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MVP
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2026 AAB Hall of Fame (Part 1)
The African Association of Baseball had a historic record five-player Hall of Fame class in 2026. Each player was first ballot as well, co-headlined by CF Mwarami Tale (99.1%) and 2B Fani Ngambi (98.2%). Joining them was C Steve Isaac (85.5%), CF/1B Ronny Safari (80.5%), and 1B Jose Santarem (74.9%). The only other player above 50% was CL Deon Westerveld debuting at 53.4%. RF Hamad Ali was the top returner with 46.6% on his second try. No players were dropped after ten failed ballots.
Mwarami “Silky” Tale – Center Field – Luanda Landsharks – 99.1% First Ballot
Mwarami Tale was a 6’1’’, 185 pound left-handed center fielder from Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. Tale was one of the true legends of the game with incredible home run power, excellent contact skills, and a solid eye for drawing walks. The nickname “Silky” was in relation to Tale‘s incredibly smooth and beautiful swing.
Few if any players in baseball history wrecked right-handed pitching like Tale, who had a career 201 wRC+ and 1.140 OPS against RHP. He was plenty dangerous facing lefties too with a career 139 wRC+ and .878 OPS. Tale’s 162 game average got you a staggering 54 home runs along with 27 doubles and 4 triples. He had nine seasons of 50+ homers and topped 60+ six times. His strikeout rate was just below average.
Tale had pretty good speed, but his baserunning instincts were surprisingly poor and he was caught stealing more than he succeeded. His speed did give him plenty of range as a career center fielder. Tale graded as a reliably above average-to-good defender on the whole, even winning a Gold Glove in 2004. While he did run into sporadic injury troubles, Tale held up remarkably well over 23 years at a very demanding position. He was one of the first worldwide megastars to come out of AAB and is considered by many to be the league’s greatest player ever.
It was obvious early on that Tale’s potential was seemingly limitless. Luanda managed to land him to a developmental deal in June 1997, bringing Tale from Tanzania to Angola. He debuted in 2000 at only age 19, although he wasn’t quite ready yet. Tale played 152 games and started 75 in his first two years, but posted -0.6 WR total. He started most of 2002 with promising results, earning the full-time gig after that.
By 2003, Tale discovered his legendary home run power with a 56 dinger effort, leading the Southern Conference in total bases at 406. He had his first of five seasons above 10+ WAR, earning his first Silver Slugger and a second place in MVP voting. From 2003-19, Tale would hit 40+ homers in all but two injury-shortened seasons. He would also reach 7+ WAR in all but three seasons during that stretch and had an OPS above one each year except 2007.
Tale was even better in 2004 with conference bests in runs (140), homers (64), and OPS (1.129) along with 143 RBI and 11.2 WAR. He won his lone Gold Glove and his first MVP, although he shockingly lost out on the Silver Slugger to Arsenio Baroso. Luanda earned their second-ever playoff berth, but fell to Tale’s hometown Dar es Salaam in the Southern Conference Championship. This did start a six-year streak of winning seasons by the Landsharks.
In April 2005, Tale inked an eight-year, $20,320,000 extension with Luanda. He had his first major injury setback that summer with a ruptured finger tendon knocking him out for the fall. Tale bounced back with an all-time season in 2006, setting new single-season records for runs (146), homers (77), total bases (454), slugging (.852), and OPS (1.293).
The home run mark edged the then single-season record of 76 by AAB’s Mohau Sibiya, which was the world record to that point. Tale’s reign atop the world lasted two years before eventual world homer king Majed Darwish smacked 85, 91, and 85 from 2008-10. Tale’s 77 homers rank 14th in world history as of 2037. He missed the Triple Crown by one point with a .341 average and his 12.5 WAR was the second-best in AAB history to that point. Unsurprisingly, Tale won his second MVP and Silver Slugger.
As of 2037, Tale’s 2006 still ranks as the third-best in WAR for a position player, fourth in homers, fifth in runs, third in OPS, and second in slugging. His hold as the AAB home run king wasn’t passed until 2028, although it was matched once in 2012. This got Luanda back to the playoffs, one game behind Durban for first place. Tale had a forgettable playoff series as the Landsharks were defeated 4-1 by the Deer in the Southern Conference Championship.
Tale had a shockingly poor 2007 by his standards, although he was still good for 5.6 WAR and 45 homers. Luanda stayed above .500, but missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008. Tale was back to form with his third MVP season in 2008 and third Slugger, leading in homers (63), OPS (1.096), and wRC+ (190). Then in 2009, he managed to somehow best his record-setting 2006 to win his fourth MVP and Slugger, posting the second hitting Triple Crown in AAB history.
With a 1.3748 OPS, Tale set a single-season world record that still stands as of 2037. He had a triple slash of .382/.489/.885, which were all AAB records with new world records for on-base percentage and slugging. As of 2037, the slugging still ranks second in world history and the OBP is third. Tale’s OBP and SLG hold as AAB records while the batting average is third. He also posted 14.4 WAR, which remains the AAB position player record as of 2037 and ranks 23rd in world history by a position player.
Tale also shattered the previous AAB RBI record with 180, which was the fourth-best in world history to that point. As of 2037, it ranks 11th in world history and fourth in AAB. He broke his AAB total bases record with 464 and held that mark for two decades before eventually shuffling down to seventh. Tale smacked 71 homers and had career bests in hits (200) and doubles (35). He was one of only five in world history to that point to reach 70+ homers in multiple seasons. Tale also hit for the cycle for the first time in 2009.
Luanda finished first for the first time and defeated Durban for their first-ever Southern Conference pennant. They were dispatched in the Africa Series 5-2 by Addis Ababa for the Brahmas’ second straight title. Tale won conference finals MVP, but stunk up the Africa Series. He graded as surprisingly mediocre in the playoffs on the whole with a .194/.310/.444 slash, 80 wRC+, and zero WAR.
Shortly after the series, Tale shocked the continent by opting out of his Luanda contract early, entering free agency for 2010 headed towards age 29. With the Landsharks, Tale played 1317 games with 1329 hits, 898 runs, 248 doubles, 39 triples, 438 home runs, 1015 RBI, 661 walks, 184 steals, .304/.402/.680 slash, 183 wRC+, and 69.5 WAR. While many Luanda fans hated the abrupt ending, Tale was still beloved overall for his dominance and role in their first pennant. His #3 uniform would be retired once his playing days were over.
Some wondered if this meant Tale would be leaving for a big MLB deal, but he shocked Africa further by signing an eight-year, $29,640,000 deal with Addis Ababa in March 2010. The Brahmas were already amidst a dynasty led by eventual six-time MVP Felix Chaula, Marlin Kimwaki, and three-time Pitcher of the Year Michael Wakachu. Now with Tale, Addis Ababa was primed to be absolutely unstoppable.
In Tale’s debut, Addis Ababa staked their case for AAB’s best-ever season with a 120-42 record and Africa Series win over Harare. That remains the AAB record and the 2010 Brahmas are one of only ten teams in world history as of 2037 to win 120+ games and their league’s title. AA would go 104-58, 113-49, and 105-57 in the next three years and win it all each time, giving them a six-peat overall and four straight with Tale.
Tale overcame his earlier playoff woes with Luanda and was a beast with Addis Ababa, starting 49 games with 59 hits, 40 runs, 17 doubles, 18 home runs, 42 RBI, .333/.443/.746 slash, 1.189 OPS and 3.9 WAR. He was the Africa Series MVP three straight years from 2011-13.
The Brahmas became a staple of the early Baseball Grand Championship events, which started in 2010. They went 6-3 in a tie for second in the initial two-division format in 2010. Addis Ababa was 10-9 in 2011, 11-8 in 2012, and 10-9 in 2013 with official finishes of tenth, seventh, and seventh. Over 66 games, Tale had 2.7 WAR with 39 runs, 57 hits, 6 doubles, 25 home runs, 49 RBI, and 35 walks.
In the regular season, Tale led thrice in WAR, twice in runs, twice in RBI, and once in total bases, OPS, and wRC+ with the Brahmas. He won MVP in 2010, 11, and 13 with a second place in 2012. Tale was the first-ever seven time MVP in AAB, passing the six MVPs by teammate Chaula. Tale also won a Silver Slugger in all five seasons with AA. He still managed it in 2014 despite losing more than a month to back injuries. With Addis Ababa, Tale also became the fourth to 700 home runs and the seventh to 2000 hits.
For the Brahmas, Tale finished with 683 games, 737 hits, 530 runs, 108 doubles, 266 homers, 579 RBI, 415 walks, .310/.414/.699 slash, 197 wRC+, and 40.9 WAR. He’d be beloved in Ethiopia as well for his role in putting the Addis Ababa dynasty over the top. Tale opted out of the final year of his deal to become a free agent for 2015 heading towards age 34. He ended up signing with Johannesburg for $46 million over four years.
Although his career was split between Angola, Ethiopia, and South Africa, Tale did still represent his native Tanzania in the World Baseball Championship from 2001-22. He played 170 games with 140 hits, 86 runs, 18 doubles, 58 home runs, 122 RBI, 88 walks, .236/.342/.563 slash, and 6.1 WAR.
Tale maintained a high level of play with the Jackalopes with 7+ WAR, 40+ homers, 100+ RBI, and 1.000+ OPS in each of his seasons there. He spent six years with Johannesburg, eventually inking a three-year, $33,300,000 extension after the 2018 season. Tale won Silver Sluggers in 2016, 17, 18, 19, and 20. He was second in MVP voting in 2015 and 2017 and third in 2019.
The year prior to signing Tale, Johannesburg had ended a five-year playoff drought. They would finish first in the Southern Conference standings in 2015, 16, 18, 19, and 20. The Jackalopes claimed the pennant in 2015, 16, 18, and 20; although they never could win the Africa Series. Johannesburg fell to Brazzaville in 2015 and 2016 and to Kampala in both 2018 and 2020.
Tale was respectable in the playoffs over 51 starts with 46 hits, 25 runs, 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 22 RBI, .243/.338/.476 slash, 124 wRC+, and 1.2 WAR. He stepped up huge though in the 2015 Baseball Grand Championship as Johannesburg made it in as the at-large. Tale posted 19 hits, 14 runs, 4 doubles, 9 homers, 19 RBI, 1.185 OPS, 200 wRC, and 1.4 WAR in 18 games. The Jackalopes shocked the world by finishing 15-4 with the tiebreaker over Denver, becoming the first Grand Champion out of Africa.
In 2020, Tale missed almost two months between a knee sprain and sprained elbow. Still, he led in WAR (7.3) in only 111 games, earning his record eighth MVP. Tale also became a 15-time Silver Slugger winner, a mark reached by only 13 players in world history as of 2037. Tale is the only of those players to do it as a center fielder. In these later years with Johannesburg, he was also battling the likes of his former teammate Felix Chaula and Luke Tembo for the top spots on AAB’s leaderboards.
Tale was the third to reach 800 homers behind Chaula and Tembo, but ended up passing both for the top spot. By the time he was done, Tale was AAB’s all-time leader in homers, RBI, WAR, hits, runs, total bases, games, and OPS. Over six seasons with Johannesburg, Tale had 771 games, 831 hits, 554 runs, 135 doubles, 264 home runs, 658 RBI, 440 walks, 131 steals, .309/.409/.665 slash, 190 wRC+, and 45.5 WAR.
He was soon to be 40 years old and was a free agent fresh off his eighth MVP. Feeling he had done it all in AAB, Tale made his way to the United States on a three-year, $67,800,000 deal with MLB’s Baltimore Orioles. He was far less dominant in 2021, but still managed 3.6 WAR and 33 homers in his MLB debut. This year allowed him to pass 1000 home runs, 2000 runs, and 3000 hits for his combined pro career. Tale became only the fourth in baseball history with 1000+ dingers over a combined pro career.
Age finally caught up to him and he was benched in 2022, playing 83 games and starting 29 for the Orioles with -0.1 WAR. Tale retired from baseball that winter at age 41, giving him MLB tallies of 231 games, 169 starts, 144 hits, 88 runs, 14 doubles, 38 home runs, 93 RBI, .226/.324/.443 slash, 122 wRC+, and 3.6 WAR.
In AAB, Tale played 2771 games with 2897 hits, 1982 runs, 491 doubles, 63 triples, 968 home runs, 2252 RBI, 1516 walks, 6418 total bases, 2173 strikeouts, 410 steals, .307/.407/.680 slash, 189 wRC+, and 155.8 WAR. As of 2037, Tale is still AAB’s all-time leader in runs, total bases, homers, RBI, and WAR. He also ranks 3rd in games played, 2nd in hits, 25th in doubles, 4th in walks, and 11th in strikeouts.
Among AAB batters with 3000+ plate appearances as of 2037, Tale’s 1.087 OPS ranks 3rd with his triple slash ranking 26th/8th/4th. Tale is also the only eight-time MVP winner and one of two with 15 Silver Sluggers. Along with that was a Triple Crown, four seasons leading in homers, six as the WARlord, four Africa Series titles, three Africa Series MVP wins, and nine conference titles.
It shouldn’t come as a shock that Tale is widely considered as the GOAT for the African Association of Baseball. Felix Chaula is generally the only one close, but Tale has him bested in basically every stat. It’s shocking someone voted against him for the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot, but with 99.1% he deservedly headlined a loaded five-player class. But where does Tale rank on the world leaderboards?
Counting the two years in Baltimore, Tale’s grand totals saw 3002 games, 3041 hits, 2070 runs, 505 doubles, 68 triples, 1006 home runs, 2345 RBI, 1609 walks, 2336 strikeouts, 6700 total bases, .302/.402/.665 slash, 1.067 OPS, 184 wRC+, and 159.4 WAR. As of 2037, Tale is 7th in home runs, 25th in runs, 12th in RBI, and 21st in WAR for position players.
Among world Hall of Famers, Tale ranks 33rd in OBP, 4th in slugging, 4th in OPS, and 43rd in wRC+. Against all players ever, he’s 29th in WAR and ranks 2nd among all African-born players behind West African Baseball GOAT Darwin Morris of Liberia, who is 5th at 194.4. It is of course hard to rank players across different leagues and eras. Detractors argue Tale’s tallies were inflated somewhat by a higher-scoring AAB which was perceived by some to be a weaker league than its older counterparts.
Tale’s accomplishments and accolades are remarkable in any context though, making him one of baseball’s true immortals. His incredible run crucial in the huge popularity and prestige boost for AAB and baseball throughout all of Africa. Most scholars have him somewhere on the top 50 list for all baseball players ever and many place him #2 just behind Morris for the best-ever from Africa.
Tale also is considered a top five center fielder in world history by most, ranking only behind MLB WARlord Morgan Short and CLB’s Zhen Zhang for the most WAR at the position. While his exact spot among the world’s elite is up for fierce debate, almost all agree that he is AAB’s greatest player of all time. |