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

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 WAB Hall of Fame (Part 1)

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West African Baseball saw a strong three-player Hall of Fame class in 2018, each earning first ballot inductions. LF Ibrahima Bah (96.2%) and RF Luc Mariam (94.1%) led the way as co-headliners, but SP Zachary Owusu was no bum at 85.6%. Three returners were above 50%, but short of the 66% requirement. 3B Falaba Bah got 57.6% on his sixth ballot, 3B Awudu Haddad saw 56.2% for his fourth go, and LF Kely Ballard received 55.6% on his second try. No players were dropped from the ballot after ten failed attempts.



Ibrahima “Skipper” Bah – Left Field – Kumasi Monkeys – 96.2% First Ballot

Ibrahima Bah was a 5’11’’, 205 pound left-handed left fielder from Aqjawajat, Mauritania; a small mining town of around 11,000 people in the country’s west. Bah was an elite contact hitter with outstanding gap power and speed. He was a traditional leadoff guy and his 162 game average got you 37 doubles, 21 triples, 84 stolen bases, and a .352 batting average. Bah was excellent at avoiding strikeouts, but rarely drew walks. He also very rarely hit home runs with only 23 for his career.

Bah was an incredible baserunner and base stealer with very good speed. He also had a strong arm and good glove work in left field. Bah’s later years brought his career fielding production to just above average, but he won four Gold Gloves in his 20s. Bah also had good durability in his 20s with some issues in his 30s. The nickname “Skipper” came from Bah being essentially another coach in the dugout. He was an impressive leader and team captain with a tireless work ethic. With that, few guys were more respected in the game as a person.

Rural Mauritania wasn’t exactly a baseball hotbed, but Bah’s potential still managed to catch the eye of a scout from Ghana. They signed him in July 1993 to a developmental amateur deal with Kumasi. Bah officially debuted with 26 games in 1997 at age 20, although he struggled. He was a part-time starter in 1998 with promising results, taking third in Rookie of the Year voting. Bah also got 11 hits, 5 runs, 4 doubles, and 2 triples that fall as the Monkeys ended a six-year playoff drought. They won the West League pennant, but lost in the WAB Championship to Kano’s dynasty.

Kumasi would be mid-tier the next three years, but Bah became a full-time starter. His breakout season was 2001, leading the WL in hits (232), doubles (52), triples (19), stolen bases (97), batting average (.368), and OBP (.408). The steals and doubles were a career best and he added 8.6 WAR, winning his first Silver Slugger and taking second in MVP voting. Bah also won four straight Gold Gloves from 2000-03 and signed an eight-year, $33,280,000 extension in May 2003.

Bah again won Sluggers and took second in MVP voting in 2002 and 2003, leading in hits, average, and OBP both years. Kumasi made it back to the playoffs but fell both seasons in the WLCS. Then in 2004 as a wild card, the Monkeys went on a tear, culminating in their first-ever WAB Championship win over Kano. Although they had seen a lengthy playoff streak from 1978-91, Kumasi couldn’t get over that final hump. In the 2004 playoffs, Bah had 24 hits and 19 runs over 12 starts with 4 doubles, 3 triples, and 9 steals. His 19 runs remain the WAB playoff record as of 2037.

Although Bah didn’t win awards in 2004, it was his statistically most impressive season. He and Kely Ballard both set the new WAB hits record that year at 258, while Bah’s 143 runs were the fourth-most in a season to that point. Bah’s .394 batting average would’ve been a new record if not for Ballard’s .412. Bah also had career bests in WAR (8.8), and OPS (.958) and posted a 33-game hitting streak.

Bah’s average was .393 the next year to win his fourth Silver Slugger. He led in triples for the third time with 22. Bah had a career-best 27 triples in 2006. Kumasi missed the playoffs in 2005, then lost to Monrovia in the 2006 WLCS. The Monkeys would fall to the bottom for the next five years, but Bah’s playoff success and leadership was remembered quite fondly, eventually leading to his #10 uniform getting retired.

In 40 playoff starts, Bah had 72 hits, 36 runs, 16 doubles, 9 triples, 17 RBI, 9 walks, 23 stolen bases, a .426/.453/.627 slash, 200 wRC+, and 3.1 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 18^th in playoff hits, 24^th in runs, 17^th in doubles, and 10^th in stolen bases. Having a .426 batting average over a significant sample also makes him one of the all-time great playoff contact hitters.

Although Kumasi fell off, Bah led again in hits, steals, and batting average in 2007. 2008 would see a notable setback though with a herniated disc knocking him out three months. Bah still had three years left on his deal, but the captain was disappointed that the team didn’t seem likely to contend anytime soon. It saddened Kumasi fans, but they later forgave him for opting out and leaving for free agency at age 32. With the Monkeys, Bah had 2244 hits, 1070 runs, 365 doubles, 212 triples, 601 RBI, 23 home runs, 832 stolen bases, a .357/.391/.493 slash, 145 wRC+, and 61.2 WAR.

Bah signed a five-year, $19,400,000 deal with Accra, who had seemed to be on the cusp of ending their playoff drought. They’d be mid-tier in his first few years, then fell off after that. Bah won his fifth Silver Slugger in 2009, leading for the fifth time in hits and batting average and the fourth time in steals. He led in steals and triples again in 2010.

His production would wane in 2011 and 2012 with injuries causing some issues. In August 2011, Bah suffered a torn ACL that put him out nine months. He didn’t meet the vesting criteria for the fifth year of his deal, becoming a free agent for 2013. Bah wanted to play and had a shot to be the second WAB batter to 3000 career hits. He went unsigned in 2013 and retired that winter at age 37. With Accra, Bah had 681 hits, 333 runs, 112 doubles, 59 triples, 133 RBI, 262 stolen bases, a .338/.369/.452 slash, 130 wRC+, and 15.2 WAR.

Bah finished with 2925 hits, 1403 runs, 477 doubles, 271 triples, 23 home runs, 734 RBI, 452 walks, 1094 stolen bases, a .352/.386/.483 slash, 142 wRC+, and 76.4 WAR. When he retired, Bah was second-all time in hits and third in runs. He’d fall down the leaderboards as offensive numbers blew up in the later decades in WAB. However as of 2037, Bah still is 15^th in hits, 34^th in runs, 57^th in doubles, 8^th in triples, 8^th in stolen bases, and 14^th in WAR among position players.

Among all WAB batters with 3000+ plate appearances, Bah’s batting average ranks tenth, but only one of his direct contemporaries ranked higher (Amewu Murry at .353). Among all of the Hall of Famers and future HOFs in pro baseball history, Bah’s average ranks seventh best and he’s one of only 11 above .350. Very few in world history maintained such an average over a full career like Bah. Although he didn’t walk much, he still ranks 30^th in WAB’s OBP list.

While Hall of Fame voters often are iffy on guys without home run power, Bah’s penchant for doubles and triples effectively filled that void. Plus, he had a tremendous batting average and was a clutch playoff performer, helping Kumasi win its lone WAB ring to date. Bah was a deserved headliner and earned his spot in WAB’s 2018 Hall of Fame class with 96.2%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 WAB Hall of Fame (Part 2)

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Luc Mariam – Right Field – Lagos Lizards – 94.1% First Ballot

Luc Mariam was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed right fielder from Abidjan, the largest city in Cote d’Ivoire. Mariam was a solid contact hitter with great home run power. He topped 40 homers in nine different seasons and cracked 50+ twice. Mariam also had strong gap power, getting 34 doubles and 9 triples per his 162 game average. Despite the power, Mariam was below average at drawing walks with an iffy strikeout rate.

Mariam wasn’t a burner on the basepaths, but he had above average speed and instincts, overall providing positive value with his legs. He was a career right fielder, but the speed didn’t translate to good range. Despite a strong arm, Mariam graded as a lousy defender. He managed a 15-year career despite some lingering knee and back troubles. Mariam’s tireless work ethic and his loyalty kept him going and made him one of the era’s more popular players.

As an amateur in Abidjan, Mariam quickly got on the radar of scouts across the region. The one that locked him up came from Lagos, signing Mariam to a developmental deal as a teenager in March 1993. He spent most of five years in their academy in Nigeria, although Mariam did officially debut with 11 games and 4 starts in 1997 at age 20. He did see five playoff games and four starts as well with three homers as Lagos lost in the Eastern League Championship Series to Kano.

For 1998, Mariam earned the starting job and hit 40+ homers in each of his first four years. He was second in 1998 Rookie of the Year voting and slowly improved his overall hitting ability. Lagos entered a rebuild though, winning a measly 56 games in 1999 and only 54 in 2000. The Lizards were back above .500 in 2002 and then had five playoff berths in six years from 2003-2008.

Mariam’s first Silver Slugger came in 2001, followed by additional wins in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Lagos wisely built around Mariam, giving him a six-year, $22,800,000 extension in February 2003. He would have a setback as he missed about half of 2004 between a knee sprain and torn hamstring. The Lizards lost in the ELCS in 2003 and 2005, then suffered first round losses in 2004 and 2006. In 2007, they missed the playoffs by one game.

He kept getting better though, posting his first of three cycles in 2005. Mariam did it again in 2008 and 2012. In 2005, he was an MVP finalist (2^nd) for the first time. He led the EL in homers and slugging in 2006, his first time as a league leader. Then in 2007 and 2008, Mariam earned back-to-back MVP honors. Both years he led in home runs, total bases, slugging, OPS, and wRC+. He also had a career and league high 9.0 WAR in 2007. 2008 saw career highs in homers (61), RBI (142), slugging (.751), and OPS (1.121). The 61 homers fell one short of WAB’s then single-season record.

Lagos made it back to the playoffs in 2008 as the #2 seed and knocked off Kano in the ELCS to claim their first pennant since 1992. The Lizards would fall to Monrovia’s dynasty in the WAB Championship. Mariam was average in this playoff run with a .244/.326/.390 slash and 101 wRC+ For his career he had 25 games, 33 hits, 20 runs, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 28 RBI, a .340/.385/.680 slash, 198 wRC+, and 1.5 WAR. Mariam also played for his native Ivory Coast in the World Baseball Championship from 1998-2001 with 1.0 WAR over 30 games and a .235/.303/.561 slash.

Fresh off repeat MVPs, Lagos re-signed Mariam before the 2009 season to a four-year, $15,600,000 extension. The season was a disaster though with a broken kneecap in late April. This knocked Mariam out nine months and the Lizards collapsed to 65-97. They wouldn’t post another winning season until 2015. While not at his MVP peak, Mariam did look strong in his 2010 return from injury with 7.0 WAR and 40 home runs.

Age and injuries started to pick up after that. Mariam lost almost two months to an elbow strain in 2011 and posted merely above average results when healthy. A knee sprain kept him out early in 2012, but poor production also led to a benching. Lagos bought out the remainder of Mariam’s contract shortly after his 36^th birthday. Mariam opted to retire instead of trying to find a new home. He would remain beloved in Nigeria’s largest city with his #31 uniform retired only a few months later.

Mariam retired with 2296 hits, 1282 runs, 422 doubles, 565 home runs, 1378 RBI, 448 walks, 429 stolen bases, a .296/.337/.597 slash, 156 wRC+, and 74.0 WAR. He was the seventh to join the 500 home run club in WAB and was fourth when he retired. As of 2037, Mariam ranks 19^th in homers, 62^nd in hits, 49^th in runs, 97^th in doubles, 45^th in RBI, and 18^th in WAR among position players.

Among batters with 3000+ plate appearances, his .935 OPS ranks 63^rd and his slugging ranks 38^th. The resume for Mariam was rock solid with great power numbers, two MVPs, and a pennant. He was a co-headliner for WAB’s 2018 Hall of Fame class, although he narrowly had the second-highest percentage at 94.1%.



Zachary Owusu – Starting Pitcher – Abidjan Athletes – 85.6% First Ballot

Zachary Owusu was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city. Owusu had excellent stuff, although his movement was average and he had okay to poor control. He had the very rare case of having a six-pitch arsenal with each option being solid. Owusu’s cutter peaked at 98-100 mph, although his strongest pitch was the knuckle curve. He also had a splitter, changeup, forkball, and curveball. Owusu’s ability to switch between the six options made him a premiere strikeout pitcher in his prime.

Owusu had excellent durability and didn’t miss many starts, but he threw far fewer complete games than your typical WAB ace. He was great at holding runners, but below average defensively. Owusu was a clubhouse leader as well and was a respected figure in each locker room he was in.

Many people don’t realize that Owusu’s career started with Port Harcourt, who picked him ninth overall in the 1997 WAB Draft. He only saw 2.1 relief innings for the Hillcats in 1998. Despite the very small sample size, PH traded Owusu in late June to Lome along with prospect Kolby Onuwa for SP Hugo Djimrangar The Lasers made Owusu a starter for the rest of the year with average results.

Owusu only saw part-time use in 1999 as his control issues still limited his utility. He then saw 169 innings in 2000 with a high strikeout rate, earning the full-time gig finally in 2001. Owusu then led the Eastern League in four of the next five seasons for Lome, topping 300+ Ks in each of the leading seasons.

Owusu peaked with 331 strikeouts in 2004, winning his lone Pitcher of the Year. He took third in 2002, second in 2003, and third in 2005. Owusu’s best ERA was 2005 at 2.67 with a 143 ERA+. His top WAR tally was 6.4 in 2002. Lome was stuck in the middle tier, but did earn a wild card in 2002. Owusu allowed one run over eight innings with 10 strikeouts in his lone start, although the Lasers lost in the first round.

Around this time, Owusu represented his native Ghana in the World Baseball Championship, although he never played for either Ghanaian pro team. From 2001-2010, Owusu had 102.2 innings with a 4-7 record, 3.07 ERA, 120 strikeouts, 36 walks, 118 ERA+, and 2.5 WAR.

Lome tried to negotiate a long-term deal with Owusu, but with his stock high just past his 31^st birthday, he left for free agency. For the Lasers, Owusu had a 93-74 innings, 3.11 ERA, 1590 innings, 1940 strikeouts, 443 walks, 126 ERA+, and 31.2 WAR. It was the team he had the best rate stats and the most innings and WAR with, but Owusu opted to be inducted with his third squad in Abidjan. The Athletes inked him to a six-year, $25,440,000 deal and looked to return to the top. They had seen a Western League dynasty run in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Abidjan never missed the playoffs while Owusu was there. He didn’t hit his prime Lome dominance with the Athletes and didn’t lead the league in anything, but he was still reliably solid. His best effort was a third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 2009 with 5.7 WAR. The strikeouts and innings were down slightly, but he was still a reliable force.

The Athletes had first round playoff exits in 2006 and 2007. They had the #1 seed in 2008, but were upset in the WLCS by Monrovia. Abidjan then claimed back-to-back pennants in 2009 and 2010. They won the WAB Championship in 2009 over Ibadan, but lost to Cotonou in 2010. Owusu’s best effort came in the 2009 run with a 2.95 ERA over 21.1 innings and 27 strikeouts. His playoff stats overall were a mixed bag with a 4-3 record over 67.1 innings, 3.21 ERA, 118 ERA+, 67 strikeouts, and 1.2 WAR.

Abidjan suffered an WLCS loss to Freetown in 2011 despite being the top seed. They were still happy with Owusu’s production and gave him a three-year, $9,680,000 extension. His rate stats were still good, but he saw lesser use with only 155.1 innings. Owusu had one relief appearance in the playoffs with 4.1 scoreless innings, but they lost again in the WLCS. He decided to retire that winter just past his 38^th birthday. With Abidjan, Owusu had a 100-54 record, 3.25 ERA, 1364.1 innings, 1517 strikeouts, 319 walks, 120 ERA+, and 26.0 WAR. Being a part of contenders made Owusu opt for Abidjan red at induction instead of Lome purple.

In total, Owusu had a 193-129 record, 3.20 ERA, 2956.2 innings, 3462 strikeouts, 764 walks, 271/421 quality starts, 27 complete games, 9 shutouts, 122 ERA+, and 57.3 WAR. As of 2037, Owusu ranks 15^th in wins, 16^th in innings, 11^th in strikeouts, 7^th in walks, and 31^st in pitching WAR. Among all pitchers with 1000+ innings, his ERA ranks 64^th and his opponent’s OPS of .664 is 80^th.

The control woes kept him from being truly the tip-top guy, but Owusu was regularly a top five level guy in his prime. He also almost quietly helped Abidjan become a contender again in his 30s. Owusu received 85.6% for the first ballot induction, the third member of a very solid 2018 WAB Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 SAB Hall of Fame (Part 1)

South Asia Baseball’s 2018 Hall of Fame class was an impressive one with three guys getting in at above 90% of the vote. CL Taj Kamikaraja led at 97.1%, followed by 3B Manju Abbas at 95.9% and SP Suhrawadi Baisya at 91.1%. CL Sabuj Nath barely missed joining them in his debut at 65.4%, less than a percentage point shy of the 66% requirement. SP Pwint Moe Nyein also had a nice debut at 52.1%. No one else was above 50% with the top returner being RF Teerapat Siriyakorn’s 43.8% on his seventh try.



Falling off the ballot after ten failed tries was 1B Sunil Lamichhane, who had an 11-year run with Visakhapatnam. The Nepali left won six Silver Sluggers and was 1994 MVP, posting 1762 hits, 875 runs, 307 doubles, 383 home runs, 946 RBI, a .298/.337/.550 slash, 185 wRC+, and 73.1 WAR. As a raw bat, few were better in his era.

Lamichhane certainly seemed to be on track, but he regressed notably in his age 33 season and didn’t get picked up after that as a free agent. He didn’t have the longevity, but his raw batting prowess got him very close. Lamichhane was above 60% thrice, including 64.0% in 2012 and 64.5% in 2017. He dropped to 36.8% in his last time, banished to the Hall of Pretty Good.



Taj Kanikaraja – Closer – Surat Silver Sox – 97.1% First Ballot

Taj Kanikaraja was a 6’1’’, 205 pound relief pitcher from Ulhasnagar, India; a city of around 500,000 within metropolitan Mumbai. Kanikaraja had incredible stuff with strong movement and above average control. His 96-98 mph slider was an all-timer while he had a solid sinker as a counterpoint. Kanikaraja was especially strong against right-handed pitching (1.54 ERA) compared to against lefties (2.13 ERA).

Kanikaraja’s stamina and durability were both good, making him often available at a moment’s notice. He was a solid defensive pitcher and was decent at holding runners. Kanikaraja was a bit of a mercenary and you couldn’t expect leadership from him. However, few got the job done in relief better. His potential was so strong that despite being a known reliever, Kanikaraja was picked fourth overall by Surat in the 1997 SAB Draft.

Right away, Kanikaraja was the full-time closer for the Silver Sox and a strong one. He earned 1998 Rookie of the Year and finished third in Reliever of the Year voting. Kanikaraja took second in ROTY in 2000 and 2001. He then won three straight Reliever of the Year awards for Surat from 2002-04. He led in saves in both 2002 (43) and 2003 (47). Kanikaraja had a career-best 0.82 ERA in 2001, while his highest strikeout total was 215 in 2000. Kanikaraja’s top WAR tally was 6.6 in 2003, which was the third-best WAR total by a ROTY winner in SAB history.

Surat had a few okay seasons while Kanikaraja was there, but had no chance to competing in a division with Ahmedabad’s dynasty and a good Mumbai squad. It would be the team he was inducted with and easily his most dominant run. In seven seasons for the Silver Sox, Kanikaraja had 266 saves and 309 shutdowns, 1.61 ERA, 637.2 innings, 1197 strikeouts, 147 walks, 195 ERA+, and 32.6 WAR.

Kanikaraja was excited to get paid in free agency, but didn’t get the long-term deal he wanted right away. In February 2005, the soon-to-be 30-year old signed a one-year deal with Ho Chi Minh City, who had won back-to-back SAB Championships. Kanikaraja excelled right away and by May, the Hedgehogs gave him a four-year, $6,620,000 extension.

From 2005-2007, Kanikaraja won three straight Reliever of the Year awards, giving him six consecutive between the Indian League and Southeast Asia League. As of 2037, he’s the only SAB pitcher to win the award six times and is one of a select few in any world league to pull it off. Kanikaraja was also third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 2006 with a SEAL-best 49 saves and 76 games. This was also his second time posting a 6+ WAR season.

Ho Chi Minh City completed the three-peat in 2005 at 121-41 with Kanikaraja posting six saves and a 2.77 ERA over 13 playoff innings with 21 strikeouts. He was surprisingly poor in his 2006 and 2009 playoff runs, finishing his HCMC tenure with a 4.39 ERA over 26.2 innings, 9 saves, 40 strikeouts, and 87 ERA+. The Hedgehogs lost in the LCS in 2006, then had first round exits in 2007 and 2008.

In 2008, Kanikaraja became the second to reach 400 career saves, joining Saroth Bora. However, his production fell off notably that year and he was demoted out of the closer role in 2009. Kanikaraja got his second SAB Championship ring with the Hedgehogs in 2009, but only saw 42.1 innings in the regular season. He also allowed five runs in six playoff innings that year. In total for HCMC, Kanikaraja had 158 saves and 171 shutdowns, a 1.87 ERA, 371.1 innings, 611 strikeouts, 212 ERA+, and 17.2 WAR.

Even while pitching in Vietnam, Kanikaraja still represented India in the World Baseball Championship from 1999-2008. He mostly saw relief, but did see starts most notably in 2007. That year, he tossed two complete games with a 1.21 ERA over 22.1 innings. In total, Kanikaraja had 100.2 innings, 20 saves, an 11-4 record, 186 strikeouts, a 1.69 ERA, and 3.8 WAR.

A free agent heading towards his age 35 season, Kanikaraja signed for 2010 on a one-year deal with Hanoi. He was the closer for the Hounds and had 37 saves, but also had a career-worst 3.68 ERA. He had five saves and a 3.09 ERA over 11.2 playoff innings as the Hounds went 121-41 and won SEAL. They would lose to Kolkata in the SAB Championship. Hanoi was happy enough though to give Kanikaraja another one-year deal.

Unfortunately in mid April 2011, Kanikaraja suffered a torn flexor tendon that ended his season. He still wanted to pitch and Ahmedabad gave him a one-year deal for 2012. Kanikaraja was still respectable in middle relief with a 2.08 ERA over 56.1 innings. He wanted to close though and realized that was likely done for him, retiring that winter at age 37.

Kanikaraja finished with a 78-72 record, 467 saves and 527 shutdowns, 1.85 ERA, 880 games, 1144.1 innings, 1999 strikeouts, 285 walks, 189 ERA+, and 51.7 WAR. Among all SAB pitchers with 1000+ innings as of 2037, Kanikaraja has the best ERA, as well as the best opponent’s OPS (.507) and opponent’s slugging (.278). He was second in saves at retirement in SAB and still ranks third as of 2037. His 0.85 WHIP, .172 AVG, and .229 OBP are each second only to Saroth Bora.

Among all relievers in world history, Kanikaraja ranks 24^th in saves, 42^nd in shutdowns, 34^th in WAR, 38^th in ERA+, 36^th in opponent’s OPS, and 43^rd in ERA. He’s also 19^th in strikeouts among all-time relievers. Kanikaraja and Bora both had arguments as the GOAT reliever in SAB to that point, although Bora’s incredible playoff dominance usually won the day. Between SAB’s leagues, they were both considered the gold standard of the 2000s. Kanikaraja was a slam dunk for the 2018 Hall of Fame class and managed to even get the highest percentage of the three players at 97.1% despite stiff competition.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 SAB Hall of Fame (Part 2)

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Manju Abbas – Third Base – Johor Bahru Blue Wings – 95.9% First Ballot

Manju Abbas was a 6’1’’, 200 pound switch-hitting third baseman from Ahmedabad, India. Abbas became legendary for his longevity and ironman status, starting 140+ games in all but one year from 1989-2010. On the whole, he was an above average contact hitter who was decent at drawing walks and avoiding strikeouts. Abbas was notably better batting against right-handed pitching (.879 OPS, 149 wRC+) compared to against lefties (.739 OPS, 115 wRC+).

Abbas had sturdy gap power with 36 doubles and 7 triples per his 162 game average, while also being good for 23 homers. He was an excellent baserunner and sneaky base stealer despite never having better than average speed. Abbas’s lengthy career was exclusively as a third baseman. He was a tremendous defender, winning 15 Gold Gloves.

On top of those skills, Abbas was one of the finest humans to ever play the game. He was renowned as a team captain and few players in pro baseball history garnered more universal respect as a man. Abbas’s tireless work ethic and adaptability helped him become one of the longest tenured players in all of pro baseball history.

South Asia Baseball had only come into existence for the 1980 season and Abbas’s hometown Ahmedabad hadn’t yet become the hotbed that it would later become. His potential as a teenage amateur still garnered attention throughout the region, including as far away as Malaysia. A scout from Johor Bahru took a liking to Abbas and gave him a developmental deal in November 1983. He spent most of four seasons in the academy, but debuted at age 20 in 1987 with 26 games and 4 starts. Abbas was a part-timer in 1988, but hadn’t developed his bat fully yet.

By 1989, Abbas grabbed the full-time starting gig and became a fixture at third base for the next two decades. That year, he led the Southeast Asia League with a career-best 43 doubles. It was also the first of 14 consecutive seasons worth 5+ WAR. Abbas would top eight WAR in eight of those seasons. By 1990, he was the undisputed top defender at third base. Abbas won his first Gold Glove and won 15 years in a row.

As of 2037, Abbas is the only 15-time Gold Glover in SAB history. He’s one of only 11 with 15 Gold Gloves in any world league with only MLB’s Christopher Sollinger (1974-89) also doing it at third base. No third baseman in world history has more games started (3288), double plays (447), or innings (29880.2). Abbas is also the SAB all-time leader at 3B in assists (6006), putouts (1403), total chances (7491), fielding percentage (.989), and zone rating (114.8).

Abbas’s bat picked up by 1991, winning his first Silver Slugger with a SEAL-best 9.9 WAR, taking second in MVP voting. He wouldn’t lead in any other batting stats for the rest of his lengthy career, but the defense would help him earn the WARlord spot twice more. With Johor Bahru, he won additional Silver Sluggers in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1998.

The Blue Wings got three wild cards from 1989-91, but lost in the first round each year. They snuck in at 84-78 in 1993, but went on one of the most improbable championship runs ever. Johor Bahru shocked a record-setting 126-36 Ho Chi Minh City in the first round, beat Hanoi in the LCS, then denied Ahmedabad’s five-peat bid in the SAB Championship.

Abbas was the lynchpin of that Cinderella run, winning MVP of all three rounds of the playoffs. In 19 starts, he had 34 hits, 13 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 14 RBI, a .430/.471/.709 slash, and 2.0 WAR. The 34 hits remain the SAB playoff record as of 2037. That effort alone cemented the then 26-year old Abbas’s place in SAB history. Little did anyone know that he still had another 20 years of baseball left.

Earlier that year, Abbas had also put in 20 hits, 6 runs, 2 homers, and 13 RBI in the World Baseball Championship, helping India to a first-ever runner-up finish. Abbas was a regular for his country from 1990-2009 and posted 194 WBC games and 186 starts, posting 158 hits, 80 runs, 34 doubles, 15 home runs, 60 RBI, and 2.6 WAR. Although he struggled and was more a veteran presence by 2009, Abbas was there for India’s first-ever world title.

After their unexpected title run, Johor Bahru didn’t get back to the playoffs for the rest of Abbas’s tenure. He had signed an eight-year, $5,822,000 extension in September 1990, but became up for free agency after the 1998 season heading towards age 32. With the Blue Wings, Abbas had 1851 hits, 926 runs, 383 doubles, 235 home runs, 897 RBI, 284 stolen bases, a .294/.347/.493 slash, 137 wRC+, and 73.9 WAR.

He remained a beloved superstar everywhere he went, but some fans were annoyed that Abbas joined the “evil empire” of Ahmedabad. Abbas wasn’t just some front-runner joining the powerhouse team, as this was a homecoming for him. The Animals had won the Indian League pennant 11 times in the prior 13 years and had 10 SAB Championship rings in that stretch. Abbas signed to a five-year, $11,600,000 deal.

Abbas had some of his best seasons with Ahmedabad, posting a league and career-best 11.5 WAR in 2000 and a league-best 9.8 WAR in 2002. 2000 also had career highs in home runs (33), average 9.316), slugging (.561), OPS (.934), and wRC+ (201). Abbas won his lone MVP in 2000, while adding Silver Sluggers in 1999, 2000, and 2001.

The Ahmedabad dynasty rolled on with Abbas, winning four more Indian League pennants for a run of nine straight. The Animals won the 1999 and 2002 SAB Championships, but fell in 2000 to Ho Chi Minh City and 2001 to Yangon. Abbas was the 2000 ILCS MVP and had good numbers in all but the 2001 run. In total for Ahmedabad in the playoffs, Abbas had 58 hits, 29 runs, 11 doubles, 4 triples, 6 home runs, 23 RBI, a .258/.320/.422 slash, 139 wRC+, and 2.1 WAR.

In four seasons for Ahmedabad, Abbas had 706 hits, 407 runs, 136 doubles, 103 home runs, 377 RBI, 141 stolen bases, a .300/.361/.516 slash, 181 wRC+, and 38.1 WAR. Surprisingly, the Animals bought out the fifth year of Abbas’s deal, making him a free agent heading towards his age 36 season in 2003. He ended up switching to the other dynasty, but only with a one-year deal worth $2,840,000 for Ho Chi Minh City.

Abbas had a career-low 4.4 WAR season to that point with his bat faltering, although he kept the Gold Glove streak alive. He was respectable in the playoffs with 14 hits, 5 homers, and 11 RBI; helping the Hedgehogs win the SAB title over Bengaluru. This made Abbas a four-time SAB champion. With teams worried about a declining bat, the search for the next landing spot was tough for Abbas.

He ended up going to Da Nang, who joined SAB as an expansion team in 2004. Abbas had an impressive resurgence with 7.7 WAR and helped the Nailers made world history, making it to the LCS in their debut season. They ultimately lost to a 122-win HCMC in the LCS, but Abbas had 10 hits and 0.5 WAR in the playoff run.

Despite his efforts, Abbas’s age and price tag still scared some teams. He didn’t get signed until late July in 2005 by Kanpur. Abbas went to Dhaka in 2006 on a two-year, $3,880,000 deal. That year, he became the first SAB batter to reach 3000 career hits and the fourth to 1500 RBI. Abbas went on a long-term run with the Dobermans, inking a three-year, $8,800,000 extension in April 2007 and another three years at $22,000,000 in December 2009.

Abbas had three straight 6+ WAR seasons to start the Dhaka run in his early 40s and posted 4+ WAR in the following two seasons; remarkable production for someone his age. The Dobermans had become a regular wild card by this point, but had limited playoff luck with the powerhouse runs of HCMC, Yangon, and now Hanoi. After five straight first round exits, Dhaka fell in the 2010 LCS to the Hounds.

The impressive longevity for Abbas allowed him to rack up more accolades. He was the first to reach 2000 runs scored in SAB, reaching that in 2011. Abbas had reached 3500 hits in 2009, a mark only two others would reach. He also became the first in all of pro baseball history to earn 800 career doubles, crossing that in his final season in 2012.

The ironman finally got injured in 2011, missing just over a month to a fractured hand. Abbas’s bat dropped to average numbers that year, but his leadership was critical as Dhaka won the SAB Championship over Kolkata. He also played 5 games in the second-ever Baseball Grand Championship. For his playoff career, Abbas had 152 games, 168 hits, 82 runs, 28 doubles, 8 triples, 32 home runs, 78 RBI, a .284/.338/.520 slash, 151 wRC+, and 6.5 WAR. On SAB’s playoff leaderboards as of 2037, Abbas ranks 6^th in games, 7^th in runs, 4^th in hits, 9^th in home runs, and 8^th in RBI.

In 2012, Abbas was firmly below average and moved to a bench role, posting -0.3 WAR that season over 119 games and 100 starts. He retired that winter as one of the select few in pro baseball history to play to age 45. Abbas was only the fifth player in world history to that point with 3500+ games played. With Dhaka, Abbas had 977 hits, 537 runs, 215 doubles, 125 home runs, 482 RBI, 203 stolen bases, a .279/.346/.466 slash, 119 wRC+, and 29.4 WAR.

The grand totals saw 3656 games, 3402 starts, 3897 hits, 2057 runs, 816 doubles, 155 triples, 514 home runs, 1934 RBI, 1127 walks, 675 stolen bases, a .289/.348/.488 slash, 139 wRC+, and 154.7 WAR. As of 2037, Abbas is still SAB’s all-time leader in games, at-bats (13,463), hits, singles (2412), and doubles. At retirement, Abbas was the leader in runs scored as well, although he ranks third as of 2037. He also still ranks 4^th in WAR among position players, 37^th in home runs, 5^th in RBI, 27^th in triples, and 11^th in walks drawn.

On the world leaderboards as of 2037, Abbas has played the third-most games, only behind Prometheo Garcia’s 3784 and Gokhan Karatas’s 3682. Abbas was the world doubles king until the late 2020s and still sits third. He’s also tenth in hits, sixth in at-bats, 26^th in runs, and 28^th in WAR among position players. On the WAR leaderboard for every player ever, Abbas ranks 39^th and is one of only 51 guys to breach 150 for their career.

Abbas wasn’t the most dominant hitter ever, but very few in world history had his longevity and consistency. Few also could consider themselves to be better or equal to Abbas in terms of defense at third base. On top of that, Abbas was a great guy and captain, making him one of baseball’s true inner-circle legends. It’s surprising that the Indian superstar only got 95.9% in his Hall of Fame ballot debut, joining SAB’s strong three-player 2018 class.



Suhrawadi Baisya – Starting Pitcher – Chittagong Commandos – 91.1% First Ballot

Suhrawadi Baisya was a 6’11’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Khulna, the third-largest city in Bangladesh. Baisya is notably the tallest Hall of Famer in world baseball history and one of a very select few to ever play the game at 6’11’’. He had good stuff, excellent movement, and above average control. Baisya’s fastball peaked in the 96-98 mph range. He had a five pitch arsenal with his curveball, screwball, and sinker also quite potent. Baisya also had a rarely used changeup as the fifth option.

Relative to other SAB aces, Baisya’s stamina was below average. He had decent durability, but had some bad luck with major injuries at points. Baisya was good at holding runners and below average defensively. Some thought he was a bit dopey and unmotivated, but the lanky lefty still managed a very solid 15-year pro career.

Being tall and left handed will certainly catch the attention of scouts. Baisya sprouted up well before high school, becoming a very known commodity amongst Bangladeshi baseball scouts. Chittagong won the sweepstakes, signing Baisya to a developmental deal in April 1990. He spent most of five years in their academy, officially debuting in 1994 at age 20. Baisya had only six starts that year with iffy results.

Baisya was placed into the rotation full-time in 1995 and fared better. 1996 would be his finest year by WAR at 8.0 and his second-best in strikeouts (310). Baisya was solid again in 1997, but suffered a horrific setback in 1998. In a spring training game, he took a line drive to the face that fractured an eye socket, putting him out the entire season. Baisya narrowly managed to escape catastrophic vision damage and was able to return to form in 1999, leading the Southeast Asia League in quality starts (25).

Chittagong was a middling team at this point and wasn’t in a position to give Baisya a big deal approaching free agency. He finished his run there with a 73-47 record, 2.92 ERA, 1180.2 innings, 1342 strikeouts, 323 walks, 123 ERA+, and 28.1 WAR. It was his longest tenure anywhere and the colors he was inducted in, although Baisya’s Hanoi tenure was arguably more impactful. With many teams struggling financially in the early top-heavy years of SAB, Baisya ended up sitting out the 2001 season.

That also ended his time playing professionally in his native Bangladeshi. Baisya did continue to represent his country in the World Baseball Championship, including in his years out of the pro game. From 1997-2010, Baisya had 176.2 innings, an 8-12 record, 3.36 ERA, 196 strikeouts, 49 walks, 106 ERA+, and 3.1 WAR.

Baisya returned to SAB in 2002 on a two-year, $3,100,000 deal with Yangon, the defending SAB champion. This saw his lone Pitcher of the Year, posting a 2.46 ERA over 216 innings and 6.2 WAR. The Green Dragons lost in the first round of the playoffs with Baisya struggling in his one playoff start, allowing five runs in seven innings. He opted out of the second year of his deal and sat out for 2003.

He came back for 2004-05 with Ahmedabad on a two-year, $3,040,000 deal. Baisya would miss two months in 2004 to a strained hamstring, but posted his career best 2.44 ERA. Baisya led the Indian League in wins (19-9) and quality starts (29) in 2005, also posting a career-best 326 strikeouts. That earned him a third place in Pitcher of the Year voting.

The Animals’ playoff streak continued, but their title streak was done at this point with a first round loss in 2004 and LCS loss in 2005. Baisya held up his end in his four playoff starts with a 1.24 ERA over 29 innings and 36 strikeouts. With Ahmedabad, he had a 32-11 record, 2.50 ERA, 414.2 innings, 488 strikeouts, 130 ERA+, and 11.3 WAR. Baisya decided to leave the game after that, sitting out the 2006 season.

Now 33-years old, Hanoi lured him back in 2007 for a two-year, $6,720,000 deal. Led by Majed Darwish’s record-setting power, the Hounds became poised to be a SEAL dynasty. They won back-to-back SAB titles in 2007-08 with Baisya taking second in 2007’s POTY voting. He posted a 3.24 ERA in 33.1 innings in the 2007 run and a 3.09 ERA over 35 innings in the 2008 run, combining for 78 strikeouts. Hanoi would give Baisya a three-year, $9,480,000 extension after the 2008 campaign.

Baisya led the league in wins from 2007-2009 with Hanoi. The Hounds from 2007-10 won 111, 120, 122, and 121 games. They suffered a stunning first-round upset loss in 2009 with Baisya getting rocked in his one playoff start, allowing six runs in 3.2 innings. That would be his final playoff start of his career, although Hanoi would win the SEAL title in 2010, falling to Kolkata in the SAB Championship. For his playoff career, Baisya had a 6-8 record, 3.25 ERA, 108 innings, 124 strikeouts, 125 ERA+, and 2.3 WAR.

Baisya would suffer a torn flexor tendon in his elbow in late August 2010, putting him out eight months. A setback in February 2011 put Baisya out for another three months. He also dealt with elbow inflammation and tendinitis that year and only tossed 84 innings. For what it was worth, Baisya still looked great with a 2.79 ERA and 8-0 record. He again missed the playoffs as Hanoi lost in the LCS. In total for the Hounds, Baisya had an 84-23 record, 2.95 ERA, 925.1 innings, 1033 strikeouts, 142 ERA+, and 25.1 WAR.

He still wanted to play and Mumbai gave him a one-year deal in 2012. Baisya struggled to a 4.28 ERA over 134.2 innings with the Meteors. Then on August 1, he suffered a torn labrum to end his season. Baisya ultimately opted against trying to rehab back from that, retiring that winter at age 39.

Baisya ended with a 210-94 record, 2.90 ERA, 2871.1 innings, 3208 strikeouts, 667 walks, 264/396 quality starts, 40 complete games, 13 shutouts, 129 ERA+, and 72.2 WAR. His numerous sabbaticals did lower the grand totals, but as of 2037, Baisya still ranks 12^th in wins, 37^th in strikeouts, and 15^th in pitching WAR. Among all pitchers with 1000+ innings, his ERA ranks 73^rd and his opponent’s OPS of .624 ranks 76^th.

While not generally the league’s leader, Baisya was a top ten to occasionally top five pitcher for almost his entire run. Helping Hanoi establish its dynasty run in the late 2000s also pushed Baisya over the top. He received 91.1% to cap off the impressive three-player Hall of Fame ballot for SAB in 2018.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 ABF Hall of Fame

The 2018 Asian Baseball Federation Hall of Fame class added two players, led by OF Simin Arefi in his debut at 88.0%. His former Multan teammate 3B Faradur Khaled joined him on the first ballot at 73.0%. The next closest to the 66% requirement were 1B Altaf Aslam at 57.5% on his third try and SP Masruq Abbas with 53.7% for his sixth go. No one else topped 50%.



Dropped after ten failed ballots was LF/DH Pouya Malek, who had a 13-year career between Tehran, Isfahan, and Karachi. He won one Silver Slugger and was twice WLCS MVP, helping the Imperials to their 1998 title. Malek had 2101 hits, 916 runs, 422 doubles, 169 triples, 187 home runs, 1003 RBI, 312 stolen bases, a .301/.334/.490 slash, 141 wRC+, and 54.0 WAR. He didn’t have the longevity or power needed and also lost some points as a DH. Malek peaked at 34.6% in 2010 and ended with 8.5%.



Simin Arefi – Left/Center Field – Multan Mighty Cocks – 88.0% First Ballot

Simin Arefi was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting outfielder from Chalus, a city of 65,000 in north central Iran near the Caspian Sea. Arefi gave you reliable home run power with 38 dingers per his 162 game average. His gap power brought you 24 doubles and 5 triples. Arefi dominated right-handed pitching (.907 OPS, 187 wRC+), but was only decent against lefties (.655 OPS, 109 wRC+). He had average running speed, but was a crafty and intelligent baserunner.

Arefi played center field at the very start of his career but struggled as didn’t have the speed or range needed there. He switched to left field full time in his fifth year and stayed there for the rest of his career, providing reliably above average results. Arefi had excellent durability, playing 150+ games in each of first 14 seasons. Few guys had a stronger work ethic, making Arefi a fan favorite throughout his career.

Despite growing up in Iran, it was a Turkish scout from Adana that signed Arefi up as a teenage amateur in October 1991. Many don’t realize he started there as he never played a game for the Axemen despite spending six years in their academy. In February 1998, Arefi and prospect SP Nadim Qadim were traded to Multan for CF Saif Santoyan and RP Iqbal Hayat. Thus, Arefi’s first professional games came in the Pakistan League for two years before it was rechristened as the East League with the addition of the Central Asian defectors from the 2000 EPB exodus.

The Mighty Cocks made Arefi a starter right away, a role he held in Multan for 11 years. Arefi was third in 1998 Rookie of the Year voting, then won his first Silver Slugger in 1999 (at CF). Multan quickly signed him to an eight-year, $18,870,000 extension after the 2000 season. From 2000-07, he posed 6.5+ WAR or better each year and topped 40 home runs six times. Arefi won his other Multan Silver Sluggers in left field in 2002, 03, 06 and 07.

Arefi helped make Multan a contender to start the 21^st Century. They lost in the 1999 PLCS to Hyderabad, then had first round exits in 2001 and 2002 in the expanded league. 2003 then saw a franchise-record 113-49 season for the Mighty Cocks, winning the ABF Championship over Ankara. To that point, 113 wins was the most ever by an ABF champ, remaining the top mark until 116-win Tehran in 2017.

In the 2003 playoffs, Arefi forever became a Multan hero. In 12 playoff starts, he had 19 hits, 15 runs, 4 doubles, 6 home runs, 16 RBI, a 1.254 OPS, and 1.4 WAR; winning finals MVP. Multan fell to 82-80 and missed the playoffs in 2004, then lost in the ELCS in 2005 to Lahore. Although defeated, Arefi had another big postseason with 15 hits, 8 runs, 4 doubles, 6 homers, and 11 RBI over 12 starts. Little did anyone know, 2005 would be Arefi’s final time playing in the postseason.

For his playoff career, Arefi had 37 starts, 46 hits, 30 runs, 10 doubles, 17 home runs, 37 RBI, a .322/.347/.748 slash, 270 wRC+, and 3.3 WAR. He also had strong numbers for his native Iran from 2000-12 in the World Baseball Championship. Arefi played 91 WBC games with 71 starts, posting 70 hits, 54 runs, 7 doubles, 5 triples, 32 home runs, 66 RBI, a .262/.319/.685 slash, 181 wRC+, and 4.1 WAR.

Multan would be stuck around .500 in 2006 and 2007, although these were Arefi’s most statistically impressive seasons. In 2006, he led the league in runs (105), home runs (53), RBI (128), total bases (367), slugging (.614), OPS (.950), wRC+ (202), and WAR (9.2). These were each career highs and his first time as a league leader in any stat, but he finished second in MVP voting. Arefi was second again in 2007, leading in homers with 50 and posting 8.3 WAR.

Arefi dropped off the next year with 4.5 WAR and a .798 OPS, his weakest effort since his sophomore campaign. It wasn’t the best contract year performance and he couldn’t come to terms long-term with Multan. In total for the Mighty Cocks, Arefi had 1708 hits, 935 runs, 253 doubles, 432 home runs, 1024 RBI, 280 stolen bases, a .267/.314/.527 slash, 170 wRC+, and 74.3 WAR. Arefi remained a popular figure in Multan for his role in their 2003 championship and his #7 uniform would later get retired.

A free agent for the first time at age 33, Arefi signed a five-year, $33,000,000 deal with Dushanbe. The Dynamo had been a contender when they joined ABF, but were rebuilding by Arefi’s arrival in 2009. He won his sixth Silver Slugger in 2010, leading that year in RBI with 114. Arefi was solid in his first three years, but was reduced to a platoon role in 2012, starting only 92 games. He also saw his first notable injury that year with a fractured wrist costing him a month.

Arefi didn’t meet the vesting criteria for the fifth year of the deal, becoming a free agent at age 37. With Dushanbe, Arefi had 586 hits, 301 runs, 109 doubles, 118 home runs, 368 RBI, a .284/.323/.525 slash, 159 wRC+, and 21.1 WAR. This ended his ABF career, as he couldn’t find anyone to give him a suitable deal. Arefi ended up moving to the Arab League, getting a three-year, $13,280,000 deal with Tunis. Unfortunately, poor performance meant he saw little use with the Thunder Cats, playing only 83 games with 8 starts from 2013-14. Arefi was let go and went unsigned in 2015, finally retiring that winter at age 40.

For his ABF career, Arefi had 2294 hits, 1236 runs, 362 doubles, 550 home runs, 1392 RBI, 467 walks, 431 stolen bases, a .271/.316/.526 slash, 167 wRC+, and 95.4 WAR. He was the fourth to reach 500 career homers in ABF. As of 2037, Arefi sits 15^th in homers, 40^th in hits, 31^st in runs, 24^th in RBI, and 22^nd in WAR among position players. His slugging also ranks 73^rd amongst all ABF batters with 3000+ plate appearances.

Arefi was rarely considered THE top guy in the game, but he was a reliably strong power hitter with good defense for a long time. His playoff heroics and general fan favorite personality put him over the top with most of the few doubters. At 88.0%, Arefi headlined ABF’s two-player Hall of Fame class for 2018.



Faradur Khaled – Third Base – Multan Mighty Cocks – 73.0% First Ballot

Faradur Khaled was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Amangarh, Pakistan; a town of 25,000 in the Nowshera District. Khaled had dual citizenship with an American father, but he spent essentially his entire life in Pakistan. He was known as a great contact hitter with excellent gap power, getting 40 doubles per his 162 game average. Khaled had respectable home run power with 24 per 162 games. He was solid at avoiding strikeouts, but weak at drawing walks.

Khaled wasn’t going to get extra bases with his legs with firmly subpar speed and baserunning. A strong arm placed him at third base for his entire career, but weak range and glove work made him a weak defender. The bat was plenty good though to overlook his iffy defense. Khaled had fairly good durability in his career. You couldn’t call on him to be a team leader, but he wasn’t going to cause any problems.

By the 1996 ABF Draft, Khaled had thrived in Pakistan’s college baseball scene and was a top prospect. He was picked #2 overall by Lahore, but couldn’t come to terms with the Longhorns. Khaled returned for one more year of college and was picked fourth by Multan in 1997. The Mighty Cocks gave him a three-year, $1,980,000 deal to start his career. Khaled was a part-time starter as a rookie, then took the full-time gig for the next five years.

From 1999-03 with Multan, Khaled had 6.9 WAR or better each year. He won Silver Sluggers in 2001, 2002, and 2003, although he wasn’t a league leader. 2003 saw his career best in WAR (9.1), wRC+ (193), OPS (.922), and home runs (30); finishing second in MVP voting. Multan lost in the 1999 LCS, then lost in the first round of 2001 and 2002’s playoffs. The Mighty Cocks would break through to win the 2003 ABF Championship at 113-49, beating Ankara in the final.

Like his Hall of Fame classmate Simin Arefi, Khaled stepped up big in the playoffs. He won the MVP of the Eastern League Championship Series, posting 19 hits, 8 runs, 3 doubles, 6 home runs, 14 RBI, a 1.268 OPS, and 1.3 WAR over 12 playoff starts. He had 2.0 WAR and a 1.087 OPS over 25 playoff starts with Multan. With Khaled’s stock at an all-time high, he was excited to cash in as a 30-year old free agent.

In six years with Multan, Khaled had 983 hits, 394 runs, 187 doubles, 149 home runs, 472 RBI, a .305/.339/.513 slash, 174 wRC+, and 41.2 WAR. He remained popular with Mighty Cocks fans for his role in the title, but his departure rubbed some in the organization the wrong way. Although they were happy to see him in the Multan green and gold on his Hall of Fame plaque, Khaled’s #2 uniform was never retired.

Khaled signed a seven-year, $29,320,000 deal and joined Istanbul. He spent little time back home in Pakistan at this point, although he did see slight use in the World Baseball Championship. Khaled played 17 games with 4 starts in six editions. He was off to a great start in Turkey, but missed almost half of the 2004 season between a hamstring strain and intercostal strain. Still, he earned his fourth Silver Slugger. Khaled got his fifth and sixth Sluggers the next two seasons.

In 2006, Khaled was second in MVP voting again. It was his only time as a league leader, winning the batting title with a .340 average and leading with 210 hits. His 102 runs and 117 RBI were both career bests as well. Khaled saw a career-best 50 doubles in 2007. Istanbul was a regular playoff contender at this point, but had playoff woes early in Khaled’s run. They lost in the first round in 2004 and 2005, then fell in the 2006 WLCS to Shiraz.

In 2007, Istanbul finished 104-58 and won it all, beating Bishkek in the ABF Championship. In 14 playoff starts, Khaled had 17 hits, 8 runs, 8 doubles, and 5 RBI. The Ironmen won 112 games in 2008 and repeated as champs, topping Karachi in the final. Khaled had 12 starts, 17 hits, 10 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 8 RBI. With those performances, he certainly lived up to his deal by helping the Ironmen to two titles.

The Istanbul run ended on a sour note though in 2009 as Khaled suffered a broken bone in his elbow in May, knocking him out for eight months. The Ironmen lost in the first round of the playoffs, then decided to buy out the final year of Khaled’s seven-year deal. With Istanbul, Khaled had 933 hits, 429 runs, 222 doubles, 108 home runs, 471 RBI, a .325/.358/.521 slash, 149 wRC+, and 33.8 WAR.

Khaled was now a 36-year old free agent coming off a major injury. Bishkek gave him a one-year, $3,960,000 deal and were rewarded with an excellent 7.3 WAR season. The Black Sox got the top seed in the Eastern League, but were upset in the LCS by eventual ABF champ Rawalpindi. Khaled had 8 hits, 2 runs, and 2 doubles in 10 playoff starts. For his playoff career, Khaled was excellent with 74 starts, 97 hits, 43 runs, 21 doubles, 16 home runs, 51 RBI, a .349/.391/.604 slash, 203 wRC+, and 4.8 WAR.

A free agent again for 2011, the reigning champ Red Wings gave him a three-year, $21,400,000 deal. Khaled had a solid 5.4 WAR effort in 2011 and posted a 29-game hit streak during the season. However, Rawalpindi missed the playoffs at 83-79 and went .500 the next year. Khaled notably regressed in 2012 as a full-time starter, posting 1.9 WAR and a .663 OPS. He met the criteria for the third year of the Red Wings deal, but decided to retire just after his 39^th birthday. Khaled had 7.3 WAR over 288 games for Rawalpindi.

Khaled finished with 2411 hits, 998 runs, 512 doubles, 311 home runs, 1156 RBI, 355 walks, a .312/.345/.507 slash, 161 wRC+, and 89.7 WAR. As of 2037, Khaled ranks 29^th in hits, 83^rd in runs, 25^th in doubles, 49^th in RBI, and 29^th in WAR among position players. Khaled ranks fifth in WAR accrued at third base.

Despite that resume, his totals weren’t eye-popping and he rarely was a league leader. Supporters noted his reliable production and excellent playoff numbers, winning three titles between Multan and Istanbul. Khaled debuted on the 2018 ballot at 73.0%, which was just enough to cross the 66% requirement for the first ballot Hall of Fame induction.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 ALB Hall of Fame

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Two players made it into Arab League Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2018, led by a no-doubt headliner in 2B/3B Mustafa bin Nazim at 98.7%. LF/IF Hassan El Mubarak joined him on his seventh ballot but barely, scraping by the 66% requirement at 66.8%. SP Mohamed Abdou narrowly missed with a 62.6% debut and 1B Sultan Riaz saw 61.3% on his second go. Also topping 50% was SP Ali Al-Shakal with a 57.5% sixth ballot and LF Ibrahim Ahmed Raafat at 56.5% on his eighth go. No players were dropped from the ballot after ten failed attempts.



Mustafa bin Nazim – Second/Third Base – Jerusalem Jets – 98.7% First Ballot

Mustafa bin Nazim was a 6’0’’, 205 pound switch-hitting infielder from the capital of Oman, Muscat. Ranked as a five-star player at his peak, few players in world history were as dominant hitting against right-handed pitching as bin Nazim. He had a career 1.111 OPS and 203 wRC+ against righties with outstanding power and contact skills. Bin Nazim wasn’t bad against lefties though with a .806 OPS and 125 wRC+.

In total, bin Nazim gave you 48 home runs and 36 doubles per his 162 game average. He posted a 15-year streak of 40+ home run seasons and topped 50+ five times in that stretch. Additionally, bin Nazim was solid at drawing walks, although his strikeout rate was below average. On the basepaths, he was quite slow and clumsy.

In the first 2/3s of his career, bin Nazim played second base, then moved to third base for the final third. At either spot, he was a lousy defender. He had reliably good durability though and bin Nazim’s incredible bat against righties guaranteed a prominent spot in the lineup. He was also a strong leader in the clubhouse, becoming one of the first megastars of the Arab League.

The amateur scene in his native Oman was quite limited in the early 1990s, but bin Nazim still flourished. A scout from Jerusalem locked him down to an amateur developmental deal in July 1992. In 1995, bin Nazim debuted at age 20 with 32 games and 5 starts. He was rostered close to full-time in 1996, but only started 36 games. Bin Nazim earned the full-time starting gig in 1997 and held it for the next 16 years in Jerusalem. 1997 would mark the start of his 15-year stretch of 40 home runs and also started a run of ten years with 100+ RBI.

In 1997, bin Nazim won the Western Conference MVP and a Silver Slugger, leading in total bases (385), slugging (.675), OPS (1.071), wRC+ (187), and WAR (10.1). He would post an OPS above one in ten different seasons and lead the conference six times. Eight times bin Nazim led in slugging, while he was the WARlord five times, wRC+ leader six times, OBP leader thrice, batting average leader twice, homer leader thrice, RBI leader thrice, and runs leader once.

In total, bin Nazim had 14 Silver Sluggers, a mark only he and home run king Nordine Soule reached in ALB. At second base, bin Nazim won in 1997-99, 2001, and from 2003-08. At third base, he won it from 2009-12. 1998 saw a third place in MVP voting, followed by bin Nazim’s second MVP win in 1999. He took second in MVP voting in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Jerusalem locked up their superstar in April 2001 to an eight-year, $13,040,000 extension. The Jets won the Levant Division in 1997, 2000, and 2001; but their deepest run was a conference finals loss in 2000. They missed the playoffs then from 2002-04.

2005 was bin Nazim’s third MVP and his strongest season by many metrics, posting the fifth Triple Crown hitting season in ALB history. He led the conference with 64 homers, 140 RBI, 122 runs, 432 total bases, a .338/.407/.741 slash, 1.148 OPS, 214 wRC+, and 11.2 WAR. The homers, RBI, runs, total bases, batting average, slugging, OPS, wRC+, and WAR were each career bests, as were his 197 hits. That effort brought Jerusalem back to the playoffs, but they suffered another first round exit.

In 2006, bin Nazim picked up his fourth MVP, leading again in homers (57), RBI (109), and OPS (1.072). A fractured rib knocked him out at the end of the season and Jerusalem again lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 2007, bin Nazim lost six weeks to a strained hamstring. However, he was back for the stretch run and the Jets broke through, winning their first-ever conference pennant at 104-58. They would fall to Medina in the Arab League Championship. Bin Nazim won conference finals MVP and in nine playoff starts had 11 hits, 7 runs, 6 homers, and 12 RBI.

2008 saw a second place finish in MVP voting, but Jerusalem fell to 71-91. They had a few good seasons after that, but couldn’t make the playoffs with Amman building a dynasty in the Levant Division. After the 2009 season, the Jets extended bin Nazim for another four years and $13,440,000. In 2011 at age 36, bin Nazim led again in WAR (10.3) and smacked 57 home runs, taking second in MVP voting.

In 2011, bin Nazim was the second to reach 700 career home runs. He was the third to 2500 hits, the second to 1500 RBI, and the second to 1500 runs scored. Being a contemporary to Nordine Soule kept bin Nazim from ever having the top statistical spot despite his dominance. The ALB run came to an end with the 2012 season, as Jerusalem moved him to a platoon role after weak numbers against lefties. He became a free agent for the first time heading towards age 38.

After a worldwide search, bin Nazim ended up in Peru on a two-year, $26,000,000 deal with Callao, the reigning Copa Sudamerica winner. He had an excellent debut season with 5.6 WAR, 41 home runs, and a 1.024 OPS, but the Cats missed the playoffs. They got back in 2014, but lost in the first round. Bin Nazim dealt with a strained hamstring for much of 2014, but still managed 3.0 WAR and a .956 OPS over 94 games. In total with Callao, bin Nazim had a .325/.395/.605 slash, 159 wRC+, and 8.6 WAR.

His late career struggles against lefties and poor defense limited his utility, but bin Nazim could still rake against righties. MLB’s Montreal Maples gave him a shot for 2015 on a two-year, $37,600,000 deal. In 46 games, bin Nazim had 2.1 WAR and a .879 OPS. Unfortunately, he suffered a fractured elbow in mid May with an August setback forcing his abrupt retirement at age 40. That winter, Jerusalem announced the retiring of bin Nazim’s #26 uniform.

With the Jets in ALB, bin Nazim had 2766 hits, 1535 runs, 589 doubles, 777 home runs, 1834 RBI, 951 walks, a .308/.379/.643 slash, 182 wRC+, and 130.1 WAR. As of 2037, bin Nazim ranks 22^nd in hits, 17^th in runs, 26^th in doubles, 8^th in home runs, 8^th in RBI, 15^th in walks, and 2^nd in WAR among position players. Among all betters with 3000+ plate appearances, bin Nazim’s 1.022 OPS ranks 13^th best, his slugging is 15^th, and OBP is 25^th. His 5762 total bases also rank 7^th.

For his combined pro career, bin Nazim had 3078 hits, 1691 runs, 639 doubles, 849 home runs, 2014 RBI, 1061 walks, a .309/.380/.638 slash, 180 wRC+, and 140.7 WAR. In all of pro baseball history as of 2037, bin Nazim ranks 37^th in home runs and 45^th in WAR amongst position players, and 76^th in WAR among all players. Among Hall of Famers and surefire locks, bin Nazim’s OPS and slugging rank 28^th.

He pulled off these feats despite being merely above average to good batting against lefties and with poor defense. The incredible dominance for bin Nazim against righties alone pushed him into an inner circle spot among baseball’s all-time legends. He was a superstar everywhere he went and his popularity helped grow the game in his native Oman, who got their first pro team in 2016 with the Muscat Threshers. At 98.7%, bin Nazim headlined ALB’s 2018 Hall of Fame class.



Hassan El Mubarak – Left Field/Infield – Mosul Muskies – 66.8% Seventh Ballot

Hassan El Mubarak was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed left fielder from Omdurman, Sudan’s second most populous city. El Mubarak was a traditional leadoff man known for solid contact hitting, and impressive baserunning. He had very good speed and was incredibly adept at getting steals and extra bags. El Mubarak knew how to find the gap, getting 43 doubles and 9 triples per his 162 game average. You couldn’t expect many home runs, getting only 51 for his career. El Mubarak also rarely drew walks, but few were better at avoiding strikeouts and regularly putting the ball in play.

Left field was his primary spot defensively with more than half of his starts there. El Mubarak graded out as an excellent defender in left, but he would see a lot of starts in the infield with some utility chops. He graded as a subpar infielder, but was playable enough to see sporadic starts at second, shortstop, and third. El Mubarak’s sparkplug attitude meant he was always willing and able to give it his all in any role.

In the Arab League’s first-ever rookie draft in 1990, El Mubarak wasn’t a top ranked prospect. He went late in the third round, 70^th overall, to Cairo. He saw only 46 games in his rookie season, but earned a starting role in 1992 and won his lone batting title with a .327 average. The Pharaohs were one-and-done in 1991, but won the Western Conference title in 1992. They lost in the ALB Championship to Medina with El Mubarak starting 10 games with 10 hits and 5 doubles.

El Mubarak’s Cairo run only lasted the two years with 214 hits, 79 runs, 48 doubles, 8 triples, 5 homers, 69 RBI, 76 steals, a .322/.337/.441 slash, 132 wRC+ and 6.8 WAR. His signature run came in Iraq with Mosul, who acquired El Mubarak in an offseason trade from Cairo for veteran SS Gari Salemanu and prospect Nathaniel Kepiniu. El Mubarak would be a regular starter for the Muskies for the next 14 years.

Although he spent the majority of his pro career in Iraq, El Mubarak did return home to Sudan for the World Baseball Championship regularly. From 1993-2006, he had 118 games and 114 starts, posting 125 hits, 34 runs, 21 doubles, 31 RBI, 42 stolen bases, a .299/.326/.371 slash, 99 wRC+, and 2.3 WAR.

In 1994, El Mubarak led the Eastern Conference in hits with 184. He led with 50 doubles in 1996, but otherwise wasn’t a league leader in his career. El Mubarak did top 5+ WAR in six different seasons for the Muskies and won his lone Silver Slugger in 1996 as a second baseman. Mosul gave him a five-year, $1,626,000 extension after the 1995 season.

Mosul emerged as a great dynasty with eight consecutive Iraq Division titles from 1995-2002. The Muskies had seven Eastern Conference Championship berths, winning the pennant in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2001. Mosul won it all in 1998, 1999, and 2001. 2000 saw a record-setting 121-41 season, although they suffered a stunning conference finals loss to Kuwait.

1996 was El Mubarak’s most impressive playoff run with 18 hits, 11 runs, 9 RBI, 7 doubles, and 9 steals in 10 starts. For his playoff career with Mosul, he had 58 starts, 74 hits, 34 runs, 24 doubles, 1 homer, 25 RBI, 36 stolen bases, a .319/.338/.435 slash, 119 wRC+, and 1.8 WAR. El Mubarak got a two-year, $1,160,000 extension in March 2000, then a four-year, $4,400,000 extension in April 2002.

Mosul started to rebuild from 2003 onward, but El Mubarak still gave them a few more years of respectable production in his 30s. He was reduced to a part-time role in his final year in 2006. El Mubarak wanted to play in 2007, but went unsigned and later retired just past his 40^th birthday. With Mousl, he had 2397 hits, 1187 runs, 518 doubles, 108 triples, 46 home runs, 679 RBI, 938 stolen bases, a .317/.345/.432 slash, 120 wRC+, and 63.0 WAR.

In total, El Mubarak had 2611 hits, 1266 runs, 566 doubles, 116 triples, 51 home runs, 748 RBI, 284 walks, a 5.0% strikeout rate, 1014 stolen bases, a .317/.344/.433 slash, 121 wRC+, and 69.8 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 31^st in hits, 53^rd in runs, 32^nd in doubles, 15^th in stolen bases, and 41^st in WAR among position players. El Mubarak is also the only ALB Hall of Famer with fewer than 500 strikeouts and one of a select few in world history to pull that off.

However, El Mubarak’s lack of power numbers and accolades soured him with many voters. Sabermetric stats weren’t impressed and some felt he needed to be more exceptional as a contact hitter to make up for the lack of power stats. Supporters noted his sparkplug attitude and an important starting piece for an impressive Mosul dynasty.

El Mubarak had a lousy ballot debut at 38.5% in 2012 and didn’t do much better in 2013 at 38.7%. He made his way into the upper 40% range for the next few years and got to 56.5% in 2016. On his seventh try in 2018, El Mubarak made it across the 66% requirement by a tiny margin at 66.8%. That was enough to be the second member of ALB’s 2018 Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 AAB Hall of Fame

The African Association of Baseball added two debuting players into the Hall of Fame from the 2018 voting. LF Marley Mubiru was the clear headliner at 96.0%, but closer Mulumba Mwamba earned his own solid 78.0%. RF Gabriel Rakotomamonjy didn’t miss the 66% requirement by much, debuting at 61.6%. Also above 50% were 1B Abebe Chekol at 59.8% in his sixth ballot, SP Alemayehu Legesse at 57.8% on his seventh go, and CL Abba Abdul at 57.2% for his fifth go.



Reliever Boni Kemaika fell off the ballot after ten failed tries, peaking at 43.9% in 2013 and ending at 9.5%. Kemaika was a Solomon Islander who pitched his first six years in OBA before joining the newly formed AAB in 1995. In nine AAB seasons, he won two Reliever of the Year awards with Ndjamena and won titles with Kinshasa in 1999 and 2002. Kemaika finished with 222 saves, 1.85 ERA, 570 innings, 914 strikeouts, 221 ERA+, and 33.4 WAR. It was an impressive run, but too brief to earn the nod.



Marley Mubiru – Left Field – Luanda Landsharks – 96.0% First Ballot

Marley Mubiru was a 6’4’’, 200 pound switch-hitting left fielder from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Mubiru was one of the first great power hitters in AAB, topping 40+ home runs seven times and 50+ homers thrice. He was especially potent against right-handed pitching with a 1.000 OPS and 170 wRC+ for his career. The downside was Mubiru was actively bad against lefties with a career .688 OPS and 82 wRC+. He had 34 doubles per his 162 game average.

Mubiru’s combined numbers left him rated with above average contact skills and an above average eye, although his strikeout rate was subpar. He was a good baserunner, but had below average speed. Mubiru primarily played left field and was a reliably strong defender there. He also got sporadic use in center with subpar results. Mubiru was very durable in his 20s, but did run into injury woes in his 30s. Still, he managed a 17-year career and was a popular player throughout the continent.

1995 saw AAB’s first-ever rookie draft and Mubiru was one of the most promising prospects. He was picked eighth overall by Luanda and spent the first eight years of his career in Angola. Mubiru missed six weeks in his rookie season to torn ankle ligaments, but still earned 1996 Rookie of the Year honors with 2.7 WAR over 124 games. Mubiru missed the playoffs to injury as Luanda fell in the Southern Conference Championship to Cape Town. While not actively bad, the Landsharks wouldn’t get back to the playoffs during Mubiru’s tenure.

Mubiru’s third season was his finest, earning his first MVP and Silver Slugger. He led the conference in runs (121), hits (178), total bases (395), triple slash (.320/.425/.710), OPS (1.135), wRC+ (220), and WAR (10.9). Mubiru’s WAR and wRC+ would be career highs, as were his 60 home runs. He repeated as MVP and won another Slugger in 1999, leading in homers (58), total bases (391), slugging (.742), OPS (1.173), wRC+ (196), and WAR (9.3). Mubiru’s slugging and OPS would be career highs, as were his 130 RBI, .332 average, and .431 OBP.

He led with 111 walks in 2000, but wouldn’t be a leader for the rest of his Luanda run. Mubiru won four more Silver Sluggers from 2000-03, but his struggles against lefties kept him out of MVP conversations. In total with Luanda, Mubiru had 1199 hits, 788 runs, 267 doubles, 319 home runs, 807 RBI, 640 walks, a.282/.378/.576 slash, 157 wRC+, and 47.7 WAR. He was the first star player for the Landsharks and they would retire his #15 uniform at the end of his career.

Mubiru opted for free agency after the 2003 season heading towards his age 31 season. He ended up in South Africa on a six-year, $14,640,000 deal with Durban. Mubiru’s first year was the weakest of his career to that point at 2.3 WAR, missing a month to a severe hip muscle strain. However in 2005, he returned to his peak form, winning his third MVP and seventh Silver Slugger. Mubiru became the third player in AAB history with three MVP wins.

In 2005, Mubiru led the Southern Conference in runs (128), homers (57), slugging (.708), OPS (1.115), wRC+ (209), and WAR (10.2). Durban earned their first-ever playoff berth, falling in the conference finals to Antananarivo. The Deer then put together a brief dynasty run, repeating as Africa Series champ in 2006 and 2007. Durban defeated Addis Ababa both years in the final.

Mubiru had missed almost half of 2006 to an oblique strain, but was back by the playoffs. He was merely okay in the 2006 run, but had a nice run in 2007 with 13 hits, 9 runs, 5 homers, and 12 RBI. For his playoff career, Mubiru had 27 starts, 25 hits, 18 runs, 6 doubles, 8 homers, 16 RBI, a .236/.283/.519 slash, 117 wRC+, and 0.6 WAR. Around this time, he also played for his native Uganda in the World Baseball Championship. Mubiru had 36 starts from 2004-2007 with 27 hits, 15 runs, 11 homers, 27 RBI, a .201/.287/.455 slash, 120 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR.

Durban collapsed in 2008 at 71-91 with Mubiru suffering a torn labrum in late May, putting him on the shelf ten months. The Deer voided the team option, sending Mubiru back to free agency just before turning 36. With Durban in total, Mubiru had 686 hits, 439 runs, 145 doubles, 198 home runs, 478 RBI, .271/.353/.572 slash, 152 wRC+, and 26.4 WAR. He stayed in South Africa for 2009 on a one-year deal with Johannesburg.

Mubiru was merely decent with 2.2 WAR over 112 games for the Jackalopes, but while there he became AAB’s fourth member of the 500 home run club. Durban brought him back for 2010 with a nice effort of 3.9 WAR and a .862 OPS. Mubiru then joined Bujumbura in 2011 with 2.9 WAR in a platoon role. Lastly, he had 0.5 WAR over 103 games in 2012 with Brazzaville, missing a chunk of the season to elbow inflammation. Mubiru retired after the 2012 campaign at age 39.

In total, Mubiru had 2168 hits, 1393 runs, 472 doubles, 580 home runs, 1463 RBI, 1092 walks, 244 stolen bases, a .273/.364/.558 slash, 150 wRC+, and 79.7 WAR. As of 2036, he ranks 31^st in hits, 20^th in runs, 35^th in doubles, 16^th in homers, 17^th in RBI, 18^th in walks, and 15^th in WAR among position players. Among all batters with 3000+ plate appearances, Mubiru’s .921 OPS ranks 56^th and he ranks 68^th in slugging.

Mubiru won’t be in the inner circle or GOAT level conversations, but he was easily a top ten to top five level player in his prime years between Luanda and Durban. He was one of the first great sluggers in early AAB and a big part in back-to-back titles for the Deer. Mubiru was a strong headliner for AAB’s 2018 Hall of Fame class at 96.0%.



Mulumba Mwamba – Closer – Kampala Peacocks – 78.0% First Ballot

Mulumba Mwamba was a 6’1’’, 200 pound left-handed relief pitcher from Kinshasa; the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mwamba had incredible stuff with great movement along with average control. He boasted a strong 96-98 mph fastball and a great curveball, along with a rarely used changeup as a third pitch. Mwamba’s stamina, durability, and defense were respectable for a closer. He was a bit of a mercenary that cared first and foremost about his paycheck.

Mwamba was picked 13^th overall by Kampala in the 1997 AAB Draft and was the Peacocks closer right away. Saves were hard to come by with Kampala averaging 72.5 wins per season during Mwamba’s six-year tenure. Still, this was his longest run with any one team. From 2000-02, Mwamba posted 5+ WAR and sub-two ERAs. He won Reliever of the Year in 2000 and took third in 2001.

Bizarrely in 2002, he took second in Reliever of the Year, yet Mwamba won Pitcher of the Year. As of 2037, he’s one of only two closers to win POTY in AAB. 2002 did see career bests in strikeouts (152), and WAR (5.5); posting 35 saves, a 1.23 ERA, and 12-3 record. In total with Kampala, Mwamba had 181 saves and 218 shutdowns, a 1.87 ERA, 491.2 innings, 718 strikeouts, 222 ERA+, and 26.0 WAR.

While Mwamba would bounce around in his later career, he did consistently pitch for his native DR Congo in the World Baseball Championship. He was split between starting and relief for his country from 1999-2010, posting 128.1 innings, 4 saves, a 5-6 record, 2.88 ERA, 201 strikeouts, and 4.8 WAR. Mwamba was third in Best Pitcher voting for the 2000 WBC, tossing 10.2 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts and three hits allowed.

With free agency looming after the 2004 season, Kampala traded the 28-year old Mwamba to Lilongwe for four prospects. He was second in Reliever of the Year voting in his one year with the Lightning, posting 4.6 WAR. For 2005, Mwamba inked a one-year deal with Luanda. He won his second Reliever of the Year and led in saves for the first time at 37. That was a career best, as was his 0.99 ERA. As of 2037, that is one of four sub-one ERA seasons by an AAB ROTY winner.

Mwamba joined his hometown Kinshasa in 2006 with 4.0 WAR and a 2.11 ERA, although he lost a month to a strained triceps. The Sun Cats saw their 11-year playoff streak snapped that year with an 86-76 finish as their dynasty would be supplanted by Addis Ababa in the Central Conference. Mwamba had a second stint with Luanda in 2007, winning his third Reliever of the Year.

In 2008, Mwamba went to Addis Ababa and led in saves with 35, taking second in ROTY. He got his first playoff experience, posting a 1.35 ERA and 6 saves in eight appearances with 20 strikeouts over 13.1 innings. That helped the Brahmas win their first of six straight Africa Series titles. While there, Mwamba became the third AAB closer to reach 300 career saves.

Mwamba’s last year as a closer came with Lubumbashi in 2009, taking third in ROTY voting. He went back to Addis Ababa in 2010, but saw a reduced role as a setup man. Still, Mwamba had a 1.97 ERA over 50.1 innings and allowed one run in five playoff innings, getting his second championship ring. His velocity started to dip and he struggled in 14 innings with Kigali in 2011. Mwamba went to Cape Town in 2012 and only saw 9.1 innings, albeit with an 0.96 ERA. He retired that winter at age 36.

The final stats had 365 saves and 449 shutdowns, an 101-64 record, 1.99 ERA, 787 games, 1019.1 innings, 1533 strikeouts, 394 walks, 208 ERA+, and 55.5 WAR. As of 2037, Mwamba ranks fourth in saves, but still manages to be 25^th in WAR among all AAB pitchers. Among all pitchers with 1000+ innings, his ERA is second only to his contemporary Rajab Hamadi’s 1.97. Mwamba’s .529 opponent’s OPS, .177 opponent’s AVG, and .266 slugging are each second only to Hamadi. His 1.00 WHIP ranks fifth.

Among all pro baseball history, Mwamba’s WAR is 27^th among relievers and his ERA+ ranks 17^th. Despite his success, Hamadi’s adjacent run and Tewderos Tadesse often overshadow Mwamba’s accomplishments. Either way, he was one of AAB’s most dominant relievers, which got him the first ballot induction in AAB’s 2018 Hall of Fame class at 78.0%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 African Second League Forms

The African Association of Baseball began play in 1995, covering the countries in the southern, central, and eastern parts of the continents. The AAB was an immediate success and the game’s popularity skyrocketed throughout Africa. The quality of play in AAB had grown incredibly, shown by the competitiveness of AAB’s teams in the Baseball Grand Championship. Many observers argued that AAB had already matched or surpassed some of the older leagues in terms of prestige and talent.

Expansion throughout Africa was always in the plans, but the quick growth made officials start investigating after only 20 seasons. Many cities and countries had also grown massively in that time and improved their infrastructure, becoming big league ready. Officials were worried about growing too fast and diluting the talent pool, but they also wanted to strike while the iron was hot. Thus instead of traditional expansion, they began looking at models for an African Second League based on the promotion/relegation system already employed successfully in Europe.

By 2018, the pieces were in place to start up the African Second League. To give the new league a chance to breathe and to build up talent; there wouldn’t be any promotion or relegation right away. That would begin in the A2L’s fifth season in 2022 and would follow a simple format: the top finisher in each conference moved up and the bottom finisher moved down. The A2L’s only postseason would be a best-of-nine championship between the two conference champs. A2L would keep the same Southern and Central Conference format as AAB and would also have ten teams per conference.



As for the teams, there was a goal to expand to as many countries without previous teams, but there was also growth in the bigger nations as well. In the A2L Southern Conference would be the Blantyre Black Wolves (Malawi), Bulawayo Buzz (Zimbabwe), Comoros Chimps, Gaborone Golden Bears (Botswana), Lubango Browns (Angola), Maseru Mad Dogs (Lesotho), Mauritius Monsoon, Nampula Pheasants (Mozambique), Port Elizabeth Elephants (South Africa), and Windhoek White Sox (Namibia).

With Comoros and Mauritius, there was hope that they’d take to the game fanatically much like the island nations in the Caribbean and Pacific did. Other countries getting their first team in the Southern Conference were Botswana, Namibia.

The Central Conference lineup had the Asmara Anteaters (Eritrea), Bahir Dar Baboons (Ethiopia), Bangui Badgers (Central African Republic), Bukavu Bluefins (DR Congo), Djibouti Berserkers, Juba Jungle Cats (South Sudan), Mbuji-Mayi Millionaires (DR Congo), Mombasa Bisons (Kenya), Mwanza White Tigers (Tanzania), and Pointe-Noire Pride (Republic of Congo). Eritrea, Djibouti, South Sudan, and the CAR got their first pro teams.



One other quirk of A2L would be incredibly high offensive numbers. In part, they experimented with some gimmicky rules. Part of this would come from a lack of available great pitching relative to higher rated leagues. Especially in the early years as well, many teams were made up of veteran castoffs worldwide. It would take a few more years of growing the game to get more homegrown talent in A2L. They would have a shared rookie draft with the First League.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 World Baseball Championship

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The 72^nd World Baseball Championship in 2018 was hosted in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In Division 1, Sweden was dominant at 8-1 with their next closest foes at 5-4. It was the fifth division title for the Swedes and the first since 2009. In Division 2, Romania (8-1) grabbed the top spot over France (7-2) and the defending world champion United States (6-3). It was only the 15^th time in WBC history that the Americans didn’t advance. The Romanians earned their fourth division title and first since their surprise world title run in 2012.

In a tight Division 3, Bangladesh prevailed at 7-2. Belgium was one back at 6-3 with four nations tied for third at 5-4. The Bangladeshis earned their second-ever division title (1984). Canada claimed D4 at 7-2, while last year’s runner-up Taiwan, Japan, Germany, and Malaysian were each at 6-3. The Canadians moved on for the 39^th time, ending a two-year drought.

Division 5had a three-way tie for first at 6-3 between India, Scotland and Ukraine; while Algeria, Brazil, and Argentina each narrowly missed at 5-4. The tiebreaker sent the Ukrainians forward for the 11^th time and for the third time in six years. Mexico and Indonesia tied atop D6 at 7-2 with Thailand at 6-3. The Mexicans had the head-to-head tiebreaker to advance for the 30^th time and for the third time in five years.

Division 7 featured Iran, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria all tied at 7-2. The Iranians secured the tiebreaker for their third-ever division title (1995, 2015). In D8, Poland took it at 7-2 with the tiebreaker, while Bulgaria was close at 6-3. The Poles picked up an eighth division title and their third in six years. The 2018 elite eight was completely different from the prior year.

Canada was the top team in Round Robin Group A at 4-2, getting to the semifinal for the 28^th time and first time since 2015. Poland and Ukraine tied at 3-3 and Sweden was 2-4. The tiebreaker sent the Poles forward for their fifth semifinal berth. Poland hadn’t gotten that far since 1969.

Group B saw Mexico on top at 5-1, advancing along with 4-2 Iran. Bangladesh at 2-4 and Romania at 1-5 were ousted. The Mexicans secured an 18^th final four trip and their second in four years. The Iranians had only gotten that far once before with a third place finish in 1995.

In the semifinals, Iran upset Canada 3-1 and Poland defeated Mexico 3-1. The Iranians became the 28^th unique nation to earn a trip to the championship. It would be the Poles’ third title shot, having fallen to Canada in 1959 and to the United States in 1964. Thus, it was guaranteed to have the 16^th unique world champion in WBC history.



In the 72^nd World Championship, Poland prevailed 4-1 over Iran, becoming the sixth European nation to win it all (Russia 1956, Czechia 1980, Germany 1983, Romania 2012, England 2013). Great pitching led the way for the Poles from the likes of Slawomir Bohguski, who tossed 37.2 innings with 55 strikeouts and a 1.43 ERA. Closer Julian Wrzesniak was a stud as well with 7 saves and a 0.73 ERA over 24.2 innings with 54 strikeouts.



The big awards went to perhaps surprising recipients. Despite Algeria falling in the group stage, LF Amer Karim won tournament MVP. The 29-year old starter for Tripoli had an impressive nine games with 15 hits, 14 runs, 9 home runs, 20 RBI, a .469/.526/1.344 slash, 402 wRC+, and 1.6 WAR. Karim managed to lead all WBC batters in WAR despite the smaller sample size. Karim also had a 4 home run game against the DR Congo, only the 11^th such game in WBC history. Best Pitcher went to Malaysia’s Syanhaz Noor, a 27-year old closer for Kuala Lumpur. In 14.1 innings, he allowed one run and six hits with 27 strikeouts.

Other notes: Japan’s Izumo Fukumoto had a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk against Canada. He was the third Japanese pitcher with a WBC no-no, joining Shigeji Morimoto (1968) and Tomofumi Iwamoto (2000).

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 in A2L

2018 was the debut season for the African Second League. It was officially a pilot season and a chance for the new teams and format to gain its footing. Thus, there wouldn’t be any promotion or relegation teams in 2018. The first movement between the A2L and the African Association of Baseball’s First League would come in 2022.



Maseru was the inaugural Southern Conference champion at 96-66, edging Mauritius by one game. Ten games back in third place was 86-76 Windhoek.



Bangui dominated the Central Conference at 97-65. The Badgers hit 319 home runs as a team, which would be the Second League record until 2035. Mwanza was their closest foe in second at 89-73.

The first-ever Second League Championship went all nine games with Bangui defeating Maseru.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 in E2L

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In their sixth season in the European Second League, Manchester earned its first playoff berth. The Crushers at 100-62 had the top spot in the Western Conference. Naples and Toulouse were both close behind at 97-65. Both the Nobles and Toads earned repeat playoff berths. Naples did it by allowing 435 runs with a team 0.989 WHIP; both E2L records to that point. Glasgow at 89-73 narrowly took the fourth and final playoff spot, edging out Reykjavik (87-75), Gothenburg (85-77) and Lyon (83-79). The Highlanders are in their second season in E2L.

The top two seeds advanced out of the Western Conference’s Round Robin. #2 Naples had the top mark at 4-2, while Manchester had the tiebreaker over Toulouse with both at 3-3. Glasgow was ousted at 2-4. In an intense conference championship, the Crushers outlasted the Nobles 4-3, guaranteeing a promotion to the European Baseball Federation Elite for Manchester.



For the seventh time in their 14-year run in E2L, Lviv earned a playoff berth. For the third time, they had the top regular season record in the Eastern Conference, taking it at 98-64. Cluj-Napoca was second at 94-68 for their second berth in three years. Tying for the final two playoff spots at 92-70 were Berlin and Lodz. Both the Barons and Legion earned a third consecutive playoff berth, hoping this time they can make their escape. Just falling short for the final wild cards were Helsinki (88-74) and Odesa (87-75).

Lviv and Berlin advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship with 4-2 finishes in the Round Robin. Cluj-Napoca at 3-3 and Lodz at 1-5 saw their seasons ended. The Barons cruised 4-1 over the Lunkers in the conference final, giving Germany’s capital a return ticket to the top tier. Berlin spent eight years in the Second League and never had a losing season, but 2018 finally saw them clinch promotion.



In the Second League Championship, Berlin bested Manchester in a seven-game classic. With three teams in the EBF Elite’s Southern Conference ultimately losing 100+ games in 2018, which meant four teams total earned promotions from E2L. Thus, conference finalists Naples and Lviv moved up along with the Barons and Crushers. The Nobles had spent six years in the E2L before earning their return to the Elite. It was the first promotion for the Lunkers despite being regularly one of E2L’s better franchises over 14 seasons.



Other notes: Naples’ Benjamin Johnson set E2L records for complete games (6) and shutouts (5). Tbilisi’s Bartosz Wilk set a bad all-time E2L record by striking out 320 times. Nantes’ Yohan Soisson had E2L’s 10^th Perfect Game, striking out 15 against London on May 29.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 in AAB

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Johannesburg missed the playoffs in 2017 by one game, preventing a four-year playoff streak. In 2018, the Jackalopes finished first in the Southern Conference for the fourth time in five years, finishing 101-61. It was a 13-game drop to second place Luanda at 88-74, giving the Landsharks repeat playoff berths.

Falling just short were Lilongwe (87-75) and defending conference champ Maputo (84-78). Despite their drop, the Piranhas set an AAB team record with 75 triples, which still holds as the top mark as of 2037. Maputo also set a conference record with 512 stolen bases. However, the Piranhas also had only 101 team home runs, which was a conference all-time low.

Cape Town was fifth at 82-80, but had Southern Conference MVP Ange Ndikuriyo. It was the third MVP for the Rwandan right fielder, who also took it in 2014 and 2016. The 27-year old lefty missed a month to a fractured wrist, but still led in RBI (119), slugging (.690), and WAR (7.2). Ndikuriyo had 51 home runs, 1.071 OPS, and 185 wRC+. He had signed a big eight-year, $56,980,000 extension with the Cowboys after the prior season. However, Ndikuriyo stunned Cape Town by opting out after the 2020 season and leaving for MLB.

Luanda’s Yannick Thomas won his second Pitcher of the Year. The 30-year old Frenchman won in 2015 with Maputo, then signed with the Landsharks in 2018 for six years and $67,200,000. Thomas led in wins (19-9), and quality starts (25). He added a 2.52 ERA over 235.2 innings, 265 strikeouts, 155 ERA+, and 5.9 WAR.



Entering 2018, Kampala and Lilongwe were the only AAB teams without a playoff berth over 23 seasons. The Peacocks had come close the prior two years, but finally got over the hump. Kampala was dominant atop the Central Conference at 111-51, the fifth-most wins in a season in AAB to that point. The Peacocks led all teams in scoring at 833 runs and allowed the fewest in the conference at 570.

Brazzaville had won back-to-back Africa Series titles in 2015-16, but missed the playoffs in 2017 by one game. The Blowfish returned to the postseason by easily taking second at 97-65. Reigning AAB champ Mogadishu was a distant third at 89-73, while last year’s wild card Bujumbura was fourth at 84-78.

Bighorns 3B Warren Biloa won Central Conference MVP and posted the fourth hitting Triple Crown in AAB history. The 26-year old from the Central African Republic had 56 home runs, 134 RBI, and a .309 batting average. Biloa also led in total bases (381), slugging (.668), OPS (1.046), wRC+ (179), and WAR (7.7).

Kampala had Pitcher of the Year Ermias Tadele, who joined the Peacocks in the offseason on a seven-year, $77,300,000 free agent deal. The 30-year old Ethiopian previously was solid for Mogadishu and Maputo, but he stepped up in 2018. Tadele led in wins (21-6), and WAR (8.5), while adding a 2.41 ERA, 228 innings, and 259 strikeouts. His Peacocks teammate Deon Westerveld also notably won his fourth Reliever of the Year, leading with 42 saves. The 32-year old South African had won three times previously with Kinshasa, signing with Kampala in the offseason. Westerveld was the third in AAB history to win four ROTYs.

Luanda gave a spirited effort in the Southern Conference Championship, but top seed Johannesburg survived 4-3. The Jackalopes earned their third pennant in four years and their eighth overall. In the Central Conference Championship, Kampala bested Brazzaville 4-1 for the Peacocks first-ever pennant.



In the 24^th Africa Series, Kampala became the 12^th different franchise to win it all, beating Johannesburg 5-3. The Jackalopes’ bad finals luck continued as since winning the inaugural 1995 title, they’ve gone 0-7. This was also the fourth straight title for the Central Conference’s champ. 3B Javin Dinesh was finals MVP in his seventh season for the Peacocks. The 27-year old South African in 12 playoff starts had 14 hits, 8 runs, 6 doubles, 4 homers, and 8 RBI.



Other notes: This was the final season for Luke Tembo, retiring AAB’s all-time leader in walks (1956) and strikeouts (3073); records he still holds as of 2037. He retired second in world history in walks behind only MLB’s Chris Louden (2106). Tembo also finished with 893 home runs, retiring second to Felix Chaula’s 925. As of 2037, Tembo is eighth in AAB history in runs (1616), third in homers, and fourth in RBI (1888).

Mwarami Tale became the second to reach 2000 RBI and passed Chaula (2021) for the top mark at 2071. Tale finished the season at 891 home runs, in striking distance of passing Chaula and Tembo’s marks. Tale also won his 13^th Silver Slugger in center field, joining Chaula as AAB’s only 13-time Slugger winners.

Both Fani Ngambi and Jose Santarem reached 2500 career hits, making six AAB batters to do so. Ngambi also was the sixth to score 1500 runs. SS Didrik Borgstrom won his ninth Gold Glove. C Steven Isaac won his ninth Silver Slugger and Ronny Safari won his seventh. It was Safari’s first as a shortstop with his prior six wins in CF.

In pitching notables, Paul Lambote became the first to strike out 4000 batters in AAB. As of 2037, he remains the only one to do so, retiring after 2018 as the leader with 4093. Lambote fell two wins short of being the second to reach 200 wins (Henry Kibirige has 203). Valentine Hategekimana became the third to reach 3000 strikeouts, retiring after 2019 at 3081.

The formerly proud Addis Ababa franchise was only a few years removed from their dynasty, but they were an abysmal 55-107 in 2018. The Brahmas set all-time AAB worsts in batting average (.204), OBP (.283), hits (1083), and strikeouts (1704). Those are all still the worst as of 2037. AA’s 530 runs scored were the third fewest to that point. Cape Town also struck out 1680 times, the third worst in AAB history.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 in ALB

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Four teams in the Arab League’s Western Conference fought over two playoff spots and the top overall seed. Cairo and Alexandria tied at 99-63 atop the Nile Division for the best overall record. In a one-game playoff, the Pharaohs defeated the Astronauts, giving Cairo repeat division titles and sending Alexandria home. The Pharaohs guaranteed a repeat conference finals berth. With only division winners advancing in ALB, strong teams can miss the playoffs as the Astronauts tied the ALB record for the most wins by a team that missed the cut. 2007 Riyadh had also fallen short despite 99 wins.

The Mediterranean Division was also tight with Tripoli at 97-65 finishing two games short of the top seed, but one game ahead of reigning Arab League champ Casablanca. The Privateers ended a three-year playoff drought and snapped the Bruins’ three-year streak. The Levant Division meanwhile wasn’t competitive with Damascus dominating at 95-67. The Dusters secured their first division win in a row.

Western Conference MVP was Cairo designated hitter Hazen Ibrahim. The 25-year old Egyptian led in hits (222), runs (127), total bases (433), OBP (.418), OPS (1.104), wRC+ (204), and WAR (10.4). Ibrahim added 51 doubles, 50 home runs, and 125 RBI. The Pharaohs gave him a five-year, $36,000,000 extension before the season.

Ibrahim beat out Khartoum’s Ali Jassem for MVP despite Jassem’s 70 home runs. It was the fifth 70+ homer season in ALB history and Jassem’s second. He became the ninth player in pro baseball history with multiple 70 dinger seasons. It was also the sixth time Jassem smacked 60+ homers in a season, earning his seventh Silver Slugger at first base. The 30-year old Kuwaiti would opt out of his Cottonmouths deal in the offseason and sign a massive six-year, $87,600,000 deal with Oran.

Casablanca’s Fawaz Hussein repeated as Pitcher of the Year and won his third in four years. The 31-year old Yemeni righty led in wins (22-7), strikeouts (339), WHIP (0.92), quality starts (27), FIP- (49), and WAR (10.5). Hussein had a 2.49 ERA over 249 innings with a 152 ERA+. It was his fourth straight year leading the conference in WAR.

Tripoli edged Damascus 2-1 in the first round, sending the Privateers to their first Western Conference Final since 2014. It was a repeat appearance for Cairo, but this time they had home field advantage. That ultimately didn’t matter, as Tripoli took it 3-1 over the Pharaohs. The Privateers earned their third pennant, joining the 1991 and 2012 campaigns.



The Eastern Conference meanwhile had lopsided divisions decided by double-digit margins. Jeddah had the #1 seed at 105-57, winning an eighth consecutive Saudi Division. The Jackals earned their third straight 100+ win season and their fourth in five years, allowing the fewest runs in ALB at 510. Jeddah also guaranteed their fourth conference final berth in six years. They had decent competition in the division, but 88-74 Riyadh and 87-75 Mecca were still distant foes.

Basra dominated the Mesopotamia Division at 98-64, ending a five-year playoff drought. Last year’s conference runner-up Mosul fell to 80-82. The Gulf Division saw the biggest surprise with Doha at 90-72, ending a 19-year playoff drought. It was only the third-ever division title for the Dash. Abu Dhabi, the two-time defending conference champ, struggled to 71-91. This ended a six-year playoff streak for the Destroyers and was only their second losing season since 2003.

Eastern Conference MVP went to Mecca DH Omar Abdel Rahman. The 23-year old Egyptian lefty was in his fourth season already, but it was his first as a full-time starter. Rahman led in home runs (62), RBI (131), slugging (.717), OPS (1.074), wRC+ (207), and WAR (8.6). He added 178 hits, 102 runs, and a .321 average. The Marksmen anticipated this growth, giving Rahman a five-year, $11,860,000 extension before the season.

Basra’s Ahmed Hussain won Pitcher of the Year in his seventh season. The 26-year old Qatari lefty led in wins (21-6), quality starts (26), and WAR (8.6). Hussain had a 2.04 ERA over 246.2 innings, 304 strikeouts, and 182 ERA+. He committed for the long haul with the Bulldogs in the offseason on a six-year, $93,200,000 extension.

Doha upset Basra 2-1 in the first round on the road, sending the Dash to their third-ever Eastern Conference Final (1997-98). They couldn’t keep the road magic going as Jeddah dominated Doha for a 3-0 sweep. The Jackals earned their third pennant, having also won it all back in 2013 and 2014.



In the 29^th Arab League Championship, Jeddah rolled Tripoli 4-1 to become three-time ALB champs. The Jackals became the fifth team with three titles and became the third to win three titles in a six-year run, joining Basra (2006-2011) and Mosul (1998-01).

Winning MVP of both the ALB Championship and conference finals was 1B Zach Aubin. The 32-year old Canadian had come to ALB in 2015 after eight seasons in MLB with Oakland. After a run with Kuwait, he got traded to Jeddah at the 2018 deadline for prospects. Aubin was a beast in 8 playoff starts with 15 hits, 11 runs, 6 home runs, and 10 RBI.



Other notes: Khartoum’s Amar Rasmi broke the ALB single season record for stolen bases with 143, besting Hassan El Zamek’s 141 from 2010. To this point, it was the second-most in world history behind only Pascal Garcia’s 152 in the 1996 Beisbol Sudamerica season. Rasmi also had 62 doubles, which was the fifth-best ALB season to that point.

Farouk Adam became the second ALB batter to 3000 hits. He finished the season at 3144, in striking distance of former teammate Nordine Soule’s top mark of 3339. Tark Abdel Rahman and Mohamed Mustafa became the eighth and ninth to 1500 RBI. Mohamed Mansour, Raed Falahen, and Ali Jassem all joined the 500 homer club, making that group 17 strong. Fawaz Hussein became the 12^th pitcher to 3000 strikeouts. Winning their eighth Silver Sluggers were 2B Hamdan Fahed, 1B Yahya bin Hakam, and LF Mohamed Hassan. SS/2B Ahmed Musa won his seventh Gold Glove.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 in ABF

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The Asian Baseball Federation’s North Division was incredibly top heavy in 2018. Dushanbe and Bishkek tied at 103-59 with the tiebreaker for the division and the East League’s top seed going to the Dynamo. Dushanbe extended their playoff streak to six seasons, while the Black Sox ended a seven-year postseason drought. The Dynamo had by far the top offense with 746 runs scored, the only team in ABF with 700+. Bishkek’s pitching meanwhile had 1938 strikeouts and a 11.63 K/9, setting new ABF single-season records.

Defending EL champ Asgabat got the second wild card at 97-65, growing their playoff streak to three. Almaty’s playoff streak ended at three at 86-76. The South Division was quite tight with four teams ultimately fighting for one playoff spot. Lahore (90-72) edged out defending Faisalabad (89-73), Rawalpindi (89-73) and Gujranwala (88-74). This ended a five-year playoff drought for the Longhorns, who hadn’t won the division since 2005.

Nizami Aghazade’s chance for a sixth straight East League MVP was thwarted in 2017 by a fractured finger that knocked him out from June onward. The incredible Kazakh 2B/SS was back in 2018 to earn his sixth MVP and his fifth Triple Crown. Aghazade joined CABA legend Prometheo Garcia as the only batters in pro baseball history with five Triple Crowns. He also earned his third Gold Glove and sixth Silver Slugger.

Aghazade led in runs (112), hits (205), home runs (48), RBI (122), walks (73), total bases (382), triple slash (.365/.444/.680), OPS (1.124), wRC+ (244), and WAR (15.2). It was his sixth time with 13+ WAR, a feat only achieved previously in world history by one other position player (WAB Darwin Morris). The WAR total was the second-most in ABF history behind his own 15.99 in 2015. Among all seasons in world history among all players as of 2037, Aghazade’s 2018 is the 42^nd best WAR. However, he suffered a huge setback with a torn ACL in the playoffs, keeping him out until fall 2019.

Pitcher of the Year was Asgabat’s Nayif Elmi. The 26-year old Afghani righty led in wins (22-6), ERA (1.62), WHIP (0.74), quality starts (28), FIP- (55), and WAR (8.3). Elmi had 335 strikeouts and a 186 ERA+ over 234 innings, falling five Ks shy of a Triple Crown. In April 2019, the Alphas would give him a six-year, $70,600,000 extension. Also notable was Gujranwala’s Raghid Yazdani winning his third straight Reliever of the Year.

Nizami Aghazade’s ACL tear ultimately sank Dushanbe in the first round of the playoffs, upset 3-2 by Asgabat. Lahore had home field as a division champ and swept Bishkek despite winning 13 fewer games. This was the Longhorns first East League Championship Series berth since their 2012 pennant. The defending champ Alphas kept rolling on the road, taking the ELCS 4-2 for the repeat.



After wild cards the prior two years, Tabriz took the top seed at 103-59 in the West League and won the Central Division. Two-time defending ABF champ Tehran dropped down to 93-69, which was still good enough to get the first wild card. The Tarpons streak of 100+ win seasons ended at five years, but their playoff streak grew to eight seasons.

Ankara repeated as Turkish Division champ at 96-66. The Alouettes pitching staff had 1860 strikeouts, the second-most in WL history. Izmir was their closest foe at 88-74, taking the second wild card over Baku (86-76) and Isfahan (88-74). This was a big turnaround for the Ice Caps, who hadn’t been a playoff team since 2002 and hadn’t posted a winning season since 2006. Izmir had just finished an abysmal 60-102 the prior year, which had been their seventh straight sub-70 win season.

Baku DH Fakhri Rajavi won his second West League MVP. The 31-year old Iranian lefty led in home runs (54), RBI (112), slugging (.715), OPS (1.094), and wRC+ (235). Rajavi added 9.5 WAR and a .310 average, winning his sixth Silver Slugger.

Tabriz righty Ali Mehrjui won Pitcher of the Year, winning the ERA title at 1.93. The 27-year old Iranian also led in complete games (18), and shutouts (8). Mehrjui posted 5.6 WAR and a 167 ERA+ over 261 innings, striking out 305 with a 16-8 record. This effort got him a five-year, $31,200,000 extension during the summer.

The Tiger Sharks cruised to a first round sweep of Izmir, while Ankara ousted the defending champ Tehran 3-1. Tabriz’s only other LCS appearance was back in the inaugural 1985 season, while it was the Alouettes’ first since winning the 2009 pennant. In a seven game classic, Ankara claimed the West League Championship Series over the Tiger Sharks, earning their third pennant (2003, 2009, 2018).



The 34^th ABF Championship was guaranteed to crown the 19^th unique champ in ABF history. Ankara clobbered Asgabat, leaving the Alphas as runner-up in back-to-back years. The Alouettes also became the first Turkish champ since Istanbul’s 2007-08 repeat. RF Bagus Tri Yusuk won finals MVP in his third season with Ankara. The 34-year old Indonesian in 15 playoff starts had 17 hits, 7 runs, 3 homers, and 8 RBI.



Other notes: 2018 was the final ABF season for 1B Petri Viskari, although he had two more pro seasons in Russia. He left as ABF’s leader in hits (2795), runs scored (1446), doubles (728), RBI (1685), and WAR (114.5). Viskari also ranked third in home runs at 595. He would fall down the leaderboards in later years, but does still hold the doubles record as of 2037. His two EPB seasons would get him to 783 doubles for his combined pro career, which is 6^th in world history as of 2037.

In other milestones, Ali Massoudi became the ninth pitcher to 3500 strikeouts. Dushanbe’s Muhammed Ayvazoglu had a no-hitter against Tashkent, giving him a no-hitter in back-to-back seasons. Bursa’s H.A. Rahman had a 31-game hit streak, only the sixth-time in ABF history that a player had a 30+ streak. 3B Eser Haspolatli won his tenth Gold Glove, joining fellow 3B Shaheed Abbas as the only 10+ GG winners in ABF history so far. Gaziantep’s offense had a .256 team on-base percentage, setting an all-time WL worst.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

2018 in SAB

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Hyderabad won the Indian League’s South Division for the third straight year. At 99-63, the Hippos also secured the #1 seed for the first time in franchise history. Nagpur was ten back in the division at 89-73, but that was good enough for the wild card. It was the first-ever playoff berth for the Patriots, who joined South Asia Baseball in the 2004 expansion.

Defending IL champ Kanpur won the Central Division at 96-66, growing their playoff streak to four seasons. Next was Lucknow at 88-74, who fell one game short of fellow expansion team Nagpur for the wild card. Kolkata also fell shy at 85-77, but grew their streak of winning seasons to 12 years. Mumbai took the West Division for the fifth year in a row. At 90-72, the Meteors were six games ahead of Surat.

Ahmedabad was a non-factor at 78-84, but they had the Indian League’s MVP Abhiji Srivas. The 23-year old Indian left fielder led in runs (128), total bases (396), triple slash (.359/.426/.690), OPS (1.116), wRC+ (227), and WAR (11.8). Srivas added 206 hits, 41 home runs, and 107 RBI.

Lucknow’s Charan Asoka was the ninth different Pitcher of the Year in nine years. The 29-year old Indian righty led in ERA (2.10) and WHIP (0.85). Asoka added a 15-9 record, 189 innings, 279 strikeouts, 172 ERA+, and 6.7 WAR. Also worth a mention was Surat’s Raj Puri, who achieved the rare feat of winning both Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year. Puri had a 1.36 ERA and 37 saves with 3.7 WAR.

Hyderabad defeated Nagpur 3-1 and Kanpur topped Mumbai 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs, setting up a rematch in the Indian League Championship Series. This time, the Hippos had home field advantage, but it didn’t matter a lick. The Poison pounded Hyderabad with a 4-0 sweep to repeat as IL champs. It was Kanpur’s fifth pennant overall (1988, 1993, 2007, 2017, 2018).



Reigning South Asia Baseball champion Yangon had the Southeast Asia League’s top record at 107-55 and made world history. The Green Dragons earned their 24^th consecutive playoff berth, passing Ahmedabad and Ho Chi Minh City’s SAB-record 23 season run. Yangon tied Minsk of Eurasian Professional Baseball (1981-04) for the longest playoff streak in any world league. The Green Dragons won the South Division title for their 18^th division title of the playoff streak. Yangon was also dominant again in SEAL, leading in runs scored (809) and fewest allowed (530).

The next best records in the league were also in the South Division with Colombo (93-69) and Vientiane (91-71) getting the wild cards. The Vampires earned their third straight playoff berth and their sixth in seven years. For the Catfish, this was their first-ever playoff berth since joining SAB in the 2008 expansion.

Mandalay earned repeat playoff berths by winning the North Division at 88-74. It was only the second-ever division title by the Mammoths (1981), beating out 84-78 efforts by Hanoi and Chittagong and an 83-79 Dhaka. The Hounds saw their six-year division title streak and their 13-year playoff streak both snapped, although they posted their 16^th straight winning season.

Southeast Asia League MVP went to Hai Phong left fielder Rahul Anand. The 23-year old Indian lefty led in total bases (391), OBP (.413), slugging (.671), OPS (1.083), wRC+ (189), and WAR (9.3). Anand added 48 home runs, 132 RBI, and 11 runs. The expansion Prowlers hoped Anand would lead them to their first successes, giving him an eight-year, $95,800,000 extension in July 2019.

Huynh Pham joined Zainal bin Aziz as the only five-time Pitcher of the Year winners in SAB history. The 31-year old two-way Vietnamese superstar had won his first four POTYs with Vientiane, who signed him to a six-year, $54,000,000 extension in October 2017. Shockingly one month later, the Vampires traded him to division rival Yangon for prospects RF Jaivira Kanjam and SP Noor Choudhari. Considering Pham’s popularity and success, it was a jaw-dropping move.

In his Green Dragons debut, Pham led SEAL in ERA (1.85), WHIP (0.95), quality starts (25), and WAR (5.7). He added a 17-2 record over 224.1 innings, 258 strikeouts, and 214 ERA+. Unlike Vientiane, Yangon didn’t use Pham as a two-way starter, although he still posted a 1.040 OPS and 0.9 WAR in 54 plate appearances.

Despite the Green Dragons acquiring Pham, the Vampires shocked the defending champs with a road sweep in the first round of the playoffs. On the other side, Mandalay won a 3-2 classic over Colombo. This guaranteed a first-time pennant winner in the Southeast Asia League Championship. Vientiane had lost in the 1992, 2013, and 2016 LCS, while the Mammoths’ only berth was in the inaugural 1980 season. Mandalay prevailed 4-2 to advance to the 39^th South Asia Baseball Championship.



In 2017, Kanpur was swept by Yangon and wanted to avoid a similar fate. The 2018 final was yet another dramatic battle, becoming the fourth time in five years that the SAB Championship went all seven games and ended wither with a walkoff or in extra innings. The Poison outlasted Mandalay 4-3 to earn their second SAB title (1988).

In game seven, it was veteran catcher Emjay Anuha who had the walkoff RBI single to win it 2-1 for Kanpur in the ninth. The real playoff hero though was LF Kasi Kumar, who won LCS and finals MVP. The 36-year old lefty signed with Kanpur in 2018 after a 14-year run with Visakhapatnam. In 15 playoff starts, Kumar had 21 hits, 13 runs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, and 15 RBI with a 1.093 OPS. He also had a game-winning two run homer in the 12^th inning for a 2-0 final back in game one.



Other notes: Hanoi’s Majed Darwish became the new SAB home run king with 974, passing Tirtha Upadhyaya’s 973 by one. This put the 35-year old Bahraini second in pro baseball history and 99 homers away from the world record 1073 by Arab League legend Nordine Soule. Darwish also passed Davavesman Toppo and Upadhyaya to become SAB’s RBI leader at 2316. For Darwish, he posted his 14^th consecutive 50+ home run season, although his streak of 150+ RBI seasons ended at 11. He was one season shy of Soule’s 15 seasons with 50+ dingers.

Darwish and Ratan Canduri both scored their 2000^th run in 2018. Canduri became SAB’s new all-time runs leader at 2072, passing Manju Abbas’ 2057 with Darwish at 2033. To this point, only 16 players in world baseball history had scored 2000 runs. After racking up awards as a DH, Darwish’s 12^th Silver Slugger was his first as a first baseman. He joined V.J. Williams and Upadhyaya as SAB’s only 12-time Slugger winners at any position.

2018 was the final season for Devavesman Toppo, playing one year with Kolkata after a 20-year tenure with Hanoi. Toppo finished with 2967 hits, 1918 runs, 953 home runs, 2226 RBI, and 129.3 WAR. As of 2037, Toppo’s SAB rankings are 3^rd in RBI, 4^th in homers, 5^th in runs, 9^th in hits, and 9^th in WAR among position players.

In other hitting milestones, Kumar Clark reached 500 home runs, 2500 hits, and 1500 RBI. Asim Anuha also breached 1500 RBI, Chris Saandeep got to 1500 runs scored, and Prajwal Adhikari got to 2500 hits. Chittagong’s Sokha Khem set the SAB single-season record with 34 triples, beating Saadi Baluch’s 31 from 2009. This remains the SAB record as of 2037.

In pitching milestones, Jay Singh became SAB’s strikeout king, finishing the season at 4634 to pass Zainal bin Aziz’s top mark of 4483. Singh remains the SAB strikeout leader as of 2037. Ariffin Sapri became the 10^th to reach 3500 strikeouts. Seyha San became the fifth to 400 career saves. 2018 was notably the first season since 2010 without a no-hitter. SAB wouldn’t have another no-no until 2021.