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

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1947 CABA Hall of Fame

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The 1947 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame had three players inducted. Two were inner-circle level picks in pitchers Martin Campos (98.8%) and Leo Antonucci (97.9%). The third was pitcher Aitor Moreno who got in on the slimmest of margins. On his 10^th and final possible attempt, he crossed the 66% threshold with a 66.1%. 2B Junior Mota was close but short again at 56.7% on his eighth attempt. Two other pitchers, Rayan Montes and Dusty Louis, both were at 50% even. No players were dropped after a 10^th ballot in the CABA HOF.



Martin Campos – Starting Pitcher – Puebla Pumas – 98.8% First Ballot

Martin Campos was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Silao, a city in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. Campos had incredible movement with a strong five-pitch arsenal of a slider, forkball, changeup, sinker, and circle change. His velocity peaked at 97-99 mph. After having great amateur success, Puebla picked Campos second overall in the 1926 MLB Draft.

Campos immediately became an ace for Puebla, winning Rookie of the Year in 1927 and taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting. In 1928, Campos had a 1.69 ERA and 4-0 record in 26.2 playoff innings en route to a CABA championship for the Pumas. They were solid, but missed the playoffs in his remaining years with Puebla. But Campos was still a star, winning Pitcher of the Year in 1929 and 1933. He took second in 1930 and 1932 and third in 1931. He led in WAR twice, ERA once, and WHIP twice with the Pumas. His career numbers there was 131-72, 2.26 ERA, 2259 strikeouts over 1987.2 innings and 61.3 WAR. His #6 jersey would be retired after retirement.

Puebla fell off hard in the 1934 and decided to trade Campos for five prospects, one of which would be 1956 Hall of Fame inductee Felix Hernandez. Campos joined Monterrey for the 1935 at age 31 and grabbed his third Pitcher of the Year, finishing just 19 strikeouts short of a Triple Crown with a 21-8 record, 1.65 ERA, and 320 Ks. The Matadors won the Mexican League title, falling in the CABA final to Costa Rica. This season also saw his lone no-hitter, coming against his former squad Puebla on September 4 with 12 strikeouts and one walk.

Campos took third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1936 with Monterrey, leaving that offseason for a big free agent contract with Havana. The Hurricanes signed him at $12,800 per year over five years; his salary had peaked at $6,100 in his prior stints. He never was top three in Pitcher of the Year, but was solid in his mid 30s with the Hurricanes. At age 37, he was traded in the last year of his deal to Tijuana for the 1941 season. He was off to a strong start with the Toros, but suffered a torn labrum on June 10 that ended his career.

Campos final statistics saw a 235-134 record, 2.48 ERA, 3503.2 innings, 3815 strikeouts, 338/443 quality starts, 111 complete games and 99.7 WAR. At retirement, he was behind only Ulices Montero and Esaie Cherefant in pitcher WAR. One of the true elite pitchers of the late 1920s and 1930s, Campos was a slam dunk first ballot Hall of Famer at 98.8%.



Leo Antonucci – Starting Pitcher – Santiago Sailfish – 97.9% First Ballot

Leo Antonucci was a 6’0’’, 185 pound right-handed pitcher from Frederick Maryland, part of the Washington metro area. He had 98-100 velocity and very good control of a fastball, slider, changeup, and cutter He had a lot of strikeouts and low walk numbers, but his pitches would often come in flat and he had issues allowing home runs. Antonucci also had great stamina and was incredibly durable, very rarely missing a start.

It was an unusual path to CABA for an American pitcher. He played college baseball at Virginia and wasn’t a highly touted prospect at all. He was picked in the seventh round, 303^rd overall, by Columbus in the 1924 MLB Draft. But he was cut before playing a game. Looking for work, the Santiago Sailfish signed Antonucci and debuted him as a part-time starter in 1926. In the Dominican Republic, he developed his skill and became a staff ace for the next 15 years with Santiago.

He came in just after Santiago’s prominent run at the start of the 1920s and although they were rarely bad, they only made the playoffs once in Antonucci’s tenure. He was a bright spot though, leading the Caribbean in strikeouts five years in a row from 1930-34. He led in quality starts five times and K/BB six times. He finished third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1931 and was a six-time all-star.

Antonucci was often in the top 10 in most stats each year, but wasn’t dominant. Still, he racked up the accolades. On June 6, 1937, he had a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Honduras. He became the seventh CABA pitcher to 3500 strikeouts and then the third to 4000. He was the third to also reach 250 wins in 1941, his final season. He retired after that season at the age of 37. The Sailfish retired his #4 that offseason.

His final stats: 252-180, 3.17 ERA, 4004.1 innings, 4350 strikeouts with 5050 walks, 313/495 quality starts and 77.9 WAR. He could be counted upon for 15 years to get you a full season of starts for around 4-6 WAR with 250-300 strikeouts. At retirement, he was second in CABA strikeouts and he’d be fourth on the leaderboard at the turn of the millennium. With that, Antonucci was an easy first ballot choice at 97.9%.



Aitor Moreno – Starting Pitcher – Guadalajara Hellhounds – 66.1% Tenth Ballot

Aitor Moreno was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Masaya, the fourth largest city in Nicaragua. He had solid control throughout his career with 95-97 mph velocity between a good fastball and an alright changeup and slider. His stuff was generally thought of as average, but he put up very reliable production.

Moreno was picked 29^th overall in the second round of the 1916 CABA Draft by Costa Rica. He was a reserve player in his first two seasons with the Rays and a part-time starter who struggled in 1919. He did better in 1920 and 1921, but was a low-end starter. The Rays opted to trade Moreno before the 1922 season to Guadalajara for RF Yarlis Montilla. At age 27, this began his signature run with the Hellhounds.

He came in and posted a 5.9 WAR, 1.83 ERA season in his first year with Guadalajara, finishing third in Pitcher of the Year voting. In 1923, he won the PotY on a great year that included a no-hitter with nine strikeouts on April 21 against Mexicali. He led Mexico in wins (21), ERA (2.04), complete games (16), and shutouts (10). The Hellhounds made the playoffs four times during his tenure and they won the Mexican League title in 1925.

Moreno was solid a few more seasons, but started to see his productivity wane into his 30s. In his last year with Guadalajara in 1930 at age 35, he led the Mexican league in losses with 22. He signed with Puebla for 1931, but suffered a stretched elbow ligament to put him out for a year. He tried a comeback with Santo Domingo and made two starts in 1932, then retired that offseason.

The final stats: 173-146, 2.73 ERA, 3020.2 innings, 2566 strikeouts and 556 walks, 275/378 quality starts, 108 complete games, and 39.9 WAR. In the minds of many, that is a “Hall of Very Good” type career and when he started at 37.6% on the first ballot, that is what was expected. But Moreno slowly gained ground, getting above 60% on his eighth and ninth ballots. On his final try, needing 66% even to make it, Moreno received 66.1% of the vote. He has the lowest WAR of any non-reliever in the CABA Hall, but regardless; Aitor Moreno is in.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1947 EAB Hall of Fame

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One player made the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947 as starting pitcher Tadao Iemochi picked up 85.6% on his first try on the ballot. Only two others were above 50%; reliever Toyohiko Taguchi at 55.1% on his second try and 3B Koson Mori at 51.3% on his seventh. There were no EAB players who were dropped on their 10^th ballot in 1947.



Tadao Iemochi – Starting Pitcher – Kobe Blaze – 85.6% First Ballot

Tadao Iemochi was a 6’2’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher born in Yokohama, Japan. Iemochi was never a powerful pitcher as his velocity peaked at 93-95 mph. However, he was known from great movement on his pitches and later in his career, strong control. He mixed up a four-pitch arsenal of a slider, forkball, changeup, and sinker.

He moved to Tokyo as a teenage and attended Nishogakusha High School, where he caught a lot of attention as a baseball prospect. While players usually played in college or semi-pro, Iemochi was picked out of high school eighth overall in the 1923 EAB Draft by Kobe. He mostly was kept on the reserve roster to develop his skills, although he did see brief relief outings in 1924 and 1925. In 1926, he became a full-time starting pitcher at age 21.

Iemochi was a respectable starter in his early 20s. In late 1929, he suffered a torn flexor tendon, putting his career in question. He came back late in 1930 to make a few starts, but then at age 26, bounced back with his best season to date in 1931 with a career-best 8.8 WAR. He became a legitimate ace from 1931-1936, winning Pitcher of the Year in 33 and 36 and taking third in 32, 35, and 36. In 1935, Iemochi became a Blaze legend with a 0.73 ERA in three postseason starts. Kobe won their first East Asian Championship and Iemochi was named the series MVP; a rare honor for a pitcher.

In May 1937, he again suffered a torn flexor in his elbow. He never regained his elite form, but came back and was a solid contributor in 1938 and 1939. In 1940 at age 35, a torn labrum put him out for almost the entire year. Kobe voided his team option at that point, although they would later retire his #1 jersey and honor him as one of the franchise’s greats. He signed with Fukuoka for 1941, but a torn labrum meant he saw limited action. He tried a another comeback with Nagoya for 1942, but a second torn labrum in spring training officially put him out of the game.

Iemochi’s final stats: 188-141, 2.36 ERA, 3014.1 innings, 2736 strikeouts, 522 walks, 282/385 quality starts, and 76.9 WAR. A number of big injuries kept him from compiling higher totals, but his ability to keep pitching despite that speaks to his resilience. His 1931-1936 stretch was about as good of a six years a pitcher can have and he was instrumental in bringing Kobe a championship. Thus, Iemochi secured first ballot Hall of Fame status at 85.6%.

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1947 BSA Hall of Fame

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Reliever Vitorio Paolini became the third Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Famer as the lone inductee in the 1947 class. Paolini picked up 71.2% on his first try on the ballot. Another closer, Aitor Rangel, barely missed the 66% threshold with a 65.2% on his first try. No one else on the still limited BSA ballot made it above 1/3 of the vote.



Vitorio Paolini – Closer – Medellin Mutiny – 71.2% First Ballot

Vitorio Paolini was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Rosario, Argentina. He had a 98-100 mph fastball and an absolutely filthy curveball as his second pitch with incredible movement. His control was at times shaky, but he made up for it with raw power. Paolini established himself in the amateur and semi-pro ranks in Argentina, earning him attention when Beisbol Sudamerica officially formed for 1931. At age 28, Paolini entered the organization with Medellin.

Paolini was immediately dominant in the bullpen, winning Reliever of the Year four times; 1932, 33, 34, and 36. He led the Bolivar League in saves four times and finished with 6+ WAR six times in seven seasons; a remarkable mark for a closer. Medellin was an early powerhouse, winning the Bolivar League title in 31, 34, 36, and 37. They won Copa Sudamerica in 31, 34, and 37 and in 1934, Paolini was the Copa Sudamerica MVP. That postseason, he pitched 9.2 scoreless innings with 25 strikeouts and four saves. His #5 would be the first jersey retired by the Mutiny.

After seven lights out seasons, his last two years with Medellin saw his productivity and use dwindle. Paolini was traded in July 1939 to Salvador, where he finished out the season. He pitched two more seasons, spending 1940 in Cordoba and 1941 in Buenos Aires. He got to retire on top though, tossing seven scoreless postseason innings to help the Atlantics to the 1941 Copa Sudamerica.

His final stats saw 300 saves, 398 shutdowns, 1.24 ERA, 832.1 innings with 1462 strikeouts and 48.7 WAR. His 300 saves would eventually be the lowest total of any inducted full-time reliever, but it is worth noting he started at age 28 and lost a few prime seasons of production. His seven-year peak was as unhittable as a closer could be, an essential piece to Medellin’s 1930s dynasty. Thus, Vitorio Paolini finds a first ballot spot at 71.2% in the Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame.

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1947: The First World Baseball Championship

The idea for a baseball tournament of nations had been considered and bounced around in the prior years as the game expanded, but World War II effectively prevented the idea from gaining serious traction. Once the war ended in 1945, the idea was more seriously considered as a way to showcase the game and a way to promote peace and cooperation worldwide.

Major League Baseball, Central American Baseball Association, East Asia Baseball, and Beisbol Sudamerica all partnered together to form the Global Baseball Alliance. The GBA would become the sanctioning body of the World Baseball Championship, and later the Baseball Grand Championship. The additional major leagues that would form in the 21^st Century would join the GBA with efforts to grow and promote the game worldwide. While the leagues were competitors, they also would begin to collaborate and share notes to influence the future of the game.

In 1947, the first World Baseball Championship tournament was held. Deciding which nations would be represented was a contentious issue with many bad feelings still existing especially against Japan from WW2. In the initial edition, the teams participating would be from the Americas, along with Japan, North and South Korea, and China. The field would expand and the format would change in 1950 with the European Baseball Federation’s founding and general expansion of the game. The format in the first three seasons of the WBC had two 12-team divisions playing a round robin. The two division winners advanced to a best-of-seven championship series.

Another sticking point was the locations for such a tournament, but it was ultimately decided to go to a new city and country each year. Since these tournaments were to take place in January, weather had to be considered. Generally, tropical and southern hemisphere cities would have to get the nod as the game expanded. However, the initial WBC would take place in the United States. Houston was selected as the city had become a baseball hotbed due to the Hornets’ early success, plus it was one of the American cities warm enough in January to be playable.



In Division 1 in 1947, the United States took first place at 10-1, followed by Cuba at 8-3 and both Japan and Mexico at 7-4. In Division 2, Canada was undefeated at 11-0. Colombia and Honduras tied for second at 7-4. Officially, the nation awarded third place was Cuba and Honduras was fourth. In the first championship series, the USA defeated Canada in five games to earn the first world title.

The tournament MVP was Canada’s John Roberts. The 33-year old Cincinnati LF from Laval, Quebec in 15 games had 23 hits, 13 runs, 17 stolen bases, and a .418 average. American reliever Wyatt Weis was named the Best Pitcher. The 25-year old San Diego Seals reliever had eight saves in eight appearances with a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings with 34 strikeouts, two hits allowed and three walks.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1947 in BSA



The Bolivar League North Division had Medellin on top for the fourth straight year, this time posting the best record in Beisbol Sudamerica at 112-50. In the South Division, Cali was close behind at 108-54 for their first playoff berth since 1937. The La Paz dynasty’s playoff streak was snapped at eight seasons, although the Pump jacks were still solid at 100-62. They wouldn’t win 100+ games again until 1978.

Cali CF Saul Vargas won his fourth Bolivar MVP award. It would be the final great season for the 34-year old Colombian, leading the league in runs (97), hits (198), stolen bases (76), average (.344), OBP (.395), OPS (.974) and WAR (8.8). He also won his 11^th and final Silver Slugger. Medellin 29-year old lefty Leonardo Magana earned Pitcher of the Year. Magana would’ve had a Triple Crown if it wasn’t for Mohamed Ramos, as Magana posted a 25-5 record, 1.51 ERA with 28 quality starts and 332 strikeouts.



Belo Horizonte won the Southern Cone Brazil Division for back-to-back seasons with another 99-63 season. The Hogs held off Salvador by five games and Brasilia by seven. In the South Division, Buenos Aires continued their dynasty with a seventh consecutive playoff berth. The Atlantics took the division at 96-66, nine games better than Cordoba.

Brasilia fourth-year LF Hadriano Laribi was the league MVP. He ate a balanced breakfast in 1947 with 50 home runs; he’d never hit more than 31 the rest of his career. Laribi also led Liga Cono Sur in slugging (.621), OPS (.991), wRC+ (237), and WAR (10.1). Sao Paulo righty Luisao “Redeye” Capucho was the Pitcher of the Year. He posted a 1.26 ERA, league-best 396 strikeouts, 33/34 quality starts and 14.2 WAR. The WAR tally is a top-10 all-time mark and would be second-best all-time if Mohamed Ramos didn’t exist. Instead, it is seventh.

The Bolivar League Championship Series went seven games for the first time since 1939. Medellin edged Cali, finally prevailing after taking runner-up the prior three seasons to La Paz. It is the fifth league title for the Mutiny and their first since their 1930s dominance. In Liga Cono Sur, Buenos Aires made it three straight by winning their rematch with Belo Horizonte in six games. The Atlantics now have five league titles in seven years. Copa Sudamerica went seven for the first time since 1939 as well with Medellin edging Buenos Aires, making the Mutiny four-time winners.





Other notes: Mohamed Ramos crossed 7500 strikeouts in his penultimate season. He’d retire after 1948 with 7747 strikeouts, 347 wins, and 205.1 WAR. He’d be the first professional baseball player in any league to cross 200 total WAR. Meanwhile, R.J. Figueroa and Oscar Blanco became the third and fourth pitchers to reach 4000 career strikeouts. Maracaibo’s Jonathan Iglesias and Buenos Aires’s Luis Albina both became three time Reliever of the Year winners. Cali’s Freddie Sandoval became the second to 400 career saves.

Offensively, MVP Saul Vargas became the first hitter to 2500 career hits and also made it to 1000 RBI. Ruy Vargas and David Anacoreta each made it to 1000 runs scored. Yuri Assuncao and Walter Robledo passed 1000 RBI with Robledo also being the sixth to 400 homers. Two-way player Ignacio Rola won his 11^th and final Silver Slugger at pitcher.

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1947 in EAB

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After missing the playoffs last year, Sapporo took the Japan League North Division for the fourth time in five years. The Swordfish finished 95-67, three games better than Tokyo and seven ahead of last year’s division champ Saitama. In the South Division, Kobe prevailed at 98-64 for their fifth playoff appearance and first since 1942. They broke up Osaka’s streak at four as the defending league champ Orange Sox finished second at 93-69.

Fukuoka’s Takashi Isihara won his second MVP in three years. The 27-year old right fielder led Japan in runs (98), home runs (48), RBI (113), slugging (.618), and WAR (11.9) Tokyo’s Yeon-U Choo won his second Pitcher of the Year in three years. The 25-year old was three ERA points off a Triple Crown with a 21-6 record, 1.56 ERA, and 364 strikeouts. He also led in quality starts (29), FIP- (35), and WAR (11.5)



The 1947 Korea League was very competitive. Defending champ Hamhung won a third straight North Division with a 91-71 record. Goyang (90-72), Pyongyang (89-73), Seoul (87-55), and Incheon (85-77) all gave them a run. In the South Division, Daejeon at 93-69 was first by one game over Changwon. Last year’s division champ Yongin fell to 77 wins. For the Ducks, it is their first-ever playoff appearance in 27 years of existence.

Ulsan 2B Yeo Park earned his lone MVP at age 27. He led Korea in hits (192), average (.336) and WAR (9.6), also posting great defense. Daejeon’s Ji-Yoon Park won Pitcher of the Year in his fifth season. Park led in ERA (1.53), WHIP (0.82) and FIP- (62) while adding 262 strikeouts and a 17-3 record.

In the Japan League Championship Series, Sapporo claimed their third title in four years by defeating Kobe in six games. It is the fifth title for the Swordfish, giving them the most of any Japanese franchise. The Korea League Championship Series saw Hamhung best Daejeon in six, giving the Heat back-to-back titles and their fourth in franchise history. In the East Asian Championship, Sapporo topped Hamhung in six games, finally prevailing after taking runner-up in 1944 and 1945. It is the second overall title for the Swordfish, who won it all in 1932.





Other notes: Goyang’s Byung-Oh Tan became the first EAB player to hit both 1500 runs scored and 1500 RBI, crossing both in late August. Takiji Ito became the 10^th pitcher to 200 wins. Drew St. Louis was the eighth pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts. Shortstop Si-U Gim became the second EAB player with 10 Silver Sluggers.

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1947 in CABA

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After winning only 67 games the prior year, Hermosillo bounced back for their third Mexican League North Division title in four seasons. The Hyenas took first at 93-69, six games ahead of Mexicali and nine ahead of defending league champ Chihuahua. Mexico City secured the South Division at 98-64, eight games better than Guadalajara. Defending division champ Merida tied for third at 80-82 with Leon.

Mexicali 1B Timmy Ramirez won his first MVP at age 25. Ramirez led Mexico in home runs (47), slugging (.644), OPS (1.000), and wRC+ (214). Puebla’s Kraig Berton secured Pitcher of the Year with the league lead in ERA (2.01) and WHIP (0.82).



Santiago won their first Caribbean Island Division title since 1935 with a 98-64 season. They were two games better than Havana and seven up on Puerto Rico, snapping the Pelicans playoff streak at six seasons. The Continental Division went to Costa Rica at 86-76 for their second berth in three seasons. The Rays were four games ahead of defending CABA champ Panama at 82-80.

Puerto Rico RF Pasqualino Yanez won his third Caribbean League MVP. It was the final CABA season for the 35-year old Yanez, who would leave for the MLB and Dallas next season. Yanez didn’t lead the league in any stats, but posted 43 home runs, 102 RBI, and 6.5 WAR. He also secured his ninth Silver Slugger and crossed 500 career home runs. Costa Rica’s Gabriel Ibarra had a career year for Pitcher of the Year, posting a league best 24 wins and 2.22 ERA, adding 5.9 WAR and 244 strikeouts.

The Mexican League Championship Series saw Hermosillo defeat Mexico City in six games, giving the Hyenas their third league title and first since 1933. The Caribbean League Championship Series was a seven game classic claimed by Santiago over Costa Rica. This was the fourth title for the Sailfish and first since 1923. The CABA Championship went seven games with Hermosillo defeating Santiago for their first-ever CABA title.





Other notes: Se-Hyeon Kim of Havana had a 30-game hit streak, only the second CABA player to get to 30+. The record is 38 in 1911 by Ivan Iniguez. Lanny Lujan became the ninth to 500 home runs. Yves Jean and Ray Reyes became the seventh and eighth hitters to 2500 hits. Felix Hernandez and Jeron Evans both crossed 3500 strikeouts. Shortstop Thomas Rheault became the first 13-time Gold Glove winner. SS Emmanuel Zavala won his 13^th Silver Slugger, second only to Kiko Velazquez’s 14.

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1947 in MLB

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Hartford picked up the Eastern League championship at 98-64 for their fourth playoff berth in five years and second EL title in that stretch. Philadelphia kept their chance at a seventh straight National Association title alive by taking the second place spot at 95-67. Toronto, who won 108 games last year, tied with Montreal for third at 91-71. In the Midwest League, Columbus took first at 98-64 for their first playoff berth since 1931. It’s their fifth ML title with the last once all the way back in 1923. Kansas City earned back-to-back playoff berths, finishing one back of Columbus at 97-65. Cincinnati’s drive for a fifth straight playoff berth ended quickly as they were a distant ninth at 70-92.

24-year old Pittsburgh RF Gene Jobgen picked up the NA MVP in 1947. He didn’t lead in any stat, but had a 7.5 WAR season with a .328 average, 32 home runs, and 109 RBI. Montreal’s Dylan Van Zandt was the Pitcher of the Year, having joined the Maples in free agency last season at age 27. He led the National Association in WAR (9.6),complete games (15), shutouts (7), and FIP- (62) with a 2.54 ERA.

In the first round, Hartford survived Kansas City in five games and Philadelphia went to Columbus and knocked off the Chargers in four games. The 1947 National Association Championship Series was a rematch of the 1943 and 1944 editions. This one was the closest yet, going seven games, but yet again the Phillies prevailed to extend their unprecedented NA title streak to seven seasons.



San Antonio secured the Southern League title at 99-63, their first time taking first place. It is back-to-back playoff berths for the first time as well for the Oilers, who had only made the postseason twice prior to 1946. Nashville made it three berths in four years with a second place 92-70 season, finishing four ahead of last year’s SL champ Jacksonville. In the Western League, the best record in MLB went to Albuquerque at 101-61, their fifth WL crown and first playoff spot since 1943. Phoenix got the wild card and thwarted Los Angeles’ change at a World Series three-peat. The Firebirds took second at 98-64, beating the Angels by a game and both Calgary and San Diego by only three. It’s Phoenix’s first playoff spot since 1942.

San Antonio designated hitter Sebastian Lunde won his second straight American Association MVP. The 26-year old actually had worse final stats, but that’s because he missed about a month with a back injury. In 134 games, he still posted 5.3 WAR, a .614 slugging percentage, 42 home runs, and 105 RBI. Calgary’s Phil Savard won the Pitcher of the Year at age 23, his second full season. Savard led the AA in innings (301.1) and had 6.8 WAR with a 2.81 ERA, 22-10 record, and 250 strikeouts.

In the first round of the playoffs, San Antonio swept Phoenix to advance to the AACS for the first time and Nashville upset Albuquerque in four games. The American Association Championship Series went seven games with the underdog Knights winning for their second AA title in four years and second overall. The 47^th World Series was a rematch of 1944 and went the distance. Philadelphia defeated Nashville again to give the Phillies their fifth World Series title in seven seasons.

This would officially mark the end of the Philadelphia dynasty, as they wouldn’t return to the Fall Classic again in the 21^st Century. Still, the 1940s in Major League Baseball is forever synonymous with the Philadelphia Phillies and their stretch is often considered as the best run in MLB history. Seven straight World Series appearances and five rings in seven years wouldn’t be matched again in MLB and is especially remarkable in the ultra-competitive MLB. There would be other runs in other world leagues of five titles in seven years (and even instances of six titles in seven years), but Philadelphia’s 1941-47 forever stands near or at the top for the best seven-year run in professional baseball history.





Other notes: On May 16, Buffalo’s A.J. Guiles threw MLB’s seventh perfect game with eight strikeouts against St. Louis. Rodrigo Reta of Omaha and Blake Wynn of Minneapolis crossed 600 career home runs. This would be Wynn’s final season, who also added his 12^th Gold Glove at first base. Omaha’s Angelo Leblanc made it to 250 caerer wins, the 16^th pitcher to do so. Philadelphia’s Feris Adam made it to 3000 career hits and 1500 runs scored. Also getting to 1500 runs scored was Ethan Ayala, while Maxwell Redmond got 1500 RBI.

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1948 MLB Hall of Fame

Two players earned induction in Major League Baseball’s 1948 Hall of Fame Class. SP Crazy Legs Snider was a first ballot no-doubter with 97.3% of the vote. Meanwhile, LF Sergio Castro on his third attempt made it past the 66% threshold with a 70.1% vote. Four others came very close with more than 60%. 2B BJ Scott (1^st try), 1B Balta Llama (3^rd try), CL Noah Pugliese (5^th try) and RF Jake Nicholson (6^th try).



Getting dropped after a 10^th ballot was Boston left fielder Alfredo Elizarraras, who peaked at 47.0% on his fourth try. He was a six-time Gold Glover and tallied a solid 84.1 WAR with a .306 average, but his lack of power (352 homers, 1320 RBI) sank him. He had 2646 hits, 1374 runs, and 446 doubles. Another Boston outfielder, Trent Rising, was dropped on his 10^th after peaking at 40.5% on his debut. He had 78.0 WAR, 476 home runs, 1385 RBI, and 2285 hits. Other notables dropped was 1B Michael Schroder on his seventh try (2886 hits, 528 HR, 1661 RBI, 68.1 WAR), LF AJ Finch on his eighth (2948 hits, 404 homers, 1521 RBI, 45.1 WAR), and 3B Joseph Romley on his fifth (2942 hits, 1432 runs, 304 HR, 1204 RBI, 79.2 WAR).



Crazy Legs “Sledgehammer” Snider – Starting Pitcher – Albuquerque Isotopes – 97.3% First Ballot

Crazy Legs Snider was a 6’0’’,200 pound right-handed pitcher from Los Angeles. Crazy Legs had excellent stuff with 98-100 mph velocity and solid movement and control. His best pitch was a stellar cutter, which he mixed with a slider, changeup, and splitter. Despite having “Crazy” in his name, Snider was known as a very humble man.

Snider had an excellent college career with the Florida Gators, earning the attention of Albuquerque. The Isotopes picked him 11^th overall in the 1924 MLB Draft. He would be their ace for the next 16 seasons and one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball.

In only his second season, Snider won the American Association Pitcher of the Year, leading in WAR (9.6), complete games (21), shutouts (8), FIP- (66), and wins (21). Each of those marks would be career highs. He immediately established himself as an Isotope legend by helping them to their second-ever postseason berth. Albuquerque went on a big run and Snider had one of the all-time great playoff runs with a 1.83 ERA and 4-0 record over 43.2 innings for 1.7 WAR. The Isotopes would win their first World Series and the only 22-year old Snider was essential in that title.

Albuquerque would be a regular postseason team in the next decade with Snider leading the way. In 1928, he got his second Pitcher of the Year, leading the AA in ERA (1.81), WAR (8.4), complete games (19), and WHIP (0.93). He won his third in 1930 with a 7.4 WAR season. In 1934, he had a 3.03 ERA in five playoff starts as he and the Isotopes won their second World Series. In his tenure, Albuquerque had seven playoff appearances and four AACS berths.

Albuquerque began to rebuild in the late 1930s and Snider’s days as an ace were dwindling, although he still provided positive value. With the Isotopes, he had a 258-192 record, 3.50 ERA, 3309 strikeouts, and 96.6 WAR. For the 1941 season, the 37-year old Snider was traded for prospects to San Francisco. He had a solid debut year with the Gold Rush, but bone chips in his elbow derailed year two. Snider opted to retire at the end of the 1942 season at age 38.

The final statistics for Snider: 276-207, 3.51 ERA, 4369 innings, 3491 strikeouts, 962 walks, 307/556 quality starts, 256 complete games, and 101.9 WAR. He was the seventh MLB pitcher to cross 100+ career WAR. His #13 jersey was retired and he remains an Albuquerque legend. A critical part of two World Series titles and one of the top arms of the 1920s and 1930s, Crazy Legs is an obvious first ballot Hall of Fame choice.



Sergio Castro – Left Field/First Base– Pittsburgh Pirates – 70.1% Third Ballot

Sergio Castro was a 5’7’’, 165 pound left-handed batter from Baltimore. Castro was a very well-rounded hitter with an excellent eye and discipline. He was a good contact hitter and had surprisingly good power in his bat despite his small size. Castro was a slow baserunner, but his ability to get on base and extra base hits meant he was a solid run scorer. He played roughly 2/3s of his career defensively at left field and 1/3 at first base and was considered a lousy fielder at both. Very outspoken, Castro often clashed with teammates and fans.

Castro played college baseball for Duke and earned a Silver Slugger in his sophomore season. Pittsburgh picked him 24^th overall in the 1922 MLB Draft. He spent most of 1923 in the minors, then had an excellent full-time debut in 1924, winning the National Association’s Rookie of the Year. His second year was his best statistically, posting career bests in runs (125), hits (212), doubles (42), average (.353), OBP (.423), and WAR (7.8). Castro won Silver Sluggers in 1925, 1927, and 1929.

In his decade with the Pirates, Castro had 1598 hits, 912 runs, 302 doubles, 262 home runs, 991 RBI, and 46.8 WAR. Castro was a reliable solid starter and Pittsburgh ultimately retired his #22 jersey, but the franchise was a forgettable one in that era. For the 1933 season, the 31-year old Castro was traded to Houston. He spent one season as a Hornet, but did pick up his 1000^th career run and 1000^th RBI. Castro then signed a six-year, $93,600 free agent deal with San Diego.

He was a solid starter in five seasons with the Seals and was an important part of their 1936 World Series championship season. In that postseason, Castro had a .369 average, 24 hits, 13 runs, 5 home runs, and a 15 RBI. He posted 710 hits, 406 runs, 137 homers, 482 RBI, and 16.1 WAR with San Diego. Castro left for free agency again and signed with Denver for the 1939 season, getting his 2500^th hit and 1500^th run with the Dragons. He was solid in 1939, but fell off hard in 1940, retiring at the end of that season at age 38.

Castro’s final statistics: 2717 hits, 1557 runs, 484 doubles, 478 home runs, 1696 RBI, 1238 walks, a .295/.377/.514 slash, and 73.4 WAR. A very solid career, but he was never an MVP candidate and his outspoken nature meant he wasn’t the first choice for many Hall of Fame voters. It took three tries, but eventually Castro crossed the threshold with 70.1%, earning his spot in the MLB Hall of Fame.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1948 CABA Hall of Fame

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Only one player made the 1948 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame, but it was a guy deserving of standing alone. Mexico City ER Kiko Velazquez received 98.9% of the vote on his first ballot. Barely missing the 66% cut was 2B Junior Mota at 65.3%. SP Rayan Montes was also right there at 64.9% on his third attempt. No other players crossed 50% and no one was dropped after a 10^th ballot.



Kiko “Bad Company” Velazquez – Right Fielder – Mexico City Aztecs – 98.9% First Ballot

Kiko Velazquez was a 5’11’’, 190 pound right-handed right fielder from the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. Few, if any, players in baseball history were better contact hitters. Velazquez also hit for excellent power and was a very good baserunner and base stealer. He played almost exclusively in right field and was considered an above average to good fielder. Velazquez’s personality rubbed many teammates the wrong way and he didn’t make many friends. But he was absolutely beloved by fans as one of the most impressive players in baseball history.

He was spotted in Nicaragua as a teenager by a scout from Mexico City, who signed Velazquez to an amateur free agent deal at only the age of 16. He was almost instantly named the top prospect in CABA and someone the Aztecs had extreme confidence in. Apart from their fluke 1924 CABA title run, Mexico City had been a bottom-tier franchise despite being a massive market. Team officials hoped that Velazquez could be the guy to eventually lead them to sustained success. And they would be right.

He briefly debuted in 1927 at age 20 in 28 games, but became a full-timer in 1929 at age 22. He immediately lived up to the hype, winning the Mexican League MVP and Rookie of the Year, leading the league in home runs (38), and WAR (8.1). This would be the first of a CABA-record 10 MVP awards, as he’d also win it in 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, and 41. Velazquez won seven in-a-row while only one other player in CABA history would go on to win seven total MVPs. He also won 14 Silver Sluggers, one of only two CABA players who would reach that feat.

Over his 14 full seasons with Mexico City, Velazquez led the league in hits eight times, runs eight times, home runs five times, RBI six times, stolen bases twice, batting average nine times, OBP seven times, slugging 11 times, OPS 11 times, and WAR 11 times. In 1931, he was the first CABA hitter to earn a Triple Crown on 44 home runs, a .374 average, and 118 RBI. He did it again in 1932 (49 HR, .348 avg, 122 RBI), 1937 (51 home runs, 118 RBI, .365 average) and 1940 (50 home runs, 136 RBI, .358 average). His 229 hits in 1931 set a then single-season record. His 144 runs in 1940 stayed the single-season mark until 1998. His .385 average in 1934 was a single-season record, as was that year’s 1.169 OPS. He had five 12+ WAR seasons including a 13.75 WAR 1940. Velazquez simply was untouchable.

With his success came team success for the Aztecs, who won six South Division titles from 1934-1940. They were Mexican League champ in 1934, 36, and 40; winning the overall CABA title in 34 and 36. Velazquez was named MVP of the 1936 and 1940 CABA championships. In 42 playoff stats, he would post 52 hits, 28 runs, 10 home runs, and 2.8 WAR.

At age 36, Velazquez had already established himself as an all-timer and perhaps the CABA GOAT at that point. Not satisfied with this (and also liking money), Velazquez left Mexico City for Major League Baseball. He signed with Las Vegas for $30,600; almost triple his Aztecs salary. He lived up to the hype in his Vipers debut in 1943, leading the American Association in RBI (140) with 43 home runs and 7.2 WAR. Velazquez also earned a Silver Slugger, becoming one of a select few to do it in multiple leagues.

His second year with Las Vegas was good for a 37 year old, but unremarkable by his standard. Velazquez was traded that offseason to Cincinnati. Age caught up with him as he struggled in a backup role with the Reds, retiring after the 1945 season at age 39.

Between CABA and MLB, he had 3121 hits, 1770 runs, 666 home runs, and 157.1 WAR. Just in CABA, Velazquez had 2714 hits, 1552 runs, 583 home runs, 1502 RBI, 808 stolen bases, a .349/.401/.660 slash, 1.060 OPS, 220 wRC+, and 147.3 WAR. He retired the CABA WARlord and would be third all-time by the end of the century. At retirement, he was the all-time runs leader, third in homers, and third in hits. His accumulations would slide down as time passed and CABA became more offense heavy. But no batter was more dominant in his time in Mexico. Beloved by the Mexico City fans and one of Nicaragua’s favorite sons, Kiko Velazquez is an inner-circle all-time CABA great.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1948 EAB Hall of Fame

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The 1948 East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame class had three players. Leading the way was 3B Kyu-Min Ri, a first ballot pick at 87.7%. Closer Toyohiko Taguci on his third attempt made it at 75.6%. Starting pitcher Jung-Hee Cho on his first try just made the 66% cut with 67.6%. The only other player above 50% was closer Ji-Hyun Kim at 54.9% on his eighth attempt. No players were dropped after a 10^th ballot this season.



Kyu-Min Ri – Third Base – Ulsan Swallows – 87.7% First Ballot

Kyu-Min Ri was a 5’8’’, 205 pound right-handed third baseman from Hoechon, South Korea. Ri was a very well-rounded hitter with solid power and contact skills. He was a bit chonky and not a great baserunner. His range wasn’t the best, but had a cannon arm over at third base, where he spent his entire career defensively. Ri moved to Japan and attended college at Kyushu University in Fukuoka. He excelled in college, earning the first overall pick in the 1925 East Asia Baseball Draft by Ulsan. He’d spend his entire EAB run with the Swallows.

He was unremarkable in his first few seasons, but eventually came into his own starting in 1930. That season would be his first of eight straight Silver Sluggers at 3B. At age 30, Ri picked up his first Korea League MVP in 1934. He won it again in 1935 and 1936 as Ulsan became a contender. He led in RBI in 32, 34, 35, and 36. His 1936 season was legendary with 52 home runs, 156 RBI, a .362 average, and 11.4 WAR. It was only the fourth-ever 150+ RBI season and the next one wouldn’t happen into until the 1950s. In 1936 and 1937, Ulsan won their first-ever Korea League titles and won the EAB title in 1937.

1937 would be Ri’s final season in EAB at age 33 and Ulsan wouldn’t be a playoff team again until the 1960s. There was some initial bitterness towards him leaving when he did, but the Swallows would ultimately retire his number in 1947. He left right before World War II would cut off any EAB players from heading elsewhere, signing for the 1938 season at age 34 with MLB’s Kansas City Cougars.

Ri was an all-star in his MLB debut with a 6.8 WAR season with 36 home runs and 131 RBI. He wouldn’t have any more elite-level seasons, but Ri would be a solid starter in MLB for a decade. He spent 1938-41 with Kansas City, then signed with Ottawa for 1942-43. He spent 1944-45 in Houston, then ended in 1946-47 with St. Louis. After an abysmal final season at age 43, Ri retired. In his entire professional career, he had 2988 hits, 1481 runs, 511 home runs, 1713 RBI, and 98.0 WAR.

For his 12 years with Ulsan, Ri had 1818 hits, 912 runs, 315 home runs, 1018 RBI, a .303/.360/.528 slash, and 75.4 WAR. He’s not high on the EAB leaderboards since he left when he did, but three MVPs and a key role in two league titles makes Ri a worthy choice, picked to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot at 87.7%.



Toyohiko Taguchi – Closer – Sapporo Swordfish – 75.6% Third Ballot

Toyohiko Taguchi was a 5’10’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Asaba, a small town in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture. Taguchi had 95-97 mph velocity and good control, excellently mixing up his fastball and curveball. He eventually moved to Nagoya and attended Tokai High School and was a rare player drafted straight out of high school. Taguchi was picked in the second round, 36^th overall, by Hiroshima in the 1925 EAB Draft. He never played for the Hammerheads, getting traded in the summer of 1927 to Sapporo.

He debuted in four outings in 1927 and saw limited action in 1928 with the Swordfish. Taguchi assumed the closer role in 1929 and held it through 1937 with Sapporo. He led the league in saves three times and had 51 saves in 1935, tying the single-season record. He never won Reliever of the Year, but took second in both 1931 and 1934. Sapporo made the playoffs three times between 1932-35, winning the EAB title in 1932 and the Japan League title in 1933. Taguchi was important in both runs but especially in 1932, picking up six saves in nine appearances with a 0.66 ERA.

Taguchi left Sapporo and signed with Yokohama for the 1938 season at age 31. Midway through the season, he suffered a devastating torn rotator cuff He was released and spent the next year with Chiba, but was a back-end of the bullpen guy. The Comets traded him to Daegu part way through the 1940 season and he retired at age 34 after that year.

Taguchi’s final line: 360 saves, 2.21 ERA, 902 innings, 1127 strikeouts, 213 walks, 406 shutdowns, and a 20.4 WAR. He had a good short burst and was a big part of Sapporo’s early 1930s success and the career saves leader at the time of retirement, although he’d be passed by five other guys within the next few years. He has the lowest WAR of any member of the EAB Hall of Fame, but the voters decided he still deserved a spot, elected on the third ballot at 75.6%.



Jung-Hee Cho – Starting Pitcher – Nagoya Nightowls – 67.6% First Ballot

Jung-Hee Cho was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed starting pitcher from Goyang, South Korea. Cho threw hard with 98-100 mph velocity and was known for having very good control and a strong work ethic. His fastball was his main pitch with a solid splitter as his #2 offering. He also had a weak curveball and changeup to sprinkle into the mix. Cho was a solid defensive pitcher as well, adding two Gold Gloves in his career.

Cho was signed as an amateur free agent by Nagoya in 1923 at age 16 and would be developed on their reserve roster for the next few years, making his debut in 1929 as a solid reliever with a 0.75 ERA in 60.1 innings, finishing second in Reliever of the Year voting. He became a starter the next season and remained in that role for the next decade. Cho led in wins in 1932 (24) and led in innings pitched twice, WHIP once, K/BB twice, and quality starts once. He never won Pitcher of the Year, but finished third in voting in 1934 and 1940.

Nagoya became a North Division powerhouse in the 1930s, winning the division six times between 1931-40. The Nightowls were the overall East Asia Baseball champion in 1931, 34, and 40, and added the Japan League title as well in 1937. Cho was excellent in their 1931-34 playoff appearances, going 6-0 with 2.3 WAR in nine starts with a 1.71 ERA over 68.1 innings. He struggled a bit in the 1937 and 1940 runs, but still was a big part of Nagoya getting those rings.

In April 1941, the 34-year old Cho suffered a torn rotator cuff to end his year. He tried a comeback in 1942 as a reliever, but had limited value. Back issues later that year ended his season and Cho retired at age 36. Nagoya would retire his #5 jersey, becoming the first Nightowl to have his jersey number retired.

The final statistics: 178-106, 2.54 ERA, 2784 innings, 2444 strikeouts with only 371 walks, 249/342 quality starts, 84 complete games, and 58.6 WAR. Not dominant, but a very effective pitcher for more than a decade and a big part of Nagoya’s 1930 title runs. His numbers aren’t the highest on the leaderboards, but his success earned a nod on the first ballot, albeit just barely above the threshold at 67.6%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1948 BSA Hall of Fame

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The first big Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame class came in 1948 with four players elected, all on the first ballot. All four guys were starting pitchers as well as important players in the very defensive early years of BSA. Virisimo Ibarra (98.6%), Fernandinho Fuentes (91.4%), Pierre Ramirez (89.9%), and Daiquel Grimaldo (74.1%) were the inductees. Closer Aitor Rangel just missed out on his second try at 62.2%.



Virisimo Ibarra – Starting Pitcher – Cali Cyclones – 98.6% First Ballot

Virisimo Ibarra was a 6’0’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from Quito, Ecuador. Ibarra’s velocity topped out at 95-97 mph and he had excellent movement on his pitches with at-times shaky control. He mixed a curveball, sinker, and changeup. He built a tremendous reputation in the semi-pro circuit before Beisbol Sudamerica was formed. Ibarra was 28-years old when BSA started and moved to Colombia, signed a seven-year deal with Cali.

Ibarra was immediately Cali’s ace and was the first Bolivar League Pitcher of the Year, going 28-6 with a 1.60 ERA, 11.1 WAR, 23 complete games, and 11 shutouts in 1931. The 28 wins and 11 shutouts remain a BSA single-season record even a century later. Ibarra won Pitcher of the Year again in 1933 and 1937 and took second in 1936. He led the league in ERA and wins four times each, quality starts five times, and shutouts five times. He threw a no-hitter in 1933 and another in 1936.

The Cyclones were an early contender with four playoff berths in five years from 1933-37. Ibarra was solid in the 1933, 36, and 37 postseasons, but Cali never made it out of the BLCS. In 1941, the now 38-year old Ibarra suffered a torn elbow ligament. He came back and was okay in 1942, retiring at the end of that season. Ibarra’s #17 jersey was retired in 1942.

Ibarra was the second BSA pitcher to 200 career wins and 3000 strikeouts. He finished with a 221-106 record, 2.05 ERA, 3143 innings, 3453 strikeouts, 715 walks, 308/376 quality starts, 176 complete games, 60 shutouts, and 91.7 WAR. It’s an impressive stat line on its own and even more impressive considering this started at age 28. Had BSA started earlier, he might have been an inner-circle type guy on the leaderboards. Still, Ibara was one of the great aces of Beisbol Sudamerica’s first decade and a no-doubt first ballot pick at 98.6%.



Fernandinho Fuentes – Starting Pitcher – Caracas Colts – 91.4% First Ballot

Fernandinho Fuentes was a 5’10’’ 200 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Capivari in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. Fuentes was a hard thrower with 97-99 mph velocity and solid movement and control. He succeeded as a starter despite only having two pitches. He had a tremendous fastball and a very good slider with it. He was also considered an above average defensive pitcher.

Fuentes bounced around his native Brazil in the amateur and semi-pro ranks in his 20s as Beisbol Sudamerica was formed when he was 27-years old. Fuentes was signed by Caracas for the debut season and would spend eight seasons in Venezuela with the Colts. The team was very strong in the first decade of the Bolivar League and Fuentes was a big part of that, posting five 8+ WAR seasons. He rarely led the league in any stats, but would finish third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1932, 35, and 38 with the Colts. He had a no-hitter against Medellin in 1931

Caracas won the Bolivar League title three times in Fuentes’ tenure (32, 33, 38) and took Copa Sudamerica in 1933. The humble lefty was an excellent playoff performer, in 13 games and 87.2 playoff innings with the Colts, Fuentes had an 8-1 record, 1.95 ERA, 116 strikeouts, and 2.6 WAR. For his regular season career with Caracas, Fuentes had a 140-79 record, 2.38 ERA, 2016 innings, 2376 strikeouts, and 62.8 WAR. His #18 jersey was retired in 1942.

At age 35 for the 1939 season, Fuentes entered free agency and signed back in his home country of Brazil with Rio de Janeiro. On July 17 against Brasilia, Fuentes threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1939 and second in 1940 for the Redbirds. Age and injuries began to bite him in his third year with Rio, although he helped them earn the franchise’s first playoff berth. In 1942, the 38-year old Fuentes signed with Fortaleza, but as a reliever. Elbow inflammation put him out most of the season and he retired in the offseason at age 38.

The final statistics for Fuentes: 183-111, 2.29 ERA, 2748.2 innings, 3140 strikeouts, 479 walks, 254/330 quality starts, 93 complete games, and 82.8 WAR. A very strong career on the mound and good stats despite his Beisbol Sudamerica career starting at age 27. An important member of the early success of Caracas, Fuentes earned his first ballot induction at 91.4%.



Pierre “Pops” Ramirez – Starting Pitcher – Santiago Saints – 89.9% First Ballot

Pierre Ramirez was a 5’10’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Lima, Peru. He had 94-96 mph velocity known for very good control and solid stuff with a fastball, slider, forkball, and changeup arsenal. When Beisbol Sudamerica was formed, Ramirez was 25-years old. He was signed to Medellin for the 1931 season and spent his first four seasons with the Mutiny.

Medellin was the inaugural Copa Sudamerica champion and won it again In 1934. In the latter season, Ramirez was third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Ramirez had four great seasons, including a 10.0 WAR, 23-4 record, and 1.98 in 1934. He was 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA in 39 playoff innings with the Munity, playing a big role in their titles. In those four seasons, he posted a 78-28 record, 2.27 ERA, and 30.7 WAR.

At age 29, Ramirez left Medellin for free agency and ended up in Chile with Santiago, where he’d spend five years and change and ultimately be his team of induction. Ramirez picked up his third Copa Sudamerica ring as Santiago won it all in 1936 with Ramirez going 3-0 over 24.1 innings with a 0.74 ERA. He wasn’t as dominant as he was in Medellin, but still was very solid with Santiago. His Saints statistics were 86-56, 2.57 ERA, 1349.1 innings, 1637 strikeouts, and 34.9 WAR.

Santiago began to rebuild and in summer 1940, Ramirez was traded to Brasilia, where he finished up the season and earned his 3000^th strikeout. In the offseason, the 35-year old signed with Callao. He pitched a year and a half with the cats, getting traded to defending champ Buenos Aires at the deadline in 1942. Ramirez picked up his fourth ring with the Atlantics and in his final season had 6.9 WAR. Ramirez still could go, but decided to retire at the end of that season at the age of 37.

The final statistics: 199-114, 2.47 ERA, 2974.2 innings, 3656 strikeouts, 362 walks, a 10.1 K/BB, 272/385 quality starts and 79.8 WAR. In 12 postseason starts, he had a 9-1 record, 1.85 ERA, and 2.7 WAR. An important playoff pitcher in championships for three different franchises and a solid 1930s contributor, Ramirez earned his Hall of Fame spot on the first ballot at 89.9%.



Daiquel Grimaldo – Starting Pitcher – Cali Cyclones – 74.1% First Ballot

Daiquel Grimaldo was a 6’4’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from San Juan Nepomuceno, a small town in northern Colombia. Grimaldo had 97-99 mph velocity and reliable control between three pitches; a fastball, curveball, and changeup. He was a successful pitcher who was 26-years old when Beisbol Sudamerica was formed, staying in his home country and signing with Cali for the 1931 season.

Grimaldo spent 11 of his 12 BSA seasons with the Cyclones and ate up many innings, leading the Bolivar League in innings four times and complete games three times. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1933, throwing two no-hitters that season. Cali won four division titles in Grimaldo’s tenure, although they were unable to advance to Copa Sudamerica. Injuries began to slow Grimaldo down in his final Cali seasons. He was traded to Sao Paulo for the 1942 season and after one forgettable year with the Padres, Grimaldo retired at the age of 38.

His final statistics: 178-124, 2.60 ERA, 2895.2 innings, 3171 strikeouts, 478 walks, 242/342 quality starts, 189 complete games, and 70.1 WAR. A very respectable career, although less impressive then his fellow Class of 1948 comrades. Still, Grimaldo earned enough favor to join them as the fourth first ballot pick of the class, but at the lowest number of 74.1%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1948 World Baseball Championship

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The second World Baseball Championship in 1948 would be held in Mexico City and would see the same two nations at the top of the two 12-team divisions. The defending champion United States took Division 1 at 10-1, finishing two games better than Mexico at 8-3. Canada claimed Division 2 at 9-2, finishing two better than both the Dominican Republic and Brazil at 7-4. Officially, the bronze medal for the event went to Mexico and the fourth place to the DR, as they beat Brazil for the tiebreaker.

As in the first edition, the United States prevailed in the best-of-seven championship in five games over Canada. America’s Vinny Elliott earned Best Pitcher honor. The 30-year old Houston Hornet was 4-0 his starts with a 0.79 ERA over 34 innings with 50 strikeouts. The MVP of the tournament went to Argentina’s Bernardo Gallegos. The 36-year old first baseman in his twilight years with MLB’s Nashville had 14 hits, 12 runs, 6 HR, and 9 RBI with a .389 average over 10 games.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1948 in BSA

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Valencia won the Bolivar League North Division in 1948 for their first-ever playoff berth. The Velocity had a 98-64 record, finishing five games ahead of Bogota. Defending Copa Sudamerica champ Medellin fell to a distant third at 79-83. With Valencia's berth, that leaves Quito, Guayaquil, and Montevideo as the only Beisbol Sudamerica teams without at least one playoff berth in the organization's first 18 seasons. In the South Division, Cali claimed first at 97-65, their second straight title. La Paz was second at 88-74.

Quito’s Carlos Vargas won the Bolivar League MVP. The 28-year old Bolivian 1B led the league in hits (208), doubles (42), average (.357), OBP (.407), OPS (.910), wRC+ (170), and WAR (7.9). Barry Hernandez picked up the Pitcher of the Year split between Callao and Bogota. The 31-year old Peruvian had a league-best 1.74 ERA, 10.8 WAR and 31/34 quality starts with 340 strikeouts.



The Liga Cono Sur division champs for the third straight season were Belo Horizonte and Buenos Aires. The Hogs had the best overall BSA record at 104-58; a franchise record, to take the Brazil Division. The Atlantics only narrowly extended their postseason streak to eight seasons, tying La Paz for the longest streak. BA was first in the South Division at 89-73 with Santiago two back, Cordoba six back, and Asuncion seven back.

Southern Cone MVP went to Asuncion 1B Adrian Calvo. The 23-year old in his third full season had a monster season leading the league in home runs (56), RBI (118), runs (102), OBP (.385), slugging (.642), OPS (1.026), wRC+ (253) and WAR (11.9). The WAR total was the third highest single-season total for a BSA hitter to date. Buenos Aires’s Rolando Salva won his first Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old in his second season with the Atlantics posted a league-best 11.2 WAR, 372 strikeouts, and 0.73 WHIP.

In the Bolivar League Championship Series, Cali defeated Valencia 4-1 to give the Cyclones their first league title in six finals appearances. After dropping the last two, Belo Horizonte finally overcame Buenos Aires by winning the Southern Cone Championship in five games. This would end an impressive 1940s run for the Atlantics, as they wouldn't make the final again until 1963. In Copa Sudamerica, the Hogs won in five games over the Cyclones for their first overall title. They're the first Brazilian team to take the cup since Brasilia in 1938.





Other notes: On June 14, Lauro Almeida of Buenos Aires threw a perfect game with eight strikeouts against Fortaleza. Three pitchers crossed 4000 career strikeouts, making it six who have done it. Timoteo Caruso, Pascal Aguirre, and Evan Yho each crossed that threshold in 1948. All three also made it to 200 career wins. Jonathan Iglesia became the third reliever to 400 saves. Offensively, Matias Amaro made it to 400 home runs, the seventh to do so. Diego Pena became the ninth to 1000 RBI and Julio Cesar Galindo became the ninth to 1000 runs scored. SS Diego Pena became the third BSA player to win 10 Silver Sluggers.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1948 in EAB



Defending Japan League champ Sapporo claimed its fifth North Division title in six seasons in 1948. The Swordfish were first at 94-68 with the fewest runs allowed (470). Tokyo was second at 89-73. In a competitive South Division, Nagoya claimed first for the first time since 1941. The Nightowls finished 87-73, passing defending champ Kobe (87-75), Osaka (86-87), and Fukuoka (84-78).

Fukuoka’s Takashi Ishihara won his third MVP in four years and was a record setter in the process. The 28-year old RF smacked 64 home runs, tying the single-season record set by Danzu Min in 1932. He had a 14.3 WAR season, which would hold as the EAB single-season record until 2028. He led Japan in runs (125), hits (192), RBI (144), OBP (.362), slugging (.731), OPS (1.093), and wRC+ (260. Saitama’s Seung-Bin Jeong won Pitcher of the Year in a split season between starting and the bullpen for the 24-year old lefty. He had a league-best 1.39 ERA and 55 FIP-, posting a 15-6 record with 18 saves over 206.2 innings for 6.9 WAR.



For the first time in franchise history, Seoul won the Korea League North Division. The Seahawks had the best record in East Asia Baseball at 103-59, 11 ahead of Seongnam. Defending Korean champ Hamhung fell hard to fifth at 73-89. With Seoul's berth, that leaves Chiba and Sendai as the only EAB teams without a playoff appearance in the organization's 28 seasons. The Seahawks were the last Korean team to get in. In the South Division, Changwon was first at 93-69, eight games ahead of Daegu.

Leading Seoul to their success was 26-year old LF Chong-Chun Pak, the 1948 Korea League MVP. Pak led the league in RBI (117), slugging (.645), OPS (1.027), and WAR (8.0). Daejeon’s Ji-Yoon Park earned back-to-back Pitcher of the Year. He lead the league in ERA again at 1.79 and also led in strikeouts (353), quality starts (27), WHIP (0.79), and WAR (8.9).

The Japan League Championship Series was a sweep for Nagoya over Sapporo, denying the Swordfish the back-to-back. The Nightowls are tied with Sapporo for the most Japan League titles at five with their first since 1940. In a classic for the Korea League Championship, Seoul won its first league title in seven games over Changwon. The Seahawks went on to take the East Asian Championship as well in six games over Nagoya.





Other notes: Goyang's Byung-Oh Tan would be the first EAB hitter to record 3000 career hits. Tan is the active leader in all-time hits, runs scored, and RBI. He would finish the 21st Century as the all-time leader in both hits and runs scored, as he'd continue to add to his tallies into 1953. Osaka's Yu-Jin Kim became the fifth EAB hitter to 500 career home runs. Ha-Min Park won his eighth and final Silver Slugger at CF.