Baseball: The World's Game (OOTP 22 Fictional World)

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

For the second time in three years, Eurasian Professional Baseball didn’t add anyone into its Hall of Fame. Four players were very close in 2009 with more than 60%, but not the 66% required. 3B Igor Urban was less than a percentage point short with 65.4% on his second try. Similarly close was SP Temuujin Munkhuu at 65.0% for his second attempt.



The best debut was SP Wojciech Grzybek at 64.3%, while SP Mikhail Kripak had 62.7% in his fourth attempt. SP Dmitry Popov was also above the 50% mark with 52.1% for his fourth attempt. No one was dropped after ten ballots.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

The Oceania Baseball Association added pitcher Otto Rowland as its lone inductee in 2009 Hall of Fame voting. In his debut, he made it across the 66% threshold with 74.1%. Closer Garnet Wallace was the only other player above 50%, taking 57.0% on his sixth ballot. Wallace was slightly down from the prior year, where he had the most voters in an empty ballot.



Mitch Bird was dropped after ten failed attempts. He had a 12-year career between Perth and Auckland and was plagued by injuries. Bird won two Silver Sluggers and had 1761 hits, 655 runs, 247 doubles, 212 triples, 104 home runs, 704 RBI, a .323/.349/.504 slash, 150 wRC+, and 41.7 WAR. He won four batting titles, but leadoff type guys have a tough path even when they have higher accumulations. Bird peaked at 17.4% in 2001 and survived ten ballots, ending at 5.5%.

Also worth a mention was 2B Evan Boyett, who fell below 5% on his eighth ballot. He was hurt by having eight seasons in MLB between his nine in OBA. With Tahiti, Boyett won 1984 MVP, four Gold Gloves, and four Silver Sluggers. In OBA, Boyett had 1338 hits, 666 runs, 267 doubles, 169 home runs, 568 RBI, a .269/.327/.445 slash, 144 wRC+, and 57.4 WAR.

Boyett also won two Gold Gloves in MLB and had a combined career WAR of 98.7. Had he stayed in OBA his whole run, the extremely popular Hawaiian probably had a nice shot. But the split accumulations were far too low to garner serious attention, peaking with his debut at 21.9%.



Otto Rowland – Starting Pitcher – Guam Golden Eagles – 74.1% First Ballot

Otto Rowland was a 5’10’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Brisbane, Australia. The stocky Rowland was known for having outstanding movement on his pitches, especially his signature curveball. His stuff and control were both above average to good as well with a 97-99 mph sinker, decent slider, and rarely used changeup.

Rowland’s stamina was excellent and he loved going deep into games, although his may have contributed to his later injury woes. He was good at holding runners, but subpar defensively otherwise.

Rowland became a popular pitcher, especially in his native Australia. Perhaps his best success was in the World Baseball Championship for the national team. From 1993-2005, Rowland had a 16-6 record over 200 innings, 2.56 ERA, 181 strikeouts, 77 walks, 143 ERA+, and 3.9 WAR.

Even out of high school, Rowland drew plenty of attention among Australian teams. In the 1989 OBA Draft, Adeliade picked him with the third overall pick. Rowland didn’t sign with the Aardvarks and instead headed off to college. He was still very touted when next eligible in 1992 and was picked with the #1 overall pick by Sydney.

Rowland was a full-time starter immediately for the Snakes, who had been generally the weakest franchise of the Australasia League. In his first four years, Sydney won 64, 65, 65, and 63 games. Rowland was a full-time immediately and had a strong rookie year despite leading in losses at 10-22. He posted 7.3 WAR, earning 1993 Rookie of the Year honors.

In his seventh start in 1994, Rowland suffered a fractured elbow. He had a setback in August that required surgery, putting him out 13 months in total. Rowland made it back with respectable efforts in 1995 and 1996. He led in innings pitched in 1996 and led the AL in wins with 18 despite also posting 20 losses thanks to Sydney’s general ineptitude.

Rowland had a nice 7.0 WAR effort in 1997, which prompted Sydney to give him a six-year, $15,600,000 extension in the offseason. The Snakes won 88 games and earned a rare second place finish. His WAR went down in 1998, but his ERA did too, taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Sydney fell to .500 that year, but seemed to be trending towards at least some level of competitiveness.

It surprised many when Sydney traded Rowland in October 1998. Two-time defending Pacific League champ Guam scooped him up in exchange for five prospects. With the Snakes, Rowland had an 85-84 record, 2.71 ERA, 1543.2 innings, 1407 strikeouts, 117 ERA+, and 29.7 WAR. Although he had more innings with Sydney, Rowland became far better known for his time with the Golden Eagles.

Guam continued its Pacific League dynasy, winning the title in 1999, 2000, and 2001. They set an OBA record at 119-43 en route to the 1999 Oceania Championship over Christchurch. The Golden Eagles won it all again in 2000 against Auckland, but lost in the 2001 finale to Adelaide. Rowland had a strong playoff career with a 1.71 ERA in six starts, 47.1 innings, 43 strikeouts, a 2-3 record, 205 ERA+, and 1.5 WAR.

Rowland had a nice debut season in 1999, then really turned into a true ace for the first time in 2000. He had a league and career best 11.0 WAR, 23-11 record, and 319 strikeouts. This earned Rowland his lone Pitcher of the Year honor. In 2001, a hamstring strain cost him a month, but he posted a league and career best 2.28 ERA. Rowland finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting.

Elbow and rotator cuff strains cost him half of the 2002 campaign. Guam’s Pacific League run ended here, falling four games short of Fiji for first. The Golden Eagles fell to around .500 in 2003. Rowland bounced back for a strong 2003 with a 2.34 ERA and 7.7 WAR. Guam hoped he could help prevent them from needing a full rebuild.

Disaster struck Rowland in spring training of 2004. He suffered a torn labrum, putting him out ten months and the entire campaign. Guam struggled to 75-87, their first losing season since 1989. They decided to begin the rebuild and didn’t re-sign Rowland.

With the Golden Eagles, Rowland had a 90-44 record, 2.63 ERA, 1332 innings, 1222 strikeouts, 257 walks, 74 complete games, 136 ERA+, and 36.2 WAR. He was at a crossroads as he rehabbed with many teams not wanting to risk signing a guy off that kind of injury at age 35. Rowland looked good though in his first workouts back and caught the attention of MLB’s Hartford. The Huskies gave him a four-year, $32,800,000 deal as they hoped to find a diamond in the rough.

Rowland pitched in the 2005 WBC and showed promise with a 1.64 ERA over 11 innings. Tragically in spring training almost exactly one year later, Rowland tore his labrum again. Doctors told him he had to retire and he never pitched a single inning in MLB for Hartford.

For his career, Rowland had a 175-128 record, 2.67 ERA, 2875.2 innings, 2629 strikeouts, 575 walks, 155 complete games, 32 shutouts, 125 ERA+, and 66.0 WAR. His accumulations were definitely on the lower end compared to most OBA Hall of Fame pitchers, although his rate stats were good. Rowland was definitely borderline, but he did have a couple things working in his favor.

Rowland helped Guam win two OBA titles, looked good in the postseason, and had a Pitcher of the Year. It also didn’t hurt that his debut ballot in 2009 was a weak group with no standouts. Enough voters were sympathetic to his injury plight and got Rowland across the line at 74.1%. This was enough to make him the lone OBA Hall of Fame addition for 2009.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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First baseman Akbar Fatchurohman was the lone addition for the Austronesia Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. He earned a first ballot addition, although narrowly crossed the 66% requirement at 70.2%. RF Eli Cheng fell painfully short in his debut at 64.1%. CL Chang-Heng Chang was the only other guy above 50%, debuting with 54.2%. No players were dropped from the ballot after ten tries in 2009.



Akbar Fatchurohman – First Base – Depok Demons – 70.2% First Ballot

Akbar Fatchurohman was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from Curug, Indonesia, a village in the Banten province in western Java. Fatchurohman was a well-rounded batter with good to sometimes great contact skills. He was above average at drawing walks and decent at avoiding strikeouts. Fatchurohman didn’t have prolific power, but he had a steady pop in his bat. Over his 162 game average, he got you 26 homers, 26 doubles, and 6 triples in the low offense environment of APB.

Fatchurohman’s baserunning speed and skills were both firmly mediocre. However, he was known for having outstanding glovework as a career first baseman. He won 13 Gold Gloves, which at retirement was second in APB history at the position only behind Kent Wang’s 15. Fatchurohman had good durability for most of his 19-year career.

Described as having a “winning smile,” Fatchurohman was one of most beloved superstars in Indonesian baseball. He was one of the hardest working guys in the game and you’d have a hard time finding anyone to say a bad word about him.

He was a top prospect entering APB’s 1984 Draft and was picked fourth overall by Depok. Fatchurohman played nearly his entire career with the Demons, starting with a part-time role in his first two years. He earned the full-time gig in 1987 and held it through 2002 for Depok. Fatchurohman started 135+ games in all but two seasons in that stretch, missing a few weeks to injury in 1996 and 1998.

1987 was his first of 11 seaosns worth 6+ WAR. It also started a run of nine consecutive Gold Glove wins at first base. He’d miss it in 1996, but win four more from 1997-2000. Fatchurohman’s finest effort would be his lone MVP season in 1988. He led the Sundaland Association and had career bests in hits (196), homers (40), total bases (356), average (.317), slugging (.576), OPS (.935), wRC+ (233), and WAR (11.6).

Fatchurohman won his first of six Silver Sluggers that year, also winning in 1989, 90, 92, 2000, and 2001. He wasn’t generally a league leader otherwise, but he was one of the most reliable bats in APB. After the 1990 season, Depok gave Fatchurohman an eight-year, $11,040,000 extension.

Despite Fatchurohman’s efforts, Depok was a bottom-rung franchose for much of his tenure. They had a playoff drought from 1979-1996 with only three winning seasons in that stretch. Fatchurohman chugged along and also played for Indonesia in the World Baesball Championship. From 1988-01, he had 65 games, 44 starts, 39 hits, 25 runs, 8 doubles, 8 home run, 21 RBI, a .231/.323/.444 slash, 122 wRC+, and 1.1 WAR.

Depok finally snapped their playoff drought, winning the Java League title in 1997, 98, and 2000. However, they were thwarted each time in the Sundaland Association Championship. In 16 playoff starts, Fatchurohman had a .274/.338/.532 slash, 193 wRC+, 17 hits, 6 runs, 4 doubles, 4 home runs, and 7 RBI.

Fatchurohman got a two-year, $5,040,000 extension after the 1998 season. In 2001 at age 38, he surprised many by leading the SA in batting average and OBP. He regressed a bit in 2002, although was still a plenty good starter. That would end his run with Depok.

Oddly enough, Fatchurohman had changed his jersey number four times with the Demons, starting with #8, then #14, then #4, then #17, and back to #8. #4 was his longest tenure, which was retired in #4 for pitching Chandra Igbonefo. Therefore, Fatchurohman doesn’t specifically have a number retired despite his impressive tenure and extreme popularity with Depok.

In his last year with the Demons, Fatchurohman became the 5^th APB hitter to reach 2500 career hits. A.J. Tan played his last season in 2002 and became the new hits leader in APB at 2957. Many thought Fatchurohman would catch this mark. Jakarta signed him to a two-year, $5,760,000 deal in hopes of just that.

Fatchurohman looked okay in his first month with Jakarta. However, he suffered a torn abdominal muscle that cost him three months. He had a 124 wRC+ and 0.8 WAR over 55 games with the Jaguars. Fatchurohman decided to retire with that, leaving the game at age 41.

The final stats for Fatchurohman: 2580 hits, 1075 runs, 419 doubles, 415 home runs, 1229 RBI, a .272/.330/.467 slash, 174 wRC+, and 113.5 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 11^th in WAR among position players. The totals look low compared to other leagues, but keep in mind how low offense APB is.

As of 2037, Fatchurohman still ranks ninth in hits, 17^th in RBI, 25^th in runs, 14^th in doubles, and 30^th in home runs. He also has a 78.8 career zone rating at first base, which ranks third all-time in APB. APB voters are harsh on batters and Fatchurohman only received 70.2%. Still, he got his deserved spot in the Hall of Fame and was the lone APB inductee in 2009.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Chinese League Baseball inducted two players into the Hall of Fame in 2009. SP Momota Oichi was the headliner as a first ballot selection with 89.6%. Fellow pitcher Martin Cui narrowly crossed the 66% requirement with 67.3% on his third ballot. SP Jun Tang barely missed making it a three-man group, missing at 64.4% on his third ballot. No one else was above 50%.



Pitcher Xueming Hao was dropped after ten failed ballots. He pitched 14 years for Beijing, winning three rings and one Pitcher of the Year. Hao had a 146-105 record, 2.33 ERA, 2413 innings, 2690 strikeouts, 111 ERA+, and 44.8 WAR. A nice run, but not enough longevity or accumulations to stand out. Hao peaked with a debut at 25.4% and ended with 17.2%.

Another pitcher dropped after ten years was Jiancheng Jiao with a similar problem. He won five rings with Dalian’s dynasty and one POTY, but his CLB run lasted only nine years. He had a 138-78 record, 2.21 ERA, 2062.1 innings, 2328 strikeouts, 116 ERA+, and 42.0 WAR. Jiao peaked at 27.8% in 2001 and finished with 8.4%.

1B Yiming Sui also fell off after ten ballots, winning three Silver Sluggers and a ring with Hangzhou in 12 years. Sui led in hits five times, doubles, six times, and batting average thrice. He had 1966 hits, 779 runs, 366 doubles, 240 home runs, 834 RBI, a .288/.322/.458 slash, 165 wRC+, and 71.5 WAR.

As of 2037, Sui still ranks sixth in doubles. CLB voters are already harsh on hitters and being out of China after his age 34 season kept him from more impressive accumulations. Sui got as high as 42.1% in 2001, but fell to a measly 8.1% by the end in 2009.



Momota Oichi – Starting Pitcher – Xi’an Attack – 89.6% First Ballot

Momota Oichi was a 6’1’’, 190 pound right-handed pitcher Toyohashi, Japan; a city of around 377,000 within the Aichi Prefecture. Oichi had excellent stuff with average control and below average movement. His fastball regularly hit 97-99 mph and was complimented by a stellar changeup and good curveball.

Oichi’s ability to change speeds made him an elite strikeout pitcher during his prime. Compared to most CLB aces, Oichi’s stamina was subpar. He had great durability though, so he still gave you a full load during his peak. The lack of stamina did cause some later teams to use him more out of the bullpen.

Oichi was a very unique case as Japanese players almost never defected from the East Asia Baseball sphere as amateurs. However, after playing at Osaka Toin High School, Oichi declared for CLB’s 1989 Draft. Many Chinese teams were unfamiliar with him, as they didn’t bother scouting in Japan for obvious reasons. Xi’an was impressed with his potential though and picked him early in the second round with the 28^th overall pick.

In 1990 and 1991, Oichi was left on the developmental roster. Xi’an brought him up for 1992 as a part-time starter at age 21. After a promising showing, he earned a full-time spot in the rotation for the next eight years. Oichi already drew attention throughout CLB by taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1993.

1994 saw two no-hitters by Oichi, the first on May 1 against Jinan with 10 Ks and 1 BB, followed by a second on June 23 versus Harbin with 10 Ks and 2 BBs. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting, leading the Northern League in WAR. Oichi was the WARlord the next three seasons, peaking with 9.0 in 1997.

From 1995-99, Oichi led five straight seasons in strikeouts. 1995 saw CLB’s second-ever pitching Triple Crown with his only ERA title at 1.66 and an 18-6 record. Oichi led in wins in 1996 and 1998 as well while leading in WHIP in 1995 and 1998. His 383 strikeouts in 1998 ranked sixth most in a season to that point and still sits eighth as of 2037.

Naturally, this dominance allowed Oichi to rack up awards. He won four consecutive Pitcher of the Year titles from 1995-98 and took third in 1999. Oichi was the first-ever four-time POTY in CLB history and as of 2037 is one of two to win them consecutively. In 1998, he threw two more no-hitters, one against Shanghai with 12 ks and 1 BB on 6/23 and the other with 13 Ks and 1 BB versus Beijing on 7/22. Oichi was the first CLB pitcher with four no-hitters, a mark only Jinlong Han would match. He may be the only pitcher in world history to twice have two no-hitters in a single year.

Oichi’s dominance helped turn Xi’an into a contender, ending 14-year playoff drought in 1994. The Attack made it to the China Series in 1994 and 1995, losing to the Dalian dynasty in 1994 but winning it all against Zhengzhou in 1995. Xi’an missed the playoffs in 1996, but earned four straight berths from 1997-2000. They only made the semifinal once in that stretch and couldn’t get back to the final.

In the playoffs, Oichi posted very strong numbers. He had 81.2 innings over 11 starts for a 5-3 record, 1.65 ERA, 122 strikeouts, 15 walks, 155 ERA+, and 3.8 WAR. His role in Xi’an’s success led ot his #27 uniform eventually being retired.

Xi’an wanted to lock up Oichi long-term, but he was enticed by big money offers internationally. Oichi entered free agency after the 2000 season, which ended his run in China at only age 30. With the Attack, Oichi had a 147-83 record, 1.83 ERA, 2178.2 innings, 2907 strikeouts, 401 walks, 235/277 quality starts, 142 ERA+, and 65.2 WAR.

The briefness of his run meant that Oichi isn’t atop the CLB leaderboards. However, he still ranks 22^nd in strikeouts and 33^rd in pitching WAR despite only a nine-year run. Four straight Pitcher of the Year awards and a ring are impossible to overlook and Oichi received the first ballot Hall of Fame induction at 89.6% in 2009.

Oichi still pitched eight more seasons and had big expectations. MLB’s Montreal Maples gave him a six-year, $23,040,000 deal. However, his spring training performance was so lackluster that Montreal cut him without a single major league game. Tampa picked him up for the rest of the season with a mediocre 4.84 ERA over 89.1 innings.

He would bounce around between starting and relief over the next few years in MLB. Oichi played in St. Louis in 2002, Cleveland in 2003, Milwaukee in 2004, Tampa in 2005, both St. Louis and Calgary in 2006, Toronto in 2007, and Jacksonville in 2008. He never had more than average-at-best production, which made MLB officials wonder what the hype was all about.

Oichi didn’t have any steep decline or major injury either; he just didn’t transition to MLB well. His weaker stamina perhaps played a notable role. For his MLB tenure, Oichi had a 57-48 record and 11 saves, 3.97 ERA, 945.2 innings, 826 stirkeouts, 296 walks, 90 ERA+, 109 FIP-, and 6.6 WAR.

That run hurt his overall pro stats, but he still ended with a strong 204-131 record 2.47 ERA, 3124.1 innings, 3733 strikeouts, 697 walks, 121 ERA+, and 71.8 WAR. Oichi’s peak was brief, but among the strongest that Chinese baseball had seen to that point in its relatively brief history. Thus, Oichi still earns a spot in the history books.



Martin Cui – Staring Pitcher – Wuhan Wolverines – 67.3% Third Ballot

Martin Cui was a 6’2’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Nanyang, a prefecture-level city with nearly ten million inhabitants in China’s Henan province. Cui was a great strikeout pitcher in his prime with stellar stuff and excellent control. His fastball his 96-98 mph, but Cui’s outstanding changeup was his most dangerous pitch. He also had an okay curveball and subpar movement generally, leading to some issues with allowing home runs. Still, Cui’s ability to change speeds led to whiffs a’plenty.

Cui had solid stamina and was considered a respectable defensive pitcher. Injuries would plague him though, including a few major ones in his 30s. Cui was one of the most well respected players in Chinese baseball, known for a great work ethic, strong leadership, and impressive intelligence. He was considered truly one of the great people within the game.

Despite his eventual success, Cui wasn’t a tip-top prospect. In the 1990 CLB Draft, he wasn’t picked until early in the third round, going 55^th overall to Wuhan. Cui’s entire Chinese run was with thte Wolverines, who made him a part-time starter in 1991. It was a surprise success for Wuhan, winning 105 games to end a 14-year playoff drought. They lost in the semifinal to Beijing, but Cui’s one playoff start saw one run allowed in seven innings with 10 strikeouts.

Cui earned a full-time gig after that and held it for the next decade. In his second season, he exploded for a Southern League best 409 strikeouts, 9.8 WAR, and 20-12 record. Cui was the first CLB pitcher to fan 400+ in a season, topping the previous high-mark of 382 by Robin Kwan. Despite that, Cui wasn’t even a finalist for Pitcher of the Year voting and Wuhan narrowly missed the playoffs.

The Wolverines got back in 1993 and made it to the China Series, losing in the final to Dalian’s dynasty. Cui had a 2.25 ERA over 28 playoff innings. Elbow tendinitis had cost him a chunk of the season. In 1994, Cui again led in strikeouts with 406, three off his all-time record. But he allowed a league-worst 30 home runs and again wasn’t a POTY finalist.

Cui never was a finalist for Pitcher of the Year, despite having three great seasons from 1995-97. Each had 10+ WAR, including a career and league best 12.9 and 21 FIP- in 1996. That effort is the ninth-best WAR by a CLB pitcher as of 2037. 199 also saw Cui set the CLB single-game record with 22 strikeouts against Macau on 7/22; a mark no-one else has reached in China. Cui still holds the top three strikeout seasons in CLB history with only Jinlong Han eventually crossing 400+ with 403 in 2000.

Wuhan missed the playoffs from 1994-2000, but Cui kept trucking along. After the 1996 season, he signed a five-year, $10,340,000 contract extension. In 1999, biceps tendinitis knocked him out two months. Then in spring training 2000, Cui suffered a torn flexor tendon. He missed the entire season and had his career in doubt.

Cui made it back in 2001 and looked respectable, but not dominant. He stepped up big in the playoffs as Wuhan ended their drought. Cui allowed only one run over 22.1 innings with 25 strikeouts, helping the Wolverines win their first-ever China Series over Beijing. As of 2037, this is Wuhan’s only title.

This also marked the end of Cui’s run in China, as he entered free agency at age 34. With the Wolverines, he had a 126-102 record, 1.95 ERA, 2249 innings, 3247 strikeouts, 368 walks, 223/272 quality starts, 122 ERA+, 57 FIP-, and 75.3 WAR. The advanced stats are quite kind to Cui, who in 2037 ranks 12^th in strikeouts and 20^th in WAR. Many scholars expressed disbelief that he was never even a finalist for Pitcher of the Year in his prime.

Cui continued to seemingly be overlooked as he entered the Hall of Fame ballot. Some felt he didn’t stick around long enough and others thought big strikeout numbers were over-rated. Cui missed the cut at 59.2% and 52.3% in his first two ballots. Third time was the charm, barely crossing the line at 67.3% to join CLB’s 2009 Hall of Fame class.

Like his HOF classmate Oichi, Cui’s post-CLB career was unremarkable. He went to Mexico and signed a one-year deal worth $2,880,000 with Toreeon. Cui was firmly mediocre, then looked no better in 2003 with Haiti. He joined Salvador in 2004, where he suffered a stretched elbow ligament that summer, missing ten months.

Cui made it back in 2005 with Monterrey, but looked forgettable over 74 innings. Tijuana gave him a chance for 2006 and he was off to a good start with a 2.76 ERA in five starts. Sadly, he suffered a torn labrum in that fifth start, effectively ending his career at age 39. In CABA, Cui had a 26-26 record, 4.10 ERA, 476.1 innings, 455 strikeouts, 93 ERA+, and 4.9 WAR.

For his entire pro career, Cui had a 152-128 record, 2.32 ERA, 2725.1 innings, 3702 strikeouts, 434 walks, 116 ERA+, 65 FIP-, and 80.2 WAR. He posted a unique career and forever holds an important spot on China’s leaderboards with his three 400+ strikeout seasons.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Three players were added into the West African Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, each on their first ballot. Leading the way were pitchers Pomeyie Mensah at 89.8% and Antonio Akinyemi at 78.7%. Joining them was LF Benedict Collins at 74.8%.



1B Daouda Kadri only barely missed the 66% requirement with 65.0% on his seventh try. It was the third straight year that Kadri was within a mere one percentage point. Two other debuting players were above 50% with SP Angelo Costa at 58.6% and 2B Hamza Seidu with 57.3%. No one was dropped from the ballot in 2009 after ten failed tries.




Pomeyie “Digger” Mensah – Starting Pitcher – Kano Condors – 89.8% First Ballot

Pomeyie Mensah was a 6’1’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city. Mensah was known for having excellent stuff, good movement, and average control. His fastball was solid despite peaking in the 95-97 mph range and was mixed with a great changeup and good slider. Mensah’s stamina was subpar, but he stayed healthy in his early seasons for good innings. He was a smart pitcher who knew how to pick his spots.

Ahead of the 1991 WAB Draft, Mensah was highly touted as a prospect. Kano had the #1 overall pick and grabbed Mensah, who spent his entire career with the Condors. Kano was great in WAB’s first decade, but had bottomed out at 49-113 in the 1990 season. Mensah would help them start their historic dynasty run. The Condors were still terrible in 1992, but had winning seasons in 1993 and 1994, then started a 12-year playoff streak in 1995.

Mensah was a full-time starter immediately and looked delightfully average in his first season. He was better in his second two seasons, leading in 1994 in both wins and quality starts. It was also his first of four seasons with 300+ strikeouts. It would be 1995, the year Kano’s playoff streak started, that Mensah fully emerged as a true ace.

His 1995 saw an ERA title (2.20) and league-best 0.96 WHIP, earning Pitcher of the Year honors. Kano signed Mensah to a five-year, $6,060,000 extension in the winter. The Condors were defeated in that season’s Eastern League Championship Series. They fell in the 1996 ELCS as well, although Mensah’s stats were solid.

Despite plaing his whole career in Nigeria, Mensah did return home to Ghana regularly for the World Baseball Championship. From 1993-2002, he tossed 149.2 innings with a 2.04 ERA, 6-6 record, 198 strikeouts, 175 ERA+, and 4.6 WAR. Mensah finished third in 1997’s Best Pitcher voting.

Mensah was third in 1996 Pitcher of the Year voting, then won the award for a second time in 1997. This was his crown jewel season, leading with career bests in wins (24-7), ERA (1.33), WHIP (0.79), FIP- (50), and WAR (9.6). The ERA mark was a WAB single-season record and still stands as the best mark as of 2037. 1997 also saw Mensah’s career high of 332 strikeouts.

That effort helped Kano officially start their dynasty, as they won the WAB Championship over Nouakchott. The Condors would dominate the Eastern League with nine straight pennants from 1997-2005. Kano three-peated as WAB champs from 1997-1999 and again from 2001-2003. In his playoff career, Mensah had a 2.83 ERA over 108 innings, 8-3 record, 122 strikeouts, 26 walks, 136 ERA+, and 2.2 WAR.

Mensah would take second in 1999 Pitcher of the Year voting, which was his lone season leading in strikeouts. He also led in WHIP in 1998. 1997 would be notable for a perfect game with 11 strikeouts against Port Harcourt on May 6. Kano gave Mensah another six years and $12,440,000 in April 2000. His ERA did balooon up to 3.54 that year, although he stil went 20-3 and struck out 277.

Entering his age 32 season in 2001, Mensah suffered his first major setback. In June, he suffered from ulnar nerve entrapment, knocking him out 3-4 months. He would make it back for the postseason to earn his fourth WAB ring. Mensah would miss all of the 2002 season though with a torn rotator cuff suffered in spring training.

Mensah made his comeback in 2003 at age 34 and saw very mixed results with a 4.15 ERA and 95 ERA+ (although he had a 75 FIP-). However in July, Mensah tore his rotator cuff again, putting him on the shelf for 15 months. This effectively ended his career as although he was on roster in 2004, he never pitched again. Mensah officially retired from the game at age 36 and Kano retired his #14 uniform.

Mensah finished with a 174-75 record, 2.76 ERA, 2165.2 innings, 2879 strikeouts, 523 wwalks, 200/319 quality starts, 138 ERA+, 73 FIP-, and 58.3 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 25^th all-time in pitching WAR. Mensah’s ERA is among the better ones compared to other WAB Hall of Famers, although he didn’t have the longevity or innings to feature prominently on the leaderboards.

His accolades were undeniable though; two POTYs, a perfect game, multiple rings for Kano’s dynasty, and the single-season ERA record. Even if he didn’t live up to his final contract due to injury, it is hard not to be satisfied with that resume with their #1 pick as a Kano fan. Mensah received 89.8% for a first ballot induction as the headliner of WAB’s 2009 Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Antonio Akinyemi – Pitcher – Accra Alligators – 78.7% First Ballot

Antonio Akinyemi was a 6’2’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Iseyin, Nigeria; a city of around 363,000 inhabiants in the country’s southwest. Akinyemi had strong stuff, great movement, and good control. His most potent pitch was a cutter that regularly hit the 97-99 mph range. Akinyemi also had a curveball, changeup, and splitter on offer.

His stamina was quite weak, even by the lower standards expected from WAB pitchers compared to other leagues. However, Akinyemi’s durability was outstanding and he never missed an appearance. Despite his talents, he was a loud mouthed jerk. Akinyemi’s outspoken and selfish nature didn’t make him many friends in the clubhouse.

Akinyemi was signed as a teenage amateur in December 1984 by Accra and spent six seasons in their academy. The Alligators debuted him in 1991 at age 22, primarily in relief. Akinyemi stayed in the bullpen as a part-time closer the next two years and did fwell in that role, taking second in Reliever of the Year voting in both 1992 and 1993. Accra moved him to the rotation full-time after that and he remained a starter for the rest of his career.

In his second year as a starter, Akinyemi led the Western League in ERA with 2.20, a career-best for his starting seasons. He also had a career-best 20-3 record, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. After an 18-year playoff drought, Accra made it to the WLCS in 1995, but lost to Abidjan. Akinyemi was mid in the playoffs, but his overall effort on the season earned him a four-year, $4,580,000 extension that winter.

Akinyemi was still good in 1996, but weaker. He struggled with a 4.70 ERA in the playoffs, but Accra earned it’s first-ever WAB Championship over Ibadan. The Alligators were a playoff team in 1997, but lost in the wild card round. Akinyemi led in quality starts at 24 and earned his first Pitcher of the Year.

Accra narrowly missed the playoffs in 1998 and the clubhouse was fed up with Akinyemi’s obnoxiousness. That offseason, the 30-year old was traded in the final year of his deal to Kano for two prospects. With the Alligators, Akinyemi had an 88-65 record, 2.55 ERA, 1319 innings, 1486 strikeouts, 223 walks, 148 ERA+, and 32.3 WAR. Despite his personality clashes, the franchise would later opt to retire his #32 uniform for his role in their 1996 championship.

In his one year with Kano, Akinyemi led the Eastern League in WHIP (0.90), K/BB (11.9), and FIP- (57), while posting a career best 6.8 WAR and an All-Star Game MVP win. Akinyemi was ddecent with a 3.32 ERA in 19 playoff innings, helping the Condors three-peat and finish 123-39. As of 2037, the 1999 Kano squad still holds the WAB record for best record by a team to win it all.

Although Akinyemi liked getting his second ring, he was more excited to get paid in the upcoming free agency period. He was signed by Abidjan, who had fallen to Kano in the WAB Championship. The Athletes gave Akinyemi a five-year, $11,400,000 deal. It immediately paid off, as Akinyemi led in ERA in both 2000 and 2001; winning Pitcher of the Year both seasons.

Abidjan met Kano again in the 2000 final and upset a 125-37 Condors squad. They battled once more in 2001, although Kano prevailed in that encounter. Over six playoff starts for the Athletes, Akinyemi had a 2.82 ERA over 38.1 innings, 32 strikeouts, and 138 ERA+.

Akinyemi had a good 2002, but diminishing velocity saw his strikeout numbers drop. In 2003, Akinyemi now was only hitting 94-96 mph and he posted a very pedestrian 3.76 ERA. He retired after the season at age 35 and finished in Abidjan with a 50-31 record, 2.84 ERA, 772 innings, 782 strikeouts, 139 walks, 132 ERA+, and 16.7 WAR.

The final stats saw a 155-98 record, 2.64 ERA, 2281 innings, 2530 strikeouts, 384 walks, 176/330 quality starts, 143 ERA+, and 55.8 WAR. Like his Hall of Fame classmate Pomeyie Mensah, Akinyemi didn’t have the longevity or innings to make a big dent on the leaderboards. He had a better ERA than Mensah, but fewer strikeouts and a lower WAR. A couple voters snubbed him out of protest for being a jerk.

That said, it is hard to deny a three-time Pitcher of the Year winner. Akinyemi also has a unique distinction of having three championship rings with three different teams. Akinyemi earned a first ballot nod at 78.7% to join the all-time greats in 2009.



Benedict “Coffin” Collins – Left Field – Abidjan Athletes – 74.8% First Ballot

Benedict Collins was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed left feidler from Kaduna, Nigeria; the country’s eight-largest city with around 1.1 million inhabitants. Collins was an excellent leadoff hitter that was a master at getting on base, leading the league six times in on-base percentage. He was a great contact hitter who was very good at drawing walks and outstanding at avoiding strikeouts.

Collins’ speed and baserunning ability were both tremendous with around a 75% successful steal rate. With his ability to put the ball in play, he was frustrating for opposing pitchers. Collins had great gap power, averaging 35 doubles and 22 triples per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to go yard often though, hitting only 28 home runs for his entire career.

Defensively, Collins played pretty much exclusively in left field. He graded out as just below average for his career, but was perfectly serviceable. Inuries would hinder his potential for much of his career. However, Collins’ play style made him a popular player during his tenure in the Ivory Coast.

Collins was signed as a teenage amateur in January 1987 by Abidjan, moving him from his native Nigeria. He would still make some appearances for his country with eight berths in the World Baseball Championship from 1993-2004. Collins had 41 games and 34 starts, notably stealing 26 bases with 38 hits and 31 runs.

His pro debut came in 1990 at age 20 for Abidjan as a reserve. Collins was only an occasional starter in the next two seasons, being used effectively as a pinch hitter and pinch runner. By 1992, the Athletes emerged again as a Western League top contender being stuck in the middle of the standings for a few years. Abidjan won the 1992 Eastern League pennant, falling to Lagos in the WAB Championship.

Collins became a full-time starter from 1993-01 and played a big role in Abidjan’s success. The Athletes made the playoffs nine times from 1992-01 and won seven EL pennants (1992-95, 99-01) with two WAB titles (1994, 2000). From 1993-2000, Collins led the league eight straight seasons in stolen bases. He also led in OBP in six of those seasons.

Not only did he lead in steals, but he set WAB records for swipes. His career best was 139 in 1997, which remains the all-time record as of 2037. Collins also holds six of the top nine WAB steal seasons. Silver Sluggers are usually reserved for homer guys, but Collins won it in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Collins never won MVP, but took second in both 1998 and 1999. From 1996-99, he led in runs scored thrice, hits once, triples thrice, walks twice, batting average once, and WAR thrice. Collins was the WARlord from 1997-99, peaking with 9.7 in 1998. That year also had career highs in runs (143), hits (217), doubles (47), triples (28), walks (102), batting average (.365), and OBP (.458). 1998 also featured an impressive 50-game on-base streak.

After the 1993 season, Abidjan locked him up long-term with an eight-year, $7,926,000 deal. Collins was a solid playoff performer in 47 games for the Athletes, getting 55 hits, 30 runs, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 25 stolen bases, a .335/.388/.524 slash, 151 wRC+, and 2.0 WAR. As of 2037, he’s fifth all-time in playoff steals.

Collins did have some injuries in his prime years, but had avoided missing too many games in his 20s. In 2000, he lost a month to a torn quad. Then in July 2001, his season ended with a ruptured MCL. That also marked the end of his Abidjan deal and the Athletes didn’t re-sign him. They were worried that his trademark speed would be greatly diminished from this injury heading into his age 32 season. This also marked the end of his West African run. Collins’ #22 uniform would get retired for his role in Abidjan’s decade of dominance.

With the Athletes, Collins had 1833 hits, 1067 runs, 341 doubles, 206 triples, 19 home runs, 508 RBI, 641 walks, 1144 stolen bases, a .342/.412/.493 slash, 152 wRC+, and 67.2 WAR. He was the first WAB player to reach 1000 career stolen bases and still ranks sixth as of 2037. Collins sits 31^st in WAR among position players. He left WAB as the career OBP leader and still ranks seventh in 2037.

The lack of longevity did hurt Collins with some WAB voters, as did the lack of home runs. But his unique skillset and role as the leadoff man for a dominant squad made up for any deficits on the resume. Collins was a first ballot addition at 74.8% to round off a solid 2009 WAB class.

Collins did play another six seasons of professional baseball, although he ended up in South America. Caracas signed him to a four-year, $13,280,000 deal for the 2002 season. Collins had a respectable debut with 2.9 WAR over 115 games. Injuries would cause him to play 42, 63, 53, and 78 games only in the following years with the Colts. In 2003, it was a torn abdominal muscle. In 2004, a broken hand and torn hip flexor. A strained hamstring ruined much of 2005 with assorted knee and back troubles in 2006.

Still, Caracas won the Venezuela Division in each of Collins’ seasons and won the Bolivar League title in 2003 and 2006. They fell in Copa Sudamerica both seaosns, but Collins did make a nice playoff impact. In 36 starts, he had 41 hits, 25 runs, 10 doubles, 14 stolen bases, a .297/.380/.478 slash, 124 wRC+, and 1.2 WAR.

In 2006, he posted 3.3 WAR over 78 starts, showing Collins could still perform when he stayed on the field. Caracas had given him a qualifying offer for a fifth and final season. With the Colts, Collins had 415 hits, 215 runs, 66 doubles, 50 triples, 139 RBI, 155 walks, 136 stolen bases, a .321/.394/.466 slash, 129 wRC+, and 10.0 WAR.

Collins stayed in Beisbol Sudamerica and signed in 2007 for one year and $1,900,000 with Cali. He struggled in his limited use with 40 games and 13 starts with a 92 wRC+. Collins was un-signed in 2008 and retired that winter at age 38.

For his entire pro career, Collins had 2272 hits, 1293 runs, 410 doubles, 256 triples, 28 home runs, 659 RBI, 801 walks, a 6.9% strikeout rate, 1289 stolen bases (caught 429 times), a .337/.407/.487 slash, 147 wRC+, and 77.2 WAR. Collins goes down as one of the more impressive leadoff guys of his era.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Two players were added into the South Asia Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. Pitcher Kirpal Kushwaha was a no-brainer with 93.7% in his debut. Joining him was second baseman Abdul Deepkaran, who got the big bump up to 79.5% in his fourth ballot. Three others were above 50% with 1B Sunil Lamichhane debuting at 56.5%, C Kumar Patel at 53.2% for his second ballot, and CL Saddam Rahman at 51.4% for his third ballot. No players were dropped after ten ballots.


Kirpal Kushwaha – Starting Pitcher – Delhi Drillers – 93.7% First Ballot

Kripal Kushwaha was a 6’4’’, 190 pound right-handed pitcher from Konnagar, a town of 76,000 in India’s West Bengal state. Kushwaha had impressive stuff with incredible movement, although his control was often lacking. He had a filthy 98-100 mph dancing fastball along with a good slider and changeup. His fastball made him one of the most impressive strikeout pitchers of his era. Kushwaha’s stamina was good compared to most SAB aces, but he did have some injury woes.

Kushwaha was spotted as a teenage amateur and signed in December 1984 by Delhi. He spent four seasons in the Drillers’ academy, debuting as a part-time starter in 1989 at age 21. Kushwaha had a pretty good rookie season, taking third in Rookie of the Year voting. He earned a full-time rotation spot for the next seven years with Delhi.

In his third season, Kushwaha led the Indian League in wins, innings, strikeouts, and WAR; taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. The Drillers earned their first-ever playoff berth and would start a streak of five straight playoff appearances. They couldn’t hold up against Ahmedabad’s dynasty and suffered first round defeats four times. Delhi had the top seed in 1993 at 111-51, but was upset by wild card Kanpur. Their lone ILCS appearance came in 1992 with a loss to the Animals.

Kushwaha was plenty good in the playoffs with a 5-0 record, 2.62 ERA, 44.2 innings, 64 stirkeouts, 124 ERA+, and 1.5 WAR. He led again in strikeouts in 1992, but also walks, taking third in POTY voting. Kushwaha won the award for the first tiem in 1993 as the leader in wins (21-5), WAR (8.8), and quality starts (29). This also saw a career-best 2.08 ERA.

Delhi gave Kushwaha a three-year, $3,130,000 extension after the 1993 campaign. He was second in 1994 POTY voting, leading in strikeouts and WAR for the third time each. 1995 would see a significant setback with ulnar nerv entrapment in late July, knocking him out for five months. He had a respectable bounce back in 1996, his final season with the Drillers.

For Delhi, Kushwaha had a 115-65 record, 2.39 ERA, 1718.2 innings, 2364 strikeouts, 577 walks, 136 ERA+, 169/212 quality starts, 64 FIP-, and 52.6 WAR. The Drillers would later retire his #6 uniform and he’d remain a popular franchise figure into retirement.

Kushwaha would enter free agency at age 29 and like many top players of his era, the options were limited to the Ahmedabad and Ho Chi Minh City dynasties. Those teams’ wealth from their success and the financial woes of other squads made free agency a restrictive thing. Kushwaha opted not to sign anywhere in 1997, but ultimately joined HCMC in 1998 on a two-year, $1,770,000 deal.

It was a great debut for Kushwaha, winning his second Pitcher of the Year. He led the Southeast Asia League in strikeouts, WHIP, shutouts, FIP-, and WAR. His 10.4 WAR was a career best and it was his fourth time leading in WAR and strikeouts. Kushwaha also had a no-hitter on June 6 with 14 Ks and 1 walk against Johor Bahru. Kushwaha posted a 2.17 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 29 playoff innings as Ho Chi Minh City lost in the 1998 SAB finals to Ahmedabad.

On April 26, 1999, Kushwaha suffered a damaged elbow ligament that knocked him out 26 months in total. He only made seven starts in 1999 and was unemployed in 2000 while rehabbing. HCMC brought him back in 2001 on a one-year deal, although a sore shoulder plagued him. Kushwaha struggled with a 6.10 ERA in his two playoff starts as well. In total for the Hedgehogs, he had a 29-8 record, 2.54 ERA, 358 innings, 462 strikeouts, 142 ERA+, and 12.9 WAR.

Now 34-years old, Yangon signed Kushwaha in 2002. He looked good when healthy, but a sprained ankle and sore shoulder cost him about half of the season. The Green Dragons brought him back in 2003 and he had a respectable mostly complete season. Forearm inflammation cost him any playoff time.

With Yangon, Kushwaha had a 23-9 record, 3.30 ERA, 321.1 innings, 317 stirkeouts, 91 walks, 115 ERA+, and 6.2 WAR. Kushwaha was still only 36 years old, but the injuries had taken a toll on him. He decided to retire from the game after the 2003 campaign.

Kushwaha ended with a 167-82 record, 2.54 ERA, 2398 innings, 3143 strikeouts, 746 walks, 231/307 quality starts, 71 complete games, 134 ERA+, 67 FIP-, and 71.6 WAR. Even with the injuries, Kushwaha still ranks 16^th all-time in pitching WAR as of 2037. His fastball was unhittable in his prime, helping him earn 93.7% in his Hall of Fame ballot debut. Thus, Kushwaha was the headliner for SAB’s 2009 class.



Abdul “Echo” Deepkaran – Second Base – Yangon Green Dragons – 79.5% Fourth Ballot

Abdul Deepkaran was a 5’11’’, 185 pound right-handed second baseman from Amritsar Cantonment, India; a small town of 11,000 in the state of Punjab. Deepkaran was a good contact hitter with a very solid pop in his bat, averaging 36 doubles, 27 home runs, and 9 triples per his 162 game average. His walk rate and strikeout rate were both below average, but he did reliable damage when he made contact.

Deepkaran’s speed was better than most, but he was a middling baserunner. He exclusively played second base for his career and graded out as delightfully average. However, guys who could field the spot respectively and provide a reliable bat weren’t easy to find. Deepkaran was fairly durable and was scrappy, known as a hard-working sparkplug type. His work ethic especially endeared him to fans, making him one of the most popular guys of his era.

In June 1983, Deepkaran was signed as a teenage amateur by Yangon, making the move from India to Mynamar. He debuted in 1986 with 73 games and 34 starts at age 21. Deepkaran earned the starting job after that and held it for nine years with the Green Dragons. Apart from 1994 due to torn ankle ligaments, Deepkaran started 140+ games each full season for Yangon.

Deepkaran led the Southeast Asia League in doubles in both 1989 and 1990. After the 1990 season, Deepkaran inked a five-year, $3,910,000 extension. In 1991, he won his lone batting title by leading with a .344 verage and 206 hits. This also saw a career-best 9.1 WAR, grabbing his lone MVP.

Deepkaran wasn’t otherwise a league leader type, but he posted 5+ WAR in six seasons for Yangon. He wasn’t an MVP finalist in any other year, but won Silver Sluggers for the Green Dragons from 1987-91 and in both 1993 and 1995.

Yangon made it to the SEAL Championship in 1990, but lost to the Ho Chi Minh City dynasty. The Green Dragons struggled the next four years, but made it back to the SEAL finals in 1995 and lost again to HCMC. 1995 marked the start of a lengthy playoff streak for Yangon, although it also marked the end of Deepkaran’s run there.

With Yangon, Deepkaran had 1577 hits, 735 runs, 342 doubles, 94 triples, 243 home runs, 878 RBI, a .294/.341/.529 slash, 144 wRC+, and 55.5 WAR. While still popular with many Green Dragons fans, some were irked by him leaving in free agency heading into his age 31 season. He left for the evil empire HCMC, joining the Hedgehogs on a five-year, $8,600,000 deal.

Deepkaran won Silver Sluggers for Ho Chi Minh City in 1996, 97, and 98; giving him ten for his career. He was the first player in SEAL history to win ten Sluggers. Injuries would cost him a few weeks of each of his HCMC seasons, but he was always healthy for the playoffs. During his tenure, the Hedgehogs won pennants in 1997, 98, 99, and 2000; each year facing Ahmedabad in the SAB Championship. They finally beat the Animals and won it all in both 1997 and 2000.

For his playoff career with HCMC, Deepkaran had 62 starts, 62 hits, 26 runs, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 25 RBI, a .271/.327/.467 slash, 131 wRC+, and 1.4 WAR. Often times, those playoff numbers came came at the expense of his former team Yangon. Deepkaran took LCS MVP in both the 1997 and 1998 runs.

Deepkaran also was popular back home in India, playing for the national team from 1988-2001 in the World Baseball Championship. He had 108 games and 97 starts with 94 hits, 54 runs, 19 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, 45 RBI, a .283/.355/.530 slash, 153 wRC+, and 3.5 WAR.

Back injuries kept him out almost half of the 2000 season and saw his numbers drop. Deepkaran became a free agent for 2001 and went unsigned, although he still played in that year’s WBC. He retired in the winter at age 36. With HCMC, he had 561 hits, 296 runs, 113 doubles, 100 home runs, 290 RBI, a .274/.325/.499 slash, 137 wRC+, and 19.4 WAR.

Deepkaran finished with 2138 hits, 1031 runs, 455 doubles, 118 triples, 343 home runs, 1168 RBI, a .288/.337/.520 slash, 142 wRC+, and 74.9 WAR. As of 2037, he’s third all-time in WAR among second basemen. The trouble for him is that he shared a position and era with two all-timers in Tirtha Upadhyaya and V.J. Williams. Because of that perhaps, Deepkaran missed the cut in his first three ballots.

He only narrowly missed the 66% requirement with 57.1%, 64.3%, and 63.6% in his first three ballots. The fourth time got Deepkaran over the hump for his deserved spot. He received 79.5% to join the SAB Hall of Fame in the 2009 voting.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Right Fielder Labid Haroon became the fifth member of the Asian Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 2009. On his third ballot, he barely crossed the 66% requirement with 66.4%. 1B Hazan Sheikh barely missed out with 61.9% on his eighth ballot; the closest he had gotten. No one else crossed the 1/3s mark with the best debut being LF Pouya Malek at 30.5%. No players were dropped after ten failed ballots.



It was, however, the final ballot for Hazan Sheikh. Criminal issues off the field led to him being removed following his eighth try*. Sheikh had an eight-year run with Faisalabad and won five Silver Sluggers, leading in home runs five times, RBI four times, total bases twice, and OPS twice. He then left for a seven-year MLB run between Chicago and Winnipeg.

With the Fire, Sheikh had 1009 hits, 564 runs, 175 doubles, 295 home runs, 697 RBI, a .286/.351/.590 slash, 196 wRC+, and 46.2 WAR. He was an elite power hitter in his short peak, but he wasn’t around long enough to get the tallies most voters wanted.

*For whatever reason, OOTP just ended his HOF eligibility after the eighth try, so I made up that backstory. Not sure if he would’ve made it if given two more tries, but figured it was worth mentioning.



Labid “Nails” Haroon – Right Field – Izmir Ice Caps – 66.4% Third Ballot

Labid Haroon was a 6’6’’, 205 pound right-handed right fielder from Quetta, Pakistan; the tenth largest city in the country with a population of over 1.6 million. Nicknamed “Nails” for his toughness, Haroon had a surprising profile considering his big size. You’d expect a 6’6’’ guy to be a big bopper, but Haroon had a whopping 22 home runs for his entire career. Instead, he was a traditional leadoff type guy.

Haroon was an excellent contact hitter and was stellar at avoiding strikeouts and putting the ball in play. He rarely drew walks though and wasn’t going to go yard. Still, Haroon had plenty of gap power, averaging 38 doubles and 19 triples per his 162 game average. He had excellent speed and was a very crafty base stealer. Haroon was terrific at stretching out for extra bases and used his long arms to his advantage.

Defensively, Haroon was a career right fielder, although he did play some designated hitter. Despite the speed, his range was unremarkable. That and a weaker arm meant he graded as a poor defender. Haroon’s high batting average and speed on the basepaths meant he was deserving of a place in the lineup despite any flaws.

Haroon was spotted by a visiting scout from Izmir at a camp in March 1987. The tall teenager was signed and brought to Turkey, where he spent most of four years in the developmental academy. Haroon debuted in 1990 at only age 19, but struggled in 32 games and 8 starts. He earned a full-time starting gig the next season and held it for six years with the Ice Caps.

In his first full season, Haroon was used as a designated hitter and won a Silver Slugger, leading the West Asia Association in hits and triples. He led again in hits for Izmir in both 1995 and 1996. Haroon led in 1995 with a career best 97 stolen bases. 1996 would see his first batting title and a career high .379 average. With the Ice Caps, Haroon topped 5+ WAR four times. His second Silver Slugger came in 1996 in right field.

Izmir won the WAA pennant in 1991, falling to Gujranwala in the ABF Championship. They made the playoffs again in 1993, but couldn’t advance by Tehran. The Ice Caps were in the mid-tier for the rest of Haroon’s run. He was delightfully average in 15 playoff games for Izmir with 15 hits, 7 runs, 6 extra base hits, a .259/.283/.448 slash, and 105 wRC+.

The Ice Caps gave Haroon a four-year, $2,198,000 extension after the 1993 season. Plantar fasciitis and a strained lat cost him much of the 1994 campaign, but he bounced back for solid 1995 and 1996 efforts. In total for Izmir, Haroon had 1144 hits, 565 runs, 229 doubles, 111 triples, 9 home runs, 345 RBI, 423 stolen bases, a .335/.363/.476 slash, 133 wRC+, and 33.0 WAR.

Haroon entered free agency in 1997 at only age 26, which excited potential buyers. He returned to Pakistan and signed a six-year, $8,410,000 deal with Hyderabad. The Horned Frogs had made the playoffs three straight years, but were denied each time in the Pakistan League Championship Series. They hoped that Haroon could help get them over the hump and ultimately, they were right.

Hyderabad won three straight Pakistan League pennants from 1997-99. They lost in the ABF Championship in 1997 and 1998 to Isfahan, but won it all in 1999 against Bursa. In 33 playoff starts, Haroon had 34 hits, 14 runs, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 13 RBI, 12 stolen bases, a .279/.311/.393 slash, 129 wRC+, and 0.8 WAR.

Haroon didn’t win awards with the Horned Frogs, but he led in batting average and stolen bases twice. He also led in triples thrice. Haroon’s finest effort was 1998, where he also led in hits and OBP while posting a career best 8.0 WAR and 198 wRC+. His first four seasons with the Horned Frogs were each worth 4.5+ WAR.

In 2001, Haroon missed some time to injury and looked pedestrian at the plate. For the only the second time, he didn’t crack a .300 batting average and posted a career-worst 1.5 WAR. In five seasons for Hyderabad, Haroon had 807 hits, 361 runs, 131 doubles, 67 triples, 13 home runs, 261 RBI, 403 stolen bases, a .314/.345/.432 slash, 154 wRC+, and 25.6 WAR.

Haroon surprised many by declining his contract option, entering free agency at age 31. His stock was at an all-time low though and if his contact skills were merely good, he didn’t have much value. Haroon was unsigned in both 2002 and 2003, finally retiring from pro baseball at only age 33.

Haroon finished with 1951 hits, 926 runs, 360 doubles, 178 triples, 22 home runs, 606 RBI, 826 stolen bases, a .326/.356/.457 slash, 143 wRC+, and 58.6 WAR. At retirement, he had the best batting average of any qualifying hitter and wouldn’t get passed until offensive numbers in ABF jumped in the 2020s. Haroon is still 11^th as of 2037 among hitters with 3000 plate appearances. He also ranks 13^th in stolen bases.

Still, it can be an uphill climb for leadoff guys to get noticed by Hall of Fame voters without the power numbers. Haroon was also hurt by having a shorter career than most. He debuted at 49.8% and slightly bumped to 51.9% on his second ballot. The third ballot in 2009 with weak competition saw Haroon just barely cross the 66% finish line. At 66.4%, he earned his spot as the lone ABF inductee in 2009.