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

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Major League Baseball had been a tremendous success since its founding in 1901 and baseball had expanded to become the preeminent sport in the world. The four league setup of MLB (Eastern, Midwest, Southern, Western) between the National Association and American Association had been a commercial and cultural success. The sport thrived throughout all 48 major league markets and its minor league affiliates despite many of the cities being considered too small by other professional sporting outlets. After World War II, both the United States and Canada grew quickly and even more potential major league capable cities emerged. By the 1970s, the idea of expansion became an increasingly discussed possibility.

Naturally, the debate about MLB’s future was an intense one. The loudest voices for expansion were the business and political leaders of the emerging markets who wanted their city to be part of the big time. While some in minor league cities were content with their status, others were restless and adamant about their addition. Some of the bolder folks even floated leaving the minors and making an independent league, although that never got too much traction. There were those in existing markets that also felt more markets would mean more fans and therefore more money. The talent pool in the US and Canada was already terrific and with the worldwide expansion of the game, very few were worried about there not being enough quality players for more teams.

However, many traditionalists were against changing up a formula that had worked for more than 70 years. Some owners were worried that an additional team located nearby could eat into their market share, although others were cautiously optimistic of maybe having another regional rival. How many teams and how to format their addition was another legitimately big obstacle. Adding one team to each league (four new teams total) didn’t seem to fit with the awkwardness of then having 13-team leagues. Adding eight teams (four to each Association) seemed to fit logistically better with any more than that causing an odd setup or possibly running out of deserving cities.

Eventually in the late 1970s, most had settled on expansion being in the cards and adding eight teams total, making it 56 teams, 28 per association. There were two competing schools of thought to how to add them. The simplest was to add two to each league, making each 14 teams. That was the idea favored by the traditional fan, as breaking up the longstanding leagues was considered sacrilege by some. However, a convincing argument existed for splitting the leagues up and making each association be four divisions with seven teams apiece. This idea would keep many of the regional rivalries in place and potentially strengthen them. Leaders eventually looked into this option to see how you would break up the existing leagues and which markets could fit into new slots.

One last concern was how it would impact the playoff formatting. Getting the league title had meant a first round bye ever since the 1953 postseason expansion, adding value to that regular season league title. Some posited adding more teams into the field, although ultimately it was decided to remain at six playoff teams per association. The general format would remain the same with the top two division winners earning the byes. The other two division winners would then each play host to one of the two wild card teams in the first round. With much of those details sorted, it then became courting the potential new cities and making sure they had the infrastructure in place to be a successful major league market. It was eventually announced that the expansion would be in place for the 1982 MLB season.

In the National Association, the old Eastern League was split into the East Division and the Northeast Division. The East Division would have New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Washington, and Baltimore. Joining them from the mid-Atlantic region would be the Virginia Beach Vikings with the multi-city Hampton Roads area quietly boasting a large metropolitan area. Meanwhile, the Northeast Division would have Ottawa, Hartford, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, and Boston. Joining them would be Quebec City Nordiques. Borrowing the name from the hockey team, the successes of Montreal and Ottawa showed that French Canada’s second largest city could support a team.

The Midwest League was split into the Upper Midwest Division and Lower Midwest Division. The Upper Midwest had Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland. The newcomer was the Winnipeg Wolves, the capital of Manitoba. With a solid drive to the nearest major city, many felt Winnipeg was an untapped baseball market. The Lower Midwest Division boasted St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbus, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. Joining that group was the Wichita Wasps with the hope that the largest city in Kansas would hold its own.

Over in the American Association, the Southern League was split into the Southeast Division and South Central Division. The Southeast’s existing teams would be Tampa, Nashville, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, and Charlotte. The addition was the Orlando Orcas with the area growing considerably from tourism and trying to boast a unique identity from its Floridian neighbors. The South Central Division had Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, San Antonio, Memphis, and Oklahoma City. Joining them would by the Austin Amigos, as Texas’ capital had also grown and established a unique identity from its neighboring metros.

The Western League would be split into a Southwest and Northwest Division. Unlike the other splits, both of the new teams would be in the same division. The Southwest Division would have eight existing franchises; Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. The Northwest Division would get Seattle, Calgary, Vancouver, Denver, and Portland, along with the newcomers the Edmonton Eels and Salt Lake City Loons. Some were concerned that Edmonton was too far north and cold or too close to Calgary, but it was actually the largest city by population to get a team. SLC was the smallest, but it was the most geographically isolated (apart from Winnipeg) with the chance to grow the game with potentially unaffiliated fans.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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1982 was the first year post expansion with many wondering how the additional teams and expansion draft would affect everything. In the National Association, Ottawa had a remarkable turnaround from only 76 wins the prior season to 115-47 atop the new Northeast Division. This set the record for most wins for the NA and is tied for the second-best in MLB history with 1916 Denver. The all-time mark remains Phoenix’s 120-42 in 1907. Elsewhere in the division, Hartford was 100-62 to get the first wild card.

Last year’s World Series champ Montreal fell to 83-79. The other NA team to crack triple-digit wins was Minneapolis, winning the Upper Midwest Division at 100-62. This gave the Moose back-to-back playoff berths. The only team with a winning record in the East Division was Baltimore at 98-64, getting their first playoff berth in six years. Washington, the NACS runner-up last year, was an abysmal 69-93. The Lower Midwest Division went to Louisville at 97-65, giving the Lynx their sixth playoff berth in eight years. St. Louis was second at 94-68, which was good enough for the second wild card to end a four-year playoff drought. Falling short of the wild card was Chicago at 92-70 and Toronto at 90-72.

Although the Cubs missed the playoffs, CF Janus Garcia won his third National Association MVP in four years. Still in only his fifth season, the 25-yeaer old from Lee’s Summit, Missouri was the leader in runs (122), hits (216), average (.384), and WAR (11.3), adding 26 home runs and a 1.030 OPS. Ottawa’s Innocenzo Chinaglia won the Pitcher of the Year. The 31-year old Italian was in his second season with the Elks after starting his career in Europe with Malta and Zurich. Chinaglia won in a weak field with 5.5 WAR, a 2.41 ERA over 264.2 innings, 203 strikeouts, and a 19-7 record.

In the first round, Hartford earned the road sweep over Louisville and St. Louis edged Baltimore, sending both wild card teams forward. The Cardinals shocked Ottawa by knocking out the record-setting Elks 3-1. This gave St. Louis its first seventh National Association Championship Series berth and first since winning the 1963 World Series. Minneapolis downed Hartford 3-1 to give the Moose their seventh NACS berth and first since 1971. The Cardinals crushed Minneapolis with a sweep and continued on their Cinderella run as the last team in. It was the fifth pennant for St. Louis who had their 1908-10 dynasty along with the 1963 title.



The only team with double-digit wins in the American Association was Phoenix at 106-56, using their high-powered offense to take the Southwest Division. This gave the Firebirds back-to-back playoff berths. The Southwest was the strongest division with both wild cards coming out of there. Las Vegas, winners of 110 games the prior year, finished 94-68 for their sixth playoff appearance in seven years. Albuquerque at 92-70 picked up their second berth in three seasons. San Francisco at 89-73 was in the wild card conversation as well as Seattle (90-72) and Calgary (88-74). The latter two finished behind 93-69 Vancouver in the Northwest Division. This ended a 12-year playoff drought for the Volcanoes, who had won only 75 games the prior year.

In the South Central Division, Oklahoma City was first at 92-70, besting Dallas by seven games. The Outlaws secured a third playoff berth in four years. While none of the expansion eight debuted with a winning record, Austin was the closest with an 80-82 opening salvo. In the Southeast Division, Tampa took the top spot in a weak field at 86-76 to snap a four-year playoff drought. Nashville was the closest competitor at 83-79. Defending American Association champ Atlanta fell from 103 wins in 1981 to a middling 77-83.

Houston SS Jimmy Caliw won American Association MVP for the second time. When combined with his Oceania Baseball Association MVPs, it was the 11^th MVP for the 36-year old Filipino lefty, making him the first player in world baseball history to win 11 MVPs in a career. The only other player with ten was Mexican League legend Kiko Velazquez. Caliw led the AA with 9.8 WAR and won his 14^th Gold Glove, adding 45 home runs, 120 RBI, and a .299/.360/.572 slash. Las Vegas ace Jonah Mors won his fourth Pitcher of the Year in five seasons. The 28-year old righty led in WHIP (1.01), shutouts (8), FIP- (68), and WAR (8.6). Mors had a 2.93 ERA and 20-11 record with 230 strikeouts in 273.1 innings.

In the wild card round, Las Vegas got the road sweep over Tampa and Oklahoma City swept Albuquerque. Phoenix defeated their division rival Vipers 3-1 in round two, while Vancouver survived in five games against the Outlaws. This sent the Firebirds to their first American Association Championship Series since 1977 and the Volcanoes to their first since 1957. The 1982 AACS was a seven game classic that came down to the wire. In game seven in the desert, Firebirds slugger P.J. Avio smacked a two-run walk off home run to give Phoenix a 5-3 win and their first AA pennant since 1964. It was the eighth American Association title for the Firebirds. (1907, 30, 33, 51, 53, 60, 64, 82)



In the 82^nd World Series, It was underdog wild card St. Louis coming off their surprising NACS swept against the high-powered Phoenix squad fresh from a walkoff game seven win. The Fall Classic ultimately lacked drama as the Cardinals claimed the title in five games, earning their third ring (1909, 1963). A key player in the run was pitcher Travis West, who went 4-0 in four starts with a 0.84 ERA over 32.1 innings and 25 strikeouts. Another leader was NACS MVP 3B Ethan Martinez, a 40-year old veteran who won three rings with the 1970s New Orleans dynasty. In 14 starts, Martinez had 22 hits, 9 runs 4 doubles, 3 home runs, and 15 RBI.



Other notes: 3B Christopher Sollinger won his ninth Gold Glove. Two-way player Khaled Scott won his ninth Silver Slugger as a pitcher.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Major League Baseball inducted four players into the Hall of Fame with the 1983 voting. Two were absolute no-doubt first ballot guys with RF R.J. Clinton at 99.3% and pitcher Maiseli Lafaiali’I at 98.6%. Closer Tony McClain also was a first ballot selection, although he barely earned the distinction with 67.5%. One other player crossed the 66% threshold with SP Richard Thieman on his tenth and final chance getting 66.4%. Five other players were above 50% with two above 60%. RF Bo Salinas was just short at 62.5% on his third ballot and 3B Benton Gibney getting 60.3% for his fourth attempt. 3B Jim Booth got 55.2% in his debut, 1B Braylen Nelson was at 55.2% on his sixth ballot, and C Gavin Geogham at 51.3% on his debut. There were no players on the 1983 ballot that were cut after ten failed ballots.



R.J. Clinton – Right Field – Indianapolis Racers – 99.3% First Ballot

R.J. Clinton was a 6’1’’, 195 pound left-handed right fielder from Hudson, Wisconsin; a town of around 15,000 people located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Clinton was an outstanding contact hitter who still provided great home run power, hitting 40+ dingers in eight different seasons. He was around average at drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. Clinton had respectable speed and also got you around 30 doubles/triples per season. Defensively, he played almost exclusively in right field and was considered a delightfully average defender. Clinton was sometimes criticized for a lack of hustle, but he still emerged as an all-time great hitter.

Clinton went west to Washington State and was a star for the Cougars, winning a Silver Slugger as a junior and finishing second in NCAA MVP voting. In 114 college games, Clinton had 155 hits, 96 runs, 44 home runs, 122 RBI, and 9.7 WAR. This made him a very highly prized prospect and he’d be taken sixth overall by Indianapolis in the 1956 MLB Draft. Clinton ultimately played his entire pro career with the Racers, becoming a full-time starter immediately. He was always a starter in his career, only missing time to injuries. Clinton was an immediate success with 38 home runs and 7.2 WAR in his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year. He also got his first Silver Slugger and took third in MVP voting.

Clinton won seven Silver Sluggers in total with additional wins in 1958, 61, 62, 63, 64, and 65. He would lead the National Association in home runs four times, runs twice, RBI five times, and WAR twice. Clinton led in slugging nine times, including eight straight seasons from 1958-65. In that stretch, he was also the leader in OPS four times and wRC+ four times. In his 20s, Clinton was arguably the most dangerous hitter in baseball. He had eight straight 7+ WAR seasons to open his career.

His second season saw a second place finish in MVP voting. Clinton won the award for the first time in 1959, then took third in 1960 and second in 1961. He then won the award for the second time in 1962 and third time in 1963. Clinton would also take third in 1964. He also established a national profile with his appearances in the World Baseball Championship for the American team. He played 212 games and made 191 starts with 217 hits, 152 runs, 73 home runs, 202 RBI, a .289/.365/.656 slash, and 12.2 WAR. The Americans won 10 world titles with Clinton on the squad and he was the second player to win tournament MVP twice, taking the honor in 1961 and 1965. At retirement, he had the fourth most WAR and home runs and second most RBI in WBC history.

Clinton helped turn Indianapolis around as his rookie year saw the Racers go from a 64-win team to the National Association champion. The Racers won the NA title in 1957 and 1959, but fell in the World Series both seasons. Despite his efforts, Indy went on a 14-year playoff drought from 1960-73. They’d win the NA title in 1974 and 1977, but again fall short in the World Series. By that point, Clinton was an elder statesman and no longer the elite force he had been in his 20s, but he was still beloved by Indianapolis fans and would see his #40 uniform retired. In 65 playoff games, he had 70 hits, 42 runs, 16 home runs, and 45 RBI.

Clinton was still a very solid starter into his 30s, but injuries started to cost him time. 1966 saw a strained abdominal cost him 10 weeks and he lost almost all of 1968 to a ruptured Achilles. Additional abdominal issues popped up over the years, especially in his final seasons. There was a time that Clinton had a shot to go for the all-time home run record, but he couldn’t stay in the lineup in the final years. He was the fourth to 700 career home runs and 41^st to 3000 hits and fell just short of being the fifth to 2000 RBI. Clinton was let go after the 1977 and wanted to play still, but he’d never see another MLB game. He made 11 starts in minor league Austin in 1978 in the late fall, but ultimately had to retire after the season at age 42.

Clinton’s final stats: 3108 hits, 1742 runs, 440 doubles, 119 triples, 712 home runs, 1976 RBI, a .305/.364/.582 slash, 173 wRC+, and 116.7 WAR. At retirement, he was tied for third in home runs, was fifth in RBI, and was seventh in WAR for hitters. Clinton also had the third best slugging of any Hall of Famer at induction. One of the premiere sluggers of his generation and an easy Hall of Fame choice with 99.3% of the vote.



Maiseli Lafaiali’I – Starting Pitcher – Phoenix Firebirds – 98.6% First Ballot

Maiseli Lafaiali’I was a 6’2’’, 185 pound left-handed pitcher from Loving, New Mexico, a village of 1,400 people in the southeast part of the state. Lafaiali’I was known for having terrific stuff with 99-101 mph peak velocity. His movement was merely above average, but he had solid control early on and had excellent control late in his career, allowing him to hang around even when his stuff declined. Lafaiali’I’s arsenal was fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup with his change considered especially dangerous. He also had excellent stamina and durability throughout his tenured career.

Lafaiali’I attended Texas Christian University and as a Horned Frog, he made 40 starts with a 21-12 record, 2.05 ERA, 324.2 innings, and 302 strikeouts. In the 1955 MLB Draft, he was picked 19^th overall by Phoenix. Lafaiali’I debuted in 1956, but only saw limited action in his first two seasons. He became a full-time starter in 1958 and had six straight seasons worth 5+ WAR for the Firebirds. Lafaiali’I led the American Association in ERA in 1960, although shoulder bursitis cost him six weeks to injury. He led in both strikeouts and WAR in 1963. He finished second in 1959’s Pitcher of the Year voting and third in 1963, ultimately not winning the top award with Phoenix.

The Firebirds became a contender with playoff berths from 1959-61, including winning the World Series in 1960. Lafaiali’I was okay in the playoffs with a 3.80 ERA over 12 starts, but he was an important part of their run and would later have his #24 retired by Phoenix despite only playing there for eight seasons. Lafaiali’I also became popular nationwide with his success for the United States in the World Baseball Championship. Over eight tournaments, he had a 17-2 record and 2.59 ERA over 160 innings with 203 strikeouts, winning five world titles for the American team.

For his Phoenix run, Lafaiali’I had an 89-86 record, 3.38 ERA, 1581.1 innings, 1387 strikeouts, and 43.1 WAR. He became a free agent at age 28 and for the 1964 season signed a seven-year, $1,574,000 deal with San Francisco. He ultimately had five solid seasons with the Gold Rush, including his lone Pitcher of the Year award in 1965 with an AA-best 2.13 ERA, 25-6 record, and 9.9 WAR. Each of those were career bests. Lafaiali’I also took third in 1966’s Pitcher of the Year voting.

San Francisco made the playoffs in each of Lafaiali’I’s five seasons there, although he missed the 1966 run to injury. The Gold Rush couldn’t get over the hump with Lafaiali’I’s playoff stats being a 3.94 ERA in eight starts and 61.2 innings. In total with SF, he had a 97-54 record, 3.14 ERA, 1398 innings, 1196 strikeouts, and 34.6 WAR. After the 1968 season, Lafaiali’I opted out of his contract and became a free agent again at age 33. He inked a five-year, $1,230,000 deal with Ottawa starting with the 1969 season.

The Elks wouldn’t see Lafaiali’I until 1970 though, as a torn PCL in 1969 spring training cost him the entire season. Lafaiali’I battled back with a solid 1970 season, but missed half of 1971 to a torn back muscle. After an okay 1972 season, Ottawa traded him to New Orleans for three players. Lafaiali’I’s Elks tenure saw a 2.95 ERA and 11.9 WAR over 76 starts. He spent only one season with New Orleans, who were coming off their dynasty World Series three-peat. They fell in the AACS in 1973 with Lafaiali’I giving them respectable production, although he again missed about 1/3 of the year to injury.

Now 38-years old, Lafaiali’I was a free agent again and signed a three-year, $1,224,000 deal with Washington. He gave the Admirals two nearly full seasons, although he had regressed to closer to league average by this point. In late April 1976, a torn labrum ended his Washington tenure with a 3.41 ERA and 5.5 WAR in 73 starts. Lafaiali’I didn’t want to retire on the injury and signed a three-year deal with Nashville starting in 1977. He stunk in his one year with the Knights with a 5.08 ERA and opted to retire after the season at age 42.

Lafaiali’I’s final stats: 277-214 record, 3.33 ERA, 4424.2 innings, 3566 strikeouts to 897 walks, 344/575 quality starts, 257 complete games, 83 FIP-, and 101.0 WAR. At induction, he was the 13^th Hall of Fame pitcher with 100+ career WAR. Lafaiali’I didn’t have quite the dominance of some others, but he was consistently one of the best in the game for a long time. This earned him a well-deserved first ballot selection with 98.6%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Tony “Drummer” McClain – Relief Pitcher – Los Angeles Angels – 67.5% First Ballot

Tony McClain was a 6’0’’, 190 pound left-handed relief pitcher from Quincy, Massachusetts, a southern Boston suburb with 100,000 people. McClain had electric stuff with 98-100 mph velocity along with above average control and movement. He had a one-two punch of cutter and knuckle curve that made him difficult to solve. McClain also had good stamina and was considered a very hard working and popular clubhouse presence.

McClain was a successful reliever in college with Purdue, taking second in NCAA Reliever of the Year voting in 1956 and first in 1957. Over four seasons, he had a 1.38 ERA over 182.2 innings with 295 strikeouts and 12.5 WAR. After his junior year, Jacksonville selected him in the fourth round of the MLB Draft, 161^st overall. McClain didn’t sign and returned for his senior year and his stock shot up. His hometown team Boston picked him 50^th overall in the 1957 MLB Draft, but McClain couldn’t come to terms with the Red Sox either and never signed with them. In spring training 1958, he eventually signed a free agent contract with Los Angeles.

McClain was thrown into the closer role as a rookie for the Angels and had his strongest tenure there. In his sophomore season, he won the Reliever of the Year, then took third the following year. McClain spent only five and a half years in Los Angeles, ultimately his longest tenure. In that time though, he picked up 152 saves with a 2.24 ERA over 353.2 innings, 515 strikeouts, and 16.4 WAR. McClain struggled to start the 1963 season and Angels traded him that summer to Denver. He finished solid with the Dragons though and entered free agency at age 28.

McClain would be the ultimate journeyman with his use fluctuating over the next decade plus. He started 1964 with Albuquerque, but was traded in June to Oklahoma City. He stayed with the Outlaws in 1965, then spent 1966-67 with San Francisco, briefly taking the closer rule. McClain went to the other side of the Bay in 1968 with Oakland, then joined New Orleans in 1969. He had a career revival with the Mudcats, winning Reliever of the Year with an impressive 0.78 ERA and 5.1 WAR season; both career bests. New Orleans sold high and traded him to San Antonio, but injuries meant he missed almost all of the 1970 season with the Oilers.

McClain returned as a free agent to New Orleans in 1971 in a limited role, but he earned a World Series ring in the second season of their dynasty. 1972 had him back with Oakland, then he earned the closer role in 1973 for Albuquerque. 1974 had a limited role with Portland, then he emerged as a closer in a 1975 Denver return. This 3.9 WAR season at age 39 earned McClain a second place finish in Reliever of the Year voting. He went back to Oakland with limited use in 1976, then finished with decent innings in 1977 for Dallas. The Dalmatians won the World Series that year and McClain retired with a second ring at age 41.

McClain’s final stats: 287 saves and 359 shutdowns, 2.24 ERA, 892 innings, 1243 strikeouts to 251 walks, a FIP- of 50 and 41.4 WAR. No other reliever had gotten into the MLB Hall of Fame with fewer than 300 saves, but his WAR and strikeout totals were comparable to others that had earned the honor. He was an odd case without a real signature run, but McClain was well known and popular. Perhaps surprisingly, he got a first ballot induction, although he barely crossed the 66% threshold with 67.5%.



Richard Thieman – Starting Pitcher – Pittsburgh Pirates – 66.4% Tenth Ballot

Richard Thieman was a 6’0’’, 205 pound right-handed starting pitcher from Rochester, New York; a city of around 200,000 people in the northwest of the state about 75 miles east of Buffalo. Thieman had fantastic stuff and movement at his peak along with above average to good control. His velocity peaked at 98-100 mph with five pitches; fastball, slider, forkball, changeup, and slider. His slider and cutter were considered especially unhittable in his prime. Thieman had decent stamina in his early career, but later injuries cut into that in his latter seasons.

Thieman attended Mississippi State and in three college seasons made 30 starts with a 2.04 ERA, 190 innings, and 199 strikeouts with 7.3 WAR. Possible injury concerns popped up as a freshman with a torn labrum that March. However, he seemed to recover well and was a hot commodity in the 1953 MLB Draft. Pittsburgh picked Thieman ninth overall and he spent nearly his entire pro career with the Pirates. He was a back-end starter in his first two seasons, making 24 starts in both years. He became a full-time member of the rotation after, although it wasn’t until his fourth year that he was considered an ace.

Thieman had steady production with seven straight seasons worth 5+ WAR from 1957-63. He led in wins in 1958 as Pittsburgh got to the National Association Championship Series. 1959 saw his lone no-hitter, a 12-strikeout two-walk effort against Washington. Pittsburgh made two NACS appearances and six playoff berths in his tenure, but the Pirates never got to the World Series. Despite his popularity, Thieman would be criticized by some Pittsburgh fans for being a playoff choker. In 9 starts, he had a 6.06 ERA over 49 innings. Many feel that is why his #15 uniform was never retired despite his tenure.

Thieman’s best years were 1961 and 1962. He was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1961 with an NA best 2.26 ERA, then he won the award and was second in MVP voting in 1962 with career bests in ERA (1.86), strikeouts (244), and WAR (8.7). Pittsburgh rewarded him with a six-year, $988,000 contract extension after the 1961 run, but injuries would leave him sidelined much of that deal. The first big setback was a stretched elbow ligament in August 1963, costing him the rest of that year and most of 1964 with an 11 month recovery time.

In 1965, a torn meniscus cost Thieman the second half. He managed a pretty strong 1966 and looked solid in 1967, but a torn rotator cuff ended that season and ultimately his effectiveness. Thieman struggled in his 1968 return bid and Pittsburgh would trade him in the summer to Los Angeles. Thieman earned a World Series ring with the Angels, although he got rocked in his two playoff starts. He decided to retire there at age 36.

Thieman’s final stats: 189-127 record, 2.96 ERA, 3049.1 innings, 2518 strikeouts to 803 walks, 282/411 quality starts, 79 FIP-, and 73.8 WAR. His rate stats were good and not many MLB Hall of Famers managed a sub-three ERA, but his short peak and low accumulations put Thieman on the outside for nine ballots. He was never below 50%, but he typically hovered in that range on the ballots. He got very close with 63.7% in 1979 and 65.1% in 1981, but many thought he was a “Hall of Very Good” guy. Only 1B Tiger Novak of the 1973 class had gotten in on the tenth and final ballot prior to the 1983 voting, but Thieman managed to join him. On the last chance, he crossed the 66% threshold narrowly at 66.4%, forever adding his name among the all-timers in Cooperstown.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

The 1983 class for the Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame inducted three players on the first ballot. Shortstop Aaron Valencia was nearly unanimous with 98.8% while center fielder Amazado Matos was next with a strong 90.4%. The third member was first baseman Edgardo Franco at a respectable 79.6%; plenty strong enough to cross the 66% threshold. Only one other player was above 50% with 1B Carlos De La Fuente getting 53.1% for his debut ballot.



One player was dropped after ten failed ballots in LF Michael Parrish. He ended at 34.6% after peaking at 51.0% on his ninth ballot. Parrish was an American who left for CABA in his mid 20s after flaming out of MLB. With Salvador and Mexicali, he had two Gold Gloves, 2513 hits, 1242 runs, 177 home runs, 943 RBI, 942 stolen bases, a .311/.348/.468 slash and 67.1 WAR. At retirement, he was eighth all-time in steals, but he lacked the major accolades or power numbers to get the attention over the sluggers who occupy the corner outfield spots typically.



Aaron Valencia – Shortstop/Third Base – Mexico City Aztecs – 98.8% First Ballot

Aaron Valencia was a 6’0’’, 190 pound right-handed shortstop from Lares, Puerto Rico; a town of around 28,000 in the central-western area of the island. Valencia was an excellent contact hitter who was adept at avoiding strikeouts, although he rarely drew walks. He had terrific gap power and very good speed, enabling him to average around 30 doubles and 15 triples per season. Valencia wasn’t a prolific home run hitter, but still got you around 20-30 dingers per year. He was primarily a shortstop, although he did make about 1/5 of his starts at third base and a few at second base. Valencia was viewed as a very solid defensive player in his prime and twice won the Gold Glove.

Valencia was discovered as a teenage amateur by scouts from Mexico City, who signed him to a developmental deal in late 1955. He made his debut with a few appearances in 1960 at age 21, but he wouldn’t become a full-timer until 1962. From there, Valencia started 140+ games in 13 consecutive seasons, showing impressive durability. Valencia would go down as one of the true ironmen in CABA history. He’d have 10 straight seasons with a batting average above .300 from 1965-74. Valencia led the Mexican League in hits twice, average twice, runs once, total bases twice, and WAR four times.

Mexico City’s dynasty run began in the mid 1960s with nine straight playoff appearances from 1966-74. They won seven straight Mexican League titles from 1967-73 and won the CABA crown in each of those years sans 1968. Valencia was a critical part of that run, winning Silver Sluggers in 1963 and then from 1965-74. He won Gold Gloves in 1963 and 1964, both at third base, before moving to short during the prime run of the Aztecs. In the playoffs, Valencia made 86 starts and had 97 hits, 50 runs, 12 doubles, 12 home runs, 49 RBI, and 1.6 WAR. He excelled in both 1967 and 1969’s playoff runs, winning finals MVP and MLCS MVP in both seasons.

Valencia would also win the Mexican League MVP three times; in 1967, 1971, and 1972. He’d take third in MVP voting in 1963, 1966, 1970, and 1973. 1971 would his most impressive season with 12.8 WAR, a .3.74 average, 1.038 OPS, and wRC+ of 204. The 1967 season had career bests in hits (221), runs (120), and doubles (42). Valencia posted 11 seasons worth 6+ WAR. As a Puerto Rican, he was also an American citizen and bounced between the United States and Puerto Rican teams in the World Baseball Championship. In eight tournaments and 83 games, he had 80 hits, 39 runs, 16 home runs, 46 RBI, and 2.5 WAR.

In 1975 at age 36, Valencia saw a sudden drop in productivity despite still being healthy. He was eventually relegated to a bench role and stayed a backup primarily for his final three seasons. Valencia remained a leader in the clubhouse, but Mexico City’s dynasty had ended at this point and they began to rebuild. He would retire after the 1977 season at age 38 and would see his #34 uniform immediately retired.

Valencia’s final stats: 2673 hits, 1307 runs, 460 doubles, 208 triples, 329 home runs, 1234 RBI, 794 stolen bases, a .319/.345/.541 slash, 160 wRC+, and 105.8 WAR. At induction, he was one of 13 CABA batters with more than 100+ career WAR. Valencia was a crucial piece in one of the greatest dynasty runs in any league’s history and an easy first round selection at 98.8%.



Amazado “Hot Stuff” Matos – Center Field – Tijuana Toros – 90.4% First Ballot

Amazado Matos was a 5’11’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting center fielder from Maimon, a town of around 18,000 people in the central Dominican Republic. Nicknamed “Hot Stuff,” Matos was an outstanding contact hitter with impressive bat speed and terrific home run power. Despite hitting for a high average and high home run totals, Matos was a free swinger who didn’t walk often and struck out more than you’d like. His gap power was respectable and earlier in his career he also had decent baserunning speed, Matos was a career center fielder who was above average early in his career, but struggled later as he dealt with numerous injuries. He was very outspoken about staying in center and wasn’t shy about sharing his opinion generally, making him a “love or hate him” type guy for both teammates and fans.

1962 saw the introduction of the first expansion teams in CABA, one of which was the Bahamas Buccaneers. They had the #1 overall pick in the 1963 CABA Draft and used it on Matos, hoping he could become the star of the franchise. He was immediately a starter and a stud when healthy, although his injury woes began with the Buccaneers. Matos won the 1964 Rookie of the Year in only 108 games with a 5.8 War, 35 home run season. His second season in the Bahamas was one of only three he’d have in his entire career where he’d start 140+ games. That year though, he led the Caribbean League with 45 home runs and won his first of five Silver Sluggers, along with a second place finish in MVP voting. Matos also won the award in 1966, 68, 72, and 74.

In 1966, he was on pace for one of the all-time great seasons despite missing six weeks to a strained ACL. In only 112 games, Matos posted 10.1 WAR, 47 home runs, and 109 RBI along with a .400 average, although he didn’t have enough bats to officially qualify as the leader. He was still third in MVP voting. Matos missed about half of 1967, and missed some starts in 1968, although he would get 144 games played. This was his finest season and first MVP, officially earning the second-ever CABA season with a batting average above .400. His mark of .402 was second to Prometheo Garcia’s .406 in 1949 and as of 2037, is one of only three CABA seasons above .400. His 1.229 OPS was a single-season record that stood until 2019 as he added 48 home runs, 129 RBI, a 234 wRC+, and 11.1 WAR.

Matos became a very popular player back home in the Dominican Republic as a regular for the World Baseball Championship team. He played in 114 games in 17 tournaments with 103 hits, 68 runs, 44 home runs, 84 RBI, and 5.3 WAR. After his 1968 MVP season, the outspoken Matos made it clear that he wasn’t happy playing for Bahamas, who had remained a bottom rung franchise in its first years of existence. He was due free agency after the 1969 season and made it clear that he wasn’t staying with the Buccaneers. Matos’ final stats there saw 816 hits, 426 runs, 197 home runs, 503 RBI, a .360/.399/.716 slash and 41.1 WAR.

Just before spring training 1969, the 28-year old Matos was traded to Tijuana for three players. Soon after, he signed an eight-year, $2,000,000 deal with the Toros. Matos had a full season in his Tijuana debut and led in total bases (399) with 48 home runs and 9.7 WAR, finishing third in MVP voting. He also got his only playoff experience as the Toros fell in the MLCS. Tijuana made the playoffs once more in his tenure, but he was hurt for that run, ultimately making 1969 his only postseason appearance for his full career.

Matos played nine seasons with Tijuana but 1969 and 1974 were the only seasons he was healthy enough to play a full slate. 1974 saw a second MVP win with a career-best 57 home runs and league-leading 10.0 WAR and 1.076 OPS. He’d start just over 100 games in 1971 and 1972, while missing half or more of his other Tijuana seasons. ACL issues and elbow issues were the recurring culprits putting Matos often on the shelf. He still performed when healthy, smacking 35+ home runs three times in shortened seasons. In total with Tijuana, he had 972 hits, 521 runs, 277 home runs, 582 RBI, .317/.353/.654 slash, 197 wRC+, and 46.6 WAR. Despite his injuries, he was still popular enough with Toros fans to see his #8 uniform retired at the end of his career.

Matos’ Tijuana and CABA run ended after the 1977 season. At age 37, he still wanted to play and found a buyer in MLB’s Tampa Thunderbirds. Injuries again kept him from playing more than a 1/3 of games in two seasons there. The Thunderbirds traded him before the 1980 season to Montreal, who released him in the summer. Matos signed with Boston and finished the season there. He wasn’t ready to quit, although he wouldn’t get signed until September 1981 with a minor league deal in Sacramento. He made three starts before getting hurt again and retiring at age 40. His MLB tenure saw 204 games and 194 starts with 1.2 WAR, 181 hits, 80 runs, 25 home runs, and 94 RBI.

For his CABA career, Matos had 1788 hits, 947 runs, 207 doubles, 105 triples, 474 home runs, 1085 RBI, a .335/.373/.680 slash, 197 wRC+, and 87.6 WAR. As of 2037, he has the highest slugging percentage of any player in CABA history. At retirement, he had the second best OPS of any player behind only Kiko Velazquez. Matos is a big “what if?” player who if he had stayed healthy may have dominated the leaderboards. His actual totals are on the low end, but his rate stats are fantastic and certainly indicate a Hall of Fame talent. The voters were easily swayed for 90.4% and a first ballot nod even without the accumulations or playoff success.



Edgardo “Weasel” Franco - First Baseman – Hermosillo Hyenas – 79.6% First Ballot

Edgardo Franco was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from Colonia Pineda Uno, a small 1,500 person municipality in Honduras located just southeast of San Pedro Sula. Franco was a great contact hitter with a solid eye for drawing walks, although he was average at best at avoiding strikeouts. He had a solid pop in his bat and averaged around 25-30 doubles, 15-25 triples, and 15-25 home runs per year. Franco had excellent baserunning speed and ability as well; a bit unusual for someone who was a career first baseman and occasional designated hitter. His speed and cunning led to his nickname of “Weasel,” often used derisively by annoyed pitchers who just had a base stolen against them. Defensively, Franco was a bit below average, but by no means a liability with his glove. He was also considered quite durable for the majority of his run.

Franco was spotted as a teenager by a scout from Hermosillo, who signed him in 1956. He made his debut as a partial starter in 1960 at age 20 with a few more starts the next year. Franco would take the role full time then for his remaining six seasons with the Hyenas. He won Silver Sluggers in 1965 and 1966, leading in runs scored twice, triples twice, hits once, total bases twice, stolen bases thrice, and WAR once. Franco was second in 1965 MVP voting, then won the award in 1966. That year, he led the Mexican League in the triple slash (.363/.429/.600) with a 1.029 OPS and 9.1 WAR.

From 1962-77. Franco was a regular starter for the Honduras National Team in the World Baseball Championship. In 112 games, he had 102 hits, 58 runs, 18 doubles, 17 home runs, 42 RBI, and 3.5 WAR. With Hermosillo, he’d only see two playoff games in 1963, as the Hyenas were a middling team then. In total there, Franco had 1418 hits, 782 runs, 210 doubles, 185 triples, 144 home runs, 634 RBI, a .330/.386/.566 slash and 50.3 WAR. He was well liked enough that despite only playing there eight seasons, his #73 uniform would be retired at the end of his career.

Franco would enter free agency after the 1967 season at age 28 and he had many suitors internationally. He signed a big deal to join Major League Baseball with Montreal for eight years and $1,914,000 total. Franco was a very solid starter for two and a half seasons with the Maples, posting 13.8 WAR over 405 games with 449 hits, 235 runs, and a .304/.368/.490 slash. However, they opted to trade Franco at the deadline to Miami for RP Caleb Byrd and LF Eli Ward. He spent two and a half years with the Mallard with respectable but diminished numbers, posting 7.3 WAR in 332 games with 381 hits, 193 runs, and a .290/.344/.465 slash.

After the 1972 season, Franco opted out of his contract and wanted to return home. The 33-year old signed with his home country club and had a terrific return to CABA as a DH. Franco won Silver Sluggers in 1973 and 1974 with Honduras and was third in 1973’s MVP voting, leading the Caribbean League in hits that year. The Horsemen made the playoffs twice in his tenure, although Franco never got to play in a championship. He played five seasons with Honduras, posting 844 hits, 443 runs, 109 home runs, 369 RBI, a .295/.344/.490 slash and 18.6 WAR. His production fell off noticeably in his final two seasons and he retired after the 1977 season at age 37.

Franco’s final CABA stats: 2262 hits, 1225 runs, 316 doubles, 248 triples, 253 home runs, 999 RBI, 801 stolen bases, a .316/.370/.535 slash and 68.9 WAR. For his entire pro career he had 3092 hits, 1653 runs, and 90.0 WAR with 913 stolen bases. His full career totals certainly look belonging, although the MLB excursion meant some voters were less impressed with his CABA totals. Franco also didn’t have a signature playoff run, but he was a very popular and well liked player with a respectable resume. Enough voters were sold and put him in on the first ballot with 79.6%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Two players were inducted into the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame with the 1983 class. On his third ballot, pitcher Tokutomi Ohashi earned the nod with 78.8%. Joining him was first baseman/designated hitter Min-Su Namkoong, who crossed the 66% requirement on his second attempt with 70.0%. Two others were above 50% with 2B Su-Yeon Park at 56.5% in his seventh ballot and C Jung-Soo Chen at 53.0% for his fourth.



Three players were dropped after ten ballots with the most notable being 2B Jung-Min Yi. He had a 20-year career with Hamhung, helping their dynasty with 2515 hits, 1577 runs, 404 doubles, 327 triples, 320 home runs, 1232 RBI, a .268/.341/.484 slash and 88.4 WAR. He only won Silver Slugger and Gold Glove once each though, but Yi got as high as 60.9% on his third ballot. The lack of accolades ultimately kept him out.

Another 2B dropped was San Chai, who had an 18-year career with four teams. He won six Silver Sluggers and one MVP, posting 2223 hits, 1220 runs, 356 doubles, 432 home runs, 1235 RBI, a .269/.330/.492 slash and 72.1 WAR. Chai was hurt by never being on a playoff team. He debuted at 43.3%, but ended at a paltry 9.5%. Also dropped was 1B Toyo Ishigura, who played 16 years with three teams and posted 2251 hits, 1202 runs, 421 doubles, 508 home runs, 1313 RBI, a .278/.327/.529 slash, and 70.9 WAR. He won two Silver Slugger and came close to an MVP in 1957, but also lacked the playoff accolades. Ishigura debuted at 48.4% and ended at 7.8%.



Tokutomi “Banshee” Ohashi – Starting Pitcher – Chiba Comets – 78.8% Third Ballot

Tokutomi Ohashi was a 6’0’’, 185 pound right-handed pitcher from Kawaguchi, a city of around 600,000 people in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture. Ohashi was a hard thrower with 98-100 mph peak velocity and solid stuff mixed with average to above average movement and control. He had four pitches; fastball, curveball, forkball, and changeup. Ohashi had solid durability much of his career, but was sometimes criticized for a perceived poor work ethic. He was also a decent hitter for a pitcher with a career .242 average, winning a Silver Slugger in 1961.

Ohashi attended Hosei University to play in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. His two strong college seasons stood out to Chiba, who picked Ohashi first overall in the 1959 East Asia Baseball Draft. He made nine weak relief appearances in 1960, then became a full-time starter from 1961 onward. Ohashi was a big part of the 1960s turnaround for the Comets, who had won only 63 games in the year he was draft. Ohashi had a 2.70 ERA in his rookie season over 256.2 innings, earning the 1961 Rookie of the Year.

Chiba would make four straight playoff appearances from 1961-64 and win the Japan League title in 61, 62, and 63. Ohashi’s postseason results were mixed with an unremarkable 4.23 ERA over 78.2 innings. He had a solid 1963 run with a 2.67 ERA over 30.1 innings. The Comets were unable to claim the EAB Championship, but it was the first sustained success for a historically inept franchise. They’d have some good seasons later in the 1960s, but couldn’t get back into the playoffs. They ultimately fell back into mediocrity by the start of the 1970s.

Ohashi remained steady throughout it all. He led the JL in strikeouts in 1967 and 1968 and posted seven seasons with 5+ WAR, although he otherwise wasn’t a league leader often. Ohashi never won Pitcher of the Year, but did take third in 1962, second in 1963, and third in 1965. He also pitched for Japan in the World Baseball Championship from 1963-73, primarily as a reliever. In 68.1 innings, he had a 3.56 ERA with 94 strikeouts.

Ohashi started to see fewer innings and less success entering the 1970s and his 30s. He earned his 200^th career win with Chiba in 1974, but was washed by this point with the Comets buying out the rest of his contract after the season. Still, the franchise would honor him by retiring his #2 uniform. Ohashi at age 36 signed in 1975 with Yokohama, but struggled in his 31.1 innings with the Yellow Jackets. He suffered a partially torn labrum in June that ended his season. Yokohama let him go and no one signed Ohashi in 1976, making him retire at age 38.

Ohashi’s final stats: 209-175 record, 3.48 ERA, 3505 innings, 3512 strikeouts to 755 walks, 270/458 quality starts, FIP- of 88, and 66.1 WAR. A nice run, but the advanced stats are underwhelming compared to other Hall of Famers. His ERA was the second worst of the inducted pitchers and his 103 ERA+ suggests someone only slightly above average. Still, his accumulations and long run with one franchise resonated with many voters. Ohashi just missed the 66% cut on his first two ballots at 63.4% and 64.6%. On the third ballot with a weaker field, Ohashi got the bump up to 78.8% and secured his spot in the Hall of Fame.



Min-Su Namkoong – First Base/Designated Hitter – Gwangju Grays – 70.0% Second Ballot

Min-Su Namkoong was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from Gimhae, a city or around 550,000 in southeastern South Korea. He was a very steady and reliable hitter that was very durable and consistent. Namkoong was an above average contact hitter with good power, hitting 30+ home runs in 13 different seasons. He also averaged around 25 doubles per year but rarely tripled with poor baserunning speed. Namkoong was above average at drawing walks, but a bit below average at avoiding strikeouts. He exclusively played defensively at first base and was lousy with the glove. He made about 2/3s of his starts in the field and the rest as a designated hitter. Namkoong was well liked in the clubhouse as a solid leader.

Namkoong was spotted as a teenager amateur by Gwangju and signed a developmental deal in 1952. He made his debut at age 20 in 1956, although he’d see limited action in his first two seasons. Namkoong became the full-time starter in 1958 and remain a regular starter for almost 20 years. Despite this, he almost never was a league leader and didn’t get much attention with so many great sluggers at 1B and DH. His only Silver Slugger came in 1962. Namkoong also didn’t get noticed as much due to playing on generally poor teams, never making the playoffs once in his career. His national team play was limited too, although he did make five World Baseball Championship appearance for South Korea with 40 games, 34 hits, 21 runs, 10 home runs, and 22 RBI.

1964 saw Namkoong’s one major injury with a torn PCL putting him out 9-10 months. He bounced back with his best season in 1965 with his only MVP finalist bid, taking third in the voting. Namkoong exploded with 56 home runs, 133 RBI, 207 hits, 102 runs, a .329 average, 1.003 OPS, and 7.5 WAR; all career highs. Although he had steady power, this was his only year topping 40 home runs in a season. It was a contract year for Namkoong, who entered free agency at age 30. He left Gwangju and signed a seven-year, $1,106,000 contract with Changwon.

Namkoong ended up playing four years of the Crabs deal and never had a season on par with his 20s. He had 5+ WAR seasons five times in his first Grays run, but only got above 4+ once for the rest of his career. His fourth year with Changwon in 1969 was his best, earning his 400^th home run and 2000^th hit. Namkoong decided to opt out of his deal though and went back to Gwangju on a five-year, $1,080,000 deal.

Despite his tenure with the Grays, Namkoong wouldn’t have his jersey number retired. In total between the two runs, he had 2180 hits, 1016 runs, 335 doubles, 418 home runs, 1247 RBI, a .292/.346/.514 slash and 50.2 WAR. After the 1974 season, Namkoong became a free agent again and played one more year with Changwon. Between the two Crabs runs, he had 753 hits, 384 runs, 166 home runs, 411 RBI, a .265/.320/.486 slash and 14.0 WAR. Namkoong’s last year was 1976 at age 40, starting the season with Goyang and getting traded at the deadline to Sapporo. He became the 15^th EAB player to 600 career home runs and the seventh to 3000 hits while with the Green Sox. Namkoong was unsigned in 1977 and retired at age 41.

Namkoong’s final stats: 3059 hits, 1453 runs, 455 doubles, 604 home runs, 1734 RBI, a .284/.337/.503 slash, 133 wRC+ and 65.2 WAR. Despite never being dominant, his steady production put him in solid spots on many leaderboards. At induction, Namkoong was eighth in hits, ninth in RBI, and 18^th in home runs. Still, he was overlooked by many for his lack of accolades. Namkoong missed the cut on his debut ballot at 62.5%, but crossed the line on his second attempt at 70.0% and grabbed his seat among the greats.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Pitcher Leonardo Souza was the lone inductee in the Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame’s 1983 voting. Souza received first ballot honors with 91.5%. Only pitcher Manuel Gonzalez also crossed 50%, getting 52.7 % for his third ballot.



Dropped after ten ballots was closer Alfredo Mejia, who peaked at 59.5% on his second ballot and was as low as 19.0% before finishing at 48.3%. He won Reliever of the Year four times, but his BSA run was only nine years as he left for a few unremarkable seasons in MLB. With Cali and Buenos Aires, he had a 1.46 ERA, 264 saves, 606 innings, 983 strikeouts, and 36.7 WAR. Dominant and worth a look, but the voters felt he didn’t stay long enough to deserve the spot.

Two others fell off after ten ballots. SP Hugo Sanz had a 14-year career with Quito with a 170-142 record, 2.78 ERA, 3017 innings, 2802 strikeouts, and 76.4 WAR. He helped the Thunderbolts win Copa Sudamerica, but didn’t win Pitcher of the Year and wasn’t dominant enough to wow the voters. Sanz peaked at 33.7% and ended at 9.2%. Also cut was reliever Primitivo Haro, who had a 17-year career between BSA, MLB, and CABA. He had one Reliever of the Year with a 247 saves, a 2.00 ERA, 778 strikeouts, and 19.7 WAR in BSA. Haro peaked at 33.0% and ended at 6.1%.



Leonardo Souza – Starting Pitcher – Callao Cats – 91.5% First Ballot

Leonardo Souza was a 6’1’’, 190 pound right-handed pitcher from Sao Bento do Sul, a Brazilian city with around 85,000 people in the southern state of Santa Catarina. Souza had incredible overpowering stuff, which allowed him to overcome having weak movement and middling control. He had 99-101 mph peak velocity with a stellar fastball that he mixed with a slider, forkball, and changeup. Although he’d give up more home runs and walks than most great pitchers, his power and ability to change speeds made him an elite strikeout pitcher. Souza also had solid stamina and durability for much of his run.

Souza was spotted by a scout from Callao as a teenager and signed a developmental deal with the Cats in 1958. He made one appearance in 1962, then became a full-time starter at age 21 in 1963. Souza walked more batters than anyone in the Bolivar League as a rookie, but emerged as the top strikeout pitcher by the next year. He would be a league leader seven times in strikeouts and post six seasons worth 6+ WAR. Despite that, Souza never won the Pitcher of the Year and wasn’t a finalist during his seven seasons with the Cats.

Callao made the playoffs twice in his run, but couldn’t get beyond the LCS. His strikeout prowess resonated with Cats fans though and his #38 uniform would later get retired despite a short tenure. Shoulder inflammation put him out half of 1965, but he bounced back without issue. In 1969 against Cali, Souza became one of a select few to strike out 21 batters in a single game. In total with Callao, Souza had a 98-70 record, 2.78 ERA, 1603.1 innings, 2186 strikeouts, and 39.0 WAR.

The Cats started to struggle and rebuild late in the 1960s and traded Souza at the 1969 deadline to Barquisimeto. He became a free agent and at age 28 signed a five-year, $944,000 deal with Brasilia. Souza’s only times as a Pitcher of the Year finalist came with the Bearcats, taking second in both 1970 and 1971. Brasilia won the division in 1971, but fell in the playoffs to Santiago with Souza suffering a torn flexor tendon in his elbow during the postseason. He was never the same pitcher after that and missed most of 1972 recovering.

Souza still had a few more seasons and provided value, but he wasn’t elite anymore. Brasilia traded him to Quito for the 1974 season and he struck out 352, his seventh and final season with 350 Ks. Souza signed as a free agent with the expansion Recife squad for 1975 and 1976, suffering shoulder inflammation in 1976. The Retrievers traded Souza to Buenos Aires with one final season for him in 1977. He retired at only age 35.

Souza’s final stats: 196-164 record, 2.92 ERA, 3466 innings, 4483 strikeouts, 863 walks, 276/430 quality starts, 165 complete games, 85 FIP-, and 70.3 WAR. He was the 18^th BSA pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts and his power stood out despite giving up more runs and getting fewer wins than many others in the Hall. The voters were firmly sold on him and gave Souza the first ballot induction with a very strong 91.5%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

For the first time since 1977, the European Baseball Federation didn’t induct anyone into the Hall of Fame with the 1983 voting. Only two were even above 50% with SP Pedro Varela at 60.6% on his tenth and final try and rF Paul Schlachler at 52.1% in his sixth go. The top newcomer was 1B Isak Steffensen with only 37.7%.

For Varela, his final ballot was his best performance, generally hovering around the 30-50% range. In 15 years between Madrid and Seville, he had a 222-157 record, 3.30 ERA, 2880 strikeouts over 3497.1 innings, FIP- of 89, and 6.3 WAR. He won the 1955 EBF title with the Conquistadors, but never won Pitcher of the Year and rarely led the league, keeping him on the outside.

Also dropped after 10 ballots was another pitcher in Hans Georg Hauck, who pitched 14 seasons with Brussels. He had a 192-115 record, 2.78 ERA, 2229 strikeouts in 2944.1 innings, 86 FIP-, and 58.4 WAR. He also didn’t have major awards and wasn’t a league leader, getting even less traction. Hauck peaked at 23.6% on his second ballot and ended at 10.2%.