern Conference Championship saw the Anacondas defeat the Highlanders in five games, while the Southern Conference had the Mavericks best the Bengals in six. The second European Championship saw Amsterdam defeat Munich in six games, sending the cup to the Netherlands.





Other notes: Paris’s Gabriel Staudt’s 151 RBI would stand as the single-season record until 1982. Poodles closer Romain Guy-Blache had 57 saves, which would not only be the EBF single-season record, but the record in any world league until 2010.

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Bogota claimed a third straight Bolivar League North Division title in 1951, finishing at 91-71. The Bats beat Valencia (89-73) by two games. Meanwhile, the best record in the league went to South Division champ Cali. The three-time defending Bolivar League champ won their fifth straight division with a 98-64 record, eight games better than second place Quito.

The MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Bogota. Bats 3B Pedro Quintana won his second straight MVP, leading the league in hits (220) and batting average (.346), adding 41 doubles, 15 triples, and 6.4 WAR. Alonzo Guzman won his second PotY in three years as the 33-year old led in wins (22) and ERA (1.53) with 296 strikeouts, 33 quality starts, and 8.0 WAR.



Brasilia won a weak Brazil Division for their first playoff berth since their 1938 Copa Sudamerica season. The Bearcats finished 86-76, beating defending BSA champ Belo Horizonte by two games. Cordoba at 101-61 won their second straight South Division and had the best overall record in Beisbol Sudamerica.

The Chanticleers boasted the MVP and Pitcher of the Year in 1951. 28-year old LF Placido Guerrero had the MVP on 48 home runs, 108 RBI, .949 OPS, 198 wRC+, and 8.1 WAR. 27-year old Nono Louceiro was the PotY on 8.3 WAR, a 1.87 ERA, 19-7 record, and 296 strikeouts over 264.1 innings.

The 1951 Bolivar League Championship Series was the third straight between Bogota and Cali. For the first time, the Bats prevailed by sweeping the Cyclones, denying a Cali four-peat. This also gave Bogota its first-ever league title. Cordoba won its first-ever Southern Cone Championship Series by beating Brasilia in five games. In a novel Copa Sudamerica, the Chanticleers clobbered the Bats in five games, bringing the title back to Argentina for the first time since Buenos Aires’ 1945 title.





Other notes: Quito’s Carlos Vargas had a 30-game hitting streak, tying the BSA single-season record. Matias Amaro and Diego Pena became the first BSA batters to reach 500 career home runs. Leonardo Velasco became the second to 2500 career hits. Evan Yho became the second pitcher to 5000 career strikeouts, while Tilson Garcia and Hernan Alatorre became the fourth and fifth to 4500 Ks. Jonathan Iglesias became the first (and as of 2036, the only) reliever to 500 career saves.

Cordoba shortstop Jamie Escoto became an 11-time Gold Glove winner, while LF Carlos Matamoros became a nine-time winner. Escoto joins RF Martin Arriaga as the only 11-time winners. SS Diego Pena won his record 13^th Silver Slugger.

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Sapporo continued its Japan League North Division dominance in 1951, winning the title for the fifth straight year and eighth time in nine years. The Swordfish finished 107-55, needing a strong year to fend off a solid 103-59 Yokohama squad and 98-64 Sendai. The South Division was competitive, but weak. Osaka took the title for the first time since 1946 with the Orange Sox at 86-76. Hiroshima and Kobe both finished two back at 84-78 and Kitakyushu was five away at 81-81.

Sendai’s Hidetsugo Fujino had a monster year to earn the MVP. The 25-year old RF led the league in home runs (57), RBI (138), hits (212), runs (126), slash (.362/.431/.718), OPS (1.149), wRC+ (251), and WAR (11.3). Fujino was only the third EAB hitter to earn a Triple Crown and the first since 1941. Yokohama’s Haruo Matsuzaki was Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old left led in wins (20), strikeouts (316), WAR (8.5), and WHIP (0.86). He had a 2.22 ERA, just one point away from a Triple Crown season.



Seoul had the best record in Korea at 101-61, giving the Seahawks their third playoff berth in four years. They bounced back after missing last year to Incheon, who fell to second place in the North Divison at 91-71. Daegu took the South Division at 95-67, five games ahead of Busan. The Diamondbacks earned their first playoff berth in a decade. Last year’s division champ Daejeon fell off hard from 101 games to 72 games.

Incheon LF Tae-U Chun was the league MVP, leading Korea in runs (112), doubles (45), average (.345), OPB (.396), and WAR (7.4). Seoul’s Yorinobu Hayase was Pitcher of the Year at age 29. Hayase had 23 wins, a 2.68 ERA, 297 strikeouts, and 7.4 WAR.

The Japanese League Championship Series saw Sapporo defeat Osaka in five games, giving the Swordfish six titles in the last eight years. Sapporo now has eight total Japan titles, tying them with Korea’s Busan for the most of any EAB team. The KLCS had Seoul sweep Daegu in the first KLCS sweep since 1933. The win gives the Seahawks a third title in four years. The East Asian Championship would be a seven game classic with Sapporo edging Seoul in the end. The Swordfish win their third EAB title in their run and fourth overall, tied with Busan for the most.





Other notes: Goyang’s Byung-Oh Tan became the first EAB hitter to 3500 career hits. Tan would play two more seasons, retiring the all-time EAB hit king at 3871. Oki Tanaka became the first (and as of 2036, the only) EAB closer to 500 career saves. He’d ultimately retire after the 1954 season with the all-time mark of 565.

Taiji Makino became the sixth to 4000 career strikeouts. Ha-Jun Cho became the second player to both 1500 runs scored and 1500 RBI. Si-U Gim became the seventh to 500 home runs. Jong Lee had a 32-game hit streak, the third longest in EAB history. Ha-Min Park won his ninth Silver Slugger as a DH.

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Defending Mexican League champ Mexicali won the North Division for the third straight season in 1951, leading the league at 101-61. In the South Division, Ecatepec secured their first title since 1944. The Explosion were 99-63, while last year’s division winner Guadalajara fell to fourth at 81 wins. Both the Maroons and Explosion won their division by double-digits.

Although the Hellhounds fell off, Prometheo Garcia continued his dominance with the 28-year old 1B getting his third MVP. Garcia won his second Triple Crown with a .350 average, 44 home runs, and 119 RBI. He also led Mexico in runs (103), hits (222), OBP (.406), slugging (.609), OPS (1.015), wRC+ (211) and WAR (9.8). Mexicali’s Rolando Pena won his second Pitcher of the Year in three seasons. Pena had a 2.24 ERA, 261 innings, 284 strikeouts, and 8.6 WAR. He also won a Gold Glove for his defense.



The top team in the Caribbean League was Santiago for their first Island Division crown since their 1947 league title. The Sailfish finished 100-62, while last year’s CABA champ Jamaica plummeted to fourth at 78-84. A competitive Continental Division came down to a tiebreaker game between Nicaragua and Salvador, who both finished at 85-77. The Navigators took the tiebreaker game to win a second straight division title.

Nicaragua had the Caribbean MVP in 1B Jonathan Suarez. In his second full-time season, the 26-year 1B from Honduras led in hits (202), RBI (121), average (.322), slugging (.577), and OPS (.949), adding 6.9 WAR and 36 home runs. Salvador’s Galeno Garza was the Pitcher of the Year, leading in ERA (2.00), WHIP (0.830, and WAR (9.7).






The Mexican League Championship Series went to Mexicali in six games against Ecatepec, giving the Maroons back-to-back league titles. The Caribbean League Championship Series saw Santiago take it in six over Nicaragua, giving the Sailfish their first since 1947 and fifth league title. The CABA Championship was a sweep for the first time since 1933 as Santiago smacked Mexicali, making the Maroons runner-up in back-to-back years. It is the third overall title for the Sailfish and first since 1923.

Other notes: Crossing 200 career wins in 1951 were Jeron Evans and Stinky Macaca. Jeong-Hyeon Pin became the fourth CABA batter to 1500 RBI. Se-Hyeon Kim became the 11^th to 500 career home runs and also crossed 2500 hits. Ildefonso Vazquez also crossed 2500 hits, making it 13 batters to do so.

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After missing the playoffs last year, 1949 World Series champ Montreal took the Eastern League title in 1951 at 104-58 for the best record in the National Association. Second place went to the New York Yankees at 96-66, giving them their first playoff appearance since 1917. The 1950 EL champ Philadelphia fell short of the wild card by three games. In the Midwest League, Indianapolis took first for their first playoff appearance since 1936 and first ML title since 1932. The Racers at 92-70 finished one game ahead of Chicago, three ahead of St. Louis, and five on Columbus. The Cubs got the wild card for their third straight playoff appearance.

The Maples had the NA MVP and Pitcher of the Year in 1951. 27-year old 3B Beckham Hudson led the NA with 9.4 WAR, adding 199 hits, 36 home runs, 107 RBI, and a .333 average. 27-year old Oliver Guerra was PotY with the lead in WAR (9.5), while adding 270 strikeouts and a 2.74 ERA.

In the first round of the playoffs, Montreal beat Chicago and Indianapolis downed New York; both in four games. The Maples won their second National Association title in three years by defeating the Racers in six games. Montreal earns their fifth NA crown, joining Ottawa (5) and Philadelphia (9) as the only five-time winners.



Houston ended their longest playoff drought in franchise history at 11 years as the Hornets won the Southern League title at 103-59. It is Houston’s record 16^th first place finish. San Antonio at 96-66 took second to get the wild card for the second straight year, while Memphis was third. Jacksonville’s playoff streak ended at three as the Gators finished fifth, beginning their own decade-plus playoff drought. Las Vegas won the Western League at 102-60, only their second league title in their seven playoff appearances all-time. Phoenix took second at 95-67 to advance, beating out defending World Series champ San Francisco by two games and San Diego by three.

Gold Rush 3B Zach Bargas picked up the American Association MVP. The 24-year old had what would be his career peak with a batting title at a .371 average along with an AA best 231 hits. He added 25 homers, 120 RBI, and 6.9 WAR. The Firebirds had the Pitcher of the Year in Alan Birkemeier in what was also a career peak in an otherwise unremarkable career The 27-year old had 8.9 WAR with a 2.80 ERA, 23-9 record, and 259 strikeouts in 283.1 innings.

Birkemeier helped lead Phoenix in a first round upset at Houston in five games, while San Antonio shocked Las Vegas in five. In a wild card battle in the American Association Championship Series, the Firebirds took it in five games for their first association title since 1933 and fourth total. The 51^st World Series went seven games with Montreal edging Phoenix to give the Maples their second title. They become among a select few to win two titles in three seasons as well, creating a mini-dynasty along the way. Notably, this would also be the last time for a decade that a National Association team won the World Series. The NA had the advantage over the AA 27-24 through 51 meetings, but the American Association would soon flip the switch and be forevermore considered the stronger organization.





Other notes: Millard Barkley became the 17^th pitcher to reach 250 career wins. Wei-Ju Wang crossed 1500 runs scored. Alejandro Fernandez won his ninth Silver Slugger, a record for catchers. The general anti-catcher bias of the Hall of Fame voters would ultimately hold Fernandez out despite this fact, considered by many as one of the biggest HOF snubs of all time.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

The 1952 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class was another impressive one with four first-ballot selections; three of which made it at 93% or higher. 1B Kaby Silva and SP Domingo Martinez were absolute no-doubters at 99.7% and 99.0%, respectively. 1B Brad Berg got 93.8% and would be the headliner in just about any other class. The fourth inductee was RF Dale Brooks, just sneaking over the threshold at 69.2%. Two others had very good first time showings above 60%; C Hernan Ortega and CF Luke Marray. SP Andy Cowan barely missed the cut on his third try at 64.4%.



There were four players dropped from the MLB ballot following their tenth attempt. RF Kayden Lindsey had a 22 year professional career primarily with Columbus in MLB, but spent time with four other MLB franchises and three in CABA. He won MVP in 1920 and had 2421 hits, 1198 runs, 230 home runs, 1147 RBI, a .314 average, and 74.8 WAR in MLB. He had 12.6 WAR in CABA that might have gotten him over the hump if added, but the lack of power meant he peaked at 38.6% on his ninth attempt. Closer Anthony Van Schoonhooven was another drop, putting up 38.0 WAR and 334 saves with a 2.63 ERA over 23 seasons. He was viewed as more of a compiler and playing for 14 teams is viewed as a negative by voters. He peaked at 44.8% on the second ballot.

2B Todd Donnelly also was dropped, peaking at 31.2% on his second try. In 16 years with four teams, he had 2488 hits, 1270 runs, 112 homers, a .318 average, and 56.0 WAR. The fourth player dropped after 10 tries was 1B Colt Marshall, who played exclusively with Louisville. He had 2390 hits, 1039 runs, 229 homers, 1071 RBI, a .337 average, and 57.2 WAR. Solid singles hitter, but that’s not exciting, especially from a 1B. He peaked at 34.6% on his second attempt.



Kaby Silva – First Baseman- Omaha Hawks – 99.7% First Ballot

Kaby Silva was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed first baseman from Praia, the capital of the west African island nation of Cape Verde. He would be come to known as a prolific contact and power hitter, leading the National Association in homers five times and posting a career .321 batting average. He had a respectable eye, but was a slow baserunner. He didn’t hit too many doubles, but he didn’t need to with so many balls going over the fence. Silva’s entire defensive career was at first base and he was considered generally above average with the glove.

Silva wasn’t immediately immersed in baseball being in Cape Verde, which was a Portuguese colonial property until 1975. Silva had family connections which introduced him to the game, but he didn’t exactly have an avenue to play at home. He came to America for college at North Carolina and with little experience, walked on and became a successful player. He was picked in the 1926 MLB Draft, but as a non-American or Canadian, he was excluded from the early regional rounds. He went 158^th overall in round four to Omaha and even at the time, wasn’t thought to be a stellar prospect. But as he continued to immerse himself in the game in his 20s, he quickly became an elite bat for the Hawks.

In his third season, Silva had 48 home runs, his first of nine seasons with 40+. The next year, he led in homers (50) and RBI (118) in the National Association, finishing third in MVP voting. 1932 was his first MVP season with 55 home runs and 8.5 WAR. Silva won it again in 1934 and 1935 with the former being a historic season. Silva had a Triple Crown with a .387 average, 52 home runs, and 137 RBI. He also led the NA in hits (235), OBP (.441), slugging (.697), OPS (1.138), and WAR (10.8). This season often gets cited on why baseball is a team game though, as despite this incredible effort from Silva, Omaha still was an abysmal 69-93 team.

The Hawks would be a wild card the next year, but they were an early exit and continuously a bottom-tier team during Silva’s best years. He had six 50+ home run seasons and nine 100+ seasons, earning five Silver Sluggers against a loaded 1B field. Omaha would finally see some success in the early 1940s with Silva getting his fourth MVP in 1941 at age 34. The Hawks won the Midwest League twice and had two wild cards from 1940-43, but were ousted in the first round each time. Age also started to catch up to him, as various injuries put him out a month or two in 1937, 39, 42, 43, 44, and 45. Even in less than full seasons, he was still putting up 4-5 WAR and 25-35 homers in the down years and 50+ when healthy.

Silva started to rack up milestones, including 3000 hits, 1500+ runs, 1500+ RBI, and 100+ WAR. But the big one was 700+ homers with many thinking Silva could catch the all-time mark of Elijah Cashman of 750, set in 1936. Silva was the second to get to 700+, doing it at age 38 in1945. It was his last season with Omaha and they’d ultimately retire his #21 and use the beloved Silva as a team ambassador. But he signed with Calgary for the 1946 season to a two-year deal with the Cheetahs hoping he could catch the home run record if moved to a DH. He hit 26 homers in 1946, but struggled otherwise, posting -1.3 WAR. Silva decided to retire there at age 40, ending second in all-time homers at 731.

The final statistics: 3218 hits, 1665 runs, 351 doubles, 731 home runs, 1895 RBI, 892 walks, a .321/.376/.580 slash and 108.1 WAR. One of the all-time great hitters and a bright spot for an Omaha franchise that was often a stinker in the 1930s and 40s. Silva also become a legend back home in Cape Verde and helped introduce the game to the islands and to west Africa as a whole and would play a role in helping form West African Baseball in 1975 and creating a Cape Verde-based franchise.



Domingo Martinez – Starting Pitcher – Charlotte Canaries – 99.0% First Ballot

Domingo Martinez was a 5’10’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher form Culiacan, a city in northwestern Mexico. Martinez was known for a stellar fastball that regularly hit 97-99 mph, mixed with generally solid control and movement between the fastball, a stellar slider, and a solid changeup. He was generally considered a good defensive pitcher and someone with strong stamina. He left for the United States and played college baseball at Wisconsin. After that run, Martinez was picked 153^rd overall in the 1931 MLB Draft by Charlotte, where he’d spend his entire career.

Martinez saw some work as a solid reliever in his rookie season and then became a full-time starter in year two and a bona fide ace in year three. Charlotte made it to the American Association Championship in 1933 with Martinez posting three quality starts in that run. He’d struggle a bit in his 20s afterward in the postseason, although the Canaries would still pull off four playoff berths and the 1937 World Series title. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1934 and second in 1938.

It was the late 1930s and his late 20s when Martinez became exceptional. In 1938, he had 11.5 WAR over 294.2 innings, at the time setting a single-season WAR record for pitchers with a 24-6 record, 2.69 ERA, 294 strikeouts, 19 complete games, and six shutouts. He was second in PotY In 1939, then did even better in 1940 to win his second award with 11.7 WAR, 297 strikeouts, a 2.80 ERA and 23 complete games. The 11.7 WAR stood as the pitcher MLB single-season record until 1991.

He was third in voting in 1941, but was most importantly able to shake off some playoff gremlins as Charlotte won the American Association title, falling in the World Series to the fledging Philadelphia dynasty. In that postseason, Martinez had a 2.18 ERA over 41.1 innings and five starts. He had two more solid seasons in 1942 and 1943, leading in WAR for a third time, although the Canaries were one-and-done in the postseason.

By this point, the now 33-year old Martinez was established as one of the best pitchers of the last decade. But in the late spring of 1944, he needed surgery in his throwing elbow to remove a bone spur. He was never the same after this. He came back for a middling 1945, then stunk it up in 1946, opting to retire at the end of the season at age 36. Still, he got two important milestones at the end; 250 wins and 3000+ strikeouts. Charlotte quickly retired his #30 uniform, the first retired by the Canaries and one of only three in franchise history.

The final statistics: 250-140, 3.22 ERA, 3471.2 innings, 3145 strikeouts, 868 walks, 263/430 quality starts, 223 complete games, 51 shutouts, and 98.6 WAR. Had he been able to stay healthy, he had a shot at being in the upper echelon of the all-time pitchers. Still, hitting the milestones he did considering shows how impressive and dominant Martinez was at his best. It is no surprise he not only got in on the first ballot, but at 99.0%.



Brad Berg – First Baseman – Cincinnati Reds – 93.8% First Ballot

Brad Berg was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch hitting first baseman from Hammond, Indiana; located just outside of Chicago. Berg was a solid contact hitter with very good power. He had a decent eye, but did strike out more than the average hitter. He made up for It by posting 35+ home runs 10 times in his career. Berg was a slow baserunner and played entirely at first base, although he was thought of as an above average to good defender. Berg stayed in the Midwest by playing college baseball at Eastern Michigan, helping the Eagles to the 1929 National Championship. This attention earned him the 12^th overall pick in the 1929 MLB Draft by Cincinnati.

He spent 1930 in the minor league affiliate in Dayton and was the minor league MVP. Berg became a part-time starter for the Reds in 1931 and 32, then became a full-time starter after for the next decade. He would win Silver Sluggers in 1936, 38, and 42 and became a top-tier hitter in the mid to late 1930s, although he wouldn’t always get the notice with Kaby Silva sharing a position and league with him, plus Cincinnati’s general mediocrity.

In 1936, he won the National Association MVP by leading in WAR (8.2), runs (115), and RBI (137). He won it again In 1938 with career bests in home runs (52) and RBI (139). He remained a consistent strong slugger and the Reds finally saw some playoff action in Berg’s later years. They made the playoffs in 1937, 39, 42, and 43; winning the Midwest League in each. However, their deepest runs saw elimination at the NACS In 1939 and 1942.

After the 1943 season, the now 35-year old Berg opted for free agency and signed with Albuquerque. He was on his way to an MVP caliber season in his Isotopes debut with a 1.045 OPS, but back spasms put him out for six weeks. The next two seasons, Berg struggled and put up below average production. He picked up his 2500^th hit, but opted to retire at age 38 as his contract with Albuquerque expired.

The final statistics: 2551 hits, 1404 runs, 394 doubles, 559 home runs, 1722 RBI, 829 walks, a .293/.355/.536 slash, and 81.8 WAR. He was a reliable presence in the middle of the lineup for about 15 years, but was often overshadowed by other stud 1Bs. Still, his #19 uniform was retired by Cincinnati and the Hall of Fame voters didn’t forget about the popular slugger, giving him a first ballot induction at 93.8%.



Dale Brooks – Right Fielder – Calgary Cheetahs – 69.2% First Ballot

Dale Brooks was a 5’7’’, 180 pound left-handed right fielder from Red Deer, Alberta; a city located midway between Calgary and Edmonton. Brooks was an excellent contact hitter with decent power, averaging around 20-30 home runs a season and 30-40 doubles. He was decent at drawing walks and a below average baserunner. He played almost exclusively at right field and was considered a lousy defender. Brooks was a well-liked team leader and incredibly durable. Brooks played college baseball at Ohio University and was picked 40^th overall by Calgary in the 1926 MLB Draft, keeping him relatively close to home.

He was a part-time starter as a rookie, then became a full-time starter for around 17 seasons. Year two was his peak at age 22, leading the American Association in hits (222), runs (113), average (.357) and OBP (.402). His two Silver Sluggers came in 1928 and 1929. He never again had seasons that strong, but he was a reliable each year for 3-5 WAR, around a .300 average, 35 or so doubles, around 90 runs, and 20-30 homers. The Cheetahs only made the playoffs twice in Brooks’ tenure; making it to the AACS in 1935 and a first round exit in 1937. With Calgary, Brooks had 2157 hits, 1118 runs, 259 home runs, 1051 RBI, and 48.5 WAR. His #16 uniform would be retired once Brooks was finished as a local favorite.

In summer 1938, the 32-year old Brooks was part of a five-player trade that sent him to Buffalo. He spent the rest of that season and the next five years with the Blue Sox. There, he had 968 hits, 484 runs, 146 home runs, and 22.3 WAR. In Buffalo, Brooks earned his 3000^th hit, 1500^th run, 1500^th RBI, and 400^th home run. At age 38, he signed with Philadelphia mid-dynasty for the 1944 season. Brooks was done as a solid full-time starter, but was a decent bench piece as the Phillies won the 1944 World Series and got to it in 1945 and 46. Brooks retired after the 1946 season at age 40.

The final statistics: 3364 hits, 1724 runs, 595 doubles, 442 home runs, 1663 RBI, a .309/.365/.495 slash and 72.8 WAR. At retirement, his 595 doubles was #1 on the all-time leaderboard and was also sixth in hits. He compiled some solid numbers, but Brooks was rarely considered elite. Still, his reliable production gave him some stats you couldn’t ignore and he earned first ballot selection, albeit at only 69.2%. He’s the fourth guy in a stacked 1952 HOF class, but a Hall of Famer regardless.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

Two players were inducted to the Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 1952, both getting in at exactly 83.0% on their first ballot. SP Napler Pedro and LF Emmanuel Reyes were the newest members of the Hall. SP Hugo Aguilar barely missed out on joining them in his second attempt, falling short of the 66.0% threshold with a 65.7%. No one else was above 50% and no players were dropped after a 10^th ballot.



Napler Pedro – Starting Pitcher – Ecatepec Explosion – 83.0% First Ballot

Naple Pedro was a 64’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Saltillo in northeastern Mexico. Pedro was known for having great movement and good control on his pitches. His velocity was only around 93-95 mph on his fastball, but his great changeup and a nice curveball helped his effectiveness. Pedro was also thought of as a good defensive pitcher, very durable, and a very hard worker. He was a very impressive amateur and was picked first overall in the 1931 CABA Draft by Chihuahua.

He instantly become a starter for the Warriors and was second in Rookie of the Year voting. He was a solid starter in four seasons for the struggling Warriors squad, putting up 22.9 WAR and a 2.88 ERA. His tenure was short, traded in the 1935 offseason for prospects to Costa Rica; who just won the CABA championship. In his Rays debut, he finished third in Pitcher of the Year voting and was a solid contributor as they again won the Caribbean League. The team fell off hard in the next two seasons and Pedro tested free agency after the 1938 campaign.

At age 29, Pedro signed for the 1939 season with Ecatepec. He would go into the Hall as a member of the Explosion, although his tenure was only five seasons. He had a 3.03 ERA, 27.4 WAR, and 1030 strikeouts in Ecatepec, who became a contender in 1943 and won the CABA Championship. Pedro was a free agent at the season’s end and opted to go to Mexico City for the 1944 season. In 1945, the Aztecs made a run and took the CABA Championship with Pedro finishing third in Pitcher of the Year voting at age 35. His production fell off a bit the next year and Pedro decided to retire at age 37.

Pedro’s final statistics: 233-188, 2.96 ERA, 3765.1 innings, 3190 strikeouts, 679 walks, 341/494 quality starts, and 79.2 WAR. He never was the top pitcher in the game, but he was a reliable 5-7 WAR starter for 15 seasons and played a role in championship teams for three franchises. This earned Pedro a spot in the CABA Hall on the first ballot at 83.0%.



Emmanuel Reyes – Left/Right Fielder – Merida Mean Green – 83.0% First Ballot

Emmanuel Reyes was a 6’2’, 200 pound left-handed corner outfielder from Esteli, the third largest city in Nicaragua. Reyes was an excellent power hitter, leading Mexico in home runs six times and RBI four times. He was a respectable contact hitter as well, although his strikeout numbers were a bit high and his walk numbers a bit low. He wasn’t a quick baserunner and split his defensive career almost 50/50 between left and right field; being equally subpar with the glove in both.

Reyes was signed as a teenage amateur out of Nicaragua by Merida and made his Mean Green debut in 1930. He was a partial starter in 1931, then became a full-time regular starter the next year. Reyes won four straight Silver Sluggers from 1932-15, leading in home runs each year and RBI thrice. Reyes was third in MVP voting in 1933, second in 1934 and 1935, third in 1936, and third again in 1939. He was a beast for a decade despite Merida being a bottom-tier team. His #6 jersey would be the first retired by the franchise as he gave fans reason to come see a lousy team. In his Mean Green run, he had 1738 hits, 480 home runs, 1111 RBI, 895 runs, 1111 RBI, and 67.0 WAR.

Reyes was traded to Salvador at age 32 for the 1942 season and struggled, posting 1.9 WAR despite still adding 46 home runs and crossing 500 in his career. He left that offseason and went to America, signing with Charlotte. He spent a year and change with the Canaries before getting released in 1944 and heading back to Mexico with Juarez. Reyes played his final three seasons with the Jesters with a slight resurgence in 1945. He retired after the 1946 season at age 37.

The final CABA stats for Reyes: 2098 hits, 1095 runs, 592 home runs, 1356 RBI, a .278/.323/.562 slash and 72.7 WAR. At his peak, Reyes was the best home run hitter in Mexico. He comes up less often among the inner-circle having been stuck with a mediocre Merida franchise and with the non-homer parts of his game being forgettable. Still, he socked a lot of dingers and this earned Reyes a first ballot induction at 83.0%.