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

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  • MrNFL_FanIQ
    MVP
    • Oct 2008
    • 4980

    #301
    1958 in EAB



    Japan’s best record in 1958 with to Saitama, as the Sting earned their first playoff berth since 1946. They finished at 103-59, defeating the last two North Division division champs in a tight race as Sapporo was 100-62 and Sendai was 97-65. Meanwhile, the South Division was a two-team battle between Osaka and Kobe. The Orange Sox prevailed at 94-68, two games better than the defending league champion Blaze. For Osaka, it is their first division title since 1951.

    Saitama’s two-way star Tadasumi Tanbae won league MVP for the third straight season AND Pitcher of the Year for the second straight. On the mound, the 27-year old from Akita was the league leader in wins (23), K/BB (9.8), FIP- (68), and WAR (7.8), adding a 2.32 ERA over 259.2 innings with 255 strikeouts. In the outfielder, Tanabe smacked 41 home runs in only 122 games at the plate with 8.2 WAR, a .353/.403/.694 slash, 84 RBI, and 85 runs. The combined WAR total was an East Asia Baseball single-season record which wouldn’t get passed until the 21st Century. In another notable, the Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year went to the same player for the first time. Yokohama’s Song-Il Chae had a 1.48 ERA over 97.1 innings with 113 strikeouts.



    Defending EAB champ Hamhung took the Korea League North Division for the fourth straight season, cruising to the title at 99-63. Changwon earned back-to-back in the South Division but had to face a much tougher field. The Crabs at 98-64 were just one game ahead of Ulsan and eight better than Busan.

    For the third straight season, Changwon had the league MVP. For the second time, that was LF Lei Meng. The 27-year old slugger fell one dinger short of the EAB single-season record with 63. Meng also was the league leader in RBI (146) and WAR (10.6) while adding a .319 average, 191 hits, and 124 runs. Pitcher of the Year went to Jae-Ha Pak of Ulsan, his third time winning the award. The 30-year old won it in 1953 and 1955 and left Incheon for the Swallows in free agency for the 1958 season. Pak was the league leader in strikeouts (311), K/BB (14.1), FIP- (52), and WAR (11.0), recognized as the top pitcher despite a 14-15 record. He had a 2.82 ERA over 271 innings.

    The Japan League Championship Series ended up being a dud as Osaka surprisingly swept Saitama. This gave the Orange Sox their fifth league title and first since 1945. The Korea League Championship Series was more competitive, but still saw Hamhung prevail in the rematch with Changwon in six games. For the Heat, that gives them three titles in four years and seven overall. The Heat added their third East Asian Championship ring in four years as well, defeating Osaka 4-2. The Hamhung dynasty is the first in EAB history to win three overall titles in a four year stretch. They’re also the second to repeat, joining Yokohama (1926-27).





    Other notes: on June 15, Hamhung’s Hongnan Zheng had the first EAB perfect game since 1950, striking out eight against Daejeon. Haruo Matsuzaki became the 16th pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts. Ju-An Pak became the 10th hitter to 500 home runs. Takashi Ishihara became the ninth to 2500 hits and sixth to 1500 runs scored. Seong-Jun Han crossed 1500 runs scored six days after Ishihara. Nariyuki Yanagisawa won his 10th Silver Slugger at third base, only the third player to win the award 10 times.

    Comment

    • MrNFL_FanIQ
      MVP
      • Oct 2008
      • 4980

      #302
      1958 in CABA




      Defending CABA champion Monterrey won a fourth consecutive Mexican League North Division in 1958, although the Matadors faced a strong challenge. Monterrey finished at 97-65, while both Chihuahua and Tijuana were two back at 95-67. The best overall record in the league went to South Division champ Leon at 102-60. Defending division champ Guadalajara was second at 12 games back. For the Lions, it is their first playoff berth since the 1942 season.

      Guadalajara slugger Prometheo Garcia won his sixth league MVP and first since 1955. The 35-year old 1B still hasn’t lost a step, leading the league in batting average (.375), hits (232), and runs (119), while adding 46 home runs, 122 RBI, and 9.6 WAR. In the season, he also became the second CABA hitter to reach 3000 career hits and the sixth to get 1500 RBI. Monterrey’s Wily Orantes won his third Pitcher of the Year in four seasons. He led in ERA for the fourth straight year at 1.85 and led in WHIP at 0.89. He had a 17-5 record, 148 strikeouts over 204 innings and 4.4 WAR. It would be the last great season for the 32-year old as a torn rotator cuff midway through 1959 effectively ended his run.



      Defending Caribbean League champ Santo Domingo had the best record in CABA at 106-56, outracing 99-63 Puerto Rico for the Island Division title. After missing the last two years, Honduras was back atop the Continental Division in 1958 at 88-64. The Horsemen were four games ahead of last year’s winner Costa Rica.

      MVP went to Nicaragua first baseman Jonathan Suarez. It is the second for the 33-year old Honduran, who also took the award in 1951. Suarez led the league in home runs (52) and WAR (7.0), adding a .315 average and 124 RBI. Pitcher of the Year went to Santo Domingo’s Wilner Christian. The 28-year old Haitian lefty was the ERA leader at 2.11, also leading in WHIP (0.95), quality starts (26), FIP- (64), and WAR (8.0). He had a 20-6 record over 243 innings with 255 strikeouts.

      Monterrey made it a Mexican League Championship Series four-peat, defeating Leon in the final in six games. They’re the third team in league history to win four straight. The Mexican League has had only two champs in the 1950s thanks to the Matador four-peat and the prior Mexicali five-peat. In the Caribbean League Championship Series, Honduras upset Santo Domingo in six games for their record 10th league title. The Horsemen picked up their fourth CABA Championship, defeating Monterrey 4-2.





      Other notes: Costa Rica’s Marc Cedillo threw a perfect game on May 29 against Guatemala with five strikeouts. 1B Salvador Islas earned his 12th and final Gold Glove. CF Linus Williams became an 11 time Gold Glove winner. MVP winner Prometheo Garcia won his 10th Silver Slugger.

      Comment

      • MrNFL_FanIQ
        MVP
        • Oct 2008
        • 4980

        #303
        1958 in MLB




        Hartford had the best record in the National Association and won the Eastern League for back-to-back seasons. The Huskies expanded their postseason streak to five years with a 102-60 record. Second was Brooklyn at 99-63, allowing an MLB-fewest 474 runs. The wild card gives the Dodgers their second-ever playoff berth (1934). The second wild card went to Pittsburgh at 98-64, giving the Pirates back-to-back wild card spots.

        In the Midwest League, Louisville at 99-63 took first for only the second time in franchise history (1936). It is the first playoff berth for the Lynx since 1941. Defending NA champ Indianapolis was second at 96-66 and picked up the third wild card. The fourth and final wild card was back in the EL with Ottawa, Boston, Washington, and Philadelphia all in the mix. The Elks and Red Sox tied for the final spot at 92-70 with Ottawa advancing in a one-game playoff. This puts the 1956 National Association champ back in the postseason after just missing the prior year.

        NA MVP went to Pittsburgh 3B Victor Pettit. In his first full season as a starter, the 22-year old led the National Association in runs with 106. He also posted 211 hits, 37 home runs, 111 RBI, a .339 average, and 8.0 WAR. Brooklyn’s John Delaney won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards. He led in innings (284) and quality starts (32). He posted a 24-9 record, 1.90 ERA, 223 strikeouts, and 7.9 WAR.

        In the first round of the National Association playoffs, Pittsburgh beat Indianapolis 2-0 and Brooklyn downed Ottawa 2-0. In round two, the Pirates upset Hartford in four games and the Dodgers surprised Louisville in four. This setup an NACS final between Brooklyn, who had never gotten this far, and Pittsburgh, who only make it once back in 1913. The Dodgers swept the Pirates in the first NACS sweep since 1944, sending Brooklyn to the World Series for the first time.



        The top mark in the American Association in 1958 went to San Diego, who won the Western League at 100-62. This gives the Seals a fourth straight playoff berth and sixth in seven years. They were seven games ahead of second place Las Vegas, who at 93-69 were the third wild card team. The Vipers earned their eighth playoff berth in the last nine seasons.

        San Antonio at 99-63 won the Southern League for their first playoff spot since 1954. Defending SL champ Tampa was second at 96-66 and Nashville was third at 95-67, both getting in as wild cards. The Knights are back in for their fourth berth in five seasons. The battle for the final wild card was out west with defending World Series champ Vancouver and Los Angeles tying at 90-72, while four other teams were within four games. The Volcanoes won the one-game playoff to advance to the playoffs.

        The American Association MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Tampa Thunderbirds. Martin Medina won back-to-back MVPs and his fourth of his career. The 31-year old 1B led in RB I (129), OBP (.425), and OPS (1.053). He had 45 home runs, 206 hits, 111 runs, and 8.5 WAR. Medina also picked up his eighth Silver Slugger. Meanwhile, veteran pitcher Trevor Brown got his second Pitcher of the Year. In his second year with the Thunderbirds, he led in innings with 301.1, posting a 21-11 record, 2.45 ERA, 179 strikeouts, and 8.1 WAR.

        Nashville downed Las Vegas in two and Tampa eliminated Vancouver in three for the first round playoff matchups. San Diego defeated the Knights 3-1 and San Antonio beat the Thunderbirds 3-1, sending both league champs to the American Association Championship Series. The Seals downed the Oilers in five, winning their third AA title in four years and their fourth total. In the 1958 World Series, San Diego capped off a dynasty by defeating Brooklyn in five games. With that, the Seals become only the third franchise in MLB to win three World Series titles in a four year stretch. This would be the final ring of the run, but San Diego established themselves as a great dynasty.





        Other notes: Hartford’s Jess Lewis became the sixth MLB player to 3500 career hits. He’d play one more year and would finish with 3714 hits, second all-time on the leaderboard behind only Stan Provost. He ended with 1918 runs, fourth all-time. Chance Warren became the 28th to 3000 hits. Spenser Emond got to 250 career wins, the 21st to do so. Madaleno Anziani won his 10th Gold Glove at RF.

        Comment

        • MrNFL_FanIQ
          MVP
          • Oct 2008
          • 4980

          #304
          1959 MLB Hall of Fame

          Only one player was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in the 1959 class. SP Juwan Oliver was a first ballot selection at 90.3%. Another first pitcher on his first ballot, Brentley Suka, came close at 62.8% but was just short of the 66% threshold. Four others were above 50%.



          One of those was SP Patrick Iannazzo, who was dropped after his 10th ballot. He finished at 57.8% after barely missing the prior year at 65.0%. In 19 years between Portland, Atlanta, and Seattle, Iannazzo had a 261-185 record, 3.37 ERA, 2660 strikeouts, and 92.2 WAR. It was surprising considering the accumulated numbers and the 1937 Pitcher of the Year that Iannazzo didn’t get more support. But low strikeout numbers and being on weak teams in his run meant he ultimately was stuck as a “Hall of Very Good” guy.

          Two others were dropped after a 10th ballot, although neither got as close. Cam Sherburne won two Pitcher of the Year with Ottawa and had a 165-98 record, 3.04 ERA, and 60.4 WAR. A torn UCL at age 31 derailed his career and kept him from the final tallies needed, peaking at 35.8% on his first ballot. Closer Mo Eckerle was also dropped, peaking at 41.0% on his debut. He won two Reliever of the Year awards over 17 years with 285 saves, 2.03 ERA, and 39.9 WAR.



          Juwan Oliver – Starting Pitcher – Dallas Dalmatians – 90.3% First Ballot

          Juwan Oliver was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Arlington, Texas. Oliver was known for having excellent control along with 98-100 mph velocity. His movement wasn’t known for being more than average at best, but he was expert at changing speeds between a fastball, circle change, and curveball. Oliver was also an ironman, who didn’t miss a start between 1938 to 1951. Oliver was a rare high school draft pick, coming out of Marcus High School; home of the Marauders. Having grown up in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, he was fittingly picked by the Dallas Dalmatians seventh overall in the 1934 MLB Draft.

          Oliver spent two seasons in the minor league Fort Worth affiliate, making his MLB debut in 1937 at age 21. He slowly found his footing, eventually becoming the Dalmatians ace with four straight 7+ WAR seasons from 1941-44. He was the American Association leader in strikeouts in both 1941 (362) and 1943 (290).

          Dallas grew from a bottom tier team to a contender during that stretch, making it to the World Series in 1942 and 1943. In nine playoff starts with the Dalmatians, Oliver had a 6-2 record, 3.42 ERA over 69.1 innings with 58 strikeouts. In eight seasons with Dallas, he had a 110-116 record, 3.82 ERA, 1686 strikeouts, and 43.1 WAR. He played enough of a role in their playoff success and was a hometown guy for his #6 uniform to be retired at the end of his career.

          After spending his whole life in the area, Oliver left for free agency in 1945 and signed a five-year deal with Brooklyn. He spent three seasons with the Dodgers as a solid contributor, but not a dominant pitcher. Ultimately, he was never in the top three in Pitcher of the Year voting at any point in his career. With Brooklyn, he was 46-31 with a 3.23 ERA and 17.8 WAR. At the end of the 1947 season, the 32-year old Oliver was trade to Las Vegas.

          Oliver spent the next five seasons with the Vipers and was a reliable starter for them. They became a playoff contender as the 1950s dawned, although Oliver’s postseason luck was limited. Still, in five years he had a 93-50 record, 3.40 ERA, and 26.0 WAR with 1110 strikeouts. He was released by Las Vegas and signed in 1953 with Denver in his final season. He struggled with the Dragons, but hit a few milestones, including becoming the eighth to 3500 career strikeouts and 19th to 250 wins. Oliver retired after the 1953 season at age 37.

          The final stats for Oliver; 259-220, 3.66 ERA, 4311.1 innings, 3568 strikeouts, 826 walks, 304/554 quality starts, 264 complete games, and 86.4 WAR. It is interesting to compare his line with Patrick Iannazzo, who was dropped after a 10th ballot in the same year. But Oliver’s high strikeout total and lower walk total, plus having some playoff success with Dallas, gave Oliver the nod despite the lack of major accolades. Oliver not only got in, but was an impressive first ballot pick at 90.3%.

          Comment

          • MrNFL_FanIQ
            MVP
            • Oct 2008
            • 4980

            #305
            1959 CABA Hall of Fame

            The 1959 Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame ballot was relatively unimpressive with only one inductee getting in after seven tries. Second baseman Ray Reyes got the bump on his seventh attempt at 77.5%. Closer Leroy Morillo was close on his eighth try, but fell short of the 66% mark at 63.5%. 3B Sandro Villanueba had a respectable debut at 604% and LE Se-Hyeon Kim at 56.5% on his second try was the others above 50%.



            One player was dropped after the tenth go in RF Gabriel Tuitt. In his 14 seasons between Santiago, Haiti, and Guadalajara, he had 2110 hits, 1075 runs, 444 home runs, 1296 RBI, a .273 average, and 49.8 WAR. He won six Silver Sluggers, but didn’t have high enough accumulations to get the nod, peaking at 45.1% on his seventh try.



            Ray “Ferret” Reyes – Second Baseman – Santo Domingo Dolphins – 77.3% Seventh Ballot

            Ray Reyes was a 5’9’’, 200 pound right-handed second baseman from Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in the country. Reyes was a terrific leadoff man who was a great contact hitter that could effectively draw walks. Reyes was a quick baserunner and solid base stealer as well, making him dangerous when he got on. Reyes didn’t have home run power at all, but was solid at finding the gap and getting extra bases with his speed. He was a career second baseman and considered a solid to good defender with a reliable glove at the position.

            Reyes was drafted 14th overall by Santo Domingo in the 1930 CABA Draft and would spend his entire professional career with the Dolphins. He made an unremarkable debut in 1931 and had some injuries. After an okay year two and a partial year three because a torn labrum, Reyes found his rhythm in year four. He won his lone Gold Glove in 1935 and picked up three Silver Sluggers in 1937, 1938, and 1946. Reyes led the Caribbean League in triples thrice, runs twice, walks twice, OBP four times, and stolen bases one.

            He never was a top three MVP finisher, but posted 6+ seasons in 1937, 1938, and 1940; an impressive feat with only 25 career home runs. The Dolphins never made the playoffs in his run, but could rely on a solid presence at second base over the 1930s and 1940s. He was the eighth CABA player to 2500 career hits and became the second to 1000 career stolen bases, retiring second all-time at 1003. In 1945, a broken bone in his elbow put Reyes out for most of the season. He returned the next year at age 37 and was still solid, but struggled the next year. He did represent his native Cuba in the first World Baseball Championship and played his final game with the Cuban national team in 1948 at age 39, retiring after the tournament.

            The final statistics for Reyes; 2530 hits, 1224 runs, 373 doubles, 283 triples, 25 home runs, 606 RBI, 905 walks, 1003 stolen bases, a .293/.362/.410 slash and 63.7 WAR. A solid career, but the lack of home runs and Santo Domingo struggling in that stretch meant Reyes wasn’t at the top of the list for many Hall of Fame voters. His debut at 44.0% made many think he wasn’t going to get in, although he steadily climbed in the coming attempts. In 1957, he barely missed at 65.3%, then dropped to 61.9%. Try number seven in 1959 was finally when he got the bump, making the cut at 77.5%.

            Comment

            • MrNFL_FanIQ
              MVP
              • Oct 2008
              • 4980

              #306
              1959 EAB Hall of Fame

              Two players were inducted in 1959 to the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame, both on the first ballot. All-time hit king Byung-Oh Tan was added at 97.7% and SS Si-U Gim was in at 89.1%. At retirement, these two were the top two EAB players all-time in WAR. Three others were just above the 50% mark; SP Young-Gil Chyu, LF Bum-Young Ahn, and 1B Sung-Heun Park.



              One player was dropped after a tenth ballot. Starting pitcher Kazuo Udagawa spent his entire 16-year career with Nagoya with a 207-127 record, 2.66 ERA, 2880 strikeouts, and 55.6 WAR. He won three rings with the Nightowls, but wasn’t considered dominant enough to get the nod. He peaked at 55.1% on his fourth attempt.



              Byung-Oh Tan – Left Field/First Base – Goyang Green Sox – 97.7% First Ballot

              Byugn-Oh Tan was a 5’9’’, 200 pound left-handed hitter from Jinju, a city in southern South Korea just west of Changwon. Tan is viewed by many as the greatest pure hitter in Korean baseball history with generational contact ability and great power to match. He was also a solid baserunner and was excellent at avoiding strikeouts, although he wasn’t one to draw many walks. In his career, he had a strikeout percentage of 7%, remarkably having under 1000 career Ks over a 21 year career.

              In his 20s, he was either in left field or at designated hitter; then switched to first base and DH in his later years. Tan was viewed as a below average to poor defender. He was an ironman who very rarely missed a start to injury, starting 140+ games in every year but one from his age 21 season to age 39. With his incredible bat, Tan was a fan favorite and was an icon and symbol of Korean baseball throughout the peninsula.

              His talent was noticed while at Woosung High School in Uiwang, becoming one of the rare players picked out of high school. Tan was the 11th overall pick in the 1930 EAB Draft by Suwon. Many people have no idea he started his career in the Snappers system, as he was traded in December 1931 to Goyang along with three other prospects for closer Ho-Seong Na. While Na did win Reliever of the Year twice in three years with Suwon, it is easy to say the Green Sox won the trade in the end.

              Tan had 26 at bats in 1932 at age 19 and started half of the next season with unremarkable results. He became a full-time starter in 1934 at age 21 and from there was excellent, getting 6+ WAR in the next 12 seasons. In 1934, he won his first Silver Slugger in LF. He’d win the award 13 times total; six times at LF, six times as a DH, and once at 1B. Tan won the award in 1934, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, and 49.

              In 1935, the 22-year old Tan led the Korea League in runs (104), hits (214), and home runs (38), finishing second in MVP voting. The next year, he had career bests in runs (123), hits (235), and average (.371); setting the single-season record for hits in a season. He again finished second in MVP voting and was second again in 1937 and 1938. He led the league five straight years from 1935-39 and led seven times in his career. Tan led in hits five times, home runs twice, RBI three times, average four times, OBP three times, slugging and OPS both twice, and WAR five times.

              Tan’s first MVP finally came in 1939. He won it again in 1940, 1942, 1943, and 1945. He was second in 1941 and posted 43 home runs and 121 RBI despite missing a month of the season to injury. 1942 was arguably his best season with a career-best 47 home runs, 121 RBI, 1.091 OPS, and 10.7 WAR. He hit 47 homers again in 1945, hitting 40+ seven times and 30+ 11 times. Goyang started to contend in the late 1930s, making the playoffs six times over an eight year stretch from 1936-43. Tan had a .318 average, 48 hits, 19 runs, 8 home runs, 17 RBI, and 1.8 WAR over 38 starts. Unfortunately, the Green Sox never won a playoff series in his tenure, one of the few things missing from Tan’s resume.

              Goyang began to rebuild as the 1940s ended. Tan stopped being an MVP candidate, but was still an excellent hitter into his 30s. In 1947 and 1948, he was on the first two South Korea national teams at the World Baseball Championship. At age 38, he had a 45 home run season in his last year with the Green Sox and also became the first EAB hitter to 3500 career hits. Although beloved by the Green Sox faithful, he wouldn’t be re-signed for the 1952 season. His #18 would be retired as his career ended.

              He signed with Busan for his last two season, playing okay in 1952 and below average in 1953. However, he was able to set a number of huge milestones with the Blue Jays. He became the first EAB player to 700 home runs, the first cross 2000 runs scored and the first to 2000 RBI. Tan retired after the 1953 season at age 41.

              The final stats for Tan: 3871 hits, 2010 runs, 575 doubles, 120 triples, 718 home runs, 2023 RBI, a .321/.359/.567 slash and 131.3 WAR. At retirement, he was the all-time hit king and leader in home runs, runs, RBI, doubles. He was second in all-time WAR only behind his 1959 Hall of Fame classmate Si-U Gim. As of 2037, Tan is still the EAB hit king and runs leader, although he’d get passed in the other categories. He remains prominent in the conversation for EAB’s all-time best hitter for good reason and is a no-doubt Hall of Famer.



              Si-U “Clapper” Gim – Shortstop – Nagoya Nightowls – 89.1% First Ballot

              Si-U Gim was a 6’2’’,2 00 pound left-handed hitting shortstop from Gwangju, South Korea. He had an unusual profile for a career shortstop as he was a solid power hitter with average at best speed. Gim was an above average contact hitter, but he very rarely drew walks and was around average at avoiding strikeouts. A lot of his value came from being an excellent defensive shortstop who was generally quite durable. Gim was also a team captain known for excellent leadership and work ethic, making him one of the most popular players of his era.

              Gim was signed as an amateur free agent in September 1931 with Nagoya and would spend his entire professional career with the Nightowls. He debuted with 27 at-bats in 1934 at age 19. He was a reserve in five playoff games, earning a ring as Nagoya won the East Asian Championship. He was a bench piece the next year, then a full-time starter at age 21 in 1936. This year was his first of 11 Silver Sluggers, also winning the award in 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 50. In 1937, he won his first of five Gold Gloves, also getting it in 38, 39, 40, and 41.

              Combining his stellar defense at shortstop and strong hitting gave him massive WAR totals. He was the WARlord six different seasons in the Japan League and posted 12+ five times. As of 2037, there have been only 15 seasons of 12+ WAR by an EAB hitter; Gim has 1.3 of those. His 1938 mark of 13.6 was the single-season record at the time. That year, he also led Japan in home runs (43), RBI (113), and OPS (.971). His first MVP came in 1937, followed by additional ones in 1938, 40, and 43. He was second in 1941.

              Nagoya was an off-and-on contender in the late 1930s and early 40s. In 1937, they were Japan League champ and in 1940, the overall EAB champ. In 1948, a now 33-year old Gim earned another Japan League ring, although he missed that postseason due to injury. From 1948-51, he was part of the South Korean team in the World Baseball Championship, posting 43 hits, 30 runs, 18 home runs, and 38 RBI over 48 tournament appearances. In his EAB playoff career, Gim had 31 hits, 13 runs, 4 homers, 17 RBI, and 1.1 WAR over 30 games.

              A torn meniscus knocked him out most of 1942 and various injuries into his 30s caused Gim to start to miss notable time after being pretty durable prior. A torn calf muscle knocked him out almost all of 1951. He came back in 1952 and was still good enough to start, but no longer elite. In 1953, Gim was retired to an elder-statesman bench role and he retired after the season at age 38. Immediately upon retirement, Nagoya retired his #20 uniform.

              The final stats for Gim: 2403 hits, 1141 runs, 373 doubles, 518 home runs, 1347 RBI, a .272/.309/.500 slash and 138.8 WAR. At retirement, he was EAB’s all-time WARlord and kept that crown until passed in the 1980s by Sosuke Hoshizawa. His defense was so stellar at short that he was seven points better than Byung-Oh Tan in WAR, despite Tan’s far superior hitting totals and longevity. It is still a debate by fans of the time that Gim may have been a more valuable player on account of his defensive value and leadership. Regardless, the 1959 Hall of Fame class has easily the two most impressive hitters of the 1930s-1940s and two of the greatest position players in EAB history.

              Comment

              • MrNFL_FanIQ
                MVP
                • Oct 2008
                • 4980

                #307
                1959 BSA Hall of Fame




                The 1959 Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame class was a banner one for great pitchers of the 1930s and 1940s. Three were inducted on the first ballot and all three were above 97%. SP Evan Yho had 98.7%, CL Jonathan Iglesia had 98.4%, and SP Luisao Capucho had 97.7%. Only one other player, 1B Yuri Assuncao, was above 50% with a 55.9% on his second attempt. No players were dumped after a tenth ballot in 1959.



                Evan “Bull” Yho – Starting Pitcher – Buenos Aires Atlantics – 98.7% First Ballot

                Evan Yho was a 6’4”, 200 pound left-handed starting pitcher from Melo, a town in northeastern Uruguay. Yho was known for strong stuff and excellent control later in his career, balanced with respectable movement and great durability. His fastball was in the 96-98 mph, although his best pitch was a filthy changeup. Yho also had a strong curveball and decent splitter. In addition to being a master at changing speeds, he was known as a good defensive pitcher.

                Yho was discovered by a scout from Buenos Aires as a teenager and signed as an amateur free agent in 1931. He would spend his entire pro career with the Atlantics, making his debut at age 20 in 1935. He had a limited bullpen role in his first two years, making his full-time debut as a starter at age 22 in 1937. He posted 8.0 WAR in that season, the first of 12 straight seasons with 8+ WAR. “Bull” was a fitting nickname for a big guy who was so dominant. Over his career, Yho led the Southern Cone League in ERA twice, wins thrice, innings pitched thrice, strikeouts thrice, WAR thrice, K/BB six times, quality starts four times, and WAR four times.

                In 1939, Yho placed second in Pitcher of the Year voting. He took third In 1940, second in 1941, then finally won it in 1942 while also taking second in MVP voting. Yho was second again for PotY in 1943 and third in 1944. He won his second in 1945 and was again the MVP runner-up as well. Yho made it back-to-back in 1946, then took second again in 1947 and 1950. He was in the top three in Pitcher of the Year voting nine times from 1939-50. He threw two no-hitters, the first in 1939 with 11 strikeouts against Montevideo and the second against Medellin in 1947 with 10 strikeouts. Both games saw only one walk against him.

                Yho’s success brought along success for Buenos Aires, who became the top team in the Southern Cone League in the 1940s. They won eight division titles from 1941-48, winning Copa Sudamerica in 1941, 42, and 45; while taking runner-up in 46 and 47. Naturally, Yho was a terrific playoff performer with a 2.17 ERA over 178.2 innings with 218 strikeouts, only 32 walks, 19/23 quality starts, and 6.1 WAR. He also pitched for Uruguay’s national team in the World Baseball Championship from 1950-53.

                Yho’s consistent excellence was a thing to marvel at and he began racking up accumulated accolades. He became the second pitcher to cross 5000 strikeouts behind only the legendary Mohamed Ramos. He was the third to 250 career wins and at retirement was second only to Ramos. He posted 10+ WAR seasons eight times, including a 10.5 WAR effort in 1951 at age 36. He declined slightly as he aged, but in his final year at age 38 in 1953, he was still a very good starting pitcher. Some wondered if he’d take a shot at 300 career wins, but Yho called it a career, not wanting to overstay his welcome. Naturally, he’ll forever be very welcomed and beloved in Buenos Aires, where his #14 uniform is retired.

                Yho’s final statistics: 289-168, 1.96 ERA, 4478.1 innings, 5591 strikeouts to only 624 walks, a 9.0 K/BB, 456/540 quality starts, a FIP- of 56 and 155.0 WAR. At retirement, he was behind only Ramos in career WAR and wins, although he had him slightly beat on ERA (1.96 to 1.98). Yho was consistently great for a prolonged stretch and has a case to be made as the best Beisbol Sudamerica pitcher of the 1940s. Even as of 2037, he is third in all-time pitching WAR and strikeouts, giving Yho a very strong case as a Mount Rushmore level pitcher in BSA.



                Jonathan Iglesias – Closer – Caracas Colts – 98.4% First Ballot

                Jonathan Iglesias was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Ciudad Ojeda, a small city on the northeastern shore of Lake Maracaibo in western Venezuela. He was a fireballer as a closer with a 98-100 mph dominant fastball, mixed with an excellent splitter. This one-two punch made him dominant at his peak. As he aged, his control went from good to great as well, keeping him a threat into his late 30s and 40s. Iglesias was also the rare hard-throwing pitcher to do so without ever suffering any major injury, allowing him to appear in 60+ games in all of his 19 professional seasons sans his rookie year. He was viewed though as a bit of a mercenary though, especially as he bounced around the Bolivar League in his later career.

                Iglesias was picked 33rd overall in supplemental round one of the 1934 Beisbol Sudamerica Draft by Caracas; which would be the team he’d be most associated with. He took over the closer role as a rookie in 1935 and held it for the next seven seasons with the Colts. In 1938, he won his first Reliever of the Year with 78 games, 109 innings, 33 saves, a 1.32 ERA, 194 strikeouts, and a blistering 7.7 WAR, which is tied for the most in a season by a closer. That same season, Caracas made it to Copa Sudamerica with Iglesias picking up five saves in the postseason run.

                In his first run with Caracas, Igelsias also was second in Reliever of the Year in 1936 and third in 1940. The Colts started to struggle soon after and was traded to Cordoba in the summer of 1942. He signed as a free agent with Maracaibo in 1943, but was traded to La Paz in the summer. With the Pump Jacks though, he pitched 14 scoreless postseason innings, helping La Paz win Copa Sudamerica. In 1944, the now 32-year old Iglesias returned to Caracas for a season, taking third in Reliever of the Year voting. He signed again with Maracaibo in 1945 and this time got through the entire year with the Mariners, taking second in Reliever of the Year voting.

                Iglesias signed with Valencia in 1946 and won his second Reliever of the Year award. In 1947, the 35-year old signed for a third tour with Maracaibo. He was traded again in the summer, this time to Medellin. Iglesias won his third Reliever of the Year and earned his second ring, helping the Mutiny claim the 1947 Copa Sudamerica crown. He stuck around with Medellin for the next two seasons, becoming the third BSA closer to 400 career saves. He also played the first of seven World Baseball Championship tournaments for the Venezuelan team.

                At age 38 in 1950, he signed for the third time with Caracas and spent two more seasons with the Colts, finishing second in Reliever of the Year in both seasons. On August 3, 1951, he became the first (and as of 2037, the only) BSA closer with 500 career saves. Before the 1952 season, Iglesias was traded to Cordoba and spent his final two seasons there. In 1953, he earned his third Copa Sudamerica ring, although he didn’t appear in the postseason. He retired after the 1953 season at age 42. His #49 jersey would be retired by Caracas in 1953.

                His final stats: 123-146, 579 saves, 1.85 ERA, 1609.2 innings, 2331 strikeouts, 350 walks, 705 shutdowns, and 75.9 WAR. As of 2037, his 579 saves is not only the Beisbol Sudamerica career record, but the most by any professional player in any league. Historically, even great closers have trouble maintaining the role for their entire career, but Iglesias was the man for the job for 19 seasons, making him an easy first-ballot Hall of Fame choice.



                Luisao “Redeye” Capucho – Starting Pitcher – Sao Paulo Padres – 97.7% First Ballot

                Luisao Capucho was a 5’10’’, 185 pound right-handed starting pitcher from Cascavel, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Parana. Capucho was known for excellent stuff with 97-99 mph velocity, adding good movement and decent control. He had a four pitch arsenal with a solid fastball, forkball, and cutter, plus a rarely-used changeup. Capucho was considered a very intelligent and cerebral pitcher and also had solid durability.

                Capucho was selected 10th overall in the 1940 Beisbol Sudamerica Draft by Sao Paulo. He had an impressive debut season in 1941, taking second in Rookie of the Year voting despite earning Rookie of the Month three times. He became an ace for the Padres, taking third in Pitcher of the Year in 1943 and winning it in 1947. That year saw a dominant season with a 1.26 ERA over 278.2 innings, 396 strikeouts, and a dominant 14.2 WAR. He also led the Southern Cone League in strikeouts three times with Sao Paulo. Capucho tossed no-hitters in 1945 against Montevideo and 1947 against Salvador, getting 20 Ks in the former. This was the record for strikeouts in a no-hitter until 2023.

                The Padres made it to the playoffs from 1942-45, making It to Copa Sudamerica in 1943 and 44, winning it all in 1944. In 57.1 career playoff innings, Capucho had a 1.73 ERA, 87 strikeouts, and 2.2 WAR. He had six seasons of 7+ WAR with Sao Paulo, finishing his time there with a 151-80 record, 2.03 ERA, 2920 strikeouts, and 74.5 WAR. He also began playing for the Brazilian national team as the World Baseball Championship was formed, making 17 appearances over 1947-52 with a 3.73 ERA, 94 innings, and 3.0 WAR.

                Before the 1950 season, a rebuilding Sao Paulo traded Capucho to Valencia for four prospects. He had an excellent debut for the struggling Velocity squad, leading the Bolivar League with 9.5 WAR. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting and third again the next year at age 33. He had two more years with Valencia, beginning to see his productivity drop a bit. Although still effective, Capucho decided to retire after the 1953 season at age 36.

                His final statistics: 210-128, 2.18 ERA, 3236.1 innings, 4057 strikeouts, 712 walks, 324 quality starts, and 102.4 WAR. They are impressive numbers considering he only had a 13-year career. Capucho was at times overshadowed by some of the other great pitchers of early Beisbol Sudamerica, but he still was noticed for his achievements. Sao Paulo retired his #2 uniform and he was a first ballot Hall of Famer at 97.7%, rounding out a stellar 1959 Hall of Fame class.

                Comment

                • MrNFL_FanIQ
                  MVP
                  • Oct 2008
                  • 4980

                  #308
                  1959 World Baseball Championship




                  The 1959 World Baseball Championship was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In Division 1, the defending champion United States advanced with a 6-1 mark, finishing one game ahead of Italy. Division 2 saw South Korea go unbeaten at 7-0, beating the DR and Hungary by two games. Division 3 had Canada on top at 6-1, edging France by one game. Meanwhile, Division 4 had a three-way tie between Germany, Japan, and Switzerland at 5-2. The tiebreaker moved the Germans onto the Double Round Robin.

                  Division 5 had a tie between Poland and Mexico at 5-2 with three others only one game back. The Poles moved on via the tiebreaker. Division 6 went to Venezuela at 6-1, finishing a game ahead of both Serbia and Slovakia. In Division 7, Russia and Northern Ireland both went 6-1, while the Czech Republic and North Korea were both 5-2. The tiebreaker moved the Northern Irish onto the elite eight. And in Division 8, Argentina prevailed at 6-1, one better than Peru.

                  In the Double Round Robin Group A, Poland was the top team with a 5-1 run. Canada and South Korea both finished 3-3 with the Canadians moving on via the tiebreaker, while Venezuela was 1-5. Group B had a three-way tie at 4-2 between the Americans, Argentina, and Germany, while Northern Ireland was 0-6. The tiebreaker moved the US and Germany forward and ousted Argentina.

                  One semifinal had the usual suspects with the United States facing Canada, while the other had a first-time semifinalist in Poland and a second-time one in Germany. The Poles edged their neighbor in a seven-game classic, while the Canadians upset the Americans in six games. The World Championship went the distance with Canada defeating Poland 4-3, giving the Canadians their second-ever world title.





                  Tournament MVP went to Canada’s Herve Bouchard. The 27-year old 1B for Ottawa had a WBC record 15 home runs, while adding 32 hits, 23 runs, 25 RBI, 18 walks, a .372/.476/.919 slash and 2.7 WAR. The Top Pitcher went to Argentina’s Ramon Olguin. The 34-year old lefty for Medellin had a perfect ERA in 12 innings with three saves, three hits allowed, 14 strikeouts, and 0.6 WAR.

                  Comment

                  • MrNFL_FanIQ
                    MVP
                    • Oct 2008
                    • 4980

                    #309
                    1959 in EPB




                    Defending Soviet Series champ Kyiv had the top record in Eurasian Professional Baseball in 1959, taking the European League South Division at 113-49. This gives the Kings four straight division titles. Bucharest finished behind them at 107-55, earning a fifth straight playoff berth. Minsk at 105-57 won the North Division and also earned a fifth straight postseason berth. Moscow at 99-63 took the final wild card spot, beating Kharkiv by three games. For the Mules, it is their first-ever postseason berth.

                    The league MVP and Pitcher of the Year both went to Bucharest ace Bogdan Chirita. He won his third Pitcher of the Year and first MVP. The 32-year old righty became the second EPB pitcher to earn a Triple Crown, posting a 21- 6 record, 1.84 ERA, and 311 strikeouts. He had a 13.9 WAR and FIP- of 34 over 264 innings.



                    Almaty secured a fifth straight playoff berth by taking the Asian League South Division at 106-56. The Assassins have taken the division title thrice now. Krasnoyarsk won the North Division at 105-57 for back-ot-back playoff appearances. Irkutsk was second at 102-60, getting the first wild card. The second spot went to Dushanbe at 99-63, defeating Chelyabinsk (95-67) and Yekaterinburg (93-69). The defending Asian League champ Dynamo have now also made the playoffs in each of EPB’s first five seasons.

                    MVP went to Chelyabinsk SS Javid Zaripov. The 28-year old switch-hitter was the leader in hits (193), doubles (45), and WAR (9.3), adding a .316 average and a Gold Glove defensively. Dushanbe’s Sergei Filatov won Pitcher of the Year for the third time in his career. He was the leader in WAR (11.2) and FIP- (51), adding a 16-11 record, 2.55 ERA, and 342 strikeouts over 271.1 innings.

                    In the first round of the playoffs, Kyiv topped Moscow 3-1, Minsk held off Bucharest 3-2, Dushanbe upset Almaty with a 3-0 sweep, and Krasnoyarsk survived 3-2 against Irkutsk. In the European League Championship Series, the Kings dropped the Miners in six, sending Kyiv to the Soviet Series for back-to-back seasons. In the Asian League Championship Series, the Cossacks earned their first league title by taking a seven-game classic over the Dynamo. The fifth Soviet Series went to the Kings in five over Krasnoyarsk, making Kyiv the first repeat EPB champion.





                    Other notes: 1B Vait Sherov, P Skerdi Hoxha, and 2B Mher Harutyunyan became the first five-time Gold Glove winners. DH Pavlo Kolesnik became the first five-time Silver Slugger winner.

                    Comment

                    • MrNFL_FanIQ
                      MVP
                      • Oct 2008
                      • 4980

                      #310
                      1959 in EBF




                      In the European Baseball Federation’s Northern Conference, none of the 1958 playoff teams made it back. The British Isles Division went to Dublin at 94-68 for their second-ever playoff berth, defeating Birmingham by six games. In the Northwest Division, Brussels earned their first-ever playoff berth by narrowly taking the title at 95-67. They were one ahead of 94-68 Amsterdam, who took the wild card for their eight playoff berth. In the North Central Division, Stockholm was first at 95-67, giving them eight playoff berths as well. Hamburg was second at 90-72 and defending European Champ Berlin was 88-74, both missing out on the division title and a wild card.

                      Rotterdam at 88-74 also missed out of the postseason, but the Ravens had both the conference MVP and Pitcher of the Year. 1B Troy “Knuckles” Bataille was MVP with the 26-year old Frenchman leading the conference in home runs (50), OBP (.410), slugging (.652), OPS (1.063) and wRC+ (222), while adding 10.1 WAR and 108 RBI. Trent Addams won Pitcher of the Year for the second straight year. The 27-year old Scot was one win short of back-to-back Triple Crown seasons, posting a 19-3 record with 14 saves as well, 1.49 ERA over 223 innings, 342 strikeouts, a 31 FIP- and 11.1 WAR.



                      The best record overall in the EBF came from Zagreb, winning the Southern Conference’s Southeast Division at 102-60 for their second-ever playoff berth. Defending conference champion Zurich at 89-73 won the South Central Division for their fifth playoff berth in six years.

                      Meanwhile, the Southwest Division and wild card race was a tight one. Barcelona and Lisbon finished tied at 91-71 atop the division, both four games better than Madrid and Marseille. Athens in the Southeast Division also finished 91-71, requiring a Bengals/Clippers tiebreaker game for the division title, followed by the loser against the Anchors for the wild card. Barcelona beat Lisbon to earn the division and their first playoff spot since 1953. Then in the wild card tiebreaker, Athens ousted the Clippers, giving the Anchors back-to-back playoff appearances.

                      Southern Conference MVP went to Zagreb 3B Fragiskos Fakas. The 28-year old Greek was the SC leader in runs (126), hits (214), average (.343), slugging (.675), OPS (1.044), wRC+ (197), and WAR (11.7). Pitcher of the Year went to 25-year old Athens ace Mijusko Popovic. The right-handed Serbian was the SC lead in wins (24), innings (290.2), and quality starts (27). He also had a 2.69 ERA, 266 strikeouts, and 6.3 WAR.

                      In the first round of the EBF playoffs, Stockholm topped Amsterdam in four games, Brussels swept Dublin, Zurich upset Zagreb 3-2, and Barcelona bested Athens in five. The Northern Conference Championship saw the Swordsmen prevail in six games over the Beavers, giving Stockholm a second conference crown in three years. The Southern Conference Championship had the Bengals beat the Mountaineers 4-2, giving Barcelona their second conference title (1950). The Bengals earned their first European Championship ring, dropping the Swordsmen in five games. This is the second time the title has gone to a Spanish team with Madrid taking it in 1955.





                      Other notes: Gabriel Staudt became the first EBF hitter to 1000 career RBI. Ken Jacob and Richard Hackl were the first to 300 career saves. Orion McIntyre became the first to 400 home runs and Elih Cruz became the second to 2500 strikeouts. CF Mercury Hand won his ninth and final Gold Glove.

                      Comment

                      • MrNFL_FanIQ
                        MVP
                        • Oct 2008
                        • 4980

                        #311
                        1959 in BSA




                        In a very competitive Bolivar League in 1959, Guayaquil had the best record at 92-70. The Golds took the South Division for only the second time in franchise history, edging Lima by one game and La Paz by four. Callao, who had won the division four of the prior five years, was fourth at 84-78. In the North Division, Caracas took first 89-73, back on top after just missing the prior two years. Medellin was second at 86-76 with defending league champ Barquisimeto third at .500.

                        Bolivar League MVP went to Aleix Espinoza of Lima. The 28-year old Peruvian RF was the league leader in RBI (116), slugging (.637), OPS (1.027), and wRC+ (180), adding 36 home runs and 9.8 WAR. Guayaquil’s Laurenco Cedillo was Pitcher of the Year for back-to-back years. Still only 24-years old, the Golds ace led in ERA (1.86), wins (21-5), quality starts (31), WAR (10.3), and FIP- (51) while finishing second in strikeouts with 313 over 261 innings.



                        The best record in South America by far in 1959 went to defending Copa Suadmerica champ Sao Paulo. The Padres finished 110-52, taking the Brazil Division for the seventh consecutive season. Fortaleza (96-66) and Rio de Janeiro (93-69) had nice seasons, but couldn’t compete. Meanwhile in the South Division, Santiago was first at 97-65 for a third straight division title. The Saints finished five games better than Cordoba.

                        Buenos Aires LF Ishmael Perla was MVP for the second time in his career, also winning the award back in 1954. The 30-year old hometown hero beat his own single-season record for batting WAR at 13.7, a mark that still stands as the best in BSA as of 2037. Perla led the league in runs (102), hits (198), triples (30), walks (92), stolen bases (107), triple slash (.358/.445/.600), OPS (1.045), and wRC+ (245). The OBP mark was also a single-season record and Perla picked up his third Gold Glove as well. Despite his efforts, the Atlantics were only one game above .500. Pitcher of the Year went to Salvador’s Diego Pimentel. The 27-year old Brazilian lefty had a league best 21 complete games, posting a 18-10 record with a 1.69 ERA over 266.2 innings for 331 strikeouts and 10.4 WAR. Also notable was Sao Paulo’s Justo Carvalho winning his third Reliever of the Year, posting 46 saves, a 1.20 ERA, and 5.4 WAR.

                        The Bolivar League Championship Series saw Caracas defeat Guayaquil in five games, giving the Colts their fifth league title in franchise history. The third straight Southern Cone final between Sao Paulo and Santiago had the same ultimate result. The Padres made it a three-peat, taking the series in six games for their sixth league title; the most of any Southern Cone team. Sao Paulo was a heavy favorite to repeat as Copa Sudamerica champion, but Caracas pulled off the upset in a seven-game classic. It is only the second Cup win for the Colts, who also did it all the way back in 1933.






                        Other notes: Angel Gabriel Cornejo became the third BSA player to reach 1500 career runs scored. He finished his final season with 1507, putting him behind Diego Pena (1596) and Saul Vargas (1514). Pena played his final season in 1959. CF Loury Nova won his 14th and final Gold Glove. It wouldn’t be until 2007 that another BSA player reached 14.

                        Comment

                        • MrNFL_FanIQ
                          MVP
                          • Oct 2008
                          • 4980

                          #312
                          1959 in EAB



                          The top spot in the Japan League in 1959 went to Hiroshima, who’s only other South Division title came back when they won it all in 1939. The Hammerheads finished at 102-60, topping second place Kobe by seven games. Defending league champ Osaka fell to a disappointing fifth place at 79-83. Saitama made it back-to-back North Division titles with a 99-63 finish. Sapporo was their only challenger, finishing five back at 94-68.

                          Two-way star Tadasumi Tanabe led the Sting again and won his fourth consecutive MVP and third straight Pitcher of the Year. Sadly, it would be the last great season for Tanabe, who required elbow ligament reconstruction surgery in September. This caused him to miss the postseason and ultimately started a very injury-plagued second half of his career. On the mound, the 28-year old was the leader in wins with a 20-6 record over 261.1 innings, posting a 2.31 ERA with 261 strikeouts and 6.5 WAR. In the outfield, Tanabe put up 6.9 WAR with a .356 average, 152 hits, 82 runs, 23 home runs, and 71 RBI.



                          Defending East Asian Champion Hamhung won a fifth consecutive Korea League North Division title in 1959. The Heat finished 99-63, 11 games better than second place Suwon. The best overall record in Korea belonged to Changwon, well atop the South Division at 106-56. For the Crabs, it is now three straight division titles and it also matches a franchise record for wins in a season, a mark they also hit in 1923.

                          Pyongyang 1B Chu Park had a historic season, getting his first MVP at age 25. The left-handed slugger became the new single-season home run king with 67, topping the previous record of 64. It’s the second most in any pro league to this point, only behind Orion McIntyre’s 68 in the 1951 European Baseball Federation season. Park also led the league with 151 RBI and .752 slugging, while posting a .342 average and 11.1 WAR.

                          Pitcher of the Year went to Changwon’s Dan Dudamel for the second time in three years. He was the league leader in wins (20-12), innings (289.2), and strikeouts (297), adding a 2.55 ERA and 7.2 WAR. He also won his third straight Gold Glove. The Crabs also saw Chang-Hee Lee win his third straight Reliever of the Year. Lee had a 0.81 ERA over 77.1 innings with 32 saves, 123 strikeouts, and 4.5 WAR.

                          The Japan League Championship Series saw Hiroshima defeat Saitama in six games, giving the Hammerheads their second league title After falling to Hamhung in the prior two years, Changwon claimed the Korea League Championship Series in six games, denying the Heat’s three-peat. For the Crabs, it is their third league title, joining the 1945 and 1923 campaigns. The East Asian Championship was a seven game battle that saw Hiroshima prevail 4-3 for their second overall title. This also breaks up what was a six-year title streak for Korean teams, sending the trophy back to Japan.





                          Other notes: Fukuoka slugger Takashi Ishihara became the second player to reach 700 career home runs. In his final season, he finished with 703, retiring second to Byung-Oh Tan’s 718 dingers. Dong Ju-Hahn of Ulsan hit 57 doubles, beating his own single-season record of 55 set the prior year. 57 would hold as the record until 2005. On June 1, Kawasaki’s Okahito Kuroda threw a perfect game with eight strikeouts against Fukuoka.

                          Comment

                          • MrNFL_FanIQ
                            MVP
                            • Oct 2008
                            • 4980

                            #313
                            1959 in CABA




                            The best record in CABA was Leon in 1959, setting a franchise record with a 112-50 mark. The Lions earned back-to-back Mexican League South Division titles, leading the league in both runs scored (730 and fewest allowed (494). In the North Division, Tijuana rolled to the title at 104-58. The Monterrey dynasty ended, finishing second at 92-70 to snap their chance at five straight league titles. For the Toros, it is their first playoff berth since 1940.

                            Guadalajara slugger Prometheo Garcia won his seventh league MVP and earned an unprecedented fifth Triple Crown, passing the four Triple Crowns earned by 10-time MVP Kiko Velazquez. Showing no sign of slowing down even at age 36, Garcia was the leader in runs (123), hits (222), home runs (51), RBI (141), average (.369), slugging (.700)), OPS (1.116), wRC+ (221), and WAR (10.3). The 141 RBI was a career record for Garcia. This season, he became the third hitter to 600 home runs and the eighth to 1500 runs scored.

                            Pitcher of the Year went to Leon’s Edgar Andunvar, becoming the second CABA pitcher to win the award five times. It was a bit of a career resurgence for the Honduran lefty, who last won the award in 1952. At age 37 in his second season with Leon, Andunvar had the league lead in wins (22-8) , ERA (1.88), WHIP (0.87), quality starts (28), and FIP- (77). He had a 6.1 WAR and 201 strikeouts over 244 innings.



                            Defending CABA champion Honduras won the Caribbean League Caribbean Division for back-to-back seasons. The Horsemen were 93-69, nine games better than Nicaragua. The best record in the Caribbean went to Island Division winner Haiti at 95-67, beating Puerto Rico by four games and defending division champ Santo Domingo by five. For the Herons, it is their first playoff berth since 1940.

                            Second-year RF Yovani Pena won the league MVP for Honduras. The left-handed Dominican led the league in WAR (7.4) and walks drawn (74), adding 36 home runs and a .924 OPS in 142 starts. Pitcher of the Year went to Haiti’s Adrian Perez. The 27-year old had a league-leading 0.93 WHIP with a 16-8 record, 2.59 ERA, 212 strikeouts in 229.2 innings and 5.8 WAR. This would be more than half of his career WAR with a real flash in the pan career. Injuries and mediocrity meant that he was a forgettable reliever for the next decade.

                            The Mexican League Championship Series saw Leon swept Tijuana for the first Lions league title since 1942 and their fifth overall. In the Caribbean League Championship Series, Honduras repeated by besting Haiti 4-1. The Horsemen are now a record 11-time Caribbean League champs. The CABA Championship was a seven-game thriller with Leon outlasting defending champ Honduras for the Lions’ third overall title (1939, 1941).





                            Other notes; CF Linus Williams won his 12th Gold Glove and SS Thiago Hernandez won his ninth. Williams is the fourth CABA player to win the award 12 times. MVP Prometheo Garcia won his 11th Silver Slugger.

                            Comment

                            • MrNFL_FanIQ
                              MVP
                              • Oct 2008
                              • 4980

                              #314
                              1959 in MLB



                              Philadelphia posted the best record in Major League Baseball in 1959, sitting atop the National Association’s Eastern League at 112-50. For the Phillies, this is their first league title since 1950. 1957 World Series champ Indianapolis made it three straight playoff berths by taking the Midwest League title at 98-64.

                              In the wild card race, the first three spots went to Eastern League teams with Ottawa at 96-66, followed by both Boston and Brooklyn at 94-68. The Elks are in the field for the fifth time in six years, while the Red Sox are back for the fifth time in seven years. The Dodgers, the defending National Association champ, earned back-to-back playoff spots for the first time in franchise history. The final playoff spot went to the Midwest League as Cleveland finished 93-69, beating Toronto by three games and Louisville by four. The Cobras snapped a 20-year postseason drought.

                              MVP went to Indianapolis RF R.J. Clinton. The 1957 Rookie of the Year led the NA in runs (118) and slugging (.624), adding 39 home runs, 109 RBI, a .340 average, and 8.3 WAR. Brooklyn’s John Delaney won his third consecutive Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old had the most wins (22-7), innings (284), quality starts (29), and shutouts (8) and the best WHIP at 0.85. He posted a 2.03 ERA, 193 strikeouts, and 9.0 WAR.

                              The first round of the National Association playoffs saw Boston knock out the defending champ Dodgers and Cleveland oust Ottawa, both 2-0. The Cobras then stunned Philadelphia in round two, taking the series 3-1. Indianapolis fended off a strong challenge from the Red Sox and won in five. For Cleveland, they earned only their third-ever NACS trip with the other two back in the 1920s. They took the Racers to the brink, but Indianapolis outlasted them in a seven-game series that saw the home team win each game. This gives Indy their third National Association title of the 1950s and fifth in franchise history.



                              In the American Association, the best overall mark went to Las Vegas, winning the Western League at 99-63. For the Vipers, this gives them nine playoff berths over the course of the 1950s. Phoenix was second at 94-68 to take a wild card and snap a five-year playoff drought. San Antonio won the Southern League for back-to-back seasons at 98-64. Second place Oklahoma City at 91-71 took the second wild card slot, giving the Outlaws their second-ever postseason berth.

                              The remaining two wild card spots saw an intense battle. Portland at 89-73 took the third spot for their second berth in three years. Meanwhile, the final spot ended with a four-way tie at 88-74 between Los Angeles, Calgary, Oakland, and Tampa. This essentially led to a four-team single-elimination tournament to decide who moved on. The Angels and Cheetahs knocked out the Thunderbirds and Owls; then LA defeated Calgary to push the Angels to the playoffs with a 90-74 final record. San Diego, who had built a dynasty with three of the last four World Series titles, was a non-factor at 76-86, finishing 10th in the Western League. Vancouver, the champ two years ago, was an abysmal 65-97.

                              Although 80-82 Miami wasn’t in the final mix, the Mallards did have the American Association MVP in LF Tyler Whisnant. The 29-year old lefty from Tennessee was the league leader in hits (215), average (.371), OBP (.418), OPS (1.020), and wRC+ (170), adding 7.4 WAR. San Diego may have fallen hard in1959, but Spenser Emond was as excellent as ever, winning his record sixth Pitcher of the Year. The 34-year old lefty was the leader in ERA (2.76), WHIP (1.02), quality starts (25), FIP- (63), and WAR (9.7), adding a 20-11 record over 280.1 innings and 257 strikeouts. Emond also became the 12th MLB pitcher to reach 3500 career strikeouts.

                              The first round in the American Association playoffs saw Oklahoma City defeat Portland and Phoenix over Los Angeles, both 2-0. Round two had the Firebirds upset San Antonio 3-1, while Las Vegas survived a five game challenge from the Outlaws. In the AACS, the Vipers cruised to a five-game victory, finally sending Vegas to its first World Series despite being the winningest team of the 1950s. They capped off the season by winning it all, defeating Indianapolis 4-2 in the Fall Classic. The Racers play the bridesmaid again, now holding an 0-5 record in World Series appearances. This also extends the American Association’s streak of taking the title to eight seasons.





                              Other Notes: New York’s Jeremiah Rutledge threw the ninth MLB perfect game on September 15 against Washington. He struck out 17 batters in the dominant performance, setting a MLB record for most strikeouts in any no-hitter. Sebastian Lunde became the 29th batter to 3000 career hits and the fourth to cross 2000 career RBI. 1960 would be his final year and he’d finish with 2090 RBI, second only to Stan Provost (2271). Lunde also would finish with 712 home runs, behind only Elijah Cashman (750), and Kaby Silva (731). Rodrick Wisdom became the third reliever to 400 career saves. Eduardo Muniz and Trevor Brown became the 22nd and 23rd pitchers to reach 250 wins.

                              Comment

                              • MrNFL_FanIQ
                                MVP
                                • Oct 2008
                                • 4980

                                #315
                                1960: Oceania Baseball Association Formed

                                After World War II was completed, baseball's popularity and presence began to spread in all corners of the world. One of the areas to grow quickest was Australia, which saw a general post-war boom. Increased American influence on Australia meant the game quickly spread in popularity with amateur and semi-professional teams popping up throughout the nation. Nearby New Zealand started to see growth as well and with the successes of the newly formed European Baseball Federation and Eurasian Professional Baseball, many saw the potential for the Oceania region to join the ranks.

                                Prominent leaders wanted to form their own professional baseball organization, hoping to join with the other groups in the Global Baseball Alliance and be competitive. But the big challenge was having enough markets able to support teams. The smallest GBA groups, CABA and Beisbol Sudamerica, both had 24 total teams with 12 in two leagues. Australia and New Zealand alone didn't have enough cities large enough to come close to that and getting to at least 16 total teams seemed to be a prerequisite to belong as a true "major league" in the region. There were some brief conversations with leaders in southeastern Asia, but cultural and logistical challenges made that a non-starter. Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore would soon create their own baseball organization by 1965.

                                The focus then shifted to building the game in the adjacent islands of the Pacific. Many of those areas had at least some familiarity with baseball due to American and/or Japanese imperialism in the area. The tremendous success of baseball in the Caribbean showed that island nations could flourish as baseball hotbeds. However, there were worries that there weren't enough population centers in many of the options. Yet, the relatively compact nature of these island areas meant that even without big cities, the entire island or group could quickly adopt the local squad almost as a national team.

                                The newly minted state of Hawaii had a major metro in Honolulu that was a perfect fit with a MLB expansion to Hawaii viewed as very unlikely. Although much smaller, Guam (US controlled) was also a good fit. Teams were later approved in the Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal), Samoa, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tahiti. These seven, plus the Papua New Guinea capital of Port Moresby (at the time, controlled by Australia) made up the Pacific League. On the other side was the eight-team
                                Australasia League with six Australian teams (Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney) and two New Zealand teams (Auckland and Christchurch). Together, the two leagues made the Oceania Baseball Association, which officially began play in 1960.



                                Like the other GBA nations, the season would take place from March through October. There were some reservations in playing in what is the winter in the Southern Hemisphere compared to what is the summer months up north, but the Southern Cone teams of BSA had shown it was workable. Plus, none of the areas involved had harsh winters with highs still into the 50s and 60s regularly in the coldest months for some of the continental teams. For most of the island teams, the heat stays year round with rain a much more common problem than cold.

                                There would not be interleague play; the entire 162-game regular season would be confined to one league. There wouldn't be an expansive playoff either, as the two league champions would simply meet at the season's end in the best-of-seven Oceania Championship. The biggest strategic quirk compared to the other leagues is that OBA would use a four-man pitching rotation instead of the standard five. OBA would also use the designated hitter in both leagues.

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