Baseball: The World's Game

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1933 Hall of Fame

Two players were inducted in the 1933 MLB Hall of Fame class. On his first try, outfielder Ripley Goldstein made it with 82.4% of the vote. Meanwhile, pitcher Karl Maurer finally snuck in on his eighth go, getting in by the narrowest margin at 66.8%. Pitcher Duke Mercedes on his first try barely missed the cut at 65.6%. Slugger Christopher Ross again was left out too, taking 55.9% on his second go.

Closer Dan Wagner was dropped from the ballot on his 10^th attempt, getting 57.0%. His highest was his first try at 60.6% before hovering in the 50-60% range. Playing for San Diego and five other teams, he had 267 saves and a 2.01 ERA with 41 WAR, twice wining Reliever of the Year.

Three others made it to their 10^th ballot, although with far lower percentages. Another reliever, Leo Olivera, was at 47.9% on his first try but ended at 19.9%. He had 268 saves and 2.33 ERA with 24.1 WAR between eight teams. Starting pitcher Willy Ruiz made it 10 years on the ballot without ever topping 20%. Primarily with Philadelphia, he was 210-124 with a3.60 ERA, 2383 strikeouts, and a 54.1 MLB WAR. He had 272 wins combining a late CABA run, but was generally an above-average at best pitcher.

Also making it 10 years was third baseman Anthony Young, who put together 2664 hits, 1325 runs, 445 home runs, 1529 RBI, a .274 average, and 63.5 WAR. His tallies are respectable, but he almost never was a league leader , playing with Calgary, Brooklyn, Omaha, San Diego, Denver, and Vancouver. Young topped out at 38.1% on his first effort before ending with only 5.1% of the vote on his last hurrah.



Three made the 1933 CABA Hall of Fame class; pitcher Esaie Cherenfant, outfielder Alba Jimenez, and closer Olivia Madrid. Each made it on their first ballot with Cherenfant and impressive 97.1%. Pitcher Matt Determan was close, getting 63.0% on his third try.

One player made it 10 trips, pitcher Po Serna. The Guatemalan never made it above 25%. In eight seasons with Ecatepec, he had an excellent run, going 129-83 record, 2.54 ERA, 1960 strikeouts, and 52 WAR. However, leaving for MLB at age 33 prevented him from compiling the numbers needed for a closer look.

Meanwhile, 1933 marked the first East Asian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. They had begun voting a few years prior, but no one sniffed the mark. But in 1933, pitcher Ching-Wei Kuo picked up the honor at 87.2% of the vote.



Ripley Goldstein – Right Fielder – Las Vegas Vipers – 82.4% First Ballot

Ripley Goldstein was a 5’9’’, 175 pound left-handed batting outfielder from Batavia, New York; a small town located midway between Buffalo and Rochester. He was known as an all-time great contact hitter and sparkplug who rarely struck out. He had respectable speed, but was not at all a powerful hitter or someone who drew many walks. He played some center field early and was not great defensively there, but once he settled into right, was generally thought of as an above average fielder.

Goldstein excelled in college at Texas Tech, earning him the 26^th overall draft pick in 1909 from Las Vegas. He spent a decade with the Vipers and was a well-liked player in an era where Las Vegas never could get into the postseason. With the Vipers, he posted 1744 hits, 918 runs and 29.5 WAR.

Goldstein tested free agency and for the 1920 season, signed a six-year, $26,880 deal with Hartford. In his debut at age 31, he earned National Association Championship Series MVP in helping the Huskies get the NA title. His next two seasons were career-bests, leading the NA in hits in 1921 and 1922 and taking the batting title in 22 at .367. His 1921 was an 8.0 WAR year, his best.

He spent his remaining eight seasons with the Huskies and although inducted with the Vipers, put up his best years with Hartford. He had 1616 hits, 711 runs, a .321 average, and 42.4 WAR. In 1925, he was the 11^th player to 1500 career runs scored and in 1926, he became the third MLB player to reach 3000 hits.

Goldstein finished with 3360 hits, 1689 runs, 330 home runs, 1323 RBI, a .316 average, and 71.9 WAR. Advanced metrics don’t list him among the inner-circle, but being one of the first to crack 3000 career hits gets Goldstein the Hall of Fame honor.



Karl Maurer – Starting Pitcher – Buffalo Blue Sox – 66.8% Eighth Ballot

Karl Maurer was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right handed pitcher from Houston, Texas. He had three pitches, a slider, splitter, and cutter; with upper 90s velocity. His stuff was rarely considered untouchable, but he was thought to be incredibly reliable and consistent. A team captain, Maurer was an iron man who basically never missed a start over a 15-year MLB career.

Maurer attended North Carolina State and his success with the Wolf Pack earned him the fifth overall pick by Buffalo in the 1905 draft. He played nine years with a bottom-tier Blue Sox franchise and was one of the only standouts. In his fourth season in 1909, Maurer earned his only Pitcher of the Year award, going 19-11 with a 2.56 ERA with 15 complete games and six shutouts.

That was the only season he really was a league leader, mostly serving as a reliable innings eater. He tossed 331 quality starts in 521 games with 165 complete games. Maurer steadily posted 5-7 WAR seasons throughout his career.

Wanting to get a taste of the playoffs, he signed with Montreal to a six-year deal starting in 1915. At age 30 in his Maples debut, he helped them to the National Association championship, falling in the World Series to Memphis. Montreal remained a contender in the Eastern League, but didn’t make another big run over his six-year tenure. After beginning to struggle at age 35, Maurer retired following the 1920 season.

His final numbers included a 226-191 record, 3.24 ERA, 2825 strikeouts, and 84.2 WAR. He was a steady rock, the ninth MLB pitcher to 200 career wins. But his lack of flashiness and dominance kept him waiting until his eighth time on the ballot, only barely squeaking in. But as one of the most reliable and consistent pitchers of his era, Maurer found his spot in the Hall of Fame.

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Esaie Cherenfant – Pitcher – Santiago Sailfish – 97.1% First Ballot

Esaie Cherefant was a 6’3’’, 200 pound left handed pitcher in Carrefour; part of greater Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He wasn’t a fireballer, but hit the mid 90s and was known for solid movement with four solid pitches; a fastball, curveball, changeup, and splitter. After success in the amateur ranks, he was drafted 12^th overall in 1913 and shifted to the other side of Hispaniola with the Santiago Sailfish,

Cherefant would spend 13 years with Santiago and while he never led the Caribbean in strikeouts, he was always in the top 10. The Sailfish won four division titles in his tenure, taking the Caribbean title in 1916, 1921, and 1923. They were the CABA champs in 16 and 23 with Cherefant having a great run in 1923 with three starts, 27.1 innings and a 0.99 ERA.

In 1924, Cherefant won his only Pitcher of the Year, going 24-8 with a 1.92 ERA, 339 strikeouts, and 8.1 WAR. He had a 9+ WAR in six different seasons and finished third in PotY voting thrice, being often overshadowed by teammate and GOAT Ulices Montero.

Before the 1927 season, a rebuilding Santiago traded Cherefant to Monterrey. After one year there, Cherefant took the payday and headed to America, signing with Phoenix at age 37. He led the American Association in innings pitched and was a decent starter for two seasons there. He then signed with Montreal in 1930, suffering a torn UCL midway through the season. He attempted a comeback the next year at age 40 but struggled in Boston and New Orleans’ minor league affiliates, retiring that offseason.

Cherefant’s final CABA line was 239-162, 2.68 ERA, 3633.1 innings, 3998 strikeouts, 319 quality starts in 446, and a 102.4 WAR. He was the third CABA player to 200 career wins, the third to 3500 strikeouts and fell just short of being the second to 4000 Ks. A big part of Santiago’s early CABA success, his#23 was retired by the Sailfish in 1931. Cherefant was an obvious Hall of Fame choice.



Alba Jimenez – Left Fielder – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 85.1% First Ballot

Alba Jimenez was a 5’10’’, 205 pound left-handed outfielder from Guayabo Dulce, a small town about 100 kilometers east of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. An all-time great hitter, few players had both the power and contact ability Jimenez possessed. He was at times strikeout prone and was a slow baserunner, while being decent at drawing walks. He played almost entirely in left field and was a below average fielder. But his elite power made him one of the most memorable bats of his era.

Most players get drafted and signed in their early 20s after some college or other semi-pro/amateur experience, but Santo Domingo saw his potential right away. He was drafted fifth overall in 1911, joining the Dolphins at only age 19. He spent the first four seasons as a bench player, becoming a full-time starter in 1916 at age 23.

He’d spend the next six years as a starter, earning four Silver Sluggers and the 1919 league MVP. That season, he led in runs (95), RBI (117) and OPS (.897). The Dolphins won their first Caribbean titles in 1917 and 1918, taking the overall CABA title in 1917.

The Dolphins fell off as Santiago surged to start the 1920s and opted to trade Jimenez with Tijuana, getting veteran pitcher and future Hall of Famer Alejandro Cordova and prospect Robby Puente. Jimenez played the next six seasons with the Toros and while he spent the most time in Santo Domingo and is associated with the area as a Dominican, his best numbers came with Tijuana.

Jimenez went four straight seasons from 1922-25 leading the Mexican League in home runs and RBI, socking a career best 51 homers in 1924. He earned league MVPS in 1922, 24, and 25, finishing each season with 9+ WAR. His time with the Toros got him to four MVPs and nine Silver Sluggers over his career. In 1923, Tijuana won a Mexican League title as well, making Jimenez one of a select few to have won a Caribbean and Mexican title. With the Toros, he picked up his 2000^th career hit and 400^th career home run. He was the second CABA player to 400 career dingers.

At age 35 in 1928, he opted to come to America and signed with Kansas City. His four-year, $35,600 deal with the Cougars nearly doubled his career CABA earnings. Although his MVP days were done, he was still a solid starter and bat, twice topping 40 homers and hitting a career-high 124 RBI at age 37. After his contract was up, he signed at age 39 with Seattle for the 1932 season. But his production fell significantly and he retired after one year with the Grizzlies.

Between CABA and MLB, Jimenez hit 664 career home runs, which put him in rare company in professional baseball at that point. Specifically in CABA, Jimenez finished with 2010 hits, 1072 runs, 494 homers, 1240 RBI, and 90.3 WAR. One of the first true sluggers in CABA, it’s no surprise Santo Domingo retired his #9 jersey in 1932. Jimenez certainly deserves a spot among the great Dominicans in baseball history.



Olivio Madrid – Closer – Guatemala Ghosts – 76.7% First Ballot

Olivio Madrid was a 6’2’’ 200 right handed relief pitcher from Ciudad Guayana, Venezeula. He had two pitches, a cutter and a slider, with velocity in the upper 90s. This combo made him a dangerous reliever throughout his career. Madrid was a fourth round pick, 75^th overall, to Guatemala in the 1913 draft.

Madrid spent eight seasons as the closer for the Ghosts, leading the Caribbean League with 44 saves in 1918. With Guatemala, he posted 31.0 WAR, 228 saves, a 1.84 ERA, and 1083 strikeouts. He earned his two Reliever of the Year awards back-to-back in 1918 and 1919. In 1918, his 1.03 ERA and 7.2 WAR over 105.1 innings put him third in overall Pitcher of the Year voting.

Midway through 1921, the Ghosts traded Madrid to Santiago. Madrid’s lone postseason experience came this year, with the Sailfish winning the Caribbean title and Madrid earning four saves during the postseason run. But Santiago didn’t re-sign Madrid, who signed with Hermosillo at age 30 entering the 1922 season.

Madrid wasn’t the primary closer in his first two seasons with the Hyenas, but assumed the role in 1924. That offseason, he was traded again to Santiago and this time would stay and close for the Sailfish for the next three seasons. He finished his CABA career with 389 saves; at the time the all-time leader. He wouldn’t be passed until Feliz Fuentes cracked 400 in 1960.

For 1928, Madrid went north and signed with Cleveland for two seasons. After that, he joined Oklahoma City at age 38 for the 1930 season. However, OKC released him after struggles midseason. He finished the year in Dallas’s affiliate and retired that offseason.

Madrid had 429 career saves between CABA and MLB, but his CABA line was 389 saves, 1.94 ERA, 1876 strikeouts over 1138.2 innings with a 44 FIP- and 51.4 WAR. A century later, his WAR total was the most for any full-time CABA reliever ever, which warrants his induction into the Hall of Fame.



Ching-Wei Kuo – Starting Pitcher – Pyongyang Pythons – 87.2% First Ballot

The first inductee to the East Asian Baseball Hall of Fame, Ching-Wei Kuo was a 5’9’’’, 175 pound right-handed pitcher born in Yangmei, a city in northern Taiwan. At the time, the island was occupied by Imperial Japan. Kuo had five pitches with mid 90s velocity, best known for solid control and movement. Kuo tossed a fastball, slider, curveball, forkball, and changeup.

The majority of his baseball playing came before EAB was formed, but he established himself as a known commodity in Taiwan. When EAB started up and the free agent signing process began, Kuo was signed to a three-year, $11,740 contract with Tokyo. His EAB career already at the age of 31.

The Tides were the first Japanese League champion and Kuo was a big part, leading with a 1.51 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 9.8 WAR. He had two more great seasons with Tokyo, then signed in for the 1924 season with Pyongyang.

With the Pythons in his mid 30s, Kuo had three straight seasons with 10+ WAR, leading each year in quality starts. He was the Korean League Pitcher of the Year in 1924 and 1926. In 1924, Pyongyang was the Korean champ and overall EAB champ.

After four seasons in Pyongyang, Kuo was signed to play for Memphis. The Mountain Lions traded him to Washington after one respectable season. Midway through his only season with the Admirals, a torn labrum ended his career at age 39.

His “official” career was incredibly brief, having started in his 30s. In only seven EAB seasons, he compiled 60.4 WAR with a 1.90 ERA, a 129-54 record, 177 quality starts out of 217, and 1885 strikeouts in 1842.1 innings. A short burst, but one of the best pitchers in EAB’s first decade. This made Chin-Wei Kuo the first member of the EAB Hall of Fame.

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Defending Bolivar League champ Caracas defended their North Division title in 1933 at 100-62, outlasting 1931 champ Medellin by four games and Valencia by six games. Veteran first baseman Henry Rezende won the MVP for the Colts, leading the league in runs (101), homers (44), and RBI (105).
The South Division had a third champ in three years as Cali took the top spot at 92-70, one game ahead of defending champ Lima. Cyclones ace Virisimo Ibarra won his second Pitcher of the Year with the league –best 1.39 ERA and 29 quality starts.



In the Southern Cone, Fortaleza claimed back-to-back Brazil Division titles as the 99-63 Foxes were one game better than Brasilia. Santiago was back-to-back South Division winners as their 91-71 record was four ahead of Buenos Aires.

The Saints had the Pitcher of the Year in Honorio Colon, as the 33-year old Paraguayan led in innings (271.1), strikeouts (275), and WAR (9.3). The Atlantics had the MVP in outfielder Eduardo Tellez. The 31-year old lefty from Uruguay was the seasons WARlord at 9.4.

In the Bolivar League Championship Series, Caracas bested Cali in six, giving the Colts back-to-back league titles. Santiago downed Fortaleza in five to give the Saints their first title. The 1933 Copa Sudamerica was the first to go all seven games. Caracas prevailed over Santiago for their first BSA title and the first for a Venezuelan team.






Other notes: Buenos Aires pitcher Wagner Santos threw the second Beisbol Sudamerica Perfect Game, striking out 15 against Salvador on May 17.

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Defending Japanese champ Sapporo was the only team with a winning record in the North Division in 1933, dominating at 96-66. Four teams had 92+ wins in the South, but Nagoya still was well above the rest. At 109-53, the Nightowls finished with a 14-game lead on Kitakyushu, grabbing their third straight division title.

Nagoya had the most runs scored in the league and boasted the league MVP in outfielder Yoshimochi Okazaki. The 29-year old leadoff man had a career year, leading in runs at 112 and second in WAR at 8.7. Kobe’s Tadao Iemochi was the Pitcher of the Year with the lead in ERA (1.62), innings (277), quality starts (28), complete games (17) and shutouts (8).



Pyongyang’s run atop the Korean League North ended as they fell to third. Suwon earned their first-ever playoff berth at 94-68, finishing three ahead of Seoul. Busan claimed back-to-back South Division titles with a 101-61 record.

The Blue Jays had the Pitcher of the Year in Min-Ho Yang, the first overall draft pick in 1930. The lefty had his career year with league bests in strikeouts (320) and WAR (9.2). His career peaked here unfortunately, as injuries prevented him from ever playing a full season again and being essentially out of the game before turning 30.

Seongnam’s Hyang-Soon Cho was the MVP with the league lead in homers (35) and OPS (1.004). It would be the last year for the 28-year old second baseman In East Asian Baseball, as he’d spend the next decade in America. He’d be one of the last notable players for some time to make the jump, as the approaching World War II would keep EAB players from crossing the Pacific.

Despite the weaker record, Sapporo successfully defended their Japan League title by defeating Nagoya in the JLCS in six. Busan swept Suwon to give the Blue Jays their first-ever Korean title. Busan would add their first EAB crown to the accomplishments, defeating the Swordfish in five games.





Other notes: Outfielder Kota Takada won his ninth and final Japanese Silver Slugger. He’d win one more in MLB in 1938. Shortstop Takamasa Inomata won his ninth and final Gold Glove. He’d finish with 58.6 WAR over 15 years with four seasons almost purely on his defense, as he was a well-below league average batter.

On July 8, Saitama’s Ping’an Xie threw a perfect game, striking out 12 against Kyoto. Fomio Chikafuji and Hiroyuki Igawa became the third and fourth EAB players to reach 400 career home runs. Michiro Yabuta became the second pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts

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Ecatepec defended their South Division title successfully for the fifth straight season, finishing 96-66 with a five-game advantage on Puebla. In the North, Hermosillo beat out Monterrey by one game, denying the Matadors their first playoff berth. For the Hyenas, it was their third division win in six years.

Mexico City’s Kiko Velazquez won his fourth MVP and third straight, leading in runs (111), WAR (10.2) and OPS (1.069). In five full seasons, he had already compiled nearly 50 WAR. Puebla’s Martin Campos won his second Pitcher of the Year as the WARlord at 8.7 and a 55 FIP-

In the Mexican League Championship Series, Hermosillo beat Ecatepec in five, getting the Hyenas their second league title in four years. It ended Ecatepec’s bid for a three-peat and although they wouldn’t fall to the bottom, it would be the last time in the 1930s that the Explosion were in the postseason.



Jamaica absolutely dominated the Caribbean League, winning their fourth straight division title with a new CABA record at 118 wins. The Continental Division saw Guatemala get only their second-ever playoff berth, winning a weak field at 83-79. Defending champ Costa Rica finished three behind at 80-82.

Unsurprisingly, the Jazz’s success landed them the major awards. First baseman Kenol Alexis was the MVP, leading in hits (187), homers (42), RBI (137), and WAR (8.0). The Pitcher of the Year was Ji-Un Jo, a Korean amateur they had signed. The 22-year old posted 8.3 of his 13.2 career WAR in the 1933 season, as a torn rotator cuff soon after pushed him out of baseball.

Guatemala gave Jamaica a run for their money despite the 35 wins that separated them in the standings. However, the Jazz were able to take the Caribbean League Championship Series in seven, their second league title in four years. Hermosillo gave them no such trouble in the CABA championship, Jamaica swept for their second CABA title.

With an overall title and record-setting 118-44 mark, the 1933 Jamaica Jazz provide a compelling case for the greatest team in CABA history to that point. The win total would only be matched once in the 20^th Century and not finally surpassed until 2024.





Other notes: Monterrey’s Jhon Diaz became the seventh pitcher to 200 career wins. Mexico City’s Jose Angel Islas became the fourth hitter to 2500 career hits.

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The Eastern League had a tie at the top between Ottawa and Baltimore as both finished at 97-65. The tiebreaker officially went to the Elks, giving them back-to-back league titles. For the Orioles, it was only their third-ever playoff berth and first in a decade. Milwaukee posted their first playoff appearance since 1917 with their third Midwest League title. The Mustangs finished 106-56 for the best overall record in the National Association. Louisville snagged second at 94-68, two better than last year’s runner-up Indianapolis. Defending NA champ Detroit fell to sixth at 79-83.

Racers third baseman Caleb Yang won the NA MVP award, leading in both home runs (51) and RBI (142) while posting 10.1 WAR. The Mustangs had the Pithcer of the Year in Max Reaster, who had the lead in WHIP (0.96) and posting eight shutouts.

Both first round series went five games in the National Association with Louisville upsetting Ottawa and Milwaukee outlasting Baltimore. In an all-Midwest NACS, the Lynx upset the Mustangs in five, giving Louisville their second ever Association title (1906).



The Southern League saw a shakeup as the last two World Series champs, Jacksonville and Miami, both missed the playoffs and finished below .500. Charlotte had the top spot at 103-59 for their first-ever league title and first playoff berth in a decade. Memphis took the second place spot at 90-72, three games better than Tampa and four over New Orleans. It was the first playoff berth for the Mountain Cats since their mid 1910s dynasty.

After just missing the playoffs the prior two years, Phoenix was the Western League champ at 95-67. Albuquerque and Calgary finished tied for second at 91-71 with the Isotopes taking the one-game playoff to earn the playoff spot ahead of the Cheetahs.

Memphis outfielder Andrei Tanev won back-to-back MVPs. The 26-year old Russian had career highs with the AA lead in runs (133), home runs (51), and RBI (139). Miami’s Brandon Scott had his second Pitcher of the Year in three years as the veteran led in innings (289), quality starts (25), complete games (23) and WAR (7.7).

League champs prevailed in the first round as Phoenix edged Memphis 3-2 and Charlotte downed Albuquerque in four. The American Association Championship Series went seven games with the Firebirds grabbing their second AA title in four years and third overall. The 1933 World Series also went seven with Louisville completing their underdog run with the second overall title for the Lynx.





Other notes: Baltimore’s Miguel Melis drew 146 walks, a single-season record that holds a century later. Melis would finish his career with the odd distinction of more walks drawn (1594) than hits (1557). Washington’s Noah Pugliese won his fifth Reliever of the Year, the only player to ever win it five times.

Vancouver’s Franz Boldt became the ninth player to 3000 career hits. Later, Elijah Cashman would become the 10^th. Las Vegas pitcher Bailey Johnson became the fourth in MLB history to 250 career

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The 1934 MLB Hall of Fame class was an all-time great class with five inductees, four on the first ballot, and three inner-circle picks above 95%. Pitcher Newton Persaud’s 99.0% was the highest tally anyone has gotten. DH Troy O’Brien and 2B Archie Meredith were close behind at 97.6% and 96.9%, respectively. First baseman Joseph Green also made on the first try, although barely passing the threshold at 69.2%. Pitcher Duke Mercedes on his second try just got the 2/3s mark as well at 67.8%.



Two players were dropped after 10 tries on the ballot. Pitcher Casey Esnault was notably the first MLB pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts, picking up 254 wins and 71.8 WAR with 3776 strikeouts with Calgary, Louisville, Brooklyn, and Omaha. Despite some good raw numbers, his 3.89 ERA and lack of awards led to Esnault never crossing 50% of the vote. Another pitcher, Garrett Hayes, never got more than a 1/3 of the vote despite a very solid 89.9 WAR. He had 225 wins and a 3.36 ERA with Jacksonville and St. Louis, but he wasn’t a league-leader and didn’t get the attention he perhaps warranted.

In CABA, two men were inducted into the 1934 class. Closer Wagner Jimenez on his first try got in at 74.7%, while starting pitcher Matt Determan made it at 71.6% on his fourth go. Another closer, Ramiro Aguero, came close on his first attempt at 62.8%. No one was inducted in EAB with the highest mark being closer Ga-On Ko at 43.6%.




Newton “Broadway” Persaud – Pitcher – Houston Hornets – 99.05 First Ballot

Newton Persaud was a 5’11’’, 175 right handed pitcher born in the tiny town Arima in Trinidad. One of the all-time fan favorites and legendary pitchers, Persaud had a 99-101 mph fastball, a stellar curveball, solid changeup, and a forkball. He had elite stuff with solid movement and control, eventually leading to superstardom. He was also an ironman who dodged injury for basically his entire career.

Persaud left Trinidad for America in his late teens and played college baseball for Oklahoma University. He excelled with the Sooners, leading to New Orleans picking Persaud with the first overall pick in the 1909 draft. In his rookie season, he led the American Association in innings pitched and posted a 7.9 WAR season in his debut.

The Mudcats remained a bottom-tier team throughout the 1910s, but Persaud was a reliable top starter. In his eighth season at age 27, Persaud earned his first Pitcher of the Year in 1917. He would lead the AA in WAR each year from 1917-1922 and led in strikeouts from 1918-1923.

Tired of New Orleans’ struggles, Persaud left for free agency and for the 1919 season, signing for seven years and $49,140 with Houston. His signing helped kick off the second Hornets dynasty, as they’d win the World Series in 1920 and 1922. Persaud won his second Pitcher of the Year in his Houston debut in 1919 at age 29. He won his third in 1921, fourth in 1922, and fifth in 1923.

Persaud pitched for a decade with Houston. In 1925, he became the first MLB pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts and in 1927, the first to 300 career wins. At age 38 in 1928 after 19 seasons of reliable production, he finally started to fall off and retired at the end of the year.

With the Hornets, Persaud had 194 wins, 76.6 WAR, and 2357 strikeouts. With New Orleans, he had 134 wins, 2298 strikeouts, and 69.2 WAR. His final tally was 328-241, 3.41 ERA, 392 quality starts in 656, 4655 strikeouts, 330 complete games, and a total of 145.9 WAR.

He retired the all-time leader in wins, starts, innings, strikeouts, and WAR. A century later, Persaud was still second all-time in WAR, third in strikeouts, and fifth in wins. Any conversation about MLB’s best all-time pitcher includes Newton Persaud, a true inner-circle Hall of Fame selection.



Troy O’Brien – Designated Hitter – San Antonio Oilers – 97.6% First Ballot

Troy O’Brien was a 6’1’’, 200 pound left-handed batter born in Irvington, New Jersey. He technically was an outfielder, but O’Brien spent basically his entire career as a designated hitter. He was known as a stellar contact hitter with solid power. Despite lacking speed or any sort of fielding ability, his bat alone made O’Brien a hot commodity.

After a college career with Iowa, O’Brien was picked third overall by the San Antonio Oilers. O’Brien spent 11 years with the Oilers, earning three Silver Sluggers at DH. He was second in Rookie of the Year voting his debut. His career year came in 1917, where he led the American Association in hits (227), doubles (46), and WAR (7.5). He finished second in MVP voting, and also finished second in 1923 and third in both 1914 and 1925.

Despite his personal success with more than 2000 hits and 1000 runs and RBI, San Antonio was a perennial bottom-tier team. At age 32 in 1923, O’Brien went into free agency and signed a four-year deal with Charlotte. His first year with the Canaries, he helped them to their first American Association title, with Charlotte losing to Baltimore in the World Series. In his only postseason, he put up 20 hits, five home runs, and 10 RBI.

Charlotte fell off the next season and O’Brien opted out of his contract, signing for his remaining four MLB seasons with Tampa. In 1925, he had his fourth and final Silver Slugger, posting 7.2 WAR. But his production fell off and the Thunderbirds didn’t re-sign him after the 1928 season. He spent one year as a backup in CABA with Chihuahua, then retired from baseball.

O’Brien finished with 3168 hits, the seventh MLB player to hit 3000. He was the sixth to 500 home runs, finishing with 590 in his career. His 573 career doubles was the most all-time at retirement and held for about 20 years. His 1721 runs and 1798 were among the top at the time of retirement as well. O’Brien finished with a .304 average and a relatively low 77.6 WAR due to his lack of defensive value. His #23 was the first number retired by San Antonio. Few batters of the 1910s and 20s match Troy O’Brien’s production, earning him a well-deserved spot in the Hall of Fame.



Archie “Rash” Meredith – Second Baseman – Kansas City Cougars – 96.9% First Ballot

Archie Meredith was a 5’10’’, 200 pound second baseman from Littlefield, a small town in northwest Texas, born on New Year’s Day of 1888. A left-handed batter but right-handed thrower, Meredith was a multi-skilled player. He was a very solid contact and power hitter. Although not a quick baserunner, he was an excellent defender who played all but his twilight years at second base.

Meredith had a storied college career with Boston College. He helped the Eagles win the 1907 College World Series and was a college MVP finalist twice. Unsurprisingly, this made him one of the top prospects in the 1908 Draft, where he was picked second overall by Kansas City.

Meredith was immediately a success for the Cougars, earning 1909 Rookie of the Year honors. He spent 11 seasons with Kansas City, racking up three Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, and the 1912 MVP when he led the National Association in RBI (125) and WAR (10.4). He led the NA in WAR four times with KC thanks to his reliable bat and great fielder.

In 1912 and 13, Kansas City made it to the NACS, but they never had a deeper postseason run in his tenure. Overall with the Cougars, he had 1830 hits, 1038 runs, 373 home runs, 1106 RBI, a .290 average, and 82.1 WAR. His #30 uniform was retired in 1932, the first Cougar to earn the honor.

In 1919 at age 31, Meredith’s production fell sharply. Fearing he was washed, Kansas City traded him to Denver that offseason. He regained his form in his season with the Dragons, then spent the next six seasons with Toronto. He managed to get sixth Silver Slugger at age 37 with the Timberwolves and was a solid starter, posting 27.9 WAR, 855 hits, and 197 homers. In 1926, he finally got to play in the World Series, with the Timberwolves falling to Albuquerque. That season as well, Meredith became the second MLB player to 600 career home runs.

He became a free agent and at age 39, signed with Cincinnati for the 1927 season. His two seasons with the Reds were plagued with injury and his MLB run ended after the 1928 season. He went south to Santiago in 1929, but a bad concussion kept him out almost that entire year.

Determined to finish on a strong note, he signed with Mexico City at age 42 in 1930 and had a resurgence, even winning a CABA Silver Slugger at first base in 1931. He retired after three seasons with the Aztecs.

Between MLB and CABA, Meredith compiled 135.6 WAR, 695 home runs, 3405 hits, 1972 RBI, and 1938 runs. His MLB numbers alone are impressive, 2964 hits, 1674 runs, 626 homers, 1752 RBI, and 119.8 WAR. Great numbers at any position, but even a century later, he has a prominent spot in the debate for the best second baseman ever. Certainly an inner-circle member of the Hall of Fame.



Joseph Green – First Baseman – Pittsburgh Pirates – 69.2% First Ballot

Joseph Green was a 6’0’’, 200 pound switch hitter from Charlotte, North Carolina. Green was known as a very solid slugging first baseman who hit for solid power and average. He was a slow baserunner who played almost his entire career at first base, where he was considered an average fielder.

Green played college baseball for Oklahoma State and earned the ninth overall pick in the 1911 draft by Pittsburgh. Green immediately contributed, picking up the 1912 Rookie of the Year and leading the National Association in doubles. In his sophomore season, he was a big piece of the Pirates winning the NACS for the first time, getting 23 hits, 14 runs, five homers, and 18 RBI in the postseason. He was a Silver Slugger winner in his junior season and seven years with Pittsburgh, picked up 37.9 WAR, 1253 hits, 185 home runs, and 683 RBI.

With the Pirates struggling later in the 1910s, Green opted for free agency and signed for five years on the other side of the state with Philadelphia, who had just won back-to-back World Series titles. He earned his second Silver Slugger in his Phillies debut in 1919 and was third in MVP voting. He had five solid numbers with Philadelphia, but he missed out on their postseason run and left after the 1923 season.

At age 33, he signed with Denver and spent four seasons there. He was a solid starter for the 1925 Dragons who won the World Series. While in Denver, he achieved his 2500^th hit, 400^th home run, and 1500^th RBI. At age 37 in 1928, he signed with Brooklyn, but struggled in his one year with the Dodgers. They cut him at the end of the year and he signed a minor league deal with San Francisco late in 1929, but never saw the field, retiring that winter.

He wasn’t generally the top hitter in a bat-heavy position, but put up very solid hitting numbers. 2882 hits, 1483 runs, 450 homers, 1616 RBI, a .310 average, and 86.2 WAR. He also had 516 doubles, one of a handful of guys at the time to have cracked 500. His resume seems weak compared to the loaded 1934 class he’s a part of, but Green’s production warrants his spot in the Hall of Fame.



Duke “Hit Squad” Mercedes – Pitcher – Las Vegas Vipers – 67.8% Second Ballot

Duke Mercedes was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left handed pitcher from San Miguelito, part of greater Panama City. The first Panamanian elected into the MLB Hall, he threw 95-97 mph with four pitches; a fastball, curveball, changeup, and cutter. The latter two pitchers were considered particularly strong, serving him well in a successful career.

Mercedes came to the United States as a teenager and pitched in college at Baylor. He dominated the NCAA ranks, finishing second in 1908 for college pitcher of the year and winning the award in 1909. As a junior in 1910, he helped the Bears win the College World Series. This made him a very desired prospect and in the 1910 draft, Las Vegas selected him second overall.

His rookie season, he twice earned rookie of the month and ended finishing third in Pitcher of the Year voting with an American Association best 26 quality starts. In 1915, his fifth season, he won PotY with the AA lead in strikeouts (254) and WAR (9.5). It was his only time winning the top award, but he also was the runner-up in 1913.

Mercedes was a bright spot for a generally unsuccessful Viper franchise, picking up 180 wins, 68.8 WAR, and 2381 strikeouts in his decade in the desert. His #12 and Ripley Goldstein’s #1 were the first numbers retired by the Vipers, both in 1927.

Mercedes’ best production was with Las Vegas by far, although he’d continue as a respectable starter into his 30s. In 1920, he signed a five-year deal with Montreal, where he picked up his 200^th career win. He’d be traded in his fourth season with the Maples to San Francisco, where he finished 1924 and played in 1925. With the Gold Rush in 1924, he was part of an American Association champion, with San Fran dropping the World Series to Ottawa. He’d make his only postseason starts in this run with a 3.73 ERA and 3-0 record in four starts.

Mercedes achieved his 3000^th strikeout with the Gold Rush, although a bad elbow injury ended his tenure there. Denver took a flier on the 35-year old Mercedes midway through the 1926 season, where he still showed some life. That offseason, he returned to Las Vegas and was used in long relief for part of the 1927 season. He was cut in the summer and after a brief try with minor league Lexington, Mercedes retired.

His final stats: 243-187, 3.53 ERA, 284 quality starts of 499, 3112 strikeouts, and 85.6 WAR. Early in his Vipers run, he was a legitimate staff ace. He put together enough of a resume to just make the cut on his second time on the ballot.

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Wagner Jimenez – Closer – Chihuahua Warriors -74.7% First Ballot

Wagner Jimenez was a 6’2’’, 195 pound left-handed pitcher from Atzacan in the gulf coast Mexican state of Veracruz. At his peak, he hit 96-98 mph with a solid fastball and an excellent curveball. He was drafted 38^th overall in the 1912 draft by Chihuahua, where he spend nearly his entire career.

Jimenez saw limited use in his first two seasons, but assumed the closer role in his third year. In his fifth season in 1917, he won the Reliever of the Year with 41 saves, 5.9 WAR, and a 0.92 ERA. He was third in the voting in 1918. At the end of the 1919 season, he was traded for prospects to Honduras.

After one season with the Horsemen, he signed with Jamaica and was sparingly used in his one season with the Jazz. At age 30, Jamaica traded him back to Chihuahua, where spent the remaining seven seasons of his career.

He was not the closer in his first three seasons back with the Warriors, but was a solid reliever who helped them win the CABA championship in 1922. In 1925, he returned to the closer role and was second that season in Reliever of the Year Voting. He won it In 1926, his second coming a decade later. Chihuahua won another Mexican League title in 1926 as Jimenez became the third CABA pitcher to 300 career saves. He faded out of the closer role full time in 1928, retiring after that season at age 36.

Jimenez finished with 364 saves, which was second all-time at the time of retirement. He had 468 shutdowns over 1112.2 innings with 1471 strikeouts, a 57 FIP- and 38.6 WAR. One of the top relievers of his era and one of the few to stay largely in one place, Jimenez found his spot in the Hall of Fame.



Matt Determan – Pitcher – Puebla Pumas – 71.6% Fourth Ballot

Matt Determan was a left-handed, 5’10’’, 200 pound pitcher born in Jacksonville, Florida. Later in his career, he found upper 90s velocity, showing good movement between his fastball, curveball, changeup, and splitter. He certainly had an unlikely path to the CABA Hall of Fame as an American pitcher whose 20s saw him as a journeyman.

Determan played for Oklahoma in college and was a third round draft pick, 112nd overall, in 1906 by Milwaukee. He spent parts of four unremarkable seasons as a spot starter and long relief with the Mustangs before getting traded midway through 1910 to Minneapolis. He got to be a full-time starter with the Moose, but not a terribly impressive one. He was released after the 1912 season. Determan signed with Kansas City to start 1913, but was cut in the spring, opting to then try his luck in CABA by signing with Merida.

He wasn’t anything special in his first year with the Mean Green, but in his second year, starting showing some success. Merida traded him in the 1914 offseason to Puebla, where at age 29, he started what became his signature run.

Determan pitched well enough to earn an all-star game selection in 1915 and helped the Pumas to their first Mexican League title, falling in the CABA championship to Salvador. He became a regular top of the rotation guy over the next decade with Puebla, although the team wouldn’t see the same success again in his run.

Determan in 1919 at age 33 won his lone Pitcher of the Year, leading Mexico in ERA (1.56), quality stats (33/35) and WAR (9.2). In his decade with the Pumas, he picked up 50.8 WAR with 273 quality starts in 337 attempts, a 2.26 ERA, and 165-94 record. Finally winding down in his late 30s, he spent 1925 with Leon and unsuccessfully made three minor league starts in 1926 for Salt Lake City.

His final CABA numbers were 186-117, 2.39 ERA, 2755 strikeouts in 2837.2 innings and 303 quality starts in 394 attempts. He had the honor in 1926 of seeing his #34 retired, joining fellow Hall of Famer Alex Hinojosa as the first Pumas to receive the honor. He won’t be placed in the inner-circle of CABA greats, but putting up a solid decade in his 30s with Puebla got him the nod in his fourth try on the ballot.

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Medellin secured the Bolivar North Division in 1934 at 118-44, the highest single-season win total in Beisbol Sudamerica’s history to this point. It’s one game better than their 1931 championship season. Defending champ Caracas had a great 105-57 mark, as did Valencia at 101-61, but the Mutiny couldn’t be touched. In the South, Cali ran away with the title at 112-50, getting them back-to-back playoff berths.

Lima veteran Juan Pablo Chavez was league MVP, leading in OPS (.986) wRC+ (198) and runs (91). Valencia’s Mauricio Vargas was the Pitcher of the Year with the league lead in ERA (1.65) and a 13.4 WAR mark. It was the one of the best WAR seasons for any pitcher in BSA history not named Mohamed Ramos. Ramos had a baffling 15.3 WAR and 514 strikeouts, but finished second in the voting. Medellin’s Vitorio Paolini became a three time Reliever of the Year.



Brasilia won the Brazil Division at 113-49, finishing five games ahead of Salvador. Fortaleza, who had won the title the prior two years, fell off to 74-88. A competitive South Division went to Santiago for the third straight season. The Saints had a one-game playoff that they won over Buenos Aires to take it. Santiago ended at 92-71 with the Atlantics at 91-72. Montevideo and Cordoba were in the mix as well.

The Bearcats had the MVP in 30-year old first baseman Jose Negron. He led in runs (104), walks (80), and OPS (.918). American Danny Power won the Pitcher of the Year with the lead in strikeouts (319) and complete games (18). An interesting career, Power was a late MLB draft pick out of high school, but flamed out. This season was his only big one, with a career ending injury only a few years later.

The Bolivar League Championship Series went to Medellin in six games over Cali, while Santiago upset Brasilia in five games for back-to-back Cono Sur crowns. In Copa Sudamerica, the Munity topped the Saints in five, becoming the first two-time BSA champion.

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In a competitive Japan League North Division, Saitama narrowly took first at 99-63 for their third division title. Sapporo’s bid for a league three-peat was stopped, as they and Tokyo both finished two games back at 97-65. Meanwhile, Nagoya dominated the South at 11-51, giving them a fourth consecutive division title.

The Sting had the MVP in 28-year old LF Yahashi Hinata. After missing almost all of the prior year with a broken elbow, Hinata posted a career year with 48 homers, a 1.002 OPS, 232 wRC+, and 10.8 WAR. Sapporo’s Joon-Kyu Cho won his second Pitcher of the Year in three years, leading in strikeouts (359) for the fourth time in five years.



Suwon won the Korea League North Division for the second time in a row, winning firmly at 107-55. Busan won their third straight South Division at 111-51, outracing a solid 103-59 from Ulsan.

The Swallows had the MVP in 3B Kyu-Min Ri, who led in the triple slash (.346/.407/.642) and in RBI (127). Seongnam’s Hyung-Mo So won his second Pitcher of the Year, five years after his first one. The 30-year old had 7.9 WAR and 28/34 quality starts.

Nagoya swept Saitama in the JLCS for their second Japan League title and Busan handled Suwon in five in the KLCS for back-to-back Korean Titles. The East Asian Championship was a seven game thriller, won by the Nightowls over the Blue Jays. For Nagoya, it’s their second overall title in four years.





Other notes: Sendai’s Yoshimatsu Sakamoto became the fourth EAB pitcher to 3000 career strikeouts. Nagoya’s Michiro Yabuta became the second pitcher to 200 career wins. Suwon’s Ho-Seong Na became a three-time Reliever of the Year winner. Fukuoka’s Kota Takada won his ninth Silver Slugger at right field.

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In the Mexican North Division, Monterrey earned their first-ever division title at 92-70. Mexicali finished two back at 90-72, a big turnaround from a 64-win 1933. Defending champ Juarez won 85 games, finishing fourth. Meanwhile, Mexico City won their second-ever South Division title, running away with the title at 106-56. The Aztecs snapped Ecatepec’s run, as the Explosion took second at 88-74.

Mexico City’s Kiko Velazquez won his fifth league MVP, joining Alex Hinjosa and Jonny Lucero as the only five-time winners. Still only 27-years old, Velazquez led in 1934 in hits (228), runs (125), RBI (121), triple slash (.385/.438/.731) and WAR (13.3). His .385 average was a CABA single-season record and his 13.3 WAR was the second-most in a season. The Aztecs also had Pitcher of the Year in Enrique Marquez, as the journeyman lefty at age 32 led Mexico in WAR (7.7) and WHIP (0.82)

Mexico City used their star power to claim their second MLCS title, as the Aztecs beat Monterrey in five games.



Defending CABA champ Jamaica won a fifth straight Island Division title. The Jazz at 107-55 had to fend off a solid challenge from 104-58 Santiago. Costa Rica at 90-72 won the Continental Division for the second time in three seasons.

Rays RF Domingo Huerta picked up his third MVP, leading the league in OBP (.389), slugging (.591), OPS (.981) and wRC+ (178). Jamaica veteran Glen Anderson won his second Pitcher of the Year at age 34, posting 7.5 WAR with a 2.00 ERA.

In a rematch of the 1932 CLCS, Jamaica swept Costa Rica, giving the Jazz back-to-back Caribbean titles and their third in five years. However, Jamaica was unable to successfully defend their overall CABA crown. Mexico City won the CABA Championship in six games for their franchise’s second overall title.





Other notes: Emmanuel Reyes (52) and David Ventura (50) had the fourth and fifth-ever 50+ home run seasons. Mexico City’s Enrique Marquez struck out 12 in a perfect game against Leon on May 28, 1934. Leonardo Najar and Javier Favela both became 10-time Gold Glove winners in left field and right field, respectively. Both would go onto to win it a record 12 times.

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In a relatively weak Eastern League in 1934, Ottawa won a third straight league title with only an 86-76 record. Brooklyn and Toronto tied for second with the Dodgers taking the tiebreaker game to finish at 86-77 to the Timberwolves’ 85-78. For Brooklyn, it’s their first-ever playoff berth, meaning all National Association teams have made the playoffs at least once. Milwaukee had the best NA record at 108-54 for back-to-back Midwest titles. Minneapolis at 101-61 took second, three games ahead of defending World Series champ Louisville.

Omaha’s Kaby Silva won his second MVP and had the fourth MLB offensive Triple Crown. The 27-year old 1B led the in hits (235), home runs (52), RBI (137), triple slash (.387/.441/.697), wRC+ (228), and WAR (10.8). Despite this, the Hawks were last place at 69-93. Brookyln’s Ned Giles won his second Pitcher of the Year, with the 24-year old ace leading in ERA (2.30), WAR (9.9) and FIP- (59).

In the first round of the 1934 playoffs, Milwaukee swept Brooklyn and Minneapolis upset Ottawa in five. The Mustangs prevailed over the Moose in five games in the NACS for Milwaukee’s second-ever National Association title, joining their 1904 campaign.



Charlotte won their second straight Southern League title, with an 89-73 mark taking it in a competitive field. Seven games separated first from seventh place. Memphis at 88-74 took second narrowly for back-to-back wild cards. Albuquerque and Las Vegas tied for the Western League title at 96-66 with the Isotopes winning the title on the tiebreaker. Defending American Association champ Phoenix fell off to 81-81, placing eighth.

Memphis centerfielder Jax Sanders won his first and only MVP award. The 33-year old led the AA in hits (219), runs (115), and WAR (7.8) and also picked up his fifth career Gold Glove. San Francisco’s Mark Tarkenton had the third-ever pitching Triple Crown. Tarkenton went 23-8 with a 2.45 ERA, 329 strikeouts, a 0.96 WAR, 25 quality starts, and 10.2 WAR.

In the first round, the Western League teams advanced with Albuquerque downing Memphis in four and Las Vegas edging Charlotte in five. Fittingly since they tied in the regular season, the Isotopes and Vipers went seven in the AACS. Albuquerque won it for their second-ever Association and carried onto win their second World Series. The Isotopes won the 34^th Fall Classic in six over Milwaukee.





Other notes: St. Louis slugger Elijah Cashman became the first MLB hitter to 700 career home runs. He would finish two seasons later with 750, which would stand as the career homers record until the 21^st Century. Las Vegas’s Bailey Johnson became the second pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. Houston’s Derek Edwards and Fabian Fusco both reached 250 career wins, the fifth and sixth players to hit the mark.

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Three players made it to the MLB 1935 Hall of Fame Class, each on the first ballot. Outfielder Jonathan Gibbs made it at 97.6%, first baseman Walter Seda at 87.3%, and catcher Gary Nodine barely made it at 66.95%. Slugger Christopher Ross again came up just short at 64.5%. Adelmo Castillo came close to getting in on his debut at 61.7%.


Three players made it to the 10^th ballot and were dropped. Outfielder Keith Young never got above 50%, but had his highest tally at 46.4% in his last year. A veteran who played with six teams and into his 40s, his tallies stack up solidly, but a low average and high walks wasn’t sexy. He still got 82.7 WAR, 2173 hits, 1434 runs, 493 home runs, 1403 RBI, and 1358 walks.

Right fielder Christophe Martin peaked at 41.4% in his second try, but only once more got above 1/3s. A career Dallas Dalmatian, he had 2760 hits, 1507 runs, 449 home runs, 1588 RBI, and 63.4 WAR. Also dropped was pitcher Ivan Pereira, who peaked at 29% in his second season. He had 290 saves and a 2.61 ERA with 28.5 WAR.



Jonathan Gibbs – Left Field/First Base – Columbus Chargers – 97.6% First Ballot

Jonathan Gibbs was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right handed outfielder and first baseman from Garden City, on Long Island in New York. Gibbs was one of the top contact and power hitters of his day and also someone well adept at drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. Not a quick runner, he spent his 20s in left field and his 30s at first base defensively. In both cases, he was generally thought of as a decent to average fielder. The main knock on him was a questionable work ethic, but his talent alone made him a hot property.

Gibbs played college baseball at Texas Tech and was the 50^th overall draft pick in the 1908 MLB draft by St. Louis. His Cardinals tenure lasted seven days, as they traded him and two other prospects to Columbus for pitcher Scott Kelly. Gibbs spent a season and a half in the affiliate in Toledo before getting the big league call up at age 21.

In his first full season in 1911, Gibbs lead the National Association in WAR (8.6), and OPS (1.002), earning him the MVP and helping the Chargers to their first playoff appearance and NACS. They got to the NACS again in 1918 and had one other playoff appearance, but never got over the hump in Gibbs’ nine seasons there. Still, he was a consistently strong bat, winning his second MVP in 1914. With Columbus, Gibbs put up 54.3 WAR, 1506 hits, 245 home runs, and had a .326 batting average.

Despite the Chargers’ great 1918, Gibbs opted for free agency and signed a five year, $31,800 contract with San Francisco at age 30. The Gold Rush became a Western League contender, making the playoffs each of his five seasons there. In 1921, Gibbs won his third MVP, leading the league and setting career highs in home runs (48) and RBI (150). That season, the Gold Rush made it all the way and won the World Series against Baltimore. With SF, Gibbs had 862 hits, 176 home runs, 590 RBI, a .318 batting average, and 30.8 WAR.

Entering 1924 at age 35, he opted for free agency again and signed for three seasons and $20,400 with Calgary. He was still a respectable starter, but his days as an elite player were done. After his Cheetahs contract ended, he signed for two seasons with Oklahoma City, then played his final year at age 40 with Kansas City in 1929. In these later years, he became the 8^th hitter to 3000 career hits, the 12^th to 1500 runs scored, and 12^th to 1500 RBI.

Gibbs finished with 3174 hits, 1779 runs, 559 home runs, 1840 RBI, 1406 walks, a .307/.391/.522 triple slash, and 102.8 WAR. At retirement, he was third in both runs score and RBI all-time. His #19 would go onto be retired by Columbus, where he remained popular despite leaving when he did. A premiere bat in the 1910s and 1920s, Jonathan Gibbs certainly was an easy first ballot Hall of Fame choice.



Walter Seda – First Baseman – Portland Pacifics – 87.3% First Ballot

Walter Seda was a 5’10’’, 195 pound left-handed bat first baseman from the small town of Lebanon in northwest Oregon. Seda was known as an excellent contact hitter and solid power hitter, especially against right-handed pitchers. He was alright at drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. His downside was lack of speed and fielding ability. Seda played almost entirely at first base and was generally a poor fielder. But he was a fan favorite and would be beloved by his hometown Portland Pacifics.

After playing in college at Kent State, Seda was picked 48^th overall by Portland, where he’d spend his entire MLB career. His arrival helped foster Portland’s first successes, making the playoffs six straight seasons from 1916-1921. Seda was the 1915 rookie of the year, hitting a career high 48 home runs.

In 1916, Seda’s second year, the Pacifics made it as far as the World Series. And Seda was a key part of that, winning his first MVP at age 22. Seda won his second MVP the next season and his third in 1920. He led the American Association in RBI twice, hits once, and runs once. In 1918, he signed an eight-year, $28,080 contract extension.

Portland fell off from being a contender into the 1920s and Seda’s production fell as well. A fractured thumb put him out for almost half of 1925 and into his 30s, he saw his production fall. He also became a DH in his final years, retiring at age 35 after the 1929 season.

In his career, Seda had 2586 hits, 1435 runs, 409 doubles, 486 home runs, 1621 RBI, a .306/.368/.535 triple slash, and 63.5 WAR. One of the most likeable players of his era, his #25 was the first number retired by the Pacifics. A beloved figure in Oregon and a three-time MVP, it’s no surprise that Walter Seda became a first ballot Hall of Famer.



Gary Nodine – Catcher – Cleveland Cobras – 66.9% First Ballot

Gary Nodine was a 5’9’’ 180 pound right handed catcher from Los Angeles. For a catcher, Nodine was known as an incredible steady and reliable bat. Defensively, he was considered very good with a solid arm. He threw out 919 runners at a 46% clip in his career and posted a 52.5 career Zone Rating at the position. Perhaps most importantly, he was an iron man, reliable starting at the incredibly demanding position for two decades. It’s no surprise that he became a fan favorite in his three stops.

After a successful college run at Mississippi State, Nodine was the seventh overall pick by Cleveland in 1909. It wasn’t until his fourth season with the Cobras that he became the full-time starter, but that year he posted a career high 7.1 WAR and .344 batting average. The Cobras were a bottom-level franchise in his 11 seasons, but Nodine wasn’t the problem, racking up five of his seven career Silver Sluggers and one of his two Gold Gloves.

In late January 1921, Cleveland traded Nodine to Miami for rookie second baseman Curtis Thornton. He ended up spending six seasons with the Mallards from 1921-1926, continuing to produce at a consistent level. Unfortunately for him, the Mallards were also a weak team at the time, as he left two years before their surprise 1928 World Series run.

Nodine’s final three years came with Milwaukee with his production finally dropping significantly at age 40 in 1929. He was unsigned at the end of the year and apart for a very brief minor league stint with Corpus Christi, saw his career come to a close.

The final offense numbers: 2626 hits, 1127 runs, 282 home runs, 1218 RBI, a .298/.353/.445 slash and 87.3 WAR. Respectable at any position, but outstanding relative to other catchers. His lack of flash and never being on prominent teams hurt him, thus his 66.9% induction rate. But he still made the crack as a first ballot Hall of Famer.

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In the 1935 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame class, both Diomar Glas and Adrian De La Rosa were inducted on the first ballot at over 98%. Closer Ramiro Aguero was close at 62.9% on his second try with fellow reliever Jimmy Pike at 60.6% on his seventh.



Two made it to their 10^th ballot, but were both in the single-digits to close. Starting pitcher Pablo Sanchez had 38.6 WAR over a 10-year career between Jamaica and Havana, but only once got over 20% of the vote. Right fielder Caligula Davalos was burned by his counting stats starting at age 28. He won the MVP with Honduras hitting 57 home runs in 1912 and put up 5.58 WAR and 329 dingers in 10 CABA seasons between the Horsemen and Havana. Despite a good resume for a short official burst, he peaked at 27.1% in his second year on the ballot.

The 1935 East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame had one inductee in starting pitcher Seo-Yul Park, who made it on the first ballot at 69.6%.



Diomar “Top Dog” Glas – Right Fielder – Santo Domingo Dolphins – First Ballot 98.6%.

Diomar Glass was a 6’2’’, 200 pound left handed right fielder and first baseman from the Montana Rey area of Willemstad, Curacao. The first Hall of Famer from the island, Glas was an all-time great power hitter, especially against righties. Nine times in his CABA career, he led the league in home runs.

He was a generally good contact hitter and could draw walks, but he did strikeout a lot. He spent about 2/3s of his career in right field and the other 1/3 at first base and was a poor fielder at both. Incredibly durable and reliable, Glas quickly became a fan favorite at each of his stops and was THE home run hitter of CABA’s first two decades.

As an amateur, he quickly drew a lot of attention even in little Curacao and when the 1912 CABA draft came along, was picked 12^th overall by Santo Domingo. Glas spent a decade in Dolphin purple and became a beloved figure with #36 jerseys seen throughout the Dominican. He won his first MVP in 1917 and won six of his nine Silver Sluggers in Santo Domingo. In that MVP season, the Dolphins won their first CABA championship with Glas earning series MVP. SD again was Caribbean champ in 1918, falling to Tijuana in the CABA final. In these two seasons, Glas posted 40 hits, seven homers, 18 runs, and 23 RBI in 23 playoff games.

Although Glas continued to excel, Santo Domingo struggled to enter the 1920s. In the 1922 offseason, the Dolphins stunned many when he was traded to the other side of the DR, getting five prospects in a deal with Santiago. The Swordfish had won the Caribbean League in 1921 and they hoped the 32-year old slugger could help them do it again.

He picked up his second and third MVPs with the Swordfish and in 1923, helped them win the CABA crown over Tijuana, although he lacked the postseason heroics this time. After two years with Santiago, he tested free agency for the first time in his career and got his biggest payday, signing with Havana for four years at $4,780 per year.

The Hurricanes never quite got over the hump while he was there, but Glas still picked up two Silver Sluggers and made history in 1928 as the first CABA player to 600 career home runs, the first to 2500 hits, and the first to 1500 RBI. For 1929, he signed a three-year contract with Puerto Rico, but only played one season as time finally caught up with him at age 38. Glas retired that offseason and would then go onto a 12-year managerial career, although he only twice got a team to a winning record as a coach.

Glas finished with 2611hits, 1452 runs, 623 home runs, 1627 RBI, a .279/.340/.536 slash and 95.9 WAR. He retired as the all-time home run leader and held that title for about two decades. His top spot as RBI king held about 30 years.

His overall spot on the leaderboards would fall as more offensive-friendly eras would pass. But he was indeed the “Top Dog” in power in the 1910s and 1920s in CABA and when you factor in the low offense of early day CABA, his power holds up among the all-timers. Beloved for good reason in both his native Curacao and his second home of Santo Domingo, Glas is an inner-circle Hall of Fame choice.



Adrian De La Rosa – Starting Pitcher – Guadalajara Hellhounds – 98.3% First Ballot

Adrian De La Rosa was a 6’2’’, 205 pound right handed pitcher from Ocozocoautla, a small town in southeast Mexico. He threw hard, often hitting the upper 90s range, and provided very good control and movement with his strong fastball and curveball, plus a decent circle change. De La Rosa was quiet, but incredibly reliable. He also could be counted upon to regularly go the distance, leading the league in complete games seven times and shutouts six times.

Highly touted as an amateur, De La Rosa earned the first overall draft pick in the 1912 CABA draft by Guadalajara, where he’d spend his entire career. His first three seasons however were spent as a back-end starter and reliever. It wasn’t until this fourth season that he was a full time starter, leading Mexico in quality starts 930) and complete games (18) with 7.6 WAR. From there, he’d be a full-time starter until retiring after his age 37 season in 1929.

Guadalajara became a powerhouse in the Mexican League in the early 1920s, winning seven South Division titles in eight seasons. The Hellhounds won the overall CABA title in 1920 and 1921 and were the 1925 Mexican League champs. De La Rosa was a key part of that dynasty, although it wasn’t until 1925 at age 33 that he won Pitcher of the Year for the first time. He had career bests in WAR (7.9), quality starts (31), innings (300), WHIP (0.78), complete games (25), and shutouts. He won the award again the next year with a career-best 1.87 ERA.

That was his last stellar season, although he remained for another three seasons. He became the second CABA pitcher to 250 career wins, finishing with a 251-184 record with a 2.34 ERA. De La Rosa had 4080 innings, 3487 strikeouts with only 455 walks, 370 quality starts out of 471, and 70.4 WAR.

His biggest lasting mark was 248 complete games, the all-time record CABA record that still holds even a century later. His 66 shutouts was the top mark for nearly a century as well. Despite that, he only had one no-hitter back in 1918. His #16 was retired by Guadalajara in 1929. About as reliable of a presence at the top of the rotation and a key part of the Hellhounds’ 1920s dynasty, De La Rosa is an obvious Hall of Fame choice.



Seo-Yul “Neighbor” Park – Starting Pitcher – Yokohama Yellow Jackets – 69.6% First Ballot

Seo-Yul Park was a 5’10’’, 200 pound left handed pitcher from Pakchon, located about an hour north of Pyongyang in modern day North Korea. Park’s velocity was around 93-95 mph and he had solid movement and control, alternating between a slider, curveball, sinker, and splitter. When East Asia Baseball had formed, he was already a successful amateur and semi-pro pitcher. His first EAB contract came at age 27; a five-year deal worth $12,100 with the Yokohama Yellow Jackets.

Park’s entire nine-year EAB run came with Yokohama, helping them create Japan’s first baseball dynasty. The Yellow Jackets won the Japan title in 1924, 1926, and 1927; winning the overall EAB crown in 26 and 27. In 24 and 26, Park was the Pitcher of the Year, leading the league in ERA in both seasons. He also was the fourth EAB pitcher to record 2000 strikeouts. He retired after the 1929 season at age 35 after seeing his production fall off in his final two seasons.

Statistically, he’s an interesting case as a guy whose official counted stats started late and whose true peak was only seven seasons. He finished with a 138-72 record, 2.05 ERA, 2117 strikeouts in 1964.2 innings, 199 quality starts out of 254, and a 58.2 WAR. Many players who didn’t have the accumulations from a late start ended up left out from the various Halls of Fame. But he was explosive in his time and a big part of the Yokohama dynasty, earning him the nod into the EAB HOF.

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Caracas claimed the Bolivar North Division for the third time in five seasons in 1935, finishing with a league-best 108-54 record. Defending Copa Sudamerica champ Medellin dropped off to 87-wins, taking third behind 100-62 Bogota. In the South Division, Lima narrowly took the top spot at 101-61, one game better than defending division champ Cali.

The Bolivar MVP was Colts centerfielder Nelson Coelho, who they acquired in a trade from Callao last summer. Coelho was the leader in the triple slash, runs (113), and doubles (36). Lobos ace Mohmaed Ramos won his second Pitcher of the Year with a career best in ERA (1.61) and WHIP (0.71). In five seasons, Ramos now has 2322 strikeouts and 62 WAR.



Brasilia claimed the best record in Liga Cono Sur again , taking the Brazil Division at 109-53. Salvador again had a 100+ win season but came up second. In a weaker South Division, Rosario took first at 89-73 for their second-ever division title. They had to defeat Santiago In a one-game playoff after the Robins and Saints tied for the title.

Rosario had the league MVP in Mohammed Jimenez, as the 30-year old third baseman led the league in home runs (42) and RBI (117). Bearcats pitcher Rey Parisi was the Pitcher of the Year with the league lead in ERA at 1.76.

The Bolivar League Championship Series went seven games for the first time as Lima edged Caracas for their first title and the first by a Peruvian team. The Southern Cone final was a sweep for Brasilia over Rosario for their first title. Copa Sudamerica went the distance as well as the Bearcats beat the Lobos in seven games.

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Sapporo took the Japan North Division in 1935 at 97-63, giving them their third division title in four years. Last year's winner Saitama was in a log-jam in the middle of the division. Meanwhile in the South, Kobe narrowly took it at 94-68, besting defending EAB champ Nagoya who finished four games behind.

Sting second baseman Ji-Un So won the MVP with the league lead in OPS (.900) and wRC+ (190). Swordfish Joon-Kyu Cho won his third Pitcher of the Year in four seasons. The 28-year old lefty led Japan in strikeouts for the fifth time and led the league in quality starts (28) and WAR (8.1).



In Korea, Suwon won a third consecutive North Division at 101-61 with only Incheon (94-68) providing a strong challenge. In the South, Busan secured a fourth consecutive division title with the defending Korea League champs going 110-52. Ulsan again was excellent, but their 104 wins weren’t enough for their first playoff berth.

Ulsan third baseman Kyu-Min Ri won his second straight league MVP, as the 31-year old led Korea in WAR (9.8), batting average (.353) and RBI (100). Busan’s Yu-Geon Moon picked up his second Pitcher of the Year, leading in ERA (1.68), wins (23), WHIP (0.87) and WAR (8.7).

The Japan League Championship Series went all seven games as Kobe defeated Sapporo for their first-ever league title. In the third straight Korea League Championship Series matchup between Busan and Suwon, the Snappers finally prevailed. Taking it in five, it’s Suwon’s first-ever Korean title. In the East Asian Championship, the Blaze cruised to a sweep over the Snappers.





Other notes: Three perfect games were thrown within a two month stretch. On May 15, Osaka’s Takeshi Hinata did it against Saitama. On May 29, Kawasaki’s Min-Gyu Sun did it against Hiroshima. Then June 29, Tokyo’s Yuko Hamada pulled it off versus Nagoya.

Nagoya’s Michiro Yabuta became the first EAB pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. Toma Dobashi of Pyongyang became the first EAB hitter to cross 2500 career hits. Ji-Hyun Kim of Yongin became the second pitcher to 300 career saves. Suwon centerfielder Seung-Min Hwang won his eighth Gold Glove.

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Both Mexican League division titles had back-to-back winners in 1935. Monterrey won the North Division title at 99-63, while Mexico City took the South at 106-56. Both won by solid margins as well, setting up would become a recurring MLCS encounter for the rest of the decade.

Aztecs outfielder Kiko Velazquez won his sixth MVP in seven seasons, leading in hits (197), triple slash (.347/.399/.640) and WAR (10.6). Martin Campos won his third Pitcher of the Year and his first with Monterrey, as he was traded there from Puebla in the offseason. He was nine strikeouts away from a Triple Crown season, as the 31-year old led Mexico in wins (21), ERA (1.65), WHIP (0.85), and quality starts (28).



In the Caribbean, Santiago earned a playoff spot for the first time since their 1923 CABA crown, taking the Island Division at 103-59. Jamaica's dynasty ended with a third place, 86-win season. The Jazz wouldn't find their way back to the postseason until the late 40s. Costa Rica claimed back-to-back Continental titles with a 94-68 mark. They were five games better than Panama.

Haiti third baseman Jonny Lucero won his sixth MVP with the 32-year old leading the Caribbean League in runs (110), walks (80), OBP (.380), and OPS (.957) Nicaragua pitcher Natalio Castro picked up the Pitcher of the Year as the 27-year old led in wins (23), innings (287.1), shutouts (6), and WAR (8.5).

In a Mexican League Championship Series rematch, Monterrey bested Mexico City in five games, giving the Matadors their first league title. The Caribbean League Championship Series went seven games with Costa Rica topping Santiago for their second league title in four years. The Rays added their first CABA championship in a seven game classic over Monterrey.





Other notes: Jamaica closer Hector Hernandez became the first CABA closer to win four Reliever of the Year awards. Monterrey’s B.J. Cabrera was the fourth closer to 300 career saves. Jamaica’s Glen Anderson became the eighth CABA pitcher to 200 career wins.

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Ottawa earned a fourth straight playoff berth as they and Hartford tied for first in the Eastern League at 94-68. The tiebreaker went to the Elks, who allowed the fewest runs in the National Association. Baltimore and Toronto both finished two games back. In the Midwest League, defending NA champ Milwaukee won their third straight league title at 95-67. Omaha finished one game back at 94-68 for their first playoff berth since 1917. Minneapolis, who won 101 games the prior year, finished ninth with 80 wins in 1935.

Omaha first baseman Kaby Silva won his third MVP and was only three average points from back-to-back Triple Crowns. Silva led the NA in home runs (50), RBI (125), OBP (.420), slugging (.654) and wRC+ (198). Brooklyn’s Ned Giles won his third Pitcher of the Year in four seasons, leading in ERA (2.31), strikeouts (246), and WAR (9.2). It would be the final season with the Dodgers for the 26-year old ace, who would sign with Denver in the offseason.

In the first round, Ottawa swept Omaha and Milwaukee beat Hartford in four. The NACS went to the Mustangs in a sweep over the Elks, giving Milwaukee back-to-back National Association titles.



In the Southern League, New Orleans took the title at 100-62. It’s the first time the Mudcats have made the playoffs at all, leaving Oklahoma City as the only MLB team who hasn’t made the playoffs once in the first 35 seasons. Charlotte took second at 89-73 for their third straight playoff berth. In the Western League, Calgary at 101-61 won the title for their playoff berth since 1923. San Diego at 98-64 finished second, two better than defending World Series champ Albuquerque.

The big addition for New Orleans was Andrei Tanev, who signed an eight-year deal with the Mudcats after winning two MVPs with Memphis. Tanev grabbed his third MVP in 1935 for New Orleans, eight average points from a Triple Crown. The 28-year old Russian led the American Association in runs (122), home runs (51), RBI (145), OPS (1.041) and WAR (7.4). San Diego’s Hudson DeMarco won Pitcher of the Year, leading in innings pitched (299.2).

In the first round, Calgary topped Charlotte in four games and New Orleans beat San Diego in four. The American Association Championship Series went to the Mudcats over the Cheetahs in six games. New Orleans continued their dream season by taking the 1935 World Series in six games over Milwaukee. The Mustangs are runner-up for the second straight season.





Other notes: St. Louis’s Elijah Cashman won his 11^th and final Gold Glove. Washington’s Jake Nicholson became the 11^th MLB hitter to 3000 career hits. Kansas City’s John Burgess became the 19^th player to 1500 runs scored.

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Only slugger Christopher Ross was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame in the 1936 class. Ross finally made the cut narrowly at 67.4% on his fifth ballot. Closer Adelmo Castillo was close but short on his second try at 62.5%. First baseman Israel Bishop, 1B Emanuel McCain, and pitcher Juan Haro each were above 50%.



Three players made it to the 1936 CABA Hall of Fame Class. Pitchers Ulices Montero and Pedro Becerra each were first ballot choices with more than 97% of the vote. Closer Ramiro Aguero on his third try made it in as well at 75.5%. Another pitcher, Sidney Chairez, had a nice first showing but was just shy at 61.9%.

One player made it to his 10^th ballot in pitcher Jay Samson. The Aruban only pitched seven seasons in CABA but picked up 53.8 WAR with Haiti. Had he not left for MLB and been out of baseball at age 33, he might have made it in. Samson peaked at 43.1% on his fifth try.

No one made it in the 1936 East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. The two highest players both were at 41.4%, relievers Ga-On Ko and Dong-Hyeon Park.



Christopher Ross – First Base/Designated Hitter – New Orleans Mudcats – 67.4% Fifth Ballot

Christopher Ross was a 5’7’’, 185 pound left handed batter from Fairburn, Georgia; located just north of Atlanta. Despite his small stature, Ross was known for his excellent home run hitting power. It would be his calling card, as he was never better than an average hitter in the other aspects. He didn’t hit for a great average, was good but not great at drawing walks, rarely hit doubles, and struck out often.

Ross was also a very slow baserunner and a poor fielder. He split his starts roughly 50-50 between first base and designated hitter. Despite the deficiencies, the hard-working Ross put up a notable 15-year MLB career. But being such a one-dimensional player led to him not get elected until his fifth ballot, and even then, barely so in a down year.

After playing college baseball at Louisville, New Orleans picked Ross with the ninth overall pick in the 1910 MLB Draft. He spent eight seasons with the Mudcats, cracking 50 home runs in 1915. He led the American Association in dingers in 1916 and 1917, but he still was relatively unnoticed by the larger baseball fan as New Orleans was a bottom-tier team in his tenure. He hit 328 homers with 1271 hits, 836 RBI, and 29.0 WAR with the Mudcats.

Just before the start of the 1919 season, New Orleans traded Ross to Seattle. He led the AA in homers for the third time in his one season with the Grizzlies, then signed with Charlotte for the 1920 season at age 29. Ross’s career highlight came in his first year with the Canaries when he hit 58 home runs, tying what was the single-season record at the time. Elijah Cashman would hit 61 three seasons later, leaving Ross’s 58 HR, 148 RBI as one relatively quickly forgotten despite being a rare one at that point in history.

He spent two and a half seasons with Charlotte and didn’t get to play on the 1923 Association Champion squad, as the Canaries traded him to Cincinnati midway through 1922. He signed a four-year extension with the Reds and picked up his 500^th home run there; the fourth player to reach the milestone. In 1925, he got to his 600^th homer, the first to the milestone. When he retired after the 1926 season at age 35, he was the all-time career homer leader at 644, although he’d be passed within a decade by Cashman.

The final line for Ross: 644 homers, 1664 RBI, 2378 hits, 1505 runs, a .270/.342/.532 slash and 51.7 WAR. Despite this, he never won an MVP or Silver Slugger, nor did he ever get to even play a single postseason game. The lack of accolades made the debate over Ross’s HOF candidacy a contentious one, requiring five ballots and getting just past the bare minimum at 67.4%. But retiring the career leader with 644 home runs is hard to overlook and eventually that secured him a spot in the Hall of Fame.



Ulices “Fireman” Montero – Starting Pitcher –Santiago Sailfish – 98.7% First Ballot

Ulices Montero was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher born in Santiago de Cuba; although it would be the Dominican Republic’s Santiago that he would become most associated with. Nicknamed “Fireman,” Montero would end up going down as arguably the greatest pitcher in CABA history.

Montero’s velocity was 97-99 mph and he had incredible stuff as he switched between five great pitches; a fastball, slider, curveball, forkball, and changeup. He also had great movement and excellent control with his changeup in particular noted for being deadly; especially when mixed with his other offerings. On top of that, Montero was an impressive leader, earning team captain honors and the respect of everyone he faced. He very quickly was noted as one of Cuba’s most impressive amateurs and when the 1912 CABA draft came around, he’d be picked fifth overall by the Santiago Sailfish, moving him to the DR.

He struggled with walks in his first two seasons, but figured it out in his third season and became elite from there on. Montero was the Caribbean League Pitcher of the Year seven times with the Sailfish, winning it in 1916, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 27. He also added league MVP in 1920 in a year with a career-best 1.37 ERA, which also was a single-season record. It got beaten two years later by Lian Llanes, but it remained the second-best single season ERA for more than a century.

He won the Triple Crown that year and also in 1918, led the league in strikeouts nine times and led in WAR 11 times. His 13.8 WAR in 1919 was the second best single season for a century and his 439 strikeouts only second to Brian Kendall’s 441 a century later.

Santiago was a regular Island Division contender during Montero’s tenure. The Sailfish won the Caribbean title in 1916, 1921, and 1923; winning the overall CABA crown in 1916 and 1923. 1921 was Montero’s best showing, allowing only one run in 27 postseason innings. He surprisingly only had one no-hitter, coming in 1915. Montero also had a 20 strikeout game in 1919. He became the first CABA player to 4000 career strikeouts and until 2035, was the only CABA pitcher to 5000+.

Although Montero was still going strong, Santiago entered a rebuilding phase late in the 1920s. The Sailfish traded Montero to Juarez for prospects prior to the 1929 season. In his one year with the Jesters, he earned his 300^th CABA win and was the only pitcher in the 21^st Century to reach the mark.

At age 38, his CABA run was over with the final line of 314-183, 2.31 ERA, 4527.1 innings, 5849 strikeouts with 865 walks, a 0.90 WHIP, and a 165.6 WAR. His WAR total made him the CABA pitching WARlord and he’d second among all CABA players, only one point behind 40s-50s slugger Prometheo Garcia. But despite these historic numbers, his pitching career wasn’t done yet.

For the 1930 season at age 38, Montero made his way to America and signed with the Denver Dragons, where he’d make $9,600 per season compared to his CABA peak salary of $3,780. He was still an all-star even in MLB, leading the American Association in ERA at 2.49 in 1931. Denver traded him to Kansas City and at age 40 in 1932, he led the National Association with 22 wins, becoming one of a very select few to lead multiple leagues in wins. Montero was still worth almost 19 WAR over his first three MLB seasons.

He’d pitch three more seasons in MLB, although he finally regressed in those final seasons. San Diego signed him in 1933 and he struggled, getting traded mid-season with Indianapolis. He pitched two more seasons with the Racers and then retired at age 44 after the 1935 season. He then returned to CABA as a manager and coach.

When you combine his MLB and CABA numbers, Montero had 398 wins, 6796 strikeouts, and 191.7 WAR. Not only does Montero have a strong case as the greatest pitcher in CABA history; he’s in the conversation for the greatest pitcher in the history of professional baseball. The Fireman is a revered figure in his native Cuba and in Caribbean baseball history, a true icon of the sport.



Pedro Becerra – Starting Pitcher – Honduras Horsemen – 97.8% First Ballot

Pedro “Tadpole” Becerra was a 6’1’’, 205 pound right handed pitcher from Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. Becerra peaked later in his career with 99-101 mph fire, using his stellar fastball to dominate along with a solid changeup and good curveball. Becerra’s amateur success got the attention of the Honduras Horsemen, who selected him third overall in the 1917 CABA Draft. His entire CABA career would be with Horsemen.

Becerra had some early success, really finding his rhythm in his mid to late 20s. He led the Caribbean League in ERA four straight seasons from 1924-27, also leading in strikeouts and WHIP numerous times in that stretch. His career-best WAR was 10.6 in 1923. In 1923, he pitched two no-hitters. He won Pitcher of the Year in 1925 and 26 and in 26, won the Triple Crown.

Honduras was the class of the Continental Division, winning the title nine times in Becerra’s 12 seasons there. They won the Caribbean League title in 1919, 20, 22, 24, and 26 and in 1926, won the overall CABA title. He posted a 2.43 ERA over 140.2 postseason innings with 176 strikeouts.

Injuries started to plague Becerra once he turned 30. Late in 1927, he suffered a ruptured UCL and midway through 1928, a torn elbow ligament. At the start of April, he had radial nerve decompression surgery, causing him to miss major chunks of his last years with Honduras. His final CABA statistics were 161-77 with a 2.10 ERA over 2354 innings with 2894 strikeouts, a 0.86 WHIP, and 68.6 WAR. The Horsemen would retire his #1 jersey, the first player to earn the honor for the franchise.

Despite the injuries, Becerra tried to revive his career and was signed by MLB’s Brooklyn Dodgers. He spent four seasons there, but injuries prevented him from ever playing more than half a season and kept him at average-at-best production. He was let go by Brooklyn after the 1934 season and signed a deal with Pittsburgh, but at the start of 1935, he suffered another torn UCL. He never threw a pitch for the Pirates and finally had to call it quits.

His accumulations aren’t high on the leaderboards, but his 20s saw one of the best decades thrown by a CABA pitcher. Without the injuries, perhaps Becerra would be thought of as more of an inner-circle Hall of Famer. Still, his accomplishments still netted him a first ballot, 97.8% election in the CABA Hall.



Ramiro Aguero – Closer – Jamaica Jazz – 75.5% Third Ballot

Ramiro Aguero was a 5’5’’, 200 pound right handed closer born in Hormigueros, a small town in western Puerto Rico. The pudgy pitcher had an awesome 99-101 mph fastball and a good slider with excellent movement and good control. Early in his amateur career, Aguero also was a decent hitter and catcher, but he ended up committing to pitching. The Jamaica Jazz selected Aguero in the second round of the 1913 CABA Draft, 50^th overall.

Aguero saw little action in his first two seasons and then spent four seasons in the middle of the bullpen. Aguero finally became the closer in 1920 and held that role for the next six seasons, leading the Caribbean League in saves three times. In 1920, he won Reliever of the Year with 41 saves, a 0.90 ERA, and 4.7 WAR.

The Jazz traded him for five players for the 1926 season to Haiti. At age 34, Aguero won his second Reliever of the Year in his one season with the Herons, with a career high 43 saves and a 1.12 ERA. That would be his last great season. Aguero signed with Brooklyn in 1927 and saw only 14.1 innings, before coming back to CABA for one season with Santo Domingo. He then saw 8.2 innings in 1929 between Pittsburgh and Houston, retiring at age 38.

Aguero’s CABA final line was a 1.59 ERA, 271 saves, 1017 strikeouts over 756.1 innings, a 0.85 WHIP, and 34.3 WAR. His overall numbers are among the weakest of the relievers in the CABA Hall of Fame, but enough voters decided Aguero deserved the induction on the third ballot.

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Medellin claimed its second Bolivar North Division title in three seasons, taking the crown at 99-63 in 1936. Defending champ Caracas dropped off to 93 wins and Bogota fell off a cliff from 100 wins the prior year to 67. In the South, Cali won a third division title in four seasons, also finishing at 99-63. Last year's league champ Lima was their closest competitor at 92-70.

Cali centerfielder Saul Vargas won his first MVP at age 23. The left handed Colombian led the Bolivar League in runs (93), WAR (9.8), stolen bases (94), average (.328) and OBP (.384). Lima’s Mohamed Ramos won his third Pitcher of the Year, setting the all-time record of 549 strikeouts in a season and all-time record of 17.9 WAR.



Defending Copa Sudamerica champion Brasilia again claimed the Southern Cone League's Brazil Division, giving them three straight playoff berths. At 101-61, there was a double digit gap to second place. The South Division went to Santiago for the third time in four seasons as the Saints finished 97-63, five games better than Cordoba.

Rosario 3B Mohammed Jimenez won his second straight MVP and led the league in WAR (10.5), average (.316), slugging (.602), home runs (48), RBI (105), hits (185) and runs (93). Cordoba’s Cato Arias was the Pitcher of the Year with the league lead in ERA (1.34), WAR (11.1), strikeouts (362), quality starts (33/32) and complete games (18).

The Bolivar League Championship Series was claimed by Medellin for the third time in its six year existence, as the Mutiny beat Cali in five games. The Southern Cone Championship was a rematch of the 1934 edition and this time, went seven games for the first time. Like the prior meeting, Santiago got the better of Brasilia, giving the Saints their third league title. They'd add their first Copa Sudamerica as well, easily sweeping Medellin. Santiago's win gives Chile an overall champ for the first time.





Other notes: The third and fourth Beisbol Sudamerica perfect games were thrown in 1936. On April 4, Sao Paulo's Kerlon da Silva did it with 10 strikeouts against Asuncion. Then on August 11, Mohamed Ramos did it with 18 strikeouts against Quito. For the incredibly dominant Ramos, it was already his fourth career no-hitter in six seasons. The 18 Ks wasn't even a record for him, as Ramos has struck out 20+ nine times in his career, including the record of 23 in 10.1 innings back in 1934. In 1936, Ramos became the first BSA pitcher to 2500 career strikeouts.

Medellin's Vitorio Paolini became the first four-time Reliever of the Year winner. Salvador's Chano Angel became a three-time winner