Baseball: The World's Game - Page 48

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-03-2024, 03:07 PM

Peshawar earned a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season, finishing first in the Pakistan League standings for the third time in that stretch. The Predators at 92-70 were only two ahead of Faisalabad, who earned their first-ever playoff berth at 90-72. With that, all eight PL teams have made the playoffs at least once. Defending Asian Baseball Federation champ Gujranwala was 89-73, missing the cut by one game.

Peshawar’s Hakim As-Salam won the Pakistan League MVP. The 28-year old RF nicknamed “Squirt” more than a month to injury, but still led the PL in average (.341), slugging (.676), OPS (1.095), and wRC+ (264). As-Salam added 10.1 WAR, 40 home runs, and 93 RBI. Karachi was below .500, but their ace Qazi Khwaja won the Pitcher of the Year. He led in strikeouts (416), WHIP (0.74), K/BB (14.9), FIP- (42), and WAR (11.3). The 416 Ks was an ABF record and although it would fall the next year, it is still the seventh best season as of 2037. Khwaja also had a 1.77 ERA over 260 innings and a 19-12 record.

Mashhad was the top seed in the West Asia Association in 1992, winning the Persian League for the third consecutive season. The Mercury had their best record yet at 103-59, scoring 100 more runs than the next best team in the WAA. Tabriz was a solid 92-70, but still 11 short of Mashhad. In the Turkish League, Adana was a first-time champ at 92-70. Bursa was second at 86-76 and defending WAA champ Izmir was third at 85-77. The Blue Claws and Shiraz are the only ABF teams without one playoff berth through ABF’s first eight seasons.

23-year old slugger Gokhan Karatas of Izmir won the MVP despite the Ice Caps being third. The left-handed Turkish first baseman was one RBI short of a Triple Crown with 52 home runs, 138 RBI, and a .346 average. Karatas also led the WAA in runs (125), total bases (405), OBP (.434), slugging (.726), OPS (1.159), wRC+ (232), and WAR (13.1). This set a single season WAR record that Karatas would break himself the next year. Adana’s Nadir Cak had a breakout season to win Pitcher of the Year. The Turkish lefty had dealt with two ruptured UCLs already by age 35, but he finally had a full season and exceled, leading the WAA in ERA (1.450, WHIP (0.70), K/BB (10.1), FIP- (37), and WAR (9.7). Cak also had 352 strikeouts over 205.1 innings. He would leave for MLB the next season, but tore his UCL again and spent the next decade bouncing around teams on the injured list.

For the fourth consecutive season, the Pakistan League Championship Series needed all seven games. Peshawar outlasted Faisalabad to give the Predators their third pennant in four years. Meanwhile in the West Asia Association Championship, Mashhad took their second title in three years, defeating Adana 4-1.

The 1992 Asian Baseball Federation Championship was Peshawar’s third finals appearance and a rematch of the 1990 final with Mashhad. The Predators finally earned their first ring, getting revenge over the Mercury 4-2. CF Rabbani Luqman was both finals MVP and PLCS MVP for Peshawar. The 25-year old center fielder had 19 hits, 10 runs, 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 8 RBI, and 6 stolen bases in 13 playoff starts.

Other notes: Peshawar’s Sa’id Farahani set an ABF single-game pitching record with 22 strikeouts in their June 29 encounter with Peshawar. One month later, Farahani had a no-hitter against Lahore with 15 strikeouts. Kamran Abenov of Istanbul set a bad record with 292 strikeouts at the plate, which remains the ABF all-time worst as of 2037.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-04-2024, 03:50 AM

1992 in the Indian League saw the exact four teams earn playoff spots as the prior season with three of the four extending lengthy playoff streaks. Ahmedabad, fresh off five SAB titles in six years, dominated yet again with a 112-50 mark atop the West Division. The Animals scored 813 runs, while no other SAB team was above 700. Ahmedabad earned its eight consecutive playoff berth and 11^th in 12 years. In the Central Division, Delhi and Kanpur switched positions. The Drillers went 96-66 to win the division title for the first time. The Poison took the wild card at 85-77 for their fourth playoff appearance in five years. Kolkata was the next closest in the wild card race, finishing three back on Kanpur. Visakhapatnam cruised to a fourth successive South Division title at 93-69.

Indian League MVP went to Ahmedabad RF Johar Rai. The 34-year old veteran led the league with 53 home runs while posting 110 runs, 116 RBI, a .295/.353/.634 slash, and 8.7 WAR. His Animals teammate Shola Ibeh won Pitcher of the Year. The 32-year old Nigerian had come to South Asia Baseball the prior year after a decade in West Africa Baseball, winning the SAB championship MVP for Ahmedabad in 1991. In 1992, he was the IL’s WARlord (8.5) and leader in wins (21-7) and innings (265.1). Ibeh added a 2.44 ERA and 312 strikeouts.

In the first round of the playoffs, Ahmedabad bested Kanpur 3-1 and Delhi downed Visakhapatnam 3-1. This gave the Drillers their first-ever Indian League Championship Series appearance and they would take the Animals to the limit. However, Ahmedabad survived in seven games to claim a fourth consecutive pennant and sixth in seven years.

Ho Chi Minh City was yet again the class of the Southeast Asia League, earning a sixth consecutive playoff berth and ninth in ten years. At 109-53, the Hedgehogs won the South Division and led SEAL in both runs scored (692) and fewest allowed (507). Offensively, they set a still-standing single season record by striking out only 1024 times over the course of the season. Defending SEAL champ Dhaka dropped from 107 wins the prior year to 91-71, but that still secured the Dobermans the North Division title.

The battle for the two wild card spots ended up being a mess with four teams in the fight. Vientiane, Chittagong, and Kuala Lumpur each finished tied at 87-75, while Johor Bahur was one back at 86-76. Two tiebreaker games were needed to determine the wild cards. The Vampires beat the Leopards to secure Vientiane’s spot. Then, Kuala Lumpur advanced by besting Chittagong. The Vampires snapped a four-year playoff drought and the Leopards ended a five-year skid. The Blue Wings saw their three-year wild card streak snapped.

Ho Chi Minh City’s big offseason acquisition was CF Van Loi Phung, who had won two MVPs with Chennai and taken second in voting last year with Ahmedabad. Phung inked a six-year, $4,610,000 deal with the Hedgehogs and won MVP, Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove in his HCMC debut. The 31-year old Vietnamese righty was the WARlord (10.8) and added a .306/.363/.592 slash, 38 home runs, and 104 RBI. His Hedgehogs teammate Zainal bin Aziz won his fifth Pitcher of the Year award and posted a historic third Triple Crown season with a 22-6 record, 1.93 ERA, and 396 strikeouts over 252 innings. That beat the single-season strikeout record set the prior year by Ansin Mohammed (391) and remains the SAB record as of 2037. The 32-year old Malaysian lefty also led in WAR (12.4), WHIP (0.83), K/BB (8.4), quality starts (27), and FIP- (38). He also broke his own SAB record for pitching WAR and would top it twice more before he was done.

Ho Chi Minh City swept Kuala Lumpur in the first round and Vientiane upset Dhaka 3-1. This gave the Vampires their first ever berth in the Southeast Asia League Championship Series, but they were no match for the perennial power Hedgehogs. HCMC swept Vientiane to claim a fourth pennant in six years.

For the fourth time, the South Asia Baseball Championship saw Ahmedabad against Ho Chi Minh City. The Hedgehogs got tantalizingly close to finally winning it all, but the Animals outlasted them in a seven game classic. Game seven went 11 innings with Ahmedabad winning it 6-5 on a walk-off RBI single by K.C. Choudhury. CF Anjan Sumanjit was finals MVP with 25 hits, 7 runs, 15 stolen bases, and 5 RBI over 18 playoff starts. Sumanjit was also caught stealing 12 times, a playoff record. HCMC’s James Cole also had a noteworthy postseason with a 0.38 WHIP and .116 opponent OPS, both SAB records that still stand in 2037. Cole had a 1.06 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 34 innings with one walk.

Ahmedabad’s fourth straight SAB title puts them in elite company as the only four-peats in any world league to this point were CABA’s Mexico City (five-peat from 1969-73), EAB’s Pyongyang (1965-68), and MLB’s Philadelphia (1941-44). They’ve also now won six titles in seven years, a mark only matched by the Aztecs (1967-73),

Other notes: Zainal bin Aziz became the first SAB pitcher to 3000 career strikeouts. Andee Siddharth became the third batter to reach 400 home runs. Van Loi Phung won his seventh Gold Glove at CF. 2B VJ Williams won his tenth Silver Slugger, while RF Johar Rai won his eighth.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-04-2024, 09:36 AM

After missing the playoffs in the prior six seasons with middling results, Abidjan dominated the Western League standings at 105-57. There was a 15 game gap to second place Dakar at 90-72. The Dukes extended their postseason streak to three seasons. The third place spot and final playoff spot went to 87-75, impressively bouncing back from 67 wins the prior year to end a four-year playoff drought. Freetown (85-77), Conakry (83-79), and Monrovia (82-80 were each in the mix. Defending WL champ Kumasi was seventh at 79-83, ending their historic playoff streak at 14 seasons. It was the second longest in world history behind EBF’s Zurich, which grew to 20 in 1992.

Western League MVP went to Freetown 2B Korian “Fireball” Idi. In his second season as a full-time starter, the 24-year old righty from Niger led in hits (222), triples (29), stolen bases (101), average (.364), OBP (.404), and WAR (10.3). Pitcher of the Year was Abidjan’s Bomba Toe. A 24-year old righty from Sierra Leone, Toe led in WAR (7.1), wins (21-5), innings (272.2), quality starts (27), and complete games (12). He added a 2.54 ERA and 325 strikeouts.

Dakar held off Bamako 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Dukes to their third consecutive Western League Championship Series. For the third straight year, Dakar was denied. Abidjan swept them 3-0 to give the Athletes their fifth pennant, although it was the first in a decade. Abidjan’s WL titles previously came in 1975, 78, 81, and 82.

The Eastern League’s top spot had a two team race between defending West African champion Lagos and Port Harcourt, who placed first in the standings the prior season. The Lizards grabbed it by a game at 107-55, while the Hillcats were 106-56. For Lagos, it was their 14^th playoff berth over the 18 year history of WAB. Port Harcourt earned a fourth consecutive berth and tenth overall. In the battle for third, Ibadan (94-68) beat out Lome (90-72). This gave the Iguanas a third consecutive postseason appearance.

Ibadan’s Rudy Bambara won his second Eastern League MVP in three years. The 26-year old two-way star from Burkina Faso had a 19-11 record, 2.81 ERA, 246.1 innings, 274 strikeouts, and 6.9 WAR on the mound. At third base, he played 98 games with 114 hits, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, a .316/.393/.595 slash, and 5.1 WAR. Pitcher of the Year was Lagos righty Messan Atte. The Togolese 29-year old led in ERA (1.96), wins (26-6), quality starts (28), FIP- (61), and WAR (8.7). Atte added 328 strikeouts over 253 innings.

Ibadan stunned Port Harcourt 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Iguanas to the Eastern League Championship Series for the first time. Defending champ Lagos would take the ELCS 3-1 over Ibadan, giving the Lizards back-to-back pennants. It is Lagos’ ninth EL title overall, the most of any team in WAB.

The 18^th West African Championship was the third finals meeting between Lagos and Abidjan with the Lizards winning in the 1978 and 1981 encounters. Lagos had been incredibly successful in the finals with a 7-1 record entering the 1992 edition, while the Athletes were 1-3. The series needed all seven games, but the general trend held and the Lizards repeated as WAB champs. Lagos now has eight rings over a 15 year stretch. 2B Ali Sami Naas was finals MVP as the 25-year old Algerian had 14 hits, 6 runs, 2 doubles, and 4 RBI in 11 playoff starts.

Other notes: 1992 saw zero no-hitters thrown in WAB. Addise Assefa became the first pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. He’d retire with 4147 and would lose the top spot by the end of the 1990s, but Assefa is still second as of 2037.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-04-2024, 03:39 PM

For the fourth successive season, Dalian took first in the Northern League standings. The defending China Series champs finished 100-62 and led the NL in both runs scored (574) and fewest allowed (418). Qingdao was nine back in second place at 91-71, but the Devils were still nine ahead of third place Tianjin. This was only the second time making the playoffs for the Devils (1982). Beijing, who got to the league semifinal last year, finished in a three-way tie for third at 80-82 with Hangzhou and Zhengzhou.

Qingdao RF Hongbo Wan won Northern League MVP in his third season. Nicknamed “Iguana,” Wan led in runs (103), home runs (38), total bases (339), slugging (.606), OPS (.971), wRC+ (212), and WAR (12.4). He also had 71 stolen bases and 89 RBI. Shanghai’s Zengziang Zhang won Pitcher of the Year for the third time in four years. He led in ERA (1.43) for the sixth time in his career while also leading in WHIP (0.71), K/BB (16.5), quality starts (30), FIP- (41), and WAR (10.6). Zhang had a 12-8 record and 314 strikeouts over 245.1 innings. It would be his final season in China, as the 32-year old righty signed a five-year, $11,880,000 offseason deal with MLB’s Philadelphia.

The Southern League was very competitive for the two playoff spots with five teams finishing within five games of first. Xiamen narrowly took first at 96-66 for only their second-ever playoff berth (1981). The Mutts pitching staff had 1799 strikeouts to set a SL single-season record that stood until 2009. Their 0.810 WHIP was also second-best in SL history. For second place, Macau and Wuhan tied at 94-68, while Changsha was 93-69 and Hong Kong was 91-71. The Magicians won the tiebreaker gave over the Wolverines to earn their fourth playoff appearance in five years. Shenzhen’s four-year postseason streak ended as they finished sixth at 88-74.

Macau two-way star Wei Qin won his third Southern League MVP. The 30-year old at first base played 130 games with 31 home runs, a .264/.349/.526 slash, 206 wRC+, and 6.7 WAR. On the mound, Qin was 17-9 over 264.1 innings with a 2.42 ERA, 306 strikeouts, and 7.1 WAR. Xiamen’s Xinbo Wang won Pitcher of the Year in his fifth season. He led in wins (20-8), complete games (23), and shutouts (9). Wang added a 1.64 ERA over 252 innings with 301 strikeouts and 8.9 WAR. Wang also had two no-hitters, striking out 14 with three walks on 5/20 against Foshan and with 11 Ks and one walk on 9/24 over Qingdao in the playoffs. This was the first-ever postseason no-hitter in CLB history

For the third consecutive postseason, the two Northern League teams beat their Southern League opposition in the semifinals. Dalian outlasted Macau in a seven game classic, giving the Gold Dragons four successive finals berths. Qingdao upset Xiamen 4-3 to send the Devils to the China Series for the first time.

Dalian’s dynasty run continued in the 23^rd China Series as they defeated league rival Qingdao 4-2. The Gold Dragons are the third CLB franchise to earn repeat titles, joining 1977-78 Kunming and 1984-85 Beijing. Dalian also joined the Bears (1984-87) as the only teams to win three titles in four years. Veteran pitcher Baoxian He won finals MVP in his last season in CLB. The Gold Dragons ace had a 2.65 ERA over 34 playoff innings with 24 strikeouts.

Other notes: Xinbo Wang wasn’t the only CLB pitcher with multiple no-hitters in 1992. Jinan’s Teng Wu also pulled off the accolade, striking out nine with one walk on 4/17 against Xi’an and fanning 13 with two walks versus Hangzhou on 8/14. Second-year Wuhan ace Martin Cui struck out 409 batters, setting a CLB single season record that still holds as of 2037. Cui also had 9.8 WAR and a 20-12 record with a 2.04 ERA, but somehow didn’t place in the top three for POTY voting. Mingqi Dai became the 10^th to reach 1000 runs scored and the 10^th to 2000 hits. 1B Guangjun Ma won his seventh Gold Glove. Wei Qin won his eighth Silver Slugger, having won six as a pitcher and two at first base. Shichao Zhang won his eighth, taking it at first base for the first time (the other seven were in right field).

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-05-2024, 04:33 AM

Defending Austronesia Champion Cebu took the Philippine League title for the fourth time in five years and had the best record in the Taiwan-Philippine Association. The Crows only barely took the top spot at 90-72, beating out Zamboanga by one game. The Taiwan League was also decided by one game with Kaohsiung on top at 88-74. The Steelheads secured their first playoff berth since their mid 1970s dynasty. Taipei was one back at 87-75, snapping their postseason streak at four seasons. Tainan was also in the hunt at 85-77.

Leading Kaohsiung’s resurgence was TPA MVP Min-Yi Lu. The 29-year old RF led with 43 home runs and added 90 RBI, a .226/.311/.500 slash, and 7.2 WAR. Cebu’s Ricky Jungao won his second Pitcher of the Year, narrowly beating teammate Alex Clavijo for the award. The 29-year old Jungao led in strikeouts (407), wins (18-9), innings (310), complete games (21), and shutouts (5). He added a 1.71 ERA and 12.2 WAR. Clavijo narrowly beat him for WAR (12.5) and ERA (1.51).

The Sundaland Association saw a switch in 1992 in the top spots. After missing the postseason the prior two seasons, Jakarta was back atop the Java League at 98-64. Defending JL champ Surabaya was second at 92-70. In the Malacca League, Pekanbaru took first at 87-75 and ended a five-year playoff drought. Defending SA champ Batam was tied for second with Medan at 80-82.

Although the Blue Raiders dropped out of the top spot, LF Nerius Senaen won his second Sundaland Association MVP. The 26-year old fourth year left led the SA in doubles (36), walks (75), total bases (309), OBP (.398), slugging (.543), OPS (.942), wRC+ (222), and WAR (9.5). Jakarta veteran ace Hadi Ningsih became a three-time Pitcher of the Year winner, having also taken the top prize in 1987 and 1989. The 35-year old left led in wins at 18-6, ERA (1.28), WHIP (0.70), K/BB (20.6), and FIP- (30). Ningsih added 329 strikeouts over 232.2 innings with 10.9 WAR.

In the Taiwan-Philippine Association Championship, Cebu topped Kaohsiung 4-2 to give the Crows their third consecutive pennant. In the Sundaland Association final, Jakarta rolled 4-1 against Pekanbaru. For the Jaguars, it was their record seventh pennant and first since 1986.

In the 28^th Austronesia Championship, Jakarta cruised to a 4-1 victory over defending champ Cebu. The Jaguars now have four overall titles (1969, 70, 85, 92), which ties them for the most along with Kaohsiung. Pitcher Rafit Arifin was finals MVP, proving to be a quality acquisition as Jakarta got him in an offseason trade with Tainan. In four playoff starts, Arifin had a 0.50 ERA with only two runs allowed over 36.1 innings, striking out 43 with two walks and a 3-0 record. One of those starts was a no-hitter in the final against Cebu with 11 strikeouts and one walk. This was not the first APB playoff no-hitter, but it was the first-ever finals no-hitter. It was the highlight for the 29-year old Arifin, whose Hall of Fame trajectory would be derailed by two torn labrums in the next four years, forcing his retirement at age 33.

Other notes: Pitcher Poh Tan received two major milestones, becoming the third to reach 4500 strikeouts and the second to 250 wins. It would be his final season with his 259 wins second to Dave Hermillo, who also retired in 1992 at 269. As of 2037, they are fourth and fifth in wins. Tan’s 4693 Ks placed him third behind Heromillo (4785) and Vhon Lasam (5365). Tan would also finish with 230 losses and 3632 hits allowed, both of which are the most as of 2037. Chang-Rong Chang became the eighth batter to 400 home runs. 3B Mahyadi Muhammad won his seventh Gold Glove.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-05-2024, 12:41 PM

Christchurch ended atop the Australasia League standings for their fourth pennant in the last decade and first since 1998. The Chinooks finished at 98-64, besting Gold Coast at 96-66. Defending Oceania Champion Brisbane dropped to 85-77, putting them fourth place one game behind Melbourne.

Australasia League MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Christchurch players. DH Beres “Badger” Melrose won MVP as the 26-year old led the LA in runs (113), home runs (43), RBI (120), total bases (381), OBP (.363), OPS (.958), and wRC+ (190). Melrose added 8.5 WAR and had a .320 average. Owen Allardyce was the Pitcher of the Year with the 25-year old righty leading in ERA at 2.18. He had a 17-9 record and 12 saves in a split starter/relief role, posting 190.1 innings with 201 strikeouts and 4.5 WAR.

Guam and Honolulu had an intense battle for the top spot in the Pacific League. The Golden Eagles earned repeat PL titles at 112-50, tying their own record from 1979 for most wins in a season by an OBA team. Honolulu’s 108-54 would be a lock almost any year for the title, but the Honu had to settle for second again. It was the 13th consecutive winning season for Honolulu.

Honu slugger Vavao Brighouse won his fourth Pacific League MVP. The 29-year old Samoan led in runs (103), home runs (65), RBI (139), total bases (396), slugging (.667), OPS (1.017), wRC+ (210), and WAR (8.8). Brighouse tied the single-season RBI record set three years earlier by Neville Ryan and had the second most homers in a season behind his own nice 69 in 1988. It was also impressively his fourth season with 60+ dingers. Guam’s Corbin Acupan took Pitcher of the Year with a 23-8 record over 326.2 innings, 2.20 ERA, 306 strikeouts, and 7.2 WAR.

In the 33rd Oceania Championship, Guam was the heavy favorite over Christchurch in a rematch of the 1980 final. It ended up being a seven game thriller with game seven needing 11 innings. The Golden Eagles won 4-3 in the finale to take the series 4-3 and earn their third title (1979, 1980). 1B Benito Hower was series MVP going 9-22 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 RBI. For the Chinooks, they’ve made it to the final five times since 1980, but are 0-5 in those appearances.

Other notes: Tahiti’s Quentin Basa hit three milestones in the same season, getting to 2000 hits, 400 home runs, and 1000 RBI. Theo Evans won his ninth and final Gold Glove. His 1992 win was at second base, his second at 2B, while the other seven were at shortstop.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-05-2024, 05:40 PM

The usual suspects controlled the EPB European League. Four-time defending EL champ Minsk had the top record at 104-58, extending their playoff streak to 12 seasons and earning their 10^th North Division title in that stretch. The Miners pitching staff was impressive, setting records for fewest runs (374) and hits (990) in a season for an EPB team. The hits mark still holds as #1 as of 2037 and the runs mark is second. In the South Division, Kyiv was first at 103-59 to send the Kings to the playoffs for the 13^th time in 15 years.

In the wild card race, St. Petersburg took the first spot at 97-65 to end a seven-year playoff drought. That meant that either Warsaw or Bucharest’s playoff streak would end. The Wildcats finished 92-70, extending theirs to six seasons. The Broncos at 91-71 had theirs ended at three years, while Kharkiv was also in the mix at 89-73. Bucharest notably had 1778 strikeouts as a pitching staff, the second best mark in EL history behind Kazan’s 1829 in 1966.

St. Petersburg’s Daniil Huseinov won back-to-back European League MVPs and earned a Triple Crown, becoming the first EPB batter to do it since 1976 and only the sixth batter to achieve the feat. The 24-year old Huseinov had 48 home runs, 103 RBI, and a .324 batting average while also leading in runs (91), hits (189), total bases (362), slugging (.620), OPS (.979), wRC+ (214), and WAR (10.6). Huseinov had incredible potential, but his career would tragically end the next year as two severe rotator cuff tears forced his retirement at only age 26. He’s one of the true “what if?” guys in baseball history.

Pitcher of the Year was Kyiv veteran Sergei Maslovskiy. The 33-year old set a single-season ERA record of 1.14. It would get bested in 1996 by Stefan Nesu, but it remains the second-lowest ever in EPB history as of 2037. Maslovskiy also was 21-3 over 259.2 innings with 346 strikeouts and 11.0 WAR.

In the first round of the playoffs, Warsaw shocked defending champ Minsk with a 3-2 upset. This sent the Wildcats to the European League Championship Series for only the second time in their six-year playoff streak. Kyiv clobbered St. Petersburg in a sweep, giving the Kings back-to-back ELCS berths. Warsaw hoped to reverse their fortunes, having gone 1-5 historically in the ELCS. The series was a seven game thriller, but Kyiv came out on top for their first pennant since 1987. The Kings now have 11 European League titles, one behind Minsk for the most.

The Asian League had the exact same four playoff teams from the prior year, although the positions switched for the North Division teams. Irkutsk, the second wild card last year, this time was division champ at 103-59. Novosibirsk, first last year, took second at 97-65. Chelyabinsk, who won the 1991 AL title as the first wild card, ended up the second wild card at 94-68. The Cadets and Ice Cats earned their third successive playoff spots, while the Nitros got their fourth in five years. Almaty earned repeat South Division titles and had the #1 overall seed at 105-57.

Chelyabinsk DH Nikolay “Shoulders” Denisov won his third consecutive Asian League MVP. He led the league in hits (239), runs (104), doubles (47), triples (29), stolen bases (111), average 9.346), OBP (.398), OPS (.936), wRC+ (194), and WAR (10.3). The 239 hits set a single-season record, beating his own mark of 231 from two years earlier. Denisov’s 239 held as the single-season record until 2030. The 111 stolen bases fell one short of Istvan Kocsis’s record of 112 from 1958. Almaty’s Procopie Lungu won Pitcher of the Year as the 27-year old Moldovan lefty led in wins (25-5), ERA (1.54), WHIP (0.71), and quality starts (31). He missed the Triple Crown by nine strikeouts to Igor Bury, fanning 368 over 291.2 innings with 8.7 WAR.

Defending AL champ Chelyabinsk again found success as a wild card, sweeping top seed Almaty in the first round. Irkutsk beat Novosibirsk 3-1, giving the Ice Cats their first Asian League Championship Series berth since 1979. Irkutsk would oust the defending champ Cadets 4-2 to claim the franchise’s fifth pennant (1956, 61, 75, 77, 92).

The Ice Cats hoped the 38^th Eurasian Professional Baseball Championship would mark their first title, as they had gone 0-4 in their prior appearances. Traditional power Kyiv crushed those hopes, taking the title 4-1 for their fourth championship in a decade. Pitcher Artem Makarevich was finals MVP as the 29-year old Belarusian was an absolute beast in the playoffs. He had a 4-0 record over 42 innings and five starts with a 0.21 ERA, 56 strikeouts, four walks, and 2.7 WAR. His WHIP was 0.50 with two postseason shutouts. This set an EPB playoff record for strikeouts that held until 2023 and the record for WAR that held until 1999. Both marks remain #2 all-time as of 2037.

The Kings are now 8-3 all-time in the championship (with wins in 1958, 59, 63, 65, 83, 86, 87, & 92) and their win ties them for the most titles yet again with Minsk. It would ultimately be their final EPB title, as they’d be part of the great 2000 exodus and realignment, ending up in EBF.

Other notes: Igor Bury struck out 21 batters over 10.1 innings on April 1. This was one short of the single-game record of 22 set in 1962 over 11.1 innings by Arutyun Lezjov. Andrey Fisyuk became the seventh pitch to 4500 career strikeouts. Haxhi Maho became the fourth pitcher to 250 wins.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-06-2024, 04:19 AM

The Northern Conference’s top seed in 1992 went to Berlin, who won the North Central Division at 101-61. The Barons earned back-to-back division titles and their eighth playoff berth in a decade. Stockholm was a distant second at 87-75, but this earned them the wild card. It was the Swordsmen’s first winning season since winning the 1982 European Championship. Defending champ Birmingham cruised to the British Isles Division at 100-62. In the Northwest, Rotterdam was first at 90-72 to take their third consecutive playoff berth and seventh in eight years. Brussels, who made the conference final last year, finished at 84-78 along with Paris. Both were six games short of the division title and three behind Stockholm for the wild card.

Belfast went 83-79 with a nice effort, but their postseason drought extended to 31 years. Still, Brewers 1B Robin Morrison earned Northern Conference MVP. The 28-year old Scot led in runs (131), RBI (144), total bases (434), slugging (.698), OPS (1.089), wRC+ (200), and WAR (11.0). Morrison’s 51 home runs and .344 average were both second. Birmingham’s Lindsey Brampton won repeat Pitcher of the Year honors. The fourth-year Englishman led in ERA (2.04), strikeouts (424), WHIP (0.70), K/BB (11.8), and FIP- (49). He added 9.6 WAR over 237.2 innings with a 20-3 record. Brampton matched the single-season WHIP record of Jean-Luc Roch and set a record for lowest opponent OBP at .196.

Both first round playoff series saw sweeps as Berlin bested Stockholm and Rotterdam upset Birmingham. The Barons earned their fifth Northern Conference Championship appearance of the decade, while the Ravens got their first since 1980. Despite both being regularly in the playoffs in the last decade, neither had claimed the pennant with Berlin going 0-4 in the conference finals and Rotterdam exclusively suffering one-and-dones. The Barons had home field, but the Ravens dominated the series and took it in five. It was Rotterdam’s fifth pennant (1969, 72, 77, 80, 92).

Lisbon had Europe’s best overall record at 108-54, taking the Southwest Division and the top seed in the Southern Conference. It was the third playoff berth in four years for the Clippers. The wild card contenders were each in the Southwest Division with Seville (91-71) taking it and ending a six-year playoff drought. The Stingrays were two games ahead of Madrid and six better than Barcelona. Defending conference champ Munich (102-60) and Zurich (98-64) both extended their epic division title streaks. The Mavericks to the Southeast for the tenth straight season, while the Mountaineers record run in the South Central moved to 20 years.

Southern Conference MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Seville two-way star Edgar Miranda. It was the second MVP for the 33-year old Spaniard (1987) and his first POTY. He was the leader in strikeouts (322), innings (303), quality starts (29), shutouts (7), and WAR (8.2). Miranda was also second in wins at 22-9 and ERA with 2.35. He had 134 games played and 116 starts with his bat playing left field and posted a .305/.381/.614 slash, 4.9 WAR, 35 home runs, and 85 RBI.

Lisbon survived in five games with Seville in the first round, while Munich ousted Zurich 3-1. The Mavericks earned their fifth consecutive Southern Conference Championship appearance, joining Vienna (1969-73) as the only teams to make five straight appearances. The Clippers got their third in four years, setting up rematches of the 1989 and 1991 SCCs. Lisbon had won in 1989 with Munich taking it in 1991. The rubber match went to the Clippers 4-1 for their third pennant (1956, 1989, 1992).

The 43^rd European Championship was a rollercoaster. Rotterdam seemed on their way to a sweep, winning the first three games over Lisbon. The Clippers took the next three to force game seven, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. The Ravens won the title in seven, making them 5-0 all-time in their finals appearances (1969, 72, 77, 80, 92). LF Mike Guery was finals MVP as the 29-year old Frenchman had 20 hits, 8 runs, 3 home runs, and 9 RBI in 15 playoff starts. With five titles, Rotterdam is tied with Amsterdam for the most rings, an impressive accolade for Dutch baseball.

Other notes: Jack Kennedy passed Christophoros Zarkadis as EBF's home run king, becoming the first to cross 800. Kennedy played three more seasons and finished with 875 dingers, which stayed the record until passed by Harvey Coyle in the 2020s. Lisbon RF Cesar Madrigal set an EBF postseason record that still stands in 2037, hitting 11 home runs over 17 games. The previous record of nine had been set by Sean Houston the prior season. Jacob Ronnberg became the third to reach 3000 career hits. Ronnberg won a historic 14^th Silver Slugger in right field. The other right field SS went to Sean Houston, his 11^th. 3B Travis Harvey won his eighth Gold Glove and catcher Peter Schroter won his seventh Gold Glove.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-06-2024, 10:40 AM

Bogota had the best record in South America at 112-50, winning the Bolivar League’s Colombia-Ecuador Division and earning back-to-back playoff berths. Medellin was a strong 102-60 in the division, giving them the wild card easily to end a two-year playoff drought. Two-time defending BL champ Lima finished 103-59 to win the Peru-Bolivia Division and secure a fifth consecutive playoff berth. Ciudad Guayana at 86-76 still easily took the Venezuela Division, beating both Caracas and Maracaibo by eight games. The Giants picked up a fifth playoff appearance in six years.

Valencia DH Nyx Navas won Bolivar League MVP. The 25-year old Brasilian led the league in runs (134), hits (242), RBI (147), total bases (470), average (.375), wRC+ (219), and WAR (11.7). Navas’ also smacked 60 home runs, missing the Triple Crown by four to Caracas’ Milton Becker. The third-year Venezuelan slugger had his own 64 home runs, 145 RBI and 1.161 OPS, narrowly taking second in the MVP voting. Pitcher of the Year was Medellin’s Caetano Lora, who set a single-season BSA record with 29 complete games. The 28-year old Colombian lefty led in wins (25-9), WAR (8.7), quality starts (26) and innings (304.1), while adding a 2.51 ERA and 300 strikeouts.

Medellin upset their divisional foe Bogota in the Divisional Series 3-2, while Ciudad Guayana stunned defending champ Lima in five. The Giants picked up their fifth Bolivar League Championship Series berth in a decade, while the Mutiny had their second in four years. In a rematch of the 1989 final, Ciudad Guayana was again victorious over Medellin, winning 4-3. It was the third pennant for the Giants (1984, 89, 92), an impressive feat for an expansion franchise that has only been around since 1974.

The Southern Cone League’s #1 seed went to Santiago (102-60), who won the South Central Division for the second time in three years. After seeing their five-year playoff streak ended last year, Sao Paulo was back atop the Southeast Division at 94-68. Rosario was second at 90-72 to win a very competitive wild card race and earn repeat playoff berths. The North Division had defending Copa Sudamerica winner Belo Horizonte grab a third successive division title at 89-73. Narrowly missing out on both the wild card and the division were Fortaleza (87-75), Salvador (86-76), and Recife (86-76). The other divisions also had wild card contenders with Cordoba and Concepcion both going 88-74 and Rio de Janeiro at 85-77.

Santiago veteran 2B Kip Flores won his third MVP, having won previously back in 1984 and 1987 with Buenos Aires. In his fourth season with the Saints, the 33-year old Paraguayan led in hits (225), average (.372), and WAR (9.8). He added 31 home runs and 102 RBI. Santiago also had the Pitcher of the Year in Arnau Emilio, a repeat winner. The 34-year old Chilean was the WARlord (7.4) and posted a 21-6 record over 259 innings with a 2.54 ERA and 308 strikeouts.

Wild card Rosario shocked Santiago by sweeping the Saints in the Divisional Series. Belo Horizonte upset Sao Paulo as well 3-1, giving the Hogs a third consecutive Southern Cone Championship appearance. The Robins earned their second berth in five years. Rosario rolled to a sweep over the defending champs for their second-ever pennant, 61 years after winning the inaugural title.

21 of the 30 Beisbol Sudamerica teams had won Copa Sudamerica once entering the 62nd finale. Rosario became the 22nd team to do it, winning in a seven-game classic over Ciudad Guayana. RF Juan Gil was finals MVP in his final season and only season with the Robins. The journeyman’s only postseason saw 14 starts, 20 hits, 7 runs, 1 home run, and 10 RBI. With Rosario’s win, the only of the original 24 BSA teams without a Copa Sudamerica ring are Montevideo, Asuncion, Bogota, and Maracaibo. Expansion teams Santa Cruz, Arequipa, Recife, and Mendoza still remain ring-less as well.

Other notes: The 43rd Perfect Game in BSA came from Santa Cruz’s Thairo Segura, striking out nine against La Paz on 9/25. Rafael Gasso became the 27th batter to 500 career home runs. 1B Carlos Gallardo won his seventh Gold Glove. MVP Kip Flores won his eighth Silver Slugger at second base and 3B Dyjan Rondo won his seventh.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-06-2024, 04:48 PM

1992 in the Japan League had a lot of parity as the best overall record was only 93-69. That went to Nagoya, who won the Central Division and ended an eight-year playoff drought. Osaka and Kyoto both gave chase, but faded late in the division. Tokyo topped the Capital Division at 89-73, which ended their own 14 season postseason drought. It was an impressive rebound for the Tides, who won only 67 games the prior year. Yokohama finished three wins back to deny their division title three-peat. Two-time defending JL champ Niigata succeeded in their North Division three-peat at 89-73. Kitakyushu also extended its West Division streak to three seasons with their 85-77 mark being four games better than Fukuoka.

Niigata RF/P Makhmud Hakim won his third straight Japan League MVP and made history in the process. He posted a .393 batting average, beating the previous EAB single season record of .390 set in 1961 by Min-Hyeok Shin. Hakim lost the record the very next season, but it still sits as the eighth best average as of 2037. The 27-year old Chinese switch hitter led in the triple slash (.393/.438/.702) and had a league best 1.140 OPS, 257 wRC+, and 10.3 WAR. Hakim added 32 home runs and also pitched 221.2 innings, although he had an unremarkable 3.86 ERA, 11-12 record, and 197 strikeouts. Still, he posted 4.2 WAR pitching for an all-time great combined season. Pitcher of the Year meanwhile was Kitakyushu’s Junzo Yamanoue. The 25-year old righty had a league-best 1.52 ERA, 6 shutouts, 49 FIP-, and 9.7 WAR. Yamanoue added an 18-9 record, 280 strikeouts, and 248 innings.

Both first round playoff series were dogfights that needed all five games. Kitakyushu upset Nagoya on the road, while Tokyo eliminated Niigata to end their three-peat title bid. It was the first time since 1975 that the Tides had gotten to the Japan League Championship Series, while the Kodiaks had been the runner-up in the last two seasons. Kitakyushu finally got over the hump, defeating Tokyo 4-1 in the JLCS. It is the fourth pennant for the Kodiaks (1954, 55, 71, 92).

Gwangju won the Korea League’s South Division at 102-60, giving the Grays a third consecutive division title and the top overall record in the KL. Yongin was a distant second at 86-76 and ultimately five games out in the wild card race. Defending Korea League champ Goyang was the North Division champ at 96-66, their first division title since 1978. The wild card race saw two teams end lengthy playoff droughts. Suwon (93-69) hadn’t made the playoffs since 1984 and one-time powerhouse Pyongyang (91-71) earned their first appearance since 1977. Seongnam, winners of 105 games last season, dropped to 82-80.

Korea League MVP went to Goyang LF Chae-Ho Yi. The 29-year old righty led the league in triples (28), total bases (395), slugging (.657), wRC+ (169), and WAR (7.7). Yi added 44 home runs, 117 RBI, and a .303 average. Third-year Pyongyang pitcher Ho-Pyong Ra was the Pitcher of the ear, leading in wins at 22-6 and WAR at 8.9. Ra added a 2.64 ERA over 269.1 innings with 349 strikeouts.

Gwangju outlasted Pyongyang in five games in the first round, while Suwon upset Goyang 3-1. The Grays hadn’t been in the Korea League Championship Series since 1955 and hadn’t won the pennant since 1930, while the Snappers last appearance was a decade ago. The KLCS ended up being a seven game classic which saw the underdog Suwon on top of Gwangju. It was only the third pennant for the Snappers, whose other wins were 1935 and 1981.

The 72^nd East Asian Championship was guaranteed to have a first-time champ as Suwon (0-2) and Kitakyushu (0-3) had fallen in their previous finals berths. The Kodiaks clobbered the Snappers 4-1, led by finals MVP Tsukasa Kato. The 1987 JL MVP and prolific home run hitter had 8 dingers, 14 hits, 9 runs, and 16 RBI over 15 playoff starts. With Kitakyushu’s title, 26 of EAB’s 32 teams have won the overall title at least once. Of the original 28 teams, only Suwon, Daejeon, Saitama, and Goyang are still ringless. Expansion teams Kumamoto and Bucheon also haven’t won it all, but both have existed only since 1978.

Other notes: Ulsan’s Byung-Tak Wie made history in the late summer with a 46-game hitting streak, breaking the EAB record of 42 set by Sang-Hyun Kang all the way back in 1921. To this point, Wie’s streak has only been bested in any league by MLB’s Jayden Gagnon (1930) and EBF’s Rudjer Bosnjak (1960), who both made it 49 games. As of 2037, Wie’s mark is still the EAB’s best. Geon Byung became only the seventh reliever to reach 400 career saves. He’d retire the next season with 404, seventh on the leaderboard. CF Yuma Akasaka won his eighth Silver Slugger.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-07-2024, 04:42 AM

Two-time defending CABA champ Monterrey looked even better in 1992, besting their franchise record for wins set two years earlier when they were 110-52. The Matadors finished 114-48 atop the Mexican League’s North Division, tying for the second most wins in a season by any ML team. Monterrey had the best pitching by a large margin with only 433 runs allowed; the next closest was 576. Tijuana posted an impressive 102-60 in the division to take the wild card, ending a playoff drought dating back to 1971. Torreon was also a solid 95-67, but ultimately out of the postseason field. The South Division was terrible in 1992 as Leon and Merida tied for first with lousy 79-83 records. The Lions won the tiebreaker game to earn repeat division titles. Ecatepec was right in the mix too at 78-84, one short of joining the tie.

Tijuana’s Dion Juarez won back-to-back Mexican League MVPs and made history with the first Triple Crown for a CABA hitter since Prometheo Garcia in 1959. The 26-year old Mexican right fielder had 57 gome runs, 135 RBI, and a .362 average. He also led the league in hits (217), total bases (438), slugging (.730), OPS (1.129), wRC+ (233), and WAR (11.3). Torreon’s Bengie Beltran was Pitcher of the Year with the 29-year old righty leading in WAR (8.4), innings (275.2), quality starts (28), and shutouts (6). Beltran added a 1.96 ERA, 286 strikeouts, and 17-10 record. Also of note, Hermosillo’s Anthony Lopez became a three-time Reliever of the Year.

The wild card Tijuana easily dispatched Leon with a road sweep, the Lions only winning on the one-game handicap given to the division winner. The Toros were excited to be in their first Mexican League Championship Series since 1971, but Monterrey’s dynasty would be too much to handle. The Matadors won the MLCS 4-2, becoming the first ML team to three-peat since Mexico City’s seven straight from 1967-73. Monterrey also picked up its 13^th Mexican League pennant overall, passing Mexico City for the most by any squad.

Salvador had an impressive turnaround season, going from an abysmal 64 wins the prior season to a 98-64 mark in 1992. This gave the Stallions the best record in the Caribbean League and their first Continental Division title in four years. Defending CL champ Honduras struggled to a 77-83 mark. Guatemala (87-75) and Nicaragua (84-78) had respectable efforts, but were short of the wild card. In the Island Division, Trinidad ended a three-year playoff drought at 92-70. Santo Domingo missed the title by a game at 91-71, but this earned the Dolphins the wild card for a fourth consecutive postseason berth.

Jamaica was just above .500, but they boasted the Caribbean League MVP in fourth-year first baseman Felipe De Los Santos. The 6’8’’ Dominican led in total bases (385), OBP (.388), OPS (1.027), and wRC+ (176). De Los Santos also had 51 home runs, 107 RBI, and 7.3 WAR. Second-year righty Benito Beltran won Pitcher of the Year for Salvador. The 24-year old Honduran was the WARlord (8.0) and leader in wins (20-10), K/BB (11.8), complete games (16), and shutouts (5). Beltran added a 2.65 ERA over 275 innings with 235 strikeouts.

Trinidad defeated Santo Domingo 3-1 in the wild card round, sending the Trail Blazers back to the Caribbean League Championship Series since their 1988 CABA title. That year, they upset Salvador in the CLCS to advance. Trinidad followed the same script in 1992, knocking off the Stallions in six games. It is the third pennant for the Trail Blazers, who also took the CL title in 1972.

In the 82^nd Central American Baseball Association Championship, Monterrey topped Trinidad 4-1 to complete the three-peat. The Matadors are only the second franchise to three-peat as CABA champs, joining Mexico City (who won five in a row from 1969-73). 3B Santiago Sanchez was the finals MVP, posting 20 hits, 3 runs, 6 doubles, 7 RBI, and a .455 average over 11 playoff starts. It is the sixth overall championship for Monterrey and their 114 wins is tied with 1918 Tijuana for the second-most by a CABA champion. Jamaica’s 1933 title at 118-44 is the all-time best for a team that won it all to this point. The Matadors’ early 1990s run certainly goes down as one of the most dominant in CABA history.

Other notes: Ruben Chavez became the ninth CABA hitter to 600 career home runs. He would play two more seasons and end with 677, fifth-best at retirement.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-07-2024, 12:46 PM

As the only of the pro leagues with a dedicated minor league system, Major League Baseball featured a secondary roster. Originally 40 players, it was reduced to 38 in 1965. For the 1992 season, MLB reduced it further to 36, forcing franchises to be more selective of whom to place on standby.

For the third time in four years, New York secured both the East Division title and the #1 overall seed in the National Association. The Yankees were 104-58, winning the division by 16 games. Their only real competitor for the top seed was 100-62 St. Louis, who easily claimed the Lower Midwest Division and the other first round playoff bye. This snapped a seven-year playoff drought for the Cardinals. Defending World Series champ Kansas City was a non-factor at 79-83, seeing their playoff streak end at three seasons. The Northeast Division was very competitive. After missing the field the prior season, 92-70 Hartford claimed the top spot. Since 1981, the Huskies have earned eight playoff berths and five division titles.

Boston (91-71) and Ottawa (89-73) were both close behind with both securing wild card spots. The Red Sox ended a 12 year drought, while the Elks earned their 10th playoff berth in 13 years. Three teams finished one short of the second wild card at 88-74; Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, and Columbus. Brooklyn was in the mix also at 86-76. In the Upper Midwest, 89-73 Winnipeg earned a second division title in three years. Chicago (78-84) was third, ending their playoff streak at three.

National Association MVP went to St. Louis veteran 2B Austin Shaw. It is his second MVP with the other a decade prior in 1983. The 33-year old’s resurgence saw a career and NA best 9.4 WAR, 114 runs, and 347 total bases. He added 187 hits, 35 home runs, and a .310/.372/.575 slash. Pitcher of the Year was Winnipeg’s Dirk Hughes. A 25-year old left-handed Englishman, Hughes led in wins at 22-7 and WHIP at 0.98. He added 5.9 WAR over 259.1 innings with a 2.46 ERA and 216 strikeouts.

Wild card Boston won 2-1 at Winnipeg in the first round, while Hartford swept divisional foe Ottawa. The Red Sox stunned New York in round two 3-1, giving Boston its first National Association Championship Series berth since their 1967 title. The Huskies prevailed in a five game classic at St. Louis, giving Hartford its fourth NACS appearance in a decade. The New England divisional rivals played to a seven game classic with the Huskies outlasting the Red Sox, giving Hartford its second pennant in four years. The Huskies have been NA champs six times (1916, 20, 48, 50, 89, 92).

In 1991, Calgary limped to a 69-93 record for their first losing season since 1981. The Cheetahs had an impressive turnaround to end their three-year playoff drought, taking the Northwest Division at 104-58 and earning the top seed in the American Association. Seattle was a strong second in the division at 97-65, giving the Grizzlies the first wild card and their first playoff appearance since 1975. Denver, the defending AA champ, saw its four-year playoff streak ended with an 80-82 season. Edmonton at 84-78 saw its chance for four berths in five years thwarted as well. The #2 seed went to Atlanta at 102-60, extending the Aces impressive Southeast Division title streak to six years, one short of the record set from 1932-38 by Ottawa.

Austin took the South Central Division at 96-66, the third division title in four years for the still relatively new Amigos franchise. Both Memphis and New Orleans finished at 91-71, five from the division title but tied for the second wild card. The Mountain Cats won the tiebreaker game over the Mudcats, ending a postseason drought for Memphis dating back to 1974. Dallas (88-74), Tampa (87-75), and Oakland (87-75) were the others in the wild card mix. At 94-68, Las Vegas won the Southwest Division, ending a nine-year playoff skid for the Vipers. Los Angeles’ three-year streak ended with a middling 80-82.

Taking American Association MVP was second-year New Orleans second baseman Curry Ard. The 22-year old from Houston led in total bases (355) and added a .314/.331/.531 slash, 7.3 WAR, 32 home runs, 210 hits, and 117 RBI. Ard also added a 12.5 zone rating and 1.056 EFF defensively. Atlanta’s Merle Hannah won Pitcher of the Year. The 26-year old led in ERA (2.45) and wins (21-7). Hannah added 8.2 WAR over 271.1 innings with 174 strikeouts and five shutouts.

Seattle upset Las Vegas 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs while Austin survived 2-1 over divisional foe Memphis. Calgary crushed the Grizzlies with a round two sweep, while Atlanta outlasted the Amigos 3-2. These were two teams that had seen recent American Association Championship Series berths. The Aces were making their third consecutive appearance and fourth in six years. The Cheetahs had made it four times from 1983-87. The successes were different, as Calgary had gone 3-1 in their run and Atlanta was 0-3. In a rematch of the 1987 AACS, the Cheetahs cruised to the pennant 4-1 over the Aces. Calgary now has won the pennant seven times (1902, 04, 40, 83, 86, 87, 92). Atlanta became only the second-ever MLB franchise to lose three consecutive ACS, joining 1978-80 Houston.

In the 92nd World Series, Hartford edged Calgary in a seven game classic, making the Huskies three-time MLB champs (1916, 1948). Calgary is now 2-5 in their World Series appearances. Earning World Series MVP was CF Mason Cushinberry, who had a historic postseason run. The 25-year old had 37 hits, 20 runs, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, and 18 RBI over 21 starts. The 37 hits set a MLB postseason record that still stands as of 2037. Cushinberry also had 64 total bases, a postseason record. He wasn’t the only one to set postseason records that still stand. Teammate Tony Evans had 51 innings and seven starts, reliever Robert Martin had 15 appearances, and LF Orion Davenport had 11 doubles.

Other notes: Aiya Kodama set a single season MLB record with 29 complete games. The seven-time Pitcher of the Year between Hiroshima and Denver was in his fourth season in MLB after a decade in Japan. Catcher Mason Wilkinson won his ninth and final Silver Slugger, tying Alejandro Fernandez for the position record. Shortstop Bernd Sprenger won his seventh in MLB. It was his 11th total, having won four with EBF’s Belfast.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-07-2024, 05:42 PM

Major League Baseball’s 1993 Hall of Fame class saw two players earn inductions. 2B Raymond Boisvert was a no-doubt first ball selection at 98.2%. He was joined by 1B Edward Torres, who got the bump to 75.2% on his third attempt. SP Joseph Ashcraft fell short of the 66% requirement for the ninth time, although 57.9% was his highest total yet. Also above 50% were closer Angelo Kiernan at 53.4% on his seventh ballot and 1B Kymani Massey at 51.0% for his debut.

RF Asher Doyle was dropped after ten failed ballots, ended at 32.2% with a peak of 37.5% in 1987. In 19 seasons primarily with Toronto, Doyle had 2481 hits, 1513 runs, 373 doubles, 497 home runs, 1434 RBI, 1446 walks, a .269/.359/.466 slash, and 79.5 WAR. He was top 15 in walks all-time, but he otherwise lacked accolades or big totals, keeping him in the Hall of Good.

Also dropped after ten ballots was 3B Slade Ramos, who played 17 years mostly split between Minneapolis and Washington. He peaked at 27.2% in his second ballot and ended at 7.5%. Ramos had three Silver Sluggers and 2807 hits, 1156 runs, 446 doubles, 321 home runs, 1329 RBI, a .303/.343/.464 slash, and 79.1 WAR. A fine career, but also lacking in big power numbers or league-leading efforts.

Raymond “Splits” Boisvert – Second Base – Montreal Maples – 98.2% First Ballot

Raymond Boisvert was a 5’10’’, 175 pound right-handed second baseman from Whitby, Ontario; a city of around 135,000 people located on Lake Ontario. Boisvert was an outstanding contact hitter and had an impeccable knack for avoiding strikeouts. As of 2037, he’s one of only two MLB Hall of Fame hitters to have played 2500+ games while striking out less than 400 times. Boisvert was also very quick and was a very intelligent base runner. He had good gap power and was excellent at stretching out extra bases, eventually earning him the all-time mark for triples.

Boisvert’s penchant for doubles and triples was impressive, but he lacked home run power and never hit more than nine in a season. He was around average at drawing walks. Boisvert had the vast majority of his starts at second base, although he occasionally played at the other infield spots. Defensively, he was typically viewed as average to above average, certainly holding his own. Boisvert was quite durable for his prime run, making 135+ starts each year from 1971-83.

Boisvert left Canada to play collegiately for Baylor. In three seasons and 143 games as a Bear, he had 187 hits, 85 runs, 31 doubles, 4 triples, 65 RBI, a .330/.393/.425 slash and 5.4 WAR. Although he grew up in Ontario, Boisvert’s family had a French Canadian background and heritage, which made him stand out even more for Montreal ahead of the 1968 MLB Draft. The Maples picked him sixth overall and he would become extremely popular over a 16-year run in Montreal.

Despite his potential, Boisvert primarily spent his first two seasons in then-minor league Quebec City. He only had 79 major league games in these first two years, but showed plenty of potential for an improving Montreal squad. Boisvert finally cracked the starting lineup full-time in 1971 and impressively held that role for the next decade. 1971 marked the first of ten seasons leading the National Association in triples. Boisvert became a regular league leader in many statistics as one of the premiere leadoff men in the game. He would lead in runs scored five times, hits five times, stolen bases thrice, batting average five times, OBP once, and WAR twice.

Montreal snapped a six-year playoff drought in 1971 and started a four-year postseason streak. In 1972 and 1973, the Maples won the National Association pennant, although they fell both years in the World Series. Boisvert had an impressive 26 hits and 14 runs in the 1972 postseason, while adding 17 hits and 13 runs in 1973. 1971 also marked the start of Boisvert’s time playing with Canada in the World Baseball Championship. He played 156 games with 145 starts from 1971-85, posting 163 hits, 81 runs, 24 doubles, 12 triples, 8 home runs, 42 RBI, a .291/.362/.420 slash, 89 stolen bases, and 4.5 WAR.

Boisvert never claimed MVP, although 1973 was the closest he got with a second place finish. That year had career highs of 228 hits, 118 runs, and a .364 average. He was third in MVP voting in both 1976 and 1979, but it is very tough for leadoff guys to get the honor. Boisvert won four Silver Sluggers, coming in 1973, 77, 79, and 81.

After their success to begin the 1970s, Montreal retreated to the mid-tier for the middle part of the decade. Boisvert remained steady through this run and stayed committed to the Maples, signing an eight-year, $6,520,000 contract extension in July 1977. He helped bring Montreal back to relevance with three straight NACS berths from 1979-81. The Maples won the pennant in 1979 and 1981. In 1981, Montreal won the World Series for the first time since 1951. For his playoff career, Boisvert had 105 hits, 58 runs, 18 doubles, 8 triples, 32 stolen bases, and 3.0 WAR over 81 games.

1976-82 had a stretch of seven consecutive years that Boisvert led in triples. His skillset, plus the big 404 foot gap in left center at the Montreal Grounds, allowed him to climb up the leaderboard in the stat. By the end of his Maples run, Boisvert was in striking distance of Jess Lewis’s all-time mark of 274. In total with Montreal, Boisvert had 2836 hits, 1415 runs, 413 doubles, 259 triples, 84 home runs, 826 RBI, 651 stolen bases, a .330/.379/.467 slash, and 91.4 WAR.

After being above a .300 average his entire run, Boisvert dropped below the mark in his final two Montreal seasons. In 1984, the 36-year old was reduced to a part-time starting role. Feeling like he could still go, Boisvert decided to leave for free agency. There were no hard feelings between he and the Maples, as he’d remain one of the franchise’s most beloved players for decades to come. Boisvert’s #19 uniform would be retired once his career ended officially in 1988.

Boisvert signed for the 1985 season on a three-year, $3,720,000 deal with New York. He had a very solid debut season with the Yankees, passing Jess Lewis as the all-time triples leader. Boisvert also became the 44^th member of MLB’s 3000 hit club. His second season in New York ended after only two games due a broken bone in his elbow. Boisvert didn’t want to end on that sour note and signed in 1987 with Winnipeg, which was only entering its sixth season post expansion. He was still a passable starter with the Wolves and passed the 1500 runs scored milestone, the 84^th to do so. Winnipeg didn’t bring him back for 1988 though and despite his searching, Boisvert went unsigned that season. He would retire that winter at age 40.

Boisvert’s final stats: 3128 hits, 1558 runs, 451 doubles, 285 triples, 94 home runs, 928 RBI, 695 walks, only 388 strikeouts, 733 stolen bases, a .325/.375/.460 slash, 144 wRC+, and 98.4 WAR. As of 2037, Boisvert is still MLB’s all-time triples leader and he’s one of 31 players with 700+ stolen bases. At retirement, his 98.4 WAR was second best at second base behind only Archie Meredith. At induction as well, his batting average was fifth best among other Hall of Famers. Boisvert was a uniquely talented leadoff man and a beloved figure in Montreal that helped them win four pennants, making him an easy first ballot selection at 98.2%.

Edward “Jetsam” Torres – First Base – Los Angeles Angels – 75.2% Third Ballot

Edward Torres was a 6’2’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting first baseman from Rancho Santa Margarita, California; a small city of around 47,000 people in Orange County. Torres was one of the better home run hitters of his era and was considered a strong contact hitter early in his career. He had a good ability for drawing walks, although he struck out a bit more than average. Torres had respectable gap power, but was limited sometimes at drawing doubles or triples due to his very slow speed. He was exclusively a first baseman and was considered to be reliably just above average defensively. Torres was very durable, but his outspoken nature would make him a polarizing figure in his career.

Torres went to Oklahoma State for his college career and excelled as a Cowboy. As a freshman, he won NCAA MVP, while winning Silver Sluggers as a freshman and junior. With OK State, Torres played 149 games with 180 hits, 127 runs, 25 doubles, 72 home runs, 162 RBI, a .311/.389/.732 slash and 11.5 WAR. His home run power especially made him a very enticing prospect ahead of the 1965 MLB Draft. Torres was picked 6^th overall by Los Angeles and had his best seasons with the Angels. His outspoken nature made him a very “love him or hate him” player, but his power stats and growing up near LA made him extremely popular with many Angels fans.

Torres spent a bit of time in the minors his rookie year, but he still made 110 MLB starts and took second in Rookie of the Year voting. He’d be the full-time starter for the next decade for the Angels, starting 145+ games in every season except for 1969 (a fractured rib cost him six weeks that year). He hit 40+ home runs seven times and 100+ RBI nine times. Torres’ power emergence helped turn around the fortunes for Los Angeles, who bottomed out at 57 wins in his rookie season.

1968 saw an impressive turnaround from 73-89 the prior year to 103-59 atop the Western League standings. The Angels made the playoffs six times from 1968-74 and won World Series titles in 1968, 73, and 74. In 1974 specifically, Torres won both AACS and World Series MVP. In the playoffs for LA, Torres made 64 starts with 68 hits, 31 runs, 13 home runs, 49 RBI, a .279/.349/.488 slash, and 1.8 WAR. His part in this run for the Angels endeared him to many fans and the franchise would eventually retire his #9 uniform, mending the fences after an awkward end to his run.

Torres led the American Association in home runs thrice, RBI twice, total bases thrice, and once each for OBP, slugging, OPS, and wRC+. 1970 and 1971 saw him lead in both homers and RBI, earning him two MVPs. His 154 RBI in 1970 was only the 16^th time in MLB history to that point that a player had 150+ RBI. Torres was also third in MVP voting in 1967 and 1968. At the very loaded first base position, he won Silver Sluggers in 1967, 1970, and 1971.

Torres also played for the United States in the World Baseball Championship from 1968-74. In 124 starts, he had 137 hits, 105 runs, 53 home runs, 109 RBI, a .300/.388/.683 slash, and 8.8 WAR. Torres led all WBC batters in hits twice, home runs once, RBI twice, total bases twice, and OPS once. He was tournament MVP in both 1973 and 1974, becoming only the second player to that point to win the award twice. Torres earned five world title rings (68, 71-74).

Torres signed an eight-year, $2,584,000 contract extension before the 1971 season with Los Angeles. Although he was a playoff hero in 1974, his power numbers had fallen off noticeable that year. Torres bounced back some in 1975, but struggled with subpar stats in 1976. His struggles also led to more clashes with teammates and media. He exercised his contract’s opt out and became a free agent after the 1976 season at age 32. In total with the Angels, Torres had 1825 hits, 1057 runs, 288 doubles, 445 home runs, 1330 RBI, a .297/.364/.567 slash, and 56.6 WAR.

However, MLB teams were leery of signing him. Between his weak production the prior year, his outspoken and controversial nature, and his high asking price, most teams weren’t interested. Torres became a rare example of a former MVP-level MLB player to leave for a perceived “lesser” league. He went to CABA and specifically Cuba, signing a five-year, $2,280,000 contract with Havana.

Torres was respectable in his debut season and got his stroke back with 40+ home runs seasons in 1978 and 1979. As a DH in 1979, Torres won a Silver Slugger and took third in MVP voting. He led the league in doubles with 42 that year, posting 46 home runs and 121 RBI. The Hurricanes made the playoffs in 1977, but fell to the bottom of the standings to start the 1980s despite Torres’ personal production. In four seasons in Havana, Torres had 654 hits, 343 runs, 157 home runs, 411 RBI, and 16.3 WAR.

Looking to rebuild, the Hurricanes traded Torres in the final year of his contract to Torreon for three prospects. His power dropped that season and he was a free agent at age 37. MLB expanded for the 1982 season and the newly christened Salt Lake City Loons brought Torres back to the majors on a two-year, $2,120,000 deal. Torres was a full-time starter for the Loons, but was ultimately mediocre in his MLB return.

A free agent again at age 39, he went back to CABA and signed with Ecatepec of the Mexican League. Torres showed some of that old stroke with 4.2 WAR and 34 home runs in 135 games. Between his CABA runs, Torres had 911 hits, 472 runs, 212 home runs, 580 RBI, a .275/.329/.527 slash, and 24.1 WAR. That run got him one more shot in MLB in 1985 with San Diego. Torres was mostly unsuccessful and a backup with the Seals, but he notably crossed the 500 home run and 1500 RBI milestones. He was unsigned in 1986 and retired that winter at age 41.

For his entire pro career, Torres had 3009 hits, 1690 runs, 497 doubles, 721 home runs, 2088 RBI, 1038 walks, a .280/.345/.536 slash, 138 wRC+, and 82.8 WAR. If that was in one league, he’d be a lock. But most MLB voters discounted his CABA stats entirely. In his MLB career, Torres had 2098 hits, 1218 runs, 328 doubles, 509 home runs, 1508 RBI, a .282/.352/.540 slash, 137 wRC+, and 58.7 WAR. That made for a much more borderline case, although his home run rate was notable; he had the fewest hits among MLB Hall of Famers that reached 500 dingers. Torres’ outspoken nature also made many voters disinterested in putting him into the Hall. He missed out at 61.3% and 61.6% in his first two ballots. However, Torres had two MVPs and a big role in an impressive run of dominance for Los Angeles. That ultimately got him across the line with 75.2% on his third ballot, placing Torres into the MLB Hall of Fame.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-08-2024, 04:45 AM

For the first time since 1974, the Central American Baseball Association had a four-player Hall of Fame class with the 1993 voting. Impressively, all four guys got in on their first ballot as well. RF Lobo Villanueva led the way with 95.9% with 2B Mesquito Delion close behind at 92.5%. SP Conrado Gonsalez received 78.0%, while 2B Ricardo Dias rounded out the group at 69.5%, narrowly crossing the 66% requirement. One other player was above 50% with SP Wilner Celestin at 52.5% for his debut. No players were dropped after ten ballots.

Lobo Villanueva – Right Field – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 95.9% First Ballot

Lobo Villanueva was a 6’1’’, 195 pound left-handed hitting right fielder from Leon, Nicaragua; the country’s third largest city with around 210,000 people. Villanueva was a prolific home run and power hitter that also could hit effectively for average. He was okay at drawing walks, although he did have a high strikeout rate. Villanueva scored a lot of runs despite having firmly subpar speed. He was very durable and rarely missed games to injury. Villanueva was a career right fielder and was absolutely abysmal defensively. Still, the man hit dingers, which made him a beloved star of the era throughout the Caribbean.

Villanueva’s power potential was noticed even as a 16-year old amateur in Nicaragua. A scout from Santo Domingo spotted him and signed him to a developmental deal, bringing Villanueva to the Dominican Republic. His entire CABA career would be as a Dolphin, making his official debut in 1973 at age 20. He only had a few at bats that year, followed by a more regular pinch hitter role the next year. In 1975, Villanueva was a full-time starter and would be for the rest of his career. He’d make 130+ starts in the all of the next 16 seasons sans one.

Santo Domingo had been just outside of the playoffs to start the 1970s, but Villanueva’s emergence helped make them a more regular contender. The Dolphins snapped a 12-year playoff drought in 1975, then won the Caribbean League title in 1976. Although they lost to Guadalajara in the CABA final, SD locked in their emerging star Villanueva to an eight-year, $2,936,000 contract extension. He also emerged as a regular for his home country Nicaragua in the World Baseball Championship. From 1974-92, he played 152 games with 153 hits, 106 runs, 72 home runs, 130 RBI, a .285/.365/.722 slash, and 10.0 WAR. As of 2037, he is Nicaragua’s all-time WBC leader in games, hits, and homers.

The Dolphins would miss the playoffs in the next four seasons, but Villanueva emerged as a bona fide star. In 1977, he led the league in the triple slash (.340/.391/.650) and runs (118), earning his first Silver Slugger and a second place finish in MVP voting. In 1979, he made CABA history with 70 home runs, beating the previous single-season record of 65. Villanueva’s mark held as the all-time mark until passed by Yohnny Galaz’ 72 in 1988, but as of 2037, he’s one of only seven CABA hitters to hit 70+. This effort got Villanueva his first MVP and second Silver Slugger.

Villanueva never quite matched that power again, but he still was prominent on the leaderboards. He led in runs scored four times, homers four times, RBI four times, total bases four times, batting average twice, OBP thrice, slugging, OPS, and wRC+ each six times, and WAR three times. Villanueva won five MVPs in total, also taking the award in 1980, 81, 83, and 85. He took second in 1982 as well. He finished with seven Silver Sluggers (77, 79, 80-83, 85).

In the 1980s, Villanueva helped lead Santo Domingo to a dynasty run. The Dolphins won the Island Division six successive seasons from 1981-86. They won Caribbean League pennants in 1981, 82, 84, and 85. In 82, 84, and 85, Santo Domingo took home the CABA Championship. Villanueva was 1981 CLCS MVP and over 58 playoff games in his career, he had 64 hits, 31 runs, 18 home runs, 45 RBI, a .288/.344/.568 slash, and 2.7 WAR.

After the 1983 season, Villanueva entered free agency for the first time. He only was on the market eight days, joining back with Santo Domingo on a five-year, $3,600,000 deal. The 1984 season saw his first major injury as a partially torn labrum cost him four months, including their 1984 playoff run. Villanueva bounced back in 1985 with his fifth MVP, fifth 50+ home run season, and fifth 100+ run season. However, to the shock of many, Villanueva exercised his contract’s opt-out.

This marked the close of his CABA career and essentially ended Santo Domingo’s dynasty. Although they’d still be a good team and regular playoff squad for the next few years, the 1985 title in Villanueva’s last year would be the franchise’s final pennant until 2012. While many were upset by him leaving, most Dolphins fans later forgave him and remembered him fondly as a franchise icon and star during their dynasty. The team would retire his #18 uniform in 1992 and he would be an ambassador for the club.

At age 33, Villanueva both wanted to try his luck in MLB and also bring home the bag. Although his 1985 SD salary of $1,040,000 was among the biggest in CABA, he upped it to $1,480,000 annually on a five-year deal with San Antonio. It was ultimately an unremarkable run with a struggling franchise with Villanueva being a decent starter. In total as an Oiler, he had 700 hits, 395 runs, 174 home runs, 433 RBI, a .246/.308/.467 slash, and 6.0 WAR.

In his final season, Villanueva had 39 home runs, but only a .228 average. He was a free agent in both 1991 and 1992 and hoped to continue his career. However, teams weren’t interested in an expensive aging slugger. He played in those years’ WBC for Nicaragua, but had to retire from the pro game in the winter of 1992 at age 40. For his entire pro career, Villanueva had 2695 hits, 1528 runs, 421 doubles, 699 home runs, 1735 RBI, a .296/.347/.586 slash, 151 wRC+, and 76.2 WAR.

For his CABA/Santo Domingo tenure, Villanueva had 1995 hits, 1133 runs, 326 doubles, 525 home runs, 1292 RBI, a .319/.365/.640 slash, 172 wRC+, and 70.2 WAR. His departure prevented a shot at potentially climbing to the top of the leaderboards, although it is hard to gauge if he would’ve maintained his CABA pace had he stayed. Still, Villanueva’s power thrilled fans in the DR and helped usher in an impressive dynasty run for Santo Domingo. Villanueva was an easy first ballot choice, getting 95.9% to lead the 1993 class.

Mesquito Delion – Second Base – Hermosillo Hyenas – 92.5% First Ballot

Mesquito Delion was a 5’7’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting second baseman from Obregon, Mexico; a city of around 435,000 people in southern Sonora. Delion was an excellent contact hitter with very good gap power and surprisingly quick speed despite his pudgy frame. He averaged around 25 doubles and another 25 triples per season while also getting you around 15-20 home runs. Delion very rarely drew walks, but he was good at avoiding strikeouts. He was a very intelligent baserunner that knew how to pick his spots. Delion made around 3/4s of his starts at second base with the rest at shortstop. He was a terrible defender at second and an atrocious one at short. However, his ability to get extra base hits and his unusually stubby build made him a very popular player.

Delion’s potential was noticed locally by Hermosillo, which was in the same state and about three hours north of his hometown of Obregon. The Hyenas picked him ninth overall in the 1974 CABA Draft and he spent nearly his entire pro career with Hermosillo. Delion was essentially a full-time starter immediately, earning third in Rookie of the Year voting. He took a Silver Slugger in his second season, his only one as a shortstop. He won the award six more times at second base (78, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85). Delion also started early in his career for Mexico in the World Baseball Championship. He was a backup in his later years, playing 71 games from 1977-86 with 66 hits, 33 runs, 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 46 RBI, and a .266/.303/.496 slash.

Delion led the Mexican League in hits three times, runs once, doubles once, triples four times, RBI twice, total bases three times, average once, OBP once, slugging thrice, OPS once, wRC+ twice, and WAR three times. 1978 and 1980 both saw 10+ WAR seasons, earning Delion two MVP awards. He also took second in 1984 MVP voting. Delion became one of the most beloved players in Hermosillo history. After the 1980 season, he signed a seven-year contract extension worth $4,730,000, locking him in with the Hyenas for the long haul.

1980 was the year that Hermosillo’s fortunes turned around, thanks in large part to Delion’s efforts. They had been a subpar team for most of the last 30 years. In 1980, the Hyenas earned their first playoff berth since 1963 and won the Mexican League title for the first time since 1947. Delion had an excellent postseason with 29 hits, 13 runs, 5 triples, 13 RBI, and a .439/.467/.667 slash, although they would fall to Jamaica in the CABA final. Still, Hermosillo fans finally had hope and they would end up a consistent contender in the 1980s.

Delion had a 32-hame hitting streak from late 1980 to early 1981. In 1981, the Hyenas fell in the MLCS, although Delion again had a solid postseason with 20 hits in 11 starts. In 1982, Hermosillo missed the playoffs and Delion was out for just over a month with a torn ligament in his thumb. The thumb injury continued to plague him and his worsening defense meant he was largely a bench piece even when healthy. Although he wasn’t used much in the run, 1983 saw the Hyenas go all the way and win the CABA Championship.

Delion got back into the lineup full-time in the next year and led in hits and WAR in 1984. Hermosillo fell below .500 that year, but bounced back to win another ML pennant in 1985. A strained biceps would keep Delion out for the postseason run. Despite still posting good batting numbers, his weight was becoming more of a liability and he was reduced to a bench role. Delion was only a pinch hitter in the 1986 playoff run, which saw a MLCS defeat. In his playoff career with Hermosillo, Delion had 41 games and 31 starts, 57 hits, 21 runs, 7 doubles, 9 triples, 22 RBI, a .422/.438/.630 slash, and 2.6 WAR.

Although still an extremely popular player, it was clear the Hyenas wanted to move on from Delion and his big contract. Just before the 1987 season, the 34-year old was traded along with $200,000 to defending CABA champ Costa Rica for two pitchers. Delion was primarily a backup with the Rays and only had five pinch hit at-bats in the postseason, but earned his second CABA ring with Costa Rica repeating as champs. His original Hermosillo contract expired and Delion was a free agent. After going unsigned in 1988, he retired at age 36. Still beloved by Hyenas fans despite the awkward ending, the franchise brought him back to retire his #29 uniform.

Delion’s final stats: 2018 hits, 923 runs, 296 doubles, 268 triples, 207 home runs, 985 RBI, 300 stolen bases, a .340/.370/.586 slash, 182 wRC+, and 76.0 WAR. At induction, he had the fourth best batting average of any CABA Hall of Famer. Perhaps his chonkiness cost him some longevity, but Delion was an incredibly effective bat in his prime and a key cog in Hermosillo’s 1980s success. This earned Delion the first ballot selection at 92.5%.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-08-2024, 10:59 AM

Conrado Gonsalez – Starting Pitcher – Torreon Tomahawks – 78.0% First Ballot

Conrado Gonsalez was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Sancti Spiritus, a city with around 215,000 people in central Cuba. Gonsalez was a fireballer with phenomenal stuff and excellent control, although his movement was spotty and led to issues allowing home runs. It was hard to make contact though with 99-101 mph peak velocity on his fastball, along with a terrific slider, screwball, and changeup. Gonsalez was an extreme flyball pitcher, but his stuff was untouchable when he was dealing. He was also a solid defender with respectable stamina and durability.

All of his professional innings came with Torreon, but Gonsalez’s career actually started with Juarez. The Jesters spotted him as a teenage amateur and signed him to a developmental deal in May 1968. He spent six years in the developmental system, but hadn’t progressed to the level that Juarez was wanting. Before the 1974 season, he was traded with veteran 2B Rob Raden and $95,000 to Torreon for veteran RF Yoo-Hyun Kim.

Gonsalez made his debut with the Tomahawks at age 22 and was an occasional back-end starter in his first three years, posting very mediocre numbers. Things finally clicked in his fourth season, which saw him lead the league in WHIP. He also started to show his potential in the World Baseball Championship for his native Cuba. From 1976-87, he pitched 117.2 WBC innings with a 2.75 ERA, 175 strikeouts to only 16 walks, and 3.4 WAR.

In 1978, Gonsalez was a legit ace, leading the Mexican League with career bests in strikeouts (357), K/BB (12.8), quality starts (29), and WAR (10.6). This earned him his lone Pitcher of the Year award. Gonsalez never quite had a season that good again and wasn’t a league leader again, but he was consistently solid for about the next decade or so. He took third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1979 and 1981.

Torreon made the MLCS in 1976, 79, 80, and 83 while Gonsalez was there. He missed the 1976 postseason to injury, but posted a 2.87 ERA over 53.1 innings in the other seasons with 72 strikeouts and 8 walks. The Tomahawks won their first-ever ML pennant in 1979, but fell in the CABA Championship to Santiago.

Gonsalez had signed a six-year contract extension worth $3,060,000 after the 1979 season. He had suffered a torn labrum in late 1980, but bounced back from it quite well. Various injuries started to crop up into his mid 30s, although he still was successful with sub-two ERA seasons in 1985 and 1987. In 1985, he needed radial nerve decompression surgery. When Gonsalez reported in 1988, his velocity had started to drop and although officially healthy, he wasn’t used the entire season. Gonsalez opted to retire after the campaign at age 36. That winter, Torreon retired his #16 uniform.

Gonsalez’s final stats: 180-110 record, 2.73 ERA, 2855 innings, 3557 strikeouts to only 447 walks, 0.96 WHIP, 257/368 quality starts, a 83 FIP-, and 61.9 WAR. He is the only CABA Hall of Fame pitcher to reach 3500+ strikeouts without also reaching 3000+ career innings. The innings and longevity were lower than most pitchers who got the nod, but Gonsalez was impressive enough in his sample size to get the voters’ attention. He earned the first ballot selection at 78.0%, the third-best total in the four-player 1993 class.

Ricardo Dias – Second Base – Monterrey Matadors – 69.5% First Ballot

Ricardo Dias was a 6’1’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting second baseman from Victoria, a city of around 330,000 people and capital of the northeastern Mexican state of Tamauilpas. Dias was a very good contact hitter with a decent eye and above average knack at avoiding strikeouts. He wasn’t a prolific slugger, but was good for around 25-30 home runs and 30-35 doubles per season. Dias had respectable speed and baserunning instincts. He only ever brought his glove out to second base, although he was considered a poor defender. Many observed that Dias was a bit of a lone wolf, but he was still a talented enough hitter to be a valuable asset.

Dias was highly touted out of the amateur ranks and went second overall in the 1971 CABA Draft to Monterrey. He made a few starts in his rookie year, although was mostly used as a pinch hitter. Dias was a full-time starter after that for the rest of his pro career when healthy. With the Matadors, he won six Silver Sluggers (1973, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79). Dias was also a regular for Mexico in the World Baseball Championship from 1973-88 with 150 games and 134 starts. In that run, he had 144 hits, 73 runs, 38 doubles, 29 home runs, 75 RBI, a .272/.329/.512 slash, and 5.2 WAR. He earned a world title ring with the 1978 squad.

Monterrey struggled in the 1970s with only one wild card appearance in 1979. They hoped Dias would turn things around for them and signed him to an eight-year, $2,474,000 extension after the 1974 season. A strained hamstring kept him out half of the 1975 campaign and another hamstring strain cost him six weeks in 1976. Dias was stellar in 1976 even in only 112 games with a .414/.451/.689 slasj, 1.140 OPS, and 8.3 WAR. He fell just short of the at-bats required for the .414 average to count as an all-time record.

Dias was able to stay healthy from 1977-80, taking second in 1979’s MVP voting. This would be his only time as a MVP finalist. His Monterrey run ended eight games into 1981 with a torn PCL knocking him out 10 months. He’d remain popular with Matadors fans despite playing in a down period with the team, eventually seeing his #14 uniform retired. In total with Monterrey, Dias had 1473 hits, 688 runs, 271 doubles, 220 home runs, 772 RBI, a .332/.380/.559 slash, and 57.2 WAR.

One year remained on his contract entering 1982, but the Matadors were worried about Dias coming off the PCL tear. He was traded to Guatemala for pitchers DJ Sauceda and Manuel Acosta, plus 1B Ivan Saldana. Dias bounced back impressively in his one year with the Ghosts, winning the batting title for the only time in his career. Guatemala went one-and-done in the playoffs, which would be Dias’ only other postseason appearances. He won his seventh Silver Slugger and upped his value entering free agency at age 34.

Dias signed a five-year, $3,000,000 deal with Haiti. He was solid in his Herons tenure, winning Silver Sluggers in 1983, 86, and 87. He joined Luis Miranda as the only CABA players to win nine or more Silver Sluggers at second base. Dias had ten total with nine at second, having won at DH in 1986. A sprained ankle cost him five weeks in his final year with Haiti. In total with the Herons, Dias had 858 hits, 381 runs, 134 doubles, 114 home runs, 417 RBI, a .324/.355/.519 slash, and 24.6 WAR.

Now 39-years old, Dias was able to land a big contract in MLB with Orlando worth $4,600,000 over three years. He couldn’t stay healthy with the Orcas, making only 74 starts in 1988 and 45 in 1989. Dias wasn’t very good with Orlando either, posting -0.1 WAR and a .235 average in MLB. The Orcas cut him after spring training 1990. Dias went unsigned all season and retired that winter at age 41.

For his CABA career, Dias had 2525 hits, 1158 runs, 442 doubles, 62 triples, 361 home runs, 1239 RBI, 251 stolen bases, a .329/.369/.543 slash, 162 wRC+, and 87.8 WAR. He compared similarly to his Hall of Fame classmate Mesquito Delion, but Dias didn’t have the MVPs, league-leading seasons or playoff appearances. His accumulations were among the best ever at second base, but many voters were still iffy with a few voting for Delion and not Dias. However, there were still enough to give Dias the first ballot nod, albeit just barely at 69.5%. Regardless, he was a first ballot Hall of Famer and a solid player to round out the impressive four-player 1993 CABA class.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-08-2024, 05:44 PM

The 1993 ballot for the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame very nearly ended up blank. One player just crossed the 66% threshold to earn a spot with pitcher Ho-In Koh grabbing 69.1% on his fourth ballot. The best debut was closer Yeong-U Oum at 55.9%. Three other guys were just above 50% on their second ballots with 1B Naomichi Yamamoto (52.0%), 1B Yuma Watanbe (51.6%), and SP Hisataka Otsuka (50.0%). No players were dropped after ten failed ballots.

Ho-In Koh – Starting Pitcher – Kitakyushu Kodiaks – 69.1% Fourth Ballot

Ho-In Koh was a 6’0’’, 185 pound right-handed pitcher from Jecheon, a city of around 130,000 in central South Korea known as a major railway junction. Koh had excellent control with good stuff and above average movement. His velocity peaked in the 97-99 mph range with an excellent fastball mixed with a great changeup and decent knuckle curve. Koh was viewed as fairly durable with respectable stamina. He was a scrappy sparkplug type, always willing to give extra effort.

Koh was a rare Korean player that spent the vast majority of his EAB career in Japan. He was signed as a teenage amateur in late 1961 by Kitakyushu and made his debut as a reliever in 1966 at age 21. Koh earned a spot in the rotation the next year and was a regular starter for the next decade, pitching 200+ innings each year.

His early 20s were his most impressive seasons, leading Japan in ERA, WHIP, and WAR in 1970. That earned Koh his lone Pitcher of the Year honor. He took second in 1969 and 1971 as well. 1969 also earned him a world title with South Korea in the World Baseball Championship, although he struggled in limited relief. His only other WBC appearances came in 1980. Koh was great in the 1971 playoffs with a 1.53 ERA over 17.2 for Kitakyushu. The Kodiaks won the JL pennant, falling in the EAB Championship to Busan. This run would sadly be Koh’s only playoff appearances for his career.

He remained solid for Kitakyushu in the next few seasons, leading in strikeouts in 1974 with 299. The Kodiaks would bottom out though in 1975 and look to rebuild. Koh was coming up on free agency as well and the team figured they wouldn’t be able to keep him around at the expected asking price. In total with Kitakyushu, Koh had a 137-88 record, 2.68 ERA, 2067 innings, 2244 strikeouts, and 56.7 WAR. It was a solid enough run that they would opt to retire his #12 uniform in 1984.

In July 1975, Kitakyushu traded Koh for prospects to Sapporo. The Swordfish just missed the playoffs, but Koh finished as the league leader in both strikeouts and innings. A free agent at age 31, Koh attracted considerable attention both domestically and abroad. The big MLB payday was hard to pass up and he signed a six-year, $2,894,000 deal with Philadelphia.

Koh’s productivity in his Phillies debut season was mediocre at best. He was a bit more efficient in his second year, but a hamstring injury cost him two months. He didn’t live up to what Philadelphia was looking for, posting a 3.94 ERA over 441 innings. The Phillies traded Koh for the 1978 season to Tampa for 2B Smoke Hagen and LF Antoine Crawford. He would play out the rest of the contract with the Thunderbirds.

He didn’t fare much better in his first two seasons with Tampa, although his third season in 1980 saw a nice improvement. In total with the Thunderbirds, he had a 35-43 record, 4.27 ERA, 698.1 innings, 435 strikeouts, and 9.3 WAR. It was looking like he had finally found his footing in MLB, but disaster struck on September 7, 1980. Koh suffered a damaged elbow ligament, putting him on the shelf for 13 months. He finished out his contract with Tampa in 1981, but never saw the field.

Now 37, the scrappy Koh was determined to make a comeback. Atlanta gave him a chance on a one-year, $1,100,000 deal. A few injuries cost him about two months, but he was still a passable back-end starter. This ended his MLB tenure with a 4.14 ERA, 61-82 record, 1319.2 innings, 883 strikeouts, and 16.9 WAR. Koh returned to EAB and signed a three-year, $2,050,000 deal with Seoul. Shoulder inflammation knocked him out for 1983 after his second start. Koh then was primarily a reliever in 1984 with lousy results. He opted to retire that winter at age 39.

For his entire pro career, Koh had a 212-177 record, 3.28 ERA, 3618.1 innings, 3357 strikeouts, 686 walks, 267/461 quality starts, 82 FIP-, and 76.6 WAR. For just his EAB tenure, Koh had a 151-95 record, 2.79 ERA, 2298.2 innings, 2474 strikeouts, 356 walks, 179/286 quality starts, 72 FIP-, and 59.7 WAR. His rate stats fit in with some other Hall of Famers, but his accumulations were on the low end, in part since he left for MLB. If his MLB stats counted in EAB, he probably would’ve been a solid choice. However, many voters thought he wasn’t good enough long enough. Koh never was below 60%, but he fell just short on his first three ballots. The fourth ballot with weaker competition allowed Koh to sway over another voter or two, getting in at 69.1% as the lone member of EAB’s 1993 class.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-09-2024, 04:27 AM

Beisbol Sudamerica’s 1993 Hall of Fame class featured two inner-circle level inductees. Career home run king Valor Melo received 98.6% and pitcher Thiago Granja got 98.0%, both on their debuts. The next closest to the 66 mark was 1B Cy Cavazos, who fell short at 55.9% on his tenth and final try. The only other player above 50% was SP Robinson Moreira at 54.9% for his fourth ballot.

Cavazos got as close at 62.0% in his ninth ballot and usually hovered between the mid 40 to upper 50% range. He played 22 pro seasons in total with all 18 of his BSA years with La Paz, posting 2475 hits, 1357 runs, 354 doubles, 639 home runs, 1582 RBI, a .253/.325/.490 slash, and 82.9 WAR. As of 2037, he’s the only eligible BSA player with 600+ homers to not make the cut. There were other guys who got in with less impressive tallies too, but Cavazos only won Silver Slugger once and never was a league leader, causing some to dismiss him as a compiler. La Paz being lousy during the run didn’t help.

Also dropped after ten ballots was another 1B, Martin Vera. He never got much traction, ending at 4.4% and peaking at 14.5%. His BSA run was too brief between Sao Paulo and Recife, although he won two Silver Sluggers with 1848 hits, 830 runs, 332 doubles, 109 home runs, 609 RBI, 793 stolen bases, a .323/.370/.481 slash, and 52.9 WAR. If a tenured home run hitting 1B didn’t get in, a high contact, low power one with a short career had no chance.

Valor Melo – First Base – Salvador Storm – 98.6% First Ballot

Valor Melo was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed first baseman from ibiracu, a town of around 12,000 people in the eastern Brazilian state Espirito Santo. Despite his humble beginnings, Melo emerged as one of the most impressive home run hitters in baseball history. He combined his prolific power with excellent contact skills and a good eye, although his strikeout rate was middling. 12 times, Melo had seasons with 50+ homers, while also averaging around 25 doubles per year. He exclusively played first base defensively and was perfectly adequate with his glove. Melo was also a legendary ironman, starting in 145+ games in all but his first and final seasons. He was also a great leader, loyal, and a hard worker. Melo was a true fan favorite and a beloved baseball icon not just with his main team Salvador or his home country of Brazil, but with the entire South American baseball community.

Melo’s power potential was obvious to teams as he became eligible in the 1969 BSA Draft. With the 6^th overall pick, Salvador selected him and he became synonymous with the Storm. In 1970, Melo was barely used as a pinch hitter, but he became a full-time starter in 1971. He smacked 40 home runs as a rookie to win Rookie of the Year honors. Melo had 34 homers in 1972, which would be his last time hitting less than 45 until his final two seasons.

Melo always had the home run power, but he put together the complete hitting package in 1973. He crushed 66 home runs, setting a new BSA single-season record and passing Amadeus Ribieiro’s old best of 62. His 143 RBI also fell four short of Mike Andrades’ single-season best. Shocking no one, Melo won his first MVP and Silver Slugger. This also led Salvador to a franchise-record 110-52 mark, ending a decade-long playoff drought. Melo had 12 hits, 9 runs, and 3 homers in the playoffs as the Storm won Copa Sudamerica for the second time in franchise history. Clearly, Melo had arrived, but somehow he had only begun to scratch the surface.

Over his 15 years starting for Salvador, Melo led the Southern Cone League in runs scored six times, home runs nine times, RBI eight times, total bases seven times, OBP once, slugging six times, OPS six times, wRC+ five times, and WAR five times. Melo had eight straight seasons worth 9+ WAR and had 7+ WAR in all of his full seasons with Salvador sans his rookie campaign. He won seven straight Silver Sluggers from 1974-80, then won twice more in 1984 and 85. Melo also won five straight MVPs from 1976-80. As of 2037, he’s the only BSA player with six MVPs to his name. He also took second in 1974, 1975, 1984, and 1985.

In 1974 and 1975, he hit only 50 and 51 home runs. Salavdor won 108 games in 1974, but fell in the LCS to Cordoba. They remained good the next four years, but were just outside of the playoffs. Melo also played for Brazil in the World Baseball Championship from 1971-86. In 177 games and 153 starts, he had 152 hits, 115 runs, 21 doubles, 61 home runs, 114 RBI, a .269/.378/.636 slash, and 9.3 WAR.

In part inspired by Melo’s towering dongs, BSA adjusted the rules after the 1974 season to encourage higher scoring. Melo’s single-season home run record fell as Afonso Revela clubbed 69. A.J. Nunez also bested the RBI record, setting the new high mark at 151. Melo saw that as a challenge and in 1976, broke the homer record again with 74 and tied the RBI mark. 74 homers was also a new world record, passing Carl Valdes’ 71 in 1972 in EAB. Melo also set a new record for total bases (469), slugging (.807), OPS (1.241) and had only the 6^th 13+ season for a BSA hitter. His mark remained the OPS record until 2023 and the slugging record until 2029.

Melo had fewer hits and slightly lower numbers in most of the stats the next year, but he bested his own home run mark with 76. In 1979, he smashed another 76 home runs and beat his total bases record with 473. As of 2037, 76 home runs is still the Beisbol Sudamerica record and it wouldn’t be topped in any world league until 2006. He also was the first player to hit 70+ in three or more seasons. The total bases mark held as the BSA record until 2022 and is still fourth best even in present day.

1979 also marked the return of Salvador to the playoffs. Melo won LCS MVP and had 14 hits, 9 runs, 4 home runs, and 11 RBI in the playoffs as the Storm won Copa Sudamerica over La Paz. Salvador won division titles again in 1980 and 1981. In 1981, Melo was both LCS MVP and Copa Sudamerica MVP as the Storm took the title over Quito. In this playoff run, Melo smacked 8 home runs in 11 games with 16 hits, 13 runs, and 17 RBI. This would ultimately be his final time in the playoffs, but he certainly left a remarkable legacy in getting three rings for Salvador.

The Storm won 99 games in 1982, but just missed the division title to Recife. They would fall to 80 wins the next year and begin to rebuild for the rest of the decade. Melo wasn’t setting single season records anymore, but he was still excellent, hitting 57 home runs at age 36. He passed Digeo Pena’s 725 to become the career home run king. In 1985, he became the first BSA batter to reach 800. He also passed Pena’s 1754 for the most RBI and Javier Herrera’s mark of 1639 runs scored.

Reaching those milestones in a Salvador uniform was very important for Melo and the fans. The Storm had their fourth straight losing season though and Melo was entering the last year of his contract. Ultimately in February 1986, the 37-year old was traded to Caracas for prospects Nestor Padeira and Alarico Oliverira. It was heartbreaking for Melo and many Storm fans, although he remained a beloved franchise icon. His #7 uniform would be retired immediately at the end of his career and he would be an ambassador and icon for years to come.

Caracas had been a playoff team the prior year and hoped Melo could get them over the hump, but his heart clearly wasn’t in it. He had by far his worst season with a .265 average, 2.3 WAR and only 22 home runs. Melo became a free agent and Recife signed him to a two-year, $1,660,000 deal hoping to recapture the magic. He was clearly washed though and struggled even in a limited pinch hit role, only hitting one homer in 101 plate appearances. Melo retired after the season at age 39.

For his career, Melo had 2915 hits, 1708 runs, 414 doubles, 870 home runs, 1862 RBI, 854 walks, a .309/.371/.640 slash, 197 wRC+, and 140.9 WAR. At induction, Melo was BSA’s all-time leader in homers, runs, RBI, and total bases. He also had the best OPS of any Hall of Famer and was fourth in batting WAR and tenth in hits. Melo’s 870 homers at induction was also the fourth most for any pro player. Later eras of increased offense saw him fall down some leaderboards, but as of 2037, Melo is still third in homers, eighth in RBI, 11^th in runs, and fifth in batting WAR. He remains one of the pillars of South American baseball history and is one of the finest sluggers of any era, plus he helped Salvador win three rings. As a pure bat, he’s on the short-list when discussing who the BSA GOAT is among position players. Melo’s 98.6% percentage is too low.

Thiago Granja – Pitcher- Buenos Aires Atlantics – 98.0% First Ballot

Thiago Granja was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Mercedes, an Argentinian city of around 50,000 people located 100 kilometers west of Buenos Aires. Granja had overpowering stuff with a 98-100 mph fastball mixed with a devastating changeup and a good slider. His control was above average with his movement mid-grade. He was viewed as very durable, pitching 230+ innings in each of his South American seasons but one. Despite his regular innings, Granja was on the lower end in terms of complete games compared to his contemporaries.

Growing up not far from Buenos Aries, the Atlantics were very aware of Granja’s amateur exploits. Thus, BA picked him fourth overall in the 1972 BSA Draft. He was a full-time starter immediately and had an incredible rookie season with a 2.26 ERA, 350 strikeouts, and 9.5 WAR. Granja easily scored 1973 Rookie of the Year and his 9.5 WAR stands as the second-most ever for a ROY winner, behind only Timoteo Caruso’s 9.9 WAR on the mound in 1936. The Atlantics clearly struck gold with Granja.

He helped turnaround the team’s fortunes, as they had bottomed out at 58-104 in 1971. Buenos Aires would make the playoffs seven times from 1975-82. Granja led the Southern Cone League in strikeouts four straight seasons from 1974-77, including a high of 390 in his sophomore season. He struck out 300+ in each of his years with the Atlantics. He also led in WAR with 10.2 in 1974. Granja never won Pitcher of the Year despite his early success, taking second in 1975 and third in 1977. In his first six seasons, Granja had 54.1 WAR and 2167 strikeouts.

Granja was excellent in the 1975 playoffs, posting a 1.17 ERA and 3-0 record over 23 innings with 32 strikeouts. This helped Buenos Aires claim Copa Sudamerica. The Atlantics fell in the Southern Cone Championship in the next four seasons, but won the Cup again in 1980. After dropping to .500 in 1981, Buenos Aires won a weak division in 1982 at 84-78. Still, they won the pennant that season, falling to Barquisimeto in Copa Sudamerica. For his playoff career with the Atlantics, Granja had a 10-4 record, 2.23 ERA, 125 innings, 149 strikeouts, and 3.0 WAR.

Granja was also a regular for Argentina in the World Baseball Championship from 1973-88. He posted a 2.66 ERA and 16-10 record over 209.2 innings with 319 strikeouts, 69 walks, and 7.6 WAR. Despite the amazing start to his career, Granja never hit the same heights in the later two thirds of his career. He was still a fine pitcher, but he wasn’t a league leader or award finalist again. Still, over a decade with Buenos Aires, he posted a 168-103 record, 2.61 ERA, 2531 innings, 3459 strikeouts, 491 walks, 66 FIP-, and 77.3 WAR.

Granja also had two no-hitters with Buenos Aires, including a remarkable 20 strikeout, one walk effort against Rosario on September 21, 1975. This tied the record for most Ks in a no-no, previously reached in 1945 by Luisao Capucho. Granja’s second no-hitter also came against Rosario with 15 strikeouts and two walks on May 15, 1980.

Granja had signed a five-year, $2,326,000 contract extension with Buenos Aires after the 1977 season. He was 33 years old when that contract ended after the 1982 season, coming off statistically one of his weaker seasons. Granja was still a very good pitcher, but Buenos Aires wasn’t prepared to give him the big contract he wanted. Still, he remained an important part of the franchise’s impressive run and his #8 uniform would later be retired. Granja opted to stay in Argentina, signing a five-year, $3,270,000 deal with Cordoba.

The Chanticleer run ultimately lasted three and a half seasons with steady and reliable production. The signing immediately paid off, as Cordoba ended an eight-year playoff drought in 1983, although they fell in the LCS. After missing the playoffs in 1984, the Chanticleers won the 1985 Copa Sudamerica. This gave Granja his third ring, posting a 3.28 ERA over 35.2 playoff starts with Cordoba. For the full tenure, he had a 2.89 ERA, 54-40 record, 890.1 innings, 1117 strikeouts, 152 walks, and 22.0 WAR.

1986 statistically was actually Granja’s best year since his 20s, but Cordoba struggled and finished with only 70 wins. They were sellers at the trade deadline, moving Granja to La Paz for three prospects. He finished out the season for the Pump jacks and was ready for 1987, but Granja suffered his first injury setbacks. A sprained AC joint cost him 2-3 months, then a partially torn labrum shortly after cost him the rest of the year. Granja only made two starts in 1987 for La Paz and became a free agent that winter at age 38.

Granja wasn’t ready to call it quits and MLB’s Boston Red Sox were willing to give the veteran a chance with a generous three-year, $4,700,000 deal. He made 28 starts with Boston and was delightfully mid as his velocity had dropped into the mid 90s. The Red Sox cut him during spring training 1989. Phoenix signed him to finish out the year, although he only saw 32 MLB innings and one playoff relief appearance. Granja retired that winter at age 39.

For his Beisbol Sudamerica career, Granja had a 231-148 record, 2.70 ERA, 3539.2 innings, 4718 strikeouts, 657 walks, 329/453 quality starts, 69 FIP-, and 102.2 WAR. Many thought he could be on a GOAT trajectory after his first few years, but even though he wasn’t dominant in the back-end, Granja still put together impressive tallies. At induction, he was sixth in strikeouts and 13^th in pitching WAR. His playoff production was excellent as well, playing a key role in titles for both Buenos Aires and Cordoba. The voters didn’t need much convincing, as Granja was a first ballot selection at 98.0% to join Valor Melo in the impressive two-man 1993 class.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-09-2024, 01:16 PM

Two players earned inductions into the European Baseball Federation’s Hall of Fame in 1993. On his eighth ballot, pitcher Ugo Musacci finally got the bump over the 66% threshold with a 77.3% mark. 1B Remo Galloppa got in as a first ballot selection, albeit barely at 68.0%. SP Torger Thelin fell frustratingly short in his fifth ballot at 65.0%. SP Jose Calderon also had a solid showing on his third attempt, but missed at 59.3%. No players were dropped following ten failed ballots.

Ugo “Hands” Musacci – Pitcher – Hartford Huskies – 77.3% Eighth Ballot

Ugo Musacci was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Este, a town of around 15,000 people in northern Italy. Nicknamed “Hands” for his very large hands, Musacci had stellar stuff with excellent control and good movement. His fastball hit the 97-99 mph range and he mixed it expertly with a slider, curveball, splitter, and changeup; becoming a dominant strikeout pitcher in his prime. Musacci was also known for strong stamina and durability for much of his run. He was also a very intelligent pitcher, knowing when to pick his spots to fool batters.

Musacci left Italy for Brunel University in Uxbridge, England for his college career. When he was eligible for the 1964 EBF Draft, he was selected eighth overall by Malta. Musacci was immediately a full-time starter, although his rookie year was rough as he hadn’t mastered his control yet. He improved it tremendously to post a solid second season, then emerged as elite by his third season.

From 1967-70, Musacci won four consecutive Pitcher of the Year awards. He led in strikeouts each season, including becoming the first EBF pitcher to fan 400+ with 407 in 1969. Musacci led in ERA in both 1967 and 1968. The 1969 effort was worth 14.3 WAR, still the EBF single-season record for a pitching season as of 2037. He also had 13.1 in 1970, one of only nine seasons in EBF history worth 13+ for a pitcher. Musacci also pitched for Italy in these early years in the World Baseball Championship. From 1968-74, he had a 1.68 ERA over 17 starts and 123 innings with 182 strikeouts, 27 walks, and 5.9 WAR.

The frustrations began to mount still for Musacci, as Malta was perennially a bottom tier team. Their best record during his tenure was 82-80 in 1968. Amazingly for the forlorn Marvels, that would be their best record until 2007. Musacci wasn’t optimistic that they’d start contending if he stuck around and he had no shortage of suitors. He decided to leave for free agency after the 1970 season at only 27 years old. His six year run with Malta was remarkable statistically with a 106-61 record, 2.54 ERA, 1532.1 innings, 1988 strikeouts to 328 walks, 57 FIP-, and 57.2 WAR.

His departure from Malta and EBF created a rift with many in European baseball. It is part of the reason he had to wait eight ballots ultimately to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. Even then, Musacci insisted that when he was inducted that wasn’t wearing Malta’s hat. He’s the only player to be inducted wearing the cap of a team that isn’t even in that league, donning the Hartford Huskies grab. As you may be aware, Hartford, Connecticut is in fact not in Europe.

Hartford ended up winning the Musacci sweepstakes, signing him to a seven-year, $2,104,000 contract. His dominance translated perfectly to Major League Baseball, winning Pitcher of the Year in his first two seasons with the Huskies. Musacci also won in 1976, giving him seven POTYs total. He led the National Association five times in strikeouts, six times in K/BB, and thrice in WAR. Musacci posted three seasons of 10+ WAR. His 0.85 WHIP in 1972 also set a new MLB record that held until 1989.

Much to Musacci’s chagrin, Hartford didn’t fare much better than Malta during his tenure despite being successful in the 1950s and 1960s. Their best effort was 84-78 as Musacci got caught up in what was ultimately a 14-year playoff drought for the Huskies. He kept better relations with Hartford despite this frustration, but was ready to again enter free agency when his seven-year deal ended. With the Huskies, Musacci had a 103-84 record, 2.86 ERA, 1824 innings, 1891 strikeouts, 270 walks, 64 FIP-, and 60.3 WAR.

Notably, Musacci’s last season had been his worst with fewer than 200 strikeouts for the first time, although he was still worth 5.9 WAR. The possible decline didn’t scare away Philadelphia, who signed him to a four-year, $2,440,000 deal. Musacci regressed hard, as his velocity dropped into the low 90s. His one season with the Phillies saw a lackluster 4.18 ERA and only 91 strikeouts in 200 innings. He did get to make his only playoff appearance, 2.2 innings of relief work. After looking no better in 1979 spring training, Philadelphia cut their losses.

Musacci went back to the EBF and his home country Italy as Naples gave him a shot on a one-year, $402,000 deal. He was clearly cooked at this point and was shipped out in a multi-player deal at the deadline to Glasgow. He only pitched six innings in Scotland. Musacci wasn’t ready to quit and was signed again by Naples in June 1980, only making nine relief appearances. He would spend 1981 in the American minors with San Diego’s affiliate Chula Vista, even getting shellacked there. Musacci finally called it quits at age 38 after the season.

For his entire pro career, Musacci had a 229-166 record, 2.85 ERA, 3732.1 innings, 4058 strikeouts to 650 walks, 333/475 quality starts, a 65 FIP-, and 121.6 WAR. That would be a lock in any Hall of Fame if it was all in the same league, but his career stats were split almost evenly between MLB and EBF. He actually had more MLB tenure with a 116-92 record, 2.99 ERA, 2024 innings, 1982 strikeouts, 298 walks, 68 FIP-, and 63.0 WAR. However, Musacci’s steep decline, lack of accumulations, and lack of playoff success meant the MLB Hall of Famer voters were underwhelmed. He debuted on that ballot at 14.3% and fell off at 4.1% on his eighth try.

For Musacci’s EBF career, almost entirely off the strength of the Malta tear, he had a 113-74 record, 2.69 ERA, 1708.1 innings, 2076 strikeouts, 352 walks, 145/204 quality starts, 62 FIP-, and 58.6 WAR. It was a tough sell for many voters as he’d have easily the fewest innings and wins of any EBF Hall of Fame starter. Plus, his lackluster late return to EBF hurt him with some. The way the Malta run ended soured other voters. But still, Musacci’s six-year run with the Marvels is possibly the most dominant any pitcher has even been in that short a stretch. Sympathetic voters gave him some credit for what he did in Hartford, assuming that he would’ve done similar or better had he stayed in EBF. Musacci debuted at only 49.5% and dropped to 45.2% on his second ballot, but he slowly climbed back up. He missed at 64.9% on his sixth try and 62.0% on his seventh. Finally on the eighth go with a fairly weak ballot overall, Musacci got an appreciable bump up to 77.3%, securing his spot in the EBF Hall of Fame.

Remo “Racehorse” Galloppa – First/Second Base – Athens Anchors – 68.0% First Ballot

Remo Galloppa was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting infielder from Heuvelland, a municipality of around 8,000 people in the Belgian province of West Flanders. He earned the nickname “Racehorse” in part for his blistering speed and in part because “Galloppa” is close to “gallop.” He was a talented lead-off hitter with great contact ability and a low strikeout rate while being decent at drawing walks. Galloppa had good pop in his bat, although he only averaged around 15 home runs per year. With his excellent speed and baserunning chops, he managed around 25 doubles and another 20 triples per season.

Defensively, Galloppa made about 2/3s of his starts at first base and the rest at second. He was a terrible defender at second, where he started his career. However, Galloppa excelled at first, winning five Gold Gloves (1977, 78, 79, 82, 83). He was very popular and known as a team captain and excellent leader. Although his career was relatively short, Galloppa was also known for being quite durable.

He’s known for playing his entire pro career with Athens, but that’s not where it started for Galloppa. He was picked 27th overall in the 1971 EBF Draft by Marseille. Trying to make a push in the summer of 1972 for a playoff spot, the Musketeers traded him and another prospect to Athens for pitcher Nikolaos Georgopoulou. Galloppa made a few pinch hit appearances that summer, but he’d sit on the reserve roster for all of 1973 and 1974.

In 1975, he became a full-time member of the Athens roster. He was a part-time starter that season, but assumed the full-time role the next season. Galloppa also started player for his native Belgium in 1975 in the World Baseball Championship. From 1975-87, he had 108 games and 105 starts with 127 hits, 75 runs, 15 doubles, 14 home runs, 40 RBI, a .306/.379/.472 slash, and 4.4 WAR.

Galloppa emerged as a growing conern in 1977 when he led the Southern Conference in hits, runs, triples, and batting average. The Anchors also ended a seven-year playoff drought, although they went one-and-done. In 1978, Galloppa led in runs and stolen bases. He won conference finals MVP and posted 20 hits, 9 runs, and 14 stolen bases in the playoffs, leading Athens to its first-ever conference title. They lost to his home country squad Brussels ultimately in the European Championship. Athens won three more division titles, although couldn’t get out of the first round. Galloppa finished with 41 hits, 14 runs, 6 doubles, 18 RBI, and 23 stolen bases in 32 playoff starts.

Despite his success, with competition from traditional sluggers at first base, Galloppa’s only Silver Slugger was 1979. That year, he was second in MVP voting as well, leading the conference in total bases 9364) and batting average (.336). He also had career highs in hits, doubles, home runs, and WAR. Galloppa led in hits and triples again in 1981 and would lead four times in his career in stolen bases. He had seven seasons of 7+ WAR from 1976-83..

Athens began to rebuild in the mid 1980s and Galloppa saw his role reduced. He made 105 starts in 1984, then was primarily a pinch hitter or pinch runner for the next three years. Galloppa was still an appreciated team captain, although his use wasn’t justifying the eight-year, $5,910,000 extension he had gotten before the 1980 season. He still had good production when he was used until his final season, where he hit a terrible .205. With the big contract ending after the 1987 season, Galloppa opted to retire at age 36. That winter, Athens retired his #28 uniform.

For his career, Galloppa had 2052 hits, 1119 runs, 277 doubles, 245 triples, 165 home runs, 860 RBI, 996 stolen bases, a .317/.364/.513 slash, 152 wRC+, and 74.4 WAR. He quietly built up pretty solid stats in a small time frame, but most voters expected dingers from their first basemen. Galloppa didn’t quite fit the traditional mode and there were voters who knocked him for lack of accumulations, especially in homers and RBI. But he was very well respected as a great leader and a lovely person, plus had the bump of playing with one franchise. Galloppa secured a first ballot induction, albeit barely at 68.0%, to join Ugo Musacci in EBF’s 1993 Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-09-2024, 05:51 PM

The 1993 class for the Eurasian Professional Baseball Hall of Fame was a sturdy one with three guys getting in on the first ballot. All-time home run leader Konrad Mazur led the way at 96.4%, joined by pitchers Nurlan Rahmonov and Carymyrat Kurbanow at 96.0% and 83.5%, respectively. LF Emin Ismayilov received 56.8% on his third ballot, falling short again. Also above 50% was 1B Ilkin Hasanov at 51.2% on his debut and 1B Bartlomiej Tarka at 50.2% for his fourth try.

One player was dropped after ten ballots in catcher Samir Allahverdiyev. He had a 22-year career with Tbilisi, winning 11 Silver Sluggers and five Gold Gloves. The Azeri righty was another victim of the anti-catcher bias of Hall of Fame voters. Allahverdiyev had 2110 hits, 958 runs, 404 doubles, 349 home runs, 1063 RBI, a .248/.301/.428 slash, and 87.6 WAR. The usual issue of catchers getting low accumulations, plus Tbilisi’s lack of deep playoff runs, sunk him. Allahverdiyev debuted at 44.9% and ended at 14.5%.

Allahverdiyev as of 2037 is the all-time EPB leader at catcher in games, runs, hits, total bases, singles, doubles, home runs, RBI, WAR, starts, assists, putouts, total chances, double plays, and innings played. Yet, the anti-catcher bias kept him out. As of 2037, there still hasn’t been a single catcher added to the EPB Hall. If Allahverdiyev’s run wasn’t worthy, then no catcher may ever make the cut.

Konrad Mazur – Third Base – Bucharest Broncos – 96.4% First Ballot

Konrad Mazur was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Ustka, a spa town of around 17,000 people in northern Poland. He was a prolific home run hitter who hit the ball incredibly hard anytime he made contact. The trouble was, Mazur was a subpar contact hitter with an abysmal 35.7% strikeout rate for his career. He also drew shockingly few walks for a guy with his power. Mazur had okay speed and fairly good baserunning chops compared to most sluggers. He was primarily a third baseman, although he had some starts at first in his later years. Mazur was a below average defender, but not a liability. Some questioned his work ethic at times, but he was very durable and reliably gave you 145+ starts each season.

Mazur was noticed as a 15-year old amateur by scouts despite being from a small town in Poland. It was Budapest that ended up signing him to a developmental deal, sending him south to Hungary for the first half of his professional career. He made his debut at age 21 in 1968 as a pinch hitter primarily. He was a part-time starter in 1969 and got his first chance at the postseason. The Bombers would make the playoffs in 1969 and 1972 during Mazur’s run, but went one-and-done both years.

In his second full season, Mazur led the European League with 49 home runs and 95 runs. He won his first Silver Slugger, playing as a designated hitter. It was his lone season leading in runs. It was also the first of 13 seasons that Mazur had more strikeouts than anyone else in the league. He struggled in 1971, but bounced back in 1972 with 48 home runs and 7.4 WAR to earn his second Silver Slugger (first at 3B) and a third place in MVP voting. From here, Mazur hit 30 or more homers for the next 13 years, topping 40 dingers nine more times.

He won a third Silver Slugger in 1974 for the Bombers. Mazur also became a regular for Poland in the World Baseball Championship. From 1970-86, he had 109 games and 93 starts, 82 hits, 57 runs, 37 home runs, 57 RBI, a .229/.285/.561 slash, and 3.6 WAR. He spent eight seasons on Budapest’s active roster, posting 999 hits, 507 runs, 265 home runs, 577 RBI, a .242/.271/.481 slash, and 32.4 WAR.

It appeared the Bombers were committed long-term to Mazur, signing a seven-year, $1,718,000 extension prior to the 1975 season. Budapest had won 88 games the prior year and felt they were close to being a regular contender. However, both the team and Mazur fell off a bit and saw a 77-85 record in 1975. That would be his last year in Hungary, as he was part of a blockbuster trade on October 30. The Bombers sent Mazur and a prospect to Bucharest in exchange for class of 1991 Hall of Famer LF Ivan Valev and a prospect.

This began what would be Mazur’s most famous tenure. He was a more consistent performer in Romania and put up relatively consistent stats for more than a decade. He won Silver Sluggers in 1978, 79, 81, 82, and 83; giving him eight for his career. Mazur never won MVP, but took third in 1981 and 1982. He seemingly got better with age, as those two efforts came in his mid 30s. He had a career high 56 homers in 1981 and career bests in RBI (130) and WAR (8.8) in 1982.

The dawn of the 1980s also saw the dawn of success for Bucharest, who had been generally terrible from the mid 1960s through the 1970s. They made the playoffs six times from 1981-87, although they went one-and-done in all but one of those seasons. 1984 was a special run all the way to the EPB Championship with Mazur winning finals MVP. In that run, he had 14 hits, 8 runs, 7 home runs, and 20 RBI over 19 playoff starts. Despite a .177 average, Mazur’s 20 RBI tied an EPB playoff record. He also set a playoff record for strikeouts at 31.

Mazur started climbing the home run leaderboards, seemingly in a race to catch Zina Gigolashvili’s mark alongside Ivan Valev, the guy he was traded for back in 1975. Interestingly enough despite his impressive final tallies, Mazur only led the league twice in home runs and only once in RBI. Valev would retire in 1985 at 691, still short of Gigolashvili’s record 720 homers. Mazur closed the 1985 campaign with 684 and although he still had 44 homers that year, he had a career worst 238 strikeouts and .202 average.

In 1986, Mazur’s strikeout rate was a career worst 40.5%, but he managed to improve his average and hit another 44 home runs, passing both Valev and Gigolashvili to become the all-time EPB home run king. This also put him at 1664 RBI, short of Valev’s all-time mark of 1699. Mazur came back for one more season in 1987 at age 40, although he largely struggled and only played 69 games. Still, he got 38 RBI to pass Valev for the all-time mark. His 117 strikeouts also gave him a regrettable distinction, the first player in any world league to strike out 4000 times in a career. Mazur retired that winter and Bucharest quickly retired his #19 uniform.

Mazur’s final stats: 2570 hits, 1387 runs, 404 dobules, 740 home runs, 1702 RBI, 4051 strikeouts, 442 walks, a .237/.268/.490 slash, 138 wRC+, and 92.4 WAR. As of 2037, Mazur is still EPB’s all-time home run king and sits fourth in RBI and 20^th in batting WAR. He also was the world leader in whiffs and would be the only player in pro baseball history with 4000+ strikeouts until getting passed by WAB’s Abdel Aziz Ashraf in the mid 2030s. Mazur’s windmill tendencies keep him from getting mentioned in the GOAT hitter conversations, but dingers still get you a long way. Being the home run king and winning a ring will make you a lock even with other deficiencies and Mazur earned his first ballot spot at 96.4%.

Nurlan Rahmonov – Pitcher – Dushanbe Dynamo – 96.0% First Ballot

Nurlan Rahmonov was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Karakul, Uzbekistan, a small town of around 22,000 people in the Bukhara Region. Rahmonov was a fireballer with a 99-101 mph fastball mixed with solid control and above average movement. He also had a solid slider and a circle change, leading to an extreme groundball tendency. Rahmonov had good stamina and durability for most of his run.

Rahmonov was picked 16^th overall in the 1968 EPB Draft by Dushanbe. He’d spend his entire pro career in Tajikistan, although he was a regular for his native Uzbekistan in the World Baseball Championship. From 1970-87, he pitched 241 WBC innings with a 4.37 ERA, 12-12 record, 287 strikeouts, and 2.4 WAR. At the start of his run with Dushanbe, Rahmonov was used as a reliever. He had only 14.1 innings in his first year, but was a regular out of the bullpen the next two seasons. He led the Asian League in saves and games in 1971.

Rahmonov was split between the bullpen and rotation in 1972, but he became a full-time starter from 1973 through to the end of his career. In 1973, he led the league in WAR at 9.4 and posted a career high 326 strikeouts. This earned Rahmonov his lone Pitcher of the Year award. He would take second in 1979, leading that year in innings pitched. Rahmonov generally wasn’t a league leader, but he had six seasons worth 7+ WAR and nine seasons with 300+ strikeouts.

Dushanbe was a regular contender during his run, as they made the playoffs nine times in his tenure. The Dynamo had bad luck in most of their runs, but they went 108-54 in 1981 and claimed the EPB championship. Rahmonov had a 2.70 ERA over 33.1 playoff innings and 32 strikeouts in that postseason. For his entire playoff career, Rahmonov posted a 2.27 ERA over 103 innings with a 7-7 record and three saves, 90 strikeouts, and 1.8 WAR.

Rahmonov continued his steady production into his 30s. In 1985 at age 37, he tossed his lone no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and two walks against Omsk on May 23. In 1986, he became the third EPB pitcher to 250 career wins. In 1987, he was the fifth to reach 4500 strikeouts. By these final two years, Rahmonov’s productivity had fallen to around below average numbers. He opted to retire after the 1987 season at age 40. Dushanbe quickly retired his #29 uniform.

For his career, Rahmonov had a 264-206 record, 2.49 ERA, 4389.1 innings, 4573 strikeouts, 744 walks, 365/504 quality starts, 239 complete games, 77 FIP-, and 107.5 WAR. He wasn’t generally viewed as a tip-top pitcher, but he quietly was very good for a long time. As of 2037, he’s 15^th all-time in pitching WAR, 14^th in strikeouts, and 11^th in wins. His resume was more than enough to earn the Hall of Fame spot, getting the first ballot selection at 96.0%.

Carymyrat Kurbanow – Pitcher – St. Petersburg Polar Bears – 83.5% First Ballot

Carymyrat Kurbanow was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Asgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Kurbanow got by on having very powerful and impressive stuff with 98-100 mph peak velocity. This made up for having control issues early on as well as very poor movement. Still, the speed on his cutter and slider, plus a fantastic changeup, made Kurbanow a success despite the lousy movement and control woes. His ability to change speeds helped him become an elite strikeout pitcher in his prime.

Kurbanow’s career started when a scout from Krasnoyarsk signed him as a teenage amateur in 1963. He spent nine years almost entirely in the developmental system with the Coassacks. Kurbanow had one appearance in relief in 1970 and 11 in 1972. Dissatisfied with his slow progress, Krasnoyarsk traded him and catcher Igor Razinsky in the spring of 1973 to St. Petersburg for catcher Aleksei Nizov and SP Shota Levkov.

Kurbanow was used as a reliever in his Polar Bears debut with promising results. He was moved to the rotation full-time the next year and he solved his control issues, although he still ahd trouble allowing home runs. Kurbanow posted nine consecutive seasons with 300+ strikeouts and led the European League in Ks from 1975-80. He was third in Pitcher of the Year in 1977, but never won the award. Although the strikeouts were exciting, Kurbanow still gave up enough runs to get passed over for recognitions

St. Petersburg was a success during Kurbanow’s tenure, making the playoffs six straight seasons from 1974-79. The Polar Bears won the European League pennant in both 1976 and 1977; additionally taking the Soviet Series in 1977. For his playoff career, Kurbanow had a 2.51 ERA and 8-4 record over 14 games with 104 innings, 138 strikeouts, and 1.9 WAR. He also had appearances for Turkmenistan in the World Baseball Championship in 1977 and 1978, although they usually didn’t qualify for the event.

Along with winning the league title, 1977 was special for Kurbanow as he tossed a perfect game. It came on April 21 against Kyiv with 12 strikeouts. Kurbanow had also pitched a no-hitter the prior year with 18 strikeouts and two walks against Riga on 7/10/76. These big performances convinced St. Petersburg to sign Kurbanow to a five-year, $1,950,000 extension before the 1980 season.

While still usually above .500, the Polar Bears weren’t a real championship contender in the 1980s. Rotator cuff injuries started costing Kurbanow some innings and strikeouts, but he was still valuable when on his game. This was most notable in 1984, whne he tossed two no-hitters. The first was 8/12 against Riga with 10 strikeouts and two walks, followed by a 13 K, 1 BB walk effort over Sofia on 9/17. He joined Artur Golub as the only EPB pitchers to that point to have thrown four no-hitters in their career.

Kurbanow signed a two-year extension after the 1985 season, but he suffered a torn flexor tendon in his elbow in his first inning of 1986. He attempted a comeback in 1987, but only got two starts into the season. Shoulder inflammation would knock him out another seven months. Kurbanow decided to call it quits here at age 40. St. Petersburg retired his #33 uniform as an important part of their 1970s successes.

Kurbanow’s final stats: 183-145 record, 2.87 ERA, 3237.2 innings, 4135 strikeouts, 558 walks, 259/379 quality starts, 90 FIP-, and 56.9 WAR. His case was an interesting one as all but one eligible pitcher that got to 4000 Ks earned inducition. He did it in fewer innings than most, but his ERA and WAR stats were weaker than most. At that point, only Bataar Baatarkhuu had earned induction with a worse career ERA. Kurbanow also didn’t have the major awards of many of his contemporaries. Working in his favor though was the playoff runs with the Polar Bears and his no-hitters. The voters ended up sold on Kurbanow, putting him in with 83.5% on the first ballot to round out EPB’s 1993 Hall of Fame class.

FuzzyRussianHat · 02-10-2024, 03:10 AM

The Oceania Baseball Association had an impressive three player Hall of Fame class for 1993, each earning first ballot status with more than 85%. Interestingly enough, all three were pitchers and all three were inducted wearing Auckland’s hat. SP Nigel Chalmers was the star at 98.8%, joined by reliever Scott Kyle at 91.9% and starter William Joma at 88.2%. No other players were above 50% and none were dropped after ten failed ballots.

Nigel Chalmers – Starting Pitcher – Auckland Avengers – 98.8% First Ballot

Nigel Chalmers was a 6’0’’, 195 pound left-handed pitcher from Radcliffe, a market town of around 30,000 people within Greater Manchester in England. Chalmers was a hard thrower with 98-100 mph peak velocity, giving him good stuff along with solid control and decent movement. He had a solid fastball and curveball, excellent changeup, and decent slider. Chalmers was very durable with respectable stamina. He was also a team captain, known for excellent leadership and work ethic. This helped make Chalmers one of the most popular and respected pitchers of the era.

After growing up in England, Chalmers attended Thames Valley University in London for his college career. He was expected to be a top prospect for the European Baseball Federation, but he surprised many by deciding forgo the EBF for the OBA. Chalmers had family ties to Australia and a certain affinity for the Oceania area. OBA officials were happy to have him, although due to the regional restrictions of the draft, he wasn’t eligible until the fourth round. Auckland had the first pick of the round and was delighted to bring Chalmers to New Zealand with the 55^th overall pick in 1970.

He only saw 10.1 innings in 1971, then was split between the bullpen and rotation the next year. From 1973 onward, he would pitch 250+ innings in all but his final season. Chalmers’ durability meant he regularly topped 300 innings in the unique four-man rotation environment in OBA. Although he loved playing in Australia, Chalmers still was a regular for England in the World Baseball Championship. From 1972-87, he tossed 233 innings with a 2.39 ERA, 18-11 record, 312 strikeouts, 70 walks, and 8.5 WAR.

By 1975, Chalmers had emerged as a true ace, posting 9.9 WAR and a 2-8 record that year with a 1.97 ERA. He was a Pitcher of the Year finalist for the first time, finishing second. Perhaps most importantly, Auckland won the Australasia League title for the second-time in franchise history, setting a franchise record at 108-54. They would fall to Tahiti in the Oceania Championship, although Chalmers had a solid 2.25 ERA in 16 innings.

Chalmers would post 10 consecutive seasons worth 7.5+ WAR from 1974-83. He led the AL in wins four times, but only led in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP once. He landed Pitcher of the Year in 1979 and 1982, with 1982 boasting a league best 1.84 ERA and 0.75 WHIP along with 10.2 WAR. Chalmers was regularly a POTY finalist, taking second in 1977, third in 1978, second in 1980, and second in 1981. Getting the award twice was really tough considering he had to share a league with Nathaniel Doloran in the 1970s and Tarzan Rao in the 1980s. Doloran won the top honor five times and Rao took it six times. Chalmers also had two no-hitters, the first on 6/15/76 with 15 strikeouts and two walks against Melbourne, and the second with 9 Ks and two walks on 9/14/81 over Gold Coast.

Auckland was good, but just outside of the top spot to close the 1970s. The Avengers would then put together a dynasty run with AL titles in 1981, 82, and 84. Auckland won its first OBA title in 1981 and Chalmers was finals MVP, tossing 17 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts in two starts. Over eight playoff starts in his career, Chalmers had an impressive 1.63 ERA over 60.2 innings with 66 strikeouts, 6 walks, and 2.3 WAR.

Chalmers committed long-term to the Avengers with a seven-year, $2,590,000 extension beginning in 1980. His production only started to fade towards the end of the run. Chalmers hit notable milestones in his later years, including becoming the first OBA pitcher to reach 300 wins in 1986. In 1987, he was the second to reach 5000 strikeouts. 1987 would be his last season with shoulder inflammation putting him out for the final two months of the season. He opted for retirement at age 38 and immediately saw his #29 uniform retired.

Chalmers’ final stats saw a 313-195 record, 2.44 ERA, 4719.1 innings, 5144 strikeouts, 816 walks, 453/596 quality starts, 155 complete games, 78 FIP-, and 114.5 WAR. He only was the all-time wins leader for two years, as Tarzan Rao ended up passing him by one. Still, as of 2037, Chalmers is third in wins, fifth in strikeouts, and fifth in WAR. He was often overshadowed by some stellar contemporaries, but Chalmers still firmly has a case for a top five all-time pitcher in OBA. His arm and leadership was a big reason while Auckland was a formidable force in the 1970s and 1980s. He was an easy first round pick at 98.8% to lead off the 1993 OBA ballot.

Scott Kyle – Relief Pitcher – Auckland Avengers – 91.9% First Ballot

Scott Kyle was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed relief pitcher from North Shore, New Zealand; one of the major geographical regions of Auckland. Kyle had incredible stuff and movement with a 98-100 mph sinker and a phenomenal curveball. However, Kyle’s control was often terrible and erratic. But his stuff was so good that when he was even somewhat hitting his stuff, Kyle was near unhittable. He was also durable and reliable with a great work ethic.

Kyle ended up staying close to home as Auckland picked him in the second round, 30^th overall, in the 1974 OBA Draft. He wasn’t used in 1975 or 1976, making his debut at age 22 in 1977. He was solid as a set-up man in his rookie year, earning the closer role the next year. In his second season, Kyle led the Australasia League with a career-high 48 saves, taking second in Reliever of the Year voting. He also had a 33 scoreless inning from late June to early September.

Kyle would win Reliever of the Year three times with Auckland (1979, 81, 82), while taking second in 1980, third in 1983, and third in 1984. He was also third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1979. Kyle also pitched for New Zealand in the World Baseball Championship from 1977-92, posting a 2.79 ERA over 41 games and 16 starts. He had a 10-5 record and nine saves in 126 innings with 227 strikeouts, 67 walks, and 5.4 WAR.

Kyle’s playoff stats in Auckland’s three OBA Championship appearances in the early 1980s weren’t great with a 4.66 ERA over 9.2 innings. Still, he earned the 1981 ring all the same and endeared himself as a local favorite. Auckland would later retire his #17 uniform. In total with the Avengers, Kyle had 303 saves and 331 shutdowns, a 1.55 ERA, 698 innings, 1130 strikeouts, and 29.4 WAR. In 1985, he became the first OBA closer to earn 300 career saves.

Auckland had a middling 83-79 season in 1985 and decided to be sellers at the trade deadline that summer. Kyle was moved for three prospects to Tahiti. After finishing out the year with the Tropics, he signed with Melbourne. In both seasons with the Mets, Kyle led the AL in saves and won Reliever of the Year, becoming a record five-time winner. His 1987 had 44 saves, a 1.30 ERA over 97 innings, 149 strikeouts, and 5.4 WAR. This scored Kyle the Pitcher of the Year award, one of a very select group of relievers to earn the honor.

In 1987, Kyle also became the first OBA reliever to 400 career saves. Now 33-years old and a free agent, Kyle decided to seek out MLB money. Jacksonville signed him to a two-year, $3,000,000 deal; which would net him a similar amount of cash in two years to his career OBA earnings. Kyle was able to rely on his stuff in OBA to overcome the control issues, but that didn’t work against stronger MLB hitters.

Kyle was largely unremarkable in his MLB tenure as a back-end reliever. He only lasted a few months with the Gators, as they traded him in July 1988 to Albuquerque. He finished out the deal with the Isotopes, then spent 1990 with San Francisco. Kyle went to the other side of the Bay to Oakland in 1991, but was released that summer. He finished the season in Wichita, then was back with Jacksonville for five appearances in 1992.

The Gators cut him in June and he was picked up by Austin in a minor league role. But only two weeks into that tenure, Kyle suffered a partially torn UCL. This effectively ended his career, as he decided to retire that winter. For his MLB tenure, Kyle had a 3.38 ERA, 12 saves, 31 shutdowns, 159.2 innings, 121 strikeouts, 109 walks, and only 0.4 WAR.

For his OBA run though, Kyle had 402 saves and 437 shutdowns, a 1.63 ERA, 905 innings, 1456 strikeouts, 403 walks, a 51 FIP-, and 38.3 WAR. He was OBA’s all-time saves leader until passed in 2023. As of 2037, Kyle is fourth all-time saves, second in ERA among all Hall of Fame pitchers, and third in strikeouts among HOF relievers. Had he stayed a few more years in OBA, perhaps Kyle would’ve ended up firmly at the top of the closer leaderboards. Regardless, he was the dominant closer of his era and is the only pitcher with five OBA Reliever of the Year honors. Kyle joined his teammates Chalmers and Joma in the 1993 HOF class, earning a first ballot 91.9% induction.

William Joma – Starting Pitcher – Auckland Avengers – 88.2% First Ballot

William Joma was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Masbate, a city with around 100,000 in the midsection of the Philippines. Joma had excellent control and terrific movement, which made up for having merely above average stuff. His velocity peaked at 95-97 mph on a sinker, which he mixed with a slider and forkball. The pinpoint accuracy made him effective and efficient, which also allowed Joma to pitch a lot of innings early in his career.

After a solid amateur career at home in the Philippines, Joma decided not to stay home and join Austronesia Professional Baseball, instead declaring for the 1974 OBA Draft. The regional restriction kept him unavailable until the fourth round, but there he was selected with the second pick (53^rd overall) by New Caledonia. Joma immediately was a full-time starter and won Rookie of the Month four times, although he wasn’t Rookie of the Year due towards a bias against pitchers for the award.

Joma spent five seasons with the Colonels and was their ace with 36.8 WAR, a 2.33 ERA, 89-60 record, 1483.2 innings, 1356 strikeouts, and 177 walks. He led the Pacific League in innings twice, K/BB twice, complete games twice, and ERA once. The league-best 2.09 ERA in 1979 earned Joma his lone Pitcher of the Year. He also finished second in voting in 1977. On April 17, 1976; Joma tossed a no-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk against Tahiti. Then on July 14, 1977, he had OBA’s fifth perfect game; striking out 10 against Guadalcanal.

Joma was set to become a free agent after the 1980 season. New Caledonia had been delightfully average during his tenure and weren’t optimistic that they’d be able to lock Joma to a long-term deal. Thus, in November 1979, he was traded to Auckland for three prospects. For his NC run, Joma had a 2.30 ERA, 86-72 record, 1568.2 innings, 1325 strikeouts, and 36.5 WAR. In his Avengers debut, Joma led the Australasia League in ERA and took third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Auckland was sold, signing him to a four-year, $1,476,000 contract extension.

With the Avengers, Joma didn’t lead in any stats after 1980, but he was consistently strong. In the 1981 and 1982 playoff runs, he posted a 1.12 ERA over four starts and 32 innings, helping Auckland win the 1981 OBA title along with his HOF classmates. Joma missed much of the 1983 season with a torn meniscus, but the Avengers still gave him a five-year, $2,000,000 contract extension.

1984 would be his last great season, finishing second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Unfortunately in late August, he suffered a torn UCL. Joma would miss 11 months, including the 1984 OBA Championship and the majority of the 1985 season. They eased him back late in 1985 in a relief role, but he was never the same post injury. He was a rarely used and somewhat ineffective reliever in 1986 and 1987, ultimately retiring after the 1987 season at age 35. Auckland still appreciated him for the short run of excellence he provided and retired his #18 uniform. With the Avengers, he had an 89-60 record, 2.33 ERA, 1483.2 innings, 1356 strikeouts, and 36.8 WAR.

Joma’s final stats: 175-132 record, 2.31 ERA, 3052.1 innings, 2681 strikeouts, 382 walks, 289/369 quality starts, 77 FIP-, 142 complete games, and 73.3 WAR. His accumulations are on the lower end compared to other Hall of Famers, but voters were sympathetic as it was the major injury that cut him short. His ERA and rate stats hold up against the other award winners of his era of great OBA pitchers. The great playoff starts and helping Auckland’s early 1980s dynasty put him over the top for most voters. Joma was a first ballot inductee at 88.2% and rounded out the 1993 OBA Hall of Fame class with his Auckland teammates.

02-03-2024, 03:07 PM	#941
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in ABF Peshawar earned a playoff spot for the fourth consecutive season, finishing first in the Pakistan League standings for the third time in that stretch. The Predators at 92-70 were only two ahead of Faisalabad, who earned their first-ever playoff berth at 90-72. With that, all eight PL teams have made the playoffs at least once. Defending Asian Baseball Federation champ Gujranwala was 89-73, missing the cut by one game. Peshawar’s Hakim As-Salam won the Pakistan League MVP. The 28-year old RF nicknamed “Squirt” more than a month to injury, but still led the PL in average (.341), slugging (.676), OPS (1.095), and wRC+ (264). As-Salam added 10.1 WAR, 40 home runs, and 93 RBI. Karachi was below .500, but their ace Qazi Khwaja won the Pitcher of the Year. He led in strikeouts (416), WHIP (0.74), K/BB (14.9), FIP- (42), and WAR (11.3). The 416 Ks was an ABF record and although it would fall the next year, it is still the seventh best season as of 2037. Khwaja also had a 1.77 ERA over 260 innings and a 19-12 record. Mashhad was the top seed in the West Asia Association in 1992, winning the Persian League for the third consecutive season. The Mercury had their best record yet at 103-59, scoring 100 more runs than the next best team in the WAA. Tabriz was a solid 92-70, but still 11 short of Mashhad. In the Turkish League, Adana was a first-time champ at 92-70. Bursa was second at 86-76 and defending WAA champ Izmir was third at 85-77. The Blue Claws and Shiraz are the only ABF teams without one playoff berth through ABF’s first eight seasons. 23-year old slugger Gokhan Karatas of Izmir won the MVP despite the Ice Caps being third. The left-handed Turkish first baseman was one RBI short of a Triple Crown with 52 home runs, 138 RBI, and a .346 average. Karatas also led the WAA in runs (125), total bases (405), OBP (.434), slugging (.726), OPS (1.159), wRC+ (232), and WAR (13.1). This set a single season WAR record that Karatas would break himself the next year. Adana’s Nadir Cak had a breakout season to win Pitcher of the Year. The Turkish lefty had dealt with two ruptured UCLs already by age 35, but he finally had a full season and exceled, leading the WAA in ERA (1.450, WHIP (0.70), K/BB (10.1), FIP- (37), and WAR (9.7). Cak also had 352 strikeouts over 205.1 innings. He would leave for MLB the next season, but tore his UCL again and spent the next decade bouncing around teams on the injured list. For the fourth consecutive season, the Pakistan League Championship Series needed all seven games. Peshawar outlasted Faisalabad to give the Predators their third pennant in four years. Meanwhile in the West Asia Association Championship, Mashhad took their second title in three years, defeating Adana 4-1. The 1992 Asian Baseball Federation Championship was Peshawar’s third finals appearance and a rematch of the 1990 final with Mashhad. The Predators finally earned their first ring, getting revenge over the Mercury 4-2. CF Rabbani Luqman was both finals MVP and PLCS MVP for Peshawar. The 25-year old center fielder had 19 hits, 10 runs, 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 8 RBI, and 6 stolen bases in 13 playoff starts. Other notes: Peshawar’s Sa’id Farahani set an ABF single-game pitching record with 22 strikeouts in their June 29 encounter with Peshawar. One month later, Farahani had a no-hitter against Lahore with 15 strikeouts. Kamran Abenov of Istanbul set a bad record with 292 strikeouts at the plate, which remains the ABF all-time worst as of 2037. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-04-2024, 03:50 AM	#942
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in SAB 1992 in the Indian League saw the exact four teams earn playoff spots as the prior season with three of the four extending lengthy playoff streaks. Ahmedabad, fresh off five SAB titles in six years, dominated yet again with a 112-50 mark atop the West Division. The Animals scored 813 runs, while no other SAB team was above 700. Ahmedabad earned its eight consecutive playoff berth and 11^th in 12 years. In the Central Division, Delhi and Kanpur switched positions. The Drillers went 96-66 to win the division title for the first time. The Poison took the wild card at 85-77 for their fourth playoff appearance in five years. Kolkata was the next closest in the wild card race, finishing three back on Kanpur. Visakhapatnam cruised to a fourth successive South Division title at 93-69. Indian League MVP went to Ahmedabad RF Johar Rai. The 34-year old veteran led the league with 53 home runs while posting 110 runs, 116 RBI, a .295/.353/.634 slash, and 8.7 WAR. His Animals teammate Shola Ibeh won Pitcher of the Year. The 32-year old Nigerian had come to South Asia Baseball the prior year after a decade in West Africa Baseball, winning the SAB championship MVP for Ahmedabad in 1991. In 1992, he was the IL’s WARlord (8.5) and leader in wins (21-7) and innings (265.1). Ibeh added a 2.44 ERA and 312 strikeouts. In the first round of the playoffs, Ahmedabad bested Kanpur 3-1 and Delhi downed Visakhapatnam 3-1. This gave the Drillers their first-ever Indian League Championship Series appearance and they would take the Animals to the limit. However, Ahmedabad survived in seven games to claim a fourth consecutive pennant and sixth in seven years. Ho Chi Minh City was yet again the class of the Southeast Asia League, earning a sixth consecutive playoff berth and ninth in ten years. At 109-53, the Hedgehogs won the South Division and led SEAL in both runs scored (692) and fewest allowed (507). Offensively, they set a still-standing single season record by striking out only 1024 times over the course of the season. Defending SEAL champ Dhaka dropped from 107 wins the prior year to 91-71, but that still secured the Dobermans the North Division title. The battle for the two wild card spots ended up being a mess with four teams in the fight. Vientiane, Chittagong, and Kuala Lumpur each finished tied at 87-75, while Johor Bahur was one back at 86-76. Two tiebreaker games were needed to determine the wild cards. The Vampires beat the Leopards to secure Vientiane’s spot. Then, Kuala Lumpur advanced by besting Chittagong. The Vampires snapped a four-year playoff drought and the Leopards ended a five-year skid. The Blue Wings saw their three-year wild card streak snapped. Ho Chi Minh City’s big offseason acquisition was CF Van Loi Phung, who had won two MVPs with Chennai and taken second in voting last year with Ahmedabad. Phung inked a six-year, $4,610,000 deal with the Hedgehogs and won MVP, Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove in his HCMC debut. The 31-year old Vietnamese righty was the WARlord (10.8) and added a .306/.363/.592 slash, 38 home runs, and 104 RBI. His Hedgehogs teammate Zainal bin Aziz won his fifth Pitcher of the Year award and posted a historic third Triple Crown season with a 22-6 record, 1.93 ERA, and 396 strikeouts over 252 innings. That beat the single-season strikeout record set the prior year by Ansin Mohammed (391) and remains the SAB record as of 2037. The 32-year old Malaysian lefty also led in WAR (12.4), WHIP (0.83), K/BB (8.4), quality starts (27), and FIP- (38). He also broke his own SAB record for pitching WAR and would top it twice more before he was done. Ho Chi Minh City swept Kuala Lumpur in the first round and Vientiane upset Dhaka 3-1. This gave the Vampires their first ever berth in the Southeast Asia League Championship Series, but they were no match for the perennial power Hedgehogs. HCMC swept Vientiane to claim a fourth pennant in six years. For the fourth time, the South Asia Baseball Championship saw Ahmedabad against Ho Chi Minh City. The Hedgehogs got tantalizingly close to finally winning it all, but the Animals outlasted them in a seven game classic. Game seven went 11 innings with Ahmedabad winning it 6-5 on a walk-off RBI single by K.C. Choudhury. CF Anjan Sumanjit was finals MVP with 25 hits, 7 runs, 15 stolen bases, and 5 RBI over 18 playoff starts. Sumanjit was also caught stealing 12 times, a playoff record. HCMC’s James Cole also had a noteworthy postseason with a 0.38 WHIP and .116 opponent OPS, both SAB records that still stand in 2037. Cole had a 1.06 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 34 innings with one walk. Ahmedabad’s fourth straight SAB title puts them in elite company as the only four-peats in any world league to this point were CABA’s Mexico City (five-peat from 1969-73), EAB’s Pyongyang (1965-68), and MLB’s Philadelphia (1941-44). They’ve also now won six titles in seven years, a mark only matched by the Aztecs (1967-73), Other notes: Zainal bin Aziz became the first SAB pitcher to 3000 career strikeouts. Andee Siddharth became the third batter to reach 400 home runs. Van Loi Phung won his seventh Gold Glove at CF. 2B VJ Williams won his tenth Silver Slugger, while RF Johar Rai won his eighth. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-04-2024, 09:36 AM	#943
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in WAB After missing the playoffs in the prior six seasons with middling results, Abidjan dominated the Western League standings at 105-57. There was a 15 game gap to second place Dakar at 90-72. The Dukes extended their postseason streak to three seasons. The third place spot and final playoff spot went to 87-75, impressively bouncing back from 67 wins the prior year to end a four-year playoff drought. Freetown (85-77), Conakry (83-79), and Monrovia (82-80 were each in the mix. Defending WL champ Kumasi was seventh at 79-83, ending their historic playoff streak at 14 seasons. It was the second longest in world history behind EBF’s Zurich, which grew to 20 in 1992. Western League MVP went to Freetown 2B Korian “Fireball” Idi. In his second season as a full-time starter, the 24-year old righty from Niger led in hits (222), triples (29), stolen bases (101), average (.364), OBP (.404), and WAR (10.3). Pitcher of the Year was Abidjan’s Bomba Toe. A 24-year old righty from Sierra Leone, Toe led in WAR (7.1), wins (21-5), innings (272.2), quality starts (27), and complete games (12). He added a 2.54 ERA and 325 strikeouts. Dakar held off Bamako 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Dukes to their third consecutive Western League Championship Series. For the third straight year, Dakar was denied. Abidjan swept them 3-0 to give the Athletes their fifth pennant, although it was the first in a decade. Abidjan’s WL titles previously came in 1975, 78, 81, and 82. The Eastern League’s top spot had a two team race between defending West African champion Lagos and Port Harcourt, who placed first in the standings the prior season. The Lizards grabbed it by a game at 107-55, while the Hillcats were 106-56. For Lagos, it was their 14^th playoff berth over the 18 year history of WAB. Port Harcourt earned a fourth consecutive berth and tenth overall. In the battle for third, Ibadan (94-68) beat out Lome (90-72). This gave the Iguanas a third consecutive postseason appearance. Ibadan’s Rudy Bambara won his second Eastern League MVP in three years. The 26-year old two-way star from Burkina Faso had a 19-11 record, 2.81 ERA, 246.1 innings, 274 strikeouts, and 6.9 WAR on the mound. At third base, he played 98 games with 114 hits, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, a .316/.393/.595 slash, and 5.1 WAR. Pitcher of the Year was Lagos righty Messan Atte. The Togolese 29-year old led in ERA (1.96), wins (26-6), quality starts (28), FIP- (61), and WAR (8.7). Atte added 328 strikeouts over 253 innings. Ibadan stunned Port Harcourt 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Iguanas to the Eastern League Championship Series for the first time. Defending champ Lagos would take the ELCS 3-1 over Ibadan, giving the Lizards back-to-back pennants. It is Lagos’ ninth EL title overall, the most of any team in WAB. The 18^th West African Championship was the third finals meeting between Lagos and Abidjan with the Lizards winning in the 1978 and 1981 encounters. Lagos had been incredibly successful in the finals with a 7-1 record entering the 1992 edition, while the Athletes were 1-3. The series needed all seven games, but the general trend held and the Lizards repeated as WAB champs. Lagos now has eight rings over a 15 year stretch. 2B Ali Sami Naas was finals MVP as the 25-year old Algerian had 14 hits, 6 runs, 2 doubles, and 4 RBI in 11 playoff starts. Other notes: 1992 saw zero no-hitters thrown in WAB. Addise Assefa became the first pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. He’d retire with 4147 and would lose the top spot by the end of the 1990s, but Assefa is still second as of 2037. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-04-2024, 03:39 PM	#944
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in CLB For the fourth successive season, Dalian took first in the Northern League standings. The defending China Series champs finished 100-62 and led the NL in both runs scored (574) and fewest allowed (418). Qingdao was nine back in second place at 91-71, but the Devils were still nine ahead of third place Tianjin. This was only the second time making the playoffs for the Devils (1982). Beijing, who got to the league semifinal last year, finished in a three-way tie for third at 80-82 with Hangzhou and Zhengzhou. Qingdao RF Hongbo Wan won Northern League MVP in his third season. Nicknamed “Iguana,” Wan led in runs (103), home runs (38), total bases (339), slugging (.606), OPS (.971), wRC+ (212), and WAR (12.4). He also had 71 stolen bases and 89 RBI. Shanghai’s Zengziang Zhang won Pitcher of the Year for the third time in four years. He led in ERA (1.43) for the sixth time in his career while also leading in WHIP (0.71), K/BB (16.5), quality starts (30), FIP- (41), and WAR (10.6). Zhang had a 12-8 record and 314 strikeouts over 245.1 innings. It would be his final season in China, as the 32-year old righty signed a five-year, $11,880,000 offseason deal with MLB’s Philadelphia. The Southern League was very competitive for the two playoff spots with five teams finishing within five games of first. Xiamen narrowly took first at 96-66 for only their second-ever playoff berth (1981). The Mutts pitching staff had 1799 strikeouts to set a SL single-season record that stood until 2009. Their 0.810 WHIP was also second-best in SL history. For second place, Macau and Wuhan tied at 94-68, while Changsha was 93-69 and Hong Kong was 91-71. The Magicians won the tiebreaker gave over the Wolverines to earn their fourth playoff appearance in five years. Shenzhen’s four-year postseason streak ended as they finished sixth at 88-74. Macau two-way star Wei Qin won his third Southern League MVP. The 30-year old at first base played 130 games with 31 home runs, a .264/.349/.526 slash, 206 wRC+, and 6.7 WAR. On the mound, Qin was 17-9 over 264.1 innings with a 2.42 ERA, 306 strikeouts, and 7.1 WAR. Xiamen’s Xinbo Wang won Pitcher of the Year in his fifth season. He led in wins (20-8), complete games (23), and shutouts (9). Wang added a 1.64 ERA over 252 innings with 301 strikeouts and 8.9 WAR. Wang also had two no-hitters, striking out 14 with three walks on 5/20 against Foshan and with 11 Ks and one walk on 9/24 over Qingdao in the playoffs. This was the first-ever postseason no-hitter in CLB history For the third consecutive postseason, the two Northern League teams beat their Southern League opposition in the semifinals. Dalian outlasted Macau in a seven game classic, giving the Gold Dragons four successive finals berths. Qingdao upset Xiamen 4-3 to send the Devils to the China Series for the first time. Dalian’s dynasty run continued in the 23^rd China Series as they defeated league rival Qingdao 4-2. The Gold Dragons are the third CLB franchise to earn repeat titles, joining 1977-78 Kunming and 1984-85 Beijing. Dalian also joined the Bears (1984-87) as the only teams to win three titles in four years. Veteran pitcher Baoxian He won finals MVP in his last season in CLB. The Gold Dragons ace had a 2.65 ERA over 34 playoff innings with 24 strikeouts. Other notes: Xinbo Wang wasn’t the only CLB pitcher with multiple no-hitters in 1992. Jinan’s Teng Wu also pulled off the accolade, striking out nine with one walk on 4/17 against Xi’an and fanning 13 with two walks versus Hangzhou on 8/14. Second-year Wuhan ace Martin Cui struck out 409 batters, setting a CLB single season record that still holds as of 2037. Cui also had 9.8 WAR and a 20-12 record with a 2.04 ERA, but somehow didn’t place in the top three for POTY voting. Mingqi Dai became the 10^th to reach 1000 runs scored and the 10^th to 2000 hits. 1B Guangjun Ma won his seventh Gold Glove. Wei Qin won his eighth Silver Slugger, having won six as a pitcher and two at first base. Shichao Zhang won his eighth, taking it at first base for the first time (the other seven were in right field). __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-05-2024, 04:33 AM	#945
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in APB Defending Austronesia Champion Cebu took the Philippine League title for the fourth time in five years and had the best record in the Taiwan-Philippine Association. The Crows only barely took the top spot at 90-72, beating out Zamboanga by one game. The Taiwan League was also decided by one game with Kaohsiung on top at 88-74. The Steelheads secured their first playoff berth since their mid 1970s dynasty. Taipei was one back at 87-75, snapping their postseason streak at four seasons. Tainan was also in the hunt at 85-77. Leading Kaohsiung’s resurgence was TPA MVP Min-Yi Lu. The 29-year old RF led with 43 home runs and added 90 RBI, a .226/.311/.500 slash, and 7.2 WAR. Cebu’s Ricky Jungao won his second Pitcher of the Year, narrowly beating teammate Alex Clavijo for the award. The 29-year old Jungao led in strikeouts (407), wins (18-9), innings (310), complete games (21), and shutouts (5). He added a 1.71 ERA and 12.2 WAR. Clavijo narrowly beat him for WAR (12.5) and ERA (1.51). The Sundaland Association saw a switch in 1992 in the top spots. After missing the postseason the prior two seasons, Jakarta was back atop the Java League at 98-64. Defending JL champ Surabaya was second at 92-70. In the Malacca League, Pekanbaru took first at 87-75 and ended a five-year playoff drought. Defending SA champ Batam was tied for second with Medan at 80-82. Although the Blue Raiders dropped out of the top spot, LF Nerius Senaen won his second Sundaland Association MVP. The 26-year old fourth year left led the SA in doubles (36), walks (75), total bases (309), OBP (.398), slugging (.543), OPS (.942), wRC+ (222), and WAR (9.5). Jakarta veteran ace Hadi Ningsih became a three-time Pitcher of the Year winner, having also taken the top prize in 1987 and 1989. The 35-year old left led in wins at 18-6, ERA (1.28), WHIP (0.70), K/BB (20.6), and FIP- (30). Ningsih added 329 strikeouts over 232.2 innings with 10.9 WAR. In the Taiwan-Philippine Association Championship, Cebu topped Kaohsiung 4-2 to give the Crows their third consecutive pennant. In the Sundaland Association final, Jakarta rolled 4-1 against Pekanbaru. For the Jaguars, it was their record seventh pennant and first since 1986. In the 28^th Austronesia Championship, Jakarta cruised to a 4-1 victory over defending champ Cebu. The Jaguars now have four overall titles (1969, 70, 85, 92), which ties them for the most along with Kaohsiung. Pitcher Rafit Arifin was finals MVP, proving to be a quality acquisition as Jakarta got him in an offseason trade with Tainan. In four playoff starts, Arifin had a 0.50 ERA with only two runs allowed over 36.1 innings, striking out 43 with two walks and a 3-0 record. One of those starts was a no-hitter in the final against Cebu with 11 strikeouts and one walk. This was not the first APB playoff no-hitter, but it was the first-ever finals no-hitter. It was the highlight for the 29-year old Arifin, whose Hall of Fame trajectory would be derailed by two torn labrums in the next four years, forcing his retirement at age 33. Other notes: Pitcher Poh Tan received two major milestones, becoming the third to reach 4500 strikeouts and the second to 250 wins. It would be his final season with his 259 wins second to Dave Hermillo, who also retired in 1992 at 269. As of 2037, they are fourth and fifth in wins. Tan’s 4693 Ks placed him third behind Heromillo (4785) and Vhon Lasam (5365). Tan would also finish with 230 losses and 3632 hits allowed, both of which are the most as of 2037. Chang-Rong Chang became the eighth batter to 400 home runs. 3B Mahyadi Muhammad won his seventh Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-05-2024, 12:41 PM	#946
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in OBA Christchurch ended atop the Australasia League standings for their fourth pennant in the last decade and first since 1998. The Chinooks finished at 98-64, besting Gold Coast at 96-66. Defending Oceania Champion Brisbane dropped to 85-77, putting them fourth place one game behind Melbourne. Australasia League MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Christchurch players. DH Beres “Badger” Melrose won MVP as the 26-year old led the LA in runs (113), home runs (43), RBI (120), total bases (381), OBP (.363), OPS (.958), and wRC+ (190). Melrose added 8.5 WAR and had a .320 average. Owen Allardyce was the Pitcher of the Year with the 25-year old righty leading in ERA at 2.18. He had a 17-9 record and 12 saves in a split starter/relief role, posting 190.1 innings with 201 strikeouts and 4.5 WAR. Guam and Honolulu had an intense battle for the top spot in the Pacific League. The Golden Eagles earned repeat PL titles at 112-50, tying their own record from 1979 for most wins in a season by an OBA team. Honolulu’s 108-54 would be a lock almost any year for the title, but the Honu had to settle for second again. It was the 13th consecutive winning season for Honolulu. Honu slugger Vavao Brighouse won his fourth Pacific League MVP. The 29-year old Samoan led in runs (103), home runs (65), RBI (139), total bases (396), slugging (.667), OPS (1.017), wRC+ (210), and WAR (8.8). Brighouse tied the single-season RBI record set three years earlier by Neville Ryan and had the second most homers in a season behind his own nice 69 in 1988. It was also impressively his fourth season with 60+ dingers. Guam’s Corbin Acupan took Pitcher of the Year with a 23-8 record over 326.2 innings, 2.20 ERA, 306 strikeouts, and 7.2 WAR. In the 33rd Oceania Championship, Guam was the heavy favorite over Christchurch in a rematch of the 1980 final. It ended up being a seven game thriller with game seven needing 11 innings. The Golden Eagles won 4-3 in the finale to take the series 4-3 and earn their third title (1979, 1980). 1B Benito Hower was series MVP going 9-22 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 RBI. For the Chinooks, they’ve made it to the final five times since 1980, but are 0-5 in those appearances. Other notes: Tahiti’s Quentin Basa hit three milestones in the same season, getting to 2000 hits, 400 home runs, and 1000 RBI. Theo Evans won his ninth and final Gold Glove. His 1992 win was at second base, his second at 2B, while the other seven were at shortstop. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-05-2024, 05:40 PM	#947
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in EPB The usual suspects controlled the EPB European League. Four-time defending EL champ Minsk had the top record at 104-58, extending their playoff streak to 12 seasons and earning their 10^th North Division title in that stretch. The Miners pitching staff was impressive, setting records for fewest runs (374) and hits (990) in a season for an EPB team. The hits mark still holds as #1 as of 2037 and the runs mark is second. In the South Division, Kyiv was first at 103-59 to send the Kings to the playoffs for the 13^th time in 15 years. In the wild card race, St. Petersburg took the first spot at 97-65 to end a seven-year playoff drought. That meant that either Warsaw or Bucharest’s playoff streak would end. The Wildcats finished 92-70, extending theirs to six seasons. The Broncos at 91-71 had theirs ended at three years, while Kharkiv was also in the mix at 89-73. Bucharest notably had 1778 strikeouts as a pitching staff, the second best mark in EL history behind Kazan’s 1829 in 1966. St. Petersburg’s Daniil Huseinov won back-to-back European League MVPs and earned a Triple Crown, becoming the first EPB batter to do it since 1976 and only the sixth batter to achieve the feat. The 24-year old Huseinov had 48 home runs, 103 RBI, and a .324 batting average while also leading in runs (91), hits (189), total bases (362), slugging (.620), OPS (.979), wRC+ (214), and WAR (10.6). Huseinov had incredible potential, but his career would tragically end the next year as two severe rotator cuff tears forced his retirement at only age 26. He’s one of the true “what if?” guys in baseball history. Pitcher of the Year was Kyiv veteran Sergei Maslovskiy. The 33-year old set a single-season ERA record of 1.14. It would get bested in 1996 by Stefan Nesu, but it remains the second-lowest ever in EPB history as of 2037. Maslovskiy also was 21-3 over 259.2 innings with 346 strikeouts and 11.0 WAR. In the first round of the playoffs, Warsaw shocked defending champ Minsk with a 3-2 upset. This sent the Wildcats to the European League Championship Series for only the second time in their six-year playoff streak. Kyiv clobbered St. Petersburg in a sweep, giving the Kings back-to-back ELCS berths. Warsaw hoped to reverse their fortunes, having gone 1-5 historically in the ELCS. The series was a seven game thriller, but Kyiv came out on top for their first pennant since 1987. The Kings now have 11 European League titles, one behind Minsk for the most. The Asian League had the exact same four playoff teams from the prior year, although the positions switched for the North Division teams. Irkutsk, the second wild card last year, this time was division champ at 103-59. Novosibirsk, first last year, took second at 97-65. Chelyabinsk, who won the 1991 AL title as the first wild card, ended up the second wild card at 94-68. The Cadets and Ice Cats earned their third successive playoff spots, while the Nitros got their fourth in five years. Almaty earned repeat South Division titles and had the #1 overall seed at 105-57. Chelyabinsk DH Nikolay “Shoulders” Denisov won his third consecutive Asian League MVP. He led the league in hits (239), runs (104), doubles (47), triples (29), stolen bases (111), average 9.346), OBP (.398), OPS (.936), wRC+ (194), and WAR (10.3). The 239 hits set a single-season record, beating his own mark of 231 from two years earlier. Denisov’s 239 held as the single-season record until 2030. The 111 stolen bases fell one short of Istvan Kocsis’s record of 112 from 1958. Almaty’s Procopie Lungu won Pitcher of the Year as the 27-year old Moldovan lefty led in wins (25-5), ERA (1.54), WHIP (0.71), and quality starts (31). He missed the Triple Crown by nine strikeouts to Igor Bury, fanning 368 over 291.2 innings with 8.7 WAR. Defending AL champ Chelyabinsk again found success as a wild card, sweeping top seed Almaty in the first round. Irkutsk beat Novosibirsk 3-1, giving the Ice Cats their first Asian League Championship Series berth since 1979. Irkutsk would oust the defending champ Cadets 4-2 to claim the franchise’s fifth pennant (1956, 61, 75, 77, 92). The Ice Cats hoped the 38^th Eurasian Professional Baseball Championship would mark their first title, as they had gone 0-4 in their prior appearances. Traditional power Kyiv crushed those hopes, taking the title 4-1 for their fourth championship in a decade. Pitcher Artem Makarevich was finals MVP as the 29-year old Belarusian was an absolute beast in the playoffs. He had a 4-0 record over 42 innings and five starts with a 0.21 ERA, 56 strikeouts, four walks, and 2.7 WAR. His WHIP was 0.50 with two postseason shutouts. This set an EPB playoff record for strikeouts that held until 2023 and the record for WAR that held until 1999. Both marks remain #2 all-time as of 2037. The Kings are now 8-3 all-time in the championship (with wins in 1958, 59, 63, 65, 83, 86, 87, & 92) and their win ties them for the most titles yet again with Minsk. It would ultimately be their final EPB title, as they’d be part of the great 2000 exodus and realignment, ending up in EBF. Other notes: Igor Bury struck out 21 batters over 10.1 innings on April 1. This was one short of the single-game record of 22 set in 1962 over 11.1 innings by Arutyun Lezjov. Andrey Fisyuk became the seventh pitch to 4500 career strikeouts. Haxhi Maho became the fourth pitcher to 250 wins. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-06-2024, 04:19 AM	#948
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in EBF The Northern Conference’s top seed in 1992 went to Berlin, who won the North Central Division at 101-61. The Barons earned back-to-back division titles and their eighth playoff berth in a decade. Stockholm was a distant second at 87-75, but this earned them the wild card. It was the Swordsmen’s first winning season since winning the 1982 European Championship. Defending champ Birmingham cruised to the British Isles Division at 100-62. In the Northwest, Rotterdam was first at 90-72 to take their third consecutive playoff berth and seventh in eight years. Brussels, who made the conference final last year, finished at 84-78 along with Paris. Both were six games short of the division title and three behind Stockholm for the wild card. Belfast went 83-79 with a nice effort, but their postseason drought extended to 31 years. Still, Brewers 1B Robin Morrison earned Northern Conference MVP. The 28-year old Scot led in runs (131), RBI (144), total bases (434), slugging (.698), OPS (1.089), wRC+ (200), and WAR (11.0). Morrison’s 51 home runs and .344 average were both second. Birmingham’s Lindsey Brampton won repeat Pitcher of the Year honors. The fourth-year Englishman led in ERA (2.04), strikeouts (424), WHIP (0.70), K/BB (11.8), and FIP- (49). He added 9.6 WAR over 237.2 innings with a 20-3 record. Brampton matched the single-season WHIP record of Jean-Luc Roch and set a record for lowest opponent OBP at .196. Both first round playoff series saw sweeps as Berlin bested Stockholm and Rotterdam upset Birmingham. The Barons earned their fifth Northern Conference Championship appearance of the decade, while the Ravens got their first since 1980. Despite both being regularly in the playoffs in the last decade, neither had claimed the pennant with Berlin going 0-4 in the conference finals and Rotterdam exclusively suffering one-and-dones. The Barons had home field, but the Ravens dominated the series and took it in five. It was Rotterdam’s fifth pennant (1969, 72, 77, 80, 92). Lisbon had Europe’s best overall record at 108-54, taking the Southwest Division and the top seed in the Southern Conference. It was the third playoff berth in four years for the Clippers. The wild card contenders were each in the Southwest Division with Seville (91-71) taking it and ending a six-year playoff drought. The Stingrays were two games ahead of Madrid and six better than Barcelona. Defending conference champ Munich (102-60) and Zurich (98-64) both extended their epic division title streaks. The Mavericks to the Southeast for the tenth straight season, while the Mountaineers record run in the South Central moved to 20 years. Southern Conference MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Seville two-way star Edgar Miranda. It was the second MVP for the 33-year old Spaniard (1987) and his first POTY. He was the leader in strikeouts (322), innings (303), quality starts (29), shutouts (7), and WAR (8.2). Miranda was also second in wins at 22-9 and ERA with 2.35. He had 134 games played and 116 starts with his bat playing left field and posted a .305/.381/.614 slash, 4.9 WAR, 35 home runs, and 85 RBI. Lisbon survived in five games with Seville in the first round, while Munich ousted Zurich 3-1. The Mavericks earned their fifth consecutive Southern Conference Championship appearance, joining Vienna (1969-73) as the only teams to make five straight appearances. The Clippers got their third in four years, setting up rematches of the 1989 and 1991 SCCs. Lisbon had won in 1989 with Munich taking it in 1991. The rubber match went to the Clippers 4-1 for their third pennant (1956, 1989, 1992). The 43^rd European Championship was a rollercoaster. Rotterdam seemed on their way to a sweep, winning the first three games over Lisbon. The Clippers took the next three to force game seven, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. The Ravens won the title in seven, making them 5-0 all-time in their finals appearances (1969, 72, 77, 80, 92). LF Mike Guery was finals MVP as the 29-year old Frenchman had 20 hits, 8 runs, 3 home runs, and 9 RBI in 15 playoff starts. With five titles, Rotterdam is tied with Amsterdam for the most rings, an impressive accolade for Dutch baseball. Other notes: Jack Kennedy passed Christophoros Zarkadis as EBF's home run king, becoming the first to cross 800. Kennedy played three more seasons and finished with 875 dingers, which stayed the record until passed by Harvey Coyle in the 2020s. Lisbon RF Cesar Madrigal set an EBF postseason record that still stands in 2037, hitting 11 home runs over 17 games. The previous record of nine had been set by Sean Houston the prior season. Jacob Ronnberg became the third to reach 3000 career hits. Ronnberg won a historic 14^th Silver Slugger in right field. The other right field SS went to Sean Houston, his 11^th. 3B Travis Harvey won his eighth Gold Glove and catcher Peter Schroter won his seventh Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-06-2024, 10:40 AM	#949
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in BSA Bogota had the best record in South America at 112-50, winning the Bolivar League’s Colombia-Ecuador Division and earning back-to-back playoff berths. Medellin was a strong 102-60 in the division, giving them the wild card easily to end a two-year playoff drought. Two-time defending BL champ Lima finished 103-59 to win the Peru-Bolivia Division and secure a fifth consecutive playoff berth. Ciudad Guayana at 86-76 still easily took the Venezuela Division, beating both Caracas and Maracaibo by eight games. The Giants picked up a fifth playoff appearance in six years. Valencia DH Nyx Navas won Bolivar League MVP. The 25-year old Brasilian led the league in runs (134), hits (242), RBI (147), total bases (470), average (.375), wRC+ (219), and WAR (11.7). Navas’ also smacked 60 home runs, missing the Triple Crown by four to Caracas’ Milton Becker. The third-year Venezuelan slugger had his own 64 home runs, 145 RBI and 1.161 OPS, narrowly taking second in the MVP voting. Pitcher of the Year was Medellin’s Caetano Lora, who set a single-season BSA record with 29 complete games. The 28-year old Colombian lefty led in wins (25-9), WAR (8.7), quality starts (26) and innings (304.1), while adding a 2.51 ERA and 300 strikeouts. Medellin upset their divisional foe Bogota in the Divisional Series 3-2, while Ciudad Guayana stunned defending champ Lima in five. The Giants picked up their fifth Bolivar League Championship Series berth in a decade, while the Mutiny had their second in four years. In a rematch of the 1989 final, Ciudad Guayana was again victorious over Medellin, winning 4-3. It was the third pennant for the Giants (1984, 89, 92), an impressive feat for an expansion franchise that has only been around since 1974. The Southern Cone League’s #1 seed went to Santiago (102-60), who won the South Central Division for the second time in three years. After seeing their five-year playoff streak ended last year, Sao Paulo was back atop the Southeast Division at 94-68. Rosario was second at 90-72 to win a very competitive wild card race and earn repeat playoff berths. The North Division had defending Copa Sudamerica winner Belo Horizonte grab a third successive division title at 89-73. Narrowly missing out on both the wild card and the division were Fortaleza (87-75), Salvador (86-76), and Recife (86-76). The other divisions also had wild card contenders with Cordoba and Concepcion both going 88-74 and Rio de Janeiro at 85-77. Santiago veteran 2B Kip Flores won his third MVP, having won previously back in 1984 and 1987 with Buenos Aires. In his fourth season with the Saints, the 33-year old Paraguayan led in hits (225), average (.372), and WAR (9.8). He added 31 home runs and 102 RBI. Santiago also had the Pitcher of the Year in Arnau Emilio, a repeat winner. The 34-year old Chilean was the WARlord (7.4) and posted a 21-6 record over 259 innings with a 2.54 ERA and 308 strikeouts. Wild card Rosario shocked Santiago by sweeping the Saints in the Divisional Series. Belo Horizonte upset Sao Paulo as well 3-1, giving the Hogs a third consecutive Southern Cone Championship appearance. The Robins earned their second berth in five years. Rosario rolled to a sweep over the defending champs for their second-ever pennant, 61 years after winning the inaugural title. 21 of the 30 Beisbol Sudamerica teams had won Copa Sudamerica once entering the 62nd finale. Rosario became the 22nd team to do it, winning in a seven-game classic over Ciudad Guayana. RF Juan Gil was finals MVP in his final season and only season with the Robins. The journeyman’s only postseason saw 14 starts, 20 hits, 7 runs, 1 home run, and 10 RBI. With Rosario’s win, the only of the original 24 BSA teams without a Copa Sudamerica ring are Montevideo, Asuncion, Bogota, and Maracaibo. Expansion teams Santa Cruz, Arequipa, Recife, and Mendoza still remain ring-less as well. Other notes: The 43rd Perfect Game in BSA came from Santa Cruz’s Thairo Segura, striking out nine against La Paz on 9/25. Rafael Gasso became the 27th batter to 500 career home runs. 1B Carlos Gallardo won his seventh Gold Glove. MVP Kip Flores won his eighth Silver Slugger at second base and 3B Dyjan Rondo won his seventh. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-06-2024, 04:48 PM	#950
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in EAB 1992 in the Japan League had a lot of parity as the best overall record was only 93-69. That went to Nagoya, who won the Central Division and ended an eight-year playoff drought. Osaka and Kyoto both gave chase, but faded late in the division. Tokyo topped the Capital Division at 89-73, which ended their own 14 season postseason drought. It was an impressive rebound for the Tides, who won only 67 games the prior year. Yokohama finished three wins back to deny their division title three-peat. Two-time defending JL champ Niigata succeeded in their North Division three-peat at 89-73. Kitakyushu also extended its West Division streak to three seasons with their 85-77 mark being four games better than Fukuoka. Niigata RF/P Makhmud Hakim won his third straight Japan League MVP and made history in the process. He posted a .393 batting average, beating the previous EAB single season record of .390 set in 1961 by Min-Hyeok Shin. Hakim lost the record the very next season, but it still sits as the eighth best average as of 2037. The 27-year old Chinese switch hitter led in the triple slash (.393/.438/.702) and had a league best 1.140 OPS, 257 wRC+, and 10.3 WAR. Hakim added 32 home runs and also pitched 221.2 innings, although he had an unremarkable 3.86 ERA, 11-12 record, and 197 strikeouts. Still, he posted 4.2 WAR pitching for an all-time great combined season. Pitcher of the Year meanwhile was Kitakyushu’s Junzo Yamanoue. The 25-year old righty had a league-best 1.52 ERA, 6 shutouts, 49 FIP-, and 9.7 WAR. Yamanoue added an 18-9 record, 280 strikeouts, and 248 innings. Both first round playoff series were dogfights that needed all five games. Kitakyushu upset Nagoya on the road, while Tokyo eliminated Niigata to end their three-peat title bid. It was the first time since 1975 that the Tides had gotten to the Japan League Championship Series, while the Kodiaks had been the runner-up in the last two seasons. Kitakyushu finally got over the hump, defeating Tokyo 4-1 in the JLCS. It is the fourth pennant for the Kodiaks (1954, 55, 71, 92). Gwangju won the Korea League’s South Division at 102-60, giving the Grays a third consecutive division title and the top overall record in the KL. Yongin was a distant second at 86-76 and ultimately five games out in the wild card race. Defending Korea League champ Goyang was the North Division champ at 96-66, their first division title since 1978. The wild card race saw two teams end lengthy playoff droughts. Suwon (93-69) hadn’t made the playoffs since 1984 and one-time powerhouse Pyongyang (91-71) earned their first appearance since 1977. Seongnam, winners of 105 games last season, dropped to 82-80. Korea League MVP went to Goyang LF Chae-Ho Yi. The 29-year old righty led the league in triples (28), total bases (395), slugging (.657), wRC+ (169), and WAR (7.7). Yi added 44 home runs, 117 RBI, and a .303 average. Third-year Pyongyang pitcher Ho-Pyong Ra was the Pitcher of the ear, leading in wins at 22-6 and WAR at 8.9. Ra added a 2.64 ERA over 269.1 innings with 349 strikeouts. Gwangju outlasted Pyongyang in five games in the first round, while Suwon upset Goyang 3-1. The Grays hadn’t been in the Korea League Championship Series since 1955 and hadn’t won the pennant since 1930, while the Snappers last appearance was a decade ago. The KLCS ended up being a seven game classic which saw the underdog Suwon on top of Gwangju. It was only the third pennant for the Snappers, whose other wins were 1935 and 1981. The 72^nd East Asian Championship was guaranteed to have a first-time champ as Suwon (0-2) and Kitakyushu (0-3) had fallen in their previous finals berths. The Kodiaks clobbered the Snappers 4-1, led by finals MVP Tsukasa Kato. The 1987 JL MVP and prolific home run hitter had 8 dingers, 14 hits, 9 runs, and 16 RBI over 15 playoff starts. With Kitakyushu’s title, 26 of EAB’s 32 teams have won the overall title at least once. Of the original 28 teams, only Suwon, Daejeon, Saitama, and Goyang are still ringless. Expansion teams Kumamoto and Bucheon also haven’t won it all, but both have existed only since 1978. Other notes: Ulsan’s Byung-Tak Wie made history in the late summer with a 46-game hitting streak, breaking the EAB record of 42 set by Sang-Hyun Kang all the way back in 1921. To this point, Wie’s streak has only been bested in any league by MLB’s Jayden Gagnon (1930) and EBF’s Rudjer Bosnjak (1960), who both made it 49 games. As of 2037, Wie’s mark is still the EAB’s best. Geon Byung became only the seventh reliever to reach 400 career saves. He’d retire the next season with 404, seventh on the leaderboard. CF Yuma Akasaka won his eighth Silver Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-07-2024, 04:42 AM	#951
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in CABA Two-time defending CABA champ Monterrey looked even better in 1992, besting their franchise record for wins set two years earlier when they were 110-52. The Matadors finished 114-48 atop the Mexican League’s North Division, tying for the second most wins in a season by any ML team. Monterrey had the best pitching by a large margin with only 433 runs allowed; the next closest was 576. Tijuana posted an impressive 102-60 in the division to take the wild card, ending a playoff drought dating back to 1971. Torreon was also a solid 95-67, but ultimately out of the postseason field. The South Division was terrible in 1992 as Leon and Merida tied for first with lousy 79-83 records. The Lions won the tiebreaker game to earn repeat division titles. Ecatepec was right in the mix too at 78-84, one short of joining the tie. Tijuana’s Dion Juarez won back-to-back Mexican League MVPs and made history with the first Triple Crown for a CABA hitter since Prometheo Garcia in 1959. The 26-year old Mexican right fielder had 57 gome runs, 135 RBI, and a .362 average. He also led the league in hits (217), total bases (438), slugging (.730), OPS (1.129), wRC+ (233), and WAR (11.3). Torreon’s Bengie Beltran was Pitcher of the Year with the 29-year old righty leading in WAR (8.4), innings (275.2), quality starts (28), and shutouts (6). Beltran added a 1.96 ERA, 286 strikeouts, and 17-10 record. Also of note, Hermosillo’s Anthony Lopez became a three-time Reliever of the Year. The wild card Tijuana easily dispatched Leon with a road sweep, the Lions only winning on the one-game handicap given to the division winner. The Toros were excited to be in their first Mexican League Championship Series since 1971, but Monterrey’s dynasty would be too much to handle. The Matadors won the MLCS 4-2, becoming the first ML team to three-peat since Mexico City’s seven straight from 1967-73. Monterrey also picked up its 13^th Mexican League pennant overall, passing Mexico City for the most by any squad. Salvador had an impressive turnaround season, going from an abysmal 64 wins the prior season to a 98-64 mark in 1992. This gave the Stallions the best record in the Caribbean League and their first Continental Division title in four years. Defending CL champ Honduras struggled to a 77-83 mark. Guatemala (87-75) and Nicaragua (84-78) had respectable efforts, but were short of the wild card. In the Island Division, Trinidad ended a three-year playoff drought at 92-70. Santo Domingo missed the title by a game at 91-71, but this earned the Dolphins the wild card for a fourth consecutive postseason berth. Jamaica was just above .500, but they boasted the Caribbean League MVP in fourth-year first baseman Felipe De Los Santos. The 6’8’’ Dominican led in total bases (385), OBP (.388), OPS (1.027), and wRC+ (176). De Los Santos also had 51 home runs, 107 RBI, and 7.3 WAR. Second-year righty Benito Beltran won Pitcher of the Year for Salvador. The 24-year old Honduran was the WARlord (8.0) and leader in wins (20-10), K/BB (11.8), complete games (16), and shutouts (5). Beltran added a 2.65 ERA over 275 innings with 235 strikeouts. Trinidad defeated Santo Domingo 3-1 in the wild card round, sending the Trail Blazers back to the Caribbean League Championship Series since their 1988 CABA title. That year, they upset Salvador in the CLCS to advance. Trinidad followed the same script in 1992, knocking off the Stallions in six games. It is the third pennant for the Trail Blazers, who also took the CL title in 1972. In the 82^nd Central American Baseball Association Championship, Monterrey topped Trinidad 4-1 to complete the three-peat. The Matadors are only the second franchise to three-peat as CABA champs, joining Mexico City (who won five in a row from 1969-73). 3B Santiago Sanchez was the finals MVP, posting 20 hits, 3 runs, 6 doubles, 7 RBI, and a .455 average over 11 playoff starts. It is the sixth overall championship for Monterrey and their 114 wins is tied with 1918 Tijuana for the second-most by a CABA champion. Jamaica’s 1933 title at 118-44 is the all-time best for a team that won it all to this point. The Matadors’ early 1990s run certainly goes down as one of the most dominant in CABA history. Other notes: Ruben Chavez became the ninth CABA hitter to 600 career home runs. He would play two more seasons and end with 677, fifth-best at retirement. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-07-2024, 12:46 PM	#952
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1992 in MLB As the only of the pro leagues with a dedicated minor league system, Major League Baseball featured a secondary roster. Originally 40 players, it was reduced to 38 in 1965. For the 1992 season, MLB reduced it further to 36, forcing franchises to be more selective of whom to place on standby. For the third time in four years, New York secured both the East Division title and the #1 overall seed in the National Association. The Yankees were 104-58, winning the division by 16 games. Their only real competitor for the top seed was 100-62 St. Louis, who easily claimed the Lower Midwest Division and the other first round playoff bye. This snapped a seven-year playoff drought for the Cardinals. Defending World Series champ Kansas City was a non-factor at 79-83, seeing their playoff streak end at three seasons. The Northeast Division was very competitive. After missing the field the prior season, 92-70 Hartford claimed the top spot. Since 1981, the Huskies have earned eight playoff berths and five division titles. Boston (91-71) and Ottawa (89-73) were both close behind with both securing wild card spots. The Red Sox ended a 12 year drought, while the Elks earned their 10th playoff berth in 13 years. Three teams finished one short of the second wild card at 88-74; Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, and Columbus. Brooklyn was in the mix also at 86-76. In the Upper Midwest, 89-73 Winnipeg earned a second division title in three years. Chicago (78-84) was third, ending their playoff streak at three. National Association MVP went to St. Louis veteran 2B Austin Shaw. It is his second MVP with the other a decade prior in 1983. The 33-year old’s resurgence saw a career and NA best 9.4 WAR, 114 runs, and 347 total bases. He added 187 hits, 35 home runs, and a .310/.372/.575 slash. Pitcher of the Year was Winnipeg’s Dirk Hughes. A 25-year old left-handed Englishman, Hughes led in wins at 22-7 and WHIP at 0.98. He added 5.9 WAR over 259.1 innings with a 2.46 ERA and 216 strikeouts. Wild card Boston won 2-1 at Winnipeg in the first round, while Hartford swept divisional foe Ottawa. The Red Sox stunned New York in round two 3-1, giving Boston its first National Association Championship Series berth since their 1967 title. The Huskies prevailed in a five game classic at St. Louis, giving Hartford its fourth NACS appearance in a decade. The New England divisional rivals played to a seven game classic with the Huskies outlasting the Red Sox, giving Hartford its second pennant in four years. The Huskies have been NA champs six times (1916, 20, 48, 50, 89, 92). In 1991, Calgary limped to a 69-93 record for their first losing season since 1981. The Cheetahs had an impressive turnaround to end their three-year playoff drought, taking the Northwest Division at 104-58 and earning the top seed in the American Association. Seattle was a strong second in the division at 97-65, giving the Grizzlies the first wild card and their first playoff appearance since 1975. Denver, the defending AA champ, saw its four-year playoff streak ended with an 80-82 season. Edmonton at 84-78 saw its chance for four berths in five years thwarted as well. The #2 seed went to Atlanta at 102-60, extending the Aces impressive Southeast Division title streak to six years, one short of the record set from 1932-38 by Ottawa. Austin took the South Central Division at 96-66, the third division title in four years for the still relatively new Amigos franchise. Both Memphis and New Orleans finished at 91-71, five from the division title but tied for the second wild card. The Mountain Cats won the tiebreaker game over the Mudcats, ending a postseason drought for Memphis dating back to 1974. Dallas (88-74), Tampa (87-75), and Oakland (87-75) were the others in the wild card mix. At 94-68, Las Vegas won the Southwest Division, ending a nine-year playoff skid for the Vipers. Los Angeles’ three-year streak ended with a middling 80-82. Taking American Association MVP was second-year New Orleans second baseman Curry Ard. The 22-year old from Houston led in total bases (355) and added a .314/.331/.531 slash, 7.3 WAR, 32 home runs, 210 hits, and 117 RBI. Ard also added a 12.5 zone rating and 1.056 EFF defensively. Atlanta’s Merle Hannah won Pitcher of the Year. The 26-year old led in ERA (2.45) and wins (21-7). Hannah added 8.2 WAR over 271.1 innings with 174 strikeouts and five shutouts. Seattle upset Las Vegas 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs while Austin survived 2-1 over divisional foe Memphis. Calgary crushed the Grizzlies with a round two sweep, while Atlanta outlasted the Amigos 3-2. These were two teams that had seen recent American Association Championship Series berths. The Aces were making their third consecutive appearance and fourth in six years. The Cheetahs had made it four times from 1983-87. The successes were different, as Calgary had gone 3-1 in their run and Atlanta was 0-3. In a rematch of the 1987 AACS, the Cheetahs cruised to the pennant 4-1 over the Aces. Calgary now has won the pennant seven times (1902, 04, 40, 83, 86, 87, 92). Atlanta became only the second-ever MLB franchise to lose three consecutive ACS, joining 1978-80 Houston. In the 92nd World Series, Hartford edged Calgary in a seven game classic, making the Huskies three-time MLB champs (1916, 1948). Calgary is now 2-5 in their World Series appearances. Earning World Series MVP was CF Mason Cushinberry, who had a historic postseason run. The 25-year old had 37 hits, 20 runs, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, and 18 RBI over 21 starts. The 37 hits set a MLB postseason record that still stands as of 2037. Cushinberry also had 64 total bases, a postseason record. He wasn’t the only one to set postseason records that still stand. Teammate Tony Evans had 51 innings and seven starts, reliever Robert Martin had 15 appearances, and LF Orion Davenport had 11 doubles. Other notes: Aiya Kodama set a single season MLB record with 29 complete games. The seven-time Pitcher of the Year between Hiroshima and Denver was in his fourth season in MLB after a decade in Japan. Catcher Mason Wilkinson won his ninth and final Silver Slugger, tying Alejandro Fernandez for the position record. Shortstop Bernd Sprenger won his seventh in MLB. It was his 11th total, having won four with EBF’s Belfast. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-07-2024, 05:42 PM	#953
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 MLB Hall of Fame Major League Baseball’s 1993 Hall of Fame class saw two players earn inductions. 2B Raymond Boisvert was a no-doubt first ball selection at 98.2%. He was joined by 1B Edward Torres, who got the bump to 75.2% on his third attempt. SP Joseph Ashcraft fell short of the 66% requirement for the ninth time, although 57.9% was his highest total yet. Also above 50% were closer Angelo Kiernan at 53.4% on his seventh ballot and 1B Kymani Massey at 51.0% for his debut. RF Asher Doyle was dropped after ten failed ballots, ended at 32.2% with a peak of 37.5% in 1987. In 19 seasons primarily with Toronto, Doyle had 2481 hits, 1513 runs, 373 doubles, 497 home runs, 1434 RBI, 1446 walks, a .269/.359/.466 slash, and 79.5 WAR. He was top 15 in walks all-time, but he otherwise lacked accolades or big totals, keeping him in the Hall of Good. Also dropped after ten ballots was 3B Slade Ramos, who played 17 years mostly split between Minneapolis and Washington. He peaked at 27.2% in his second ballot and ended at 7.5%. Ramos had three Silver Sluggers and 2807 hits, 1156 runs, 446 doubles, 321 home runs, 1329 RBI, a .303/.343/.464 slash, and 79.1 WAR. A fine career, but also lacking in big power numbers or league-leading efforts. Raymond “Splits” Boisvert – Second Base – Montreal Maples – 98.2% First Ballot Raymond Boisvert was a 5’10’’, 175 pound right-handed second baseman from Whitby, Ontario; a city of around 135,000 people located on Lake Ontario. Boisvert was an outstanding contact hitter and had an impeccable knack for avoiding strikeouts. As of 2037, he’s one of only two MLB Hall of Fame hitters to have played 2500+ games while striking out less than 400 times. Boisvert was also very quick and was a very intelligent base runner. He had good gap power and was excellent at stretching out extra bases, eventually earning him the all-time mark for triples. Boisvert’s penchant for doubles and triples was impressive, but he lacked home run power and never hit more than nine in a season. He was around average at drawing walks. Boisvert had the vast majority of his starts at second base, although he occasionally played at the other infield spots. Defensively, he was typically viewed as average to above average, certainly holding his own. Boisvert was quite durable for his prime run, making 135+ starts each year from 1971-83. Boisvert left Canada to play collegiately for Baylor. In three seasons and 143 games as a Bear, he had 187 hits, 85 runs, 31 doubles, 4 triples, 65 RBI, a .330/.393/.425 slash and 5.4 WAR. Although he grew up in Ontario, Boisvert’s family had a French Canadian background and heritage, which made him stand out even more for Montreal ahead of the 1968 MLB Draft. The Maples picked him sixth overall and he would become extremely popular over a 16-year run in Montreal. Despite his potential, Boisvert primarily spent his first two seasons in then-minor league Quebec City. He only had 79 major league games in these first two years, but showed plenty of potential for an improving Montreal squad. Boisvert finally cracked the starting lineup full-time in 1971 and impressively held that role for the next decade. 1971 marked the first of ten seasons leading the National Association in triples. Boisvert became a regular league leader in many statistics as one of the premiere leadoff men in the game. He would lead in runs scored five times, hits five times, stolen bases thrice, batting average five times, OBP once, and WAR twice. Montreal snapped a six-year playoff drought in 1971 and started a four-year postseason streak. In 1972 and 1973, the Maples won the National Association pennant, although they fell both years in the World Series. Boisvert had an impressive 26 hits and 14 runs in the 1972 postseason, while adding 17 hits and 13 runs in 1973. 1971 also marked the start of Boisvert’s time playing with Canada in the World Baseball Championship. He played 156 games with 145 starts from 1971-85, posting 163 hits, 81 runs, 24 doubles, 12 triples, 8 home runs, 42 RBI, a .291/.362/.420 slash, 89 stolen bases, and 4.5 WAR. Boisvert never claimed MVP, although 1973 was the closest he got with a second place finish. That year had career highs of 228 hits, 118 runs, and a .364 average. He was third in MVP voting in both 1976 and 1979, but it is very tough for leadoff guys to get the honor. Boisvert won four Silver Sluggers, coming in 1973, 77, 79, and 81. After their success to begin the 1970s, Montreal retreated to the mid-tier for the middle part of the decade. Boisvert remained steady through this run and stayed committed to the Maples, signing an eight-year, $6,520,000 contract extension in July 1977. He helped bring Montreal back to relevance with three straight NACS berths from 1979-81. The Maples won the pennant in 1979 and 1981. In 1981, Montreal won the World Series for the first time since 1951. For his playoff career, Boisvert had 105 hits, 58 runs, 18 doubles, 8 triples, 32 stolen bases, and 3.0 WAR over 81 games. 1976-82 had a stretch of seven consecutive years that Boisvert led in triples. His skillset, plus the big 404 foot gap in left center at the Montreal Grounds, allowed him to climb up the leaderboard in the stat. By the end of his Maples run, Boisvert was in striking distance of Jess Lewis’s all-time mark of 274. In total with Montreal, Boisvert had 2836 hits, 1415 runs, 413 doubles, 259 triples, 84 home runs, 826 RBI, 651 stolen bases, a .330/.379/.467 slash, and 91.4 WAR. After being above a .300 average his entire run, Boisvert dropped below the mark in his final two Montreal seasons. In 1984, the 36-year old was reduced to a part-time starting role. Feeling like he could still go, Boisvert decided to leave for free agency. There were no hard feelings between he and the Maples, as he’d remain one of the franchise’s most beloved players for decades to come. Boisvert’s #19 uniform would be retired once his career ended officially in 1988. Boisvert signed for the 1985 season on a three-year, $3,720,000 deal with New York. He had a very solid debut season with the Yankees, passing Jess Lewis as the all-time triples leader. Boisvert also became the 44^th member of MLB’s 3000 hit club. His second season in New York ended after only two games due a broken bone in his elbow. Boisvert didn’t want to end on that sour note and signed in 1987 with Winnipeg, which was only entering its sixth season post expansion. He was still a passable starter with the Wolves and passed the 1500 runs scored milestone, the 84^th to do so. Winnipeg didn’t bring him back for 1988 though and despite his searching, Boisvert went unsigned that season. He would retire that winter at age 40. Boisvert’s final stats: 3128 hits, 1558 runs, 451 doubles, 285 triples, 94 home runs, 928 RBI, 695 walks, only 388 strikeouts, 733 stolen bases, a .325/.375/.460 slash, 144 wRC+, and 98.4 WAR. As of 2037, Boisvert is still MLB’s all-time triples leader and he’s one of 31 players with 700+ stolen bases. At retirement, his 98.4 WAR was second best at second base behind only Archie Meredith. At induction as well, his batting average was fifth best among other Hall of Famers. Boisvert was a uniquely talented leadoff man and a beloved figure in Montreal that helped them win four pennants, making him an easy first ballot selection at 98.2%. Edward “Jetsam” Torres – First Base – Los Angeles Angels – 75.2% Third Ballot Edward Torres was a 6’2’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting first baseman from Rancho Santa Margarita, California; a small city of around 47,000 people in Orange County. Torres was one of the better home run hitters of his era and was considered a strong contact hitter early in his career. He had a good ability for drawing walks, although he struck out a bit more than average. Torres had respectable gap power, but was limited sometimes at drawing doubles or triples due to his very slow speed. He was exclusively a first baseman and was considered to be reliably just above average defensively. Torres was very durable, but his outspoken nature would make him a polarizing figure in his career. Torres went to Oklahoma State for his college career and excelled as a Cowboy. As a freshman, he won NCAA MVP, while winning Silver Sluggers as a freshman and junior. With OK State, Torres played 149 games with 180 hits, 127 runs, 25 doubles, 72 home runs, 162 RBI, a .311/.389/.732 slash and 11.5 WAR. His home run power especially made him a very enticing prospect ahead of the 1965 MLB Draft. Torres was picked 6^th overall by Los Angeles and had his best seasons with the Angels. His outspoken nature made him a very “love him or hate him” player, but his power stats and growing up near LA made him extremely popular with many Angels fans. Torres spent a bit of time in the minors his rookie year, but he still made 110 MLB starts and took second in Rookie of the Year voting. He’d be the full-time starter for the next decade for the Angels, starting 145+ games in every season except for 1969 (a fractured rib cost him six weeks that year). He hit 40+ home runs seven times and 100+ RBI nine times. Torres’ power emergence helped turn around the fortunes for Los Angeles, who bottomed out at 57 wins in his rookie season. 1968 saw an impressive turnaround from 73-89 the prior year to 103-59 atop the Western League standings. The Angels made the playoffs six times from 1968-74 and won World Series titles in 1968, 73, and 74. In 1974 specifically, Torres won both AACS and World Series MVP. In the playoffs for LA, Torres made 64 starts with 68 hits, 31 runs, 13 home runs, 49 RBI, a .279/.349/.488 slash, and 1.8 WAR. His part in this run for the Angels endeared him to many fans and the franchise would eventually retire his #9 uniform, mending the fences after an awkward end to his run. Torres led the American Association in home runs thrice, RBI twice, total bases thrice, and once each for OBP, slugging, OPS, and wRC+. 1970 and 1971 saw him lead in both homers and RBI, earning him two MVPs. His 154 RBI in 1970 was only the 16^th time in MLB history to that point that a player had 150+ RBI. Torres was also third in MVP voting in 1967 and 1968. At the very loaded first base position, he won Silver Sluggers in 1967, 1970, and 1971. Torres also played for the United States in the World Baseball Championship from 1968-74. In 124 starts, he had 137 hits, 105 runs, 53 home runs, 109 RBI, a .300/.388/.683 slash, and 8.8 WAR. Torres led all WBC batters in hits twice, home runs once, RBI twice, total bases twice, and OPS once. He was tournament MVP in both 1973 and 1974, becoming only the second player to that point to win the award twice. Torres earned five world title rings (68, 71-74). Torres signed an eight-year, $2,584,000 contract extension before the 1971 season with Los Angeles. Although he was a playoff hero in 1974, his power numbers had fallen off noticeable that year. Torres bounced back some in 1975, but struggled with subpar stats in 1976. His struggles also led to more clashes with teammates and media. He exercised his contract’s opt out and became a free agent after the 1976 season at age 32. In total with the Angels, Torres had 1825 hits, 1057 runs, 288 doubles, 445 home runs, 1330 RBI, a .297/.364/.567 slash, and 56.6 WAR. However, MLB teams were leery of signing him. Between his weak production the prior year, his outspoken and controversial nature, and his high asking price, most teams weren’t interested. Torres became a rare example of a former MVP-level MLB player to leave for a perceived “lesser” league. He went to CABA and specifically Cuba, signing a five-year, $2,280,000 contract with Havana. Torres was respectable in his debut season and got his stroke back with 40+ home runs seasons in 1978 and 1979. As a DH in 1979, Torres won a Silver Slugger and took third in MVP voting. He led the league in doubles with 42 that year, posting 46 home runs and 121 RBI. The Hurricanes made the playoffs in 1977, but fell to the bottom of the standings to start the 1980s despite Torres’ personal production. In four seasons in Havana, Torres had 654 hits, 343 runs, 157 home runs, 411 RBI, and 16.3 WAR. Looking to rebuild, the Hurricanes traded Torres in the final year of his contract to Torreon for three prospects. His power dropped that season and he was a free agent at age 37. MLB expanded for the 1982 season and the newly christened Salt Lake City Loons brought Torres back to the majors on a two-year, $2,120,000 deal. Torres was a full-time starter for the Loons, but was ultimately mediocre in his MLB return. A free agent again at age 39, he went back to CABA and signed with Ecatepec of the Mexican League. Torres showed some of that old stroke with 4.2 WAR and 34 home runs in 135 games. Between his CABA runs, Torres had 911 hits, 472 runs, 212 home runs, 580 RBI, a .275/.329/.527 slash, and 24.1 WAR. That run got him one more shot in MLB in 1985 with San Diego. Torres was mostly unsuccessful and a backup with the Seals, but he notably crossed the 500 home run and 1500 RBI milestones. He was unsigned in 1986 and retired that winter at age 41. For his entire pro career, Torres had 3009 hits, 1690 runs, 497 doubles, 721 home runs, 2088 RBI, 1038 walks, a .280/.345/.536 slash, 138 wRC+, and 82.8 WAR. If that was in one league, he’d be a lock. But most MLB voters discounted his CABA stats entirely. In his MLB career, Torres had 2098 hits, 1218 runs, 328 doubles, 509 home runs, 1508 RBI, a .282/.352/.540 slash, 137 wRC+, and 58.7 WAR. That made for a much more borderline case, although his home run rate was notable; he had the fewest hits among MLB Hall of Famers that reached 500 dingers. Torres’ outspoken nature also made many voters disinterested in putting him into the Hall. He missed out at 61.3% and 61.6% in his first two ballots. However, Torres had two MVPs and a big role in an impressive run of dominance for Los Angeles. That ultimately got him across the line with 75.2% on his third ballot, placing Torres into the MLB Hall of Fame. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-08-2024, 04:45 AM	#954
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 CABA Hall of Fame (Part 1) For the first time since 1974, the Central American Baseball Association had a four-player Hall of Fame class with the 1993 voting. Impressively, all four guys got in on their first ballot as well. RF Lobo Villanueva led the way with 95.9% with 2B Mesquito Delion close behind at 92.5%. SP Conrado Gonsalez received 78.0%, while 2B Ricardo Dias rounded out the group at 69.5%, narrowly crossing the 66% requirement. One other player was above 50% with SP Wilner Celestin at 52.5% for his debut. No players were dropped after ten ballots. Lobo Villanueva – Right Field – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 95.9% First Ballot Lobo Villanueva was a 6’1’’, 195 pound left-handed hitting right fielder from Leon, Nicaragua; the country’s third largest city with around 210,000 people. Villanueva was a prolific home run and power hitter that also could hit effectively for average. He was okay at drawing walks, although he did have a high strikeout rate. Villanueva scored a lot of runs despite having firmly subpar speed. He was very durable and rarely missed games to injury. Villanueva was a career right fielder and was absolutely abysmal defensively. Still, the man hit dingers, which made him a beloved star of the era throughout the Caribbean. Villanueva’s power potential was noticed even as a 16-year old amateur in Nicaragua. A scout from Santo Domingo spotted him and signed him to a developmental deal, bringing Villanueva to the Dominican Republic. His entire CABA career would be as a Dolphin, making his official debut in 1973 at age 20. He only had a few at bats that year, followed by a more regular pinch hitter role the next year. In 1975, Villanueva was a full-time starter and would be for the rest of his career. He’d make 130+ starts in the all of the next 16 seasons sans one. Santo Domingo had been just outside of the playoffs to start the 1970s, but Villanueva’s emergence helped make them a more regular contender. The Dolphins snapped a 12-year playoff drought in 1975, then won the Caribbean League title in 1976. Although they lost to Guadalajara in the CABA final, SD locked in their emerging star Villanueva to an eight-year, $2,936,000 contract extension. He also emerged as a regular for his home country Nicaragua in the World Baseball Championship. From 1974-92, he played 152 games with 153 hits, 106 runs, 72 home runs, 130 RBI, a .285/.365/.722 slash, and 10.0 WAR. As of 2037, he is Nicaragua’s all-time WBC leader in games, hits, and homers. The Dolphins would miss the playoffs in the next four seasons, but Villanueva emerged as a bona fide star. In 1977, he led the league in the triple slash (.340/.391/.650) and runs (118), earning his first Silver Slugger and a second place finish in MVP voting. In 1979, he made CABA history with 70 home runs, beating the previous single-season record of 65. Villanueva’s mark held as the all-time mark until passed by Yohnny Galaz’ 72 in 1988, but as of 2037, he’s one of only seven CABA hitters to hit 70+. This effort got Villanueva his first MVP and second Silver Slugger. Villanueva never quite matched that power again, but he still was prominent on the leaderboards. He led in runs scored four times, homers four times, RBI four times, total bases four times, batting average twice, OBP thrice, slugging, OPS, and wRC+ each six times, and WAR three times. Villanueva won five MVPs in total, also taking the award in 1980, 81, 83, and 85. He took second in 1982 as well. He finished with seven Silver Sluggers (77, 79, 80-83, 85). In the 1980s, Villanueva helped lead Santo Domingo to a dynasty run. The Dolphins won the Island Division six successive seasons from 1981-86. They won Caribbean League pennants in 1981, 82, 84, and 85. In 82, 84, and 85, Santo Domingo took home the CABA Championship. Villanueva was 1981 CLCS MVP and over 58 playoff games in his career, he had 64 hits, 31 runs, 18 home runs, 45 RBI, a .288/.344/.568 slash, and 2.7 WAR. After the 1983 season, Villanueva entered free agency for the first time. He only was on the market eight days, joining back with Santo Domingo on a five-year, $3,600,000 deal. The 1984 season saw his first major injury as a partially torn labrum cost him four months, including their 1984 playoff run. Villanueva bounced back in 1985 with his fifth MVP, fifth 50+ home run season, and fifth 100+ run season. However, to the shock of many, Villanueva exercised his contract’s opt-out. This marked the close of his CABA career and essentially ended Santo Domingo’s dynasty. Although they’d still be a good team and regular playoff squad for the next few years, the 1985 title in Villanueva’s last year would be the franchise’s final pennant until 2012. While many were upset by him leaving, most Dolphins fans later forgave him and remembered him fondly as a franchise icon and star during their dynasty. The team would retire his #18 uniform in 1992 and he would be an ambassador for the club. At age 33, Villanueva both wanted to try his luck in MLB and also bring home the bag. Although his 1985 SD salary of $1,040,000 was among the biggest in CABA, he upped it to $1,480,000 annually on a five-year deal with San Antonio. It was ultimately an unremarkable run with a struggling franchise with Villanueva being a decent starter. In total as an Oiler, he had 700 hits, 395 runs, 174 home runs, 433 RBI, a .246/.308/.467 slash, and 6.0 WAR. In his final season, Villanueva had 39 home runs, but only a .228 average. He was a free agent in both 1991 and 1992 and hoped to continue his career. However, teams weren’t interested in an expensive aging slugger. He played in those years’ WBC for Nicaragua, but had to retire from the pro game in the winter of 1992 at age 40. For his entire pro career, Villanueva had 2695 hits, 1528 runs, 421 doubles, 699 home runs, 1735 RBI, a .296/.347/.586 slash, 151 wRC+, and 76.2 WAR. For his CABA/Santo Domingo tenure, Villanueva had 1995 hits, 1133 runs, 326 doubles, 525 home runs, 1292 RBI, a .319/.365/.640 slash, 172 wRC+, and 70.2 WAR. His departure prevented a shot at potentially climbing to the top of the leaderboards, although it is hard to gauge if he would’ve maintained his CABA pace had he stayed. Still, Villanueva’s power thrilled fans in the DR and helped usher in an impressive dynasty run for Santo Domingo. Villanueva was an easy first ballot choice, getting 95.9% to lead the 1993 class. Mesquito Delion – Second Base – Hermosillo Hyenas – 92.5% First Ballot Mesquito Delion was a 5’7’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting second baseman from Obregon, Mexico; a city of around 435,000 people in southern Sonora. Delion was an excellent contact hitter with very good gap power and surprisingly quick speed despite his pudgy frame. He averaged around 25 doubles and another 25 triples per season while also getting you around 15-20 home runs. Delion very rarely drew walks, but he was good at avoiding strikeouts. He was a very intelligent baserunner that knew how to pick his spots. Delion made around 3/4s of his starts at second base with the rest at shortstop. He was a terrible defender at second and an atrocious one at short. However, his ability to get extra base hits and his unusually stubby build made him a very popular player. Delion’s potential was noticed locally by Hermosillo, which was in the same state and about three hours north of his hometown of Obregon. The Hyenas picked him ninth overall in the 1974 CABA Draft and he spent nearly his entire pro career with Hermosillo. Delion was essentially a full-time starter immediately, earning third in Rookie of the Year voting. He took a Silver Slugger in his second season, his only one as a shortstop. He won the award six more times at second base (78, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85). Delion also started early in his career for Mexico in the World Baseball Championship. He was a backup in his later years, playing 71 games from 1977-86 with 66 hits, 33 runs, 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 46 RBI, and a .266/.303/.496 slash. Delion led the Mexican League in hits three times, runs once, doubles once, triples four times, RBI twice, total bases three times, average once, OBP once, slugging thrice, OPS once, wRC+ twice, and WAR three times. 1978 and 1980 both saw 10+ WAR seasons, earning Delion two MVP awards. He also took second in 1984 MVP voting. Delion became one of the most beloved players in Hermosillo history. After the 1980 season, he signed a seven-year contract extension worth $4,730,000, locking him in with the Hyenas for the long haul. 1980 was the year that Hermosillo’s fortunes turned around, thanks in large part to Delion’s efforts. They had been a subpar team for most of the last 30 years. In 1980, the Hyenas earned their first playoff berth since 1963 and won the Mexican League title for the first time since 1947. Delion had an excellent postseason with 29 hits, 13 runs, 5 triples, 13 RBI, and a .439/.467/.667 slash, although they would fall to Jamaica in the CABA final. Still, Hermosillo fans finally had hope and they would end up a consistent contender in the 1980s. Delion had a 32-hame hitting streak from late 1980 to early 1981. In 1981, the Hyenas fell in the MLCS, although Delion again had a solid postseason with 20 hits in 11 starts. In 1982, Hermosillo missed the playoffs and Delion was out for just over a month with a torn ligament in his thumb. The thumb injury continued to plague him and his worsening defense meant he was largely a bench piece even when healthy. Although he wasn’t used much in the run, 1983 saw the Hyenas go all the way and win the CABA Championship. Delion got back into the lineup full-time in the next year and led in hits and WAR in 1984. Hermosillo fell below .500 that year, but bounced back to win another ML pennant in 1985. A strained biceps would keep Delion out for the postseason run. Despite still posting good batting numbers, his weight was becoming more of a liability and he was reduced to a bench role. Delion was only a pinch hitter in the 1986 playoff run, which saw a MLCS defeat. In his playoff career with Hermosillo, Delion had 41 games and 31 starts, 57 hits, 21 runs, 7 doubles, 9 triples, 22 RBI, a .422/.438/.630 slash, and 2.6 WAR. Although still an extremely popular player, it was clear the Hyenas wanted to move on from Delion and his big contract. Just before the 1987 season, the 34-year old was traded along with $200,000 to defending CABA champ Costa Rica for two pitchers. Delion was primarily a backup with the Rays and only had five pinch hit at-bats in the postseason, but earned his second CABA ring with Costa Rica repeating as champs. His original Hermosillo contract expired and Delion was a free agent. After going unsigned in 1988, he retired at age 36. Still beloved by Hyenas fans despite the awkward ending, the franchise brought him back to retire his #29 uniform. Delion’s final stats: 2018 hits, 923 runs, 296 doubles, 268 triples, 207 home runs, 985 RBI, 300 stolen bases, a .340/.370/.586 slash, 182 wRC+, and 76.0 WAR. At induction, he had the fourth best batting average of any CABA Hall of Famer. Perhaps his chonkiness cost him some longevity, but Delion was an incredibly effective bat in his prime and a key cog in Hermosillo’s 1980s success. This earned Delion the first ballot selection at 92.5%. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-08-2024, 10:59 AM	#955
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 CABA Hall of Fame (Part 2) *Conrado Gonsalez – Starting Pitcher – Torreon Tomahawks – 78.0% First Ballot* Conrado Gonsalez was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Sancti Spiritus, a city with around 215,000 people in central Cuba. Gonsalez was a fireballer with phenomenal stuff and excellent control, although his movement was spotty and led to issues allowing home runs. It was hard to make contact though with 99-101 mph peak velocity on his fastball, along with a terrific slider, screwball, and changeup. Gonsalez was an extreme flyball pitcher, but his stuff was untouchable when he was dealing. He was also a solid defender with respectable stamina and durability. All of his professional innings came with Torreon, but Gonsalez’s career actually started with Juarez. The Jesters spotted him as a teenage amateur and signed him to a developmental deal in May 1968. He spent six years in the developmental system, but hadn’t progressed to the level that Juarez was wanting. Before the 1974 season, he was traded with veteran 2B Rob Raden and $95,000 to Torreon for veteran RF Yoo-Hyun Kim. Gonsalez made his debut with the Tomahawks at age 22 and was an occasional back-end starter in his first three years, posting very mediocre numbers. Things finally clicked in his fourth season, which saw him lead the league in WHIP. He also started to show his potential in the World Baseball Championship for his native Cuba. From 1976-87, he pitched 117.2 WBC innings with a 2.75 ERA, 175 strikeouts to only 16 walks, and 3.4 WAR. In 1978, Gonsalez was a legit ace, leading the Mexican League with career bests in strikeouts (357), K/BB (12.8), quality starts (29), and WAR (10.6). This earned him his lone Pitcher of the Year award. Gonsalez never quite had a season that good again and wasn’t a league leader again, but he was consistently solid for about the next decade or so. He took third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1979 and 1981. Torreon made the MLCS in 1976, 79, 80, and 83 while Gonsalez was there. He missed the 1976 postseason to injury, but posted a 2.87 ERA over 53.1 innings in the other seasons with 72 strikeouts and 8 walks. The Tomahawks won their first-ever ML pennant in 1979, but fell in the CABA Championship to Santiago. Gonsalez had signed a six-year contract extension worth $3,060,000 after the 1979 season. He had suffered a torn labrum in late 1980, but bounced back from it quite well. Various injuries started to crop up into his mid 30s, although he still was successful with sub-two ERA seasons in 1985 and 1987. In 1985, he needed radial nerve decompression surgery. When Gonsalez reported in 1988, his velocity had started to drop and although officially healthy, he wasn’t used the entire season. Gonsalez opted to retire after the campaign at age 36. That winter, Torreon retired his #16 uniform. Gonsalez’s final stats: 180-110 record, 2.73 ERA, 2855 innings, 3557 strikeouts to only 447 walks, 0.96 WHIP, 257/368 quality starts, a 83 FIP-, and 61.9 WAR. He is the only CABA Hall of Fame pitcher to reach 3500+ strikeouts without also reaching 3000+ career innings. The innings and longevity were lower than most pitchers who got the nod, but Gonsalez was impressive enough in his sample size to get the voters’ attention. He earned the first ballot selection at 78.0%, the third-best total in the four-player 1993 class. Ricardo Dias – Second Base – Monterrey Matadors – 69.5% First Ballot Ricardo Dias was a 6’1’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting second baseman from Victoria, a city of around 330,000 people and capital of the northeastern Mexican state of Tamauilpas. Dias was a very good contact hitter with a decent eye and above average knack at avoiding strikeouts. He wasn’t a prolific slugger, but was good for around 25-30 home runs and 30-35 doubles per season. Dias had respectable speed and baserunning instincts. He only ever brought his glove out to second base, although he was considered a poor defender. Many observed that Dias was a bit of a lone wolf, but he was still a talented enough hitter to be a valuable asset. Dias was highly touted out of the amateur ranks and went second overall in the 1971 CABA Draft to Monterrey. He made a few starts in his rookie year, although was mostly used as a pinch hitter. Dias was a full-time starter after that for the rest of his pro career when healthy. With the Matadors, he won six Silver Sluggers (1973, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79). Dias was also a regular for Mexico in the World Baseball Championship from 1973-88 with 150 games and 134 starts. In that run, he had 144 hits, 73 runs, 38 doubles, 29 home runs, 75 RBI, a .272/.329/.512 slash, and 5.2 WAR. He earned a world title ring with the 1978 squad. Monterrey struggled in the 1970s with only one wild card appearance in 1979. They hoped Dias would turn things around for them and signed him to an eight-year, $2,474,000 extension after the 1974 season. A strained hamstring kept him out half of the 1975 campaign and another hamstring strain cost him six weeks in 1976. Dias was stellar in 1976 even in only 112 games with a .414/.451/.689 slasj, 1.140 OPS, and 8.3 WAR. He fell just short of the at-bats required for the .414 average to count as an all-time record. Dias was able to stay healthy from 1977-80, taking second in 1979’s MVP voting. This would be his only time as a MVP finalist. His Monterrey run ended eight games into 1981 with a torn PCL knocking him out 10 months. He’d remain popular with Matadors fans despite playing in a down period with the team, eventually seeing his #14 uniform retired. In total with Monterrey, Dias had 1473 hits, 688 runs, 271 doubles, 220 home runs, 772 RBI, a .332/.380/.559 slash, and 57.2 WAR. One year remained on his contract entering 1982, but the Matadors were worried about Dias coming off the PCL tear. He was traded to Guatemala for pitchers DJ Sauceda and Manuel Acosta, plus 1B Ivan Saldana. Dias bounced back impressively in his one year with the Ghosts, winning the batting title for the only time in his career. Guatemala went one-and-done in the playoffs, which would be Dias’ only other postseason appearances. He won his seventh Silver Slugger and upped his value entering free agency at age 34. Dias signed a five-year, $3,000,000 deal with Haiti. He was solid in his Herons tenure, winning Silver Sluggers in 1983, 86, and 87. He joined Luis Miranda as the only CABA players to win nine or more Silver Sluggers at second base. Dias had ten total with nine at second, having won at DH in 1986. A sprained ankle cost him five weeks in his final year with Haiti. In total with the Herons, Dias had 858 hits, 381 runs, 134 doubles, 114 home runs, 417 RBI, a .324/.355/.519 slash, and 24.6 WAR. Now 39-years old, Dias was able to land a big contract in MLB with Orlando worth $4,600,000 over three years. He couldn’t stay healthy with the Orcas, making only 74 starts in 1988 and 45 in 1989. Dias wasn’t very good with Orlando either, posting -0.1 WAR and a .235 average in MLB. The Orcas cut him after spring training 1990. Dias went unsigned all season and retired that winter at age 41. For his CABA career, Dias had 2525 hits, 1158 runs, 442 doubles, 62 triples, 361 home runs, 1239 RBI, 251 stolen bases, a .329/.369/.543 slash, 162 wRC+, and 87.8 WAR. He compared similarly to his Hall of Fame classmate Mesquito Delion, but Dias didn’t have the MVPs, league-leading seasons or playoff appearances. His accumulations were among the best ever at second base, but many voters were still iffy with a few voting for Delion and not Dias. However, there were still enough to give Dias the first ballot nod, albeit just barely at 69.5%. Regardless, he was a first ballot Hall of Famer and a solid player to round out the impressive four-player 1993 CABA class. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-08-2024, 05:44 PM	#956
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 EAB Hall of Fame The 1993 ballot for the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame very nearly ended up blank. One player just crossed the 66% threshold to earn a spot with pitcher Ho-In Koh grabbing 69.1% on his fourth ballot. The best debut was closer Yeong-U Oum at 55.9%. Three other guys were just above 50% on their second ballots with 1B Naomichi Yamamoto (52.0%), 1B Yuma Watanbe (51.6%), and SP Hisataka Otsuka (50.0%). No players were dropped after ten failed ballots. Ho-In Koh – Starting Pitcher – Kitakyushu Kodiaks – 69.1% Fourth Ballot Ho-In Koh was a 6’0’’, 185 pound right-handed pitcher from Jecheon, a city of around 130,000 in central South Korea known as a major railway junction. Koh had excellent control with good stuff and above average movement. His velocity peaked in the 97-99 mph range with an excellent fastball mixed with a great changeup and decent knuckle curve. Koh was viewed as fairly durable with respectable stamina. He was a scrappy sparkplug type, always willing to give extra effort. Koh was a rare Korean player that spent the vast majority of his EAB career in Japan. He was signed as a teenage amateur in late 1961 by Kitakyushu and made his debut as a reliever in 1966 at age 21. Koh earned a spot in the rotation the next year and was a regular starter for the next decade, pitching 200+ innings each year. His early 20s were his most impressive seasons, leading Japan in ERA, WHIP, and WAR in 1970. That earned Koh his lone Pitcher of the Year honor. He took second in 1969 and 1971 as well. 1969 also earned him a world title with South Korea in the World Baseball Championship, although he struggled in limited relief. His only other WBC appearances came in 1980. Koh was great in the 1971 playoffs with a 1.53 ERA over 17.2 for Kitakyushu. The Kodiaks won the JL pennant, falling in the EAB Championship to Busan. This run would sadly be Koh’s only playoff appearances for his career. He remained solid for Kitakyushu in the next few seasons, leading in strikeouts in 1974 with 299. The Kodiaks would bottom out though in 1975 and look to rebuild. Koh was coming up on free agency as well and the team figured they wouldn’t be able to keep him around at the expected asking price. In total with Kitakyushu, Koh had a 137-88 record, 2.68 ERA, 2067 innings, 2244 strikeouts, and 56.7 WAR. It was a solid enough run that they would opt to retire his #12 uniform in 1984. In July 1975, Kitakyushu traded Koh for prospects to Sapporo. The Swordfish just missed the playoffs, but Koh finished as the league leader in both strikeouts and innings. A free agent at age 31, Koh attracted considerable attention both domestically and abroad. The big MLB payday was hard to pass up and he signed a six-year, $2,894,000 deal with Philadelphia. Koh’s productivity in his Phillies debut season was mediocre at best. He was a bit more efficient in his second year, but a hamstring injury cost him two months. He didn’t live up to what Philadelphia was looking for, posting a 3.94 ERA over 441 innings. The Phillies traded Koh for the 1978 season to Tampa for 2B Smoke Hagen and LF Antoine Crawford. He would play out the rest of the contract with the Thunderbirds. He didn’t fare much better in his first two seasons with Tampa, although his third season in 1980 saw a nice improvement. In total with the Thunderbirds, he had a 35-43 record, 4.27 ERA, 698.1 innings, 435 strikeouts, and 9.3 WAR. It was looking like he had finally found his footing in MLB, but disaster struck on September 7, 1980. Koh suffered a damaged elbow ligament, putting him on the shelf for 13 months. He finished out his contract with Tampa in 1981, but never saw the field. Now 37, the scrappy Koh was determined to make a comeback. Atlanta gave him a chance on a one-year, $1,100,000 deal. A few injuries cost him about two months, but he was still a passable back-end starter. This ended his MLB tenure with a 4.14 ERA, 61-82 record, 1319.2 innings, 883 strikeouts, and 16.9 WAR. Koh returned to EAB and signed a three-year, $2,050,000 deal with Seoul. Shoulder inflammation knocked him out for 1983 after his second start. Koh then was primarily a reliever in 1984 with lousy results. He opted to retire that winter at age 39. For his entire pro career, Koh had a 212-177 record, 3.28 ERA, 3618.1 innings, 3357 strikeouts, 686 walks, 267/461 quality starts, 82 FIP-, and 76.6 WAR. For just his EAB tenure, Koh had a 151-95 record, 2.79 ERA, 2298.2 innings, 2474 strikeouts, 356 walks, 179/286 quality starts, 72 FIP-, and 59.7 WAR. His rate stats fit in with some other Hall of Famers, but his accumulations were on the low end, in part since he left for MLB. If his MLB stats counted in EAB, he probably would’ve been a solid choice. However, many voters thought he wasn’t good enough long enough. Koh never was below 60%, but he fell just short on his first three ballots. The fourth ballot with weaker competition allowed Koh to sway over another voter or two, getting in at 69.1% as the lone member of EAB’s 1993 class. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-09-2024, 04:27 AM	#957
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 BSA Hall of Fame Beisbol Sudamerica’s 1993 Hall of Fame class featured two inner-circle level inductees. Career home run king Valor Melo received 98.6% and pitcher Thiago Granja got 98.0%, both on their debuts. The next closest to the 66 mark was 1B Cy Cavazos, who fell short at 55.9% on his tenth and final try. The only other player above 50% was SP Robinson Moreira at 54.9% for his fourth ballot. Cavazos got as close at 62.0% in his ninth ballot and usually hovered between the mid 40 to upper 50% range. He played 22 pro seasons in total with all 18 of his BSA years with La Paz, posting 2475 hits, 1357 runs, 354 doubles, 639 home runs, 1582 RBI, a .253/.325/.490 slash, and 82.9 WAR. As of 2037, he’s the only eligible BSA player with 600+ homers to not make the cut. There were other guys who got in with less impressive tallies too, but Cavazos only won Silver Slugger once and never was a league leader, causing some to dismiss him as a compiler. La Paz being lousy during the run didn’t help. Also dropped after ten ballots was another 1B, Martin Vera. He never got much traction, ending at 4.4% and peaking at 14.5%. His BSA run was too brief between Sao Paulo and Recife, although he won two Silver Sluggers with 1848 hits, 830 runs, 332 doubles, 109 home runs, 609 RBI, 793 stolen bases, a .323/.370/.481 slash, and 52.9 WAR. If a tenured home run hitting 1B didn’t get in, a high contact, low power one with a short career had no chance. Valor Melo – First Base – Salvador Storm – 98.6% First Ballot Valor Melo was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed first baseman from ibiracu, a town of around 12,000 people in the eastern Brazilian state Espirito Santo. Despite his humble beginnings, Melo emerged as one of the most impressive home run hitters in baseball history. He combined his prolific power with excellent contact skills and a good eye, although his strikeout rate was middling. 12 times, Melo had seasons with 50+ homers, while also averaging around 25 doubles per year. He exclusively played first base defensively and was perfectly adequate with his glove. Melo was also a legendary ironman, starting in 145+ games in all but his first and final seasons. He was also a great leader, loyal, and a hard worker. Melo was a true fan favorite and a beloved baseball icon not just with his main team Salvador or his home country of Brazil, but with the entire South American baseball community. Melo’s power potential was obvious to teams as he became eligible in the 1969 BSA Draft. With the 6^th overall pick, Salvador selected him and he became synonymous with the Storm. In 1970, Melo was barely used as a pinch hitter, but he became a full-time starter in 1971. He smacked 40 home runs as a rookie to win Rookie of the Year honors. Melo had 34 homers in 1972, which would be his last time hitting less than 45 until his final two seasons. Melo always had the home run power, but he put together the complete hitting package in 1973. He crushed 66 home runs, setting a new BSA single-season record and passing Amadeus Ribieiro’s old best of 62. His 143 RBI also fell four short of Mike Andrades’ single-season best. Shocking no one, Melo won his first MVP and Silver Slugger. This also led Salvador to a franchise-record 110-52 mark, ending a decade-long playoff drought. Melo had 12 hits, 9 runs, and 3 homers in the playoffs as the Storm won Copa Sudamerica for the second time in franchise history. Clearly, Melo had arrived, but somehow he had only begun to scratch the surface. Over his 15 years starting for Salvador, Melo led the Southern Cone League in runs scored six times, home runs nine times, RBI eight times, total bases seven times, OBP once, slugging six times, OPS six times, wRC+ five times, and WAR five times. Melo had eight straight seasons worth 9+ WAR and had 7+ WAR in all of his full seasons with Salvador sans his rookie campaign. He won seven straight Silver Sluggers from 1974-80, then won twice more in 1984 and 85. Melo also won five straight MVPs from 1976-80. As of 2037, he’s the only BSA player with six MVPs to his name. He also took second in 1974, 1975, 1984, and 1985. In 1974 and 1975, he hit only 50 and 51 home runs. Salavdor won 108 games in 1974, but fell in the LCS to Cordoba. They remained good the next four years, but were just outside of the playoffs. Melo also played for Brazil in the World Baseball Championship from 1971-86. In 177 games and 153 starts, he had 152 hits, 115 runs, 21 doubles, 61 home runs, 114 RBI, a .269/.378/.636 slash, and 9.3 WAR. In part inspired by Melo’s towering dongs, BSA adjusted the rules after the 1974 season to encourage higher scoring. Melo’s single-season home run record fell as Afonso Revela clubbed 69. A.J. Nunez also bested the RBI record, setting the new high mark at 151. Melo saw that as a challenge and in 1976, broke the homer record again with 74 and tied the RBI mark. 74 homers was also a new world record, passing Carl Valdes’ 71 in 1972 in EAB. Melo also set a new record for total bases (469), slugging (.807), OPS (1.241) and had only the 6^th 13+ season for a BSA hitter. His mark remained the OPS record until 2023 and the slugging record until 2029. Melo had fewer hits and slightly lower numbers in most of the stats the next year, but he bested his own home run mark with 76. In 1979, he smashed another 76 home runs and beat his total bases record with 473. As of 2037, 76 home runs is still the Beisbol Sudamerica record and it wouldn’t be topped in any world league until 2006. He also was the first player to hit 70+ in three or more seasons. The total bases mark held as the BSA record until 2022 and is still fourth best even in present day. 1979 also marked the return of Salvador to the playoffs. Melo won LCS MVP and had 14 hits, 9 runs, 4 home runs, and 11 RBI in the playoffs as the Storm won Copa Sudamerica over La Paz. Salvador won division titles again in 1980 and 1981. In 1981, Melo was both LCS MVP and Copa Sudamerica MVP as the Storm took the title over Quito. In this playoff run, Melo smacked 8 home runs in 11 games with 16 hits, 13 runs, and 17 RBI. This would ultimately be his final time in the playoffs, but he certainly left a remarkable legacy in getting three rings for Salvador. The Storm won 99 games in 1982, but just missed the division title to Recife. They would fall to 80 wins the next year and begin to rebuild for the rest of the decade. Melo wasn’t setting single season records anymore, but he was still excellent, hitting 57 home runs at age 36. He passed Digeo Pena’s 725 to become the career home run king. In 1985, he became the first BSA batter to reach 800. He also passed Pena’s 1754 for the most RBI and Javier Herrera’s mark of 1639 runs scored. Reaching those milestones in a Salvador uniform was very important for Melo and the fans. The Storm had their fourth straight losing season though and Melo was entering the last year of his contract. Ultimately in February 1986, the 37-year old was traded to Caracas for prospects Nestor Padeira and Alarico Oliverira. It was heartbreaking for Melo and many Storm fans, although he remained a beloved franchise icon. His #7 uniform would be retired immediately at the end of his career and he would be an ambassador and icon for years to come. Caracas had been a playoff team the prior year and hoped Melo could get them over the hump, but his heart clearly wasn’t in it. He had by far his worst season with a .265 average, 2.3 WAR and only 22 home runs. Melo became a free agent and Recife signed him to a two-year, $1,660,000 deal hoping to recapture the magic. He was clearly washed though and struggled even in a limited pinch hit role, only hitting one homer in 101 plate appearances. Melo retired after the season at age 39. For his career, Melo had 2915 hits, 1708 runs, 414 doubles, 870 home runs, 1862 RBI, 854 walks, a .309/.371/.640 slash, 197 wRC+, and 140.9 WAR. At induction, Melo was BSA’s all-time leader in homers, runs, RBI, and total bases. He also had the best OPS of any Hall of Famer and was fourth in batting WAR and tenth in hits. Melo’s 870 homers at induction was also the fourth most for any pro player. Later eras of increased offense saw him fall down some leaderboards, but as of 2037, Melo is still third in homers, eighth in RBI, 11^th in runs, and fifth in batting WAR. He remains one of the pillars of South American baseball history and is one of the finest sluggers of any era, plus he helped Salvador win three rings. As a pure bat, he’s on the short-list when discussing who the BSA GOAT is among position players. Melo’s 98.6% percentage is too low. Thiago Granja – Pitcher- Buenos Aires Atlantics – 98.0% First Ballot Thiago Granja was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Mercedes, an Argentinian city of around 50,000 people located 100 kilometers west of Buenos Aires. Granja had overpowering stuff with a 98-100 mph fastball mixed with a devastating changeup and a good slider. His control was above average with his movement mid-grade. He was viewed as very durable, pitching 230+ innings in each of his South American seasons but one. Despite his regular innings, Granja was on the lower end in terms of complete games compared to his contemporaries. Growing up not far from Buenos Aries, the Atlantics were very aware of Granja’s amateur exploits. Thus, BA picked him fourth overall in the 1972 BSA Draft. He was a full-time starter immediately and had an incredible rookie season with a 2.26 ERA, 350 strikeouts, and 9.5 WAR. Granja easily scored 1973 Rookie of the Year and his 9.5 WAR stands as the second-most ever for a ROY winner, behind only Timoteo Caruso’s 9.9 WAR on the mound in 1936. The Atlantics clearly struck gold with Granja. He helped turnaround the team’s fortunes, as they had bottomed out at 58-104 in 1971. Buenos Aires would make the playoffs seven times from 1975-82. Granja led the Southern Cone League in strikeouts four straight seasons from 1974-77, including a high of 390 in his sophomore season. He struck out 300+ in each of his years with the Atlantics. He also led in WAR with 10.2 in 1974. Granja never won Pitcher of the Year despite his early success, taking second in 1975 and third in 1977. In his first six seasons, Granja had 54.1 WAR and 2167 strikeouts. Granja was excellent in the 1975 playoffs, posting a 1.17 ERA and 3-0 record over 23 innings with 32 strikeouts. This helped Buenos Aires claim Copa Sudamerica. The Atlantics fell in the Southern Cone Championship in the next four seasons, but won the Cup again in 1980. After dropping to .500 in 1981, Buenos Aires won a weak division in 1982 at 84-78. Still, they won the pennant that season, falling to Barquisimeto in Copa Sudamerica. For his playoff career with the Atlantics, Granja had a 10-4 record, 2.23 ERA, 125 innings, 149 strikeouts, and 3.0 WAR. Granja was also a regular for Argentina in the World Baseball Championship from 1973-88. He posted a 2.66 ERA and 16-10 record over 209.2 innings with 319 strikeouts, 69 walks, and 7.6 WAR. Despite the amazing start to his career, Granja never hit the same heights in the later two thirds of his career. He was still a fine pitcher, but he wasn’t a league leader or award finalist again. Still, over a decade with Buenos Aires, he posted a 168-103 record, 2.61 ERA, 2531 innings, 3459 strikeouts, 491 walks, 66 FIP-, and 77.3 WAR. Granja also had two no-hitters with Buenos Aires, including a remarkable 20 strikeout, one walk effort against Rosario on September 21, 1975. This tied the record for most Ks in a no-no, previously reached in 1945 by Luisao Capucho. Granja’s second no-hitter also came against Rosario with 15 strikeouts and two walks on May 15, 1980. Granja had signed a five-year, $2,326,000 contract extension with Buenos Aires after the 1977 season. He was 33 years old when that contract ended after the 1982 season, coming off statistically one of his weaker seasons. Granja was still a very good pitcher, but Buenos Aires wasn’t prepared to give him the big contract he wanted. Still, he remained an important part of the franchise’s impressive run and his #8 uniform would later be retired. Granja opted to stay in Argentina, signing a five-year, $3,270,000 deal with Cordoba. The Chanticleer run ultimately lasted three and a half seasons with steady and reliable production. The signing immediately paid off, as Cordoba ended an eight-year playoff drought in 1983, although they fell in the LCS. After missing the playoffs in 1984, the Chanticleers won the 1985 Copa Sudamerica. This gave Granja his third ring, posting a 3.28 ERA over 35.2 playoff starts with Cordoba. For the full tenure, he had a 2.89 ERA, 54-40 record, 890.1 innings, 1117 strikeouts, 152 walks, and 22.0 WAR. 1986 statistically was actually Granja’s best year since his 20s, but Cordoba struggled and finished with only 70 wins. They were sellers at the trade deadline, moving Granja to La Paz for three prospects. He finished out the season for the Pump jacks and was ready for 1987, but Granja suffered his first injury setbacks. A sprained AC joint cost him 2-3 months, then a partially torn labrum shortly after cost him the rest of the year. Granja only made two starts in 1987 for La Paz and became a free agent that winter at age 38. Granja wasn’t ready to call it quits and MLB’s Boston Red Sox were willing to give the veteran a chance with a generous three-year, $4,700,000 deal. He made 28 starts with Boston and was delightfully mid as his velocity had dropped into the mid 90s. The Red Sox cut him during spring training 1989. Phoenix signed him to finish out the year, although he only saw 32 MLB innings and one playoff relief appearance. Granja retired that winter at age 39. For his Beisbol Sudamerica career, Granja had a 231-148 record, 2.70 ERA, 3539.2 innings, 4718 strikeouts, 657 walks, 329/453 quality starts, 69 FIP-, and 102.2 WAR. Many thought he could be on a GOAT trajectory after his first few years, but even though he wasn’t dominant in the back-end, Granja still put together impressive tallies. At induction, he was sixth in strikeouts and 13^th in pitching WAR. His playoff production was excellent as well, playing a key role in titles for both Buenos Aires and Cordoba. The voters didn’t need much convincing, as Granja was a first ballot selection at 98.0% to join Valor Melo in the impressive two-man 1993 class. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-09-2024, 01:16 PM	#958
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 EBF Hall of Fame Two players earned inductions into the European Baseball Federation’s Hall of Fame in 1993. On his eighth ballot, pitcher Ugo Musacci finally got the bump over the 66% threshold with a 77.3% mark. 1B Remo Galloppa got in as a first ballot selection, albeit barely at 68.0%. SP Torger Thelin fell frustratingly short in his fifth ballot at 65.0%. SP Jose Calderon also had a solid showing on his third attempt, but missed at 59.3%. No players were dropped following ten failed ballots. Ugo “Hands” Musacci – Pitcher – Hartford Huskies – 77.3% Eighth Ballot Ugo Musacci was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Este, a town of around 15,000 people in northern Italy. Nicknamed “Hands” for his very large hands, Musacci had stellar stuff with excellent control and good movement. His fastball hit the 97-99 mph range and he mixed it expertly with a slider, curveball, splitter, and changeup; becoming a dominant strikeout pitcher in his prime. Musacci was also known for strong stamina and durability for much of his run. He was also a very intelligent pitcher, knowing when to pick his spots to fool batters. Musacci left Italy for Brunel University in Uxbridge, England for his college career. When he was eligible for the 1964 EBF Draft, he was selected eighth overall by Malta. Musacci was immediately a full-time starter, although his rookie year was rough as he hadn’t mastered his control yet. He improved it tremendously to post a solid second season, then emerged as elite by his third season. From 1967-70, Musacci won four consecutive Pitcher of the Year awards. He led in strikeouts each season, including becoming the first EBF pitcher to fan 400+ with 407 in 1969. Musacci led in ERA in both 1967 and 1968. The 1969 effort was worth 14.3 WAR, still the EBF single-season record for a pitching season as of 2037. He also had 13.1 in 1970, one of only nine seasons in EBF history worth 13+ for a pitcher. Musacci also pitched for Italy in these early years in the World Baseball Championship. From 1968-74, he had a 1.68 ERA over 17 starts and 123 innings with 182 strikeouts, 27 walks, and 5.9 WAR. The frustrations began to mount still for Musacci, as Malta was perennially a bottom tier team. Their best record during his tenure was 82-80 in 1968. Amazingly for the forlorn Marvels, that would be their best record until 2007. Musacci wasn’t optimistic that they’d start contending if he stuck around and he had no shortage of suitors. He decided to leave for free agency after the 1970 season at only 27 years old. His six year run with Malta was remarkable statistically with a 106-61 record, 2.54 ERA, 1532.1 innings, 1988 strikeouts to 328 walks, 57 FIP-, and 57.2 WAR. His departure from Malta and EBF created a rift with many in European baseball. It is part of the reason he had to wait eight ballots ultimately to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. Even then, Musacci insisted that when he was inducted that wasn’t wearing Malta’s hat. He’s the only player to be inducted wearing the cap of a team that isn’t even in that league, donning the Hartford Huskies grab. As you may be aware, Hartford, Connecticut is in fact not in Europe. Hartford ended up winning the Musacci sweepstakes, signing him to a seven-year, $2,104,000 contract. His dominance translated perfectly to Major League Baseball, winning Pitcher of the Year in his first two seasons with the Huskies. Musacci also won in 1976, giving him seven POTYs total. He led the National Association five times in strikeouts, six times in K/BB, and thrice in WAR. Musacci posted three seasons of 10+ WAR. His 0.85 WHIP in 1972 also set a new MLB record that held until 1989. Much to Musacci’s chagrin, Hartford didn’t fare much better than Malta during his tenure despite being successful in the 1950s and 1960s. Their best effort was 84-78 as Musacci got caught up in what was ultimately a 14-year playoff drought for the Huskies. He kept better relations with Hartford despite this frustration, but was ready to again enter free agency when his seven-year deal ended. With the Huskies, Musacci had a 103-84 record, 2.86 ERA, 1824 innings, 1891 strikeouts, 270 walks, 64 FIP-, and 60.3 WAR. Notably, Musacci’s last season had been his worst with fewer than 200 strikeouts for the first time, although he was still worth 5.9 WAR. The possible decline didn’t scare away Philadelphia, who signed him to a four-year, $2,440,000 deal. Musacci regressed hard, as his velocity dropped into the low 90s. His one season with the Phillies saw a lackluster 4.18 ERA and only 91 strikeouts in 200 innings. He did get to make his only playoff appearance, 2.2 innings of relief work. After looking no better in 1979 spring training, Philadelphia cut their losses. Musacci went back to the EBF and his home country Italy as Naples gave him a shot on a one-year, $402,000 deal. He was clearly cooked at this point and was shipped out in a multi-player deal at the deadline to Glasgow. He only pitched six innings in Scotland. Musacci wasn’t ready to quit and was signed again by Naples in June 1980, only making nine relief appearances. He would spend 1981 in the American minors with San Diego’s affiliate Chula Vista, even getting shellacked there. Musacci finally called it quits at age 38 after the season. For his entire pro career, Musacci had a 229-166 record, 2.85 ERA, 3732.1 innings, 4058 strikeouts to 650 walks, 333/475 quality starts, a 65 FIP-, and 121.6 WAR. That would be a lock in any Hall of Fame if it was all in the same league, but his career stats were split almost evenly between MLB and EBF. He actually had more MLB tenure with a 116-92 record, 2.99 ERA, 2024 innings, 1982 strikeouts, 298 walks, 68 FIP-, and 63.0 WAR. However, Musacci’s steep decline, lack of accumulations, and lack of playoff success meant the MLB Hall of Famer voters were underwhelmed. He debuted on that ballot at 14.3% and fell off at 4.1% on his eighth try. For Musacci’s EBF career, almost entirely off the strength of the Malta tear, he had a 113-74 record, 2.69 ERA, 1708.1 innings, 2076 strikeouts, 352 walks, 145/204 quality starts, 62 FIP-, and 58.6 WAR. It was a tough sell for many voters as he’d have easily the fewest innings and wins of any EBF Hall of Fame starter. Plus, his lackluster late return to EBF hurt him with some. The way the Malta run ended soured other voters. But still, Musacci’s six-year run with the Marvels is possibly the most dominant any pitcher has even been in that short a stretch. Sympathetic voters gave him some credit for what he did in Hartford, assuming that he would’ve done similar or better had he stayed in EBF. Musacci debuted at only 49.5% and dropped to 45.2% on his second ballot, but he slowly climbed back up. He missed at 64.9% on his sixth try and 62.0% on his seventh. Finally on the eighth go with a fairly weak ballot overall, Musacci got an appreciable bump up to 77.3%, securing his spot in the EBF Hall of Fame. Remo “Racehorse” Galloppa – First/Second Base – Athens Anchors – 68.0% First Ballot Remo Galloppa was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting infielder from Heuvelland, a municipality of around 8,000 people in the Belgian province of West Flanders. He earned the nickname “Racehorse” in part for his blistering speed and in part because “Galloppa” is close to “gallop.” He was a talented lead-off hitter with great contact ability and a low strikeout rate while being decent at drawing walks. Galloppa had good pop in his bat, although he only averaged around 15 home runs per year. With his excellent speed and baserunning chops, he managed around 25 doubles and another 20 triples per season. Defensively, Galloppa made about 2/3s of his starts at first base and the rest at second. He was a terrible defender at second, where he started his career. However, Galloppa excelled at first, winning five Gold Gloves (1977, 78, 79, 82, 83). He was very popular and known as a team captain and excellent leader. Although his career was relatively short, Galloppa was also known for being quite durable. He’s known for playing his entire pro career with Athens, but that’s not where it started for Galloppa. He was picked 27th overall in the 1971 EBF Draft by Marseille. Trying to make a push in the summer of 1972 for a playoff spot, the Musketeers traded him and another prospect to Athens for pitcher Nikolaos Georgopoulou. Galloppa made a few pinch hit appearances that summer, but he’d sit on the reserve roster for all of 1973 and 1974. In 1975, he became a full-time member of the Athens roster. He was a part-time starter that season, but assumed the full-time role the next season. Galloppa also started player for his native Belgium in 1975 in the World Baseball Championship. From 1975-87, he had 108 games and 105 starts with 127 hits, 75 runs, 15 doubles, 14 home runs, 40 RBI, a .306/.379/.472 slash, and 4.4 WAR. Galloppa emerged as a growing conern in 1977 when he led the Southern Conference in hits, runs, triples, and batting average. The Anchors also ended a seven-year playoff drought, although they went one-and-done. In 1978, Galloppa led in runs and stolen bases. He won conference finals MVP and posted 20 hits, 9 runs, and 14 stolen bases in the playoffs, leading Athens to its first-ever conference title. They lost to his home country squad Brussels ultimately in the European Championship. Athens won three more division titles, although couldn’t get out of the first round. Galloppa finished with 41 hits, 14 runs, 6 doubles, 18 RBI, and 23 stolen bases in 32 playoff starts. Despite his success, with competition from traditional sluggers at first base, Galloppa’s only Silver Slugger was 1979. That year, he was second in MVP voting as well, leading the conference in total bases 9364) and batting average (.336). He also had career highs in hits, doubles, home runs, and WAR. Galloppa led in hits and triples again in 1981 and would lead four times in his career in stolen bases. He had seven seasons of 7+ WAR from 1976-83.. Athens began to rebuild in the mid 1980s and Galloppa saw his role reduced. He made 105 starts in 1984, then was primarily a pinch hitter or pinch runner for the next three years. Galloppa was still an appreciated team captain, although his use wasn’t justifying the eight-year, $5,910,000 extension he had gotten before the 1980 season. He still had good production when he was used until his final season, where he hit a terrible .205. With the big contract ending after the 1987 season, Galloppa opted to retire at age 36. That winter, Athens retired his #28 uniform. For his career, Galloppa had 2052 hits, 1119 runs, 277 doubles, 245 triples, 165 home runs, 860 RBI, 996 stolen bases, a .317/.364/.513 slash, 152 wRC+, and 74.4 WAR. He quietly built up pretty solid stats in a small time frame, but most voters expected dingers from their first basemen. Galloppa didn’t quite fit the traditional mode and there were voters who knocked him for lack of accumulations, especially in homers and RBI. But he was very well respected as a great leader and a lovely person, plus had the bump of playing with one franchise. Galloppa secured a first ballot induction, albeit barely at 68.0%, to join Ugo Musacci in EBF’s 1993 Hall of Fame class. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-09-2024, 05:51 PM	#959
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 EPB Hall of Fame The 1993 class for the Eurasian Professional Baseball Hall of Fame was a sturdy one with three guys getting in on the first ballot. All-time home run leader Konrad Mazur led the way at 96.4%, joined by pitchers Nurlan Rahmonov and Carymyrat Kurbanow at 96.0% and 83.5%, respectively. LF Emin Ismayilov received 56.8% on his third ballot, falling short again. Also above 50% was 1B Ilkin Hasanov at 51.2% on his debut and 1B Bartlomiej Tarka at 50.2% for his fourth try. One player was dropped after ten ballots in catcher Samir Allahverdiyev. He had a 22-year career with Tbilisi, winning 11 Silver Sluggers and five Gold Gloves. The Azeri righty was another victim of the anti-catcher bias of Hall of Fame voters. Allahverdiyev had 2110 hits, 958 runs, 404 doubles, 349 home runs, 1063 RBI, a .248/.301/.428 slash, and 87.6 WAR. The usual issue of catchers getting low accumulations, plus Tbilisi’s lack of deep playoff runs, sunk him. Allahverdiyev debuted at 44.9% and ended at 14.5%. Allahverdiyev as of 2037 is the all-time EPB leader at catcher in games, runs, hits, total bases, singles, doubles, home runs, RBI, WAR, starts, assists, putouts, total chances, double plays, and innings played. Yet, the anti-catcher bias kept him out. As of 2037, there still hasn’t been a single catcher added to the EPB Hall. If Allahverdiyev’s run wasn’t worthy, then no catcher may ever make the cut. Konrad Mazur – Third Base – Bucharest Broncos – 96.4% First Ballot Konrad Mazur was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Ustka, a spa town of around 17,000 people in northern Poland. He was a prolific home run hitter who hit the ball incredibly hard anytime he made contact. The trouble was, Mazur was a subpar contact hitter with an abysmal 35.7% strikeout rate for his career. He also drew shockingly few walks for a guy with his power. Mazur had okay speed and fairly good baserunning chops compared to most sluggers. He was primarily a third baseman, although he had some starts at first in his later years. Mazur was a below average defender, but not a liability. Some questioned his work ethic at times, but he was very durable and reliably gave you 145+ starts each season. Mazur was noticed as a 15-year old amateur by scouts despite being from a small town in Poland. It was Budapest that ended up signing him to a developmental deal, sending him south to Hungary for the first half of his professional career. He made his debut at age 21 in 1968 as a pinch hitter primarily. He was a part-time starter in 1969 and got his first chance at the postseason. The Bombers would make the playoffs in 1969 and 1972 during Mazur’s run, but went one-and-done both years. In his second full season, Mazur led the European League with 49 home runs and 95 runs. He won his first Silver Slugger, playing as a designated hitter. It was his lone season leading in runs. It was also the first of 13 seasons that Mazur had more strikeouts than anyone else in the league. He struggled in 1971, but bounced back in 1972 with 48 home runs and 7.4 WAR to earn his second Silver Slugger (first at 3B) and a third place in MVP voting. From here, Mazur hit 30 or more homers for the next 13 years, topping 40 dingers nine more times. He won a third Silver Slugger in 1974 for the Bombers. Mazur also became a regular for Poland in the World Baseball Championship. From 1970-86, he had 109 games and 93 starts, 82 hits, 57 runs, 37 home runs, 57 RBI, a .229/.285/.561 slash, and 3.6 WAR. He spent eight seasons on Budapest’s active roster, posting 999 hits, 507 runs, 265 home runs, 577 RBI, a .242/.271/.481 slash, and 32.4 WAR. It appeared the Bombers were committed long-term to Mazur, signing a seven-year, $1,718,000 extension prior to the 1975 season. Budapest had won 88 games the prior year and felt they were close to being a regular contender. However, both the team and Mazur fell off a bit and saw a 77-85 record in 1975. That would be his last year in Hungary, as he was part of a blockbuster trade on October 30. The Bombers sent Mazur and a prospect to Bucharest in exchange for class of 1991 Hall of Famer LF Ivan Valev and a prospect. This began what would be Mazur’s most famous tenure. He was a more consistent performer in Romania and put up relatively consistent stats for more than a decade. He won Silver Sluggers in 1978, 79, 81, 82, and 83; giving him eight for his career. Mazur never won MVP, but took third in 1981 and 1982. He seemingly got better with age, as those two efforts came in his mid 30s. He had a career high 56 homers in 1981 and career bests in RBI (130) and WAR (8.8) in 1982. The dawn of the 1980s also saw the dawn of success for Bucharest, who had been generally terrible from the mid 1960s through the 1970s. They made the playoffs six times from 1981-87, although they went one-and-done in all but one of those seasons. 1984 was a special run all the way to the EPB Championship with Mazur winning finals MVP. In that run, he had 14 hits, 8 runs, 7 home runs, and 20 RBI over 19 playoff starts. Despite a .177 average, Mazur’s 20 RBI tied an EPB playoff record. He also set a playoff record for strikeouts at 31. Mazur started climbing the home run leaderboards, seemingly in a race to catch Zina Gigolashvili’s mark alongside Ivan Valev, the guy he was traded for back in 1975. Interestingly enough despite his impressive final tallies, Mazur only led the league twice in home runs and only once in RBI. Valev would retire in 1985 at 691, still short of Gigolashvili’s record 720 homers. Mazur closed the 1985 campaign with 684 and although he still had 44 homers that year, he had a career worst 238 strikeouts and .202 average. In 1986, Mazur’s strikeout rate was a career worst 40.5%, but he managed to improve his average and hit another 44 home runs, passing both Valev and Gigolashvili to become the all-time EPB home run king. This also put him at 1664 RBI, short of Valev’s all-time mark of 1699. Mazur came back for one more season in 1987 at age 40, although he largely struggled and only played 69 games. Still, he got 38 RBI to pass Valev for the all-time mark. His 117 strikeouts also gave him a regrettable distinction, the first player in any world league to strike out 4000 times in a career. Mazur retired that winter and Bucharest quickly retired his #19 uniform. Mazur’s final stats: 2570 hits, 1387 runs, 404 dobules, 740 home runs, 1702 RBI, 4051 strikeouts, 442 walks, a .237/.268/.490 slash, 138 wRC+, and 92.4 WAR. As of 2037, Mazur is still EPB’s all-time home run king and sits fourth in RBI and 20^th in batting WAR. He also was the world leader in whiffs and would be the only player in pro baseball history with 4000+ strikeouts until getting passed by WAB’s Abdel Aziz Ashraf in the mid 2030s. Mazur’s windmill tendencies keep him from getting mentioned in the GOAT hitter conversations, but dingers still get you a long way. Being the home run king and winning a ring will make you a lock even with other deficiencies and Mazur earned his first ballot spot at 96.4%. Nurlan Rahmonov – Pitcher – Dushanbe Dynamo – 96.0% First Ballot Nurlan Rahmonov was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Karakul, Uzbekistan, a small town of around 22,000 people in the Bukhara Region. Rahmonov was a fireballer with a 99-101 mph fastball mixed with solid control and above average movement. He also had a solid slider and a circle change, leading to an extreme groundball tendency. Rahmonov had good stamina and durability for most of his run. Rahmonov was picked 16^th overall in the 1968 EPB Draft by Dushanbe. He’d spend his entire pro career in Tajikistan, although he was a regular for his native Uzbekistan in the World Baseball Championship. From 1970-87, he pitched 241 WBC innings with a 4.37 ERA, 12-12 record, 287 strikeouts, and 2.4 WAR. At the start of his run with Dushanbe, Rahmonov was used as a reliever. He had only 14.1 innings in his first year, but was a regular out of the bullpen the next two seasons. He led the Asian League in saves and games in 1971. Rahmonov was split between the bullpen and rotation in 1972, but he became a full-time starter from 1973 through to the end of his career. In 1973, he led the league in WAR at 9.4 and posted a career high 326 strikeouts. This earned Rahmonov his lone Pitcher of the Year award. He would take second in 1979, leading that year in innings pitched. Rahmonov generally wasn’t a league leader, but he had six seasons worth 7+ WAR and nine seasons with 300+ strikeouts. Dushanbe was a regular contender during his run, as they made the playoffs nine times in his tenure. The Dynamo had bad luck in most of their runs, but they went 108-54 in 1981 and claimed the EPB championship. Rahmonov had a 2.70 ERA over 33.1 playoff innings and 32 strikeouts in that postseason. For his entire playoff career, Rahmonov posted a 2.27 ERA over 103 innings with a 7-7 record and three saves, 90 strikeouts, and 1.8 WAR. Rahmonov continued his steady production into his 30s. In 1985 at age 37, he tossed his lone no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and two walks against Omsk on May 23. In 1986, he became the third EPB pitcher to 250 career wins. In 1987, he was the fifth to reach 4500 strikeouts. By these final two years, Rahmonov’s productivity had fallen to around below average numbers. He opted to retire after the 1987 season at age 40. Dushanbe quickly retired his #29 uniform. For his career, Rahmonov had a 264-206 record, 2.49 ERA, 4389.1 innings, 4573 strikeouts, 744 walks, 365/504 quality starts, 239 complete games, 77 FIP-, and 107.5 WAR. He wasn’t generally viewed as a tip-top pitcher, but he quietly was very good for a long time. As of 2037, he’s 15^th all-time in pitching WAR, 14^th in strikeouts, and 11^th in wins. His resume was more than enough to earn the Hall of Fame spot, getting the first ballot selection at 96.0%. Carymyrat Kurbanow – Pitcher – St. Petersburg Polar Bears – 83.5% First Ballot Carymyrat Kurbanow was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Asgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Kurbanow got by on having very powerful and impressive stuff with 98-100 mph peak velocity. This made up for having control issues early on as well as very poor movement. Still, the speed on his cutter and slider, plus a fantastic changeup, made Kurbanow a success despite the lousy movement and control woes. His ability to change speeds helped him become an elite strikeout pitcher in his prime. Kurbanow’s career started when a scout from Krasnoyarsk signed him as a teenage amateur in 1963. He spent nine years almost entirely in the developmental system with the Coassacks. Kurbanow had one appearance in relief in 1970 and 11 in 1972. Dissatisfied with his slow progress, Krasnoyarsk traded him and catcher Igor Razinsky in the spring of 1973 to St. Petersburg for catcher Aleksei Nizov and SP Shota Levkov. Kurbanow was used as a reliever in his Polar Bears debut with promising results. He was moved to the rotation full-time the next year and he solved his control issues, although he still ahd trouble allowing home runs. Kurbanow posted nine consecutive seasons with 300+ strikeouts and led the European League in Ks from 1975-80. He was third in Pitcher of the Year in 1977, but never won the award. Although the strikeouts were exciting, Kurbanow still gave up enough runs to get passed over for recognitions St. Petersburg was a success during Kurbanow’s tenure, making the playoffs six straight seasons from 1974-79. The Polar Bears won the European League pennant in both 1976 and 1977; additionally taking the Soviet Series in 1977. For his playoff career, Kurbanow had a 2.51 ERA and 8-4 record over 14 games with 104 innings, 138 strikeouts, and 1.9 WAR. He also had appearances for Turkmenistan in the World Baseball Championship in 1977 and 1978, although they usually didn’t qualify for the event. Along with winning the league title, 1977 was special for Kurbanow as he tossed a perfect game. It came on April 21 against Kyiv with 12 strikeouts. Kurbanow had also pitched a no-hitter the prior year with 18 strikeouts and two walks against Riga on 7/10/76. These big performances convinced St. Petersburg to sign Kurbanow to a five-year, $1,950,000 extension before the 1980 season. While still usually above .500, the Polar Bears weren’t a real championship contender in the 1980s. Rotator cuff injuries started costing Kurbanow some innings and strikeouts, but he was still valuable when on his game. This was most notable in 1984, whne he tossed two no-hitters. The first was 8/12 against Riga with 10 strikeouts and two walks, followed by a 13 K, 1 BB walk effort over Sofia on 9/17. He joined Artur Golub as the only EPB pitchers to that point to have thrown four no-hitters in their career. Kurbanow signed a two-year extension after the 1985 season, but he suffered a torn flexor tendon in his elbow in his first inning of 1986. He attempted a comeback in 1987, but only got two starts into the season. Shoulder inflammation would knock him out another seven months. Kurbanow decided to call it quits here at age 40. St. Petersburg retired his #33 uniform as an important part of their 1970s successes. Kurbanow’s final stats: 183-145 record, 2.87 ERA, 3237.2 innings, 4135 strikeouts, 558 walks, 259/379 quality starts, 90 FIP-, and 56.9 WAR. His case was an interesting one as all but one eligible pitcher that got to 4000 Ks earned inducition. He did it in fewer innings than most, but his ERA and WAR stats were weaker than most. At that point, only Bataar Baatarkhuu had earned induction with a worse career ERA. Kurbanow also didn’t have the major awards of many of his contemporaries. Working in his favor though was the playoff runs with the Polar Bears and his no-hitters. The voters ended up sold on Kurbanow, putting him in with 83.5% on the first ballot to round out EPB’s 1993 Hall of Fame class. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)

02-10-2024, 03:10 AM	#960
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,572	1993 OBA Hall of Fame The Oceania Baseball Association had an impressive three player Hall of Fame class for 1993, each earning first ballot status with more than 85%. Interestingly enough, all three were pitchers and all three were inducted wearing Auckland’s hat. SP Nigel Chalmers was the star at 98.8%, joined by reliever Scott Kyle at 91.9% and starter William Joma at 88.2%. No other players were above 50% and none were dropped after ten failed ballots. Nigel Chalmers – Starting Pitcher – Auckland Avengers – 98.8% First Ballot Nigel Chalmers was a 6’0’’, 195 pound left-handed pitcher from Radcliffe, a market town of around 30,000 people within Greater Manchester in England. Chalmers was a hard thrower with 98-100 mph peak velocity, giving him good stuff along with solid control and decent movement. He had a solid fastball and curveball, excellent changeup, and decent slider. Chalmers was very durable with respectable stamina. He was also a team captain, known for excellent leadership and work ethic. This helped make Chalmers one of the most popular and respected pitchers of the era. After growing up in England, Chalmers attended Thames Valley University in London for his college career. He was expected to be a top prospect for the European Baseball Federation, but he surprised many by deciding forgo the EBF for the OBA. Chalmers had family ties to Australia and a certain affinity for the Oceania area. OBA officials were happy to have him, although due to the regional restrictions of the draft, he wasn’t eligible until the fourth round. Auckland had the first pick of the round and was delighted to bring Chalmers to New Zealand with the 55^th overall pick in 1970. He only saw 10.1 innings in 1971, then was split between the bullpen and rotation the next year. From 1973 onward, he would pitch 250+ innings in all but his final season. Chalmers’ durability meant he regularly topped 300 innings in the unique four-man rotation environment in OBA. Although he loved playing in Australia, Chalmers still was a regular for England in the World Baseball Championship. From 1972-87, he tossed 233 innings with a 2.39 ERA, 18-11 record, 312 strikeouts, 70 walks, and 8.5 WAR. By 1975, Chalmers had emerged as a true ace, posting 9.9 WAR and a 2-8 record that year with a 1.97 ERA. He was a Pitcher of the Year finalist for the first time, finishing second. Perhaps most importantly, Auckland won the Australasia League title for the second-time in franchise history, setting a franchise record at 108-54. They would fall to Tahiti in the Oceania Championship, although Chalmers had a solid 2.25 ERA in 16 innings. Chalmers would post 10 consecutive seasons worth 7.5+ WAR from 1974-83. He led the AL in wins four times, but only led in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP once. He landed Pitcher of the Year in 1979 and 1982, with 1982 boasting a league best 1.84 ERA and 0.75 WHIP along with 10.2 WAR. Chalmers was regularly a POTY finalist, taking second in 1977, third in 1978, second in 1980, and second in 1981. Getting the award twice was really tough considering he had to share a league with Nathaniel Doloran in the 1970s and Tarzan Rao in the 1980s. Doloran won the top honor five times and Rao took it six times. Chalmers also had two no-hitters, the first on 6/15/76 with 15 strikeouts and two walks against Melbourne, and the second with 9 Ks and two walks on 9/14/81 over Gold Coast. Auckland was good, but just outside of the top spot to close the 1970s. The Avengers would then put together a dynasty run with AL titles in 1981, 82, and 84. Auckland won its first OBA title in 1981 and Chalmers was finals MVP, tossing 17 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts in two starts. Over eight playoff starts in his career, Chalmers had an impressive 1.63 ERA over 60.2 innings with 66 strikeouts, 6 walks, and 2.3 WAR. Chalmers committed long-term to the Avengers with a seven-year, $2,590,000 extension beginning in 1980. His production only started to fade towards the end of the run. Chalmers hit notable milestones in his later years, including becoming the first OBA pitcher to reach 300 wins in 1986. In 1987, he was the second to reach 5000 strikeouts. 1987 would be his last season with shoulder inflammation putting him out for the final two months of the season. He opted for retirement at age 38 and immediately saw his #29 uniform retired. Chalmers’ final stats saw a 313-195 record, 2.44 ERA, 4719.1 innings, 5144 strikeouts, 816 walks, 453/596 quality starts, 155 complete games, 78 FIP-, and 114.5 WAR. He only was the all-time wins leader for two years, as Tarzan Rao ended up passing him by one. Still, as of 2037, Chalmers is third in wins, fifth in strikeouts, and fifth in WAR. He was often overshadowed by some stellar contemporaries, but Chalmers still firmly has a case for a top five all-time pitcher in OBA. His arm and leadership was a big reason while Auckland was a formidable force in the 1970s and 1980s. He was an easy first round pick at 98.8% to lead off the 1993 OBA ballot. Scott Kyle – Relief Pitcher – Auckland Avengers – 91.9% First Ballot Scott Kyle was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed relief pitcher from North Shore, New Zealand; one of the major geographical regions of Auckland. Kyle had incredible stuff and movement with a 98-100 mph sinker and a phenomenal curveball. However, Kyle’s control was often terrible and erratic. But his stuff was so good that when he was even somewhat hitting his stuff, Kyle was near unhittable. He was also durable and reliable with a great work ethic. Kyle ended up staying close to home as Auckland picked him in the second round, 30^th overall, in the 1974 OBA Draft. He wasn’t used in 1975 or 1976, making his debut at age 22 in 1977. He was solid as a set-up man in his rookie year, earning the closer role the next year. In his second season, Kyle led the Australasia League with a career-high 48 saves, taking second in Reliever of the Year voting. He also had a 33 scoreless inning from late June to early September. Kyle would win Reliever of the Year three times with Auckland (1979, 81, 82), while taking second in 1980, third in 1983, and third in 1984. He was also third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1979. Kyle also pitched for New Zealand in the World Baseball Championship from 1977-92, posting a 2.79 ERA over 41 games and 16 starts. He had a 10-5 record and nine saves in 126 innings with 227 strikeouts, 67 walks, and 5.4 WAR. Kyle’s playoff stats in Auckland’s three OBA Championship appearances in the early 1980s weren’t great with a 4.66 ERA over 9.2 innings. Still, he earned the 1981 ring all the same and endeared himself as a local favorite. Auckland would later retire his #17 uniform. In total with the Avengers, Kyle had 303 saves and 331 shutdowns, a 1.55 ERA, 698 innings, 1130 strikeouts, and 29.4 WAR. In 1985, he became the first OBA closer to earn 300 career saves. Auckland had a middling 83-79 season in 1985 and decided to be sellers at the trade deadline that summer. Kyle was moved for three prospects to Tahiti. After finishing out the year with the Tropics, he signed with Melbourne. In both seasons with the Mets, Kyle led the AL in saves and won Reliever of the Year, becoming a record five-time winner. His 1987 had 44 saves, a 1.30 ERA over 97 innings, 149 strikeouts, and 5.4 WAR. This scored Kyle the Pitcher of the Year award, one of a very select group of relievers to earn the honor. In 1987, Kyle also became the first OBA reliever to 400 career saves. Now 33-years old and a free agent, Kyle decided to seek out MLB money. Jacksonville signed him to a two-year, $3,000,000 deal; which would net him a similar amount of cash in two years to his career OBA earnings. Kyle was able to rely on his stuff in OBA to overcome the control issues, but that didn’t work against stronger MLB hitters. Kyle was largely unremarkable in his MLB tenure as a back-end reliever. He only lasted a few months with the Gators, as they traded him in July 1988 to Albuquerque. He finished out the deal with the Isotopes, then spent 1990 with San Francisco. Kyle went to the other side of the Bay to Oakland in 1991, but was released that summer. He finished the season in Wichita, then was back with Jacksonville for five appearances in 1992. The Gators cut him in June and he was picked up by Austin in a minor league role. But only two weeks into that tenure, Kyle suffered a partially torn UCL. This effectively ended his career, as he decided to retire that winter. For his MLB tenure, Kyle had a 3.38 ERA, 12 saves, 31 shutdowns, 159.2 innings, 121 strikeouts, 109 walks, and only 0.4 WAR. For his OBA run though, Kyle had 402 saves and 437 shutdowns, a 1.63 ERA, 905 innings, 1456 strikeouts, 403 walks, a 51 FIP-, and 38.3 WAR. He was OBA’s all-time saves leader until passed in 2023. As of 2037, Kyle is fourth all-time saves, second in ERA among all Hall of Fame pitchers, and third in strikeouts among HOF relievers. Had he stayed a few more years in OBA, perhaps Kyle would’ve ended up firmly at the top of the closer leaderboards. Regardless, he was the dominant closer of his era and is the only pitcher with five OBA Reliever of the Year honors. Kyle joined his teammates Chalmers and Joma in the 1993 HOF class, earning a first ballot 91.9% induction. William Joma – Starting Pitcher – Auckland Avengers – 88.2% First Ballot William Joma was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Masbate, a city with around 100,000 in the midsection of the Philippines. Joma had excellent control and terrific movement, which made up for having merely above average stuff. His velocity peaked at 95-97 mph on a sinker, which he mixed with a slider and forkball. The pinpoint accuracy made him effective and efficient, which also allowed Joma to pitch a lot of innings early in his career. After a solid amateur career at home in the Philippines, Joma decided not to stay home and join Austronesia Professional Baseball, instead declaring for the 1974 OBA Draft. The regional restriction kept him unavailable until the fourth round, but there he was selected with the second pick (53^rd overall) by New Caledonia. Joma immediately was a full-time starter and won Rookie of the Month four times, although he wasn’t Rookie of the Year due towards a bias against pitchers for the award. Joma spent five seasons with the Colonels and was their ace with 36.8 WAR, a 2.33 ERA, 89-60 record, 1483.2 innings, 1356 strikeouts, and 177 walks. He led the Pacific League in innings twice, K/BB twice, complete games twice, and ERA once. The league-best 2.09 ERA in 1979 earned Joma his lone Pitcher of the Year. He also finished second in voting in 1977. On April 17, 1976; Joma tossed a no-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk against Tahiti. Then on July 14, 1977, he had OBA’s fifth perfect game; striking out 10 against Guadalcanal. Joma was set to become a free agent after the 1980 season. New Caledonia had been delightfully average during his tenure and weren’t optimistic that they’d be able to lock Joma to a long-term deal. Thus, in November 1979, he was traded to Auckland for three prospects. For his NC run, Joma had a 2.30 ERA, 86-72 record, 1568.2 innings, 1325 strikeouts, and 36.5 WAR. In his Avengers debut, Joma led the Australasia League in ERA and took third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Auckland was sold, signing him to a four-year, $1,476,000 contract extension. With the Avengers, Joma didn’t lead in any stats after 1980, but he was consistently strong. In the 1981 and 1982 playoff runs, he posted a 1.12 ERA over four starts and 32 innings, helping Auckland win the 1981 OBA title along with his HOF classmates. Joma missed much of the 1983 season with a torn meniscus, but the Avengers still gave him a five-year, $2,000,000 contract extension. 1984 would be his last great season, finishing second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Unfortunately in late August, he suffered a torn UCL. Joma would miss 11 months, including the 1984 OBA Championship and the majority of the 1985 season. They eased him back late in 1985 in a relief role, but he was never the same post injury. He was a rarely used and somewhat ineffective reliever in 1986 and 1987, ultimately retiring after the 1987 season at age 35. Auckland still appreciated him for the short run of excellence he provided and retired his #18 uniform. With the Avengers, he had an 89-60 record, 2.33 ERA, 1483.2 innings, 1356 strikeouts, and 36.8 WAR. Joma’s final stats: 175-132 record, 2.31 ERA, 3052.1 innings, 2681 strikeouts, 382 walks, 289/369 quality starts, 77 FIP-, 142 complete games, and 73.3 WAR. His accumulations are on the lower end compared to other Hall of Famers, but voters were sympathetic as it was the major injury that cut him short. His ERA and rate stats hold up against the other award winners of his era of great OBA pitchers. The great playoff starts and helping Auckland’s early 1980s dynasty put him over the top for most voters. Joma was a first ballot inductee at 88.2% and rounded out the 1993 OBA Hall of Fame class with his Auckland teammates. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)