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

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 EAB Hall of Fame (Part 1)

The East Asia Baseball 2012 Hall of Fame voting saw four players earn induction, led by 3B Si-Hun Lee with 89.7%. Closer Hyeon-U Cho at 77.6% and SP Toyoji Kawara at 72.8% also secured first ballot nods. 3B Shigefumi Tsukehara joined them in his fifth ballot, receiving the bump up to 73.5%. No one else was above 50%.



Dropped after ten failed ballots was SS/2B Katsunan Higashida, who was hurt by having a nine-year MLB run in between EAB stints. He won seven Silver Sluggers and a MVP and helped Kitakyushu win the 1994 title. In total, he had 1864 hits, 829 runs, 330 doubles, 294 home runs, 961 RBI, a .310/.348/.521 slash, 150 wRC+, and 57.1 WAR.

Had Higashida stayed, he probably would’ve been an easy pick. For his combined career, he had 3174 hits, 1426 runs, 529 doubles, 495 home runs, 1613 RBI, a .299/.339/.497 slash, 135 wRC+, and 86.3 WAR. The EAB tenure just wasn’t long enough for most voters with Higashida peaking at 42.0% in 2010. He got as low as 6.9% the prior year and finished in 2012 at 37.5%.

Pitcher Min-Hyeok Pang was also dropped after ten ballots, peaking at 44.0% in 2006 and ending at 16.9%. He played 15 years with seven teams and had 282 saves, a 106-106 record, 2.81 ERA, 1692.2 innings, 1590 strikeouts, 134 ERA+, and 37.0 WAR. He split between relief and starting and had a nice run, but wasn’t considered elite generally. Pang was thrice a Reliever of the Year finalist, but never won that top honor.



Si-Hun Lee – Third Base – Yongin Gold Sox – 89.7% First Ballot

Si-Hun Lee was a 6’2’’, 200 pound switch-hitting third baseman Ansan, South Korea, a city of nearly 650,000 within the Seoul National Capital Area. Lee was a tremendous contact hitter that won six batting titles in his career. He was also great at avoiding strikeouts and regularly put the ball into play. He wasn’t one to draw many walks, but got enough hits to still lead the league thrice in on-base percentage.

Lee was stellar at finding the gap and even with subpar speed and lackluster baserunning, still posted 41 doubles and 9 triples per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to hit many home runs with a career-best of 15, but did top double-digits eight times. Despite lacking big power, Lee did have a strong arm, leading to a posting at third base.

Defensively, Lee graded out as reliably good to occasionally great at the hot corner. He had great durability at a demanding spot, playing 139+ games in all but his final two seasons. Lee was likeable in the clubhouse and was a popular figure on some impressive championship teams.

Lee attended Seoul’s Sungkyunkwan University and showed his stellar contact hitting at the college level. Yongin would pick him second overall in the 1991 EAB Draft and immediately make him a starter. Lee hit .306 as a rookie, but took the Korean baseball world by storm with a record-setting sophomore campaign.

Lee became EAB’s first-ever .400 hitter in 1993 with a .411 batting average. At the time, this was the second-best in all of world baseball history, only beaten by Jagger Sweebe Jr.’s .415 in the 1986 CABA season. A .400 mark would be breached twice more in EAB, but Lee still holds the #1 season as of 2037. His 252 hits also broke the prior EAB single-season record. That only held for four seasons, but still ranks third best as of 2037.

The 1993 season also had a league best 45 doubles and .438 OBP. The OBP was a career best for Lee, as was his 112 runs, .597 slugging, 1.035 OPS, 180 wRC+, and 9.9 WAR. He won his first Silver Slugger, but only took third in MVP voting. The Gold Sox just missed the playoffs, but soon would have a dynasty run.

Lee was the WARlord in 1994 and again led in hits, doubles, average, and OBP. His average and hits tallies were at the time the second-best EAB single seasons only behind his prior seasons’ effort. Lee was a Slugger winner again and this time second in MVP voting. The lack of home run power meant Lee never ultimately won the top award. 1994 would also saw a 37-game hit streak, which ranks fifth-longest in EAB history. Lee had a 32-game streak in 1993 and 31-game stretch in 1996.

More importantly for Lee, Yongin ended a six-year playoff drought in 1994 and won the Korea League title. They fell to Kitakyushu in the EAB Championship, which capped off a three-peat for the Kodiaks. Lee had a strong playoff run, winning KLCS MVP with 22 hits, 9 runs, 9 extra base hits, and 17 RBI over 15 playoff starts.

After the 1994 campaign, the Gold Sox gave Lee an eight-year, $14,800,000 extension. Lee won a third straight batting average title in 1995 and again was KLCS MVP, posting 23 hits, 8 runs, 10 extra base hits, and 14 RBI in 13 playoff starts. Yongin repeated as KL champs and this time won the EAB Championship over Tokyo. He surprisingly opted out of his deal after the 1996 season, but renegotiated for more cash on a new eight-year, $22,200,000 deal.

Lee was second in MVP voting in 1996 and won his fourth straight batting title and Silver Slugger. He also led in OBP for the third time and WAR for the second time. This was one of four seasons with 9+ WAR and one of nine worth 5+. Yongin would suffer a first-round playoff exit, but bounced back to win it all in 1997 over Sapporo. Lee’s stats dipped slightly that season, but he again played a huge role in the playoffs.

In 1998 and 1999, Lee again was the league leader in batting average and hits. He also led in doubles in both 1998 and 2000. Lee’s fifth and final Silver Slugger came in 1999 along with a second place in MVP voting with a 9.0 WAR season. Yongin surprisingly missed the playoffs in 1998, but made three more berths from 1999-2001.

Again a savvy businessman, Lee opted out of his contract after the 1999 season in order to get a new, richer deal. This time, he signed eight years at $38,220,000. After going one-and-done in 1999 and 2000, the Gold Sox won their fourth pennant in eight years in 2001. Kawasaki bested them in the EAB Championship, but Lee again was MVP of the KLCS.

In the playoffs for Yongin, Lee had 71 starts, 104 hits, 39 runs, 21 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 56 RBI, a .355/.375/.587 slash, 157 wRC+, and 3.6 WAR. He did also play in this era for South Korea in the World Baseball Championship, but was unremarkable there. In 58 games from 1996-2001, Lee had 53 hits, 26 runs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homers, 16 RBI, a .257/.314/.359 slash, 89 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR.

Lee had posted a career worst 2.5 WAR season in 2001, but bounced back with a 5.5 WAR effort in 2002. Yongin had an off year at 73-89 and Lee again opted out of his deal, hoping to get another big bump. His value had dropped and the Gold Sox no longer felt he was worthy of a raise. They let Lee walk heading into his age 33 season.

For the Gold Sox, Lee had 2328 hits, 951 runs, 445 doubles, 98 triples, 117 home runs, 974 RBI, a .354/.386/.505 slash, 140 wRC+, and 73.1 WAR. He remained a popular figure and was remembered very fondly for his role in Yongin’s title runs. The Gold Sox eventually retired his #22 uniform.

Lee would make less money annually on his next deal, but still earned a very respectable $20,000,000 in five seasons for Seongnam. His playoff excellence again shined through, helping the Spiders win the 2003 EAB Championship. Lee earned finals MVP and in 16 playoff starts had 24 hits, 13 runs, 6 doubles, 10 RBI, and a .353 average. Seongnam would fall in the 2004 KLCS and in the first round in 2005.

Perhaps the most enduring part of Lee’s legacy was his playoff excellence. As of 2037, he’s the playoff career hits leader (133) and doubles leader (31). Lee also ranks eighth in runs (53) and third in RBI (69). He finished with 93 games, 10 triples, 10 home runs, a .352/.372/.566 slash, 152 wRC+, and 4.3 WAR. Those stats plus three LCS MVPs, one finals MVP, three EAB Championship rings, and five Korean League titles make Lee an all-time clutch big game hitter.

Some thought early on that he could be an all-time hits leader candidate. However, Lee’s gap power significantly declined in his third season with Seongnam. Even though he hit .300, his 108 wRC+ and 1.7 WAR led to a more limited role, starting only 107 games in 2005.

Lee stunk and was benched in 2006 with only 47 games and 9 starts, posting negative WAR and a .254 average. Lee would retire after the 2006 campaign at age 36. Still, for his relatively brief Seongnam tenure he had 507 hits, 206 runs, 102 doubles, 18 triples, 29 home runs, 202 RBI, a .325/.360/.469 slash, 123 wRC+, and 10.9 WAR.

The final stats had 2835 hits, 1157 runs, 547 doubles, 116 triples, 146 home runs, 1176 RBI, a .348/.381/.498 slash, 137 wRC+, and 84.0 WAR. Lee retired as the career batting average leader and as of 2037 still sits second among any hitter with 3000 plate appearances. As of 2037, he’s 38^th all-time in hits and 10^th in doubles. Yet, Lee’s only 93^rd in WAR among position players.

The advanced stats are less remarkable due to the lack of home run power. But Lee’s contact skills are arguably the best-ever in EAB history. That plus playoff excellence made him a fine headliner for the impressive four-player 2012 EAB Hall of Fame Class. Lee earned his first ballot induction with 89.7%



Hyeon-U Cho – Relief Pitcher – Suwon Snappers – 77.6% First Ballot

Hyeon-U Cho was a 6’5’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Seongnam, South Korea. Cho had excellent stuff with solid movement, although his control often subpar. His cutter was dominant and regularly hit 97-99 mph. Cho mixed it with a curveball for a tough one-two punch. His stamina was solid and he had excellent durability, which led to a brief run as a starter despite two-pitch guys usually ending up in the bullpen. Cho was also known for a tireless work ethic.

Cho was spotted as a teenage amateur and signed by Suwon in September 1987. He spent most of seven years in their developmental system, officially debuting with five relief appearances in the regular season of1994 at age 23. Cho did see three playoff relief appearances as the Snappers fell in the first round. Cho was a mid-relief guy with mixed results in 1995

1996 was his first year in the closer role with 34 saves and a 2.18 ERA. He got lit up in the playoffs, allowing six runs in 4.2 innings. Suwon would have five straight berths from 1996-2000, but suffered four early exits and a 1997 Korea League Championship Series defeat.

The Snappers split Cho between the starting rotation and relief in 1997 with good results, although he was again iffy in the playoffs. Cho was a full-time starter in 1998 and 1999 and posted 4.5 and 6.8 WAR. Suwon opted to move him back to the bullpen in 2000, where he remained for the remainder of his career.

Cho was third in 2000’s Reliever of the Year voting, leading the KL in saves and games pitched. He earned the award in 2001 with 39 saves and a 2.01 ERA over 89.1 innings. This marked the end of his Snappers tenure with a 73-61 record, 144 saves, 2.92 ERA, 988.1 innings, 1155 strikeouts, 221 walks, 130 ERA+, and 28.1 WAR. That was enough to also later get his #28 uniform retired by Suwon.

Around that time, he also pitched for South Korea from 2000-2003 in the World Baseball Championship. He had three starts and 15 relief appearances with a 4-1 record, 9 saves, 39.2 innings, 57 strikeouts, and 153 ERA+.

For 2002, a 31-year old Cho signed a two-year, $4,960,000 deal with Daegu. He had an impressive debut, leading in saves (45) and games (78) while posting a 1.49 ERA over 90.1 innings and 132 strikeouts. Cho won his second Reliever of the Year and even placed third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Cho finally had a good postseason, allowing one run in nine innings. The Diamondbacks ultimately lost in the KLCS to Incheon.

Cho repeated and won his third Reliever of the Year in 2003, leading in saves (41) for the third time. This also saw a career best 1.31 ERA and 289 ERA+ with 5.1 WAR. Cho was rocked in his one playoff appearance as Daegu went one-and-done. In two seasons for the Diamondbacks, he had a 1.40 ERA, 86 saves, 179.2 innings, 269 strikeouts, 277 ERA+, and 9.5 WAR.

Now age 33, Cho signed a two-year, $5,440,000 deal with Nagoya. He looked merely okay in his few months with the Nightowls, who traded him in July to his hometown Seongnam. He maintained the closer role and had looked decent for the defending EAB champs. The Spiders lost in the KLCS to Seoul, although Cho was alright in the playoffs.

Cho led in saves for the fourth time in 2005 and Seongnam won the North Division, but he got hammered in two relief appearances. His career playoff stats weren’t anything special, although it was the small sample size that comes with relief. He had a 5-7 record and 4 saves over 4 starts and 18 relief appearances, a 3.72 ERA, 55.2 innings, 71 strikeouts, 13 walks, 103 ERA+, and 0.9 WAR.

In total with Seongnam over a year-and-a-half, Cho had 2.39 ERA, 49 saves, and 5.4 WAR over 124.1 innings with 183 strikeouts. Gwangju gave him a two-year, $6,960,000 deal for 2006. However, Cho only had 18.1 innings with a 6.87 ERA in 2006. He retired that winter at age 36.

For his career, Cho had 294 saves and 308 shutdowns, a 98-94 record, 2.74 ERA, 1358.1 innings, 1693 strikeouts, 303 walks, 139 ERA+, and 43.3 WAR. His accumulations are a bit higher than many other relievers in the EAB Hall of Fame, but he did get the bump from starting for a few years. As of 2037, he only ranks 41^st in saves.

Cho did have the benefit of three Reliever of the Year wins and leading in saves four times, which appeased many traditionalist voters. Advanced stats showed that Cho was far less dominant than many of the others that got in. Some scholars point at him as one of the weaker first-ballot inductees into EAB’s HOF. Regardless, he got 77.6% and secured his spot with the second-most votes in the four-player 2012 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 EAB Hall of Fame (Part 2)

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Shigefumi “Pizza” Tsukehara – Third Base – Hiroshima Hammerheads – 73.5% Fifth Ballot

Shigefumi Tsukehara was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Yokohama, Japan. Nicknamed “pizza” for his love of a splendid pie, Tsukehara was the prototype of the traditional leadoff hitter. He was an excellent contact hitter who put the ball in play at a very high rate. Tsukehara very rarely drew walks, but also was a master at avoiding strikeouts. He had excellent speed and was a good baserunner.

Tsukehara’s gap power was great and he often turned singles into doubles and doubles into triples. He led the Japan league in triples seven times and was good for 20-30 doubles and 20-30 triples most years. Tsukehara had no home run power though, only hitting 18 for his entire career. Despite the lack of power, he had a respectable arm, placing him at third base for most of his career.

Defensively, Tsukehara graded as below average to mediocre at third base. He had some starts early in his career in left field and was terrible there. Tsukehara also saw some use at shortstop, but was abysmal there. Despite his defensive deficiencies, Tsukehara’s ability to get hits and his reliable durability made him a valuable piece.

Tsukehara was a top prospect coming out of Yokohama Shogyo High School and his childhood dream came true in the 1983 EAB Draft. He was picked by his hometown Yellow Jackets 14^th overall. Tsukehara became a very rare player to debut at age 18 with five pinch-hit at-bats in 1984. His time with Yokohama would be brief with 129 games and 13 starts from 1984-86. Tsukehara wasn’t ready yet, posting -0.8 WAR in that stretch. He did play six playoff games in 1986 as the Yellow Jackets won the Japan League title.

Yokohama gave up on their hometown boy, trading him to Niigata in February 1987 with RF Motoaki Sakai for veteran LF Hiroomi Inoue. Tsukehara was still a backup primarily in his first three seasons with the Green Dragons, but had some sporadic starts with respectable results. In his seventh year in the bigs at age 24, Tsukehara finally earned a starting job in 1990.

Niigata won back-to-back JL titles in 1990 and 1991. Tsukehara was the left fielder those years and was a decent starter. The Green Dragons lost the 1990 EAB Championship to Seongnam, but won it all in 1991 over Goyang. Tsukehara stepped up in 1991, winning JLCS MVP. In 14 playoff games, he had 22 hits, 9 runs, and 10 stolen bases.

Tsukehara’s Niigata run ended with that title, finishing with 513 hits, 209 runs, 80 doubles, 59 triples, a .320/.344/.450 slash, 136 wRC+, and 8.2 WAR. He became a free agent at age 26 and other teams weren’t sure what to make of him. Tokyo ended up picking Tsukehara up on a one-year, $1,340,000 deal for 1992.

In his one year with the Tides, Tsukehara helped them snap a 14-year playoff drought, falling to Kitakyushu in the JLCS. He led the league in triples for the first time and posted 4.9 WAR. A free agent again, Tsukehara this time signed a five-year, $6,900,000 deal with Hiroshima. That would be his most noted run and cemented Tsukehara over at third base.

All four of his Silver Sluggers (1993, 94, 96, 97) came with the Hammerheads. Tsukehara posted 5+ WAR in all five seasons for Hiroshima and led the league in batting average and hits in 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. Tsukehara also led in triples four times and stolen bases twice during his Hammerheads tenure. 1994 had a career-best .376 batting average.

Hiroshima earned the top seed in 1995, but suffered a stunning round one loss to Tokyo. The Hammerheads were the top seed again in 1996, this time winning the Japan League title over Sapporo with Tsukehara winning JLCS MVP. Hiroshima lost the EAB Championship against Ulsan. Tsukehara had 23 hits, 5 triples, and a .460 batting average in the playoff run. For his full playoff career, Tsukehara had 62 games and 49 starts, 71 hits, 31 runs, 8 doubles, 9 triples, 25 stolen bases, a .351/.377/.525 slash, 177 wRC+, and 2.5 WAR.

In total with Hiroshima, Tsukehara had 1063 hits, 390 runs, 137 doubles, 146 triples, 310 RBI, 378 stolen bases, a .358/.379/.512 slash, 170 wRC+, and 30.2 WAR. His deal expired after the 1997 season, making Tsukehara a free agent now at age 32. He signed a five-year, $13,800,000 deal with Sendai.

The Samurai were a non-factor during Tsukehara’s tenure. Tsukehara led in triples twice, but couldn’t match his peak Hiroshima production. Still, Tsukehara had 779 hits, 320 runs, 90 doubles, 75 triples, 273 stolen bases, a .320/.340/.424 slash, 128 wRC+, and 13.5 WAR over his Sendai tenure. Sendai would move Tsukehara to a bench role in his final season with only 62 games and 31 starts. He was unsigned in 2003, retiring that winter at age 38.

Tsukehara finished with 2582 hits, 1003 runs, 336 doubles, 308 triples, 18 home runs, 655 RBI, 251 walks, a 7.0% strikeout rate, 896 stolen bases, a .334/.355/.464 slash, 146 wRC+, and 56.1 WAR. As of 2037, Tsukehara’s batting average ranks 19^th among all players with 3000+ plate appearances. He also ranks 18^th in triples.

However, advanced stats aren’t as kind with his lack of home run power and poor defense. His WAR ranks among the worst of any EAB Hall of Famer. It was tough for leadoff guys to get attention generally, but Tsukehara’s resume seemed borderline either way. Working in his favor was four batting titles, which resonated with traditionalists. Tsukehara also had some notable playoff runs, playing in four EAB Championships.

Tsukehara debuted in 2008 with 59.2% and dropped to 52.4% in 2009. He missed the 66% cut narrowly in 2010 at 64.3%, then dropped back to 58.9%. It was surprisingly with a loaded 2012 group that Tsukehara earned a big boost up to 73.5%. This got him a fifth ballot induction as the third member of the 2012 class. Some scholars argue Tsukehara is one of the weakest EAB inductees, but he’s in regardless.



Toyoji Kawara – Starting Pitcher – Hiroshima Hammerheads – 72.8% First Ballot

Toyoji Kawara was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Kawachinagano, a city of just over 100,000 inhabitants in Japan’s Osaka Prefecture. Kawara was a hard thrower with strong stuff along with above average to good movement and control. His 98-100 mph fastball was excellent, but he could also beat you with a good curveball and forkball, or with a decent slider and changeup.

Kawara liked to go deep and had strong stamina, although injuries would limit his innings at time. He led the Japan League in shutouts four times. Kawara was a great defensive pitcher, winning a Gold Glove in 1994. His excellent fastball made him a top prospect coming out of Rikkio University. Kawara was picked ninth overall by Hiroshima in the 1991 EAB Draft.

The Hammerheads used him as a reliever in his rookie season with subpar results. Kawara was a full-time starter from 1993 onward and emerged as an ace by his third season, which saw his lone Gold Glove. He wasn’t a league leader, but Kawara did top 5+ WAR in four seasons.

Hiroshima ended a five-year playoff drought in 1995 with the top seed at 103-59. Elbow inflammation kept Kawara out of the playoffs and the Hammerheads suffered a round one upset defeat. His lone time as a Pitcher of the Year finalist was a second place in 1996. That year saw 7.7 WAR, six shutouts, and career bests in wins (20-6), ERA (2.27), and strikeouts (293).

Hiroshima would take the top seed again in 1996 and this time win the Japan League title, losing to Ulsan in the EAB Championship. Kawara had an excellent playoff run with a 1.95 ERA and 3-0 record over 32.1 innings with 46 strikeouts, 170 ERA+, and 1.3 WAR. At the time, 46 Ks was the fifth-most in EAB history over a single playoff run. The Hammerheads remained solid, but missed the playoffs back-to-back seasons after that.

Although not an awards finalist, Kawara’s best year by WAR was 1997 with 8.6. He also led the league with 14 complete games and 6 shutouts. Kawara helped Hiroshima back to the playoffs in 1999, but allowed four runs in eight innings in his lone playoff start in a series defeat to Kawasaki. That marked the end of the Hammerheads tenure, as Kawara left for free agency at age 29.

With Hiroshima, Kawara had a 113-63 record, 2.79 ERA, 1758.2 innings, 1961 strikeouts, 306 walks, 144/211 quality starts, 66 complete games, 24 shutouts, 118 ERA+, and 39.7 WAR. He was arguably the top pitcher on the market for 2000 and signed a six-year, $23,040,000 deal with Kobe. The tenure started with catastrophe with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in only his sixth appearance for the Blaze.

Kawara missed the rest of 2000 and never reached his peak levels again. The injury especially damaged the control of his arsenal. Kawara would post a solid 2004, but was otherwise above average at best with Kobe. 2004 was their lone playoff berth during his tenure with Kawara struggling in two playoff starts, allowing 8 runs in 11.1 innings.

With Kobe, Kawara had a 78-60 record, 3.11 ERA, 1243.1 innings, 1222 strikeouts, 322 wlaks, 108 ERA+, and 15.4 WAR. His deal expired after the 2005 season and the 35-year old Kawara found a new home with Nagoya. He was split between the rotation and bullpen with unremarkable results, posting 1.3 WAR over 123.1 innings. Kawara retired that winter at age 36.

Kawara finished with a 199-131 record, 2.95 ERA, 3125.1 innings, 3291 strikeouts, 666 walks, 256/387 quality starts, 103 complete games, 32 shutouts, 113 ERA+, and 56.5 WAR. It was a nice career, but certainly a borderline resume. As of 2037, Kawara doesn’t crack the top 100 in pitching WAR. He also lacked major awards or any big stats.

The biggest positive was his playoff run in 1996, helping Hiroshima to the JL pennant. Many scholars look back at Kawara as one of the weaker inductees, but the voters felt he had the goods, remembering that great fastball. Kawara received 72.8% on the first ballot, endingup as the fourth member of the 2012 EAB Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 BSA Hall of Fame (Part 1)

Three players were inducted into Beisbol Sudamerica’s Hall of Fame in 2012, each on their first ballot. Pitcher Aaron Casas (91.9%) and OF Jose Sanchez (89.6%) both made it with very little opposition. SP Pacheta Castaneda joined them, narrowly crossing the 66% requirement at 69.7%. Closer Raymond Angeles almost made it a four-player class, but missed by one point (65.0%) in his debut. The top returner was C Moises Avalos, the only other player above 50% with 57.2% on his fourth ballot.



The ballot had some cleaning with three guys dropped following ten failed tries. Highest ranked among them was pitcher Harvey Rizo, the 1995 Bolivar League Pitcher of the Year. In 13 seasons between Lima and La Paz, he had a 195-157 record, 3.25 ERA, 3315.1 innings, 3095 strikeouts, 469 walks, 111 ERA+, and 63.7 WAR.

Even the pitcher-friendly BSA voters thought Rizo was more a Hall of Good type who didn’t quite have the longevity for accumulations or the dominance to overlook that. Rizo debuted at 49.5% and hovered around the 30-50% range most of the time, but he ended at a low of 13.8%.

Pablo Baia also fell off, debuting at 49.8% but ending with a mere 8.4%. He pitched 11 years mostly with Belo Horizonte with a 146-111 record, 2.81 ERA, 2465.2 innings, 2631 strikeouts, 420 walks, 119 ERA+, 140 complete games, and 62.9 WAR. Baia helped the Hogs win the 1991 Copa Sudamerica, posting a stellar 1.00 ERA over 36 playoff innings in that run. That run led to Baia’s #49 getting retired by Belo Horizonte.

His rate stats were more in line with other Hall of Famers, but Baia’s career had an abrupt end at age 32 from a torn rotator cuff. If he could’ve stuck around a few more years to get accumulations, Baia likely would’ve made the cut.

Reliever Pascal Escareno also fell off, having pitched a decade with Recife, followed by five MLB seasons. He won two Cups and two Reliever of the Year awards with the Retrievers, posting a 1.66 ERA in 655.1 innings, 251 saves and 330 shutdowns, 952 strikeouts, 192 ERA+, and 27.5 WAR. Although they won two titles, his playoff 4.29 ERA was uninspiring.

Again, Escareno might have made the cut with a bit more longevity within BSA. He debuted at 47.4% in 2003, but pretty much only fell down. Escareno ended at 6.1% in 2012. He did at least earn ring of honor recognition with his #8 uniform retired by Recife.



Aaron Casas – Starting Pitcher – Asuncion Archers – 91.9% First Ballot

Aaron Casas was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Ciudad del Este, Paraguay; a city of 300,000 inhabitants on the southeastern border. Casas had excellent stuff, good to great movement, and average control. His fastball regularly hit the 97-99 mph range, although his curveball was his most devastating pitch. Casas also boasted a great cutter and a good splitter.

His stamina was low compared to most BSA aces, but he had good durability for much of his run. Casas was an excellent defensive pitcher, winning four Gold Gloves. He could hit better than most pitchers with a career .258/.285/.361 slash, winning Silver Sluggers in 1995 and 2000. Casas’ strong work ethic also pushed him to a successful career.

Casas was considered the best Paraguayan prospect in the 1992 BSA Draft and the capital Asuncion had the #1 overall pick. They selected Casas in hopes he could lead the downtrodden franchise to success. The Archers had only one playoff berth in 62 years of history to that point, averaging an abysmal 67.7 wins per season. Many Asuncion fans figured they just weren’t allowed to have nice things.

In his rookie year, Casas was split between the rotation and bullpen with decent results. He was a full-time starter after that, although he was merely above average in his first few seasons. Asuncion still hoped he’d live up to the billing, giving Casas a five-year, $12,040,000 extension in May 1997. He would post six straight 6+ WAR seasons from there.

1997 would be the breakout year for Casas with a 2.10 ERA and 6.0 WAR, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. This also marked the turnaround for Asuncion, earning their first playoff berth since their lone 1939 appearance. Even better, the Archers won the Southern Cone League title, although they lost Copa Sudamerica to Lima.

Casas’s lone Pitcher of the Year came in 1998, leading the league in wins (24-2) and ERA (1.86), both career bests. Asuncion won the Southern Cone League again and fell in a Copa Sudamerica rematch with Lima. Casas surprisingly struggled in the playoffs with an abysmal 8.31 ERA over 26 innings. He led the league with a career best 352 strikeouts in 1999 and had a career-best 8.2 WAR.

2000 started a four year streak of Gold Gloves for Casas. Asuncion made it back and won their third Southern Cone League pennant in four years, although Bogota denied them the Cup. Casas redeemed his prior poor postseason effort, tossing 36 innings with 49 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA. In 2001, he led in WHIP with a career best 0.81 and in wins at 23-7, taking second in POTY voting.

2001 was historic for Asuncion with a franchise-best 110-52. They won their fourth pennant in five years and finally won their first Copa Sudamerica, getting revenge against Lima. Casas had a huge postseason, going 5-0 in seven appearances with a 1.38 ERA over 39 innings, 46 strikeouts, and 1.6 WAR. That run forever justified the #1 overall pick usage for Casas a decade earlier.

Casas was one of Paraguay’s most well-known baseball figures. He also pitched from 1994-2004 in the World Baseball Championship with excellent results. He had a 1.98 ERA over 145.1 innings with 183 strikeouts, 50 walks, a 9-6 record, 181 ERA+, and 4.3 WAR.

2002 saw a third place finish in Pitcher of the Year voting for Casas. He was okay in his one playoff start, as Asuncion lost in the first round. The Archers would have first round exits in 2003 and 2004 as well. For his playoff career, Casas had a 10-4 record, 3.24 ERA, 136 innings, 168 strikeouts, 18 walks, 100 ERA+, and 4.1 WAR. The 2000 and 2001 excellence would forever mark his legacy.

Casas was a free agent for the first time heading into his age 32 season after the 2002 campaign. He ultimately stayed with Asuncion, signing a six-year, $29,280,000 deal. Casas had a good 2003, but missed the final month and the playoffs to a ruptured finger tendon. He was never the same after that with the injury tanking his control. Casas was mediocre in 2004 and 2005, eventually moved out of the rotation.

The magic seemed to be over as Asuncion collapsed in 2005 at 64-98. They had resurgence with five straight playoff berths after that. At 87-75, the Archers made a surprising run to their second Copa Sudamerica ring, beating Caracas in the final. Casas only had 51.1 innings in the regular season and one relief appearance in the playoffs, but he got to lift up the Cup for a second time. He retired with that at age 35 and immediately had his #27 uniform retired.

Casas finished with a 192-104 record, 2.78 ERA, 2851.2 innings, 3241 strikeouts, 603 walks, 270/372 quality starts, 51 complete games, 16 shutouts, 120 ERA+, and 59.5 WAR. Just based on raw stats, Casas’ numbers aren’t much different than the guys who fell off the ballot after ten failed tries. He didn’t crack the top 80 in WAR, wins, or strikeouts. Without the context, Casas seemed like a “Hall of Pretty Good” type.

With the context, he was the ace that helped turn a historically abysmal franchise into a contender with five pennants and two championship rings. Casas also had an ERA title and a Pitcher of the Year to go along with it. Even if the pure tallies were underwhelming, voters saw Casas as a headliner. He received 91.9% on the first ballot to leadoff BSA’s 2012 Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 BSA Hall of Fame (Part 2)

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Jose Sanchez – Right/Left Field – Bogota Bats – 89.6% First Ballot

Jose Sanchez was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed outfielder from Cucuta, Colombia, a city of roughly 750,000 inhabitants on the northeastern border of Venezuela. Sanchez wasn’t incredible at anything as a batter, but he was above average to good across the board in terms of contact, power, and eye. Across his 162 game average, Sanchez had 28 home runs, 25 doubles, and 12 triples per season.

Sanchez’s greatest offensive strength came as a baserunner. He was lightning quick with stellar instincts, emerging as one of the most efficient thieves in BSA history. Sanchez was one of the best at legging out extra bases and often won when challenging the arms of opposing outfielders.

Defensively, Sanchez had about 2/3s of his starts in right field with around ¼ in left and a couple starts in center. He graded out as reliably solid in the corners, but he struggled in his limited try in center. With a scrappy, sparkplug work ethic, Sanchez emerged as one of Colombia’s most popular stars of the era. Sanchez also had excellent durability in his career, playing 144+ games each year from 1992-2005.

In the 1989 BSA Draft, Sanchez was picked 18^th overall by Bogota. He played his entire pro career in the Colombian capital and was a full-time starter for 14 years. Sanchez only had 54 games and 11 starts in his rookie year. He played 123 games in his second year in a part-time role with 72 starts, helping the Bats to a wild card. This won him the full-time job for the next decade-plus, helping Bogota turn into a regular contender.

Sanchez had nine seasons worth 6+ WAR, but otherwise wasn’t generally a league leader. Bogota had three straight playoff berths from 1991-93, but suffered first round exits each year, including in an 112-win 1992. The Bats missed the 1994 playoffs, but then rattled off a seven-year playoff streak.

1995 was a banner year that saw Sanchez’s first Silver Slugger. It was the only time he led in hits (201) and runs scored (110). Bogota earned a wild card, but earned the Bolivar League title. Sanchez was Copa Sudamerica MVP despite the Bats losing a seven-game battle with 115-win Recife. In the playoff run, Sanchez had 18 hits, 10 runs, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, and 5 stolen bases over 15 starts.

Bogota rewarded Sanchez with a five-year, $12,600,000 extension that winter. 1996 saw numerous career bests for Sanchez including in WAR (9.8), wRC+ (180), OPS (.980), home runs (33), doubles (37), hits (210), and RBI (121). He won his second Slugger and took second in MVP voting. The Bats won 101 games, but suffered a first round defeat.

Sanchez was third in 1997 MVP voting, his final time as a finalist. Bogota lost to Lima in the BLCS that year. They kept the streak alive, but had first round exits in 1998 and 1999. Sanchez kept chugging along for the Bats and for Colombia in the World Baseball Championship. From 1992-2005, Sanchez had 140 WBC games with 121 hits, 73 runs, 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 52 RBI, 61 stolen bases, a .252/.318/.444 slash, 121 wRC+, and 4.6 WAR.

2000 saw Bogota finally win Copa Sudamerica for the first time in franchise history, topping Asuncion in the final. In the playoffs, Sanchez had 18 hits, 13 runs, 8 extra base hits, and 10 RBI over 15 starts. His contract was up after this and he tested free agency as a 33-year old. After only two weeks of searching, Sanchez went back to Bogota with a five-year, $19,600,000 deal.

Sanchez won his third Silver Slugger in 2002 and posted a career high and league-best 94 stolen bases in 2003. Bogota suffered a BLCS loss to Lima in 2001, then missed the 2002 playoffs by a game. The Bats had the top seed at 112-50 in 2003, but suffered an upset BLCS loss to Caracas. In 2004, Bogota earned its second Copa Sudamerica win, besting Salvador in the final.

Again, Sanchez had a solid postseason run with 17 hits, 11 runs, and 9 stolen bases. The Bats gave him a two-year, $7,600,000 extension after the 2004 campaign. 2005 would be the weakest of his career with a low 2.4 WAR. However, he stepped up again when it mattered with 19 hits, 11 runs, and a 1.064 OPS in the postseason. Bogota earned a Copa Sudamerica repeat, defeating Fortaleza in the final. This gave Sanchez his third Cup and fourth pennant with the Bats.

Age fully caught up by 2006 and Sanchez was relegated to a bench role, only playing 57 games with 12 starts. Bogota won another division title, but Sanchez didn’t see the field in the playoffs as they lost in the divisional series. He retired that winter at age 39 and saw his #34 uniform immediately retired by the Bats.

Sanchez finished with 2763 hits, 1492 runs, 373 doubles, 180 triples, 414 home runs, 1274 RBI, 1116 stolen bases, a .309/.349/.529 slash, 142 wRC+, and 90.1 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 57^th in WAR among position players, 13^th in stolen bases, 28^th in runs, and 40^th in hits. While not at the tip-top of leaderboards, Sanchez still ranked quite well.

For his playoff career, he had 125 hits in 114 games, 75 runs, 23 doubles, 7 triples, 23 home runs, 58 RBI, 43 stolen bases, a .272/.304/.503 slash, 119 wRC+, and 3.4 WAR. At retirement, he had the most playoff runs scored and second most hits and would only later be passed in both spots by Niccolo Coelho. Sanchez also ranks fourth in playoff steals as of 2037.

Sanchez played a major role in Bogota being a regular contender in the Bolivar League in the 1990s through the mid 2000s. He was one of the most reliable and hardworking guys in the league, well deserving of his first ballot induction. At 89.6%, Sanchez was the second member of BSA’s 2012 Hall of Fame class.




Pacheta Castaneda – Starting Pitcher – Lima Lobos – 69.7% First Ballot

Pacheta Castaneda was a 6’3’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from Piura in northwestern Peru; the country’s seventh most populous city with around 485,000 inhabitants. Castaneda had very good stuff and control along with average movement. His fastball only peaked around 91-93 mph, but Castaneda was a master of changing speeds. He had a great curveball, along with a slider and changeup.

Castaneda had tremendous stamina and loved going deep into games. He led the Bolivar League seven times in innings pitched. Castaneda also had excellent durability and avoided injuries. However, he was viewed as lazy and greedy at times, which didn’t make him many friends in the clubhouse.

Despite his lack of overpowering velocity, scouts noticed Castaneda’s potential as a teenager. He was picked 24^th overall by Lima in the 1988 BSA Draft and spent two full years on the reserve roster. Castaneda was a sporadic starter in 1991 and 1992 with limited success. It was also tough for a young player to crack Lima’s lineup, as they were in the midst of an impressive playoff streak.

From 1988-2001, Lima had 14 consecutive playoff appearances. Castaneda wasn’t used in the 1991 postseason, while saw a Bolivar League title and Copa Sudamerica loss to Belo Horizonte. He also didn’t see the field for their one-and-done in 1992. In 1993, the Lobos won the BL pennant again, falling in the finale to Sao Paulo. That season, Castaneda looked promising with 5.3 WAR and five shutouts over 245.1 innings. He had trouble in four playoff starts with a 4.30 ERA over 29.1 innings.

Castaneda was demoted back to a part-time role with only 19 starts between 1994 and 1995. He again didn’t see the playoffs with a BLCS loss in 1994 and first round exit in 1995. Now 27-years old, Castaneda finally broke through as an ace in 1996, leading in K/BB and shutouts. He took second in Pitcher of the Year voting, but got rocked in his one playoff start. Lima was the #1 seed at 111-51, but suffered an upset divisional round defeat to Medellin.

1997 saw a career-best 10.1 WAR and 356 strikeouts for Castaneda, who also led in innings pitched for the first time. He finished third in Pitcher of the Year voting and tossed 31 playoff innings with 40 strikeouts and a 3.48 ERA. Lima finally won it all for the first-time in their 10-year playoff streak, beating Asuncion in Copa Sudamerica. That offseason, Castaneda signed a five-year, $12,400,000 extension with the Lobos.

Castaneda’s lone Pitcher of the Year came in 1998, leading the league in WAR, strikeouts, WHIP, innings, quality starts, and complete games. His postseason was rough with a 4.95 ERA over 36.1 innings, but Lima earned repeat titles and won a Copa Sudamerica rematch with the Archers. The Lobos would suffer first round exits in 1999 and 2000. Castaneda would take second in 2000’s POTY voting, leading in wins at 23-9 and posting 9.1 WAR. That was his final time as a POTY finalist.

2001 was the last stand of the Lima run, winning their sixth Bolivar League pennant of the 14-year playoff run. They met Asuncion again in the final, but this time the 110-win Archers took the title. Castaneda had a 3.21 ERA over 33.2 innings in this run. The Lobos gave him another four years and $16,800,000 in the winter.

For his playoff career though, he had below average numbers with a 7-9 record in 22 starts, 3.94 ERA, 166.2 innings, 159 strikeouts, 93 ERA+, and 3.5 WAR. Still, his #6 uniform would later get retired by Lima for his role in their playoff streak and titles.

Castaneda continued to eat innings, leading the league again in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He led in strikeouts in 2003, but his ERA began to slip. By 2004, Castaneda had a terrible 4.97 ERA. Lima missed the playoffs in 2002 and 2003, but got back in 2004. Castaneda was rocked in his one start and they lost in the first round.

Lima benched Castaneda for 2005, giving him only 64.1 innings over seven starts and seven relief appearances. He became a free agent for the first time for 2006 and Barquisimeto gave him a one-year deal. Castaneda’s already low velocity had plummeted to the 85-87 mph peak range by this point. He had a 6.26 ERA in 82 innings for the Black Cats and retired in the winter at age 38.

Castaneda finished with a 197-147 record, 3.50 ERA, 3303.1 innings, 3203 strikeouts, 483 walks, 237/398 quality starts, 171 complete games, 109 ERA+, and 72.2 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 71th in WAR among pitchers. He would also have the second worst ERA of any BSA inductee behind only Orlando Salas’ 3.59. Castaneda’s weak playoff stats also was a knock along with his relatively low accumulations.

Still, Castaneda had a few year peak as a top three pitcher and was the ace during a decade of dominance for Lima. Even if the playoff stats weren’t great, spending almost your entire team with one team and finding team success goes a long way for many voters. Castaneda only narrowly breached the 66% requirement, but crossed it at 69.7% for a first ballot induction. He rounded out the three-player 2012 BSA Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 EBF Hall of Fame (Part 1)

The European Baseball Federation had a mammoth five-player Hall of Fame class in 2012. It tied the largest-ever class for EBF, as 2000 also saw five inductees. The top four in the 2012 group were first ballot picks with limited opposition. CF Remy Morel got 95.6%, 3B Giordano Dupuis had 94.9%, OF Gabriel Cadete received 88.5%, and P/C Tommaso Notti snagged 77.6%.

The fifth member was pitcher Vincent Cassar, who finally breached the 66% requirement with 66.4% on his ninth try. He was a surprise, especially considering the loaded group. Cassar had only been above 50% once and had fallen to a mere 24.9% in his eight ballot. SP Spyridon Sidiropoulou very nearly made it a six-player, but he barely missed with 64.4% in his debut.



Two other returners were above 50%, but short of 60%. RF Mitchel Dekker had 59.7% on his second ballot and SP Reggie Hobart was at 54.9% on his penultimate try. Only one other player cracked 1/3 with closer Rafael Dorflinger at a distant 34.6% second ballot.

Dropped after ten failed ballots was SS Aldo Krcelic, who had a 17-year run between Lisbon and Seville. He won one Silver Slugger and hlped the Clippers win the 1995 EBF title. Krcelic finished with 2143 hits, 1419 runs, 350 doubles, 169 triples, 238 home runs, 857 RBI, 926 walks, 904 stolen bases, a .259/.334/.428 slash, 115 wRC+, and 59.4 WAR. He was merely an okay defender and didn’t have impressive enough batting tallies to stand out. Krcelic peaked at 29.1% in his debut and ended at 15.6%.



Remy Morel – Center Field – Paris Poodles – 95.6% First Ballot

Remy Morel was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed center fielder from Clamart, France; a Paris suburb with around 55,000 people. Morel was an excellent contact hitter and was terrific at avoiding strikeouts, although he was merely okay at drawing walks. He was outstanding at finding the gap with 40 doubles and 17 triples per his 162 game average. Morel wasn’t a super slugger, but was still good for 15-20 home runs per season.

Morel had pretty good speed and was an above average baserunner. He was a career center fielder and a reliably good-to-great defender. Morel held up physically well much of his career despite the demands of the position, playing 150+ games each of his first 11 seasons. He was a team captain and a leader of men, becoming one of the most beloved French baseball superstars.

Growing up in the Paris metro, Morel was a Poodles fan growing up. He quickly rose through the amateur ranks and was considered the best French prospect by many entering the 1993 EBF Draft. His childhood dream came true as Paris picked him fourth overall. Morel signed a five-year, $8,650,000 deal as a rookie and ultimately played his entire career in the French capital.

Morel was a full-time starter immediately and a successful one with 5.0 WAR in 1994, taking second in Rookie of the Year voting. 1995 started a streak of ten consecutive 6+ WAR seasons. Morel led in hits and won his first Silver Slugger in 1995. This also helped Paris end a decade-long playoff drought, notching their first Northwest Division title since 1970. The Poodles ultimately lost in the first round of the playoffs, then missed the postseason in 1996. Morel’s highlight of 1996 was a 30 game-hit streak in the spring.

1997 was Morel’s finest, leading the Northern Conference and posting career highs in hits (251), doubles (57), batting average (.384), and OPB (.420). The 251 hits were the second-most ever in an EBF season only behind Franco Gilbert’s 254 in 1988 and the 57 doubles fell one short of Franco Pulvirenti’s 58 from 1963. Both marks are still second-best all-time as of 2037.

Morel also had career bests in slugging (.592), OPS (1.012), wRC+ (191), and WAR (9.7), winning his second Silver Slugger and taking second in MVP voting. Paris won the division and won the European Championship over Lisbon with Morel leading the way. In 17 playoff starts, he had 29 hits, 16 runs, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 13 RBI, 1.5 WAR, and a .392/.416/.662 slash.

That run forever made Morel a Parisian hero, although he actually had negative WAR over the rest of his playoff career. He finished with 62 starts, 79 hits, 38 runs, 17 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, 22 RBI, 21 stolen bases, a .303/.324/.441 slash, 117 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. When your first big playoff run is a great one, people will overlook later failures.

Morel did also have respectable stats in the World Baseball Championship, but nothing groundbreaking. He made 110 starts for France from 1995-2005 and had 130 hits, 49 runs, 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 45 RBI, 30 stolen bases, a .288/.325/.417 slash, 118 wRC+, and 2.0 WAR. Morel helped France to division titles in 2000 and 2005.

1998 saw another Silver Slugger for Morel, although Paris lost in the first round of the playoffs. 1999 would be his fourth Slugger and his lone MVP win, leading in hits (241) and posting 9.3 WAR. He was good with 20 hits and 8 runs in the postseason, but the Poodles lost the conference championship in an upset to Hamburg. In March 2000, Paris would extend Morel for seven years at $29,000,000, locking him up for the long haul.

Morel won his second batting title in 2000 and was third in MVP voting. Paris won a fourth straight division title, but suffered a first round defeat. The Poodles were stuck outside the playoffs in the mid-tier for the next three seasons. Morel still performed great, leading in hits, doubles, and batting average in both 2001 and 2002. He won Sluggers both seasons and was third in 2001’s MVP voting.

2003 and 2004 were still strong regular seasons for Morel. Paris got back to the conference final in 2004, but lost to eventual EBF champ Copenhagen. That was the last great year for Morel, who started 2005 with a sprained ankle. He struggled significantly and was quickly benched, batting .249 over 78 games and only 38 starts. Morel was moved to a part-time starting role in 2006, although he fared much better. In 118 games and 93 starts, he hit .333 with 3.5 WAR.

Paris made the conference finals again in 2006, but Morel struggled with a .167 batting average as they were ousted by Kyiv. The Poodles bought out the remainder of Morel’s contract, making him a free agent for the first time. He hoped to still play, but no one signed him and he retired in the winter of 2007 at age 37. Paris quickly brought him home to retire his #20 uniform in front of a packed house.

Morel finished with 2614 hits, 1180 runs, 469 doubles, 205 triples, 183 home runs, 1036 RBI, 586 stolen bases, a .351/.383/.543 slash, 162 wRC+, and 89.3 WAR. As of 2037, he has the sixth-best batting average among any player with 3000+ plate appearances. Morel also ranks 58^th in WAR among position players and third in WAR accrued in center field.

Plus, he played for his hometown team for 13 years, winning an MVP and a European Championship. It’s no surprise that Morel was a lock even with a loaded 2012 EBF Hall of Fame group. He received 95.6% as the headliner and as one of the top pure hitters in European baseball history.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 EBF Hall of Fame (Part 2)

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Giordano “Tangles’ Dupuis – Third Base – Paris Poodles – 94.9% First Ballot

Giordano Dupuis was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch-hitting third baseman from Saint-Cloud, France; a western Paris suburb with around 30,000 people. Dupuis was known for having a powerful bat, solid contact ability, and a good eye. He especially raked against right-handed pitching in EBF with a career .942 OPS and 162 wRC+. Dupuis wasn’t a scrub against lefties, but had a less dominant .757 OPS and 112 wRC+.

Dupuis topped 30+ home runs ten times and topped 40+ four times. He also got you 25-35 doubles and a couple triples each year. Dupuis also was a very smart and crafty baserunner that could grab a few extra bags despite having below average speed. Apart from some occasional back trouble, Dupuis also showed excellent durability, playing 135+ games in 15 different seasons.

He had a cannon arm, which led to every single inning of his career being at third base. Dupuis’ range and glove work was subpar though, leading to below average career stats defensively. He was still very playable there, especially with his bat. Dupuis would end up being a beloved French baseball icon after a 19-year pro career.

Like his Hall of Fame classmate Remy Morel, Dupuis grew up a Paris Poodles fans growing up near the French capital. After an excellent college career, his hometown squad picked him 9^th overall in the 1990 EBF Draft. Dupuis started 109 games his rookie year with subpar results, then looked solid over 115 starts in 1992. Dupuis earned the full-time gig in 1993 and became a fixture for the next decade.

By his fourth season, Dupuis found his home run stroke, smacking 40 dingers. He had hit only 32 total over his first three seasons. Dupuis also posted 8.9 WAR and a 1.014 OPS. It would be one of four seasons with an OPS above one and one of nine seasons worth 6+ WAR or more.

In 1995, Dupuis took third in MVP voting and led the Northern Conference in on-base percentage (.403) and wRC+ (199) while posting 9.1 WAR. Paris ended their playoff drought, but went one-and-done with Dupuis missing the postseason to a severe hip strain. Still, the Poodles felt he would be important to continued success, signing Dupuis that winter to an eight-year, $21,800,000 extension.

1995 was also his first season as a full-time starter for France in the World Baseball Championship. From 1993-2009, Dupuis played 108 games with 88 starts, posting 73 hits, 56 runs, 19 doubles, 30 home runs, 69 RBI, a .220/.322/.554 slash, 148 wRC+, and 3.7 WAR.

After a good 1996, Dupuis had his best year in 1997, leading the conference and posting career highs in WAR (11.5), wRC+ (204), OPS (1.072), slugging (.662), total bases (399), and RBI (155). He also had career bests in home runs (49), hits (209), runs (130), walks (61), stolen bases (25), and OBP (.411). Dupuis won his lone MVP and one of two Silver Sluggers. Sluggers were hard to come by sharing a position and conference with seven-time winner Robert Beck.

Dupuis’s excellence carried into the playoffs as Paris won the European Championship against Lisbon. He was named finals MVP, posting 20 hits, 13 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 16 RBI, and a .290/.338/.623 slash in 17 playoff starts. It was a dream come true for Dupuis to win it all for his hometown team.

The next few seasons were still very good for Dupuis, although he wasn’t a league leader save for his 142 RBI in 2003. His other Silver Slugger came in 1999. Paris made the playoffs again from 1998-2000 with their deepest run being a conference finals loss in 1999. The Poodles would miss the postseason from 2001-03. Still productive and a beloved veteran, a 35-year old Dupuis signed a three-year, $19,600,000 extension after the 2003 season.

A hamstring strain cost Dupuis about two months in 2004. He remained a strong starter for three more years, helping Paris get to the conference finals in both 2004 and 2006. They couldn’t make it back to the final with defeats by Copenhagen and Kyiv. For his playoff career with the Poodles, Dupuis had 58 starts, 64 hits, 39 runs, 10 doubles, 17 home runs, 43 RBI, a .278/.328/.570 slash, 155 wRC+, and 2.7 WAR.

Dupuis posted 6.0 WAR in his final season with Paris, showing he was still great heading into his age 39 season. The Poodles didn’t re-sign him and Dupuis began accepting worldwide bids. He ended up moving to the United States, getting a two-year, $17,400,000 with MLB’s Atlanta Aces.

Dupuis was a full-time starter both years, although he missed six weeks in 2008 to a fractured thumb. He still scored positive WAR, although his hitting stats fell below league average. Dupuis had a .229/.298/.394 slash, 89 wRC+, and 3.4 WAR with Atlanta. Denver signed him for 2009 for one season and $7,300,000 and he posted similar numbers with 1.4 WAR and 86 wRC+ in 149 games.

Dupuis went unsigned in 2010 and retired that winter at age 42. Upon returning home to France, Paris retired his #25 uniform. For his entire pro career, Dupuis had 2896 hits, 1648 runs, 507 doubles, 558 home runs, 1755 RBI, 900 walks, a .286/.347/.518 slash, 141 wRC+, and 103.6 WAR.

Just in EBF with Paris, Dupuis had 2576 hits, 1462 runs, 465 doubles, 76 triples, 495 home runs, 1575 RBI, 774 walks, 159 stolen bases, a .297/.357/.539 slash, 150 wRC+, and 98.8 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 34^th in WAR among position players. He didn’t rack up tons of awards, but Dupuis was a reliably good to great third baseman for 16 years in Paris.

Dupuis had an excellent career and it was fitting that he and Remy Morel went into the Hall of Fame together as local stars who helped Paris win it all. At 94.9%, Dupuis was a first ballot pick and the second of the five members of the 2012 EBF Hall of Fame class.



Gabriel “Weasel” Cadete – Center Field – Zurich Mountaineers – 88.5% First Ballot

Gabriel Cadete was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed center fielder from Amadora, Portugal; a city in the Lisbon metropolitan area with around 175,000 people. The nickname “weasel” came from how fast and sly Cadete was on the basepaths, as he was considered one of the top baserunners of his era. He certainly didn’t have a weasel personality, known for being a team captain and all around standup guy. There were few men more reputable in the game than Cadete.

He was an excellent contact hitter and filled the role of the traditional leadoff guy. Cadete was terrific at avoiding strikeouts and putting the ball in play, although he rarely drew walks. He had fantastic gap power and used his legs to regularly get doubles and triples. Cadete had 32 doubles and 26 triples per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to go deep often, but still got you 10-15 home runs most years.

Cadete made around 4/5s of his starts in center field. He was considered below average defensively, but far from a liability. Cadete also played in left a bit later in his career with average results and had sporadic starts in right. Knee and back trouble would plague Cadete at various points in his career, but he remained remarkably consistent when he was in the lineup.

In September 1987, a teenaged Cadete was spotted and signed to a developmental contract with Zurich, making the move from Portugal to Switzerland. Cadete’s whole European career would be spent near the Alps, officially debuting in 1991 with 17 games and 5 starts at age 20. He earned a full-time job in 1992 and made a splash right away, leading the Southern Conference with 38 triples and earning a Silver Slugger.

Back trouble cost Cadete part of 1993, but he stepped in the playoffs. 1993 was the 21^st consecutive division title for Zurich, but they hadn’t been able to get over the playoff hump. They had five conference titles in the prior 20 seasons, but lost each time in the European Championship. They hadn’t won the conference since 1984 and had suffered four consecutive first round exits.

Cadete helped finally get the Mountaineers that covered EBF title, besting Birmingham in the final. In 14 playoff starts, he had 23 hits, 12 runs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 8 RBI, and 9 stolen bases. Even though he arrived right at the end of the dynasty run, Cadete would hold a special place with Zurich fans for helping them finally win it all.

He lost almost half of 1994 to back troubles, although he still posted 6.4 WAR in 99 games. Zurich’s playoff streak came to an end at 84-78. They would make it back with division titles from 1995-97, but each of those years ended with a first round loss. In 1996, Cadete earned a batting title at .366 and led in hits (211) and triples (35). He won his second Silver Slugger and took third in MVP voting; his only time as a finalist.

Cadete signed an eight-year, $32,200,000 extension in April 1998 to stay put in Zurich. He would still return home to Portugal, playing 138 games with 132 starts in the World Baseball Championship from 1993-2009. In the WBC, Cadete had 149 hits, 74 runs, 26 doubles, 10 triples, 8 home runs, 49 RBI, 65 stolen bases, a .288/.338/.423 slash, 121 wRC+, and 4.8 WAR.

1998 was Cadete’s second batting title and his lone time leading in OBP. He also led in triples for the third time despite missing a month to injury. Cadete wouldn’t lead the conference again, but still put up consistently strong numbers. He won his third and final Silver Slugger in 1999.

Zurich made it to the conference final in 2000, but lost to Madrid. They also had wild cards in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006; but couldn’t make any ground in the playoffs. For his playoff career, Cadete had 39 starts, 10 48 hits, 23 runs, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 1 homer, 17 RBI, 21 stolen bases, a .293/.308/.433 slash, 99 wRC+, and 1.0 WAR. Most of his value was from the 1993 title run.

Cadete would have trouble staying healthy into his early 30s, but he still provided five 4+ WAR seasons in his 30s. His deal expired after the 2006 season heading into his age 36 season. Zurich ultimately let him walk, but they would bring him back to retire his #45 uniform only a few years later. This did mark the end of Cadete’s EBF career.

He would make a run at Major League Baseball, signing a three-year, $24,900,000 deal with Chicago. Cadete physically broke down though with a fractured ankle costing him most of 2007 and back spasms keeping him out much of 2008. He struggled in his limited use early in 2009 and was released by the Cubs in late May.

For his MLB tenure, Cadete had only 100 games and 86 starts, 102 hits, 39 runs, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, a .295/.331/.399 slash, 121 wRC+, and 2.1 WAR. He went unsigned for the rest of 2009 and retired that winter at age 38.

In EBF with Zurich, Cadete finished with 2754 hits, 1360 runs, 398 doubles, 340 triples, 159 home runs, 949 RBI, 972 stolen bases, a .344/.371/.538 slash, 153 wRC+, and 91.1 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 50^th in WAR among position players, as well as 12^th in batting average among players with 3000 plate appearances. Cadete also is 12^th in triples and 20^th in stolen bases.

Cadete is another guy who wasn’t a regular MVP candidate, but he was a reliably great starter for a long time. Staying with one team in EBF and helping them finally win it all put Cadete over the top for most voters. He received 88.5% on his first ballot, taking the third of five slots in the 2012 EBF Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 EBF Hall of Fame (Part 3)

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Tommaso “Yard Man” Notti – Pitcher/Catcher – Rome Red Wolves – 77.6% First Ballot

Tommaso Notti was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher and catcher from Trebisacce, Italy; a commune of 9,000 people in the southern Calabria region. Although Europe had seen its share of great two-way players, a pitcher/catcher combo was an incredibly unusual sight. The physical demands alone make that seem like an impossible combo, but Notti managed to make it work.

Notti was strongest as a pitcher, known for having very good stuff with excellent movement and control. He had a wicked 99-101 mph fastball and a stellar forkball, along with the occasional curveball and changeup. Notti had good stamina early in his career and his catching instincts made him a good defender.

The arm strength and speed didn’t directly translate to catching though, as Notti graded as a mediocre defensive catcher overall. He was a better batter than most though with solid contact ability, a good eye, and a great knack for avoiding strikeouts. Notti’s 162 game average had 25 doubles and 16 home runs. That power would be uninspiring in most spots, but was definitely better than most pitchers and superior to a lot of catchers. Notti was also a good leader and well known for his unique skill set.

His unique two-way exploits in the college ranks quickly drew attention amongst the Italian baseball community. Notti was very determined to be a two-way guy, although many scouts were skeptical that anyone would physically hold up. His pitching potential was considered so much stronger that many scouts hoped he’d just fully commit to that. In the 1988 EBF Draft, Notti would be picked 14^th overall by Rome.

Notti only saw limited relief pitching use in his first year. He had a few starts, but mostly relief in 1990. Forearm inflammation would knock him out in the final two months of the year. In 1991, Notti made his debut as a full-time starter on the mound and excelled, leading the Southern Conference with 8.5 WAR and earning his lone Pitcher of the Year award. He also made a couple starts catching with 0.8 WAR at the plate.

Rome earned its first playoff berth since 1968 as a wild card, but went one-and-done. Notti gave up five runs over 6.1 innings in what would be the only playoff start of his career. The Red Wolves did earn berths in 1994 and 2000, but Notti missed out both times to injuries. They ultimately oscillated between the bottom and middle of the standings during his time. Still, he provided some moments of excitement and hope.

Notti led in pitching WAR again in 1993. From 1991-96, he had 5.5+ WAR in the mound each year. Notti was second in 1994’s Pitcher of the Year voting. He also came into his own offensively during that same stretch, getting 3+ WAR each year offensively from 1992-96. Notti had 10+ WAR combined seasons in 1993, 1994, and 1996 and barely missed it in 1995 at 9.9. 1993 was his strongest season with a combined 12.4 WAR. He managed to stay mostly healthy during this stretch.

From 1992-2003, Notti also was a two-way player for Italy in the World Baseball Championship. He made 20 starts on the mound with 143 innings, a 9-7 record, 2.90 ERA, 174 strikeouts, 125 ERA+, and 3.6 WAR. Notti struggled at the plate in 39 games with a .157/.222/.231 slash, 26 wRC+, and -0.7 WAR.

Rome gave Notti a six-year, $19,000,000 extension in April 1995. The wheels would start to fall off though with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow suffered in late September 1996. Many worried this would end his pitching career, with Notti only throwing 9.2 innings in 1997. He would still play 49 starts that year as a catcher, but were merely middling numbers.

Notti returned to the rotation in 1998 and 1999 and looked good when healthy pitching. Elbow inflammation plagued him both years, along with a partial labrum tear in spring training 1999. Notti continued to play both ways when he could, although he was merely slightly above average offensively at this point.

In spring training 2000, Notti suffered a damaged elbow ligament, costing him the entire season. His future was in doubt at age 31, but Rome did give him a two-year, $7,160,000 extension that winter. The Red Wolves wanted to keep him and hoped he’d bounce back, but were leery of a longer commitment. Notti still had elbow inflammation, but had a mostly full 2001 campaign. His pitching stats were still quite solid, although his bat was subpar. Notti would see his season end in September with a bone spur in his elbow, which also kept him out of the following WBC.

2002 was a revival season for Notti, who led the conference in ERA (2.13), WHIP (0.81), K/BB (14.1), shutouts (5), FIP- (56) and pitching WAR (8.6). Notti finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting and also bounced back for a 2.6 WAR effort at the plate. Notti proved that when healthy, he could still be an elite player. This would ultimately be the end of his time in the Italian capital.

With his stock back at a high, Notti received big money offers internationally. The 34-year old went to Major League Baseball on a four-year, $32,500,000 deal with Los Angeles. His time in America would be cursed, starting with elbow inflammation in spring training 2003. Then in his fourth start on the mound, Notti tore his flexor tendon again, putting him out for 12 months.

He made it back in the summer of 2004, but suffered yet another flexor tendon tear in August after only 11 starts. Notti struggled in a 2005 comeback attempt with a 5.37 ERA over 58.2 innings, then was shut down again with elbow inflammation. He didn’t reach the vesting criteria for the fourth year of the deal with the Angels.

In three MLB seasons, Notti had a 10-9 record, 3.80 ERA, 154 innings, 88 strikeouts, 103 ERA+, and 2.4 WAR, while only playing six games offensively going 7-18. His deal went down as an all-time MLB bust. Notti tried an EBF comeback in 2006 with Glasgow, but a torn back muscle and more elbow inflammation kept him out basically the entire year. Notti finally resigned himself to retirement that winter at age 38.

Rome would honor him by retiring his #29 uniform. In EBF, Notti finished on the mound with a 155-72 record, 2.93 ERA, 2146 innings, 2224 strikeouts, 343 walks, 178/294 quality starts, 67 complete games, 132 ERA+, and 67.0 WAR. The rate stats on the mound alone made Notti worthy of consideration. The accumulations were on the lower end, but pretty impressive still for only really a decade of pitching.

At the plate, Notti had 1032 games and 817 starts, 893 hits, 385 runs, 161 doubles, 108 home runs, 433 RBI, a .298/.335/.473 slash, 124 wRC+, and 24.8 WAR. The combined 94.2 career WAR helped win over some skeptics, getting Notti a first ballot nod at 77.6%.

Notti goes down as one of the great “what-if?” players. Even with the injuries, he ranks 21^st in career WAR in world history among two-way guys. Some still think he could’ve been an all-timer on the mound if he committed there. Regardless, Notti was still unique and special enough to join EBF’s 2012 Hall of Fame class.



Vincent Cassar – Starting Pitcher – Munich Mavericks – 64.4% Ninth Ballot

Vincent Cassar was a 5’11’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher from Birkirkara, Malta; the second most populous city on the island with around 24,000 people. He would become Malta’s first-ever Hall of Fame inductee. Cassar was best known for his pinpoint control, which allowed him to succeed despite having merely average stuff and above average movement.

His fastball peaked in the 92-94 mph range, while his best pitch was his sinker. Cassar also had a curveball and changeup in the arsenal. His stamina was on the lower end compared to most EBF aces. However, a tireless work ethic helped Cassar exceed the expectations placed on a smaller guy without overpowering velocity.

It wasn’t always easy for Maltese prospects to get attention. The fact that the Malta Marvels franchise was a perennial loser didn’t help the island’s reputation for talent. Still, Cassar stood out to a visiting German scout as a teenager. He signed a developmental deal in December 1976 with Munich and would spend his entire pro career in Germany.

Cassar debuted in 1983 and spent his first four seasons largely in a part-time/back-end starter role with okay results. The Mavericks started an 11-year division title streak in 1983, although they would fall in the first round of the playoffs from 1983-87. By 1987, Cassar was a full-time starter. That year, Munich had the top seed at 114-48, but again did nothing in the playoffs.

1988 was finally the breakthrough year for the Mavericks, winning the European Championship against Amsterdam. Cassar had a respectable regular season and stepped up in the playoffs with a 2.40 ERA over 30 innings. This began a five-year streak of Southern Conference Championship appearances for Munich. In May 1989, Cassar signed a four-year, $5,200,000 extension.

Cassar still wasn’t quite viewed as elite yet, but more as a respectable starter. The Mavericks fell in the 1989 and 1990 conference finals, but took the pennant in 1991. They ultimately fell to Birmingham in the European Championship. It was an odd year for Cassar, who despite being healthy only made 27 appearances with 181 innings. In that limited role, he led the conference in ERA (2.34), WHIP (0.91), and K/BB (9.2).

In eight relief appearances in the playoffs, Cassar had a 2.92 ERA. For his playoff career, he had a 3.15 ERA over 105.2 innings, 6-3 record, 3 saves, 88 strikeouts, 13 walks, 123 ERA+, and 2.5 WAR. Munich fell in the 1992 conference final to Lisbon. They went one-and-done in both 1993 and 1995 before falling towards the middle of the standings for the rest of the decade.

1992 was Cassar’s strongest season by WAR with 6.3. That gave the now 32-year old a five-year, $7,400,000 extension in March 1993. However, he would like average in 1993 and downright mediocre in 1994, ultimately getting bumped from the rotation.

Cassar used his work ethic to battle back into the rotation with an impressive 1995 season. That year, he won the ERA title at 1.92 and led in WHIP at 0.92. At 17-5 with 5.7 WAR and a 202 ERA+, Cassar was named Pitcher of the Year. His great control made many optimistic that his game would age well for a few more seasons.

Unfortunately, a torn flexor tendon in 1996 ruined those plans. Cassar had only two starts that year, but did look decent in a comeback attempt in 1997 over 126.2 innings. His already low velocity dropped into the upper 80s as a peak and he was only used for two relief appearances in 1998. Cassar decided to retire that winter at age 38.

The final stats: 177-86 record, 3.17 ERA, 2549.2 innings, 2121 strikeouts, 363 walks, 226/322 quality starts, 78 complete games, 122 ERA+, 90 FIP-, and 45.5 WAR. The advanced stats aren’t kind to Cassar due to his low strikeout rate. By WAR, Cassar ranks as the worst of the EBF Hall of Fame starters. His accumulations are also fairly low since he wasn’t one to regularly deliver big innings.

Cassar debuted at 36.2% in 2004 and many figured he was a “Hall of Good” type guy. He bumped up to 48.5% in 2008, then plummeted to 23.6% in 2009. Cassar shockingly bounced back to 59.2% in 2010, but then fell off a cliff again to 24.9% in 2011. With a loaded group of debuts on the 2012 ballot, most weren’t expecting any big numbers from Cassar.

However, Cassar received a surprising big boost on his ninth ballot to 66.4%, just crossing the 66% requirement. Enough voters appreciated solid playoff numbers, two ERA titles, a POTY, and a career spent with just one team. Most scholars agree that Cassar is one of the weakest inductees, but he rounded out the five-player 2012 EBF Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 EPB Hall of Fame

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Two players were added into the Eurasian Professional Baseball Hall of Fame upon their ballot debut in 2012. Pitcher Procopie Lungu was a no-doubter at 97.0%, while fellow pitcher Artyom Tagilov received a very respectable 79.0%. The only other player above 50% was reliever Nijat Arzhanov with 57.2% on his third try. No players were dropped following ten failed allots in 2012.



Procopie Lungu – Starting Pitcher – Almaty Assassins – 97.0% First Ballot

Procopie Lungu was a 6’8’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from the capital of Moldova, Chisinau. He would become the second Moldovan Hall of Famer, joining class of 1971 Alexandru Spinu. Lungu had very good stuff, strong control, and above average movement. A 95-97 mph cut fastball was his hardest pitch, although his curveball and changeup were both equally potent.

Lungu’s stamina was considered around average in the EPB environment where you were expected to go deep regularly. He still gave you plenty of innings with strong durability over his 19 year career. Lungu was a hard worker, loyal, and adaptable; skills that served him well and made him a popular pitcher with fans and teammates alike.

A teenaged Lungu was spotted at a prospects camp in the Moldovan capital by a visiting scout from Kazakhstan. In October 1981, he inked a developmental deal to join Almaty. Lungu spent five full seasons in the system before debuting in 1987 at age 22. He struggled in 59.2 innings as a rookie, but the Assassins’ still moved him to the rotation full-time in 1988. Their patience paid off soon enough.

In 1989, Lungu tossed a no-hitter in September with six strikeouts and one walk against Novosibirsk. He was surprisingly reduced to a part-time role despite good numbers and being healthy in 1990. Lungu was back full-time in 1991 and took third in Pitcher of the Year voting, leading the Asian League in WHIP.

1992 saw a Pitcher of the Year win for Lungu with a league and career best 1.54 ERA, 25-5 record, and 0.71 WHIP. The WHIP mark remains a top ten all-time season as of 2037 in EPB. With 368 strikeouts, Lungu fell only nine short of a Triple Crown behind Igor Bury. This would be the first of six seasons worth 8+ WAR for Lungu. He’d top 7+ in nine different seasons.

Almaty would earn six straight playoff appearances from 1991-96, but lost in the first round each time. Lungu largely held up his end, posting a 2.37 ERA over 49.1 playoff innings for the Assassins with 58 strikeouts, 120 ERA+, and 1.8 WAR. Almaty gave Lungu a five-year, $8,120,000 extension in May 1994.

Lungu led in strikeouts for the first time with a career-best 394 in 1993. He led in WHIP again in 1994, taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Lungu was the WARlord at 9.9 in 1995, which secured a second place POTY finish. He was third again in 1996 with a career-best 10.3 WAR and a league-best 390 strikeouts. In 1997, Lungu tossed his second no-hitter, striking out 11 with no walks against Dushanbe on July 1.

After the 1998 season, Lungu declined his contract option and entered free agency at age 34. With Almaty, he finished with a 196-95 record, 2.25 ERA, 2911.2 innings, 3638 strikeouts, 478 walks, 128 ERA+, and 73.4 WAR. To the annoyance of many Assassins fans, Lungu stayed within the division on a four-year, $8,960,000 free agent deal with Bishkek.

The Black Sox became a contender in 2000, losing in that year’s ALCS to Tashkent. That would be their final EPB season, as Bishkek was among the Asian League teams that left for the Asian Baseball Federation. Lungu went along with them and made his ABF debut with an ERA title at 1.64. Lungu also led in WAR (8.9) to earn his second Pitcher of the Year, becoming one of a select few to win the top honor in two different leagues. He finished third in POTY in 2002.

Bishkek lost in the East League championship in 2001, then went one-and-done in 2002. Lungu’s playoff numbers were okay with a 3.38 ERA over 42.2 innings. In total over four years with the Black Sox, Lungu had a 75-42 record, 1.96 ERA, 1049.1 innings, 1338 strikeouts, 149 walks, 153 ERA+, and 30.8 WAR. He was a free agent again at age 38 and his game seemed to be aging well.

Lungu stayed in ABF and ended up in Iran on a two-year, $8,880,000 deal with Isfahan. He had two respectable years with the Imperials, although he missed some time in 2004 to injuries. With Isfahan, Lungu had a 24-20 record, 2.39 ERA, 451 innings, 493 strikeouts, 143 ERA+, and 10.8 WAR. He was a free agent again after the 2004 season at age 40 and decided to return to EPB.

His ABF tenure was the second half of the Bishkek run and his Isfahan seasons. In four seasons, Lungu had a 76-51 record, 2.12 ERA, 1246.1 innings, 1534 strikeouts, 186 walks, 151 ERA+, and 35.2 WAR. Lungu’s EPB return saw a two-year, $6,640,000 deal with Moscow. His return allowed him to become the 26^th EPB pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts.

Lungu looked good in the front half of 2005, but missed the back half to elbow inflammation. He was back just in time for the playoffs with the Mules losing the EPB Championship against Krasnoyarsk. Lungu had a lackluster 4.26 ERA over 12.2 playoff innings.

In 2006, Moscow experimented with Lungu as an opener. He started 26 games with 33 appearances total, but only threw 84 innings. This role didn’t work in the regular season very well, although he did toss 4.2 scoreless innings in the playoffs. The Mules won the EPB Championship over Yekaterinburg. After getting his first ring, Lungu decided to retire at age 42.

For his EPB career, Lungu had a 219-116 record, 2.24 ERA, 3392.2 innings, 4131 strikeouts, 549 walks, 318/432 quality starts, 127 complete games, 129 ERA+, and 82.9 WAR. As of 2037, Lungu ranks 54^th in pitching WAR, 37^th in wins, 28^th in strikeouts, and 41th in ERA among those with 1000+ innings. Bishkek leaving in the exodus did hurt his final accumulations in EPB.

Altogether, Lungu had a 295-167 record, 2.20 ERA, 4639 innings, 5665 strikeouts, 735 walks, 449/595 quality starts, 154 complete games, 41 shutouts, 134 ERA+, and 118.1 WAR. Any way you slice it, Lungu was one of the best pitchers in the world in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was an easy Hall of Famer, headlining EPB’s 2012 class at 97.0%.



Artyom Tagilov – Starting Pitcher – Ulaanbaatar Boars – 79.0% First Ballot

Artyom Tagilov was a 6’3’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Kalkaman, a village of 3,000 people in northeastern Kazakhstan. Tagilov was a fireballer with strong stuff and excellent movement, although his control was often lousy. His fastball regularly hit the 99-101 mph mark and his excellent cutter was often just as fast. Tagilov also had a curveball and changeup in his arsenal.

Tagilov’s stamina was quite solid and he had good enough durability. Even with his control issues, Tagilov still usually gave you a healthy amount of innings each year. He was a good defender and was effective at holding runners. Tagilov was a hard worker, but he wasn’t considered a cerebral pitcher.

Although he came from very humble origins, Tagilov emerged as an elite prospect in college in Kazakhstan. By the 1990 EPB Draft, he was viewed as the top prospect by many scouts. Ulaanbaatar had the #1 overall pick and brought Tagilov to Mongolia. He only had 37 innings in his rookie season, then became a full-time starter for the next decade with the Boars.

Control issues plagued Tagilov early, leading the Asian League in walks in both 1992 and 1993. While he never had good control, he would become more “effectively wild” as he gained experience. Ulaanbaatar was still a bottom rung team in Tagilov’s early years, as they wouldn’t post a winning season between 1989-1997.

Tagilov was on a strong run in 1997, but missed the final month to bone chips in his elbow. He bounced back excellently, winning Pitcher of the Year in 1998. Tagilov led in wins (23-7), complete games (28), and shutouts (9), while adding a 1.64 ERA over 279.1 innings, 281 strikeouts, and 6.8 WAR. Among the shutouts was a no-hitter on June 18 against Baku with 14 strikeouts and two walks.

Ulaanbaatar ended a 13-year playoff drought in 1998, earning the Asian League’s top seed at 101-61. The Boars made it to the ALCS, but lost to Tashkent. Tagilov held up his end with a 1.82 ERA over 29.2 playoff innings with 41 strikeouts. Now 30-years old, Tagilov signed a four-year, $10,000,000 extension in the winter with Ulaanbaatar.

Despite his lengthy stay in Mongolia, Tagilov would return home to Kazakhstan for the World Baseball Championship. From 1992-2005, Tagilov had 139 innings, a 3.76 ERA, 5-10 record, 6 saves, 168 strikeouts, 84 walks, 95 ERA+, and 1.6 WAR.

Unfortunately, Ulaanbaatar collapsed to 61-101 in 1999 and wouldn’t post a winning season again until 2008. Tagilov had three more solid seasons with the Boars and finished with a 149-127 record, 2.66 ERA, 2768.1 innings, 2727 strikeouts, 847 walks, 109 ERA+, and 51.3 WAR. Ulaanbaatar would eventually retire his #38 uniform as well.

With one year left on his deal, Tagilov was traded by Ulaanbaatar in November 2001 to Minsk for three prospects. The Miners had won back-to-back EPB titles and wanted to keep a dynasty run going. Tagilov had a banner year with a career and league best 1.59 ERA over 220.2 innings. He took second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Tagilov posted an unremarkable 4.22 ERA in 10.2 playoff innings, but earned a ring as Minsk won a third straight EPB Championship.

Tagilov was now a free agent for the first time at age 34. He signed a four-year, $6,640,000 deal with Volgograd, who joined EPB in 2000 as an expansion team. Tagilov had a nice debut season, leading the European League in complete games (24), shutouts (6), and innings (301.2). He also posted a career-high in strikeouts at 314.

2004 was solid as well for Tagilov, but he looked merely okay in the front end of 2005. In late June, bone chips in his elbow ended his season. Tagilov didn’t meet the vesting criteria for his fourth season with the Voyagers. In total for Volgograd, Tagilov had a 30-44 record, 2.57 ERA, 693 innings, 651 strikeouts, 149 walks, 104 ERA+, and 12.9 WAR.

Now 37-years old, Tagilov signed with Yekaterinburg on a one-year, $2,080,000 deal. Elbow troubles cost him part of the season, plus his velocity dropped to the low 90s. He only tossed 18 innings for the Yaks and retired that winter at age 38.

Tagilov finished with a 196-177 record, 2.58 ERA, 3700 innings, 3619 strikeouts, 1048 walks, 315/437 quality starts, 237 complete games, 53 shutouts, 111 ERA+, and 68.2 WAR. Advanced stats aren’t high on him, especially with the walks. Tagilov only ranks 90^th in pitching WAR as of 2037. He also sits 57^th in strikeouts, 17^th in complete games, and 11^th in shutouts.

His ERA doesn’t look out of place compared to some other Hall of Famers in EPB. EPB voters are pitcher-friendly and felt that Tagilov’s resume was plenty good. One ERA title and a Pitcher of the Year goes a long way. Tagilov got 79.0% for a first ballot induction with EPB’s 2012 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 OBA Hall of Fame

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Two first-ballot guys earned induction for the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2012. Pitcher Jim DeRossi (97.6%) and shortstop Woody Bolling (87.7%) earned their spots among the greats. SP Kurt Sanders came close in his eighth ballot at 62.3%, just missing the 66% requirement. Also above 50% were CF Mario Harris (56.5%, 4^th), CF Jonathan Buai (55.0%, 7^th), and RF Will Lee (53.5%, 5^th). No one was dropped after ten failed ballots.



Jim DeRossi – Starting Pitcher – Sydney Snakes – 97.6% First Ballot

Jim DeRossi was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Coffs Harbour, Australia; a city of 78,000 inhabitants in New South Wales. DeRossi had great control despite having very high velocity. His stuff and movement both graded as strong, led with a 99-101 mph cutter. DeRossi also had a quick slider and knew how to change speeds with his changeup.

DeRossi had tremendous stamina and was durable for most of his career, leading the Australasia League eight times in innings pitched and seven times in complete games. He also was considered a solid defensive pitcher that could effectively hold runners. DeRossi was very intelligent, allowing him to maximize his arsenal and pitch efficiently.

By the 1993 OBA Draft, DeRossi was considered by many to be the top Australian prospect. He was picked second overall by Sydney, who used him as a closer in his rookie season with 35 saves over 84 innings. DeRossi was a starter from year two onward, leading in innings and complete games for the first time in 1995. By his third season, he was the leading pitcher in WAR.

In 1997, DeRossi was the AL leader in WAR (10.2), K/BB (9.2), innings (328.2), complete games (20), and shutouts (7). He also posted a 2.38 ERA, 140 ERA+, and 366 strikeouts; earning Pitcher of the Year. Sydney also snapped a decade-plus streak of losing seasons, finishing second at 88-74. The Snakes had been a historically inept franchise at that point and there was hope that DeRossi could turn things around.

DeRossi signed a four-year, $7,940,000 extension after the 1997 season. Sydney would hover around .500 for the rest of his tenure plus or minus three or four games. DeRossi never got to play for an OBA title, but he did compete on the World Baseball Championship stage for Australia. From 1995-2006, DeRossi had a 3.10 ERA over 189 innings, 13-9 record, 232 strikeouts, 40 walks, 116 ERA+, and 4.8 WAR.

1999 was a career year and a historic one for DeRossi, posting league and career bests in wins (30-8), ERA (1.61), WHIP (0.78), K/BB (13.7), quality starts (31), complete games (26), and WAR (10.7). 30 wins tied the world record set by OBA’s Nathaniel Doloran in 1974 and the ERA mark ranks 13^th best in an OBA season as of 2037. DeRossi also had a career high 369 strikeouts, earning his second Pitcher of the Year and a third place in MVP voting.

DeRossi led in wins, innings, strikeouts, WHIP, quality starts, complete games and shutouts in 2000 for his third POTY. He led in Ks, innings, and complete games again in 2001, finishing third in voting. That summer, the 30-year old DeRossi signed a seven-year, $23,520,000 extension to keep him in Sydney for the long haul.

In 2002, DeRossi became a Triple Crown winner and four-time Pitcher of the Year with a 19-13 record, 2.62 ERA, and 351 strikeouts. He also led in WHIP for the third time and WAR for the fourth time, while again having the most complete games, innings, and shutouts. As of 2037, he is one of seven in OBA history to win Pitcher of the Year four or more times.

DeRossi finished third in 2003 POTY voting and led again in innings in2 004, although his ERA went up noticeably and his strikeouts dropped. His life would change in spring training 2005, suffering a torn rotator cuff on March 11. DeRossi missed the entire 2005 season, but was determined to make a comeback in 2006.

Sadly, his stuff took a noticeable drop after the injury, although he still had good enough control to be decent. Torn biceps cost him most of the front end of 2006. DeRossi decided to retire that winter at age 35 and Sydney immediately honored him by retiring his #4 uniform.

DeRossi ended with a 210-170 record, 2.84 ERA, 3487 innings, 3421 strikeouts, 526 walks, 290/420 quality starts, 193 complete games, 37 shutouts, 125 ERA+, and 81.0 WAR. The abrupt end to his career limited his spot on the accumulation leaderboards, but as of 2037 he’s still fifth all-time in complete games. He also ranks 21^st in pitching WAR, 28^th in strikeouts, and 25^th in wins.

Perhaps because he was with some mid Sydney teams, DeRossi’s name doesn’t come up as much as other OBA aces in the all-time conversations. But four POTYs and a Triple Crown make you an easy Hall of Fame lock. DeRossi was one of Australia’s finest-ever pitchers, headlining the 2012 class at 97.6%.



Woody Bolling – Shortstop – Gold Coast Kangaroos – 87.8% First Ballot

Woody Bolling was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed shortstop from Nerang, Australia; a suburb of Gold Coast with 17,000 people. Bolling was a very solid contact hitter with an above average eye for walks and avoiding strikeouts. His gap and home run power were unspectacular, but still decent. Over a 162 game average, Bolling got you 21 homers, 26 doubles, and 9 triples. He was sneaky good at stealing bases despite having merely average speed.

Bolling was a career shortstop and was an excellent defender. He only won a single Gold Glove since he shared a league with ten-time winner and legendary gloveman Jay Lawrence. However, Bolling was reliably great and ranks fourth in shortstop zone rating as of 2037 in OBA. Bolling dealt with some major injuries, but managed to play 21 years at a very demanding spot. He was very popular with fans and was known as a prankster in the clubhouse.

Growing up around Gold Coast, his potential quickly got noticed during his high school years. The Kangaroos signed him to a developmental deal in November 1984 and he’d ultimately play his entire OBA career with his hometown team. Bolling officially debuted in 1989 at age 20, but he only saw 22 games and 8 starts in 1989 and 1990. He did see two plate appearances in the 1989 OBA Championship, which was sadly his only time playing in the final.

He started 110 games in 1991, winning his first Silver Slugger despite missing some time. Bolling won six straight Silver Slugger from 1991-96, then won again in 1998 and 1999. He placed third in 1993 MVP voting and ended up topping 8+ WAR in six different seasons.

In September 1993, Bolling inked an eight-year, $10,520,000 extension with the Kangaroos. Gold Coast was rarely bad during his time as a starter, but they were stuck in the middle tier, averaging 81.2 wins per season. Bolling was a reason to come to the ballpark in the 1990s and 2000s and would see his #24 uniform retired by the franchise.

Bolling became a very popular hometown player and one adored throughout all of Australia. He played for the national team from 1992-2007 in the World Baseball Championship with 109 games and 98 starts. In that run, he had 92 hits, 45 runs, 16 doubles, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 26 stolen bases, a .243/.279/.426 slash, 101 wRC+, and 1.2 WAR.

A strained hamstring cost Bolling six weeks in 1995, but he still was the lead leader in batting average (.331), wRC+ (170), and WAR (9.0), earning Australasia League MVP honors. After a strong 1996, Bolling would miss the entirety of the 1997 season to a torn PCL suffered in spring training. He would bounce back with the two best seasons of his career.

In 1998 and 1999, Bolling led both years in WAR and batting average. The 11.1 and 11.0 WAR seasons got him back-to-back MVPs, which wasn’t easy for a guy without big power numbers. He did lead in hits and RBI in 1999 and saw a career-best 28 home runs in 1998. The next two seasons would be frustrating for Bolling as hamstring issues caused him to miss significant time.

Still, Gold Coast gave him a five-year, $13,800,000 extension in March 2001 at age 32. Bolling would take third in MVP voting in 2002, leading in WAR for the fourth time. He won his ninth and final Silver Slugger in 2006 and his lone Gold Glove in 2005. Bolling’s batting numbers waned a bit in his later years, but he was still starter quality and provided great defense.

In his final season with Gold Coast, hamstring issues again put Bolling out for much of the year. His contract expired after the 2006 campaign, making Bolling a free agent for the first time at age 38. His popularity and reputation earned him a look at Major League Baseball. Bolling secured the bag with a three-year, $30,900,000 deal with Austin.

A strained hamstring cost him three months of 2007, although Bolling looked terrible when healthy. He was passable in 2008, but posted negative value in 2009 and dealt with injuries in both years. With Austin, Bolling had 228 hits in 298 games, 104 runs, 37 doubles, 22 home runs, 104 RBI, a .217/.268/.327 slash, 73 wRC+, and 0.6 WAR.

Despite those struggles, Omaha gave him a look in 2010 where he posted 0.7 WAR over 52 games and 22 starts. Bolling signed a minor league deal with Jackson, but only played three games before suffering a torn PCL. That effectively ended Bolling’s career at age 43.

For his OBA run with Gold Coast, Bolling had 2362 hits, 1057 runs, 349 doubles, 127 triples, 281 home runs, 1118 RBI, 418 stolen bases, a .299/.334/.482 slash, 138 wRC+, and 105.1 WAR. The defensive value especially made Bolling important and he ranks sixth in WAR among OBA position players.

His hitting accumulations aren’t high on the general leaderboards, but among shortstops he is the all-time leader in 2037 in WAR, homers, RBI, hits, total bases, and runs. Most still rightly have Jimmy Caliw above him as the best-ever hitter at the position, but Caliw did split his career between short and second base.

Specifically at shortstop, Bolling’s nine Silver Sluggers is the OBA position record. He’s also one of only 13 OBA players to win MVP thrice. Bolling certainly gets quickly mentioned when discussing OBA’s best-ever shortstops. At 87.8%, he was a first ballot Hall of Famer in the 2012 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 APB Hall of Fame

Two pitchers received first ballot Hall of Fame inductions in 2012 from Austronesia Professional Baseball. Heng-Hsiao Liao was nearly unanimous at 97.8%, while Franklin Sto. Tomas only narrowly crossed the 66% requirement at 67.5%. Closer Chang-Heng Chang came painfully short with 65.6% on his fourth ballot. RF Basuki Sustanti wasn’t far away either at 60.8% on his second ballot. Also above 50% was CF Fransisco Hartati debuting with 51.0%.



Pitcher Resky Hadi lasted ten ballots and got as high as 40.5% in 2009 before ending at a lousy 4.8%. He had a 15-year career with five times, posting a 167-140 record, 2.22 ERA, 3024.2 innings, 3228 strikeouts, 592 walks, 109 ERA+, and 54.9 WAR. Hadi had no black ink, awards, or playoff notables; thus (rightfully) condemning him to the Hall of Good.



Heng-Hsiao “Rags” Liao – Starting Pitcher – Taoyuan Tsunami – 97.8% First Ballot

Heng-Hsiao Liao was a 6’6’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from the capital of Taiwan, Taipei. Liao had excellent movement on his pitches, along with good to sometimes great stuff and control. He had a 96-98 mph cutter as his hardest pitch, but Liao’s forkball, changeup, and curveball were often more dangerous.

Compared to most APB aces, Liao’s stamina was considered merely average. However, he had excellent durability over his 19 year career, becoming one of eight APB pitchers with 4000+ career innings. Liao was a gamer, known for his sparkplug work ethic and adaptability.

Liao emerged as a top prospect even as he attended Taipei’s Gubao High School. He was a rare high school draft pick, selected 10^th overall in the 1985 APB Draft by Taoyuan. He officially debuted in 1988 at age 20 with 41.1 innings. The Tsunami moved him into the rotation full-time in 1989, a role he kept for the next 13 seasons for Taoyuan. His first full season was iffy, leading the Taiwan-Philippine Association in losses.

His first few years were respectable, but Liao emerged as a true ace by 1993, which was his first of eight seasons worth 6+ WAR. Liao helped turn things around for Taoyuan, who had bottomed out at 58-104 in 1988. 1993 was their first winning season in a decade and they’d become Taiwan’s top team in the mid 1990s.

In 1994, Liao tossed a no-hitter on May 26 with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks against Tainan. Taoyuan would win the TPA Championship over Davao, but lose to Bandung in the Austronesian Championship. In 1995, Liao had a second no-hitter, this time on May 11 with eight strikeouts and 1 walk against Davao. The Tsunami won the Taiwan League again, but lost the Association final to the Devil Rays. Now 28-years old, Taoyuan gave Liao a six-year, $14,520,000 extension in March 1996.

The next two seasons saw back-to-back APB Championship wins for Taoyuan, besting Singapore in the 1996 final and Batam in the 1997 edition. Liao had a career and TPA-best 1.44 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 1996, earning Pitcher of the Year. In 1997, he was especially dominant in the playoffs, going 3-0 in 21.1 innings with an 0.84 ERA and 26 strikeouts.

For his playoff career with Taoyuan, Liao had a 6-1 record, 1.93 ERA, 65.1 innings, 67 strikeouts, and 145 ERA+. His role in their championships led to his #12 uniform later being retired. Liao also pitched from 1991-98 in the World Baseball Championship for Taiwan, posting a 9-2 record over 124.1 innings, 2.82 ERA, 135 strikeouts, 127 ERA+, and 2.4 WAR.

Taoyuan would finish just above .500 from 1998-2000, then fall towards the bottom of the standings for five years after that. Liao chugged along, even throwing his third no-hitter on June 27, 2001 with nine strikeouts and two walks versus Davao. As of 2037, Liao is one of 17 APB pitchers with three or more no-hitters in their career.

With Taoyuan, Liao finished with an 180-148 record, 2.25 ERA, 3212 innings, 3276 strikeouts, 630 walks, 123 ERA+, and 77.3 WAR. Liao had one year left on his deal after the 2001 season, which saw the Tsunami fall to 69-93. Looking to begin a rebuild, Taoyuan traded a 34-year old Liao to Kaohsiung for outfielders Tung-Hua Yu and Jing-Ren Lai.

Liao’s one year with the Steelheads was impressive, leading in ERA (1.66) and WHIP (0.80) for the second time in his career. He placed second in POTY voting with a 5.7 WAR effort. Kaohsiung finished one game behind Tainan for the Taiwan League title. Now a free agent at age 35, Liao’s stock was still high. He ended up going to the Titans on a three-year, $14,040,000 deal.

Tainan won the Taiwan League all three years Liao was there, but couldn’t get the pennant. He had a 3.52 ERA over his 15.1 playoff innings. Liao was still a solid starter in the first two years, although he was switched to a hybrid starter/relief role in his final season. For Tainan, Liao had a 42-29 record, 2.52 ERA, 671.1 innings, 724 strikeouts, 112 ERA+, and 15.3 WAR. With the Titans, Liao also became the 13^th APB pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts.

Next up, Liao signed a two-year, $8,560,000 deal with Taichung. He was limited to a part-time role, but still had 2.1 WAR over 153 innings, a 2.29 ERA and 126 ERA+ in 2006. Liao decided to retire after the 2006 season at age 39.

For his full run, Liao had a 243-193 record, 2.26 ERA, 4280 innings, 4358 strikeouts, 826 walks, 0.94 WHIP, 416/557 quality starts, 123 ERA+, 107 complete games, and 100.4 WAR. For his playoff career, Liao had a 7-2 record, 2.23 ERA, 80.2 innings, 77 strikeouts, 17 walks, 126 ERA+, and 1.6 WAR.

As of 2037, Liao ranked 15^th in pitching WAR, 14^th in strikeouts, 8^th in wins, and 5^th in innings pitched. He wasn’t often considered the tip-top pitcher during his career, but Liao was reliably strong for almost two decades and helped Taoyuan to a dynasty run. Thus, Liao was a lock for the 2012 APB Hall of Fame class, headlining at 97.8%.



Franklin Sto. Tomas – Starting Pitcher – Palembang Panthers – 67.5% First Ballot

Franklin Sto. Tomas was a 6’2’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from San Fernando, Philippines; located in the regional center of Central Luzon with 354,000 people. Sto. Tomas had very good movement on his pitches along with above average stuff and respectable control. His fastball topped out at 93-95 mph, but he expertly fooled hitters with his changeup. Sto. Tomas also had a curveball in his arsenal and saw an extreme groundball tendency.

Sto. Tomas had excellent stamina and was very durable until a labrum tear in his mid 30s. From 1992-2002, he tossed 260+ innings each season. Sto. Tomas was a poor defensive pitcher, but was an okay hitter for a pitcher. He won a Silver Slugger in 1998 with a .250 average and finished with a .173 career batting average. Teammates and coaches appreciated Sto. Tomas’s loyalty throughout his career.

In April 1985, a young Sto. Tomas was spotted and signed by Palembang to a developmental deal. He spent most of six years in the academy, officially debuting with one inning of relief in 1990 at age 21. Sto. Tomas was a part-time starter in 1991 and became a full-timer from 1992 onward. 1993 was a strong year with a career-best 1.61 ERA, leading the Sundaland Association in complete games (18) and shutouts (7).

Sto. Tomas regressed with a lackluster 1994, but bounced back with reliable consistency for the next six years for Palembang. He led in quality starts and innings in 1998, but otherwise wasn’t a league-leader. Sto. Tomas also never was a Pitcher of the Year finalist, although he did top 5+ WAR four times for the Panthers. It wasn’t easy to get noticed as Palembang was generally mediocre in his run. They averaged 76.3 wins per season during Sto. Tomas’s tenure with no playoff berths and only three winning seasons.

The highlight of Sto. Tomas’s run came on July 18 1997, as he threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and 1 walk against Depok. Palembang gave him a three-year, $7,440,000 extension in April 1998. With the Panthers, Sto. Tomas had a 139-128 record, 2.27 ERA, 2607.1 innings, 2457 strikeouts, 572 walks, 253/310 quality starts, 144 complete games, 35 shutouts, 112 ERA+, and 38.8 WAR.

Although the bulk of his pro career came in Indonesia, Sto. Tomas did pitch for his native Philippines from 1996-2005 in the World Baseball Championship. Over 135.2 WBC innings, he had a 9-4 record, 3.65 ERA, 135.2 innings, 151 strikeouts, 47 walks, 99 ERA+, and 1.8 WAR.

Sto. Tomas was 32-years old after the 2000 season with a year remaining on his contract. Palembang opted to trade him and 2B Tony Lacbawan to Tainan for three prospects. Sto. Tomas had one okay season with the Titans with an 89 ERA+, but his ability to eat innings still made him worth 4.6 WAR.

He entered free agency for the first time and returned to his home country, signing a five-year, $16,200,000 deal with Davao. Sto. Tomas helped out in a turnaround 2002 season for the Devil Rays, who went from 67 wins to 94. They ended a six-year stretch of losing seasons and won the Taiwan-Philippine Association pennant. Davao lost to Semarang in the Austronesia Championship. Sto. Tomas had a 2.23 ERA over 32.1 playoff innings with 28 strikeouts.

Unfortunately, Sto. Tomas’s Davao run peaked there thanks to a torn labrum suffered in his sixth start of 2003. He looked subpar in his 2004 return effort and was traded to Jakarta near the deadline for two prospects. With the Devil Rays, Sto. Tomas had a 29-17 record, 2.56 ERA, 443.1 innings, 406 strikeouts, and 6.1 WAR.

It ended up being an important acquisition for Jakarta, who earned their first playoff berth since 1993. Although Sto. Tomas wasn’t great in the regular season, he stepped up in the playoffs, going 3-0 over 22.2 innings with a 1.59 ERA. This helped the Jaguars win the APB Championship against Zamboanga.

That was the last hurrah for Sto. Tomas. A second torn labrum kept him out almost all of 2005 and he only saw 17.2 innings of relief in 2006. He only had 112 innings total for Jakarta with a 3.05 ERA and 1.7 WAR. Sto. Tomas went unsigned in 2007 and retired in the winter at age 39.

Sto. Tomas’s career numbers saw a 189-166 record, 2.39 ERA, 3442.2 innings, 3225 strikeouts, 765 walks, 327/411 quality starts, 174 complete games, 108 ERA+, and 51.2 WAR. His career tallies are relatively unremarkable and as of 2037, he doesn’t crack the top 100 in pitching WAR. He ranks 41^st in wins and 59^th in strikeouts. By any measure, he was very much a borderline case.

Additionally, Sto. Tomas was never a Pitcher of the Year candidate and lacked black ink outside of innings pitched. Still, APB voters were very pitcher-friendly and his heroics in the 2004 playoffs for Jakarta’s championship team was still a fairly recent memory. Sto. Tomas got 67.5% on his ballot debut, just enough to cross the 66% requirement for induction in the 2012 APB Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 CLB Hall of Fame

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Chinese League Baseball didn’t have any Hall of Famers added with the 2012 voting for the first blank ballot since 2006. It was a very weak year for debuts with the top debutant being 2B Hongjiang Gao at only 20.8%. Closer Chiang-Ho Yang was the top performer at 58.8% for his third ballot. LF Ruilong Xu also was above 50% with 52.0% on his fourth try.

No one was dropped after ten failed ballots, although 1B Julong Dou notably was dropped after falling below 5% on his ninth ballot. Dou peaked at 28.3% in 2005 and was hurt by leaving China after ten years. He was still notable for leading five times in batting average, five times in hits, and for winning MVP in 1996.

Between Chengdu and Dongguan, Dou had 1556 hits in 1344 games, 461 runs, 246 doubles, 35 triples, 55 home runs, 456 RBI, a .312/.345/.408 slash, 164 wRC+, and 47.4 WAR. He ranks 15^th in batting average as of 2037 among all CLB batters with 3000+ plate appearances. However, the lack of longevity or power numbers condemned Dou to the Hall of Pretty Good.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 WAB Hall of Fame

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West African Baseball added two players into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Both guys were first ballot picks with LF Amewu Murry at 80.3% and 2B Korian Idi at 79.6%. No one else breached 50% with the top returner being closer Corliss Ganiyu at 46.5% on his seventh try. No players were removed from the ballot after ten failed tries.



Amewu Murry – Left Field – Kano Condors – 80.3% First Ballot

Amewu Murry was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch-hitting outfielder from Nkawkaw, Ghana; a town in the country’s south with 61,000 inhabitants. Murry was a tremendous contact hitter, ranking as a 9/10 for much of his career. He also had a good eye for drawing walks with a respectable strikeout rate. Murry had a nice pop in his bat, topping 30+ home runs five times and 30+ doubles six times. Although a great batter, Murry was a very slow and sluggish baserunner.

He also had pitiful range in the outfield, although he at least had respectable arm strength. Murry made around 3/5s of his starts in left field with the remainder split between right field and first base. He graded as an abysmal defender at every spot. Injuries also were a recurring issue, although his work ethic still meant Murry grinded his way to a 19-year pro career. His bat, work ethic, and loyalty made Murry a fan favorite throughout his run.

Murry quickly rose through the amateur ranks and was considered by many to be the best batter entering the 1992 WAB Draft. He was picked #2 overall by Kano, who was coming off four straight seasons with 64 or fewer wins. Murry would be one of the catalysts to return the Condors to the top, establishing an all-time great dynasty in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Murry started immediately, taking third in 1993’s Rookie of the Year voting. Injuries cost Murry two months of the 1994 campaign, but Kano earned back-to-back winning seasons to start his run. 1995 would begin a 12-year playoff streak for the Condors, who advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series in all 12 seasons. Murry led in OBP in 1995 at .422 and had his first of five 8+ WAR seasons. He won his first Silver Slugger and was second in MVP voting.

A torn groin muscle cost Murry the majority of the 1996 season. Kano suffered back-to-back ELCS defeats in 1995 and 1996. Then in 1997, the dynasty began, starting a historic streak of nine straight Eastern League pennants. Murry was an indispensible part of the early dynasty, as Kano won three straight WAB Championships from 1997-99, peaking with a 123-win 1999 campaign. The Condors won a record 125 games in 2000, but were upset by Abidjan in the WAB Championship.

From 1997-2000, Murry led each season in batting average, peaking with .386 in 1998. He also had a wRC+ above 200, 8+ WAR, and an OPS above one each year. Murry led in OBP in both 1999 and 2000. He also led in doubles in 1997, RBI in 1998, and hits in 1999. Murry won four straight Silver Sluggers and finished second in MVP voting all four seasons.

Murry was also a critical piece in the playoffs, winning WAB Championship MVP in both 1998 and 1999. In that stretch, he had 2.3 WAR over 37 starts with 50 hits, 25 runs, 17 doubles, 8 home runs, and 22 RBI. In March 1999, Kano locked him in with a seven-year, $19,400,000 extension. Murry had become a beloved favorite playing for the Condors in Nigeria.

The popularity extended back to his home country Ghana. Murry represented Ghana from 1994-2010 in the World Baseball Championship with 156 starts, posting 152 hits, 83 runs, 31 doubles, 32 home runs, 91 RBI, a .277/.383/.508 slash, 161 wRC+, and 7.3 WAR. Ghana saw its first-ever division titles in 1995 and 1997. As of 2037, Murry leads all Ghanaians in WBC runs, doubles, home runs, RBI, and WAR.

Murry would start to physically break down in his early 30s. He missed the entire 2001 season to a torn PCL in his left knee. Murry played 29 games in 2002 before tearing the PCL in his right knee. Various injuries limited him to 46 games in 2003, while a fractured ankle cost him three months in 2004.

Kano’s win totals weren’t as dominant as in Murry’s prime, but the loaded franchise still kept the dynasty rolling. They won three straight WAB titles from 2001-03. Murry played two games in the 2003 run, but was there for the entire 2004 playoffs. Although they lost the WAB Championship that year to Kumasi, Murry won his third finals MVP, a feat achieved by very few players in any world league.

Murry played 109 games in 2005, the most he had managed since 2000, and still looked quite solid when healthy. He had another strong playoff run, helping Kano win the title over Monrovia. In total, the Condors had nine straight finals appearances and came away with seven rings. Murry officially had six, as he didn’t qualify in 2001 as he played zero games.

In his playoff career, Murry had 70 starts, 95 hits, 50 runs, 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 54 RBI, a .351/.417/.624 slash, 197 wRC+, and 4.4 WAR. As of 2037, Murry ranked fifth all-time in WAB playoff hits, eighth in runs, second in doubles, and 11^th in home runs. He was the doubles leader until finally passed by Junior Jose in the 2030s.

With the injuries though, Kano decided to buy out the remainder of his contract after the 2005 season. That made Murry a free agent for the first time at age 36 and ultimately ended his WAB career. He remained a beloved fan favorite and his #26 uniform was eventually retired by the Condors for his role in the dynasty.

Murry still had suitors and ended up in Germany, signing a three-year, $15,900,000 with EBF’s Hamburg. He missed almost all of 2006 to injury, but was solid starting around 3/4s of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The Hammers made the playoffs twice, but lost both times in the first round. In 277 games, Murry had 313 hits, 162 runs, 55 doubles, 43 home runs, 158 RBI, a .330/.411/.545 slash, 161 wRC+, and 8.0 WAR.

Now 39-years old and a free agent again, Murry stayed in Europe on a three-year, $14,560,000 deal with Valencia. Torn ankle ligaments cost him most of 2009 and the Vandals got relegated to the European Second League. Murry was respectable in 108 games in 2010, giving him 2.9 WAR over 170 games with Valencia.

Murry played one more year in the Second League, signing for 2011 with Nottingham. He again missed some time to injury, but also got relegated to a bench role. Murry retired that winter at age 42, finishing his combined pro career with 2236 hits, 1154 runs, 443 doubles, 365 home runs, 1184 RBI, a .339/.407/.582 slash, 180 wRC+, and 79.2 WAR.

With just Kano in WAB, Murry had 1709 hits, 903 runs, 347 doubles, 300 home runs, 927 RBI, a .354/.415/.621 slash, 192 wRC+, and 67.1 WAR. The 192 wRC+ proves he was absolutely elite. Among all WAB hitters with 3000 plate appearances in 2037, Murry ranks sixth in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, 20^th in slugging, and eighth in OPS. At retirement, he was the all-time leader in average and OBP and second in OPS.

The injuries keep Murry outside of the top 100 of most of the counting stats, although he still ranks 32^nd in WAR among position players. Had he stayed healthy, Murry might have ended up among the Hall of Fame’s inner-circle. There were a couple voters that held the low final tallies against him, giving him 80.3% on his debut ballot.

That still was enough to headline the 2012 WAB Hall of Fame class. Very few WAB hitters can match Murry’s offensive efficiency and few stepped up as big in the playoffs. Murry was an integral part in Kano’s dynasty, which ranks among the most impressive runs any team has had in any world league.



Korian “Fireball” Idi – Second Base – Freetown Foresters – 79.6% First Ballot

Korian Idi was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed second baseman from Tessaoua, a city of 43,000 in south central Niger. The nickname “Fireball” came from his blistering speed and base stealing ability. Idi was one of the great traditional leadoff hitters, known for great contact ability and avoiding strikeouts. Idi wasn’t one to draw many walks, but his high average still meant he led the league twice in on-base percentage.

Idi’s gap power was terrific and his speed regularly led to extra bases. He had 34 doubles and 20 triples in his 162 game average. Idi wasn’t going to go yard often, topping double-digit home runs only once. He was a career second baseman and graded as below average defensively, although he wasn’t a liability. Idi’s bat was far better than what you’d usually get at the position, making his defense acceptable.

With a strong work ethic, loyalty, and selflessness, Idi became a fan favorite his whole career. Injuries did limit him in his 30s, especially recurring back troubles. Still, Idi pulled off a 17-year career and became the first player from Niger to become a Hall of Famer. He also represented his country from 1991-2000 in the World Baseball Championship with 72 starts, 76 hits, 27 runs, 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 29 RBI, a .280/.338/.387 slash, 110 wRC+, and 1.6 WAR.

Idi’s entire WAB run would take place in Sierra Leone, getting picked 4^th overall by Freetown in the 1987 WAB Draft. He wasn’t immediately thrown into the fire, spending all of 1988 on the reserve roster with only 9 games in 1989. Idi was a part-time starter in 1990, getting the full-time job in 1991. It was a strong debut as a full-timer, winning a Silver Slugger and leading the Western League in hits and triples.

In 1992, Idi posted an MVP season with a league-best 10.3 WAR, 101 stolen bases, .364 batting average, .404 OBP, 29 triples, and 29 hits. His WAR, 168 wRC+, .974 OPS, 101 steals, and 29 triples were all career highs. Idi also won his second Silver Slugger. Freetown finished with a winning record for a fourth straight season, but their playoff drought grew to 14 seasons.

The Foresters lost in the wild card round of 1993, but Idi missed most of the season to a damaged elbow ligament. He bounced back with an excellent 1994, leading in hits (232), triples (29), and average (.355). Idi set career bests in hits and runs (119), winning his third Silver Slugger. Freetown just missed the playoffs, but they felt Idi had them on the right track. At age 27, he signed an eight-year, $7,978,000 extension.

Back issues cost him a few weeks in 1995 and 1996, although he still led the latter season in batting average (.372) and OBP (.405); both career bests. Freetown made the playoffs in 1996 to start a streak of six straight WLCS appearances. Unfortunately for the Foresters, they went 0-6 in those tries. Idi was there for the first four, posting 25 playoff starts, 30 hits, 1 4runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer, 10 RBI, 10 stolen bases, a .319/.354/.426 slash, 115 wRC+, and 0.7 WAR.

Idi led in hits in 1997 and batting average in 1999. His fourth and final Silver Slugger came in 1997, which included a second place in MVP voting. Idi opted out of the remainder of his contract after the 1999 campaign, becoming a free agent at age 32. Some Freetown fans were disappointed that he left, abandoning a shot of a title run. Idi stayed very popular with most though and eventually had his #15 uniform retired.

Idi had international attention and inked a six-year, $40,800,000 Major League Baseball deal with Hartford. Injuries meant he never quite had a full season in what was a five-year tenure for the Huskies. Still, Idi was a reliable starter when healthy with 612 hits, 231 runs, 74 doubles, 52 triples, 15 home runs, 192 RBI, a .303/.338/.414 slash, 123 wRC+, and 13.2 WAR.

Hartford earned wild cards in 2002 and 2003, but had no luck during Idi ‘s run. After not reaching the vesting criteria for the sixth year of the deal, Idi was a free agent at age 37. His best year with Hartford was his last year in 2004 with a 4.0 WAR over 125 games and 98 starts.

Denver was hopeful for that production, giving Idi a one-year, $5,700,000 deal, but he was mediocre at best with -0.1 WAR and 89 wRC+ over 109 games and 82 starts. Idi still wanted to play and returned to WAB on a one-year deal with Port Harcourt.

The return season had two notable hitting streaks, one for 23 games and one for 29 games. Overall, it was a nice return season with 3.5 WAR over 125 games in 2006 for the Hillcats. Idi seemed like he could still go and provide positive value, but no one gave him a shot for 2007. He retired that winter at age 39.

For his entire pro baseball career, Idi had 2589 hits, 1131 runs, 410 doubles, 254 triples, 74 home runs, 874 RBI, 762 stolen bases, a .329/.363/.474 slash, 137 wRC+, and 76.7 WAR. Removing the six MLB seasons weakened his accumulations, finishing in WAB with 1889 hits, 873 runs, 325 doubles, 195 triples, 58 home runs, 652 RBI, 675 stolen bases, a .341/.374/.501 slash, 145 wRC+, and 63.5 WAR.

Like his Hall of Fame classmate Amewu Murry, Idi was outside of the top 100 of most of the big counting stats. That said, he still ranked as of 2037 41^st in WAR among position players, 39^th in stolen bases, and 25^th in triples. His batting average also ranked 24^th among all hitters with 3000+ plate appearances. Specifically at second base, Idi is second all-time in WAB and first in batting average.

Idi has to be on the shortlist of WAB’s top second basemen. Being a fan favorite as well also helped him overcome the lack of final accumulations for most voters. At 79.6%, Idi made the first ballot and joined the WAB Hall of Fame in 2012.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 WAB Hall of Fame

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South Asia Baseball didn’t add anyone into the Hall of Fame in 2012 in the first blank ballot since 1999. Two returners came very close to the 66% requirement with 1B Sunil Lamichhane at 64.0% on his fourth attempt and C Kumar Patel at 62.9% for his fifth try. The best debut was RF Teerapat Siriyakorn at 57.3%. No one else topped 50% and no players were dropped after ten failed ballots.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 ABF Hall of Fame (Part 1)

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The 2012 Hall of Fame class for the Asian Baseball Federation was a monumental one with four first ballot selections. There had only been five inductees total over the previous decade of voting. This group was foundational too, as all four were above 90%.



Leading the way was pitcher Rami Naqvi at 98.0%. Fellow starters Bedirhan Uzun had 96.1% with Hasan Afshin at 94.5%. The lone position player was outfielder Hakim as-Salam at 93.8%. No one else topped 50% with the best returner being pitcher Sa’id Farahani at 38.4% on his second ballot. Additionally, no players fell off the ballot after ten failed tries.



Rami Naqvi – Starting Pitcher – Hyderabad Horned Frogs – 98.0% First Ballot

Rami Naqvi was a 6’1’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher from Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city. Naqvi was known for powerful stuff with above average control. However, his movement was mediocre and he did have issues allowing home runs. Naqvi had a 98-100 mph fastball, along with a slider, curveball, and changeup. Despite the poor movement grade overall, his curveball was considered a 10/10 and was the main reason that Naqvi was a dominant strikeout guy.

Naqvi’s stamina was on the low-end compared to most ABF aces in terms of complete games. Still, he had respectable durability and pitched a healthy number of innings each year. Naqvi was a good defensive pitcher and solid at holding runners. Despite his immense talent, he was often viewed as a selfish and lazy player. Many peers argue Naqvi squandered some of his elite potential.

His hard throwing was noticed at a young age, leading to a developmental deal in April 1987 with Faisalabad. Naqvi debuted with two relief appearances in 1991 at age 20. The Fire had him start most of 1992 with promising results. Faisalabad earned its first-ever playoff berth that year, falling in the Pakistan League Championship Series to Peshawar. Naqvi struggled with a 5.40 ERA in 11.2 playoff innings.

Naqvi became a full-time starter for the remaining five seasons with Faisalabad and looked like a true ace by 1994. He led the league with 380 strikeouts in 1995, but also allowed a league-worst 29 home runs. Naqvi led in WHIP, K/BB, FIP-, and WAR in 1996 and had the most wins in 1997. Despite that, Naqvi was never a Pitcher of the Year finalist with the Fire.

Faisalabad made the playoffs again in 1997 and Naqvi had a good start in the PLCS, allowing one run over 7.2 innings against Hyderabad. The Horned Frogs would win the series though and that start was Naqvi’s final one for the Fire. In total for Faisalabad, Naqvi had an 86-47 record, 2.54 ERA, 1291.2 innings, 1889 strikeouts, 327 walks, 113 ERA+, and 32.3 WAR.

A free agent at age 27, Naqvi left for the reigning PL champ Hyderabad on a seven-year, $10,600,000 deal in what would be his signature run. The Horned Frogs had earned a fourth straight playoff berth in 1997 and finally won the PLCS after three straight defeats. However, they had lost the ABF Championship to Isfahan. Hyderabad officials hoped Naqvi could deliver them the top spot.

Naqvi had a strong debut, leading in strikeouts and posting career bests in WHIP (0.71) and ERA (1.77). He took third in Pitcher of the Year voting and allowed two runs in 14.2 playoff innings. Hyderabad won a franchise-record 113 games and beat Lahore for the Pakistan League title, but again fell to Isfahan in the ABF Championship.

In 1999, Naqvi won his lone Pitcher of the Year, leading in ERA (1.78), strikeouts (406), quality starts (28), and WAR (9.7). The K, QS, and WAR marks were all career bests and at the time, it was only the tenth 400+ strikeout season in ABF history.

On April 28, Naqvi had an incredible 24 strikeout effort over nine innings against Rawalpindi. There had never been a 24 strikeout game prior in a pro game, although it had been reached and topped in the World Baseball Championship. As of 2037, Naqvi is still the only pitcher to reach the mark in a pro game without extra innings. Naqvi also had a 20 strikeout no-hitter against Rawalpindi on July 30. That was the ABF record for Ks in a no-no until 2011.

Naqvi wasn’t amazing in the playoffs with a 3.63 ERA over 22.1 innings, but he did strikeout 38 batters. Hyderabad three-peated as Pakistan’s champ and finally won the ABF title, defeating Bursa. The Horned Frogs made the playoffs again in 2000 and 2003, but had first-round losses both years in a newly expanded ABF. Naqvi got rocked in one playoff start in 2003 and finished with a career playoff ERA over 3.72 over 58 innings. He did have 98 strikeouts and 1.6 WAR, but a 79 ERA+.

Shoulder inflammation cost Naqvi much of the 2001 season. He had a respectable 2002, then led in strikeouts for the fourth time and WHIP for the third time in 2003. Naqvi was third in 2003’s POTY voting, his final time as a finalist. That season also had his second-no hitter, a 12 K, 3 BB effort on March 28 against Peshawar.

Hyderabad gave Naqvi a five-year, $16,680,000 extension in May 2004. About a month later, Naqvi became the second pitcher in ABF history to 4000 career strikeouts. He ultimately wouldn’t catch or pass Hall of Fame classmate Hasan Afshin for the strikeout king title, but Naqvi did retire in the #2 slot.

The Horned Frogs fell into mediocrity in Naqvi’s final seasons. He still was a respectable starter in his final years, but many felt he was showing limited effort by that point. He became the second to 200 wins in his final season. Although Naqvi still had time left on his deal, he decided to retire after the 2006 campaign at age 36.

Hyderabad would retire his #25 uniform for his efforts. In nine seasons for the Horned Frogs, Naqvi finished with a 117-76 record, 2.33 ERA, 1908.1 innings, 2749 strikeouts, 415 walks, 195/249 quality starts, 48 complete games, 128 ERA+, and 43.3 WAR.

For his career, Naqvi had a 203-123 record, 2.41 ERA, 3200 innings, 4638 strikeouts, 742 walks, 324/432 quality starts, 122 ERA+, and 75.6 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks seventh in strikeouts, 13^th in pitching WAR, and 19^th in wins. Naqvi is also 22^nd in ERA among all pitchers with 1000 career innings and rates highly in many other rate stats.

As of 2037 among pitchers with 1000 innings, Naqvi has the second-best H/9 (5.88), ninth-best K/9 (13.04), fifth-best WHIP (0.89), second-best opponent’s batting average (.185), tenth-best OBP (.240), and eighth-best OPS (.554). The boom-or-bust nature of Naqvi’s pitching at times meant he only won POTY once despite such impressive stats.

Others argue that if he was smarter and had a better work ethic, then Naqvi might have ended up in the GOAT-level territory. Still, he was a no-doubt Hall of Famer and at 98.0% had the highest percentage in the impressive four-player 2012 ABF class.



Bedirhan “Shepherd” Uzun – Starting Pitcher – Bursa Blue Claws – 96.1% First Ballot

Bedirhan Uzun was a 6’7’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Tire, a city of 87,000 in Turkey’s Izmir Province. Uzun had very solid stuff along with average to above average movement and control. A 95-97 mph sinker was his primary pitch, although he also had a slider and changeup in his arsenal. Uzun had an extreme groundball tendency, but he also could record strikeouts effectively in his prime.

Uzun’s stamina was strong, leading the league twice in complete games and once in innings pitched. He was also solid defensively and was effective at holding runners. Injuries would ultimately greatly limit his final numbers, but Uzun’s intelligence allowed him to maximize the innings he had.

By the 1994 ABF Draft, many had Uzun as the top Turkish prospect. Bursa selected him with the third overall pick and made him a full-time starter immediately. Uzun led in walks and losses as a rookie, but showed flashes of potential. His second season did see a major setback as a torn back muscle knocked him out five months.

Uzun bounced back with an excellent third season with 8.0 WAR, taking second in 1997 Pitcher of the Year voting. Bursa earned its first-ever playoff berth and started what would be a nine-year playoff streak. They had the top record in the West Asia Association in both 1997 and 1998, but lost both years to Isfahan for the WAA pennant.

In 1998, Uzun led the WAA in wins (26-6), strikeouts (373), quality starts (25), and complete games (22). He also had a career-best 10.2 WAR, but finished second again in POTY voting. That effort earned a five-year, $5,900,000 extension with the Blue Claws in the offseason. Uzun took third in 1999, which had a league and career-best 0.93 WHIP. That year also saw Bursa finally beat Isfahan for the pennant, although they lost in the ABF Championship to Hyderabad.

Post expansion in 2000, Bursa lost in the 2000 and 2002 West League Championship Series. The Blue Claws did win the 2001 pennant, but were denied their first ABF title by Dushanbe. In the playoffs for Bursa, Uzun had a 3.24 ERA over 94.1 innings, 6-6 record, 139 strikeouts, 17 walks, 107 ERA+, and 2.6 WAR.

In 2002, Uzun had a career and league-best 1.66 ERA, but missed the final months of the season to a strained forearm. Still, that earned a third in POTY voting. Uzun took second again in 2003, posting a career best 401 strikeouts. He was also the league leader in WAR (9.8) and wins (22-5).

That marked his final season with Bursa, entering free agency at age 32. With the Blue Claws, Uzun had a 150-76 record, 2.56 ERA, 2050.1 innings, 2673 strikeouts, 494 walks, 138 ERA+, and 58.6 WAR. Unfortunately for him, he left just before they finally won the ABF title in 2004. Still, Uzun’s #31 uniform would get retired for his role in turning them into a contender.

Uzun got paid, signing a five-year, $26,000,000 deal with Istanbul. 2004 also marked his first time pitching in the World Baseball Championship for Turkey. He posted a 1.95 ERA over 64.2 innings from 2004-06 with 70 strikeouts, 20 walks, and a 179 ERA+.

It was an excellent debut for Uzun with Istanbul, leading in ERA at 2.01 with a career-best 28 quality starts. He also topped 350+ strikeouts for the fifth time, but again still couldn’t win Pitcher of the Year, taking second. The Ironmen had the top seed at 104-58, but were upset by Ankara in the first round. Uzun gave up three runs in 7.2 innings for his playoff start.

It looked like Istanbul had made a good investment, but things fell quickly for Uzun. He missed most of 2005 to a torn meniscus, but was back in time to allow four runs in eight innings in his lone playoff start. The Ironmen again went one-and-done that year. Although they continued their playoff streak and eventually won titles in 2007 and 2008, Uzun wouldn’t be there for them.

Uzun only saw 32.1 innings in 2006, missing the early part of the season to shoulder bursitis. Soon after returning, he suffered a stretched elbow ligament that effectively ended his career. Uzun was on roster for 2007, but never made it back to the field. He retired that winter at age 36, finishing the Istanbul run with a 25-13 record, 2.42 ERA, 372 innings, 478 strikeouts, and 9.4 WAR.

The final stats: 175-89 record, 2.54 ERA, 2422.1 innings, 3151 strikeouts, 591 walks, 212/292 quality starts, 146 complete games, 139 ERA+, 71 FIP-, and 68.0 WAR. Uzun ranks 23^rd in pitching WAR as of 2037 and 42^nd in strikeouts.

Injuries certainly hurt him from having more impressive accumulations, but Uzun was in the Pitcher of the Year mix consistently in his career, even if he didn’t ever win it. The voters recognized that and inducted him easily at 96.1%. Uzun had the second-best percentage amongst ABF’s impressive four-player 2012 Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2012 ABF Hall of Fame (Part 2)

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Hasan Afshin – Starting Pitcher – Lahore Longhorns – 94.5% First Ballot

Hasan Afshin was a 5’10’’, 190 pound right-handed pitcher from Marv Dasht, a city of 124,000 in south central Iran. The stocky Afshin was a hard thrower with tremendous stuff and very good control. His fastball hit 98-100 mph with a slider and cutter that were both similarly fast and deadly. Afshin also had a changeup in the arsenal.

He overpowered you with raw stuff, but his movement also had a tendency to go flat at the wrong time. Afshin allowed the most home runs in the league four times, but also had the most strikeouts four times. In his prime, his stuff graded as 9/10, but his movement was never considered better than 3/10.

Afshin had solid stamina and his strong control allowed him to regularly go deep in games. His durability was decent, generally avoiding big injuries, but he did lose a couple weeks of multiple seasons. Afshin was a poor defensive pitcher, but his high strikeout rate hid that. He was a good leader and generally had the respect of the clubhouse.

Despite growing up in Iran, Afshin’s entire pro career took place in Pakistan. He was spotted and signed by Lahore in June 1987 and spent parts of four years in their academy. Afshin debuted for the Longhorns in 1991 at age 21 with 200 decent innings, taking third in Rookie of the Year voting. He regressed a bit in 1992, allowing a Pakistan League worst 33 home runs.

Afshin bounced back from that with a fine junior season, leading in complete games and innings. He first received awards consideration in 1995, taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting. That season, Afshin led in K/BB, complete games, and FIP- (55). It wasn’t the easiest to get noticed as Lahore was generally mid-to-bad in the 1990s. Still, Afshin stayed loyal and signed a four-year, $4,700,000 extension after the 1995 season.

On July 4, 1996, Afshin earned more notoriety by throwing ABF’s seventh perfect game, striking out 13 against Karachi. He led the league with 402 strikeouts that year, but also led in losses with 19. Afshin led in Ks again in 1997 and also posted a career best 1.83 ERA, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. That was ultimately the closest he came to taking the top honor.

In 1997, Afshin notably had three different 20 strikeout games. A strained forearm cost Afshin about two months in 1998, but he helped Lahore finally end a 10-year playoff drought. Afshin got rocked in his one playoff start, allowing eight runs in six innings. The Longhorns would finish below .500 in the next four seasons. Still, Afshin stayed with a six-year, $10,140,000 extension signed in June 1999.

Despite staying in Pakistan, Afshin did regularly pitch for his native Iran in the World Baseball Championship. From 1993-2005, he had 133.1 innings with a 7-8 record, 4.32 ERA, 212 strikeouts, 44 walks, 82 ERA+, and 0.9 WAR.

Afshin led in strikeouts again in both 2000 and 2001. His 409 Ks and 8.3 WAR in 2000 were both career bests. He chugged along and in 2002, became the first ABF pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts. Afshin would see a major setback in August 2003 with bone chips in his elbow. He was originally expected to just miss eight months, but a setback required surgery and kept him out 12 months total. He ended up looking iffy in only 44 innings in 2004, making some assume he was done.

2005 came as a surprise for many as Afshin roared back, leading in K/BB (13.0) and shutouts (7). Among the shutouts was a second perfect game on May 31, striking out 12 against Hyderabad. As of 2037, he’s the only ABF pitcher with two perfect games and is in a very select group in world baseball history.

Lahore took the East League’s top seed in 2005 at 101-61 and won their first-ever pennant. They lost to Shiraz in the ABF Championship with Afshin posting a 4.34 ERA over 29 playoff innings. He struggled in 2006 with a career-worst 3.89 ERA. Afshin also led in home runs allowed (35), but did lead in K/BB at 11.0. In June, he did become the first-ever ABF pitcher to 5000 career strikeouts and the second to 200 wins.

However, he was able to end his career on the ultimate high note. Afshin went 4-0 in the playoffs over 30.1 innings with a 1.48 ERA and 44 strikeouts. Lahore won the ABF Championship for the first time, defeating Shiraz in a rematch.

You couldn’t ask for a much more romantic end, winning it all after spending your 16-year career with one team. Lahore was awarded the title on October 23 and on October 24, Afshin retired at age 36. The Longhorns immediately retired his #2 uniform.

Afshin ended with a 203-174 record, 2.71 ERA, 3525 innings, 5151 strikeouts, 678 walks, 282/419 quality starts, 179 complete games, 48 shutouts, 109 ERA+, 84 FIP-, and 70.8 WAR. He remained ABF’s strikeout king until finally getting passed in the mid 2030s by Hasan Yousefi. Afshin still ranks second as of 2037.

He also ranks 15^th in pitching WAR, 19^th in wins, and sixth in K/9 at 13.15. However, Afshin also retired with the most home runs allowed at 424, although three others would allow more in later years. The advanced stats aren’t the friendliest to Afshin and thus despite big strikeout tallies, he doesn’t factor into GOAT conversations. Many place his 2012 Hall of Fame classmates Bedirhan Uzun and Rami Naqvi ahead of him.

Still, Afshin made a notable mark in history even without a Pitcher of the Year award. Two perfect games, 5000+ strikeouts, and an epic playoff run to win a title in your final year makes for a deserved HOF induction. At 94.5%, Afshin had the third-highest percentage of the four-player 2012 class.



Hakim “Squirt” as-Salam – Right/Left Field – Peshawar Predators – 93.8% First Ballot

Hakim as-Salam was a 6’2’’, 190 pound switch-hitting outfielder from Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi. In his prime, as-Salam was an incredibly well-rounded hitter. He had great contact skills with an excellent eye, plus a very strong bat. Over his 162 game average, as-Salam would get 36 home runs and 38 doubles. While he was a stellar batter, he was an atrocious baserunner with abysmal speed.

Defensively, as-Salam made around 2/3s of his starts in right field and the rest in left. His arm was quite strong, but his range and glove work were both quite poor, leading to garbage defense overall. Still, as-Salam’s bat was incredible and he was an absolute class act. He was extremely popular with fans and teammates and was known as a tremendous team captain. as-Salam’s work ethic allowed him to thrive over a 20-year career, playing through nagging injuries for much of his run.

Following his amateur career, many scouts viewed as-Salam as Pakistan’s top prospect entering the 1986 ABF Draft. He would get picked third overall by Peshawar and immediately be a full-time starter. as-Salam won 1987 Rookie of the Year honors, leading the Pakistan League with a career-best 47 doubles. He would crack 40+ doubles four times in his career.

A fractured thumb kept as-Salam out the final half of the 1988 season. Peshawar set a franchise-best at 99-63, but missed the playoffs by one game. Soon with as-Salam’s leadership, the Predators became a regular PL contender. They earned five consecutive playoff berths from 1989-93, finishing first in the league standings in 1989, 1991, and 1992.

In 1989, as-Salam took third in MVP voting and led the league in OBP at .425. Peshawar won their first-ever pennant with a new franchise-record 105-57. They lost to Istanbul in the ABF Championship, but as-Salam had a stellar postseason with a 1.209 OPS in 13 starts. The next year, as-Salam led in walks (102), slugging (.667), and OPS (1.114), earning his first Silver Slugger. He had career highs in walks, OPS, home runs (46), runs (113), hits (186), and RBI (125).

Peshawar won the Pakistan League again in 1990, but this time were denied the ABF title by Mashhad. Again, as-Salam was a beast in the playoffs, this time with 17 hits, 13 runs, 6 homers, 14 RBI, and a 1.342 OPS over 13 starts. That earned him PLCS MVP honors and an eight-year, $6,310,000 contract extension signed in May 1991.

Three weeks after signing the deal, as-Salam suffered a severely strained hip muscle, costing him four months. He made it back at the end of the playoffs, but the Predators fell in the 1991 PLCS to Gujranwala. as-Salam impressively bounced back in 1992 with league bests in average (.341), slugging (.676), OPS (1.095), and wRC+ (264). The wRC+ and his 10.1 WAR were career bests, earning his first MVP and a Silver Slugger. as-Salam did it despite playing only 132 games due to injuries.

Peshawar won their third Pakistan League title in 1992 and finally won the ABF Championship. The 1992 win over Mashhad remains the Predators’ lone title as of 2037. Yet again, as-Salam was a stud in the playoffs, getting 15 hits, 12 runs, 5 doubles, 4 home runs, 8 RBI, and an 1.077 OPS over 13 starts.

Torn ankle ligaments and an intercostal strain cost as-Salam two months in 1993. He had a surprisingly weak postseason as Peshawar lost to Multan in the PLCS. This ended the Predators prime run, as they entered a dark period soon after with a 33-year playoff drought. In his playoff career for Peshawar, as-Salam had 47 starts, 59 hits, 36 runs, 8 doubles, 15 home runs, 38 RBI, 26 walks, a .351/.444/.679 slash, 246 wRC+, and 4.2 WAR.

He also played on the World Baseball Championship stage for Pakistan from 1988-2002, although he was less dominant there. In 125 games and 118 starts, as-Salam had 93 hits, 51 runs, 18 doubles, 28 home runs, 70 RBI, 53 walks, a .217/.318/.456 slash, 119 wRC+, and 3.1 WAR. He helped Pakistan earn third place finishes in both 1990 and 1996.

Although Peshawar fell off for the rest of the 1990s, as-Salam did not. From 1994-1998, he led the league thrice in OBP, twice in slugging, OPS, and wRC+, as well as once in runs, hits, doubles, and total bases. All five seasons were worth 6+ WAR or better, winning Silver Sluggers in 1996 and 1997.

1997 would be as-Salam’s second MVP win, leading that year in the triple slash (.312/.388/.616), OPS (1.004), wRC+ (241), hits (174), and total bases (343). He also was second in 1994’s MVP voting. In total for Peshawar, as-Salam had 1751 hits, 941 runs, 439 doubles, 365 home runs, 996 RBI, 740 walks, a .314/.403/.599 slash, 224 wRC+, and 85.7 WAR. The Predators would eventually retire the #9 uniform of as-Salam, who would remain a beloved franchise icon for decades to come.

However, he declined his contract option after the 1998 season. Heading into his age 35 season, a struggling Peshawar couldn’t compete financially or talent-wise with other suitors. Ultimately, as-Salam opted to go to the European Baseball Federation, signing a four-year, $11,520,000 deal with Amsterdam.

In his time in the Netherlands, as-Salam was a solid starter, but not an awards candidate. The Anacondas made the playoffs in 2001 and 2002, but lost in the first round both times with as-Salam posting unremarkable playoff stats. In his four seasons, as-Salam had 501 hits, 308 runs, 93 doubles, 115 home runs, 333 RBI, a .269/.343/.520 slash, 134 wRC+, and 11.6 WAR. He was a free agent again after the 2002 season heading towards his age 39 season.

He could still play when healthy, but as-Salam was starting to break down physically. He returned to ABF in 1993 on a one-year deal with Ankara for only $860,000. He reached 1000 career runs and RBI this season, posting 3.1 WAR and 149 wRC+ over 131 games. Ankara won the West League title, but lost the ABF Championship to Multan. The aging as-Salam had a .710 OPS and 101 wRC+ over 13 playoff starts.

Next up was a two-year, $5,200,000 deal with Almaty. His ability to get on base was diminished, but as-Salam still had enough power for 161 wRC+ and 3.9 WAR over 140 games in 2004. The Assassins suffered an ELCS defeat to Dushanbe. This was as-Salam’s last playoff run, posting a strong .949 OPS and 237 wRC+ in nine starts.

For his ABF run, as-Salam had 69 playoff starts, 80 hits, 48 runs, 13 doubles, 18 home runs, 52 RBI, 35 walks, a .320/.414/.604 slash, 217 wRC+, and 5.2 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks in the top 20 all-time in playoff homers, RBI, and runs. Specifically with Peshawar, as-Salam went down as one of the great playoff performers.

In spring training 2005, as-Salam suffered a broken kneecap that knocked him out for the entire season. He was determined not to have that end his career, signing with Tashkent in 2006 for a comeback bid. In 107 games and 49 starts, as-Salam struggled with a .178 average and 80 wRC+. He did reach 2000 career hits in August, becoming the fourth ABF hitter to do so. That winter, as-Salam retired at age 42.

Counting his four years in Europe, as-Salam had 2510 hits, 1402 runs, 589 doubles, 552 home runs, 1503 RBI, 1068 walks, a .292/.378/.564 slash, 194 wRC, and 104.4 WAR. Just in ABF, as-Salam had 2009 hits, 1094 runs, 496 doubles, 437 home runs, 1170 RBI, 867 walks, a .299/.388/.576 slash, 210 wRC+, and 92.8 WAR. Later higher offense eras of ABF would make as-Salam’s accumulations unremarkable on the leaderboards, but in 2037 he still sits 23^rd in WAR among position players.

The rate stats are impressive, ranking 19^th in OPS among all ABF hitters with 3000+ plate appearances at .964. as-Salam also ranks 11^th in OBP and 30^th in slugging and is 15^th in walks drawn. He was one of the most efficient hitters of early ABF and the cornerstone of Peshawar’s early 1990s success. Many years, as-Salam would be a Hall of Fame headliner. At 93.8%, he was the fourth and final member of the loaded 2012 class.