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

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 CLB Hall of Fame (Part 1)

1993 saw the largest Hall of Fame class in the history of Chinese League Baseball with four players earning induction. All four got first ballot nods with pitchers Zhiyuan Lai (99.1%), Hla Khun Mon (98.1%), and Chiming Chen (95.6%) all earning no-doubt status. Two-way star Nick Wei’s 78.8% is surprisingly low considering his resume, but he’s in regardless. The only other player above 50% was RF Xinze Yan, missing the cut in his fourth ballot at 56.9%.



One player was dropped after ten ballots in Feixien Zhang, a pitcher who was hurt by starting officially at age 28 and having only eight full CLB seasons. He had an 118-84 record, 2.33 ERA, 1967.1 innings, 1861 strikeouts, and 54.4 WAR with an MVP in 1972. He started at 39.3% and got as high as 45.5%, but bottomed out at only 2.5% by the very end. Even for the very pitcher-centric CLB voters, he didn’t have the longevity. Dragon Han had a similar issue, falling below 5% on his ninth ballot. Han peaked at 36.9% and had a 132-106 record, 2.25 ERA, 2201 innings, 2213 strikeouts, and 54.4 WAR.



Zhiyuan “Meal Ticket” Lai – Pitcher – Shenzhen Spartans – 99.1% First Ballot

Zhiyuan Lai was a 6’6’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Taiyuan, the capital and largest city in north China’s Shanxi Province with around five million people. Lai had excellent stuff along with very good control and movement. His fastball peaked in the 95-97 mph range, but he mixed it expertly with a great curveball and changeup, plus the occasional slider. Lai was considered quite durable; although he had fewer compete games than contemporaries with similar inning counts. Lai was loyal and a hard worker, which served him well in his impressive career.

Lai was one of the most touted amateur prospects in the earliest years of Chinese baseball. In the 1971 CLB Rookie Draft, Shenzhen picked him second overall. Lai picked 188.1 innings as a rookie split between starting and heavy bullpen use, earning third in Rookie of the Year voting. He’d be mostly a full-time starter after his second season. In his third season, he led the Southern League with a career-best 366 strikeouts, taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting. He also had a league-best 13.0 WAR that year.

In 1975, he posted an incredible 0.71 ERA over 229 innings, earning the first-ever CLB Triple Crown season with a 17-4 record and 331 strikeouts. The 0.71 ERA was both a CLB record and a world record low for any qualifying starting pitcher. It remained the world record until passed by EAB’s Toshikuni Naikai’s 0.64 in 2020. Naturally, this effort earned Lai his first Pitcher of the Year. Over his run, Lai led the league in strikeouts five times, ERA three times, WIHP three times, and WAR four times. He had eight season worth 8+ WAR and five worth triple digits.

Lai’s 1977 was his second Pitcher of the Year with more innings giving him a 14.4 WAR; still the single-season CLB pitching record as of 2037. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1978, as Shenzhen’s 88-74 record was the closest they had come to a playoff berth yet. Lai was also excellent for China in the World Baseball Championship from 1974-83, posting a 20-2 record over 217.1 innings with a 2.61 ERA, 291 strikeouts, and 5.6 WAR. He earned a world title ring as part of China’s 1979 squad.

1979 had Lai’s first setback with a torn triceps costing him four months. He was back for the stretch run and helped the Spartans earn their first-ever playoff appearance at 102-60. He had a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings, but they lost their semifinal series to eventual champ Hangzhou. Lai had two more years in Shenzhen, winning his third Pitcher of the Year in 1981. 1980 was notable as well with a no-hitter on September 7 with 12 strikeouts and one walk against Guangzhou.

In total with Shenzhen, Lai had a 140-82 record, 1.65 ERA, 2137.2 innings, 2802 strikeouts, and 89.0 WAR. The Spartans would retire his #14 uniform at the end of his career. Lai had signed a six-year, $1,860,000 extension with Shenzhen before the 1977 season, but the team hadn’t been the success he had hoped and seemed to be expecting a rebuild. Plus, as CLB had grown significantly in its first decade, the money available on the market had increased as well.

Lai declined his contract option after the 1981 season, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 31. He signed a six-year, $3,660,000 deal with Shanghai. Lai’s first year was very good, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. The next year would be plagued with shoulder inflammation costing him a big chunk of the season. Lai was still good with the Seawolves, but he never reached the dominant heights he had seen with Shenzhen. Shanghai also was a mid to lower end franchise in this stretch with no playoff berths during Lai’s tenure.

The highlight of Lai’s Shanghai run was his second no-hitter in a 13 strikeout, one walk performance on September 11, 1985 against Harbin. He also hit some notable milestones, becoming the second pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts and the third to 200 wins. In total with the Seawolves, Lai had a 55-56 record, 2.22 ERA, 1041.2 innings, 1316 strikeouts, and 29.2 WAR.

Lai executed his contract option to stay with Shanghai for the 1987 season, but the team opted to move on with a trade. They sent Lai and $1,205,000 to Guangzhou for three prospects. He had one respectable season with the Gamecocks, who ended up being China Series runner-up. Lai had a lousy 3.92 ERA over 20.2 playoff innings. He likely could’ve pitched a few more seasons, but he decided to retire after the 1987 season at age 36.

Lai’s final stats: 210-143 record, 1.86 ERA, 3429 innings, 4367 strikeouts, 627 walks, 339/437 quality starts, 54 FIP-, and 123.1 WAR. He was the first CLB pitcher to reach 100 WAR (along with HOF classmate Chiming Chen) and Lai remains the all-time WARlord as of 2037. He’s also still the leader in strikeouts and fourth in wins. Advanced stats suggest Lai has a case for CLB’s GOAT pitcher, although being on middling teams without playoff accolades hurts him in that debate. Either way, his HOF resume was not at all in question with 99.1% and an inner-circle induction in the 1993 class.



Hla Khun Mon – Pitcher – Jinan Jumbos – 98.1% First Ballot

Hla Khun Mon was a 6’6’’, 195 pound left-handed pitcher from Changchun, the capital of northeast China’s Jilin Provence with around nine million people. It is sometimes called the “Detroit of China” for its automotive industry. Mon got by on two pitches; a 96-98 mph cutter and a curveball. He had very good movement with respectable control and stuff for this combo. Mon was also viewed as a very good defensive pitcher, winning Gold Gloves in 1978 and 1979.

In the 1970 CLB Draft, Mon wasn’t picked until midway through the third round. Jinan selected him 59^th overall and decided to make him primarily a starter, despite the general suggestions that a two-pitch guy should come out of the bullpen. Mon was second in 1974 Pitcher of the Year voting, his only season leading in strikeouts, WAR, and quality starts. 1975 would mark the start of Mon’s time pitching for China in the World Baseball Championship. He was almost exclusively a reliever there with 33 games and two starts from 1975-85, posting a 5-1 record and 10 saves, 2.08 ERA, 177 strikeouts over 69.1 innings, and 3.1 WAR. Mon earned a ring with the 1979 championship team.

He ended up spending six and a half seasons with Jinan, posting a 109-67 record, 2.17 ERA, 1690 innings, 1682 strikeouts, and 46.6 WAR. The Jumbos were just outside of the playoffs in the early 1970s, but had fallen to the bottom of the standings by 1976. The Jumbos had signed a four-year, $1,048,000 extension with Mon in spring 1976, but were quickly looking to move on. In the summer of 1977, Mon was traded along with $133,000 to Zhengzhou for two prospects.

Mon pitched three-and-a-half years with the Zips, posting a career and league-best 1.40 ERA in 1979. He took second in Pitcher of the Year voting again, but ultimately never took the top honor. Both of his Gold Gloves would come in the Zhengzhou run. His first-ever playoff experience was with the Zips in 1977, although they fell in the semifinal to Kunming. In total, Mon had a 52-31 record, 2.10 ERA, 840.1 innings, 919 strikeouts, and 27.3 WAR.

He became a free agent for the first time at age 32. Mon signed a one-year deal with Shanghai, but was traded in the summer to Qingdao. That split season would be Mon’s final one as a starting pitcher. No team would sign him in 1982, as Mon was adamant about staying a starter. He found a buyer in 1983 with Chongqing, but had to acquiesce to moving to the bullpen.

Mon was the closer for the Cavalier in 1983 and excelled in the role, leading in saves with 42 and winning Reliever of the Year. He also had a 36 save streak from May 1983 to July 1984. Chongqing was China Series runner-up in 1983 with Mon tossing 7.2 scoreless innings in the playoffs. He was moved to a setup role the next two years, then was closer again in 1986, again winning Reliever of the Year.

Chongqing made the playoffs thrice and was league runner-up again in 1985. Mon had 19 innings in the playoffs with the Cavaliers with a 0.00 ERA, allowing only one unearned run with 25 strikeouts. In total, he had 93 saves, a 1.31 ERA, 288.1 innings, 395 strikeouts, and 12.5 WAR. Mon became a free agent again after the 1987 season at age 38, which ultimately began a journeyman final few seasons for his career.

1987 was his last season in China, splitting the season between Xiamen and Hangzhou. Mon moved to MLB in 1988 with Tampa and with Milwaukee in 1989. His final two seasons came in the newly formed Arab League, pitching for Riyadh in 1990 and Medina in 1991. Mon was still very serviceable in those final years and even took second in Reliever of the Year voting in his final season with Medina. No one singed him in 1992 and Mon finally retired that winter at age 44.

For his CLB career, Mon had a 202-137 record, 2.11 ERA, 3146.1 innings, 3345 strikeouts, 505 walks, 283/354 quality starts, 222 shutdowns, 66 FIP-, and 93.7 WAR. He also had a career 0.28 ERA over 32 playoff innings. As of 2037, Mon is fifth in wins for CLB, tenth in strikeouts, and sixth in WAR. He perhaps didn’t get his due compared to the other pitchers that dominated the early years of Chinese baseball, but the HOF voters recognized his excellence. Mon secured the first ballot induction at 98.1%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 CLB Hall of Fame (Part 2)

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Chiming Chen – Starting Pitcher – Xi’an Attack – 95.6% First Ballot

Chiming Chen was a 6’4’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Yangquan, a city with around 1,300,000 people in the Shanxi Province. Chen had solid control and movement along with above average stuff. His velocity peaked in the 94-96 mph range with his fastball, but he had a great slider, plus a good curveball and changeup. Despite posting a ton of innings in his career, Chen had very few complete games. However, he was considered an ironman who essentially never missed a start. Apart from his rookie year, he tossed 220+ innings every year for two decades.

Chen was picked in the second round of the 1971 CLB Draft, going 32^nd overall to Xi’an. He was split between the rotation and bullpen with iffy results as a rookie. Chen was a full-time starter and legitimate ace from year two onward. Chen won his lone Pitcher of the Year in his sophomore season, leading the Northern League in wins at 23-5 and quality starts with 32. He would have better seasons by WAR with the Attack, but was only once more a POTY finalist with a third place in 1976. Chen did also win a Silver Slugger in 1975 with a .309/.319/.441 slash over 76 plate appearances.

Xi’an emerged as a contender in the mid 1970s with five playoff appearances from 1974-79. The Attack won the China Series in 1974 and 1976 as well. Chen’s playoff stats were actually below average with a 3.24 ERA over 75 innings with 75 strikeouts and an 86 ERA+. However, his steady production was a big reason for their consistent success. The team would opt to retire his #3 uniform at the end of his career. For the run with Xi’an, Chen had a 130-60 record, 2.18 ERA, 1770.1 innings, 1870 strikeouts, 292 walks, a 64 FIP-, and 54.7 WAR.

At age 29, Chen opted for free agency and signed a seven-year, $3,050,000 deal with Hong Kong, who had been the league runner-up in 1978. He had the same steady production with the Champions, taking third in 1982 Pitcher of the Year voting and second in 1984. Chen twice led the Southern League in quality starts, twice in K/BB, and once in wins. HK also had some playoff success, earning berths in 1982, 84, and 85. In 1982, Hong Kong won its first-ever title, giving Chen his first ring. Still, his playoff stats were unremarkable compared to his regular season production, posting a 3.04 ERA and 85 ERA+ over 47.1 innings with 48 strikeouts.

Chen notably became the second CLB pitcher to reach 200 career wins in 1983. In total with Hong Kong, he had a 110-56 record, 1.88 ERA, 1605.2 innings, 1702 strikeouts, 191 walks, 69 FIP-, and 44.4 WAR. In 1986, Chen was in the final year of his contract and the Champions seemed poised for a rebuild. HK opted to trade the 35-year old Chen at the deadline along with $1,570,000 to Tianjin in exchange for four prospects. The Jackrabbits were in a fierce battle with Beijing for Northern League supremacy with the last three CLB rings split between them.

Chen helped Tianjin in that final push, finishing first in the NL at 110-52. They met and defeated Beijing in the China Series, giving Chen his fourth ring. This time, he had a great postseason with a 0.75 ERA over three starts and 24 innings. For his entire career, his playoff ERA was 2.79 with a 10-6 record over 161.1 innings, 159 strikeouts, and 3.3 WAR. Chen was in a very unique position for any world player to have four rings coming from three different teams.

He was a free agent again after finishing 1986 with Tianjin and decided to leave China. Chen made his way to New Zealand and OBA as Christchurch gave him a three-year, $2,360,000 deal. The annual $820,000 salary was a hefty raise from his prior peak of $484,000. The Chinooks were hopeful that Chen’s durability would translate excellently into the four-man rotation environment of OBA.

That gamble paid off, as Chen was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in both 1987 and 1988 for Christchurch. He led the Australasia League in ERA in 1987 and for the run had a 50-30 record, 2.34 ERA, 739.2 innings, 682 strikeouts, and 20.8 WAR. Chen almost got his fifth ring in1988, but the Chinooks were defeated by Honolulu in the Oceania Championship. His contract expired for 1990 and the now 39 year old Chen found another big OBA deal, signing for three years and $3,100,000 with Port Moresby.

Chen had two respectable seasons with the Mud Hens, posting a 32-27 record, 2.74 ERA, 545.1 innings, 474 strikeouts, and 9.1 WAR. He was traded by Port Moresby in the third year of his deal to Brisbane for a prospect. Chen had another solid steady season with the Black Bears. It seemed like he could keep going if he wanted to, but Chen decided to retire following the 1992 campaign at age 41. For his OBA tenure, he had a 96-72 record, 2.54 ERA, 1543 innings, 1368 strikeouts, and 35.2 WAR. Very impressive for six seasons starting at age 36.

For his entire professional career, Chen had a 344-191 record, 2.19 ERA, 4997.2 innings, 5031 strikeouts, 721 walks, 556/700 quality starts, 70 FIP-, and 137.5 WAR. He very quietly had an incredibly impressive and lengthy tenure. For just in CLB, he had a 248-119 record, 2.03 ERA, 3454.2 innings, 3663 strikeouts, 102.3 WAR, 404/470 quality starts, and 66 FIP-. Chen retired CLB’s all-time wins leader and still holds that distinction as of 2037. He’s also second in WAR, fifth in strikeouts, fifth in innings, and first in starts (470).

If Chen had remained in China for his whole run, his longevity may have given him the tip-top spots in a lot of statistics. Still, he often times is overlooked by contemporaries who had more hardware or league-leading seasons. One Pitcher of the Year award and limited black ink is surprising considering his final tallies. Although he might not get talked about as much in the CLB GOAT pitcher debates as he perhaps should, Chen’s HOF resume was unmistakable, taking a first ballot spot at 95.6%.



Nick Wei – Center Field/Pitcher – Hangzhou Hens – 78.8% First Ballot

Nick Wei was a 6’3’, 200 pound left-handed outfielder and pitcher from Xiangtan, a city with around 2,750,000 people in south central China’s Hunan province. He was CLB’s first two-way star player with his biggest accolades as a position player. Wei was a good contact hitter with a solid pop in his bat. His eye and strikeout rates were a bit subpar, but he reliably averaged around 25 doubles and 25 home runs per 162 games. Wei had only okay baserunning abilities, but he showed excellent range in center field. His non-pitching starts were almost exclusively in center and he was a great defender. Wei had three Gold Gloves, one in center and two as a pitcher.

On the mound, Wei relied on good control with respectable stuff and movement. He had an extreme groundball tendency with an arsenal of cutter, slider, and changeup. On top of his unique skillset, Wei was known for being an excellent clubhouse leader and hard worker. This helped make him one of the most endearing faces of Chinese baseball in its early years.

Wei was picked second overall in the 1973 CLB Draft by Hangzhou. It wasn’t immediately clear if the Hens would try to limit him to only one role. In his first two seasons, Hangzhou didn’t use him at all as a pitcher. Wei had an excellent rookie season in center with 7.1 WAR, earning a Gold Glove and the Rookie of the Year. He stayed in center in 1975, taking his first of 11 Silver Sluggers. However, he suffered a torn meniscus in the summer, which put his future status in doubt.

1976 marked his first season as a two-way hitter and one of the best combined seasons anyone has ever had. In 132 games, Wei posted a 9.5 WAR at the plate and led the Northern League in slugging, OPS, and wRC+. He wasn’t incredible on the mound, but he added a solid 4.2 WAR and 234.2 innings with a 2.65 ERA. Wei racked up the hardware, winning his first MVP and also two Silver Sluggers, one as a center fielder and one as a pitcher.

Wei also played for the Chinese national team in seven editions of the World Baseball Championship from 1975-87. He had seven seasons playing the field, posting 82 games, 85 hits, 57 runs, 36 home runs, 63 RBI, a .295/.366/.694 slash, and 4.9 WAR. In four editions, he pitched 29.1 innings with a 2.15 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 0.7 WAR. Wei was named WBC Tournament MVP in 1978 and took third in MVP voting in 1975. He was also part of the 1979 World Championship team for China.

Wei won MVP four times in Hangzhou (1976, 77, 78, 81). He didn’t lead in stats typically due to a smaller number of games relatively. Wei won Silver Slugger at both P and CF in 1978. His remaining Sluggers came as a pitcher in 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, and 83. Wei was also an MVP finalist with a third place in 1979, second place in 1980, and third in 1983. He also had a third place in 1978 for Pitcher of the Year, although he never won that accolade.

Hangzhou had been a middling team when Wei arrived, but he did help them to some success to end the 1970s. The Hens made playoff appearances in 1978, 79, and 81. They fell in the semifinal in the outer two years, but Hangzhou would win it all in 1979. Wei was the semifinal MVP that year and posted a .290/.347/.478 slash and 0.9 WAR over 20 playoff games at the plate, plus a 1.26 ERA over five starts and 43 playoff innings with 40 strikeouts and 1.1 WAR. In April of 1979, the Hens gave Wei a massive eight-year, $3,696,000 contract extension.

The physical demands of playing both ways started to catch up to Wei as he entered his 30s. Smaller injuries cost him games here and there with his last great full season coming in 1983 with 8.0 WAR at the plate and 5.7 WAR on the mound. He’d never play more than 100 games in a season again after that. Wei suffered a torn labrum in July 1984 that shelved him for eight months. He partially tore the labrum again in both 1985 and 1986.

By this stage without a full strength Wei, Hangzhou had fallen towards the bottom of the standings. Just before the 1987 season, Wei was part of a six-player trade that sent him to Dongguan. He had no hard feelings against the Hens franchise, who would retire his #23 uniform just a few years later. When on the field, Wei still could provide excellent value, especially with his defense. He only made 53 starts in 88 games for the Donkeys, but still posted 5.4 WAR in center. Wei was moved to the bullpen as a pitcher, but still offered 132 innings.

A strained hamstring cost him the final two months of 1987 and Dongguan didn’t re-sign him. A free agent for the first time at age 36, the legend of his past triumphs had reached America. MLB’s Charlotte signed him to a two-year, $3,160,000 deal with the intent of only using Wei as an outfielder. He started half of 1988, but struggled adjusting to MLB’s competition level. In the first week of 1989, Wei suffered a broken bone in his elbow that knocked him out the entire season. He decided to retire with that at age 38.

For his CLB career as a hitter, Wei had 1435 games and 1296 starts, 1452 hits, 639 runs, 239 doubles, 221 home runs, 665 RBI, a .290/.333/.483 slash, 170 wRC+, and 84.1 WAR. As a pitcher, he had a 148-92 record, 2.29 ERA, 2306.1 innings, 2358 strikeouts, 469 walks, 220/290 quality starts, a 79 FIP-, and 51.5 WAR. His combined 135.6 WAR at induction was behind only Junjie Hsiung’s 152.6 and as of 2037, it is still fourth-best among all CLB players.

However, some of the Hall of Fame voters wanted to judge him just as a center fielder or just as a pitcher. His batting WAR was largely helped by great defense and even by the standards of the low-offense CLB, his batting accumulations alone are borderline. The same could be said for his pitching stats. Yet, Wei’s combined stats are undeniable and he was well deserving of the first ballot nod. Many historians scratch their head at Wei only getting 78.8%, but he earned his spot to round out the impressive 1993 CLB class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 WAB Hall of Fame

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West Africa Baseball added two pitchers into the Hall of Fame in 1993. Power Bonou was an inner-circle level guy with 98.8%, while Marcus Nyathi’s 73.8% also earned a first ballot nod. Two others were above 50%, but short of the 66% requirement. SP Adul dos Santos had 60.5% in his fifth try and SS Joseph Ambane with 54.3% for his fourth ballot. No players were dropped after ten ballots.



Power Bonou – Starting Pitcher – Lagos Lizards – 98.8% First Ballot

Power Bonou was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Cotonou, Benin’s largest city. Bonou had great movement on his pitches with above average stuff and control. He led off the repertoire with a 96-98 mph cutter and balanced it with a changeup and slider. Bonou had excellent stamina, leading the league five times in innings pitched and six times in complete games. He was also viewed as a good defender and a durable arm.

When West Africa Baseball was officially formed, Bonou was already 25 years old and considered a premiere pitcher in the semi-pro ranks of the continent. Lagos signed him to a six-year, $1,068,000 deal and he played a huge role in the Lizards being a major contender in WAB’s first decade. Lagos made the playoffs in all six of Bonou’s seasons there, winning the West African Championship in 1978 and 1979 and taking runner-up in 1977.

Bonou led the Eastern League three times in WAR, wins, and strikeouts with Lagos. He was Pitcher of the Year in both 1976 and 1978. Bonou was second in 1975, third in 1977, second in 1979, and third in 1980. Bonou had a 21 strikeout game in 1975 against Niamey. His 27-4 record in 1978 still stands in 2037 as the most wins in a season for a WAB pitcher. In the Lizards’ playoff appearances, Bonou had an 8-4 record over 103.1 innings with a 3.57 ERA, 120 strikeouts, and 2.1 WAR.

In total with Lagos, Bonou had a 128-45 record, 2.55 ERA, 1597.2 innings, 1943 strikeouts, 352 walks, 67 FIP, and 49.0 WAR. His contract was up after the 1981 season and Bonou hoped to lock down big money in the growing WAB. Many teams didn’t have the funds to commit yet to a long-term deal and Bonou wasn’t signed until spring training 1981, getting a one-year, $342,000 deal with Abidjan. The Athletes had also been a playoff regular in the early days, having fallen to Lagos in the 1978 WAB Championship.

Bonou had a fine 1981 season and posted a 2.25 ERA in 24 playoff innings as Abidjan fell in a finals rematch with Lagos. A free agent again for 1982 at age 32, Bonou signed a one-year, #338,000 deal with Benin City. He was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in his one season with the Blue Devils, falling in the ELCS to Port Harcourt. In 1983, Bonou finally got the second long-term deal he was hoping for. He returned to Abidjan on a five-year, $1,810,000 deal.

Bonou was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1983, his final season as a POTY finalist. He remained solid, although not as dominant as his earlier prime. The Athletes fell towards the mid-tier in this run, only making the playoffs once with a 1985 ELCS defeat. Bonou would start to hit milestones for the still young WAB. He was the first pitcher to reach 2000, 2500, 3000, and 3500 career strikeouts. Bonou was also the first to reach 200 career wins.

After being very durable for most of his run, Bonou’s first major injury came in late May 1987. He suffered radial nerve compression, taking him out eight months. At age 38, Bonou opted for retirement. For his Abidjan run, he posted an 88-69 record, 3.11 ERA, 1385.1 innings, 1421 strikeouts, 334 walks, 113/176 quality starts, 82 FIP-, and 30.7 WAR.

For his career, Bonou had a 238-123 record, 2.86 ERA, 3233.2 innings, 3639 strikeouts, 752 walks, 268/409 quality starts, 122 complete games, 74 FIP-, and 85.9 WAR. West Africa Baseball’s pitching accumulations are lower than other world leagues, as WAB pitchers aren’t asked to throw nearly as many innings. As of 2037, Bonou is still the pitching WARlord for WAB and sits second in wins, seventh in strikeouts, third in complete games, and eighth in innings pitched. Bonou was one of the first true ace pitchers in WAB history and was well deserving of a first ballot selection at 98.8%.



Marcus Nyathi – Pitcher – Port Harcourt Hillcats – 73.8% First Ballot

Marcus Nyathi was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Gaborone, the capital and largest city in Botswana. Nyathi was a hard thrower with 99-101 mph on his fastball. He had great control mixed with solid stuff and movement. Nyathi’s fastball was his calling card, but he had a five pitch arsenal that included a forkball, curveball, slider, and changeup. He was also a good defender who was very adaptable.

The career timing worked out for Nyathi, as he was 23 years old when WAB was formed, giving him a full length career and a start with free agency. However, his profile was fairly low when auditioning for his first job in pro baseball, especially as someone from the other side of the continent in Botswana. Nyathi signed a two-year, $86,200 deal with Port Harcourt and was a fairly ineffective reliever as a rookie. He found his way into the rotation in his sophomore season and thrived from there.

After a successful 1976 and good start to 1977, Nyathi signed a five-year, $908,000 extension. He won Pitcher of the Year in 1979, leading the Eastern League in wins, ERA, and WAR. Nyathi looked even better by some measure in 1980, winning his second Pitcher of the Year. The Hillcats were a contender in the late 1970s, but couldn’t get past Lagos in the playoffs. Nyathi struggled in his first three postseason runs with ERA of 6.23, 6.39, and 8.38.

In 1980, Port Harcourt and Nyathi both got over the hump. He had a 3.10 ERA over 20.1 playoff innings, helping the Hillcats win their first WAB Championship over Monrovia. He and PH both had a setback in 1981 as in Nyathi’s second start of the season, he suffered a torn UCL. This knocked him out for the season and Port Harcourt fell below .500.

Nyathi had an impressive bounce back season in 1982, leading the league in ERA for the second time. He won his third Pitcher of the Year and Port Harcourt got back to the championship, falling to Abidjan in the final. His playoff career with PH saw a 5.05 ERA over 71.1 innings and 12 starts with 76 strikeouts. But for his regular season career, Nyathi had an impressive 113-47 record, 2.68 ERA, 1424.1 innings, 1665 strikeouts, 260 walks, 67 FIP-, and 42.8 WAR. The Hillcats would later retire his #8 uniform for his contributions.

At age 31, Nyathi became a free agent and signed a six-year, $2,006,000 with Port Harcourt’s league rival Lagos. He ended up with three respectable seasons for the Lizards, although he wasn’t a league leader at this point. Nyathi had a no-hitter in 1984 with 10 strikeouts against Niamey.

Nyathi earned two rings with Lagos with the 1983 and 1985 championships. He had an excellent 1983 postseason to redeem previously weak playoff stats, posting a 0.77 ERA over 23.1 innings with 21 strikeouts. Nyathi would miss the postseason run in 1985 with a catastrophic torn UCL that knocked him out for 17 months. After missing the 1986 season, he came back with 143 innings in 1987, although he had subpar production .

Lagos bought out the final year of his contract, making Nyathi a free agent at age 36. For the Lagos run, he had a 45-39 record, 3.42 ERA, 822 innings, 791 strikeouts, and 13.3 WAR. Nyathi found an unusual buyer as he was signed by the Mexican League’s Ecatepec to a two-year, $1,840,000 deal. He stunk with a 5.96 ERA in 25.2 relief innings in 1988. Nyathi opted to retire after that campaign at age 37.

For his WAB career, Nyathi had a 158-86 record, 2.98 ERA, 2272 innings, 2474 strikeouts, 381 walks, 194/314 quality starts, 77 FIP-, and 55.8 WAR. Compared to later WAB Hall of Famers, his totals are towards the lower end. Still, Nyathi was in rare company as a three-time Pitcher of the Year winner and some voters had sympathy for his major injuries costing him bigger accumulations. He doesn’t get mentioned nearly as often as his HOF classmate Power Bonou, but Nyathi joined him as a first ballot induction with 73.8%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 SAB Hall of Fame

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Shortstop Al-Amin Kundu became the second South Asia Baseball Hall of Famer in 1993, securing a first ballot induction at 88.1%. He was the lone inductee, although 1B Yamin Thaw had a respectable 56.1% in his second ballot. No one else was above 50% and no players were dropped after ten ballots.



Al-Amin “Furball” Kundu – Shortstop – Pune Purple Knights – 88.1% First Ballot

Al-Amin Kundu was a 6’0’’, 205 pound right-handed shortstop from Bochanganj, a city of around 160,000 people in northern Bangladesh’s Rangpur Division. Nicknamed “Furball,” Kundu was an outstanding power hitter that could also effectively draw walks. He averaged around 45-50 home runs and another 30-35 doubles per season. Kundu was viewed as slightly below average as a contact hitter and did have troublr with strikeouts. He had decent speed and baserunning instincts. Kundu was exclusively a shortstop and was a great defender. He was scrappy and worked hard, becoming one of the most popular stars in the earliest days of SAB.

Kundu was already a seasoned veteran and one of the top players in the area’s semi-pro ranks when South Asia Baseball officially started in 1980. Many of the teams courted him with the thought that he could make them an instant contender. Pune won the sweepstakes, signing Kundu on an eight-year, $2,480,000 deal. His entire SAB career would be these eight seasons with the Purple Knights.

In those seasons, Kundu led the Indian League in home runs and RBI four times, runs once, walks once, slugging twice, total bases once, OPS thrice, wRC+ thrice, and WAR four times. His 13.9 WAR in the inaugural 1980 season would be the SAB single-season record until 2006. As of 2037, it is still the third-best season. Kundu was the Indian League MVP for its first four seasons and also took second in 1984 MVP voting. Kundu was Silver Slugger winner seven straight years from 1980-86 and took Gold Gloves in 1980 and 91.

The investment paid off for Pune, as they were a playoff team for seven of Kundu’s eight seasons. They had four consecutive Indian League Championship Series appearances from 1981-84, winning the pennant in 81, 83, and 84. The Purple Knights secured the SAB Championship in 1983 and 84, becoming the first franchise to repeat as champ. Kundu delivered in the playoffs as well, winning finals MVP in 1983. In 78 playoff starts, he had 64 hits, 40 runs, 14 doubles, 23 home runs, 58 RBI, a .233/.325/.549 slash and 3.2 WAR. Pune would later retire his #1 uniform.

After seven excellent seasons, Kundu struggled with a .195 batting average in 1987. He still posted 2.9 WAR with defensive value despite being a lousy hitter for the first time in his career, hitting only 23 home runs despite hitting 39+ in his other seasons. He became a free agent after the season and was unsigned in 1988. Kundu played in one final World Baseball Championship for Bangladesh, playing 78 games from 1980-88 in the WBC with 54 hits, 39 runs, 17 home runs, 42 RBI, and 1.4 WAR. He retired in the winter of 1988 at age 37.

Kundu was credited as having more than 10 years of major service with the help of some of his semi-pro games, making him eligible for Hall of Fame voting despite only eight actual SAB seasons. In those years, he had 1185 hits, 755 runs, 269 doubles, 367 home runs, 865 RBI, a .266/.350/.583 slash, and 80.6 WAR. The grand totals look low because of the small official career, but averaging 10 WAR a season is a remarkable eight year stretch. His popularity, dominance, and role in Pune’s 1980s success made Kundu a solid HOF choice even with limited accumulations. He earned 88.1% on his debut ballot to become South Asia Baseball’s second Hall of Famer.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 World Baseball Championship

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The 1993 World Baseball Championship was the 47^th edition of the event and was hosted in Guatemala City. Division 1 was competitive with Ukraine and Bangladesh tying for first at 7-2, while Taiwan was 6-3. The Ukrainians advanced on the tiebreaker for their sixth division title and first since 1987. Colombia claimed a tight Division 2 at 7-2, edging out 6-3 efforts from the defending World Champion United States, the Philippines, and New Zealand. It was the 13^th time advancing for the Colombians and first in six years. It is only the eight time in WBC history that the Americans didn’t get to the elite eight or deeper.

Division 3 had China on top at 8-1, topping 7-2 runs by both Poland and Vietnam. It is the third consecutive division title for the Chinese and their 16^th overall. D4 saw a three-way tie for first at 7-2 between Cuba, Portugal, and Turkey. The Cubans secured the tiebreaker to move forward for the second time in three years and for the fourth time overall. India dominated Division 5 at 9-0 with 7-2 France serving as the only real competition. The Indians secured back-to-back division titles.

Division 6 had Mexico prevail at 7-2, outlasting solid 6-3 efforts by Brazil, El Salvador, and Iran. The Mexicans have advanced 19 times, snapping a drought dating back to 1985. Brazil’s impressive division title streak ended at six years, tied with China for the longest streak by someone other than the USA. Canada cruised to the D7 crown at 9-0 for their fourth division title in five years. The defending runner-up moved forward for the 29^th time. Indonesia was also undefeated, clobbering the Division 8 field. It is the fifth time advancing in nine years for the Indonesians, who have 10 division titles to their name.

Indonesia moved onto the semifinal for the seventh time as they were 5-1 in Round Robin Group A. 3-3 China advanced with them, while 2-4 Cuba and 2-4 Colombia were ousted. The Chinese earned back-to-back final four appearances and their 11^th overall. Canada claimed a third consecutive semifinal as they topped the Group B field at 5-1. This was the 23^rd final four berth for the Canadians. India and Ukraine were both 3-3 and Mexico was 1-5. The tiebreaker went to the Indians for their first-ever semifinal appearance.

In the semifinal, China won a five game classic over Canada, sending the Chinese to their sixth final and first since 1979. India knocked off Indonesia 3-1 on the other side, giving the Indians their first-ever shot at the world title.



The 47^th World Championship was the first time that two nations fully based in Asia faced off for the title (Russia, which is both European and Asian, met China in 1970). China rolled India 4-1 to become three-time world champs, joining their 1970 and 1979 successes. The Chinese are the fifth to have earned three or more titles over the history of the WBC, joining the US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.



Tournament MVP was India second baseman VJ Williams, The five-time Indian League MVP currently with Ahmedabad had 30 hits, 29 runs, 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 23 RBI, 79 total bases, and 2.5 WAR over 23 starts. Indonesia’s Aris Bau earned Best Pitcher honors. A 25-year old starter with Bandung, he had six appearances and two starts with a 0.46 ERA over 19.2 innings, 2-0 record, 4 saves, 37 strikeouts, and 1.2 WAR.

Other notes: Indonesia’s Nerius Senaen had a four home run game against Sweden, becoming the sixth player to hit 4 HRs in a WBC game. Below are the updated all-time tournament results.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in ALB

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In the fourth season for Arab League Baseball, the top seed in the Western Conference went to 106-56 Casablanca. The Bruins cruised to their third Mediterranean Division title in four years. Defending conference champ Cairo claimed the Nile Division for the fourth straight year. The Pharaohs set a still-standing conference record with only 447 earned runs allowed. Their 486 total runs allowed is still second fewest as of 2037 with their 1151 hits allowed third fewest. Casablanca allowed only 1149 hits, second best to their own 1127 that they’d set next season. The Levant Division had a change at the top with Beirut’s first crown at 96-66. Three-time defending champ Jerusalem was second at 87-75 with Damascus at 86-76.

Western Conference MVP went to 3B Mamadou Bassirou. The 28-year old Nigerien made his ALB debut in 1993, signing a huge eight-year, $6,850,000 deal with Casablanca after spending seven seasons in Douala of West African Baseball. Bassirou led in runs (103), hits (202), total bases (342), average (.337), and WAR (8.8).

Hossam Bouaziz made his highly anticipated debut with Tunis and delivered, winning Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year. He had been picked 1^st overall in 1990 and 2^nd overall in 1991 both by Tripoli, but didn’t sign either year. The Algerian righty finally signed with the Thunder Cats after getting picked second overall in 1992. He led the league with a 1.45 ERA, setting a single-season record that still holds as of 2037. Bouaziz also had a 16-4 record over 205 innings with 270 strikeouts and 8.7 WAR. His promising career would sadly see numerous major injuries in his late 20s, putting Bouaziz out of pro baseball by age 32.

You could argue Khartoum’s Mohamed Wael had an even more impressive season, taking second in POTY voting. The third-year lefty from Egypt set six rate stat records that still stand as of 2037 as the best in ALB history. He had a 5.14 H/9, 0.70 WHIP, opponents slash line of .164/.202/.258 and opponents OPS of .460.

Cairo swept Beirut in the first round of the playoffs, setting up a third battle in four years between the Pharaohs and Casablanca for the Western Conference Championship. After falling in the previous two matchups, the Bruins earned their first pennant, taking the series 3-1.



Defending Arab League champ Medina was much improved from their 91 wins the prior year, setting a league record at 116-46. This would be the winningest season in ALB history until 2000. The Mastodons cruised to a fourth consecutive Saudi Division title and set still-standing conference records for best team ERA (2.55) and fewest earned runs allowed (426). Their 457 runs allowed are still second-best all time. Interestingly enough, division foe Jeddah had a 2.64 ERA, which remains second best in conference history. The Iraq Division saw Basra finally unseat Sulaymaniya’s control. The Bulldogs finished 91-71, besting the Sultans by three games. Abu Dhabi secured a weak Gulf Division at 85-77 for their second division title.

Leading Medina’s historic season was Eastern Conference MVP Igor Abdlydaev. The 36-year old Russian designated hitter was in his fourth season in ALB after a decade plus with EPB’s Krasnoyarsk. He had been traded to Medina from Giza before the season for 2B Hallvard Doyvle. Abdyldaev had ALB’s first-ever Triple Crown season with 48 home runs, 104 RBI, and a .320 average. He led the conference in runs (112), hits (197), total bases (390), OBP (.378), slugging (.634), OPS (1.013), wRC+ (205), and WAR (8.9). Mosul third-year righty Rashid Tariq was the Pitcher of the Year as the 24-year old Iraqi led in wins (21-10), innings (290), complete games (15), shutouts (7), and WAR (9.6). Tariq added a 2.27 ERA and 294 strikeouts.

In the first round playoff series, Basra survived a solid challenge from Abu Dhabi 2-1. It was the first-ever Eastern Conference Championship appearance for the Bulldogs, but they would fall 3-1 to the defending champ Medina.



In the fourth Arab League Championship, the Mastodons became the first-ever repeat champion. Medina mowed down Casablanca 4-1, capping off their record-setting season with a title. Catcher Fekry Hemani was finals MVP with the 32-year old Algerian posting 10 hits, 6 runs, 3 home runs, and 7 RBI in 9 starts. The 1993 Mastodons are on the short list for ALB’s best-ever team. As of 2037, only the 2010 Amman squad won as many games while also winning the league title.



Other notes: Jeddah’s Chea George had a 16 strikeout no-hitter against Riyadh, setting the ALB record for most Ks in a no-no.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in ABF

For the 1993 season, the Asian Baseball Federation lowered its minimum service requirement for free agency from seven years to six years. Six was among the least restrictive of any of the world leagues and proved a win for the big free agents. However, ABF officials found that many of these top free agents would leave for other world leagues for the big pay days.



Entering 1993, Multan was the only Pakistan League without a playoff appearance in the first eight seasons of the Asian Baseball Federation. The Mighty Cocks ended that distinction by dominating the PL at 105-57. Defending ABF Peshawar extended its playoff streak to five seasons by taking second at 88-74. The Predators beat out both Faisalabad and Karachi by two games.

Leading Multan’s first place season was Pakistan League MVP Abdul Rahman Karwan. In his sixth pro season at only age 23, the Pakistani third baseman led the league in walks (91), stolen bases (121), OBP (.425), and WAR (11.2). Karwan’s 121 steals remains ABF’s single-season record as of 2037. The elite leadoff man would leave the Mighty Cocks in the offseason and sign a big five-year, $13,280,000 deal with MLB’s San Diego Seals.

Pitcher of the Year was Peshawar’s Sa’id Farahani. The 25-year old Iranian led the league in wins (17-9), strikeouts (448), FIP- (40), and WAR (10.7). The 448 Ks was seven short of Ali Dahir’s single-season record from 1988 and sits fourth-best all-time as of 2037. He also had a 22 strikeout game against Lahore, tying his own single-game record from the prior year. Impressively, he did this time in only 8.1 innings. Farahani also had a 1.99 ERA over 243.2 innings.



Tehran had an impressive turnaround from only 79 wins the prior year. The Tarpons finished 100-62 for their second-ever Persian League title (1989 was the other). Defending West Asia Association champ Mashhad was a close second at 97-65, seeing their playoff streak end at three years. 91-71 Tabriz was also in the mix. The Turkish League narrowly went to Izmir at 85-77 for their third TL title in four years. The Ice Cats were one game ahead of last year’s TL winner Adana at 84-78.

Izmir’s Gokhan Karatas won repeat WAA MVP titles with an all-time season, becoming ABF’s first Triple Crown hitter. The 24-year old Turkish first baseman led in runs (133), hits (210), home runs (62), RBI (153), total bases (458), triple slash (.377/.462/.822), OPS (1.285), wRC+ (238), and WAR (14.9). Karatas set single-season records in WAR, RBI, runs, slugging, and OPS. As of 2037, his slugging mark remains the ABF all-time record, while his season is still third in hitting WAR and second in OPS.

Bursa’s Fahri Unal won Pitcher of the Year for the second time in three years. The 27-year old righty led in strikeouts (336), while adding a 16-15 recrd, 2.96 ERA, 273.1 inning, and 7.9 WAR. Unal would leave after the 1994 season for MLB on a six-year, $22,560,000 deal with New York. Also of note, Adana’s Nezih Duman became the second ABF closer to win Reliever of the Year thrice. He’d also soon be MLB bound and end up playing for 16 different teams between MLB and ABF in a 22 year career.



In the Pakistan League Championship Series, Multan became a first-time pennant winner by unseating defending champ Peshawar 4-2. Meanwhile in the West Asia Association Championship, Tehran earned its first pennant. The Tarpons cruised to a sweep of Izmir. Tehran didn’t have the same success against Mighty Cocks in the ABF Championship. Multan swept the Tarpons with finals MVP going to pitcher Tahir Ghanim, who tossed five scoreless innings in relief with five strikeouts and one hit allowed.



Other notes: Qazi Khwaja became the first ABF pitcher to 2000 career stirkeouts. Third basemen Saif Karim and Kals Rana both won their seventh Gold Gloves. Earning their sixth Silver Sluggers were C Erhan Buyukdemir, P Ahmed Mirza, and C Razak Mohiyoudeen.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in SAB

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For the third consecutive season, the Indian League had the same four playoff teams. The Ahmedabad dynasty continued to roll as the four-time defending South Asia Baseball champs went 107-55 to win the West Division again and earn a ninth straight playoff berth. They didn’t have the #1 seed this time though, as 111-51 Delhi earned that atop the Central Division. The Drillers allowed only 421 runs, setting an IL record. It is still the second fewest allowed as of 2037. Kanpur was second in the Central at 98-64, easily claiming the wild card and a sixth playoff spot in seven years. Visakhapatnam cruised to a fifth consecutive South Division title at 96-66.

Indian League MVP went to Delhi CF Raj Gangulee. In his final year with the Drillers, the 26-year old led in runs (117), hits (207), RBI (122), total bases (404), average (.348), slugging (.680), OPS (1.054), wRC+ (229), and WAR (11.2). He added 41 home runs. Gangulee seemed on his way to a Hall of Fame career, but he would sit out 1994. Gangulee came back in 1995 to Ho Chi Mihn City, but he decided to pursue other interests after that like cricket. His last season was at age 28, although he didn’t file the official retirement papers until age 34. Delhi also had Pitcher of the Year Kripal Kushwaha. The fifth-year righty led in wins (21-5), quality starts (29), FIP- (55), and WAR (8.8), adding a 2.08 ERA and 328 strikeouts over 242.1 innings.

Wild card Kanpur shocked their divisional foe Delhi with an upset 3-2 in the first round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad dynasty easily swept Visakhapatnam. This gave the Poison only their second ILCS appearance, joining the 1988 title season. That year was the only gap in the Animals’ dynasty with six SAB rings in the last seven years. Kanpur stunned Ahmedabad as well, winning the series 4-2 on the road to pause the dynasty again.



Ho Chi Minh City wanted to continue its impressive run in the Southeast Asia League, having won the SEAL four of the last six years. 1993 was a historic campaign that saw a 126-36 record, the most wins by any-time ever in any pro league. The previous record had been 125-37 by EBF’s Madrid in 1951, a season that had ended in a shocking wild card round defeat for the Conquistadors. The Hedgehogs set league records with 428 runs allowed, 391 earned runs, and a 2.38 team ERA. Those marks remain SEAL bests as of 2037.

Despite HCMC’s remarkable dominance in the South Division, both wild cards came from there as well. Kuala Lumpur (91-71) and Johor Bahru (84-78) both advanced. It was back-to-back wild cards for the Leopards and the fourth in five years for the Blue Wings. Hanoi earned the North Division title at 86-76 to end a three-year playoff drought. Defending division champ Dhaka was 83-79, three games short of the division title and one away from the final wild card.

Bangkok was 80-82, but they had the Southeast Asia League MVP and a promising new star in LF Amoda Shah. Still only 22 years old in his third season, Shah was three short of the SAB home run record with 64 dingers. He also led in total bases (392), slugging (.699), and OPS (1.043), although he did have a league-most 214 strikeouts. Shah added 127 RBI and 9.4 WAR. Ho Chi Minh City ace Zainal bin Aziz won his record sixth Pitcher of the Year award, taking it also for the fourth time in five years. The 33-year old Malaysian led in ERA (1.75), strikeouts (371), WHIP (0.80), K/BB (10.3), FIP- (40), and WAR (11.3). His 21-6 record over 242.1 innings kept him two wins shy of a fourth Triple Crown behind teammate James Cole.

Despite all of the hype, Ho Chi Minh City’s record breaking season ended in calamity. The Hedgehogs were stunned in five games by 84-win Johor Bahru in the first round of the playoffs. It continues the trend of massive win teams flopping in the playoffs. To this point, 13 teams across all of the world leagues had 120+ wins in a season. Only two of those went on to become overall champs with six of them going one-and-done in the postseason. As of 2037, only two other teams would win 126; one would win it all and the other was runner-up. Thus, 1993 Ho Chi Minh City holds an unfortunate note in baseball history.

On the other side of the bracket, Hanoi bested Kuala Lumpur 3-1 in their first round series. This set up an unexpected SEAL Championship matchup between the Hounds, who’s only other appearance was their 1985 title season, and the first appearance for Johor Bahru. The Blue Wings bested Hanoi in a seven-game classic for the first-ever pennant by a Malaysian team.



The 14^th South Asia Baseball Championship was a break in the battles between Ahmedabad and Ho Chi Minh City. Almost nobody had it written that the two wild card teams would find themselves fighting for the title. In a seven-game thriller, Johor Bahru edged Kanpur, The Blue Wings became the sixth team in any world league to claim an overall title while winning 84 or fewer games in the regular season. Johor Bahru’s title was the first SAB crown for a Malaysian team. It would ultimately be the only one, as both the Blue Wings and Kuala Lumpur wouldn’t win again before leaving for Austronesia Professional Baseball in 2008.



3B Manju Abbas was both finals MVP and SEALCS MVP, setting SAB playoff records for hits (34), and walks (14). He added 13 runs, 3 doubles, 5 home runs, 14 RBI, a .430/.471/.709 slash, and 2.0 WAR in 19 games. His Blue Wings teammate Werner Petzodlt also set playoff records for innings (44.2) and walks (17).

Other notes: At 47-115, Mumbai set the SAB record for the fewest wins in a season. It remains the all-time worst as of 2037. Ahmedabad’s Anjan Sumanjit stole 118 bases to set a new record. Pune’s Amitkumar Shah had a 20 strikeout game over 8.2 innings against Bengaluru. This is one short of Ynilo Naranjo’s single-game SAB record of 21 Ks.

VJ Williams and Johar Rai both hit two notable milestones. Williams was the first to 2000 career hits in March, followed by Rai in August. Rai became the first to 500 home runs in May, which Williams matched in August. Rai and K.C Choudhury joined Williams in the 1000 runs scored club. Williams also won his record 11^th Silver Slugger. Harini Shreenath became the first to reach 300 saves. Zainal bin Aziz became the first to 3500 strikeouts. Van Loi Phung won his eighth Gold Glove in center field.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in WAB

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Defending Western League champ Abidjan took first in the WL standings again, this time finishing 100-62. Dakar was second again, close behind at 97-65. This gave the Dukes their fourth consecutive playoff berth and fifth in six years. It was a tight battle for third place and the final playoff spot. Freetown finished 87-75, besting Nouakchott by one game and Kumasi by two. For the Foresters, this was their first playoff berth since 1978 and only third total. Bamako, who was third place the prior year, plummeted to last at 63-99.

Western League MVP went to Abidjan center fielder Ajiboye Okemmiri. The 25-year old Nigerian lefty led in runs (102) and home runs (46), adding 97 RBI, a .290/.367/.579 slash, and 7.3 WAR. Dakar’s Ousseynou Darboe won his third Pitcher of the Year in four years and posted fifth Triple Crown pitching season in West African Baseball history. The 27-year old Gambian lefty had a 26-3 record, 1.99 ERA, and 381 strikeouts. He also led the league in innings (262.2), WHIP (0.77), quality starts (30), FIP- (59), and WAR (9.2). It was Darboe’s fourth consecutive season as the WL’s ERA leader.

Dakar downed Freetown 2-0 in the wild card round, sending the Dukes to their fourth consecutive Western League Championship Series. For the fourth straight year, Dakar went no further. The series went all five games, but Abidjan outlasted the Dukes to earn repeat pennants. The Athletes now have six Western League crowns in WAB’s first 19 seasons (1975, 78, 81, 82, 92, 93).



In the Eastern League, the top three teams each extended their postseason streaks. After taking third the prior two seasons, 110-52 Ibadan finished first in the standings for the first time in franchise history. The Iguanas extended its postseason streak to four years. Port Harcourt placed second at 103-59 to extend its streak to five seasons, the longest active one in WAB. Two-time defending WAB champ Lagos was third at 98-64, giving the Lizards 15 playoff appearances total. Kano had a solid 90-72 effort, but still fell eight games short of a playoff spot.

Ibadan two-way star Rudy Bambara won his third Eastern League MVP in four seasons. On the mound, the 27-year old Burkinabe righty led in wins at 24-6, posting a 2.46 ERA over 248.2 innings with 300 strikeouts and 7.0 WAR. In only 95 games at third base, Bambara also added 6.5 WAR, 35 home runs, 86 RBI, a .340/.391/.690 slash, and 6.5 WAR.

It was his Iguanas teammate Matias Flores who won Pitcher of the Year. It was the second for the 26-year old Mexican, who won with CABA’s Torreon in 1991. Flores shocked many when he left Mexico in the prime of his career to the perceived “lower league” of WAB. He signed a seven-year, $8,420,000 deal prior to the 1993 season and led in strikeouts (420), innings (260.1), WHIP (0.87), complete games (13), FIP- (55), and WAR (10.0). Flores’ 420 Ks was only seven shy of the WAB single-season record by Addise Assefa in 1984. It still sits third most as of 2037. Flores also had a 2.49 ERA and 21-10 record. He would miss much of the next season with a torn rotator cuff, although he bounced back in 1995. Flores opted out of his Ibadan deal and signed with MLB’s Nashville in 1996, but severe control issues hampered his success despite leading in strikeouts twice.

Port Harcourt had home field over Lagos and used it for a wild card round sweep, ending the Lizards’ hope of a three-peat. The Hillcats earned their fourth Eastern League Championship Series berth in five seasons. However, Ibadan rolled to a sweep of PH, making the Iguanas a first-time pennant winner.



The 19^th West African Championship was a classic that went all seven games. Ibadan edged Abidjan, making the Iguanas the ninth franchise to win the overall title. Ibadan also set a WAB record, as their 110-52 record was the most wins for a team that ended up winning it all. League MVP Rudy Bambara was also finals MVP, posting a 3.52 ERA and 2-0 record over three playoff starts with 27 strikeouts and 23 innings. He had five games at the plate, going 11-19 with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, and 6 RBI. His .579 average and .636 OBP are still WAB single-postseason records as of 2037. Although the Athletes have now been to the finals six times, thus far they have a lousy 1-5 record in the championship.



Other notes: Abidjan’s Benedict Collins had 120 stolen bases, setting a new WAB single-season record. He would top that mark five more times in the 1990s. Xavi Leko became the third pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in CLB

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Dalian finished first in the CLB Northern League standings for the fifth consecutive season, a new record for consecutive first place finishes. The two-time defending China Series champs were 101-61, 15 games ahead of second place. Beijing took the second place spot at 86-76 for their second berth in three years. It was an incredible intense battle for second with Zhengzhou one game back, Hangzhou two back, Qingdao three back, Harbin four back, and three other teams six back.

Beijing Guangjun Ma picked up Northern League MVP. In his final season with the Bears and in China, the 33-year old righty won his eighth Gold Glove while adding 35 home runs, 91 RBI, a .265/.345/.519 slash, 181 wRC+, and 9.0 WAR. Dalian’s Khiron Somwang won Pitcher of the Year in his first full season. The 24-year old Thai righty led in ERA (1.46) and walks (107), adding a 16-8 record over 203.1 innings and 4.3 WAR. Also of note, Hangzhou’s Zhiming Cao won his third Reliever of the Year award, posting 41 saves and a 1.17 ERA with 174 strikeouts in 92 innings.



For the second time in three years, Wuhan had the top record in the Southern League as the Wolverines finished 97-65. For second, Xiamen (93-69) earned back-to-back playoff berths. The Mutts edged Macau by one game and Kunming by three games.

Macau two-way star Wei Qin won his fourth Southern League MVP and for the first time, also claimed Pitcher of the Year. On the mound, the 31-year old righty was the ERA leader at 1.25, adding a 16-6 record over 223 innings with 245 strikeouts and 6.4 WAR. At first base, Qin had 116 games with 23 home runs, a .223/.311/.432 slash, and 4.8 WAR. Addtionally, Wuhan’s Ryan Tarancon won a third consecutive Reliever of the Year. He had 41 saves with a 1.12 ERA over 96.2 innings and 159 strikeouts.

Dalian downed Xiamen 4-2 in the semifinal to send the Gold Dragons to their fifth consecutive China Series appearance. They’re the first team in CLB history to get five finals berths in a row. On the other side, Wuhan topped Beijing 4-2 to give the Wolverines their first-ever finals berth.



In the 24^th China Series, Dalian’s dynasty continued with a 4-2 victory over Wuhan. The Gold Dragons are the first CLB team to three-peat and the first to win four titles in five years. As of 2037, Dalian is still the only CLB team to accomplish those feats. CF Xiaofeng Liang won finals MVP, posting 9 hits, 2 runs, and 6 RBI in 12 playoff starts. There’s now also notably an 11-year streak of titles by a Northern League team.



Other notes: MVP Wei Qin won his ninth Silver Slugger. He has seven at pitcher and two at first base. 2B Liang Shang Guan won his seventh Silver Slugger.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in APB

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After winning the Taiwan-Philippine Association title in three successive seasons, Cebu shockingly collapsed in 1993. The Crows were 68-94, the worst record in the TPA. That opened up the opportunity for Davao to roll to the Philippine League title at 97-65. The Devil Rays ended a three-year playoff drought. In the Taiwan League, Taipei ended up back on top at 98-64 after missing out the field the prior year. The Tigercats secured their fifth TL title in six years. Taoyuan was their closest competitor at 89-73.

Manila won only 73 games, but their second baseman Zachary Buktaw won Taiwan-Philippine Association MVP. The 28-year old lefty had a .323/.372/.518 slash, 8.8 WAR, and 20 home runs. Pitcher of the Year was 29-year old Dan Thom, who was traded from Manila to Taipei prior to the 1993 campaign. He led in wins (21-6) and WHIP (0.80) while adding a 1.79 ERA over 271 innings, 318 strikeouts, and 7.8 WAR. Thom would leave for MLB in the offseason, signing a six-year, $12,560,000 deal with Virginia Beach.



Defending Austronesian Champion Jakarta took the Java League title again as the Jaguars went 95-67. They were seven games better than Bandung and ten better than Surabaya. The top overall record in the Sundaland Association was Batam at 98-64. The Blue Raiders dominated the Malacca League for their third playoff berth in four years.

Batam LF Nerius Senaen won his third Sundaland Association MVP in four years. The 27-year old lefty missed a month to injury, but still posted 8..6 WAR in 127 games and led the SA in average (.310), OBP (.383), OPS (.957), and wRC+ (234). Senaen also won his first Gold Glove. His Blue Raiders teammate Wisnu Mahmudiana won Pitcher of the Year in his fourth season. He led in ERA (1.33), strikeouts (373), and FIP- (34). Mahmudiana was one win shy of a Triple Crown at 19-7, adding 15 saves over 230.2 innings and 10.2 WAR. Of note also, Medan’s Chang-Heng Chang won his third Reliever of the Year award.

In the Taiwan-Philippine Association Championship, Taipei topped Davao 4-2. This gave the Tigercats their fourth pennant (1968, 88, 89, 93). The Sundaland Association Championship was a seven game classic with Jakarta outlasting Batam. The Jaguars secured back-to-back pennants and their record eighth SA crown (1968, 69, 70, 82, 85, 86, 92, 93).



The 29^th Austronesia Championship was a rematch of the fourth finale, which saw Taipei defeat Jakarta back in 1968. The Jaguars got revenge on the Tigercats, taking the series 4-2 to repeat as APB champs. Jakarta now has five overall titles and their second repeat (1969-70, 85, 92-93). RF Muhammad Anuar was finals MVP, posting 15 hits, 7 runs, and 8 stolen bases in 13 playoff starts. Notably as well, pitcher Rafit Arifin set a playoff record with three shutouts. He was Association Finals MVP, posting a 0.50 ERA and 3-0 record over 36.1 innings with 43 strikeouts and 1.4 WAR.



Other notes: APB’s 19^th Perfect Game came from Kaohsiung’s Theo Vagi with 8 strikeouts against Taichung on May 4. Kuo-Long Tsai was the fifth pitcher to 4000 strikeouts. Hadi Ningsih became the sixth to 200 wins. 1B Akbar Fatchurohman won his seventh Gold Glove.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in OBA



For the first time since 1986, Perth picked up the Australasia League title. The Penguins finished 94-68, also getting their first winning season since 1986. Melbourne came close to ending a similar streak, but took second at 91-71. Defending AL champ Christchurch tied for third at 86-76 with Adelaide.

Melbourne’s Eric Williams won Australasia League MVP. The 30-year old designated hitter crushed 66 home runs, the second-most ever in an OBA season only behind Vavao Brighouse’s 69 in 1988. Williams also led in RBI (118), runs (105), total bases (417), slugging (.695), OPS (1.040), wRC+ (222), and WAR (9.9). His .302 average was six points shy of earning a Triple Crown.

Adelaide’s Jace Fetzer was Pitcher of the Year, making an impressive comeback from a torn UCL from July 1991. The 6’8’’ American led in ERA (1.83), adding a 19-7 record over 265 innings, 316 strikeouts, and 7.6 WAR. Fetzer had joined OBA after failing to make the MLB after a college career with Boston College. This run with the Aardvarks got him back to America, signing a four-year, $10,760,000 deal with Atlanta in the offseason.



The Pacific League again had Guam and Honolulu battling for the top spot. After finishing second in successive seasons, the Honu reclaimed the throne at 101-61. The defending OBA champ Golden Eagles were one back at 100-62. For Honolulu, it is their ninth Pacific League title in 13 years.

Honu 1B Vavao Brighouse became a five-time Pacific League MVP. The 30-year old Samoan led in home runs (51), RBI (107), and total bases (318), adding 5.5 WAR. It was Brighouse’s seventh season with 50+ homers. His Honolulu teammate Garnet Wallace won both Reliever of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. The 27-year old American had a 0.84 ERA and 34 saves over 96 innings with 177 strikeouts and 6.6 WAR.



In the 34th Oceania Championship, it was a rematch of the 1986 final which Honolulu claimed over Perth. That meeting was in the middle of the Honu’s 7-0 streak in the finals. The Penguins snapped that streak in 1993, taking the crown in six games. Perth now has three OBA rings, having also won the inaugural 1960 title and in 1978. Second-year LF Ron Venditto was finals MVP despite playing only five games with three starts in the series. He was 7-15 with 3 runs, 4 doubles, and 8 RBI.



Other notes: Neville Ryan became the second to 1500 career RBI. He played one more year and ended with 1554, still short of Sione Hala’s record of 1604. Randol Smith became the eighth pitcher to 3500 strikeouts. 3B Joel Todd won his seventh Silver Slugger.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in EPB

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The top seed in the European League was defending EPB champion Kyiv at 104-58 atop the South Division. The Kings earned a third consecutive division title and their 13^th playoff berth in 15 years. Kharkiv was a solid 98-64 behind Kyiv, earning the first wild card to end a two-year playoff drought. Warsaw (98-64) edged Minsk (97-65) for the North Division title. Both extended impressive playoff streaks with the Miners earning a 13^th successive berth and the Wildcats getting their sixth straight. Bucharest (92-70) and Moscow (91-71) were both in the wild card mix, but faded late.

Mules 1B Jov Vyrubov won European League MVP for the second time. The 30-year old Russian led in doubles (35), RBI (114), total bases (346), average (.301), slugging (.613), OPS (.981), wRC+ (211), and WAR (9.6). He added 37 home runs and won a Gold Glove. Kyiv’s Artem Makarevich picked up Pitcher of the Year for the first time. The 30-year old Belarusian lefty led the EL in ERA (1.30), and WHIP (0.68). He added a 19-7 record over 256 innings with 362 strikeouts and 9.7 WAR.

Minsk and Kyiv’s playoff rivalry had a rare first round battle. The Miners stunned the defending champ Kings 3-1, sending Minsk to the European League Championship Series for the 23^rd time. Warsaw swept Kharkiv to give them their third ELCS in five years. The Wildcats were a lackluster 1-6 in the ELCS entering the 1993 battle, while the Miners were 12-11, but 6-2 since 1981. Warsaw finally reversed the trends, winning the ELCS in six games over Minsk. Their second pennant came 33 years after their first back in 1960.



Defending Asian League champ Irkutsk had the best overall record in EPB at 107-55 atop the North Division. Novosibirsk was second at 100-62, easily taking the first wild card. The Ice Cats extended their postseason streak to four years and the Nitros extended theirs to three. Tbilisi had an impressive turnaround for their first winning season in a decade and first playoff berth since 1975. The Trains finished 96-66 to win the South Division, only their second-ever division title. Three teams were close behind for the division and the second wild card. Almaty managed to earn a third consecutive playoff berth at 92-70, edging Tashkent by one game and Bishkek by two.

Novosibirsk DH Dzmitry Kuliev won his second Asian League MVP. The 31-year old Kazakh lefty crushed 66 home runs, the second-most in a season in EPB history behind only Ilkin Hasanov’s 71 in 1986. Kuliev also led in RBI (136), total bases (392), slugging (.645), OPS (.970), and wRC+ (200), adding 8.3 WAR. Pitcher of the Year was Irkutsk’s Orel Mastinsky. The 26-year old Russian led in ERA (1.75), wins (24-4), WHIP (0.76), quality starts (30), and FIP- (58). Mastinsky also had 364 strikeouts in 261.2 innings with 9.0 WAR.

Irkutsk outlasted Almaty 3-2 in the first round of the playoffs to secure a repeat trip to the Asian League Championship Series. Tbilisi survived in five over Novosibirsk. This was the Trains’ second-ever time making it to the ALCS (1973), but the Ice Cats clobbered them. Irkutsk swept Tbilisi to earn repeat AL pennants and their sixth in franchise history (1956, 61, 75, 77, 92, 93).



Both Irkutsk and Warsaw had great seasons in the past, but neither had won the EPB Championship entering their 1993 encounter. It was only the second-ever appearance for the Wildcats, while the Ice Cats were 0-5 previously including their runner-up run the prior season. In the 39^th EPB Championship, Irkutsk controlled the series, defeating Warsaw 4-1. With Irkutsk’s win, half of EPB’s 32 teams have won the overall title at least once. 1B Khalid Meredov was finals MVP, posting 11 hits, 5 runs, 3 home runs, and 5 RBI over 8 playoff games.



Other notes: Fredi Tamasi and Jaylan Harrell became the fourth and fifth EPB pitchers to each 250 career wins. Tamasi also became the eighth to reach 4500 strikeouts.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in EBF

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The EBF Northern Conference saw four repeat playoff teams in 1993. The wild card last year, Stockholm, this time took the top overall seed. The Swordsmen finished 97-65 to win the North Central Division for the first time since 1982. Berlin, the top seed last year, earned the wild card at 94-68. The Barons earned a third consecutive season and for the eighth time in a decade. Birmingham (95-67) took a third straight British Isles Division title. The Bees allowed 407 earned runs, the third fewest runs in NC history and the lowest since 1961. In the Northwest Division, defending European Champion Rotterdam narrowly took it at 93-69, besting Brussels by one game. The Beavers were only two games behind Berlin for the wild card. For the Ravens, they secured a fourth successive playoff appearance and their eighth in nine years.

For the first time since 1975, the Northern Conference MVP and Pitcher of the Year was the same player. Birmingham’s Lindsey Brampton took MVP for the first time and his third consecutive Pitcher of the Year. The 25-year old English broke the single-season EBF strikeout record with 465 Ks, passing Alejandro Canas’ 454 from 1978. Brampton also won his third straight ERA title (1.66) and led in WHIP (0.74), quality starts (30), complete games (17), FIP- (42), and WAR (12.9). He lacked run support with a 16-12 record over 271.2 innings.

In the first round of the playoffs, Stockholm outlasted defending EBF champ Rotterdam in a five game classic. This gave the Swordsmen their first Northern Conference Championship berth since winning the 1982 title. Birmingham bested Berlin 3-1, which allowed the Bees to earn their second pennant in three years. Birmingham beat Stockholm 4-2 in the NCC to secure the franchise’s third pennant (1974, 91, 93).



Defending Southern Conference champ Lisbon won the Southwest Division for the third consecutive season. The Clippers at 100-62 had the best overall record in EBF. 94-68 Barcelona gave them a solid run, which earned the wild card spot. The Bengals ended a playoff drought that dated back to their 1979 championship season. Yet again, Zurich and Munich extended their impressive division title streaks. At 97-65, the Mountaineers world record atop the South Central Division extended to 21 seasons. The 96-66 Mavericks grabbed an 11^th consecutive Southeast Division title. Ultimately, this would be the final season for both of those streaks. The closest competitor was 88-74 Rome, who was still nine away from the division and six from the wild card.

Barcelona’s Henrique Nunes picked up Southern Conference MVP, building off an impressive Rookie of the Year campaign in 1992. The 24-year old Portuguese right fielder tied Sean Houston’s single-season record with 144 runs scored. Nunes also led in home runs (56), total bases (429), slugging (.741), OPS (1.153), and wRC+ (202). He added 134 RBI, a .345 average, and 11.6 WAR. It seemed like Nunes was on his way to a possible Hall of Fame career, but multiple catastrophic left shoulder injuries meant he never played a full season after 1994 and was retired at age 31.

Munich’s Marlon Hoffman earned Pitcher of the Year for the fifth time, joining eight-time winner Jean-Luc Roch as the only EBF pitchers to win five or more to date. It was the last full season for the 35-year old German righty, who led the Southern Conference in ERA (2.05), innings (289.1), WHIP (0.88), and quality starts (31). Hoffman also had a 22-6 record, 256 strikeouts, and 8.3 WAR. A torn meniscus next season would cut his final Mavericks season in half. Hoffman would play two more partial forgettable seasons after in MLB before retiring.

In the first round of the playoffs, Lisbon swept divisional rival Barcelona and Zurich swept Munich. The Clippers earned their fourth Southern Conference Championship appearance in five years, while the Mountaineers snapped a four-year streak of one-and-dones. Zurich shocked Lisbon by sweeping them in the SCC. Despite their 21-year division title streak, it is the first pennant since 1984 for the Mountaineers. They’ve advanced to the final eight times total, tied with Amsterdam for the most conference titles.



Although they’ve been a consistent playoff team for two decades, Zurich had gone 0-5 in their European Championship appearances during their streak. They were 1-6 overall with the only prior ring in 1970. For Birmingham, they were looking to take a second title in three years. The 44^th European Championship was an all-timer that went the distance. Game seven needed an extra inning with the Mountaineers finally getting over the hump, winning 3-2 in 10 innings. 1B Daniel Galonopoulas was the playoff hero, ending the series with a walk off RBI single. The 32-year old was the MVP of both the European Championship and the Southern Conference Championship, posting 23 hits, 10 runs, 3 doubles, 6 home runs, and 19 RBI over 14 playoff starts.



It was a dramatic way for Zurich to finally get the ring after two decades of playoff disappointments. It also marked the end of their world record 21 season playoff streak, although they would still make a few more appearances in the 1990s. Other teams in other leagues would later have longer playoff streaks, but the Mountaineers’ won their division each year of the streak. That distinction has not been matched as of 2037.

Other notes: Dublin’s Felix Powell set a single-season record with 192 singles, which still stands as the most in EBF as of 2037. Powell also had 245 hits, the second-most in a season to this point by Franco Gilbert’s 254 from 1988. Both Jacob Ronnberg and Jack Kennedy became the first EBF batters to reach 2000 career RBI. Ronnberg would retire the all-time leader at 2184 after the 1996 season, holding the top mark until the 2020s. Kennedy would retire with 2017 and hold second place just as long.

Kennedy also became the fourth to reach 3000 career hits, retiring with 3155. Ronnberg ended the season at 3274, still behind Sauncho Fiero’s all-time record of 3321. Ronnberg would pass Fiero in 1994 at the hit king and hold that crown until the 2010s. Ronnberg also became the fourth EBF slugger to 700 career home runs. He would play three more seasons and finish with 786, retiring third on the all-time list. Ronnberg also saw his final Silver Slugger in 1993, giving him an EBF-record 15. As of 2037, no EBF player has won the award 15 times. Sean Houston became the eighth to reach 600 home runs and the tenth to 1500 RBI. 1B Oliver Michaelsen won his tenth Gold Glove and C Peter Schroter won his eighth.

The European Baseball Federation made a change starting with the 1994 season, lowering the active player roster from 25 to 24.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

1993 in BSA



The 1993 Bolivar League had the same three division winners and the same wild card from the prior season. Defending BL champ Ciudad Guayana, who were the weakest division winner the last year, had the top seed in 1993 at 98-64. The Giants earned a third straight Venezuela Division and their sixth title in seven years. The Colombia-Ecuador Division was an intense three-team race. Bogota took first at 95-67 for a third successive playoff berth. Medellin and Quito tied for the wild card at 93-69. The Mutiny won in a one-game playoff to take repeat wild cards. Although the Thunderbirds missed the playoffs, it was an impressive turnaround for them after winning only 69 games the prior year. Lima earned a sixth consecutive playoff berth by winning the Peru-Bolivia Division at 85-77.

Caracas designated hitter Milton Becker won his first Bolivar League MVP. The 23-year old Venezuelan lefty led the league in runs (134), home runs (65), RBI (127), total bases (417), slugging (.695), OPS (1.087), wRC+ (204), and WAR (9.8). Guayaquil’s Henrique Ademar was Pitcher of the Year. In his second season with the Golds, the 29-year old Brazilian led in ERA (2.06), WHIP (0.89), and quality starts (29). Ademar added 219 strikeouts over 262 innings with a 16-9 record and 5.9 WAR. Also of note, Ciudad Guayana’s Aaron Negrete won his third Reliever of the Year award.

In a rematch of last year’s Bolivar League Championship Series, Medellin went on the road and upset defending champ Ciudad Guayana 3-1 in the Divisional Series. Lima would earn a road sweep over Bogota, giving the Lobos their third BLCS appearance in four years. Lima would earn a third pennant in four years, topping Medellin 4-2. It was the fifth BL pennant for the Lobos (1935, 68, 90, 91, 93).



The best overall record in 1993 for Beisbol Sudamerica was 104-58 Santiago. The Saints secured a third South Central Division title in four years. In the North Division, Recife took first at 100-62 to end a three-year playoff drought. Salvador was second at 94-68, which was enough for the wild card. Belo Horizonte dropped to 87-75, which ended their three-year playoff streak. The Southeast Division saw Sao Paulo on top at 98-64. The Padres picked up a seventh playoff berth in eight years. Rosario, the defending Copa Sudamerica champ, struggled to only 74 wins.

Leading Santiago was Southern Cone League MVP Kip Flores. The Paraguayan second baseman won back-to-back MVPs and the fourth of his career. Flores led the league in runs (111), and WAR (10.2), while adding 31 home runs and a .334 average. Pitcher of the Year was Salvador’s Michel Shigemitsu. The 28-year old righty led in ERA (1.60), innings (281.2), WHIP (0.74), quality starts (31), and shutouts (6). Shigemitsu added 291 strikeouts, 8.6 WAR, and a 17-8 record.

The Saints survived in a five-game classic against Salvador in the Divisional Series. This gave Santiago their first Southern Cone Championship appearance since 1973. Sao Paulo bested Recife 3-1 for their third finals berth in eight years. The Padres pounded the Saints 4-1 to earn their record 14th LCS pennant. Since 1976, Sao Paulo has taken the league pennant six times.



The 63rd Copa Sudamerica was a rematch of the 1990 final, which saw Sao Paulo best Lima 4-2. 1993 had a similar result as the Padres topped the Lobos 4-1. Sao Paulo now has six cups, tied with Buenos Aires for the most. 1B Barbaro Andrade was finals MVP with the 33-year old Brazilian getting 18 hits, 11 runs, 8 home runs, and 17 RBI in 14 starts.



Other notes: Ruben Garcia was the 24th pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts. MVP Kip Flores won his ninth Silver Slugger at second base. 3B Dyjan Rondo won his eighth.