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

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1943 MLB Hall of Fame

Two players were inducted in Major League Baseball’s 1943 Hall of Fame Class. Two-way player Dylan D’Ippolito and 2B Norris Thuston both made it on the first ballot with the former at 91.1% and the latter at 80.6%. Pitcher Dee Walters on his fifth ballot came close but just short at 63.8%. 3B Brantley Lloyd had a solid debut but was also just out at 62.9%. Franz Bolt, Rush Anest, and Emanuel McCain were the others to top 50%.



Getting dropped on his 10^th ballot was shortstop Joe Thibault. He joins George Showalter as the only eligible players with 3000+ hits at this point in history to not get inducted. He played the majority of his 22 years with Montreal and had 3257 hits, 1438 runs, 451 doubles, 264 HR, 1473 RBI, a .271/.316/.390 slash and 87.8 WAR with five Gold Gloves. His lack of power stats and lower slash sank him despite having some tallies that suggest induction. His 87.8 WAR is the highest of a hitter to be left out thus far. His highest tally was 54.6% on his sixth ballot.



Dylan D’Ippolito – Pitcher/Left Fielder – Washington Admirals – 91.1% First Ballot

Dylan D’Ippolito is a 5’8’’, 180 pound left-handed pitcher and hitter from New York City. He was Major League Baseball’s first real two-way star player, although his biggest contributions were as a pitcher. He had great stuff with 98-100 mph velocity and strong movement, although his control could be spotty. D’Ippolito had four great pitches; a fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter.

As a hitter, he had respectable contact and power and rarely struck out, although he also rarely drew walks and was not a great baserunner. The vast majority of his starts away from the mound were in left field, where he was a below average but passible fielder. He was generally thought of as an average to above average defensive pitcher.

D’Ippolito played college baseball at Cincinnati and did play both ways, although he was expected to make his mark as a pitcher. Washington selected him 32^nd overall in the 1922 MLB Draft. He immediately made a mark, leading the National Association in ERA at 2.33 as a rookie. The pitching earned him Rookie of the Year, as his limited batting exploits were unremarkable.

His second through fifth seasons were truly full-time two-way seasons and these also included his best years as a pitcher. In his third season, he won Pitcher of the Year with the National Association lead in wins (22), ERA (1.90), inning (289.2), quality starts (29/34) with 18 complete games and 9.1 WAR. He did that while hitting 32 home runs with 82 RBI in 116 total starts, posting 12.5 WAR for the entire season. That combined tally was higher than any individual pitching or hitting WAR in a single season to that point in MLB history.

In 1927 at age 25, he won his second Pitcher of the Year award with a 21-6 record, 2.45 ERA, and 6.8 WAR while adding 109 RBI and 3.2 WAR as a hitter. This season also saw a no-hitter on April 7 against Minneapolis with 10 strikeouts and one walk. In both 1925 and 1927, he was second in MVP voting.

Through his first five seasons, D’Ippolito had posted 42.2 total WAR between his pitching and hitting exploits. But that workload did a toll on his body and he wouldn’t again be physically able to maintain that for a full season. Each year, various injuries would usually cost him one to two months of action for the rest of his Washington run. He was still generally good for around 20 starts on the mound and around 40-50 games in the field. This got him around 2-3 WAR pitching and another 1-2 WAR with his bat on average, making him still a very important part of the squad.

In his peak seasons, the Admirals were typically in the top half of the standings in the Eastern League, but not good enough to make the playoffs. They finally broke through in 1930 and D’Ippolito was able to have his first playoff action and help Washington to a World Series title.

In 1932 at age 30, D’Ippolito struggled on the mound and wanted to remain a two-way player regardless. He had signed a six-year extension at the start of the season, but with his struggles and a hamstring strain midseason, Washington decided to cut their losses and release him on August 29. Detroit signed him for the remainder of the 1932 campaign. Still only 31 entering 1933, Phoenix felt he still had a lot of offer and signed D’Ippolito to a six-year, $63,600 deal.

His debut season with the Firebirds was the closest he had gotten to a full pitching season since 1927 and he still gave them decent batting numbers, although his patching stats were merely decent. The signing was ultimately a win, as Phoenix won the American Association title, losing in the World Series to Louisville.

The Firebirds wouldn’t make the playoffs again during D’Ippolito’s tenure and his body began to fall apart hard. A torn back muscle in spring training put him out most of 1934 and he needed surgery for bone chips in his elbow mid-1935, putting him out of the game for a calendar year. When he returned in late 1936 at age 34, he put up solid pitching numbers in his limited play, giving Phoenix hope. He had a full pitching season in 1937, but struggled with production. D’Iippolito opted to retire at the end of the year at age 36. He was able to mend his relationship with Washington the next year, as they retired his #33 jersey.

His final pitching stats alone warranted Hall of Fame consideration: 200-109, 2.82 ERA, 2899.1 innings with 2320 strikeouts and 978 walks, 264/372 quality starts and 58.3 WAR. As a hitter, he added 24.3 WAR with a .291 average, 222 home runs, 746 RBI, 1283 hits, and 586 runs. These stats come too with the fact that he generally missed chunks of each year in the final decade of his career. One of the most fascinating talents in MLB history and certainly one deserving of his spot in the Hall of Fame.



Norris Thuston – Second Baseman – Baltimore Orioles – 80.6% First Ballot

Norris Thuston was a 5’9’’, 200 pound right-handed second baseman from Cazenovia, a small town in central New York State. Thuston played almost exclusively at 2B and joins Archie Meredith as the only 2Bs in the MLB Hall of Fame. He was considered a pretty solid defender early in his career, but closer to below average in his 30s. Thuston was an excellent contact hitter and a smart (but not super quick) baserunner who rarely struck out. He had deceptive power with three 30+ home run seasons. Thuston also was considered a great leader and team captain.

Thurston played college baseball at Minnesota, winning a Silver Slugger as a sophomore and a Gold Glove as a junior. In the 1919 MLB Draft, Baltimore selected him 12^th overall and he would spend his entire 18-year professional career as an Oriole. He immediately made a huge impact, earning Rookie of the Year with an 8.8 WAR debut and .358 average.

In his second season, he earned the National Association MVP, a Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger with a 10.5 WAR season. Thuston hit .347 with 37 home runs and 110 RBI. This year, Baltimore made it to the playoffs for the first time ever and won the NA title, falling to San Francisco in the 1921 World Series. He had a stellar junior season (second in MVP voting) and good fourth year, although injury caused him to miss a month. He was back just in time to lead them to the 1923 World Series title, the franchise’s first.

Baltimore would fall off hard to close the 1920s and didn’t find notable success again until the end of the 1930s. But Thuston remained the loyal soldier and captain throughout. In 1925, a torn PCL caused him to miss nearly the entire season. Other nagging injuries kept him out a few weeks most years, but he still had reliable production, winning four Silver Sluggers in total.

In 1930 at age 31, he finished second in MVP voting with a 10.2 WAR campaign. He got his only batting title with a .356 average, while also leading the NA in OBP at .422 and adding 35 home runs. The next season would be his last full year as a start with the nagging injuries and age catching up into his 30s. More knee trouble, as well as a concussion in 1936, made it tough for Thuston. In 1937, another torn PCL finally made him call it quits at age 39.

The final statistics: 2701 hits, 1409 runs, 342 doubles, 136 triples, 353 home runs, 1206 RBI, a .314/.365/.509 slash, and 89.9 WAR. Unsurprisingly, his #9 was the first number retired by Baltimore and he remained an Oriole ambassador for years after. An elite 2B of the 1920s and 30s and a big part of a World Series title, Thuston was a well-deserved first ballot Hall of Fame pick.

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1943 CABA Hall of Fame

Three players made it into the 1943 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame class. Closer B.J. Cabrera made it on the first ballot at 86.2%. 1B Jose Angel Islas on his third got in at 73.4%. Starting pitcher Makenson Augustin made it on the thinnest of margins, sneaking in at 66.1% on his eighth time on the ballot. Two others crossed the 50% threshold but are still on the outside; SP Aitor Moreno (52.6, 6^th) and 2B Junior Moto (50.2%, 4^th)



Two players were dropped after their 10^th go on the ballot. SP Yelder Guzman had a 14-year career with three teams with a 174-160 record, 2.79 ERA, and 44.9 WAR with 3065 strikeouts. He peaked at 25.7% on his second ballot. Another SP, Alfredo Fernandez, spent 14 of 15 seasons with Honduras and had a 188-157 record, 3.04 ERA, 2652 strikeouts, and 29.2 WAR. He peaked at 15.4% on his first try. Both respectable careers, but not Hall worthy.



B.J. Cabrera – Closer – Monterrey Matadors – 86.2% First Ballot

B.J. Cabrera was a 5’10’’, 185 pound left-handed relief pitcher from the capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa. He developed 97-99 mph velocity as his career advanced with a solid fastball and a strong splitter to counter. After playing high school baseball around Tegucigalpa, his home country team Honduras drafted him 23^rd overall in the 1919 CABA Draft. He remained on the reserve roster for a few years, finally making his Horseman debut in 1923 at age 22.

After two respectable seasons in middle relief with Honduras, he was traded to Jamaica for the 1925 season. He spent six seasons with the Jazz, becoming the closer in his second season and holding the role for four seasons. He led the Caribbean League in saves (45) in 1927 and won Reliever of the Year in 1929. In 1930, the Jazz won the CABA championship for the first time. It was Cabrera’s first ring, but he has reduced to middle relief in his last year with Jamaica.

At age 30, he signed with Ecatepec for the 1931 season and spent two seasons in middle relief. Cabrera earned two rings in this stretch as it was the middle of the Ecatepec dynasty. In March 1933, the Explosion traded Cabrera to Monterrey.

His five years with the Matadors were considered his signature run, even though his longest tenure was with Jamaica. With Monterrey, he won three additional Reliever of the Year awards, leading in saves in 1933 and 1934. The Matadors won two Mexican League titles during Cabrera’s run and he picked up his fourth CABA ring in 1937. He retired at the end of the season at age 37.

Cabrera’s final line: 382 saves, 2.06 ERA, 1062.1 innings, 1351 strikeouts, 491 shutdowns, and 35.0 WAR. At retirement, his 382 saves was second all-time only behind Olivio Madrid. These tallies and being a part of numerous championship teams got Cabrera noticed by the voters and inducted on the first ballot at 86.2%.



Jose Angel Islas – First Baseman – Chihuahua Warriors – 73.4% Third Ballot

Jose Angel Islas was a 5’8’’, 200 pound switch-hitting first baseman from Leon, Mexico. Islas was a well-rounded hitter who didn’t excel at anything, but was above average to good at most facets of batting. He struck out more than you’d like, but was one of the best in the era at drawing walks. He was a slow baserunner and played exclusively at first base in his career as a slightly below average fielder. His great bat gave him a 21-year career despite generally being considered a bit of a disloyal jerk.

After a successful amateur career, Islas was picked third overall by Chihuahua in the 1914 CABA Draft. After limited action in 1915, his first full season in 1916 earned him Rookie of the Year honors. He would spend nearly 14 seasons with the Warriors, leading Mexico in walks three times, doubles twice, and runs once. He earned two Silver Sluggers and was third in MVP voting in 1920 and 1921. Chihuahua became a winner into the 1920s and took the Mexican League title in 1922 and 1926; taking the CABA title in 1922. Islas was the MCLS MVP in 1921 despite the team losing the series to Guadalajara.

Chihuahua entered a rebuilding phase in 1928 and traded Islas, despite the 36-year old still consistently putting up solid production. His final line with Chihuahua was 1825 hits, 895 runs, 318 home runs, 341 doubles, 946 RBI, a .271/.347/.473 slash and 64.0 WAR.

Islas was moved on July 28 to Puebla for prospects, as the Pumas were trying to make a playoff push. It paid off, as Puebla won the CABA championship and Islas earned his second overall ring. Islas spent another four seasons with the Pumas, although they wouldn’t get back to the playoffs in his tenure. He still put up 22.1 WAR, 634 hits, 143 home runs, and 382 RBI. With Puebla, he earned his 1000^th career run, 2000^th hit, and 400^th home run.

The Pumas didn’t re-sign Islas after the 1932 season, although the now 41-year old was coming off a 5.3 WAR season. He signed with Mexico City and was a starter in 1933, then saw limited action in the next two years due to age and injury. He came in right around the time the Aztecs dynasty began, getting a third CABA ring and fifth Mexican League ring in 1934. Islas became a free agent after the 1935 season and after being unsigned in 1936, retired at age 45.

His lengthy career led to some nice totals: 2715 hits, 1384 runs, 464 doubles, 493 home runs, 1448 RBI, 1179 walks, a .270/.345/.472 slash and 90.5 WAR. At the time, his 464 doubles was the most all-time by a CABA player and he was second in hits and walks drawn. Still, his rude personality and lack of an MVP title meant he didn’t get in the Hall of Fame until his third try at 73.4%. But his career tallies and longevity were undeniable, along with his role on numerous championship teams.



Makenson “Magoo” Augustin – Starting Pitcher – Haiti Herons – 66.1% Eighth Ballot

Makeson Augustin was a 6’0’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from Carrefour, part of greater Port-au-Prince in Haiti. Nicknamed “Magoo,” he was a fireballer who regularly hit triple digits with a great fastball. He also had a strong forkball, along with passable slider and changeup. Control was at times an issue along with injuries, as inflammation his throwing elbow was a reoccurring issue.

Augustin caught the attention of Haitian baseball leaders as an amateur and was picked by his home-country Herons sixth overall in the 1917 CABA Draft. He immediately became a key part of Haiti’s rotation. In his fifth season, Augustin won his lone Pitcher of the Year award with a 23-12 record, 1.92 ERA, 313 strikeouts, and 8.3 WAR.

In 1924, Haiti traded Augustin to Jamaica midseason. He spent 1925 with Jamaica as well, then re-signed with Haiti the next season at age 31 and spent the remaining five seasons of his career back with the Herons. His production began to fade in his 30s with his injuries, going from consistently above average to closer to average. In 1930, a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament ultimately forced Augustin into retirement at age 35.

Magoo’s final stats: 186-136, 2.80 ERA, 2924 innings, 2631 strikeouts, and 53.6 WAR. He was consistently around a 3-5 WAR pitcher for each year of his career, but apart from his 1922 season, he was never considered elite. His debut on the Hall of Fame ballot was at 39%, but he slowly gained support as the years passed. After getting 55.1% in his seventh try, Augustin finally crossed the 2/3s threshold by the slimmest margin at 66.1% on his eighth try. Thus, Augustin will forever be enshrined with the all-time greats.

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1943 EAB Hall of Fame

Two players earned induction into the East Asia Baseball 1943 Hall of Fame class. Pitcher Michiro Yabuta was a first ballot pick at 88.0%, while first baseman Ji-Hoo Kim barely making the cut on his second try at 67.6%. Pitcher Kil-Sung Min was the other player above 50%, finishing at 61.8% on his second try.



One player made it to his 10^th ballot and was dropped in closer Dong-Hyeon Park. His EAB career started at age 30 and only lasted eight seasons, but he posted 30.1 WAR and two Reliever of the Year awards between Hamhung and Yokohama.



Michiro “Ripper” Yabuta – Starting Pitcher – Nagoya Nightowls – 88.0% First Ballot

Michiro Yabuta was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed starting pitcher from the small town of Akabira on the northern Japanese island Hokkaido. His fastball was in the 95-97 range and respectable, but it was a deadly changeup which got him most of his strikeouts. He also had a solid splitter and knuckle curve as well as respectable defense, as he thrice won the Gold Glove.

Yabuta came into professional baseball right as EAB was formed, missing out on the initial draft by a year. He signed at age 22 with Ulsan to begin his pro career and became a full-time start in his second season. By his fourth year, he found his rhythm as an ace, posting a 20 win, 2.27 ERA, 8.6 WAR 1924 campaign.

The struggling Ulsan franchise traded Yabuta to Gwangju in the summer of 1925, as the Grays were hoping to build a winner. They won three straight Korea League titles, although each time was denied in the EAB final during Yabuta’s three-and-a-half seasons there. Still, he posted a reliable 6-7 WAR each year with Gwangju. Not necessarily dominant, but reliably solid.

Yabuta signed a seven-year deal with Nagoya for the 1929 season at age 30 and was unremarkable in his first two seasons. But in year three, he started a solid run that helped the Nightowls win the EAB Championship in both 1931 and 1934. In 1933, Yabuta had career bests in WAR (9.0), strikeouts (337), and wins (23), giving him a second place finish in Pitcher of the Year voting; the closest he came to winning the award. In 1934, Yabuta was the second EAB pitcher to 200 career wins and in 1935, Yabuta became the first pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts.

Back issues caused the usually healthy Yabuta to miss about two months in 1935. In 1936, Yabuta signed with Sapporo, his home prefecture team. However, bone chips in his elbow put him out at the end of the season. His return the next year at age 38 was a struggle with Yabuta retiring at the end of the season. However, he became the first EAB pitcher to cross 4500 career strikeouts in this final season.

The final line: 245-180, 2.99 ERA, 3908.1 innings, 4608 strikeouts, 354 quality starts out of 505, and 86.1 WAR. He retired the leader in strikeouts, but also would be the highest ERA pitcher inducted at the time of his induction and a century later, would be one of two Hall of Famers to have 900+ career walks. Still, his longevity and legendary changeup were hard to deny, putting Michiro Yabuta in on the first ballot at 88.0%.



Ji-Hoo Kim – First Baseman – Saitama Sting – 67.6% First Ballot

Ji-Hoo Kim was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from Goyang, South Korea. Kim was renowned for having one of the best eyes in baseball history and legendary patience, leading his league in walks in 12 different seasons in his career. He also had solid power and contact as well, making him a feared hitter in the 1920s and 30s. He was a slow and weak baserunner and spent his career entirely at first base defensively, where he was an average fielder. Kim was also a hard worker, making him extremely popular everywhere he went.

Kim had an excellent amateur and semi-pro career, already feared as a hitter when East Asia Baseball was formed in 1921. Kim at age 25 signed with Saitama, the team he’s inducted officially with despite only playing four seasons with them. With the Sting, he had two batting titles, led in OPS three times, and in 1924, lead Japan in WAR at 10.8 for his first MVP.

Fresh off the MVP season, Saitama traded him for prospects to Pyongyang in exchange for three players, including eventual Hall of Fame pitcher Jun-Hyeok Cho. After one season with the Pythons, the now 30-year old Kim signed for the 1926 season with Gwangju. The Grays won two Korea League titles in Kim’s four year tenure, which saw three straight MVPs from 1926 to 1928. He led Korea in homers twice, RBI once, OPS thrice more, and WAR once at 10.3. A herniated disc kept him out for half of the 1929 season, his last with the Grays.

In 1930, the 34-year old Kim left for America; one of the first Korean players to do so successfully. He spent four seasons with MLB’s Houston, then two with Miami. Although not an MVP anymore, he still put up solid seasons and led the American Association in walks drawn four times. At age 40 in 1936, he came back to EAB for one season with Daegu, retiring that offseason.

Between EAB and MLB, Ki had 470 home runs, 94.2 WAR, 2129 hits, 1359 RBI, 1373 runs, and 1596 walks. Even in only 10 EAB seasons, he became the first Hall of Famer to 1000+ walks. His final EAB line was 1397 hits, 865 runs, 308 home runs, 857 RBI, 1042 walks, a .292/.420/.533 slash and 75.5 WAR. His .420 OBP is the all-time top career mark even a century later.

His low overall totals due to leaving for MLB and lack of signature run with one team made him disfavored by many voters, getting only 56.8% on his first ballot. He barely made the cut on try two at 67.6%. But four MVPs and seven Silver Sluggers over 10 seasons is outstanding and earned Ji-Hoo Kim a spot in the EAB Hall of Fame.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1943 in BSA



The Bolivar North Division was a tight battle claimed by Barquisimeto by one game. The Black Cats took it at 89-73, just beating out Bogota at 88-74. Last year’s champ Maracaibo fell off hard to 71 wins. In the South Division, the La Paz dynasty continued for a fifth straight title at 104-58. Cali at 99-63 had a good effort, but couldn’t catch the Pump Jacks.

Barquisimeto RF Matias Amaro won his third MVP in four seasons. Amaro led in 1943 in home runs (46), runs (87), walks (77), OBP (.355), and OPS (.912), adding 8.6 WAR and 106 RBI. Bogota’s Arsenio Salgado had a career season with a 25-6 record, 1.70 ERA, 302 strikeouts and 6.9 WAR. He had 33 quality starts out of 36.



Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires both won Liga Cono Sur division titles again in 1943. The Padres cruised to the Brazil Division title at 111-51, while the two-time defending champion Atlantics claimed the South Division at 100-62.

The MVP and Pitcher of the Year awards both went to Sao Paolo players. 25-year old 1B Amadeus Ribeiro earned the third Triple Crown by a Beisbol Sudamerica player with a .323 average, 55 home runs, and 113 RBI. He also led the league in runs (106), hits (195), slugging (.629), OPS (.995), and wRC+ (229). Veteran Danilo Patricio picked up the Pitcher of the Year with the 33-year old signing with the Padres that offseason from Brasilia. Patricio led the league in ERA (1.41), strikeouts (358), WAR (12.0), Quality starts (32), complete games (19), and innings (293.1).

In a rematch of the 1939 Bolivar League Championship Series, La Paz beat Barquisimeto in six games, giving the Pump Jacks their fourth Bolivar title in five seasons. In a rematch of the prior season, Sao Paolo got revenge on Buenos Aires, sweeping them in the Cono Sur Championship for the Padres first title. In Copa Sudamerica, La Paz topped Sao Palo in five games, giving the Pump Jacks a third overall title in their dynasty run. They join Medellin as the only franchises with three Copa Sudamerica titles to date.





Other notes: Cali CF Saul Vargas became the first eight-time Silver Slugger winner. In his final season, La Paz catcher Armando Urquides won his seventh Silver Slugger. Two-way player Ignacio Rola won his seventh as a pitcher. Rio de Janeiro RF Martin Arriaga became the first eight-time Gold Glove winner.

Montevideo’s Raphael Silva threw a perfect game on April 10, striking out 10 against Rosario. Cali’s RJ Correa had a 30-game hit streak, setting the Beisbol Sudamerica record. La Paz’s Mohamed Ramos made it to 6000 career strikeouts while only eight others have even made it to 3000. Valencia’s Mohammed Jimenez became the first BSA batter to both 2000 career hits and 1000 runs scored. Brasilia’s Jose Negron became the second to 1000 career RBI.

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1943 in EAB

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The Japan League North Division was a three team race with five-time defending champ Kawasaki ultimately taking third at 84-78. Saitama was second at 86-76, two games behind Sapporo at 88-74. For the Swordfish, it is their first playoff berth since 1935. The South Division came down to the final day with Osaka at 97-63 besting Kyoto by one game. It’s the third Orange Sox division title and first since 1925. Last year’s Japan champ Kobe tied for third with Nagoya at 87 wins.

Nagoya’s Si-U Gim won his fourth MVP, the first to earn four MVPs in Japan League history. The 28-year old shortstop led in WAR for the fifth time in his career, posting 12.4 while adding 34 home runs and 88 RBI. Sapporo’s Fumio Fujino won Pitcher of the Year in his fifth season. He led in wins (22), strikeouts (317), WHIP (0.73) and K/BB (15.1). Only Drew St. Louis’s 1.54 bested Fujino (1.77) for a Triple Crown. Fujino also won his fifth Gold Glove.



Goyang took the Korea League North Division for the sixth time in eight years; ultimately the final title of this stretch. At 94-68, they ended three games ahead of Pyongyang. Busan claimed the South Division at 103-59 for their ninth division title in 12 seasons.

Green Sox slugger Byung-Oh Tan won his fourth MVP in five seasons. In his age 30 season, Tan led only in WAR at 9.0, but had 41 home runs, 108 RBI, and a .340 average. Tan joins Ji-Hoo Kim as the only four-time Korea League MVPs. Hamhung’s Seung-Jun Pae grabbed Pithcer of the Year with the league lead in ERA (1.54) and WAR (9.3). This would be the career peak for the 29-year old Pae, who would be out of the game by age 33 with multiple torn labrums.

In the 1943 Japan League Championship Series, Osaka downed Sapporo in five games for their third league title and first since 1925. The Korean League Championship Series went seven again and yet again, Busan prevailed over Goyang. That gives the Blue Jays five titles in six years and seven in 11 years, while the Green Sox are denied for the sixth time in eight years. In the East Asian Championship, Osaka bested Busan in six games. The Orange Sox join Busan and Nagoya as the only franchises with three overall titles thus far.





Other notes: Busan’s Yu-Geon Moon became the sixth EAB pitcher to 35000 cereer strikeouts. Nagoya’s Kazuo Udagawa became the eighth pitcher to 200 career wins. MVP Byung-Oh Tan made it to both 2000 career hits and 1000 RBI.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1943 in CABA

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Chihuahua picked up the 1943 Mexican League North Division title, their first since 1926. The Warriors took it at 93-69 with defending champ Monterrey falling to fifth at 71-91. In the South Division, Ecatepec defeated defending league champ Leon for the title with the Explosion at 97-65, three ahead of the Lions. It’s Ecatepec’s first playoff berth in a decade.

Juarez LF Jeong-Hyeon Pin won his second MVP. The 30-year old Korean led Mexico in slugging (.574), OPS (.947), and wRC+ (191). Chihuahua had the Pitcher of the Year in 31-year old Jovan Williams. The Jamaican veteran had a career season with the league lead in wins (20), ERA (1.86), quality starts (30), and WAR (8.9).



Puerto Rico won a third straight Caribbean League Island Division title with the 99-63 Pelicans beating Santo Domingo by five games. The Continental Division saw defending CABA champ Honduras first for the fifth straight season at 86-76, two better than Salvador and four over Costa Rica.

Puerto Rico RF Pasqualino Yanez won back-to-back MVPs. The 31-year old lefty led the Caribbean in WAR (8.7), OPS (.977), and RBI (121). Salvador’s Alonso De La Garza won his second Pitcher of the Year and first since his rookie year of 1939. De La Garza led the league in WAR (8.7) and FIP- (64) with a 2.56 ERA and 295 stirkeouts.

In the 1943 Mexican League Championship Series, Ecatepec defeated Chihuahua in six games, giving the Explosion their fourth league title and first since 1932. The third straight Caribbean League Championship Series between Puerto Rico and Honduras went to the Pelicans. PR secured the rubber match in six games for their second title in three years and sixth league title overall. The CABA Championship went seven games for the sixth straight season. Ecatepec prevailed over Puerto Rico for the Explosion’s fourth overall title. They join Tijuana as the only four-time CABA Championship winners.





Other notes: Guatemala’s Lanny Lujan and Puerto Rico’s Yves Jean joined the 400 home run club. Santo Domingo’s Ray Reyes and Haiti’s Gabriel Tuitt both joined the 2000 hit club.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1943 in MLB



Two-time defending World Series champ Philadelphia won their third straight Eastern League title, going 106-56. Hartford was a strong second at 102-60, the first playoff berth for them since 1935. Last year’s EL wild card Baltimore fell to 87 wins. Cincinnati took the Midwest League for back-to-back series, winning it at 98-64. Omaha was again the wild card, earning a fourth straight playoff berth. The Hawks at 91-71 finished one game better than Minneapolis.

Moose two-way player Jared Lee won back-to-back MVPs. As a pitcher, the 25-year old Lee had 4.7 WAR and led in strikeouts at 241. As a left fielder, he added 5.6 WAR, 32 home runs, 92 RBI, and a .326 average. Kansas City’s Bray Spalding in his third year grabbed Pitcher of the Year, leading the National Association in WAR (8.5), innings (268.2) and FIP- (67).

In the first round, Philadelphia defeated Omaha and Hartford knocked off Cincinnati; both in four games. The 1943 NACS went to the Phillies in six games over the Huskies, giving Philadelphia a third straight National Association title.



The Southern League was a three-team battle at the top between Charlotte, Dallas, and Houston. The Canaries and Dalmatians tied for first at 91-71 with the Hornets two behind. The tiebreaker went to Dallas for back-to-back league titles, while Charlotte gets their eight playoff berth in the last 11 years. Five teams were within five games of first in the Western League in 1943. Albuquerque at 98-64 took the title for the first time since 1936. Vancouver and Los Angeles tied for second at 95-68, both two games ahead of Calgary and San Diego. In a one-game playoff for the wild card spot, the Volcanoes defeated the Angels.

The MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Dallas. In his second season, LF Conrad Mill picked up MVP with an American Association best 1.060 OPS, .642 slugging, and 179 wRC+. He had 7.3 WAR, 40 home runs, and 118 RBI. 26-year old Brentley Suka won the Pitcher of the Year with a 21-1 record, 2.92 ERA, 247 strikeouts, 24 complete games, and 8.0 WAR. Also of note, San Diego’s Victor Porter won back-to-back Reliever of the Year, setting an AA record with 6.0 WAR for the award winner at 1.41 ERA and 39 saves.

In the first round, Dallas survived Vancouver in five games and Albuquerque topped Charlotte in four games. In the AACS, Dallas defeated Albuquerque in six games, giving the Dalmatians back-to-back American Association titles and their fourth overall. The 1943 World Series of a rematch of the prior year with the same ultimate result; Philadelphia over Dallas, this time in six games. The Phillies join the 1910-12 Houston Hornets as the only teams to three-peat as MLB champion. Philadelphia now has five World Series titles, behind only the Hornets at six.





Other notes: 10-time Mexican League MVP Kiko Velazquez made his MLB debut with Las Vegas and at age 36, led the AA with 140 RBI. Albuquerque’s Bill Tan set a single season record with 93 stolen bases in his second season. As of nearly a century later, he would be the only MLB player to crack 90+ in a season and would hold four of the eight instances of someone stealing 80+.

Buffalo’s Dale Brooks became the 15^th MLB player to 3000 career hits. Brooks also Joined the 1500 RBI club along with Caleb Yang and Kent Price. Yang also made it to 1500 runs scored. Atlanta’s Patrick Iannazzo became the 12^th pitcher to 250 career wins. Houston’s Rovaldis Arvelo became the second to 400 career saves, passing Jim Klattenburger for the top spot on the all-time leaderboard.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1944 MLB Hall of Fame

The 1944 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Class saw two players inducted, both getting in on their sixth attempt. 3B Franz Bolt received 77.2% to get in, while SP Dee Walters squeaked in at 66.4%, just above the 66% threshold required to get in. 3B Brantley Lloyd on his second ballot barely missed it at 64.5%. 2B Kenny Goldman on his fourth try got 59.3%. CL Noah Pugliese, 1B Israel Bishop, and RF Jake Nicholson were the others above 50%.



Bishop was dropped after his 10^th try at the Hall and hovering around the 50% mark most years. The Grenadan first baseman peaked at 58.5% on his fourth try. He played with New Orleans, Atlanta, and Minneapolis and won American Association MVP in 1922. Bishop’s stats were 2218 hits, 1144 runs, 385 home runs, 1245 RBI, a .312/.368/.527 slash and 64.8 WAR.

Also making his 10^th ballot and falling off was RF Boswell Lindsey, ending at 7.7% and peaking at 24.7% on his second try. Primarily with Tampa in his 18 years, he had 2465 hits, 1317 runs, 513 home runs, 1525 RBI, and 60.9 WAR. Another notable who only made it to his eighth ballot was RF Jonathan Goldstein. He was a two time MVP and had a 56 and 52 home run season in his first two full seasons, finishing with 567 homers on 2553 hits and 68.7 WAR. Despite that, he peaked at 23.7% on his first try.



Franz Bolt – Third Baseman – Nashville Knights – 77.2% Sixth Ballot

Franz Bolt was a 5’11’’, 195 pound third baseman born in Weiden in the southeast state of Bavaria in modern Germany. He’s the first German-born MLB Hall of Famer, moving to America as a teenager and playing college baseball at Vanderbilt. Bolt was a great contact hitter with solid gap power and excellent baserunning skills, although he had average at best speed. He played essentially his entire career at third base and was considered a below average fielder.

Bolt had a great college career at Vanderbilt, finishing second in the 1915 NCAA MVP voting. Despite that, he wasn’t picked until the fourth round of the 1915 MLB Draft, picked 155^th overall by Nashville. He immediately became a solid starter, earning 1916 Rookie of the Year. He spent seven seasons with the Knights and apart from a terrible 1920, was a solid contributor throughout his run. With the Knights, he put up 26.0 WAR and 1248 hits.

Nashville was a bottom-rung team in Bolt’s run and in 1923, he left and signed a five-year deal with Denver. In his third year with the Dragons in 1925, he had career bests in average (.348), WAR (.7.0) and RBI (114) and was the American Association Championship MVP, helping Denver to their first World Series title. He took second in overall MVP voting, his only time getting that close. This would be Bolt’s only time getting to play postseason baseball, but he earned a ring.

Despite all of the positives, Bolt decided to opt out of his Denver contract hoping for a big payday. He signed with the New York Yankees and during that run, picked up his 200^th career hit, 1000^th RBI, and 1000^th run. He got his second Silver Slugger in 1927. His four years with the Yankees had his highest career WAR with one team at 26.9, but New York never made the playoffs.

Bolt again opted out early and signed a big deal with Vancouver for the 1930 at age 35. Unfortunately, his production fell off hard in his time with the Volcanoes. In his four years there, he earned his 3000^th hit; the ninth player to cross that threshold.

The final line: 3062 hits, 1568 runs, 484 doubles, 375 home runs, 1485 RBI, a .299/.360/.468 slash and 76.5 WAR. Very solid career totals, but he was never a league leader or powerhouse. That, plus his lack of a signature run with one team kept him on the outside in the initial Hall of Fame voting. He barely missed on his fourth try at 65.7%, but finally crossed the 66% threshold at 77.2% to earn his spot in the MLB Hall of Fame.



Dee Walters – Starting Pitcher – Hartford Huskies – 66.4% Sixth Ballot

Dee Walters was a 5’10’’, 185 pound right-handed pitcher from West Haven, Connecticut. Walters wasn’t a dominant pitcher, but was considered pretty well rounded overall. He peaked at 94-96 mph velocity with four pitches; an extreme groundballer with a sinker, splitter, changeup, and curveball. Walters was reliable and considered a well-liked leader in the clubhouse.

Walters played college baseball at Northwestern and was drafted 44^th overall in the 1916 MLB Draft by Hartford. The Huskies kept him in the minor league in his first two seasons as a pro and part of his fourth season, as the Huskies were a top team in the Eastern League. They were the 1920 National Association champ and remained a winning team in Walters’ tenure, but would only make the playoffs once more in his run.

In his time with the Huskies, Walters was 148-111 with a 3.34 ERA, 1650 strikeouts over 2392.2 innings, and 48.0 WAR. After being a good, not great starter for most of his run, he had a career year in 1928 at age 32 with 7.8 ERA and 2.62 ERA, placing him third in Pitcher of the Year voting.

Deciding to sell high, Hartford traded Walters to Houston for prospects. In his one season with the Hornets, Walters won his lone Pitcher of the Year with 8.4 WAR, 20-0 record, 3.20 ERA and 20 complete games. He got rocked in his one postseason start, then opted to try free agency. Walters signed a four-year deal with San Diego.

He put up four strong seasons with the Seals, putting up 23.7 WAR with a 73-45 record and 3.15 ERA. After the 1933 season at age 38, Walters said it was time to call it quits to pursue other things. His final line was 241-165, 3.27 ERA, 3762.1 innings, 2527 strikeouts, 315 quality starts out of 483 and 80.1 WAR. His lack of dominance hurt him with some Hall of Fame voters, although he was always above 50%. His fifth try he got to 63.8%, finally crossing the 66% threshold at 66.4% in his sixth go and earning induction.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1944 CABA Hall of Fame

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The 1944 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame class saw two first ballot inductees, both over the 90% mark. SP Noah Nieveld was nearly unanimous at 99.7% and SP Pablo Gonzalez got to 91.5%. Two others crossed 50% but were still out; another SP Aitor Moreno and 2B Junior Mota. No CABA players were 10^th ballot drops in 1944.



Noah “Toro” Nieveld – Starting Pitcher – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 99.7% First Ballot

Noah Nieveld was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher born in Sint Nicolas, Aruba. The first Aruban to make the CABA Hall of Fame, “Toro” had a 96-98 fastball and incredible movement on a knuckle curve and changeup, plus a decent slider. Weak control plagued him at times; he has more walks (1036) than any CABA Hall of Famer. However, his excellent movement and stuff, plus a strong work ethic, made up for it.

After an excellent amateur run in Aruba, Santo Domingo drafted Nieveld eighth overall in the 1923 CABA draft. After limited time as a rookie, he then spent the next eight seasons as the Dolphins ace. In 1927, Nieveld played a big role in Santo Domingo winning the CABA championship with three solid starts in the postseason run. In 1928, Nieveld earned his lone Pitcher of the Year with a Triple Crown season of 22-7, 1.81 ERA, and 337 strikeouts with 11.1 WAR.

Despite his individual success, the 1927 championship was their only playoff berth in his tenure. With Santo Domingo, Nieveld had 60.5 WAR, 141-84 record, 2.61 ERA, and 2346 strikeouts. He also had a no-hitter in 1927 against Santiago. He was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1929 and 1930.

After the 1932 season, Santo Domingo traded him to the other side of the Dominican Republic to Santiago, where Nieveld spent the final six seasons of his career. The Sailfish improved, but only made the playoffs once in Nieveld’s tenure. In 1935, he was second in Pitcher of the Year voting again with a Caribbean-best 1.74 ERA. In 1937, a strained oblique caused him to miss the last two months of the season. Then in 1938, the now 36-year old Nieveld started to struggle, retiring at the end of the season. He was able to throw his second no-hitter in that last season against Salvador.

Nieveld’s final line: 224-136, 2.65 ERA, 3431.1 innings, 1036 walks, 3728 strikeouts, 327/451 quality starts, and 88.9 WAR. One of the best pitchers of the 1920s and 1930s and the first star from Aruba, Nieveld is well deserving of a spot in the CABA Hall of Fame.



Pablo Gonzalez – Starting Pitcher – Puebla Pumas – 91.5% First Ballot

Pablo Gonzalez was a 5’10’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Villahermosa, a city in the southeastern Mexican state of Tabasco. Gonzalez had 97-99 mph velocity with very good movement and control with his best pitch an excellent cutter. He mixed that with a slider, splitter, and changeup. He was a good defender with a Gold Glove to his name in 1933.

Gonzalez was the fourth overall draft pick by Puebla in the 1922 CABA Draft and would spend 14 of his 16 seasons of professional baseball with the Pumas. After only 11 innings in 1923, he became a full-time starter after that. He never won Pitcher of the Year, but came close many times. He was second in voting in 1927, 1928, and 1931, while taking third in 1929 and 1930. He was also third in MVP voting in 1928.

In 1928, Gonzalez also put up 23 playoff innings with a 1.57 ERA to help Puebla to their first CABA championship. He had career bests in wins (20), ERA 91.74), and strikeouts (305). That would be their only playoff appearance in Gonzalez’s run. He had 76.3 WAR, 2.39 ERA, 173-137 record, and 2966 with the Pumas. They would retire his #7 jersey after he retired.

In 1934, a sore shoulder and broken kneecap knocked him out for the second half and shoulder inflammation caused Gonzalez to miss almost all of 1935. He came back with an 8.0 WAR season in 1936 at age 34, his final season with Puebla. The Pumas opted to trade him for prospects to Santiago, where he had a decent 1937. He signed with Ecatepec for three seasons in 1938, but only had eight outings with them as elbow ligament reconstruction surgery ended his career.

Gonzalez’s final line: 188-154, 2.47 ERA, 3302 innings, 3176 strikeouts with only 534 walks, 306/415 quality starts and 81.1 WAR. His accumulated stats aren’t high on the leaderboards, but his ERA compares well with other Hall of Famers. One of the top pitchers of the Mexican League in the 20s and 30s and a big part of Puebla’s first CABA title, Gonzalez earned his spot as a first ballot Hall of Famer.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1944 EAB Hall of Fame

Two players received induction in the 1944 East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame class. On his first ballot, pitcher Hyung-Mo So earned a spot at 89.9%. Another pitcher, Kil-Sung Min, squeaked in on the smallest of margins on his third try at 66.1%, just above the 66% threshold. SP Jun-Hyeok Cho barely missed on his first try at 63.3%. 3B Kisho Miura also had a strong showing at 59.6% on his sixth try, but is still out for now.



No players in the EAB ballot were 10-timers. One notable dropped on his eighth ballot was CF Hyeon-Seong Kang, who put up 58.7 WAR in nine seasons with Pyongyang, along with a MVP in 1930. However, he left for Brooklyn after that MVP seasons to sink his EAB tallies. He peaked at 26.4% on his second go.



Hyung-Mo So – Pitcher – Seongnam Spiders – 89.9% First Ballot

Hyong-Mo So was a 5’10’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher born in Ulsan, South Korea. So had a stellar 98-100 mph cutter that sawed off many bats and mixed it with a strong curveball. He also had a weak changeup, but was essentially a two-pitch guy. This led to So being a reliever early on, but he proved he could be a strong starter. Although a great pitcher, So was not well liked by most players and fans; with words like “lazy,” “dumb,” and “rude,” being used to describe him.

After a strong amateur career, So was picked second overall in the 1924 EAB Draft by Seongnam, where he would spend his entire professional career. The Spiders wouldn’t make the playoffs at any point in So’s run, but he was their best player in most of those years. He was placed in the bullpen as a rookie and spent his second through fourth seasons as a closer. In 1928, he was the Korea League Reliever of the Year with an excellent 0.31 ERA in 87.1 innings for 6.5 WAR and 34 saves.

After that season, Seongnam put So in the rotation and he excelled as the 1929 Pitcher of the Year with a 21-5 record, 1.73 ERA, 295 strikeouts, and 9.9 WAR. The next year, he led in strikeouts at 322 and had a staggering 12.2 WAR, but stunningly was second in Pitcher of the Year voting. He was third in 1931, third in 1932, and second in 1933. In 1934 at age 30, he won his second Pitcher of the Year with 24 wins and 28 quality starts and a 2.00 ERA. In 1935, a collection of injuries started to limit his starts and productivity. In 1937, he required elbow ligament reconstruction surgery. He only pitched once in 1938 and retired at age 35 with his #67 retired that year.

His final stats: 154-99 record, 105 saves, 2.21 ERA, 2249 innings, 2601 strikeouts, 192/270 quality starts and 80.3 WAR. He was dominant in his prime, although his start in the bullpen and early retirement to injury kept his final tallies a bit lower than some other Hall of Famers. His lousy personality and Seongnam’s lack of playoff success hurt him too, but his peak dominance was undeniable, earning Hyung-Mo So a spot in the EAB Hall of Fame.



Kil-Sung Min – Starting Pitcher – Pyongyang Pythons – 66.1% Third Ballot

Kil-Sung Min was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher born in Seoul, South Korea. Min had a 96-98 mph fastball, great curveball, and solid changeup. He was known for solid stuff and control. As a 15-year old, he was signed as a developmental prospect by Pyongyang in late 1921. After developing his skills, he debuted as a reliever at age 21, then a full-time starter after.

His Pythons tenure was eight seasons, including the 1930 Korea League Pitcher of the Year with a 21-8 record, 2.21 ERA, 12.1 K/BB and 8.0 WAR. In 1934, he took second in PotY voting. Pyongyang won four North Division titles during Min’s tenure, taking the Korea League title in 1929 and 1932. He was a solid postseason pitcher, posting a 2.46 ERA in 12 starts with 91.1 innings and 88 strikeouts.

With his success, at age 29, Min opted to head to America, signing with Albuquerque for the 1935 season. He’d make as much money in his first year with the Isotopes as he had made in his last three seasons with Pyongyang. He never was dominant in MLB and wasn’t much more than a fourth or fifth in the rotation starter or long reliever.

Albuquerque traded him at the 1939 deadline to Washington, where he finished the 1939 season and pitched in 1940. He signed with New Orleans for 1941, but suffered a torn labrum in spring training and retired without logging a pitch for the Mudcats.

Between the two leagues, he had 199 wins, a 3.05 ERA, 2752 strikeouts, and 56.2 WAR. His EAB run over eight years as 143-63, 2.41 ERA, 2044 strikeouts over 1930.2 innings, and 44.7 WAR. An impressive burst, but many voters felt it wasn’t enough to justify induction. Still, enough voters were impressed enough to keep him above 60% each year on the ballot, finally getting in on his third try at 66.1%, sliding barely past the 66% threshold. He would often be cited decades later by small hall advocates as someone undeserving. Regardless, Kil-Sung Min is in.
__________________

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1944 in BSA

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For the sixth straight season, La Paz won the Bolivar League South Division. The top four records in the league were in the division with the Pump Jacks first at 104-58, seven ahead of Guayaquil and 11 up on Cali. The North Division was weak but competitive with Medellin and Maracaibo battling. The Mutiny took the title at 83-79, one ahead of the Mariners. It’s Medellin’s first playoff berth since winning Copa Sudamerica in 1937.

In his first full season at age 22, Medellin 2B Jayden Simon won the MVP. From French Guiana, Simon led the Bolivar League in WAR (9.0) and doubles (37). La Paz’s Mohamed Ramos won his seventh and ultimately final Pitcher of the Year. Now age 35, Ramos led in strikeouts again at 411 and WHIP (0.73) while posting 8.8 WAR and a 1.79 ERA. Ramos has led in strikeouts 13 different seasons. He passed 6500 career Ks in late September; no one else has gotten to 4000 yet.



Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires for the third straight season are the two division winners in the Southern Cone League. The Padres rolled to the Brazil Division title at 109-53. The Atlantics took the South Division at 102-60, seven games ahead of Cordoba. Buenos Aires has now taken four straight division titles.

Sao Paolo 2B Leudy Perales won the MVP at age 34, leading the league in hits (181), and runs (102) while posting 10.4 WAR and a .305 average. Rio de Janeiro’s Timoteo Caruso grabbed his fourth Pitcher of the Year. The 30-year old ace didn’t lead the league in any stats, but still had a stellar year with a 1.38 ERA, 327 strikeouts, and 10.2 WAR.

The Bolivar League final went to La Paz in six games of Medellin, giving the Pump Jacks their third straight league title and fifth in six seasons. In the third Southern Cone final meeting between Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires, the Padres took it in six. Sao Paolo now has back-to-back titles. In a Copa Sudamerica rematch, the Padres got revenge and defeated the Pump Jacks in six games. With that, Sao Paolo claims their first overall title.





Other notes: On July 1, Caracas’s Domingo Ojeda threw a perfect game with nine strikeouts against Bogota. Danilo Patricio, Ivo Sovereira, and Cato Arias became the third, fourth, and fifth pitchers to 200 career wins. Cali’s Saul Vargas became the second BSA hitter to 2000 hits. Vargas also became the first nine-time Silver Slugger winner at CF. Callao’s Barry Huaman became the second to 400 home runs.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1944 in EAB



The 1944 Japan League saw both Sapporo and Osaka win division titles for back-to-back seasons. The Swordfish took the North Division at 90-72, finishing three games ahead of Kawasaki. The defending champ Orange Sox had the best record overall at 106-56, 13 games ahead of Nagoya in the South Division.

Osaka 1B Yu-Jin Kim grabbed his second MVP. The 30-year old led Japan in WAR (9.1), home runs (48), RBI (110), runs (100), OBP (.372), slugging (.586), OPS (.958) and wRC+ (218). Kobe’s Drew St. Louis grabbed his record fifth Pitcher of the Year. St. Louis at age 30 was three ERA points away from a Triple Crown with 22 wins, a 1.66 ERA, and 364 strikeouts. He also led Japan in WAR at 9.4.



Pyongyang won the Korea League North Division for the first time since 1932 as the Pythons finished 101-61. Goyang, who generally controlled the division for the last decade, fell hard to sixth at 71-91. Busan continued their control of the South Division at 100-62, five games ahead of Yongin. It would give the Blue Jays 10 division titles in 13 seasons.

The Pythons 1B Jae-Ha Cho had a career year for the MVP. The 30-year old led Korea in WAR (8.5), runs (112), homers (49), slugging (.630), OPS (.986), and wRC+ (173). It would be his penultimate EAB season, as he left for Brooklyn once he was able post-war in 1946. Busan’s Ye-Geon Moon won his record seventh Pitcher of the Year. It would be the last stellar season for the 36-year old lefty, leading in WHIP (0.87) and posting 2.30 ERA, 298 strikeouts, and an 8.2 WAR. On September 10, Moon became the first EAB pitcher to 250 career wins.

The 1944 JLCS rematch saw Sapporo get revenge on Osaka, as the Spiders took the series in six. Sapporo gets their fourth Japan League title and first since 1933. In the KLCS, Busan edged Pyongyang 4-3 to give the Blue Jays six Korea League titles in seven years and nine overall. The East Asian Championship was a seven game classic with Busan prevailing over Sapporo for their fourth overall title. The Blue Jays are the first franchise to four EAB titles. This would mark the end of Busan’s dominance, as they wouldn’t get back to the KLCS until 1971. Still, their sustained run remains one of the most impressive in EAB history.





Other notes: Nagoya’s Danzu Min became the first EAB hitter to 600 career home runs. At this point, he’s one of only three to get to 500. Sapporo’s Ichirouta Oya became the seventh pitcher to 3500 strikeouts and the ninth to 200 wins. Kyoto’s Tokugoro Takahashi became the second to 400 career saves. Goyang’s Byung-Oh Tan won his 10^th Silver Slugger, the first EAB player to win the honor 10 times.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1944 in CABA

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In the 1944 Mexican League, Hermosillo took the North Division at 88-74, three ahead of defending division champ Chihuahua. It’s the Hyenas first playoff berth since 1933. Ecatepec had the best overall record to win the South Division at 99-63, five games better than last year’s league champ Leon and six games ahead of Mexico City. The Explosion earn back-to-back division titles.

Leading the Hyenas was 3B Paco Luna, securing MVP at age 27. The career year for Luna saw him lead Mexico in the triple slash (.347/.415/.599) for a 1.014 OPS, 208 wRC+, and 9.5 WAR. The Aztecs had the Pitcher of the Year in veteran Ward Wellman. The 34-year old American won his second, having also done it eight years earlier. Wellman led Mexico in wins (21), WHIP (0.91), and WAR (6.5) with a 2.20 ERA.



Puerto Rico won a fourth consecutive Caribbean League Island Division title. The Pelicans won a competitive division at 97-65, holding off Santiago (94-68) and Santo Domingo (91-71). In a weak Continental Division, Salvador won their first title since 1931. The Stallions went 84-78, three games ahead of Nicaragua. Honduras, who had won it the prior five years, fell to a fifth place 71 wins.

Havana RF Renato Ortivez won the league MVP and a Triple Crown in his third season. He’s the first CABA hitter not named Kiko Velazquez to earn the honor, posting a .331 average, 45 home runs, and 111 RBI. Ortivez also led the Caribbean in OBP (.389), slugging (.643), OPS (1.032), and wRC+ (183). Salvador’s Alonso De La Garza grabbed his third Pitcher of the Year award. The 29-year old Guatemalan led the league in ERA (2.20) and WAR (10.2) with 274 strikeouts over 274.1 innings.

The 1944 Mexican League Championship Series went seven games for the first time since 1939. Ecatepec prevailed over Hermosillo to give the Explosion back-to-back titles and their fifth in franchise history. The Caribbean League Championship Series saw Puerto Rico win in six over Salvador, giving the Pelicans their third title in four years and seventh overall. The CABA Championship went only five games with Puerto Rico dropping Ecatepec. The Pelicans get their second CABA title, joining the 1925 season.





Other notes: Monterrey’s Ernesto Urbina became the fourth CABA pitcher to 250 career wins. Felipe Morales and Ward Wellman both got to 200 wins. Morales also crossed 3500 strikeouts, the ninth to do so. Catcher Chip Perez of Juarez earned his 11^th Silver Slugger, matching the mark of Hall of Famer Mar Pavia. Leon’s Emmanuel Zavala got his 10^th Silver Slugger at shortstop. Jamaica SS Thomas Rheault became only the second Caribbean League player to earn 10 Gold Gloves.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1944 in MLB

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In 1944, Hartford was able to dethrone three-time defending World Series champ Philadelphia for first in the Eastern League. The Huskies finished 105-57 for their first EL title since 1920. The Phillies still grabbed the wild card at 103-59, tied for the second best record in MLB. Minneapolis took the Midwest League at 96-66, their first playoff berth since 1934 and first ML crown since 1928. Cincinnati extended their postseason streak to three years by taking second at 92-70.

The Moose had SP/OF Jared Lee win his third straight MVP award. The 26-year old as a pitcher had a 17-4 record, 3.43 ERA, 194 strikeouts and 4.0 WAR. In the outfielder, he added 26 home runs, 79 RBI, a .359 average and 5.1 WAR. With three MVPs by 26, he seemed on his way to a Hall of Fame career, but although he played into his late 30s, this would be his last year able to play full-time in a season. Brooklyn’s Carter Hicks won Pitcher of the Year. The 25-year old led the National Association in ERA (2.40), strikeouts (283), quality starts (28), and WAR (8.7).

In the first round of the playoffs, Hartford topped Cincinnati in four games and Philadelphia swept Minneapolis. In a highly anticipated NACS rematch, the Phillies swept the Huskies to give Philadelphia its fourth straight National Association title. It is also their sixth NA title, passing Ottawa for the lead outright.



Two-time defending American Association champ Dallas won the Southern League for the third straight season, posting their best record in the stretch at 104-58. Nashville took second at 100-62 to earn their first playoff spot since 1925 and only third-ever playoff berth. Los Angeles took the Western League at 100-62, their first playoff appearance since 1938 and first WL title since 1926. Denver at 95-67 took the second place spot, three games better than last year’s WL champ Albuquerque. It’s the first playoff spot since the Dragons won the 1938 World Series.

Taking the 1944 American Association was Nashville CF Choo Crass. The 24-year old led the AA in doubles (45) and WAR (7.5). Dallas’s Vinny Elliott earned the Pitcher of the Year. He had been traded to the Dalmatians the prior year from San Antonio. Elliott had the AA lead in WAR (9.2), strikeouts (293) and complete games (22) with a 2.85 ERA.

The First Round saw the second place teams get road upsets; Denver edged Dallas in five games and Nashville knocked off Los Angeles in four. The Knights swept the Dragons to give Nashville their first American Association title. The underdog Knights gave Philadelphia a respectable fight, but the Phillies dynasty continued. Philadelphia won the 1944 World Series in six games over Nashville, becoming the first team in MLB history to win four straight Fall Classics. Ultimately, they would be the only franchise in the 20^th Century to win four straight.





Other notes: Albuquerque’s Brad Berg and Omaha’s Rodrigo Reta both passed 500 home runs and 1500 career RBI. San Diego’s Aubin Shrauger, and Kansas City’s Purvis Jones each also crossed 500 dingers. Omaha’s Kaby Silva crossed 1500 runs scored.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1945 MLB Hall of Fame

The 1945 MLB Hall of Fame Class had four players inducted; three on the first ballot. SP Brandon Scott and 1B Robert Ross were both no-doubt picks with Scott getting 99.0% and Ross at 96.8%. 1B Phil Stelluto also made it on the first try at 76.4%. Joining them on his third try on the ballot was 3B Brantley Lloyd. Closer Noah Pugliese missed out on his second try with a respectable 58.0%. SP Rush Anest and 1B Emanuel McCain each were around 50%.



McCain gets dropped after his 10^th go on the ballot. McCain played for Buffalo, Houston, and Montreal and tallied 2314 hits, 1273 runs, 422 home runs, 1359 RBI, a .307 average, and 67.9 WAR. He stayed around the 40-50% range each year but was never dominant enough to get the attention required for induction.

Two others also were dropped after 10 tries on the ballot. Tyler Peterson was a three-time Reliever of the Year with a 17-year career between nine times. He had 314 saves, a 1.49 ERA, and 45.2 WAR, which are comparable numbers to other relievers who got the nod. He ended at 10.8% after peaking at 47.1% on his second ballot. Also dropped was LF Cam Lloyd, the 1918 MVP. Apart from the MVP season, he never had any huge numbers, compiling 2317 MLB hits, 1303 runs, 466 home runs, 1388 RBI, and 49.6 WAR. Lloyd ended at 7% and peaked in his debut on the ballot at 25%.



Brandon Scott – Starting Pitcher – Brooklyn Dodgers – 99.0% First Ballot

Brandon Scott was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from South Farmingdale, a small town on Long Island, New York. Scott threw hard with a 98-100 mph fastball which he mixed with a strong slider and changeup. Scott also had incredible stamina and durability, as he had the second most innings pitched all-time at the time of retirement.

Scott pitched at Kansas in college and helped lead the Jayhawks to the 1920 College World Series title. In the 1921 MLB Draft, he was picked 21^st overall by the Brooklyn Dodgers. Brooklyn was a bottom-tier franchise during the 1920s, but Scott was a bright spot in his eight seasons as a Dodger. He finished with a 111-117 record, 3.32 ERA, 1551 strikeouts over 2049.1 innings and 39.6 WAR with the Dodgers. He’d ultimately get his #9 retired by Brooklyn and chose to get inducted with the Dodgers, embracing the franchise as a native New York.

However, his best and most notable statistical run came in his 30s with Miami. The Dodgers traded him to the Mallards for five prospects before the 1930 season at age 29. Miami made playoff appearances from 1930-32 and in 1931, won the World Series. Scott was the Pitcher of the Year in 1931 with a career-best 24 wins with a 2.77 ERA and 6.7 WAR.

After dealing with losing records often in Brooklyn, Scott had five 20+ win seasons with the Mallards. In 1933, he led the American Association in WAR at 7.7 to earn his second Pitcher of the Year. In 1936 at age 35, he won his third PotY, leading for the first time in his career in ERA (2.36) and WHIP (0.99). In eight seasons with Miami, he had a 155-92 record, 3.01 ERA, 1635 strikeouts over 2237.2 innings, and 48.6 WAR.

In 1938 at age 37, Scott became a free agent and signed with Montreal. Incredibly durable through his career, age and a rotator cuff injury caused Scott to struggle in his first year as a Maple. His second year, he only started about half the season before getting benched, retiring at the end of the 1939 campaign at the age of 38.

Scott’s final statistics: 279-231, 3.22 ERA, 4603 innings, 3384 strikeouts, 1309 walks, 382/592 quality starts, and a 92.5 WAR. At retirement, he was only behind Newton Persaud (328) in wins, although the longevity meant he also only trailed Persaud in losses (241). Scott was incredibly reliable and a big part of Miami’s early 1930s success. Few pitchers in the 1920s and 30s could be counted on quite like Brandon Scott, earning him a near unanimous first ballot induction.



Robert Ross – First Baseman – Ottawa Elks – 96.8% First Ballot

Robert Ross was a 5’11’’, 200 pound left-handed first baseman from Terrebonne, a suburb of Montreal. Ross was an very good power hitter with solid contact and walk-drawing skills. He struck out more than you’d like, but made up for it with extra-base hits. Ross had decent speed and was a very intelligent baserunner. He played exclusively at first base and was generally a below average to poor defender.

Ross went to the United States to play college baseball for Colorado, finishing second in the NCAA MVP voting in his junior season. This got him noticed and picked by Ottawa 22^nd overall in the 1922 MLB Draft. Apart from his final season, Ross played his entire 17 year professional career with the Elks and became synonymous with their Eastern League success. After splitting his rookie season between the majors and minors, Ross became the full time first base starter for the next 14 years.

1924 would be the first playoff appearance in an 18 year stretch that would have 15 playoff berths, five World Series appearances and three titles. The Elks won it all in 1924 and Ross was the World Series MVP, posting six home runs and 16 RBI in their postseason run at only the age of 22. The Elks would win the National Association title again in 1925, falling in the WS to Denver. They’d win it all again in 1929.

Ross’s best individual season was 1926, his lone MVP season. He led the NA in runs (130), home runs (49), RBI (144), OBP (.416), slugging (.702), OBP (1.118), wRC+ (218), and WAR (9.9). He took third in MVP voting in 1929 and 1932. He was top five in RBI seven straight seasons. He led in home runs with 55 in 1932 and was top three in homers seven times. Despite this, he only won Silver Slugger once as his career since he shared a position with the possible GOAT Elijah Cashman in his first half and Kaby Silva in his second half.

Where Ross beats those two is postseason production. Ross retired with 28 postseason home runs, a record that held nearly a century even with the expanded postseason starting in the 1950s. He added 61 RBI, 3.8 WAR, 99 hits, and 63 runs in 95 playoff games. The Elks won it all in 1924 and 1929, and were NA champ in 1925 and 1938.

In the early 1930s, Ottawa was a playoff regular, but saw numerous early exists. They finally got back to the World Series in 1938; Ross’s final season with the team. He was a consistent stud in his 20s, but in his 30s had dropped to merely good. Never injured, Ross became a split-starter in that final season at age 36, only getting 15 postseason at bats in that final run. However, he did become the fourth MLB player to pass 600 home runs in that final year.

The Elks would get their third overall ring of that run in 1940, but Ross wouldn’t be around. He was let go and signed in 1939 with New Orleans. He did collect his 2500^th career hit with the Mudcats, but retired after one uneventful season at the age of 37. His #12 jersey was retired by Ottawa that year.

The final career line for Ross: 2563 hits, 1680 runs, 454 doubles, 626 home runs, 1735 RBI, 1023 walks, a .285/.357/.563 slash, and 84.0 WAR. Had he not shared his career with Elijah Cashman, Ross would have certainly grabbed more awards. But his resume on its own is impressive before you factor in him being a big-time playoff performer and a key part to Ottawa’s nearly two decades of Eastern League success. Ross was an easy choice to get inducted at 96.8%.



Phil Stelluto – First Baseman – Pittsburgh Pirates – 76.4% First Ballot

Phil Stelluto was a 6’5’’, 200 pound switch-hitting first baseman from Sanatoga, a small town in eastern Pennsylvania. Stelluto was a strong all-around hitter with good contact, home run power, and eye. He played almost exclusively at first base and was considered an above average to good defender. As a baserunner, he was generally below average.

Stelluto played college baseball at Notre Dame and was picked in the second round, 79^th overall, in the 1921 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh. He’d spend his entire 17-year pro career with the Pirates and be a full-time starter for 15 of those years. After spending most of 1922 and 1923 in the minors, he became the full time starter from 1924 until 1938, making 140+ starts each of those years.

Stelluto was consistently very good, but rarely a league leader. He led in RBI in 1924 (139) and 1928 (124) and had six 40+ home run seasons and 10 seasons of 100+ RBI. He was batter of the month six times in his career, but never won a Silver Slugger or MVP. Being stuck in the National Association alongside the peaks of other first basemen Elijah Cashman, Robert Ross, and Kaby Silva, meant that he was generally overlooked. Not helping was the fact that Pittsburgh only made the playoffs once in his tenure and were typically an average to mediocre team.

Still, his final numbers are very strong. 2449 hits, 1487 runs, 321 doubles, 570 home runs, 1655 RBI, 1168 walks, a .280/.368/.528 slash and 85.9 WAR. His #51 was the first number to be retired by the Pirates. A century later, no one has played more games or gotten more hits with Pittsburgh. He’s often a forgotten slugger in the all-time conversations, but he was the lone bright spot for the Pirates in the 1920s and 30s and a hitter worthy of a spot in the Hall of Fame.



Brantley Lloyd – Third Baseman – San Francisco Gold Rush – 74.2% Third Ballot

Brantley Lloyd was a 5’10’’, 170 pound left-handed better from the small town northwest Oregon town of Canby. Lloyd was a pretty good contact hitter and a great baserunner, leading the American Association in stolen bases three times. He was solid at drawing walks and had decent power. He played second base in college and at the very beginning of his pro career, but spent the vast majority of his career at third base, where he was considered a very solid defender.

Lloyd played college baseball at Arizona at was selected ninth overall in the 1916 MLB Draft by San Francisco. Of his 21 year MLB career, 19 of those were spent with the Gold Rush. He became a full-time starter in his second year and held onto the role throughout, although nagging injuries in his 30s would cause him to miss a few weeks each season near the end. Lloyd’s best season was 1920 at age 24, leading the American Association in runs (136), stolen bases (53), and WAR (7.8), getting him third in MVP voting. He won three Silver Sluggers, finished in the top five in WAR five times and in runs five times.

He was drafted right as San Francisco began a run as the powerhouse of the Western League. The Gold Rush made the playoffs 11 times in Lloyd’s tenure, winning the WL eight times, the AA three times, and the World Series title once in 1921. Lloyd put up 82 postseason hits, 64 runs, 15 home runs, and 47 RBI in 73 playoff games. He wasn’t atop many leaderboards, but the Gold Rush knew they could get reliable production at 3B from him for nearly 20 years. His San Francisco tenure ended as he was traded across the bay to Oakland for the 1936 season at age 40. He spent two weak years with the Owls and then after being unsigned in 1938, retired from the game at age 43.

Lloyd’s final statistics: 2982 hits, 1829 runs, 414 doubles, 346 home runs, 1325 RBI, 1339 walks, 635 stolen bases, a .281/.361/.436 slash and 86.2 WAR. At retirement, he was fourth all-time in runs scored and remained in the top 10 for much of the century. Despite this, his lack of big power and flash meant he missed the cut in his first two years on the ballot, albeit above 60%. Year three finally got Lloyd over the hump at 74.2% to give the man his deserved spot in the MLB Hall of Fame.