Baseball: The World's Game

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The third Baseball Grand Championship would be hosted in Athens, Greece. The auto-bid teams would be MLB’s Philadelphia and Phoenix, CABA’s Juarez and Santo Domingo, EAB’s Goyang and Hiroshima, BSA’s Callao and Concepcion, EBF’s Vienna and Cologne, EPB’s Yekaterinburg, OBA’s Guadalcanal, APB’s Semarang, CLB’s Shanghai, WAB’s Lome, SAB’s Yangon, ABF’s Baku, ALB’s Abu Dhabi, and AAB’s Addis Ababa. The 20^th “wild card” slot went to Oceania Championship runner-up Melbourne.

This was the second season of the BGC being a true round-robin format with each team playing once. No tiebreaker games were to be used as officials figured the head-to-head tiebreaker would generally be enough. They probably didn’t have the 2012 event in mind when contemplating possible finishes.



Five teams finished tied with the best record at 12-7; Concepcion, Goyang, Guadalcanal, Philadelphia, and Phoenix. Adding to the competitive soup, four teams were only one back at 11-8 (Addis Ababa, Cologne, Melbourne, and Vienna) and Yangon was two back at 10-9. This event really showed how much the gap had narrowed between the talent levels of each world league.

The next step was figuring out who actually won the thing. Fortunately, Goyang made that easy by going 4-0 against the other 12-7 teams. Thus, the Green Sox earned Grand Champion honors, becoming the first team outside of MLB to win it. The South Korean squad managed to beat the other top squads despite finishing with a negative run differential overall at -3.



After sorting out the other tiebreakers, officially it was Guadalcanal second, Phoenix third, Philadelphia fourth, and Concepcion fifth. The Green Jackets made it back-to-back years with a Pacific League team in second, as Tahiti did that in 2011. Guadalcanal and Philadelphia had the most runs, both scoring 109. The Phillies had been the most dominant with a +60 run differential. Their 2.28 team ERA stands as the best mark in any BGC as of 2037.

Officially, the next spots saw Melbourne sixth, Addis Ababa seventh, Cologne eighth, and Vienna ninth. Yangon rounded out the top ten at 10-9. Hiroshima, Juarez, and Lome were each at 9-10. Baku and Callao finished 8-11, then at 7-12 were Abu Dhabi, Semarang, and Yekaterinburg. The last place spot was split between Santo Domingo and Shanghai.

Tournament MVP went to Hiroshima LF Hitoshi Kubota, the reigning Japan League MVP and four-time JL MVP. In 19 starts, Kubota had 28 hits, 19 runs, 10 home runs, 14 RBI, a .400/.456/.871 slash, 262 wRC+, and 1.8 WAR.

Melbourne’s William Brechin was named Best Pitcher. The 28-year old Australian lefty had joined the Mets in 2012 after a relatively unremarkable run with Brisbane. In six BGC starts, he tossed 43.1 innings with a 1.04 ERA, 4-1 record, 45 strikeouts, 10 walks, 22 hits, and 2.0 WAR.

Other notes: The first-ever BGC Perfect Game came on November 10 with Santo Domingo’s Omer Zkan striking out 16 against Callao. It was a stunning highlight for the Turkish journeyman, who otherwise had an unremarkable career. Zkan pitched for nine teams between CABA, MLB, ABF, and EBF.

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The 2013 ballot for Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame didn’t have any slam dunk debuts, opening up an opportunity for returners to make a stand. Three players ended up narrowly crossing the 66% requirement to earn induction. The highest mark was pitcher Dirk Hughes at 72.6% for his fifth ballot. The lone first-ballot induction was pitcher Jonathan Rogers at 69.8%. OF Brian Ostrovskaya joined them with 68.8%, finally crossing the line on his ninth try.



Five players fell short of the 66% mark, but breached 50%. CL Brendan Gordon had 60.4% on his eighth ballot. C Elliott McKay saw 59.0% for his sixth attempt. CF Will Kemme had 56.6% for his penultimate opportunity and SP Qazi Khwaja earned 53.8% in his fourth go. The second-best debut was SP Aleksei Arakelyan at 43.4%. Despite the many returners, there weren’t any players cut from the ballot in 2013 after ten failed tries.



Dirk Hughes – Starting Pitcher – Winnipeg Wolves – 72.6% Fifth Ballot

Dirk Hughes was a 6’6’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Swadlincote, England; a historic mining town with around 34,000 inhabitants. Hughes was a very hard thrower, but also had great control and good movement along with his strong stuff. Hughes’ 99-101 mph fastball was among the toughest of its era. He also boasted a tremendous slider for a potent one-two punch. Hughes also had an okay curveball as a third option, but the fastball-slider was usually plenty.

Hughes’ stamina was above average compared to other MLB aces, but when he was on, he was on. As of 2037, he’s one of only 20 pitchers to throw 50 or more MLB shutouts. Hughes had good defense and was considered quite durable, tossing 200+ innings each year from 1991-2001. The main knock on him was that he was considered selfish and lazy. Detractors argued Hughes would coast by on his raw pitching power. Fortunately for him, that was plenty for a strong 16-year career.

Before the 1980s, MLB prospects pretty much exclusively came up through the college system. After that, teams were allowed to begin searching for scouting discoveries beyond the United States and Canada. One of the early foreign grabs was Hughes by Winnipeg. Even being in a small town in England, the attributes “tall,” “hard-throwing” and “lefty” will get you noticed.

In March 1983, a Winnipeg scout signed Hughes to a developmental deal, bringing him to Canada at age 16. The allure of MLB money appealed to the young Hughes, even though most people don’t think of Manitoba first when told you can “travel the world.” Winnipeg was still a new franchise at this point, joining MLB in the 1982 expansion. Wolves officials hoped that perhaps foreign scouting could give them a quiet leg up on the competition.

Hughes spent four years in the developmental system and mad his minor league debut in Thunder Bay in 1987. He joined the big-league club as a closer in both 1988 and 1989, posting respectable results. 1990 was his first year in the rotation, albeit in a part-time role. Hughes became a full-time starter for the remainder of his MLB run.

Although his entire pro career was in North America, Hughes did return home to England regularly for the World Baseball Championship. He became well known, tossing 223.2 innings from 1989-2003 with a 2.41 ERA, 13-8 record, 323 strikeouts, 55 walks, 149 ERA+, and 7.1 WAR. Hughes’ highlight came in 1994 with a 15-strikeout, one walk no-hitter against Germany.

Hughes was used in relief in 1990’s playoff run with mixed results. The Wolves earned their first-ever playoff berth, getting as far as the National Association Championship Series where they lost to fellow expansion squad Virginia Beach. Winnipeg won their division in 1992, but lost in the first round. These would be the only playoff appearances while Hughes was there.

1992 was the year that got Hughes noticed across MLB, leading the NA in both wins (22-7) and WHIP (0.98). He also had a 2.46 ERA and 5.9 WAR over 259.1 innings, earning Pitcher of the Year. Hughes earned a second POTY in 1995, by far his strongest season by WAR with an NA-best 9.2. He also won his lone ERA title with a career best 2.11, striking out 208 over 277.1 innings.

That certainly raised Hughes’s stock with 1996 being a contract year. He didn’t stay with Winnipeg, entering free agency at age 30. With the Wolves, Hughes had a 118-77 record, 2.71 ERA, 1823 innings, 1397 strikeouts, 422 walks, 128 ERA+, and 42.7 WAR. Winnipeg would later make his #19 uniform the first number retired in franchise history.

Hughes signed a seven-year, $27,440,000 deal with Baltimore. It was a short run ultimately, as his attitude clashed with management quickly. He only pitched a year-and-a-half for the Orioles with 6.8 WAR, a 3.01 ERA, 28-23 record, 457.1 innings, and 317 strikeouts. In July 1998, Hughes was traded to Montreal for C Jayden Richardson and 1B/3B Sebastian Robert.

He finished out that big contract with reliably solid results for the Maples, although Hughes wasn’t an awards finalist or league leader. They had been the NACS runner-up in 1997 and hoped he could put them over the top. Montreal made the playoffs in 1998 and 1999, but fell in round two both years. The Maples were mid-tier for the rest of his run. Hughes had a quality start in 1998’s playoffs, but finished his playoff career with a 3.38 ERA over 32 innings.

With Montreal, Hughes had a 54-49 record, 2.80 ERA, 970.1 innings, 702 strikeouts, 173 walks, 121 ERA+, and 18.6 WAR. A hamstring strain cost him much of 2002, although his productivity dropped notably that year. Hughes’ regular 100 mph velocity was now peaking around the mid 90s, which was a problem when you relied on raw power.

Hughes was a free agent in 2003 at age 36 and Cincinnati gave him a one-year, $4,360,000 deal. Rotator cuff inflammation cost him three months, although he posted a crappy 4.52 ERA over 67.2 innings when healthy. Hughes retired that winter at age 37.

The final stats saw a 202-155 record, 2.82 ERA, 3318.1 innings, 2451 strikeouts, 704 walks, 275/429 quality starts, 123 complete games, 50 shutouts, 122 ERA+, and 68.3 WAR. Hughes’ raw stats were definitely towards the low end compared to other MLB Hall of Fame pitchers. He didn’t crack the top 100 in any counting stat as of 2037, although his ERA does rank 59^th amongst all guys with 1000+ career innings.

Two Pitcher of the Year trophies and an ERA title were big points in his favor. However, Hughes lacked counting stats and playoff accolades, plus his post-Winnipeg years were relatively forgettable. Hughes was definitely a borderline choice, debuting at 52.9% in 2009 and staying flat at 52.3% in 2010.

Hughes got a bump up to 62.2% in 2011, then 64.1% in 2012. He was very close and a 2013 ballot without any slam dunk debuts earned him another look. Hughes crossed the 66% requirement with 72.6% on his fifth ballot, which ultimately headlined the three-player 2013 MLB class. Hughes also was the first player inducted wearing the Winnipeg W.

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Jonathan Rogers – Starting Pitcher – Nashville Knights – 69.8% First Ballot

Jonathan Rogers was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Babylon, New York; a town of 218,000 people on Long Island. Rogers had fantastic stuff with very good movement and above average control. His 98-100 mph cutter was filthy, although his very quick splitter was also great. Rogers also had a curveball and changeup in his arsenal, leading to an extreme groundball tendency.

Rogers’ stamina was excellent and his style allowed him to go deep into games at an impressive rate. He tossed 300+ innings in three different seasons, a feat only he and Aiya Kodama have done in MLB history. Rogers also had great durability, making 32+ starts in all but his rookie season in MLB. Despite his talents, many in the game felt Rogers was lazy and dumb.

He left New York for the University of Florida and as a Gator posted a 2.38 ERA in 295.1 innings, 20-13 record, 270 strikeouts, 150 ERA+, and 9.2 WAR. That effort earned Rogers plenty of looks ahead of the 1991 MLB Draft, getting picked 16^th overall by Pittsburgh. The Pirates used him as a part-time starter with poor results as a rookie, but he settled into a full-time role from there.

Rogers was very mid in five years and change with a bottom-tier Pittsburgh franchise. He finished with a 3.59 ERA over 1277 innings, 58-73 record, 922 strikeouts, 347 walks, 96 ERA+, and 13.1 WAR. Eating innings still had value though, thus Nashville was interested for a 1997 deadline trade. The Knights sent over SP Jakub Belunek and SS Martin Tennyson and got back Rogers and SP Rick Brown.

The Knights had ended a 17-year playoff drought in 1996, falling in the American Association Championship Series to Edmonton. They missed the playoffs in 1997 with Rogers posting a lackluster 4.72 ERA in 11 starts. Still, Nashville decided to give him a five-year, $17,120,000 extension that winter. Rogers had a very respectable 1998 and 1999, helping the Knights to a playoff berth in 1998.

By 2000, Rogers finally looked like a genuine ace, starting a run of six straight 6+ WAR seasons. He tossed 300.1 and 301 innings in 2000 and 2001, which helped Nashville win the Southeast Division in 2001. That year, they got hot and won the World Series over Philadelphia; their second-ever title. Rogers had a 4.10 ERA in his five playoff starts, but tossing 37.1 innings for a 4-1 record helped the Knights win it all.

Rogers led the AA in wins (23-9) and shutouts (8) in 2002 with a career best 2.70 ERA. He received Pitcher of the Year consideration for the first time, placing second. Rogers had a 4.26 ERA over four playoff starts, but went 0-2 as Nashville lost to Albuquerque in the AACS. With his stock at a high, the 32-year old Rogers entered free agency that winter.

With Nashville, Rogers had a 97-76 record, 3.24 ERA, 1519.2 innings, 1398 strikeouts, 403 walks, 115/190 quality starts, 121 ERA+, and 31.9 WAR. That would be his longest stint by innings, although he had more career WAR in his next stop with Houston. The innings, plus his role in the 2001 World Series win, led Rogers to get inducted wearing the Nashville N. From that run, Houston gave him a five-year, $55,000,000 deal in free agency.

In both 2003 and 2005, Rogers led the AA in complete games and innings pitched. His career best WAR came in his Hornets debut with 9.7, taking third that year in Pitcher of the Year voting. Rogers also took second in 2005’s POTY voting, finishing with a sub-three ERA for the fourth time.

Houston earned four straight playoff berths from 2003-06 with Rogers. They lost in the second round in 2003, 04, and 05. In 2006, they suffered an AACS defeat against his former Nashville squad. Rogers was strong in the 2004 playoffs, but was otherwise remarkable with a 4.14 ERA over 10 playoff starts, 4-4 record, and 94 ERA+. For his playoff career, Rogers had a 4.11 ERA over 142.1 innings.

He did have a notable run in the 2005 World Baseball Championship for the United States, one of only three WBCs he participated in. That year, Rogers had a 0.89 ERA over 30.1 innings with 46 strikeouts and four quality starts, helping the Americans to a world title.

Rogers’ velocity dipped in his final season with Houston, who ultimately fell below .500 that year. In total with the Hornets, he had an 81-56 record, 3.18 ERA, 1268.2 innings, 1069 strikeouts, 361 walks, 124 ERA+, and 34.4 WAR. In July 2007, Rogers was traded to Cleveland in exchange for three prospects.

The Cobras had been the National Association runner-up in 2006, but would fall just short of the playoffs in 2007. In 14 starts for them, Rogers had a 3.49 ERA and 1.2 WAR. He became a free agent that winter at age 37 and ultimately saw the end to his MLB tenure. Rogers still wanted to pitch and found work south of the border. He went to Mexico on a three-year, $18,400,000 deal with CABA’s Puebla Pumas.

Rogers ate innings in 2008 and led in complete games with 16, while also leading in losses with 21. His role was reduced in 2009 and he ended the season with ulnar nerve entrapment. The Pumas let him go, but Costa Rica signed him for 2010. Rogers had seven starts with generally poor results for the Rays and retired that winter at age 40. In CABA, he had a 14-30 record, 3.99 ERA, 399 innings, 207 strikeouts, 91 ERA+, and 2.0 WAR.

For his MLB career, Rogers finished with a 242-212 record, 3.33 ERA, 4171 innings, 3450 strikeouts, 1134 walks, 331/530 quality starts, 217 complete games, 43 shutouts, 112 ERA+, and 80.6 WAR. As of 2037, he barely cracked the top 100 in pitching WAR, ranking 94^th. He was also 41^st in strikeouts, 65^th in wins, and 66^th in innings.

The case for Rogers was very much centered on longevity and innings, as his rate stats weren’t eye-popping relative to other MLB Hall of Famers. He was definitely a borderline case and was hurt by a lack of Pitcher of the Year honors or big statistical seasons.

Even if his playoff stats weren’t anything special, his role in Nashville’s 2001 championship helped his case with many voters. Rogers also had the benefit of being the best debutant on an relatively weak 2013 ballot. That got him 69.8% for his debut, which was just enough to cross the 66% threshold. With that, Rogers can say he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2013.



Brian Ostrovskaya – Right Field/Designated Hitter – Oklahoma City Outlaws – 68.8% Ninth Ballot

Brian Ostrovskaya was a 5’10’’, 185 pound right-handed right fielder from Dallas, Texas. Despite his smaller stocky frame, Ostrovskaya was known as an impressive home run hitter. He topped 40+ home runs in eight seasons and 30+ in 15 seasons. Ostrovskaya was good at drawing walks, although his strikeout rate was merely okay. He was a good contact hitter at his peak, but graded out for his career as slightly above average.

Ostrovskaya’s gap power was alright for around 20-25 doubles most years. He was a fairly crafty baserunner, but his very slow speed limited his value there. That also made him an atrocious defender despite having a very strong arm. Ostrovskaya made around 2/3s of his career starts in right field with the rest generally as a designated hitter. When you sock dingers, teams will find you a spot.

In the clubhouse, Ostrovskaya was respected for being a good leader and fiercely loyal, although most agreed he wasn’t the brightest guy. He was very reliable with solid durability. Ostrovskaya also had sometimes hidden value as a pitcher, although most don’t think of him as a two-way guy with limited appearances. His strong arm led to a tough one-two punch of fastball and splitter out of the bullpen with very good movement and stuff.

Ostrovskaya only tossed 107.1 career innings, but he made appearances in 17 seasons out of the ‘pen. He was very good too, posting a career 1.93 ERA with 30 saves, 111 strikeouts, 23 walks, a 206 ERA+, and 3.6 WAR. Some felt he could’ve been an elite closer if he dedicated his efforts fully there. But when given the choice between saves and homers, teams will pick homers every time.

In college at Alabama, Ostrovskaya leaned into the two-way role and was considered a more impressive pitcher by many. He was a starter for the Crimson Tide in three years with a 2.16 ERA over 279.2 innings, 19-12 record, 263 strikeouts, 63 walks, 163 ERA+, and 11.5 WAR. In 89 games at the plate, Ostrovskaya had 91 hits, 57 runs, 19 doubles, 31 home runs, 72 RBI, a .298/.372/.672 slash, 203 ERA+, and 5.6 WAR. The two-way effort earned him a college MVP award as a sophomore in 1979.

Scouts knew Ostrovskaya had big league talent, but having only two pitches made many figure he’d be limited to the bullpen in the bigs as a pitcher. With the 41^st pick in the 1980 MLB Draft, Ostrovskaya was selected by Oklahoma City. The Outlaws made it fairly clear that they were far more interested in him as a batter. He’d end up tossing 57 innings in relief over his 11 seasons with the Outlaws with a 2.05 ERA and 16 saves.

Ostrovskaya immediately had premiere power, smacking 45 homers as a rookie and winning 1981 Rookie of the Year honors. The Outlaws made the playoffs in 1982 and 1983, but couldn’t make it beyond the second round. The franchise would fall into mediocrity by the late 1980s, but fans still flocked to the ballpark to see Ostrovskaya in action.

He was limited in his first few seasons in terms of overall production, but exploded with 60 home runs in 1985. This was two short of the then single-season record of 62, but was only the fourth 60+ homer season in MLB history to that point. Ostrovskaya also led that year in RBI (146), total bases (386), slugging (.656), OPS (1.009), and wRC+ (170) and posted a career-best 7.0 WAR. He won a Silver Slugger and took second in MVP voting.

That would be his only time as an MVP finalist. Ostrovskaya won his second Silver Slugger the next year, leading the American Association in homers again with 51. He wouldn’t be a league leader again and although he regularly hit 30+ homers, his WAR never topped 4+ for the rest of his career. Ostrovskaya’s truly miserable defense and merely average contact skills limited his overall output.

Ostrovskaya did bring his power to the 1988 World Baseball Championship, one of only three WBCs he competed in with the United States. He smacked 10 homers with 24 RBI, 20 hits, and 15 runs that year, helping the Americans win the world title.

After his 60-homer 1985, Oklahoma City gave Ostrovskaya an eight-year, $11,120,000 extension. By 1991, the Outlaws were the worst team in MLB, winning only 58 games. Ostrovskaya decided to opt out of the remainder of his deal, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 31.

The departure did rub some in OKC’s management the wrong way, thus his #3 uniform was never retired. Still, Ostrovskaya entered the Hall of Fame in the Outlaws O. With Oklahoma City, he had 1676 hits, 967 runs, 236 doubles, 474 home runs, 1122 RBI, a .269/.332/.542 slash, 139 wRC+, and 40.0 WAR.

For 1992, Ostrovskaya signed a six-year, $13,440,000 deal with Denver. The Dragons were coming off a pennant in 1991 and a World Series win in 1989. It was theoretically the perfect spot for a big slugger, but he never topped the 40+ homer mark with the Dragons as his contact ability dropped. Still, Ostrovskaya still provided positive value in his run with Denver.

Denver missed the playoffs in four of Ostrovskaya’s six seasons. They made the AACS in 1993 as a wild card, but lost to Calgary despite 8 homers and 15 RBI in 12 playoff starts for Ostrovskaya. He stepped up big in 1995 as well, winning AACS MVP in an upset win over Houston. Despite being 86-76, the Dragons pulled off a surprise World Series win in 1995 over Boston.

In that playoff run, Ostrovskaya had 15 starts, 20 hits, 11 runs, 6 homers, and 12 RBI. That alone made him popular with many Denver fans years later. With the Dragons, Ostrovskaya had 822 hits, 446 urns, 128 doubles, 175 home runs, 477 RBI, a .263/.321/.475 slash, 120 wRC+, and 12.1 WAR. He also had a 1.93 ERA and 14 saves in 41 relief appearances with 44 strikeouts over 46.2 innings.

In 1996, Ostrovskaya had become the 19^th member of the 600 home run club. Some had thought he might challenge Elijah Cashman’s all-time mark of 750. However, he struggled in his last year with Denver in 1997, ultimately getting benched with 83 wRC+ and only 17 home runs over 114 games.

A free agent at age 37, Tampa gave him a shot in 1998. Ostrovskaya was a full-time starter, but provided -0.6 WAR and only 25 home runs. He went to Jacksonville and had -0.5 WAR in 57 games in 1999. Ostrovskaya briefly played in minor league Spokane in 2000 before finally retiring that winter at age 40. He ended up with 681 home runs, which ranked fifth at retirement.

For his career, Ostrovskaya had 2653 hits, 1490 runs, 386 doubles, 681 home runs, 1689 RBI, 898 walks, a .263/.325/.510 slash, 129 wRC+, and 51.1 WAR. Later higher-offense eras dropped him to 20^th in home runs as of 2037. He also still ranks 62^nd in RBI. However, his whole case was pretty much predicated on homers. At the time, the only MLB position player in the Hall of Fame with a lower WAR was Rick Montgomery at 48.2. He had the benefit of being an early 1900s era guy.

Ostrovskaya’s case was comparable to Christopher Ross, who got in with 644 homers and 51.1 WAR in 1936. The 60 homer season was nice, but he didn’t have an MVP. Winning the 1995 World Series with Denver was nice, but detractors noted Ostrovskaya was a bit player. Supporters pointed out his limited bullpen work, but that only got him to a career 54.7 WAR.

In his ballot debut in 2005, Ostrovskaya received 56.5%. He never dropped below 50%, but he was typically stuck in the 50s. Ostrovskaya had 61.5% in 2007, but didn’t crack 60% again until 2012 with 62.3%. A quieter 2013 group was the opportunity Ostrovskaya needed to get across that 66% requirement. He received 68.8% on his ninth ballot, bringing his power into the Hall of Fame. Ostrovskaya was only the sixth MLB inductee to get in on either his ninth or tenth ballot.

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2013 had two players earn first ballot inductions into the Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame. Pitcher Pasqual Cantu (86.3%) and infielder Osnel Hyppolite (82.7%) made for a pretty nice one-two punch. Two returners dropped 50%, but fell short of the 66% requirement. SP Angel Tobar had 58.5% and 1B Gonzalo Juarez got 52.4%, both on their fifth ballot. No players were dropped following ten failed tries.



Pasqual Cantu – Pitcher – Haiti Herons - 86.3% First Ballot

Pasqual Cantu was a 5’10’’, 170 pound right-handed pitcher from Bluefields, Nicaragua, a city of around 58,000 people. Cantu was known for having excellent stuff, outstanding control, and above average movement. His velocity hit 97-99 mph regularly with a cutter/sinker one-two punch. Cantu also had a rarely used changeup in his arsenal.

The lack of a strong third pitch led to a split career between the bullpen and the starting rotation. Additionally, Cantu’s stamina was considered merely average. Still, his stuff and pinpoint control made him a tough challenge for any hitter. Cantu had good durability and was a sparkplug with a scrappy work ethic. His adaptability and intelligence also served him well over a 13 year pro career.

Cantu was signed as a teenage amateur by Haiti in November 1988 and ultimately spent his entire pro run in Port-au-Prince. He officially debuted in 1993 at age 21, but he had only one appearance that year. Cantu saw some set-up and occasional closing work from 1994-96. He was moved into the closer role full-time in 1997, which coincided with the Herons becoming a Caribbean League powerhouse. 1997 would start a 14-year playoff streak for Haiti which saw 13 division titles, 4 CABA championships, and five CL pennants.

That year, Cantu led the league in saves (34) and games (68) with a 1.37 ERA over 78.2 innings, 114 strikeouts, and 3.9 WAR. He won his first Reliever of the Year, although he gave up two runs in two playoff innings as Haiti lost the CLCS to Salvador. The Herons lost again to the Stallions in the 1998 CLCS and in the 1999 first round. Cantu had a strong 1998 postseason, going 4/4 on save opportunities with a 1.29 ERA in seven innings.

He repeated as Reliever of the Year in 1998. Cantu also took third in 1998 and 1999’s World Baseball Championship Best Pitcher voting. He was dominant for his native Nicaragua from 1996-2007 primarily as a starter. Cantu had a 13-6 record over 139.1 innings with a 1.23 ERA, 211 strikeouts, 28 walks, 289 ERA+, and 6.8 WAR. Among all pitchers with 80+ career WBC innings, Cantu’s ERA ranks eighth best.

Cantu won his third straight Reliever of the Year in 1999 and was All-Star Game MVP. That season had a career-best 41 saves. Although his ERA was worse, 2000 had 5.1 WAR, his highest mark as a reliever. Cantu took third in ROTY voting, but most importantly stepped up big in the playoffs.

Haiti won the Caribbean League in 2000, but lost the CABA Championship to a 114-win Ecatepec. Cantu had 11 appearances with a 1.47 ERA over 18.1 innings, 5 saves, 8 shutdowns, and 22 strikeouts. 2001 would be his best ERA as a closer at 1.13 over 79.2 innings. Cantu won his fourth Reliever of the Year, a distinction he shares with only 11 other CABA pitchers.

Despite pitching only in relief in the 2001 regular season, Haiti used him for three starts and one relief appearance in the playoffs. He had a 3.60 ERA over 25 innings, which helped the Herons win it all in a finals rematch with Ecatepec. That was enough for Haiti to end Cantu’s time as a reliever, becoming a full-time starter from then on. He had been getting one-year deals, but finally got a two-year, $6,800,000 extension before the 2002 campaign.

Thrice as a starter, Cantu led the Caribbean in K/BB. He also led in innings pitched in 2002 and had a career best 8.6 WAR. Cantu provided strong value with 34.5 WAR in his five full seasons in the rotation, but he wasn’t a Pitcher of the Year finalist at any point as his ERA stayed above three. Still, he led in wins in 2006 with 20 and earned a five-year, $19,000,000 extension in January 2004.

Haiti’s dynasty was in full swing, going 114-48 in Cantu’s first year as a starter and repeating as CABA champ over Ecatepec. In 21 playoff innings that year, Cantu was 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA and 24 strikeouts. They would suffer first round exits in 2003 and 2004 and a CLCS defeat in 2005. The Herons were back on the mountaintop with CABA titles in 2006 and 2007 over Juarez and Mexicali. For his playoff career, Cantu finished with a 2.94 ERA over 143.2 innings, a 9-5 record, 10 saves, 153 strikeouts, 12 walks, 136 ERA+, and 2.7 WAR.

Cantu also earned a special place in CABA history on May 15, 2005. That day, he threw CABA’s 31^st perfect game, striking out eight against Santo Domingo. He’s believed to be the only pitcher in world history to own both a perfect game and a Reliever of the Year award.

His velocity would fall off hard in 2007, going from his normal 97-99 mph range down to a mere 90-92 mph peak. Cantu was used only in 50.2 innings that year despite being healthy with a 3.73 ERA. He earned his fourth CABA Championship ring, but wasn’t used in the postseason. Cantu remained under contract in 2008 and healthy, but never saw the field. He retired that winter at age 37 and immediately had his #16 uniform retired for his role in Haiti’s dynasty.

Cantu finished with a 151-108 record, 210 saves, 247 shutdowns, 2.96 ERA, 1881.2 innings, 2258 strikeouts, 185 walks, 678 games, 169 starts, 98 quality starts, 42 complete games, 8 shutouts, 136 ERA+, and 61.6 WAR. His 0.88 BB/9 also ranks fifth best in 2037 amongst all pitchers with 1000+ innings. Because of his split career, it is hard to rank Cantu against either the great CABA closers or the other great starters.

Certainly, four Reliever of the Year awards put him among the top relievers. His ERA is the worst among any guy in the CABA Hall of Fame with 200+ saves, but his WAR though ranks second best in that same group as do his strikeouts. That said, the four awards, a perfect game, and a key role in the Haiti dynasty was plenty for most voters. Cantu received 86.3% for a first ballot induction, the top spot in CABA’s two-player 2013 class.



Osnel Hyppolite – Third Base – Havana Hurricanes – 82.7% First Ballot

Osnel Hyppolite was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed infielder from Leogane, Haiti; a city of 90,000 located 30 kilometers west of the capital Port-au-Prince. Sadly, the city was the epicenter of the catastrophic 2010 earthquake. Hyppolite was a quite solid contact hitter with a decent strikeout rate, although he was below average at drawing walks. His biggest asset was gap power, regularly getting extra base hits.

Over his 162 game average, Hyppolite got 37 doubles and 18 triples. He also could go yard with around 15-20 home runs most years. Hyppolite was very quick and dangerous on the basepaths, often stretching out for that extra base. He had a strong work ethic and was a fan favorite over his 17 year career. Hyppolite also boasted excellent durability, playing 149+ games each year from 1992-2006.

Defensively, Hyppolite mainly played at third base and graded out as just above average there. He had starts at all of the infield spots over his career and usually had a few at shortstop each year. Hyppolite was below average defensively away from third, but was passable enough to work in a pinch. The versatility from this ironman could give his teammates a brief spell when needed.

Hyppolite was spotted as a teenage amateur in Haiti and brought to Cuba, signing in August 1986 with Havana. He officially debuted in 1990 at age 21, but saw limited use initially. In his first two seasons, Hyppolite had only 24 starts and 69 games played. The Hurricanes made him a full-time starter in 1992 and he held that role for a full decade in the Cuban capital. Hyppolite’s first full-season saw him lead the Caribbean League with 43 doubles.

From 1992-1999, Hyppolite posted 5+ WAR each season for Havana. He led in stolen bases with 83 in 1996, but otherwise wasn’t a league leader. Hyppolite won a Silver Slugger in 1992 at shortstop, then earned Sluggers in 1995 and 1996 at third base for Havana. His only time as an MVP finalist was a third place in 1996. Hyppolite helped the Hurricanes end a nearly decade long playoff drought, although they lost in the first round of the playoffs to Honduras. This would be their only playoff appearance during his tenure.

Havana was happy to have him, inking an eight-year, $18,840,000 extension after the 1994 season. Hyppolite notably had a six-hit game in 1995. He was a popular player even as the Hurricanes were stuck in the middle tier. Havana would later retire his #37 uniform for his solid efforts in Cuba.

Hyppolite did also return to his native Haiti from 1993-2006 for the World Baseball Championship. He had 117 games and 109 starts in the WBC, posting 106 hits, 43 runs, 19 doubles, 6 triples, 22 home runs, 62 RBI, 25 stolen bases, a .248/.288/.474 slash, 120 wRC+, and 2.2 WAR.

In total for Havana, Hyppolite had 1952 hits, 976 runs, 370 doubles, 177 triples, 205 home runs, 960 RBI, 612 stolen bases, a .318/.351/.536 slash, 137 wRC+, and 56.5 WAR. The last year of his deal was 2002 at age 33. Hyppolite’s production had dipped slightly in his last two seasons, although he was still a perfectly solid starter. Havana decided to trade him in the offseason to Ecatepec for three prospects.

The Explosion weren’t interested in a rental, giving Hyppolite a five-year, $18,800,000 extension before the season started. Ecatepec was in the midst of their Mexican League dynasty, having won three straight league titles and CABA Championships in 1999 and 2000. The hope was Hyppolite would lock things down at third base and provide some reliable depth and production.

Hyppolite’s first season in Mexico saw career bests in WAR (7.5), batting average (.355), OPS (.968), and wRC+ (181), earning the fourth Silver Slugger of his career. He would have three more seasons worth 5+ WAR and lead the league in doubles in both 2003 and 2005. Hyppolite seemed rejuvenated by the move and played some of his best baseball in his mid 30s.

He also stepped up in the playoffs as Ecatepec’s run continued. The Explosion won the Mexican League title in 2002, 2003, and 2004; winning the CABA title in 2004. They lost in the 2005 MLCS, then saw a surprising 80-82 season in 2006. Ecatepec re-established its hold on the South Division in 2007, although they wouldn’t win another pennant while Hyppolite was there.

With Ecatepec, Hyppolite had 56 playoff games and 48 starts with 59 hits, 26 runs, 11 doubles, 11 triples, 5 home runs, 34 RBI, 12 stolen bases, a .314/.343/.572 slash, 157 wRC+, and 1.7 WAR. Explosion fans would remember him fondly for his role within a 20-year run of dominance in the Mexican League.

In his fifth season with Ecatepec, Hyppolite saw a dip to only 2.7 WAR and 124 wRC+; the worst full-season efforts of his career. Hyppolite was reduced to a bench role in 2007, struggling to -0.6 WAR over 88 games and 28 starts. He had hoped to make a run at 3000 career hits, but he seemed cooked. Hyppolite retired after the 2007 season at age 39.

Hyppolite finished with 2892 hits, 1435 runs, 569 doubles, 266 triples, 294 home runs, 1405 RBI, 918 stolen bases, a .316/.348/.533 slash, 140 wRC+, and 83.6 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks sixth all-time in doubles, 19^th in triples, 27^th in hits, 40^th in runs, 23^rd in stolen bases, and 67^th in WAR among position players.

He wasn’t one to dominate leaderboards, but few were as reliably steady in the 1990s and 2000s as Hyppolite. His run with Ecatepec really boosted his profile with fans who might not have noticed him while in Havana. Hyppolite received 82.7% for a first ballot induction in CABA’s 2013 Hall of Fame class

[FuzzyRussianHat]

Three players received first ballot inductions into East Asia Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2013. Two-way player Umi Kihara led the way as a slam dunk at 97.4%. DH Yorikane Furimizo at 79.7% and LF Si-Hun Park at 72.7% also made it in with very respectable efforts. 3B Kazo Shiraki debuted at 56.1%, missing the 66% requirement by around 10%. Only one returner was above 50% with SP Nazonokusa Mori at 50.2% on his second try.



Dropped after ten tries was RF/DH Yao Zhao, who played his entire 15-year EAB run with Gwangju. He had one Silver Slugger, 2352 hits, 1138 runs, 369 doubles, 325 triples, 63 home runs, 867 RBI, 1235 stolen bases, a .332/.379/.503 slash, 141 wRC+, and 59.9 WAR. Zhao was one of the all-time speedsters and as of 2037 ranks sixth in stolen bases and 13^th in triples.

Zhao notably led the league in triples four times, steals five times, hits twice, batting average once, and OBP twice. However, it isn’t easy for leadoff guys to get noticed. The voters also wanted corner outfield/DH types to hit homers, which Zhao didn’t do. He peaked at 31.2% on his ballot debut before ending at a mere 5.9%.

Also dropped after ten ballots was pitcher Joon-Young Cho, who split 14 years between relief and starting. He had 176 saves, a 100-90 record, 3.00 ERA, 1523 innings, 1497 strikeouts, 127 ERA+, and 41.3 WAR. Cho won Reliever of the Year once, but didn’t slot in statistically compared to other closers or other starters. Cho debuted at 23.6% and ended with 4.4%.

Catcher Haruyuki Sakai was also notable, falling below the 5% requirement on his ninth ballot. He peaked at 37.8% on his second ballot. Sakai was hurt by the general anti-catcher bias of voters, although he won five Silver Sluggers and was an 11-time all-star. Sakai had 2119 hits, 811 runs, 339 doubles, 202 home runs, 893 RBI, a .264/.311/.395 slash, 110 wRC+, and 65.4 WAR.

As of 2037, Sakai ranks sixth in WAR among all EAB catchers. However, the low accumulations that come with the position doomed him like so many others before him. With that, Sang-Sik Bom remained the only pure catcher to ever make EAB’s Hall of Fame over nearly a century. Umi Kihara would be the second catcher to make it, but his two-way value as a pitcher is what really put him over the top.



Umi Kihara – Pitcher/Catcher – Kitakyushu Kodiaks – 97.4% First Ballot

Umi Kihara was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher and catcher from Kitakyushu, Japan. He was a two-way player that was a left-handed batter. Kihara had the very rare two-way combo of pitcher and catcher, a pairing that physically is almost impossible to pull off. He managed it though, becoming the second-ever catcher added into EAB’s Hall of Fame. Kihara was also one of 17 two-way players in world history as of 2037 with 100+ career WAR.

Many of the other two-way guys were excellent on one side and merely good or above average on the other. For Kihara, he was pretty strong in either role, but narrowly produced more WAR pitching. He had a rocket arm and was known for having good stuff with above average control and movement. Kihara’s fastball regularly hit 98-100 mph and was his best pitch.

He was also unique in having a six-pitch arsenal that included a forkball, splitter, curveball, changeup, and circle change. Kihara’s stamina was pretty good and he showed remarkable durability considering the physical demands required. He certainly had injuries, but still managed a 17-year career. Kihara was very adaptable to his situation, but some argued that he could be selfish and lazy at times.

His pitching expertise meant that he was very good at calling games behind the plate. Despite his arm strength, Kihara wasn’t great at throwing runners out, but he was generally considered a reliable presence defensively at catcher. Kihara had good pop on his bat, getting 27 home runs and 28 doubles per his 162 game average. He topped 20+ homers in six seasons despite usually only starting around 95-110 games as a hitter in those years.

Kihara was considered a slightly above average contact hitter with a decent eye, although his strikeout rate was subpar. Like most catchers or pitchers, he was an incredibly sluggish and poor baserunner. Kihara was certainly viewed as a strong starter in both roles. The combination made him one of the more unique and valuable players of his era.

Teams certainly took notice of this two-way potential as Kihara played as Tokai University Junior College. Some teams were worried about the demands of a P/C combo, but Kihara made it clear he expected to do both. His hometown team Kitakyushu picked him second overall in the 1988 EAB Draft and he quickly became a beloved superstar. Few Japanese players of his era matched the levels of adoration Kihara received from the public.

Kitakyushu didn’t use him in 1989, but debuted him in 1990 with nice results on both sides. Kihara won a Silver Slugger as a pitcher and took second in Rookie of the Year voting. The Kodiaks ended a five-year playoff drought, but lost in the 1990 Japan League Championship Series to Niigata. They would fall in a JLCS rematch to the Green Dragons in 1991. Despite being healthy, Kihara was barely used in the 1991 season with five starts on the mound and only 17 games hitting.


Kihara made it back to the starting role in 1992, but missed the final three months to shoulder inflammation. He wasn’t available in the playoffs as Kitakyushu began their dynasty, winning the EAB Championship over Suwon. The Kodiaks would three-peat, beating Gwangju in the 1993 final and Yongin in the 1994 championship. This was only the second-ever EAB title three-peat in history to that point.

In 1993 and 1994, Kihara had a starring role. 1993 had a career-best 1.89 ERA, posting 6.0 WAR and five shutouts on the mound. He also had 6.0 WAR in 111 games at the plate with a 184 wRC+, 23 home runs, and .922 OPS. Kihara won Silver Slugger at catcher and finished second in both MVP and Pitcher of the Year voting. In the 1993 playoffs, he was a workhorse with 40.2 innings, 1.4 WAR, and a 3.98 ERA pitching; along with 46 at-bats, 13 hits, and 0.3 WAR hitting.

Kihara’s pitching was closer to middling in 1994, but his bat remained strong. He won Silver Sluggers both as a catcher and a pitcher and placed second in MVP voting. Kihara had a great postseason with a 4-1 record, 2.63 ERA, 41 innings, 48 strikeouts, and 1.4 WAR on the mound; plus 12 hits in 44 at-bats at the plate. Kihara would be beloved for his role in what many considered Japan’s best-ever dynasty.

Kitakyushu remained strong in 1995 and 1996, but narrowly missed out on the playoffs due to Hiroshima edging them in the West Division. Kihara won a catcher Silver Slugger in 1995 and again took second in both MVP and POTY voting. As a pitcher, he led the league in wins (227), strikeouts (298), innings (284.2), quality starts (27), and complete games (14). At the plate, he had 5.2 WAR, 158 wRC+, and 22 homers in 123 games.

In 1996, Kihara finally earned his lone MVP win and another Silver Slugger as a catcher. This was his strongest hitting season by WAR (6.7), wRC+ (193), and OPS (.958), also posting career bests in average (.329), runs 967), and hits (127). Kihara also had 5.9 WAR over 255 innings on the mound with a 2.22 ERA and 244 strikeouts. By total WAR (12.6), this was his strongest year and his third season worth 12+ WAR.

Kihara had 11.6 combined WAR in 1997, taking third in Pitcher of the Year voting and second in MVP voting. Kitakyushu made it back to the JLCS, but Kihara missed the playoffs to shoulder tendinitis. With him out, the 109-win Kodiaks were upset in the JLCS by Sapporo. This would be their final playoff berth for more than 20 years.

1998 was set to be Kihara’s final season under team control and he both wanted and expected a big pay day. He had the leverage as a beloved superstar and had no plans on offering a hometown discount. The Kodiaks surprisingly struggled that year, ultimately finishing at 72-90. They figured it was time for a full rebuild and traded Kihara in July to Gwangju for three prospects.

As a pitcher for Kitakyushu, Kihara had a 127-73 record, 2.57 ERA, 1840 innings, 1829 strikeouts, 401 walks, 127 ERA+, and 41.4 WAR. At the plate, he had 786 games and 699 starts, 718 hits, 373 runs, 137 doubles, 154 home runs, 398 RBI, a .280/.338/.524 slash, 164 wRC+, and 34.4 WAR. His role in the great Kodiaks dynasty would earn his #1 uniform’s retirement at the end of his career.

Kihara’s Gwangju run was very brief, suffering a torn labrum in September. With that, they opted to let him enter free agency for his age 31 season. He had 1.9 WAR in 91 innings and 0.8 WAR in 90 at-bats with the Grays. Kawasaki was hopeful to get the same production from Kihara that Kitakyushu had, signing him to a six-year, $21,520,000 deal.

It had a rough start, as a setback from the torn labrum required surgery in January 1999. This put Kihara out another 12 months, missing the entire 1999 campaign. Kawasaki would win the Japan League title that year without him, losing the EAB Championship to Daegu.

It was uncertain what Kihara would look like in his return, but he delivered in 2000 with a league-best 23-8 record over 279 innings with 293 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA. The 6.9 WAR on the mound was a career-best for Kihara, while he also had 4.8 WAR at the plate with 174 wRC+ and a .930 OPS in 113 games. Kihara topped 10+ WAR combined for the sixth time, taking third in MVP voting and a Silver Slugger as a pitcher. This was his seventh and final total Slugger.

The Killer Whales had the best record in EAB at 107-55 and won it all, getting revenge in the championship against Daegu. In the playoffs, Kihara had a 3.82 ERA and 3-1 record over 33 innings on the mound and an 84 wRC+ and 0.1 WAR in 14 games in the field.

Kihara led in wins again in 2001 and posted 4.3 WAR pitching. He saw a lesser role with only 87 games batting with 2.2 WAR. Kihara had three strong playoff starts on the mound with a 1.90 ERA over 23.2 innings, but suffered a torn flexor tendon in his third start. Kawasaki repeated as EAB champs, beating Yongin for the ring. This gave Kihara five EAB championship rings and he is perhaps the only EAB player with five that wasn’t part of Pyongyang’s 1960s dynasty.

The injury kept him out most of 2002, although Kihara made it back for the stretch run. He tossed 26.1 playoff innings with a 3.08 ERA, but the Killer Whales fell to Osaka in the JLCS. A strained triceps cost Kihara part of 2003, but he led in WHIP at 0.83 and was third in Pitcher of the Year voting. He had 3.4 WAR pitching and 1.7 WAR hitting this season. Kawasaki won the Capital Division for the sixth straight year, but suffered a round one exit. They wouldn’t make it back to the playoffs in Kihara’s remaining seasons.

Kihara’s ability to go both ways provided value on its own, but his playoff rate stats for his career were somewhat underwhelming. He had a 3.53 ERA and 93 ERA+ over 183.1 innings with a 11-9 record, 183 strikeouts, and 4.0 WAR. At the plate, he had 63 games and 52 starts, 50 hits, 22 runs, 11 doubles, 8 home runs, 24 RBI, a .258/.318/.448 slash, 124 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. Still, Kitakyushu and Kawasaki fans would say Kihara was a critical piece to the playoff runs for those dynasties.

Injuries kept Kihara out much of 2004, although he was abysmal on the mound with a 5.91 ERA in 56.1 innings. He still had 1.8 WAR and a .904 OPS in 62 games and 31 starts at the plate. With that, Kihara’s pitching career essentially ended, only seeing four relief appearances for the remainder of his career. Now at age 37, Kawasaki made Kihara a full-time catcher for 2005.

He showed he still had value there with 4.7 WAR, 138 wRC+, and .784 OPS over 139 games and 120 starts behind the plate. This ended his Killer Whales run, which at the plate had 493 games and 395 starts, 408 hits, 181 runs, 83 doubles, 67 home runs, 252 RBI, a .281/.347/.488 slash, 149 wRC+, and 16.1 WAR. On the mound, he had a 64-24 record, 2.88 ERA, 860.2 innings, 884 strikeouts, 117 ERA+, and 17.1 WAR.

The 38-year old Kihara signed a two-year, $7,600,000 deal for 2006 with Chiba. He started 121 games and played 144 as a catcher with 3.0 WAR in 2006 for the Comets. They traded him in the offseason to Fukuoka, where he made 108 starts and played 125 games with 1.9 WAR and a 113 wRC+. Kihara decided to retire that winter at age 39.

For his pitching career, Kihara had a 197-100 record, 2.68 ERA, 2797 innings, 2813 strikeouts, 563 walks, 243/349 quality starts, 141 complete games, 24 shutouts, 123 ERA+, 83 FIP-, and 60.5 WAR. Just from pitching alone, he had a decent Hall of Fame case, although he didn’t quite have the innings to factor prominently on the leaderboards.

At the plate, Kihara had 1574 games and 1346 starts with 1364 hits, 656 runs, 274 doubles, 259 home runs, 758 RBI, a .273/.332/.493 slash, 148 wRC+, and 56.2 WAR. Of all the two-way players in world baseball history as of 2037, his combined 116.7 WAR ranks eighth best. He also narrowly beat out Tadasumi Tanabe’s 116.0 for the most two-way WAR in EAB history. Among all EAB players, Kihara is 23^rd in WAR.

Many would still cite Tanabe as the all-time top two-way guy in EAB history since he won four MVPs and three Pitcher of the Year awards. Kihara certainly deserves a strong look though, especially with his featured role in two different dynasty runs. He’s an obvious Hall of Fame headliner, leading the 2013 EAB class at 97.4%.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

Yorikane “River” Furimizo – Designated Hitter/Right Field – Ulsan Swallows – 79.7% First Ballot

Yorikane Furimizo was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed slugger from Hamamatsu, a city of 780,000 people in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture. Furimizo was known for his incredibly consistent home run power, hitting 38+ in ten straight seasons. He was also a great contact hitter overall, although his strikeout rate and ability to draw walks were both below average.

Furimizo had very good gap power as well with 37 doubles per his 162 game average. He wasn’t going to leg out extra bases with painfully slow running speed. Furimizo had a very strong arm, but his nimbleness and range were absolutely atrocious. Thus, just over half of his career starts came as a designated hitter.

Defensively, Furimizo spent the most time in right field, account for about ¼ of his career starts. He also had occasional starts in left and at first base, but was abysmal any time he was wearing his glove. Regardless, Furimizo’s bat justified finding him a spot somewhere. His durability was respectable and he was adaptable, becoming a popular player in his time.

Despite growing up in Japan, Furimizo’s pro career would be exclusively in the Korea League. As a teenage amateur, he was signed in September 1986 by Incheon. Furimizo debuted in 1992 at age 21 with 29 games and 3 starts. He saw 63 games and 13 starts in 1993, then became a full-time starter in 1994 with decent results. Furimizo did miss part of 1995 to a partially torn labrum.

1996 was his breakout season, winning a Silver Slugger at first base. Despite missing a month to a strained oblique, Furimizo posted 6.6 WAR over 124 games and led the league with career bests in slugging (.730), OPS (1.137), and wRC+ (198). Furimizo’s second Silver Slugger came the next year in right field. He hit 45 home runs both of those seasons, then smacked a career-high 49 in 1998.

Despite Furimizo’s efforts, Incheon was lousy in this era, averaging 68.8 wins per season in his tenure. The Inferno didn’t think they’d be able to sign him long-term, thus he was traded after the 1998 season to Ulsan for three prospects. Furimizo would become best known for his time with the Swallows.

With the Inferno, Furimizo had 788 games, 873 hits, 437 runs, 175 doubles, 189 home runs, 524 RBI, a .309/.345/.582 slash, 149 wRC+, and 21.3 WAR. Late in his Incheon run, Furimizo started playing for his native Japan in the World Baseball Championship. From 1997-2005 in the WBC, he had 48 games, 38 starts, 40 hits, 22 runs, 7 doubles, 12 home runs, 21 RBI, a .270/.335/.574 slash, 160 wRC+, and 1.8 WAR.

Furimizo’s first season with Ulsan in 1999 saw career highs in WAR (7.0), RBI (127) and home runs (49). That August, the Swallows gave him a four-year, $12,640,000 extension. Furimizo had incredibly reliable production in his first six seasons for Ulsan, each year topping 4.5+ WAR, a .305 batting average, 38+ home runs, and 100+ RBI.

Ulsan had five straight playoff appearances from 2000-04 with three South Division titles. However, the Swallows couldn’t win the big one. They lost in the Korea League Championship Series in both 2000 and 2001, then lost in round one the other seasons. You certainly couldn’t call Furimizo a playoff choker though. In his 27 starts, he had 40 hits, 18 runs, 5 doubles, 15 home runs, 28 RBI, a .364/.377/.818 slash, 216 wRC+, and 2.2 WAR.

After the 2002 season, Furimizo was extended for another five years and $31,500,000. Ulsan would fall to 83-79 in both 2005 and 2006. Furimizo’s steady production finally fell off in 2006, posting a shocking -0.1 WAR and 88 wRC+ over 139 starts. He had a mere 18 home runs and .679 OPS. It was a steep drop for a guy who had been so consistently good. Furimizo looked marginally better in a limited role in 2007 with 76 games and 61 starts.

He was a free agent after the 2007 season. Furimizo was unsigned in 2008 and retired that winter at age 38. Ulsan quickly honored him by retiring his #34 uniform. With the Swallows, Furimizo had 1586 hits, 836 runs, 296 doubles, 340 home runs, 912 RBI, a .310/.343/.579 slash, 148 wRC+, and 42.7 WAR.

Furimizo’s final stats had 2459 hits, 1273 runs, 471 doubles, 529 home runs, 1436 RBI, a .310/.344/.580 slash, 148 wRC+, and 63.9 WAR. Among all batters with 3000+ appearances, he ranks 70^th in OPS and 47^th on slugging as of 2037. Furimizo is also 60^th in home runs and 65^th in RBI, but well outside of the top 100 in WAR. He was steady and efficient, but didn’t have eye-popping totals.

Still, EAB voters often appreciated guys who sustained over a long period. His awful defense and baserunning, plus being a DH, limited him for many voters. But Furimizo’s rate stats showed one of the most effective power hitters of his time. That got him to 79.7% for a first ballot induction with EAB’s 2013 Hall of Fame class.



Si-Hun Park – Left Field – Suwon Snappers – 72.7% First Ballot

Si-Hun Park was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed left fielder from Gongju, South Korea; a city of around 100,000 people in the South Chungcheong Province. Park was one of the better sluggers of his era, topping 30+ home runs in 10 different seasons and 40+ in six seasons. His gap power was also nice with a 162 game average of 24 doubles and 10 triples. Park was quicker than most sluggers with firmly above average speed, although his baserunning instincts weren’t the best.

Park graded as an above average contact hitter with an okay strikeout rate, but he was weaker than you’d expect at drawing walks. He was much stronger hitting lefties (164 wRC+, .986) but was not a bum against righties (132 wRC+, .844 OPS). Excellent durability served Park well, playing 143+ games each year from 1993-2006. Defensively, Park played exclusively in left field. He was a consistently great defender and won a Gold Glove in 1997. Some did knock his work ethic, but Park would be a very successful player in his 16 year career.

By the 1988 EAB Draft, Park was a highly rated prospect out of Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. He was picked third overall by Suwon, but barely was used initially by the struggling Snappers franchise. Park played 12 games with 4 starts in 1989, then didn’t see the field at all in 1990 or 1991. Park re-emerged in 1992, but only for 20 games in the regular season.

In the 1992 playoffs, he would start 16 games with okay results, posting a .263/.300/.351 slash. Suwon had a surprising wild card season that ended in a Korea League title, although they lost the EAB Championship to Kitakyushu. The Snappers finally realized that Park fit well in left field. He had been a center fielder in college, but couldn’t crack the lineup in that spot for them.

Park became a full-time starter in 1993 and started 147+ games each year for the next decade for Suwon. He won Silver Sluggers in 1994, 1998, and 2000. Park rarely was a league leader, but he did lead twice in RBI with 122 in 1995 and 138 in 2000. He would post 40+ homers six times from 1995-2001, giving the Snappers very reliable power. From 1994-2002, Park topped 5+ WAR each season.

The closest Park came to an MVP was a third place in 1998 and second place in 2000. Both seasons, Park had a .976 OPS. 1998 had a career best 7.5 WAR, 167 wRC+, and .324 batting average. 2000 was his best for homers (50), RBI (138), and slugging (.631). In April 1996, Park was locked up long-term with a seven-year, $17,980,000 extension.

Suwon became a regular contender during this era, but they had a reputation for choking in the playoffs. From 1993-2000, the Snappers won seven North Division titles. However, all of those seasons ended with a first round exit sans 1997. That year, they lost to Yongin in the KLCS.

Some criticism could go to Park, whose career playoff stats with the Snappers were unremarkable. In 51 starts, he had 52 hits, 23 runs, 5 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 18 RBI, a .271/.303/.469 slash, 114 wRC+, and 1.2 WAR. Still, Park was popular and this was one of Suwon’s more competitive eras. The Snappers eventually retired his #44 uniform.

With Suwon, Park had 1781 hits, 958 runs, 223 doubles, 107 triples, 403 home runs, 1074 RBI, 301 stolen bases, a .298/.337/.574 slash, 148 wRC+, and 58.3 WAR. The Snappers narrowly missed the playoffs in 2001, then dropped to 68-94 in 2002 for their first losing season since 1991. Park opted out of the option year of his contract, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 35.

Yongin gave him a three-year, $17,700,000 deal to keep him in the North Division. The Gold Sox had gotten the better of Suwon numerous times in the playoffs in the 1990s, winning four Korea League titles during Park’s Snappers tenure. Yongin had also fallen off in 2002 at 73-89 and hoped a steady veteran bat could get them back on course. They would win 88 games in 2003 and 81 in 2004, missing the playoffs both years.

Park’s power had dropped a bit, as he missed 30 homers for the first time since his first full season in 1993. Still, he was a starter quality bat and a great defender, averaging around 3.8 WAR each year from 2003-06. Park became a free agent after the 2005 campaign, but Yongin brought him back for another two years and $7,280,000.

The Gold Sox had gotten back in the playoffs in 2005, falling to Seoul in the KLCS. They took the top seed in 2006 at 100-62, but were upset in the first round by Changwon. Yongin would earn a wild card spot in 2007; Park’s fifth year with the team. His production fell off notably this year with 124 games a career low 1.5 WAR and only a 107 wRC+.

Park would be a starter in their playoff run, limping to a .182/.250/.327 slash, 60 wRC+, and -0.3 WAR over 17 starts. Yongin put together a strong wild card run, eventually winning the EAB Championship over 2007. Although he stunk in the playoffs, Park was able to end his career with a ring. He retired the day after the trophy celebration just days before turning 40.

With Yongin, Park had 730 hits, 372 runs, 114 doubles, 40 triples, 135 home runs, 428 RBI, 152 stolen bases, a .275/.321/.500 slash, 125 wRC+, and 17.0 WAR. For his whole career, he had 2511 hits, 1330 runs, 337 doubles, 147 triples, 538 home runs, 1502 RBI, 453 stolen bases, a .291/.332/.551 slash, 141 wRC+, and 75.3 WAR. Park was the 51^st member of the 500 home run club and the 34^th to reach 1500 RBI.

As of 2037, Park ranks 56^th in home runs, 49^th in RBI, and 85^th in runs scored, but he’s outside of the top 100 in any other stat. Like his Hall of Fame classmate Yorikane Furimizo, Park provided sustained power, but wasn’t one to post jaw-dropping numbers. His case was somewhat borderline and although he helped Suwon regularly make the playoffs, they didn’t win anything in his time.

Still, hitting lots of homers goes a long way, especially in the corner outfield spots. Park received 72.7% in his ballot debut, good enough to cross the 66% requirement for a first ballot induction. With that, he rounded out the three-player 2013 class for East Asia Baseball.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

Beisbol Sudamerica saw a two-player Hall of Fame class for 2013. SP Mefisto Rodrigues led the way with a first ballot 83.2%. Closer Raymond Angeles joined him on his second ballot, just breaching the 66% requirement with 69.8%. Coming very close was 1B Nyx Navas with 63.1% on his fourth ballot and C Moises Avalos at 61.1% on his fifth ballot. Also cracking 50% was 1B Rafael Cervantes with 54.0% for his fourth go. No players were dropped following ten failed attempts in 2013.



Mefisto Rodrigues – Starting Pitcher – Rio de Janeiro Redbirds – 83.2% First Ballot

Mefisto Rodrigues was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Joinville, Brazil, a city of 616,000 in the South Region. Rodrigues was known for having excellent control throughout his career. He had quite good stuff as well, although his movement was graded as subpar. Rodrigues’ cutter hit the 98-100 mph range, but he was most effective by changing speeds with his changeup and curveball.

Rodrigues’ stamina was below average compared to most BSA aces, but he still pitched plenty of innings thanks to excellent durability. He’s the only BSA Hall of Famer with fewer than 100 complete games while also reaching 4000+ innings. He was a good defensive pitcher, winning a Gold Glove in 1999. The laid-back Rodrigues was often ol’ reliable that you knew would always be healthy and ready to give you a decent start.

Many fans assume he played his entire career in Rio de Janeiro, but Rodrigues actually started with Brasilia. The Bearcats gave him a developmental deal in February 1985. After five years in their academy, a 22-year old Rodrigues made one start in 1990 for the Bearcats, giving up five runs in five innings. That July, he would be traded straight up to Rio for fellow pitcher Matias Veloso, who ended up with a journeyman career.

Rodrigues had 61.2 innings split between relief and starting that fall for the Redbirds. Rio de Janeiro made him a full-time starter the next year, a role Rodrigues held for the next 16 seasons apart from a brief starter/closer split in 1998. Sans that 1998 season, Rodrigues from 1991-2005 reliably tossed 230+ innings with 200+ strikeouts.

He lacked dominance though, never leading in any major stat. His only league-leading came in K/BB from 2001-2003. Rodrigues was only below a three ERA in three seasons, often grading out as just above average on sabremetric charts. Rodrigues was never a Pitcher of the Year finalist, but he did win Pitcher of the Month twice. He also only earned one all-star game appearance for his entire career. The laid back righty was content not to draw attention to himself.

In his first full season with Rio, they made it to the Southern Cone League Championship, falling to Belo Horizonte. Rodrigues had a great playoff run in 1991 with a 1.16 ERA over 23.1 innings and 24 strikeouts. The Redbirds were stuck in the mid-tier for the rest of the 1990s apart from a one-and-done playoff berth in 1999. They were subpar with three straight losing seasons from 2000-02.

Rodrigues stayed steady all the while. He signed a four-year, $12,400,000 extension with Rio in April 1997. Then in April 2001, he added five more years and $18,000,000. Fortunes finally turned around for the Redbirds, who started a seven-year playoff streak in 2003.

Rio was a wild card in 2003, but went on a tear all the way to a Copa Sudamerica victory over Caracas. Rodrigues had a good playoff effort with a 2.67 ERA in four starts and 30.1 innings with 25 strikeouts. The Redbirds lost in the first round in 2004, then had LCS losses in 2005 and 2006. Rodrigues was okay in the 2004 and 2006 postseasons, but stunk in 2005.

Rodrigues’ career playoff stats were delightfully mid with a 3.67 ERA over 90.2 innings, 5-7 record, 68 strikeouts, 17 walks, 97 ERA+, and 0.7 WAR. Eight of his 13 starts were quality starts, most notably with three in the 2003 championship run and three in 1991. His role in the Redbirds’ second-ever Cup win helped get his #16 uniform retired.

The longevity for Rodrigues got him to some notable milestones. In 2006, he became only the 13^th BSA pitcher to 250 wins and the 28^th to 4000 strikeouts. 2006 would be his first time posting an ERA above four. Rodrigues would get a one-year deal for 2007, but was demoted primarily to the bullpen with only 67.1 innings and a 4.54 ERA. He wasn’t used in the playoffs as Rio lost in the first round. Rodrigues retired that winter at age 39.

Rodrigues finished with a 254-199 record, 3.29 ERA, 4095.2 innings, 4236 strikeouts, 524 walks, 343/535 quality starts, 103 ERA+, 92 FIP-, and 67.1 WAR. The advanced stats suggest he was an aggressively average pitcher who managed to hang around for a long time. As of 2037, he’s 20^th all-time in innings pitched, yet he’s only 92^nd in WAR among pitchers. A modern look at Rodrigues puts him as one of the weaker pitchers to get in.

For traditionalists, longevity went a very long way. Rodrigues hit 250 wins, 4000 innings, and 4000 strikeouts. As of 2037, every eligible pitcher in Beisbol Sudamerica that hit one or more of those marks eventually earned induction. Although Rodrigues didn’t have awards, he did stay with one team and won a championship with them. This got him 83.2% for a first ballot induction to headline the 2013 class.



Raymond Angeles – Closer – Arequipa Arrows – 69.8% Second Ballot

Raymond Angeles was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed relief pitcher from Lima, Peru. Angeles had stellar stuff with excellent movement, although his control was average at best. His 97-99 mph cutter was his primary option, earning groundballs at an impressive rate. Angeles’ second pitch was a changeup to draw whiffs. As far as relievers go, his stamina and durability were both considered to be strong.

Relievers often weren’t high draft targets, but Angeles had earned plenty of acclaim in his amateur career in Peru. With the third pick in the 1992 BSA Draft, Angeles was picked by Arequipa. The Arrows were one of the 1987 expansion teams and struggled immensely in their first few seasons. Angeles wouldn’t be the one to fix that though, as they averaged 68.6 wins per season during his run.

Still, Arequipa had at least one position comfortably locked down during that time. Angeles was the closer all eight seasons for the Arrows, taking third in Reliever of the Year voting in both 1993 and 1995. He didn’t rack up big save totals since the Arrows didn’t post a winning season while he was there. Angeles did post a 33-save streak that lasted nearly a full calendar year from May 1994 to May 1995.

With the Arrows, Angeles had 245 saves and 281 shutdowns, a 2.31 ERA, 521 games, 620.1 innings, 762 strikeouts, 182 walks, 152 ERA+, and 20.5 WAR. This was enough that the franchise later retired his #2 uniform; the first number taken out of circulation in Arequipa.

Angeles also earned some appreciation throughout Peru generally from his appearances from 1994-2005 in the World Baseball Championship. He had 11 starts and 25 relief appearances for an impressive 1.54 ERA over 134 innings, 11-1 record, 11 saves, 199 strikeouts, 35 walks, 232 ERA+, and 5.8 WAR. Among all WBC pitchers with 80+ innings, Angeles’ ERA ranks 25^th.

During the 2001 WBC, the 30-year old Angeles was traded by Arequipa to Recife for prospect Heider Cerqueira and a draft pick. He was the closer for two seasons for the Retrievers with mixed results, posting a 2.81 ERA in 170 innings, 65 saves, 193 strikeouts, 123 ERA+, and 0.9 WAR. Angeles entered free agency after the 2002 season at age 32.

Asuncion gave him a three-year, $8,640,000 deal. The Archers won division titles in both 2003 and 2004, then saw a surprising plummet to 64 wins in 2005. This gave Angeles his only BSA playoff experience with eight appearances, 8.2 innings, a 2.08 ERA, 2 saves, 2 losses, 11 hits, and 8 strikeouts.

Angeles’ first two years with Asuncion were career bests. 2003 saw bests in saves (38), innings (105), strikeouts (131), and wins (15-5), taking second in Reliever of the Year voting. Angeles scored his lone ROTY win in 2004 with bests in ERA (0.88), ERA+ (408), and WAR (4.2). He would get reduced to a mid-relief role in 2005 with only 65.2 innings and 11 saves, but he still had 2.9 WAR with a 2.06 ERA.

With Asuncion, Angeles had 88 saves, a 1.36 ERA, 252.1 innings, 314 strikeouts, 118 shutdowns, 265 ERA+, and 10.8 WAR. This also got him on the doorstep of 400 career saves, a mark previously reached by only six others in BSA. Angeles hoped to reach it and signed a two-year, $7,680,000 deal with Sao Paulo.

His last year with the Arrows ended with shoulder inflammation that ultimately tanked his velocity. Angeles had previously regularly hit the upper 90s, but peaked in the low 90s in spring training for the Padres. He only saw 24.2 innings in the back-end of the bullpen and didn’t have a chance to earn any saves. Angeles retired that winter at age 36.

The final stats had 398 saves and 472 shutdowns, a 95-88 record, 2.19 ERA, 1067.1 innings, 1286 strikeouts, 281 walks, 160 ERA+, and 32.6 WAR. As of 2037, he’s ninth all-time in saves. The saves and innings certainly fit next to the other Hall of Fame closers in BSA, but Angeles’s rate stats were far less dominant. As of 2037, there are 20 relievers inducted and his WAR ranks 18^th in that group.

Angeles was boosted by having his best season late in his run, finally snagging that Reliever of the Year. His lack of raw dominance and being on most mediocre teams worked against him. However, every 400+ save guy had gotten in and Angeles barely missed that line. He debuted one percent short of induction at 65.0%. Angeles’ second try got the slight boost to 69.8% to enter the Hall of Fame in 2013. As of 2037, he’s the only Hall of Famer in Arequipa garb.

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The 2013 Hall of Fame ballot for the European Baseball Federation was light on big debuts, opening up the field for returners. Pitcher Reggie Hobart was the big benefactor in his tenth and final possible ballot. Hobart earned a big bump to 78.2%, becoming the third player in EBF history to earn induction on his tenth ballot.



Two other returners made it across the 66% requirement, albeit barely. OF Mitchel Dekker had 70.2% on his third ballot and P Spyridon Sidiropoulou earned 68.5% on his second try. The top debut was closer Steven Macario at 50.2%. No one else topped 50% and the next best debut was down at 25.3% with RF Patrick Laborde.

Dropped after ten failed ballots was pitcher Josip Doric, who played 14 years with five times. He had a 161-175 record, 3.50 ERA, 3254.2 innings, 2578 strikeouts, 167 complete games, 109 ERA+, and 38.5 WAR. Doric does rank seventh all-time in complete games, but otherwise was merely a consistently average arm. He peaked with a 36.9% debut and ended at 11.8%.

Also dropped was reliever Jorgen Falkoner, who split a 17-year career between four leagues and 13 teams. Just in EBF, he had one Reliever of the Year with 220 saves, 1.93 ERA, 537 innings, 833 strikeouts, 197 ERA+, and 23.6 WAR. With 39.5 WAR and 330 saves for his combined career, Falkoner might have had a slight shot if he stayed in one league for his whole run. He peaked at 24.1% in 2005 and hovered in the single digits for six years, but managed to last ten ballots.



Reggie Hobart – Pitcher – Belfast Brewers – 78.2% Tenth Ballot

Reggie Hobart was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Kingston upon Hull, a city of around 265,000 in Yorkshire, England. Hobart’s stuff was absolutely electric, but he had subpar control with merely average movement. He had a stellar 98-100 mph fastball along with a great changeup and very good splitter. Hobart’s stamina and durability were fairly average amongst European starting pitchers. He was considered a hard worker and loyal.

Hobart ended up in Northern Ireland as he was signed by Belfast as a teenage amateur in January 1980. He spent six seasons in their academy before debuting in 1986 at age 22. The Brewers used Hobart as a reliever and closer in his first four seasons with mixed results. He did earn third in 1989’s Reliever of the Year voting, which prompted Belfast to give Hobart a four-year, $5,240,000 extension.

1990 marked a shift to the starting rotation for the remainder of his career and he posted four straight 5+ WAR seasons for Belfast. Hobart cracked 300 strikeouts twice with the Brewers and kept his ERA below three in all of his starting seasons there. He wasn’t a league leader and wasn’t ever in awards conversations. Belfast did improve a bit from their typical spot at the bottom of the standings, but still peaked at just above .500 during Hobart’s tenure.

With Belfast, Hobart had an 89-79 record, 118 saves, 2.99 ERA, 1334 innings, 1548 strikeouts, 438 walks, 127 ERA+, and 26.0 WAR. He became a free agent after the 1993 season at age 30 and got a long-term deal with Stockholm for $14,380,000 over seven seasons. Hobart kept his trend of 5+ WAR seasons for his first three years in Sweden.

Stockholm had made it to the Northern Conference Championship in 1993, but were stuck just outside the playoffs for the rest of the 1990s despite four straight winning seasons from 1994-97. Thus, Hobart never pitched a single playoff inning in his career.

Hobart sprained his elbow in 1997 and saw a drop in his velocity from there. Although he still hit 96-98 mph, his effectiveness dropped towards league average in 1998. He still had two years left on his Stockholm deal, but retired after the 1998 season at age 35. Hobart had an 81-44 record, 3.29 ERA, 1168.2 innings, 1200 strikeouts, 289 walks, 115 ERA+, and 22.5 WAR with the Swordsmen.

In total, Hobart had a 170-123 record, 3.13 ERA, 2502.2 innings, 2748 strikeouts, 727 walks, 187/282 quality starts, 121 ERA+, and 48.5 WAR. The rate stats weren’t bad, but the accumulations were very much on the low end. Hobart also lacked awards, black ink, or any postseason appearances. He seemed like a prime “Hall of Pretty Good” guy.

Hobart debuted with 47.8% in 2004 and generally hovered around the mid 40s to mid 50s. He bumped up to 61.9% in 2010 and 62.7% in 2011, but dropped to 54.9% in 2012. Notably in 2012 though, Vincent Cassar got in on his ninth ballot. Cassar would be the only starter in 2037 in the Hall of Fame with a lower career WAR than Hobart.

With no strong newcomers in 2013, Hobart got one last look on his tenth and final try. The voters were sympathetic and gave him the nod at 78.2%, the top mark of the 2013 group. Most scholars agree that Hobart is one of the weakest EBF inductees, but his bust sits amongst the greats regardless.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

Mitchel Dekker – Right/Left Field – Luxembourg Lancers – 70.2% Third Ballot

Mitchel Dekker was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed corner outfielder from Bergen, Netherlands; a town of about 30,000 in North Holland. Dekker was an especially strong batter against right-handed pitching with a career 159 wRC+ and .950 OPS. Against fellow lefties, he graded as slightly above average with a 109 wRC+ and .739 OPS. In total, Dekker statistically had very good contact and power skills with an above average eye and subpar strikeout rate.

Dekker topped 30+ home runs ten times and 40+ four times, although he especially mashed righties with more than 5/6 of his career homers against RHP. His gap power was respectable with around 25-30 doubles reliably each season and 30+ four times. Dekker’s baserunning instincts were alright, but his speed was laughably poor. This also led to lousy range in the outfield.

Defensively, Dekker’s career was split fairly evenly between the corner outfield spots with a bit more time in right over left. His arm was good enough to make him merely mediocre in right compared to awful in left. Despite his flaws, Dekker was one of the hardest working guys in the clubhouse and was considered quite adaptable. He also showed impressive durability for most of his career, playing 140+ games in all but one season from 1992-2005.

Dekker’s bat immediately stood out amongst the Dutch amateur scene and he quickly rose up the prospect ranks for the 1991 EBF Draft. Luxembourg would select him with the #1 overall pick, becoming a full-time starter immediately. Dekker had a remarkable debut season with 6.9 WAR, 42 home runs, and a .999 OPS. He was the undisputed Rookie of the Year and won Rookie of the Month in four of six months.

In six seasons for the Lancers, Dekker posted 5+ WAR, a OPS above .900, batting average above .300, and 35+ home runs each season. His strongest effort was his final Luxembourg season in 1997 with career bests in homers (48), wRC+ (183), and WAR (8.0). Despite his success, Dekker wasn’t in awards conversations with the competition at the corner outfield spots.

Dekker also had almost no black ink, but he was reliably in the top ten in many of the power stats each year. He also didn’t get much recognition in his early years as Luxembourg was atrocious at this point. The Lancers’ best record during Dekker’s tenure was a mere 74-88 in 1995. With that, Luxembourg figured they weren’t going to be able to keep Dekker as he entered a contract year in 1998.

He did have some notoriety back home in the Netherlands as a regular in the World Baseball Championship. Dekker had 138 games and 115 starts for the Dutch team from 1992-2009, posting 100 hits, 62 runs, 16 doubles, 27 home runs, 51 RBI, a .236/.330/.474 slash, 128 wRC+, and 3.5 WAR.

In January 1998, the Lancers traded Dekker to Barcelona for four prospects. With Luxembourg, Dekker finished with 950 games, 1072 hits, 552 runs, 141 doubles, 237 home runs, 614 RBI, a .312/.376/.579 slash, 165 wRC+, and 37.7 WAR. It was easily his longest and most statistically impressive tenure, although Dekker isn’t remembered necessarily as a Luxembourg legend by the public.

Barcelona won the 1996 European Championship, but narrowly missed the playoffs in 1997. They hoped Dekker could solidify the lineup and he helped them get a wild card in 1998, although they lost in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately for Dekker, those five games were the only playoff games of his career.

1998 was his lone season as a league leader with 43 doubles. It also saw career bests in runs (109), homers (48), batting average (.337), and OPS (1.041). The Bengals were impressed, giving Dekker a five-year, $18,800,000 extension in the summer of 1998. Dekker put up very similar numbers in 1999, winning his lone Silver Slugger. Despite his efforts, Barcelona shockingly plummeted that year to 62-100, a stunning drop considering they had been one of EBF’s better teams in the 1990s overall.

Dekker’s power dropped a bit in 2000 with only 26 home runs and a career-worst to that point 4.3 WAR. Barcelona got back to 76 wins, but Dekker decided to opt out of the remaining part of his contract. In three seasons for the Bengals, Dekker had 578 hits, 280 runs, 110 doubles, 112 home runs, 334 RBI, a .328/.378/.593 slash, 162 wRC+, and 18.2 WAR. In December 2000 heading into his age 31 season, Dekker signed a five-year, $19,600,000 deal with Birmingham.

The Bees had also been a top tier team in the 1990s, although they would oscillate between mediocre and mid in the 2000s. Dekker had a great debut season in 2001 with 47 homers, 7.1 WAR, and a career high 123 RBI. He never matched that production in the next four seasons. Dekker also suffered a broken bone in his elbow in July 2002, missing the entire second half of that season. While not elite, Dekker was still a solid starter-quality outfielder.

With Birmingham, Dekker had 770 hits, 390 runs, 113 doubles, 149 home runs, 443 RBI, a .296/.334/.525 slash, 141 wRC+, and 19.0 WAR. He was two away from the 500 career home run mark and in striking distance of both 2500 hits and 1500 RBI. However, Dekker’s EBF career ended here after his age 35 season, as teams could find younger and cheaper guys to get that production.

Dekker still played pro baseball five more seasons. In 2006, he signed a three-year, $6,600,000 deal with Vanuatu, who was entering the Oceania Baseball Association that year as an expansion team. Dekker was decent in 2006 with 3.0 WAR and 31 home runs. The Wizards would trade him to Christchurch after one season.

The Chinooks used him purely in a platoon role in 2007 and 2008 with respectable results, getting 177 hits, 93 runs, 37 home runs, a 138 wRC+, and 4.7 WAR over 225 games and 138 starts. Dekker was a free agent again for 2009 at age 39 and again found his way to a new expansion club looking for reliable veterans.

Dekker signed three years and $11,400,000 with Yaounde, a newcomer into West African Baseball. He was a full-time starter with very average results in 2009, missing part of the spring to a strained hamstring. Dekker stunk in a part-time role in 2010 with -1.2 WAR, giving him -0.2 WAR for his Yellow Birds tenure. He retired from pro baseball that winter at age 40.

The full pro career stats saw 2917 hits, 1482 runs, 417 doubles, 590 home runs, 1684 RBI, 820 walks, a .301/.356/.545 slash, 148 wRC+, and 82.4 WAR. That combined stat line probably is a pretty sure bet for Hall of Fame induction. However, the extra five years outside EBF padded Dekker’s counting stats a bit. Just in EBF, he had 2420 hits, 1222 runs, 364 doubles, 498 home runs, 1391 RBI, 667 walks, a .311/.366/.564 slash, 156 wRC+, and 74.9 WAR.

Those stats were a bit more borderline, plus Dekker had the misfortune of being on mostly bad teams. He didn’t have any big statistical seasons or awards either. As of 2037, he’s 54^th on the home run list, 58^th in RBI, and 63^rd in hits. Certain voters saw Dekker as a “Hall of Pretty Good” level guy. Being the #1 overall draft pick actually hurt him too with that group, as you’re expected to be a regular MVP candidate from that slot.

Dekker still only narrowly missed the 66% requirement with 62.4% for his 2011 ballot debut. He slightly dropped to 59.7% in 2012, but got a bump up with a quieter 2013 group. At 70.2%, Dekker had the second-best percentage among the three 2013 inductees into the EBF Hall of Fame.



Spyridon “Crayon” Sidiropoulou – Starting Pitcher – Athens Anchors – 68.5% Second Ballot

Spyridon Sidiropoulou was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece. Sidiropoulou threw hard with solid stuff, excellent control, and above average movement. His fastball was stellar with regular 97-99 mph velocity. Sidiropoulou’s curveball was also strong and was mixed in with a respectable changeup and occasional circle change. His pitching stamina was above average relative to other EBF aces, although he would run into some injury troubles.

Sidiropoulou was considered to be the next possible two-way star in EBF. If EBF used the designated hitter, he probably would’ve gotten plenty of starts there. Despite being a tremendous athlete and a good defensive pitcher, Sidiropoulou’s glove work anywhere else was atrocious. He did make 23 starts at second base and was a sub there a few times, but his defensive stats were Little League level. Thus, Sidiropoulou never was a true two-way guy.

That said, he got regular pinch hit use and even some pinch running use. Sidiropoulou was a very quick and crafty baserunner and boasted a reliably solid well rounded bat. He had 815 games and 370 starts in his career as a hitter and managed 19.4 WAR, a .307/.355/.577 slash, 154 wRC+, 471 hits, 277 runs, 70 doubles, 30 triples, 95 home runs, 261 EBI, and 90 steals. Sidiropoulou’s very strong value at the plate as a pitcher definitely helped him get across the line for Hall of Fame induction.

The possible two-way potential helped Sidiropoulou to earn the #1 overall pick by Zagreb in the 1992 EBF Draft. The Gulls only used him in three relief appearances in 1993, then he was awful in 12 starts in 1994 with a 7.05 ERA. However, Sidiropoulou tossed 9.2 scoreless innings in the 1994 playoffs, showing his potential. The Gulls fell that year to Barcelona in the Southern Conference Championship.

Sidiropoulou became a mostly full-time starter pitching with merely above average results in 1995. Disaster struck in late August 1995 with a torn UCL, which kept him out the rest of 1995 and much of 1996. Sidiropoulou did make it back late in 1996 and had a 3.75 ERA over 3 playoff starts. Zagreb again made the conference final and again were denied the pennant by Barcelona.

1997 was a breakout year, leading the conference in wins and shutouts. Sidiropoulou also had an impressive 1.223 OPS and 3.2 WAR at the plate in only 155 plate appearances. He struggled in his one playoff start as Zagreb had a first round exit. The Gulls would miss the playoffs in the next two seasons. Sidiropoulou would lead in complete games in 1998 and in both innings and quality starts in 1999.

Sidiropoulou had three straight 5+ WAR pitching seasons for Zagreb from 1997-99 and had 2+ WAR offensively each of those years, but he never got awards consideration. Sidiropoulou gave you reliable innings, but lacked the raw pitching dominance needed to earn attention. 1999 would be his best season by ERA at 2.89. Sidiropoulou only had one more sub-three ERA season in 2002.

Heading into his contract year in 2000, the 29-year old Sidiropoulou was traded in the offseason by Zagreb to Athens for five prospects and a draft pick. With the Gulls, Sidiropoulou finished with a 76-47 record, 3.48 ERA, 1187 innings, 1045 strikeouts, 166 walks, 111 ERA+, and 22.0 WAR.

Sidiropoulou was excited to return to his home country. He had pitched for Greece in the World Baseball Championship previously, posting 156 innings from 1994-2006 with a 9-9 record, 3.91 ERA, 167 strikeouts, 25 walks, 91 ERA+, and 1.6 WAR. At the plate in the WBC, he was 17-80 for a .212/.308/.412 slash.

Athens was in the mix in the early 2000s, winning division titles in 2000 and 2002. However, they were defeated both seasons in the second round of the playoffs and missed the cut in Sidiropoulou’s other seasons. His career playoff stats were lousy with a 4.53 ERA over 53.2 innings, 45 strikeouts, and 84 ERA+, plus a .242/.265/.333 slash at the plate.

Sidiropoulou did lead the Southern Conference twice in wins (2000, 2001) with Athens and led in innings in 2002. All of his seasons for the Anchors had 3.5+ WAR or better pitching with a high of 6.0 in 2002. Sidiropoulou was worth 10.3 WAR total in 2002 with a blistering 1.119 OPS, 203 wRC+, and 4.3 WAR offensively with a .353/.400/.719 slash.

Still, Sidiropoulou didn’t get any MVP consideration. He also never won a Silver Slugger as a pitcher, sharing a conference with stronger true two-way batting stars like Daniel Ramires, Atanas Kalkanov, and Michael Stojanovic. Sidiropoulou did earn a four-year, $19,900,000 with Athens in February 2001.

Sidiropoulou started to run into elbow troubles in his later years with the Anchors and became a free agent in 2006 at age 35. With Athens, Sidiropoulou had a 98-62 record, 3.42 ERA, 1436 innings, 1298 strikeouts, 213 walks, 28.1 WAR, and 113 ERA+. At the plate, he had a .307/.353/.558 slash, 149 wRC+, 11.2 WAR, 50 home runs, 265 hits, 151 runs, and 62 stolen bases over 460 games and 202 starts.

Berlin signed Sidiropoulou for three years and $13,560,000. However, he was abysmal in his limited time pitching in 2006 with a 6.03 ERA over 74.2 innings. Much of the season was also plagued by a ruptured finger tendon. After just one season with the Barons, Sidiropoulou retired at age 36.

Sidiropoulou’s pitching stats saw a 178-113 record, 3.52 ERA, 2697.2 innings, 2397 strikeouts, 390 walks, 207/347 quality starts, 112 complete games, 109 ERA+, and 49.7 WAR. As of 2037, Sidiropoulou has the second worst ERA of any Hall of Famer in EBF. The other, Gianfranco Marinis, could get by on throwing more innings than anyone else. Sidiropoulou’s accumulations weren’t anything jaw-dropping either and he didn’t have awards to his name.

However, guys like his Hall of Fame classmate Reggie Hobart and Vincent Cassar the prior year made it in with similar pitching WARs. 49.7 was very low-end, but the 69.1 when combining Sidiropoulou’s offensive value became much more nice. He never was the true stud expected from a #1 overall pick, but you could put him in a lot of spots in the batting order during his pitching starts and expect positive results.

Sidiropoulou debuted at 64.4% in 2012, just short of the 66% requirement. 2013 only saw a slight bump to 68.5%, but that got him across the line. Sidiropoulou isn’t mentioned among the best-of-the-best two-way type guys, but he’s got his slot in EBF’s Hall of Fame.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

Eurasian Professional Baseball inducted two players into its Hall of Fame in 2013. Both were first ballot picks, led by a no-doubt 97.2% from pitcher Aleksandr Ghukasyan. LF Wojciech Jezierski joined him with a respectable 73.7%. No one else was within 10% of the 66% requirement, although three others breached 50%. SP Edmon Vardanyan debuted at 55.4%, CL Nijat Arzhanov had 52.8% on his fourth try, and LF Oleg Ivashko picked up 51.6% for his second ballot.



Dropped after ten ballots was closer Marat Sadirov, who was hurt by leaving for MLB at age 30. He was a beast in eight seasons with Bishkek and in his EPB career had two Reliever of the Year wins, 268 saves, 1.60 ERA, 605.2 innings, 1065 strikeouts, 31.6 WAR, 181 ERA+, and four save titles. If Sadriov stayed and got a few more years’ accumulations, he probably makes it in. He still got as high as 40.7% in 2008 before ending at 12.3%.

SP Stefan Nesu also dropped from the ballot after ten years, peaking at 49.1% but ending at merely 11.7%. He won two EPB titles with Minsk and had a 184-160 record, 2.52 ERA, 3368.2 innings, 3155 strikeouts, 608 walks, 115 ERA+, and 68.1 WAR. Nesu didn’t have the accolades or black ink needed to make it across the line, although he boasted a very fine career.



Aleksandr Ghukasyan – Starting Pitcher – Irkutsk Ice Cats – 97.2% First Ballot

Aleksandr Ghukasyan was a 6’3’’, 205 pound right-handed pitcher from Yakutsk, Russia; a city of about 311,000 known as the coldest major city in the world. Ghukasyan had very good stuff, pinpoint control, and average movement. His fastball regularly hit the 97-99 mph range, although his changeup often got the most whiffs. Ghukasyan also had a respectable slider in his three-pitch arsenal.

Ghukasyan’s stamina was merely average relative to the many sturdy EPB aces, but he had excellent durability. He still tossed 240+ innings reliably each year from 1992-2005, even if his complete games and shutouts were fewer than most other EPB Hall of Famers. Ghukasyan was an excellent defensive pitcher, winning Gold Gloves in 1995 and 1996. He was also viewed as one of the smarter guys in the clubhouse and knew how to pick his spots expertly on the mound.

Although Yakutsk is a proper city, it isn’t easy to get noticed for baseball talent deep into the Siberian permafrost. The closet EPB franchise to Ghukasyan’s hometown was Irkutsk, which was still 3000+ kilometers away and a 43-hour drive. Still, Ghukasyan’s dominance of the limited amateur scene that far north caught the eye of the Ice Cats and a few other EPB franchises. With the 17^th pick in the 1989 EPB Draft, Irkutsk grabbed Ghukasyan, who spent nearly his entire career there.

The first two seasons for Ghukasyan saw limited use with 69 innings in 1990 and 116.1 in 1991. He locked down a full-time job with a great 1992 that saw a career-best 1.59 ERA over 260 innings. Irkutsk started what would be an eight-year playoff streak in 1990, but were one-and-done in those first two years. Ghukasyan helped turn the Ice Cats into a dynasty in the Asian League.

In the 1992 postseason, Ghukasyan was 3-0 in four starts with a 1.10 ERA over 32.2 innings. Irkutsk won the AL title, but lost to Kyiv in the EPB Championship. They repeated as AL champs in 1993 and won it all for the first time, winning over Warsaw in the EPB final. Ghukasyan again stepped up huge in the playoffs, going 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA over 24 innings.

Ghukasyan wasn’t a league leader in his 20s, but he topped 5+ WAR each season from 1992-1998. In 1994, he tossed a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and two walks against Asgabat. Then on July 31, 1996; Ghukasyan tossed EPB’s 28^th perfect game in an 11-strikeout effort against Novosibirsk. Despite these efforts, he wasn’t a Pitcher of the Year finalist at any point in the dynasty era.

Irkutsk was perfectly happy with the results, giving Ghukasyan a four-year, $7,780,000 extension in August 1996. The Ice Cats lost in the 1994 ALCS, but won three more pennants from 1995-97. Irkutsk won the 1995 EPB Championship against Warsaw, but lost in 1996 to Minsk and in 1997 to Kazan.

Ghukasyan was great again in the 1995 playoff run and good in 1996, but he was merely okay in 1994 and poor in 1997. Two poor starts late in his career in 2006 also lowered his final playoff tallies. Still, Ghukasyan ended with a 14-8 record, 2.66 ERA, 192.2 innings, 188 strikeouts, 26 walks, 110 ERA+, and 3.9 WAR in his playoff career. As of 2037, he ranks ninth in playoff wins.

Additionally, he did some limited action from 1992-2000 in the World Baseball Championship. Russia mostly used him as a reliever though with a lackluster 4.41 ERA over 34.2 innings, 50 strikeouts, and 81 ERA+. Still, Ghukasyan’s prominence during Irkutsk’s 1990s run atop the Asian League
left him with the reputation as a clutch big-game pitcher.

In March 2000, a 31-year old Ghukasyan signed a five-year, $12,200,000 extension with Irkutsk. That season saw his only time as a Pitcher of the Year finalist, taking third. He remained steady in his 30s, topping 4.5+ WAR each year from 1999-2005 and topping 6+ four times. Ghukasyan led twice in K/BB in his later years. He also led in quality starts with 31 in 2003 and led in strikeouts for the only time in 2004 with a career-best 341.

The glory days were over though for Irkutsk, who were stuck in the middle tier. They missed the playoffs each year from 1998-2005 and were exactly .500 during that stretch. Ghukasyan stayed steady and reliable during it all. Irkutsk voided the team option year in his deal after the 2004 campaign, but gave him a new two-year, $7,520,000 deal.

2006 saw a major setback with ulnar nerve entrapment costing him four months. Ghukasyan made it back in time for the playoffs, but struggled with seven runs allowed over 9.1 innings in two starts. Irkutsk lost the ALCS to Yekaterinburg and didn’t opt to re-sign Ghukasyan, making him a free agent at age 38.

Minsk gave him a shot on a two-year, $7,840,000 deal. Ghukasyan looked below average over 111 innings in 2007 and the Miners had their first losing season since 2008. He opted to retire that winter at age 39 with Irkutsk immediately bringing him back to retire his #12 uniform.

Ghukasyan had a 247-179 record, 2.56 ERA, 4057.2 innings, 4379 strikeouts, 589 walks, 369/506 quality starts, 147 complete games, 115 ERA+, and 93.6 WAR. Despite the lack of big awards or league-leading stats, Ghukasyan was regularly a top-ten level pitcher for more than a decade.

As of 2037, he ranks 30^th in pitching WAR, 16^th in wins, 13^th in innings pitched, and 21^st in strikeouts. That, plus a key role in Irkutsk’s 1990s dominance made Ghukasyan a no-doubter for the voters, even if he doesn’t factor into GOAT-level conversations at all. Ghukasyan got 97.2% as the headliner of EPB’s 2013 Hall of Fame class.



Wojciech Jezierski – Left Field – Minsk Miners – 73.7% First Ballot

Wojciech Jezierski was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed left fielder from Kepno, a town of 14,500 in south-central Poland. Jezierski was an above average contact hitter with an excellent eye for drawing walks, although his strikeout rate was subpar. He had a sturdy pop in his bat, but not prolific power. Jezierski’s 162 game average got you 26 home runs, 23 doubles, and 9 triples.

Jezierski was a very skilled and crafty baserunner with good to sometimes great speed in his prime. He played left field primarily for the first 2/3s of his career with reliably solid defense. Jezierski’s final years were mostly as a designated hitter along with terrible glove work in a brief try at first base. He still had a good bat in those later years and remained pretty durable over an 18-year run. Jezierski’s loyalty and adaptability also helped make him a popular player.

Minsk selected Jezierski 28^th overall in the 1989 EPB Draft and he spent his entire career in the Belarusian capital. He became a very well-known player for all EPB fans as the Miners maintained their dominance during his tenure. Minsk is already in the middle of what would be a historic 24-year playoff streak when Jezierski arrived. They had 15 straight playoff berths to start his career.

Although he’d become famous for playing in Belarus, Jezierski did represent his native Poland proudly in the World Baseball Championship. From 1992-2006, he played 115 games for the Polish team with 112 starts, 118 hits, 78 runs, 15 doubles, 36 home runs, 91 RBI, a .278/.367/.576 slash, 172 wRC+, and 6.0 WAR.

Jezierski was only a part-time starter as a rookie and wasn’t used in the 1990 playoff run. Minsk won the EPB Championship that year, defeating Bishkek in the final. The Miners won a fourth straight European League title in 1991 and their third EPB title in four years, besting Chelyabinsk in the final. Jezierski started most of the 1991 season and had an important playoff role with 16 hits, 11 runs, and 0.9 WAR over 18 playoff starts.

In 1992, Jezierski led in on-base-percentage for the first time. Minsk had the #1 seed, but was upset in the first round by Warsaw. This was a four-year stretch of playoff failures for the Miners, who only once made it to the ELCS (a 1993 defeat to the Wildcats). However, Jezierski soon emerged as an elite hitter. From 1993-1997, he had four seasons worth 7.5+ WAR. He led in runs scored in 1993 with 100, getting his first Silver Slugger and a third place in MVP voting.

After the 1994 season, Minsk gave Jezierski an eight-year, $11,700,000 extension. He won his second Slugger in 1995 and took second in MVP voting. The next two seasons were his finest, leading both years in WAR, slugging, OBP, OPS, and wRC+. In 1997, Jezierski also led with career highs in runs (103), home runs (41), and total bases (332). 1997 also saw a batting title at .305 and his career bests in OPS (1.013), wRC+ (215), and WAR (10.2). Jezierski repeated as EL MVP and won two Silver Sluggers.

1996 saw Minsk return to the championship throne, defeating Irkutsk in the final. This was Jezierski’s finest playoff run, earning finals MVP and posting 20 hits, 9 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 12 RBI, a .924 OPS, 203 wRC+, and 1.2 WAR over 17 playoff starts. Jezierski locked in a reputation as a playoff performer here, although he would be outright bad more than good in the next seven playoff runs with a mere 0.5 WAR over 68 starts.

Minsk lost in the first round of 1997, then had ELCS losses in 1998 and 1999. Jezierski’s production dipped a bit in 1998 and 1999, but he would lead the league in homers, RBI, slugging, and OPS in 2000. 2000 marked the start of another dynasty run within Minsk’s playoff streak. The Miners won five straight EPB championships from 2000-04 and three-peated as EPB champ from 2000-02.

Jezierski earned finals MVP again in 2000, getting 12 hits, 5 runs, and a .950 OPS in nine starts. He won his final Silver Slugger in 2001, leading in OBP for the fourth time. Jezierski led in triples and walks in 2004, but his overall production started to wane. He also was terrible in the 2001 and 2002 postseasons and merely subpar in 2003. Jezierski rolled on along with the Minsk dynasty, which extended him in March 2002 for another five years and $14,200,000.

2004 was a last playoff hurrah for Jezierski with 0.8 WAR and a 164 wRC+ over 12 starts. For his career, he had 138 playoff starts, 123 hits, 63 runs, 18 doubles, 13 triples, 20 home runs, 62 RBI, 30 stolen bases, 38 walks, a .229/.282/.422 slash, 120 wRC+, and 4.3 WAR. His rate stats aren’t overly special, but his continued presence during an historic playoff streak gave Jezierski notable spots on the playoff leaderboards.

As of 2037, he sits fourth in playoff games played, fifth in hits, second in runs, ninth in home runs, and fifth in RBI. Jezierski ended up with six EPB Champion rings and eight European League pennants, marks that not many players in baseball history can match.

Minsk’s playoff run finally ended in 2005 at 85-77 and they would miss the field again in 2006 and 2007. Jezierski had still been starter quality at a bat until his last year of 2007 with an abysmal .463 OPS and -1.0 WAR in 43 games. He finished the season on the bench and retired that winter at age 39. Minsk quickly honored him by retiring his #36 uniform.

Jezierski had 2351 hits, 1267 runs, 345 doubles, 140 triples, 391 home runs, 1160 RBI, 974 walks, 800 stolen bases, a .266/.344/.470 slash, 159 wRC+, and 89.7 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 25^th in WAR among position players, 28^th in runs scored, 15^th in walks drawn, and 36^th in stolen bases Jezierski is also in the top 100 in most of the other counting stats.

Those stats, plus six rings, two MVPs, and two finals MVPs gave Jezierski a very strong resume. Perhaps a bit of “Minsk fatigue” led to Jezierski getting only 73.7% on his ballot debut in 2013. But that was enough to give him his deserved first ballot spot into the EPB Hall of Fame.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

The Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame had two first ballot selections for its 2013 class. Pitcher Scott Webster led the way at 81.1% and was joined by OF Damien Patton at 70.9%. OF Mario Harris came painfully short of the 66% requirement with 65.4% on his fifth try. Two other returning outfielders cracked 50% with Will Lee at 55.1% on his sixth ballot and Jonathan Buai at 53.1% on his eighth attempt. No one was dropped following ten failed ballots.



Scott Webster – Starting Pitcher – Guam Golden Eagles – 81.1% First Ballot

Scott Webster was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Adelaide, Australia. Webster had tremendously overpowering stuff, which made up for having mediocre-to-bad control and movement. His fastball was 98-100 mph and was mixed with a curveball and changeup. Webster had very good stamina and intelligence on the mound, although his wildness would keep him from having more complete games.

Webster had terrific durability and avoided injuries in his career. However, his inconsistencies sent him to the bench at times, only tossing around eight or nine full seasons. Critics also argued that Webster was unmotivated, which limited his potential longevity. His raw stuff was impressive enough to give Webster a run even with his flaws.

In November 1987, Webster was spotted and signed as a teenage amateur by Guam. He spent five full years in their academy and debuted in 1993 at age 22. Webster saw limited use over his first three seasons with mixed results, making 26 starts. The Golden Eagles four-man rotation was also tough to crack, as they became a Pacific League powerhouse in the 1990s.

Webster impressively allowed one run in seven innings in the 1994 OBA Championship, although Guam lost the final to Perth. The Golden Eagles won 91 and 95 games the next two years, but missed out on the pennant to Honolulu. Webster started 23 games in 1996 and led the league with a 0.81 WHIP, earning a full-time spot in the rotation in 1997.

That was a breakout year for Webster and his first of three seasons with 6+ WAR. He led the league with a 28-8 record and 441 strikeouts. As of 2037, Webster is one of only eight pitchers in OBA with a 440+ strikeout season and one of only 12 with a 28+ win season. He also allowed 49 home runs with a 111 ERA+ and didn’t finish as a Pitcher of the Year finalist. He ultimately never was a POTY finalist.

Most importantly for Guam, 1997 started a five-year pennant streak in the Pacific League. Webster’s one playoff start was a four-hit shutout, helping the Golden Eagles win a finals rematch with Perth. He was used in relief for the 1998 OBA Championship, but allowed only one run in 9.2 innings with 15 strikeouts. That year, Guam fell in the final to Adelaide. Webster matched his career best 6.8 WAR and had 389 strikeouts. His 3.00 ERA was also a full-season career best and he had a 20 strikeout game against New Caledonia.

Early struggles and a loaded rotation led to only 76.1 innings in 1999 despite being healthy. Webster did have three scoreless in relief in the OBA Championship win over Christchurch. Although Webster didn’t have a starring role, he can say he pitched on what some consider OBA’s all-time greatest team, as the 1999 Golden Eagles finished 119-43.

Webster would return to the regular season rotation in a mostly full role for the next three years. Guam gave him a five-year, $11,600,000 extension in March 2001. He led the PL in strikeouts and innings in 2001. Webster had three scoreless innings of relief in the 2000 title win over Auckland. He would struggle with a 5.84 ERA over 12.1 innings and two starts in the 2001 final, which Guam fell to Adelaide.

Even with the weak 2001 run, Webster’s playoff stats were impressive. Over 44 innings, he had a 4-0 record and 2 saves, 2.05 ERA, 47 strikeouts, 12 walks, 170 ERA+, and 1.1 WAR. Webster’s playoff success definitely got him across the line for induction. Guam also opted to retire his #21 uniform at the end of his career.

After a full load in 2002, Guam’s PL streak as they finished four games behind Fiji for the title. This was Webster’s last year with the Golden Eagles, finishing with a 136-79 record, 3.25 ERA, 1944 innings, 2485 strikeouts, 482 walks, 105 ERA+, and 33.5 WAR. In February 2003, Guam would trade Webster to Brisbane for 2B Ken Morphy and SP Luke Talley.

Webster was happy to return to his native Australia and was optimistic as Brisbane was the reigning OBA champ. He had seen limited action in the World Baseball Championship, tossing 22.1 innings in five WBCs from 1997-2005 with a 4.03 ERA. Webster’s streaky nature would really be evident in his time with the Black Bears.

He had a good debut season in 2003, leading in strikeouts and complete games, but leading in home runs allowed. Brisbane would struggle to 77 wins this year, ceding the Australasia League throne to Melbourne. Although the Black Bears had some solid teams over the next decade, the Mets’ historic dynasty made everyone else an afterthought in the AL.

Webster had a wild 2004 season, leading in strikeouts for the fourth time with 374. Unfortunately, he also allowed 62 home runs, which was one shy of the OBA single-season record. Webster also led in walks and had an abysmal 5.27 ERA. His ERA improved to 4.30 in 2005, but he allowed the most homers in the AL for the third straight season.

Brisbane hoped that a split starting/relief role would work in 2006 with decent results. Webster’s 120 ERA+ was the second best of his career, but the Black Bears decided not to extend him beyond that. With Brisbane, Webster had a 61-56 record, 4.17 ERA, 1023.1 innings, 1194 strikeouts, 97 ERA+, and 11.1 WAR.

A free agent at age 36, Webster’s stuff had still managed to earn international attention. MLB’s Edmonton Eels signed him to a three-year, $21,300,000 deal. They quickly regretted it with Webster posting a 4.81 ERA over 67.1 innings. Edmonton cut their losses in May, sending Webster back home to Australia.

The Melbourne dynasty brought him in primarily in relief to finish 2007 with passable results. He wasn’t used in the playoffs, but Webster earned his fourth career OBA Championship ring with the Mets. This officially ended his OBA career, although Webster hoped to still pitch somewhere.

EBF’s Hamburg Hammers gave him a shot in 2008 with a 4.26 ERA over 76 innings. In 2009, Thessaloniki signed him but only used him for 13.2 innings. Webster’s European run had a 4.22 ERA over 89.2 innings and 0.4 WAR. He retired that winter at age 38.

Webster finished in OBA with a 198-137 record, 3.57 ERA, 3008 innings, 3742 strikeouts, 781 walks, 213/361 quality starts, 131 complete games, 102 ERA+, and 44.7 WAR. The advanced stats are not kind to Webster at all with the ERA+ suggesting barely above league average production. As of 2037, he’s only 88^th in WAR among pitchers. Webster also ranks eighth in home runs allowed (454) and 21^st in walks allowed (781).

To his credit, Webster ranks 22^nd in strikeouts, 15^th in K/9 (11.20), and 39^th in wins. His ERA was far worse than any other OBA Hall of Famers to that point and the only guys that would later rank near him played in a much higher offense era. Additionally, the only inductees with a lower career WAR were relief pitchers.

A modern look reveals a lot of flaws from Webster’s game. Contemporary and traditionalist voters though saw nearly 200 wins, 3500+ strikeouts, and four championship rings. Webster also did step up in some big championship spots for Guam during their decade of dominance. With that, Webster was inducted fairly soundly with 81.1% to headline OBA’s 2013 Hall of Fame class.



Damien Patton – Outfielder – Guadalcanal Green Jackets – 70.9% First Ballot

Damien Patton was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed outfielder from Perth, Australia. Patton was merely an above average contact hitter with an okay strikeout rate, but he had an excellent eye for drawing walks. He was also a menace on the basepaths, especially after getting walks. Patton’s speed was just good, but his baserunning and stealing ability were stellar. His gap power was nice as well with 22 doubles and 11 triples per his 162 game average. Along with that, Patton also had very steady home run power, topping 30+ in eight different seasons.

Roughly 2/3s of Patton’s starts came in center field, but he graded as a mediocre defender there with poor range. He was moved to right field mostly in his 30s and was above average there. Patton also had a couple starts in left with lackluster results. He ran into some sporadic injuries, but still managed to have a 15-year career. Patton was a humble and quiet man, which made him a popular player in his time.

Patton was noticed and signed as a teenage amateur in March 1987 by Guadalcanal, making the move to the Solomon Islands. He spent most of six years in their training academy, officially debuting with 9 plate appearances in 1992 at age 22. Patton was on the roster full time in 1993 and a part-time starter with okay results. He earned the full-time gig from 1994 onward.

Although his defense was poor for the position, Patton was the best offensive center fielder in the Pacific League. With the Green Jackets, he won Silver Sluggers in 1994, 95, 96, 97, and 99. Guadalcanal gave him a four-year, $6,400,000 extension in March 1996. Patton led in walks drawn in 1996 and 1999. In 1997, he posted league bests in runs (110) and WAR (8.6), winning MVP. That would be his career high WAR season, topping seven in four seasons.

Patton was MVP again in 1999, leading the league in runs (90), walks (70), total bases (326), OBP (.370), slugging (.570), OBS (.940), wRC+ (173), and WAR (7.8). His wRC+ was a career high, as was his 40 home runs. Despite his efforts, Guadalcanal was generally stuck just below .500 during his run. The Green Jackets averaged 79.25 wins per season while Patton was employed. Still, his efforts over seven seasons were appreciated and his #17 uniform would later be retired.

With Guadalcanal, Patton had 973 hits, 593 runs, 137 doubles, 73 triples, 198 home runs, 527 RBI, 378 walks, 407 stolen bases, a .270/.341/.513 slash, 155 wRC+, and 39.5 WAR. His stock was at an all-time high after his 1999 MVP season and he would turn 30 in May 2000. That was his last year under contract for the Green Jackets, who seemed to be going nowhere competitively at that point.

In January 2000, Guadalcanal traded Patton to Gold Coast for 1B/3B Joel Patu and 2B/SS Finn Potter. This sent Patton home to Australia, although he had been representing his country in the World Baseball Championship since 1994. From 1994-2005, he had 103 games and 91 starts in the WBC with 80 hits, 65 runs, 9 doubles, 26 home runs, 49 RBI, 60 walks, a .242/.367/.517 slash, 150 wRC+, and 3.8 WAR.

Gold Coast wanted him long term and only a week after the trade gave Patton a seven-year, $21,320,000 extension. Like with the Green Jackets, Patton was stuck on a delightfully average franchise. Over his seven years, the Kangaroos averaged 79.7 wins per season, peaking at 84-78. Patton held up his end, winning Silver Sluggers in 2000, 01, 02, and 04.

Eight Silver Sluggers remains the OBA position record at center field. Patton’s ninth and final Slugger came in right field in 2004, along with a second place in MVP voting. That season had career highs in total bases (337), triple slash (.307/.375/.584), OPS (.959), runs scored (117), and hits (177). The 34-year old Patton also had one of his best power seasons with 39 homers, 102 RBI, and 27 doubles.

His power dropped hard the next year with only 20 homers and a .773 OPS. Then in 2006, Patton missed half of the season to a fractured thumb. Gold Coast voided the team option final year of his deal, making him a free agent heading into his age 37 season. For the Kangaroos, Patton had 958 hits, 618 runs, 138 doubles, 69 triples, 212 home runs, 593 RBI, 452 walks, 339 stolen bases, a .273/.356/.533 slash, 141 wRC+, and 34.0 WAR.

Guam signed him to a one-year, $2,240,000 deal hoping to spark some of that old magic. Patton was merely average over 139 games with a .729 OPS, 105 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. His season ended with a torn hamstring, but he would rehab over the winter. Patton hoped to play in 2008, but he didn’t have any takers. He officially retired in the winter of 2008 at age 38.

Patton ended with 2036 hits, 1284 runs, 290 doubles, 148 triples, 431 home runs, 1178 RBI, 906 walks, 788 stolen bases, a .268/.347/.516 slash, 146 wRC+, and 74.8 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 34^th in WAR among position players, 13^th in walks, 29^th in runs scored, and 41^st in homers. Patton also sits 54^th in on-base percentage among all hitters with 3000+ plate appearances.

At center field, he ranks seventh in WAR as well. Patton isn’t going to be in any of the GOAT-level conversations, but his resume was pretty solid for induction. Patton received a surprisingly low 70.9% in 2013, but this was still enough for the first ballot addition into the OBA Hall of Fame.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

2013 was the first time since 1993 that Austronesia Professional Baseball didn’t add anyone into its Hall of Fame. Closer Bo-Kai Yen came close to a first ballot nod, but his 62.7% was just shy of the 66% requirement. Fellow reliever Chang-Heng Chang was the top returner at 61.3% for his fifth ballot. The only other player above 50% was RF Basuki Susanti with 58.4% for his third go. Seven players were in the 40s.



Pitcher Wei-Min Chiang was the lone player dropped after ten failed ballots. He had a split career between relief and starting, but did win three straight Reliever of the Year awards for Davao from 1994-96. Chiang also tossed 10.2 scoreless innings in the 1995 postseason, helping the Devil Rays to the APB Championship.

Between Davao and Palembang, Chiang had a 81-100 record, 141 saves, 202 shutdowns, 2.39 ERA, 1584 innings, 1843 strikeout, 391 walks, 105 ERA+, and 27.9 WAR. His relief run was too brief to reach the important stats and his time as a starter was generally subpar. Still, Chiang debuted at 30.5% and lasted ten ballots, finishing at 5.8%.

Also notable from the Davao dynasty was SP Kundugga Fakdawer, who dropped below 5% on his ninth ballot and peaked at 18.2%. He had a respectable run, but was in the “Hall of Good” camp with a 131-125 record, 2.86 ERA, 2475 innings, 2789 strikeouts, 443 walks, 101 ERA+, and 48.8 WAR.

[FuzzyRussianHat]

The 2013 Hall of Fame class for Chinese League Baseball had two inductees on their debuts. Pitcher Zirong Chen led the way at 83.8% and was joined by OF Tao Yang at 74.6%. CL Chiang-Ho Yang didn’t miss the 66% requirement by much with 62.7% for his fourth try. No one else topped the 50% mark.



SP Chengxi Chen fell off the ballot after ten tries, peaking with his debut at 32.9% and ending at 9.2%. His tallies were hurt by leaving for Beisbol Sudamerica in his final six seasons. Chen had around a decade with Xiamen and posted a 119-112 record, 2.19 ERA, 2355.2 innings, 2831 strikeouts, 329 walks, 107 ERA+, and 40.7 WAR. It was a nice run, but nowhere near dominant enough to make up for having lower tallies.



Zirong Chen – Starting Pitcher – Chongqing Cavaliers – 83.8% First Ballot

Zirong Chen was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Zhaoqing, a prefecture-level city of more than four million in South China’s Guangdong Province. Chen was a very well-rounded pitcher with good-to-great stuff, movement, and control. His 98-100 mph cutter was his most effective pitch, but he also had a solid splitter, forkball, and changeup in the arsenal.

Chen’s stamina was pretty good compared to the other aces in China and he avoided major injuries in his 20s. He was a good defensive pitcher, but was poor at holding runners. Chen’s leadership and work ethic were both considered strong points, although he wasn’t the brightest guy.

By the 1995 CLB Draft, Chen was one of the highest ranked pitching prospects. He was selected fourth overall by Chongqing, where he’d spend his entire CLB career. Chen saw limited use initially with only three relief appearances in 1996, followed by 99 innings in 1997. He became a full-time starter from 1998 and held down that role for a decade with the Cavaliers.

Chen led the Southern League in wins in both 1998 and 2000. The latter saw career bests in ERA (1.58) and strikeouts (352) along with a 9.3 WAR effort, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. Chen fell off a bit in 2001, then posted league-bests 10.0 WAR and 9.1 WAR in back-to-back seasons. He led in strikeouts (310) and shutouts (6) in 2002, but didn’t earn POTY finalist recognition. He would take second in 2003 with his 1.64 ERA, but ultimately never earned the top honor.

Chongqing made the playoffs in both 1998 and 1999. The Cavaliers lost in the first round in 1998 with Chen not being used. They made the semifinal in 1999, but fell to eventual champ Beijing. He allowed four runs over 16 innings in his only playoff starts in CLB. Chongqing was generally just above average during his tenure, getting 83.1 wins per season from 1996-2007.

Chen did at least get to see some big games for China from 1999-2007 in the World Baseball Championship. He was excellent in the 2002 championship season with a 1.57 ERA over five quality starts, 40 innings, and 58 strikeouts. In total, Chen had a 12-5 record, 3.29 ERA, 164.1 innings, 204 strikeouts, 51 walks, 111 ERA+, and 2.8 WAR.

After the 2002 season, Chongqing gave Chen a five-year, $19,680,000 extension. He continued with very solid production, but did see some nagging injuries pop up near the end. A hamstring strain cost him a month in 2006, then both shoulder and forearm tendinitis cost him more than a month in 2007. His contact expired after the 2007 season and the Cavaliers let him leave for free agency at age 32.

That ultimately ended his CLB career, as he surprisingly didn’t have many decent offers. Chen found a good deal in West Africa Baseball, moving to Burkina Faso with a five-year, $17,080,000 deal with Ouagadougou. The deal was cursed right away with Chen suffering a torn flexor tendon in his elbow in June 2008. When he made it back in the summer of 2009, bone chips in his elbow knocked him out for another three months.

Chen stayed relatively healthy from 2010 onwards, but the prior injuries tanked his control. He was relegated to relief with lackluster results in 2010 and 2011 for the Osprey and didn’t reach the criteria for the fifth year of his deal. With Ouagadougou, Chen had a 25-17 record, 327.2 innings, 4.37 ERA, 368 strikeouts, 118 walks, 93 ERA+, and 2.0 WAR. Chen was unemployed in 2012 and retired that winter at age 37. Chongqing would quickly honor him by retiring his #17 uniform.

The final CLB stats for Chen: 161-116 record, 1.93 ERA, 2651.1 innings, 3017 strikeouts, 421 walks, 263/320 quality starts, 135 complete games, 42 shutouts, 127 ERA+, and 68.1 WAR. Despite a fairly short run relatively, as of 2037 Chen ranks 25^th in pitching WAR, 17^th in strikeouts, and 20^th in wins. He also sits 39^th in ERA among all CLB pitchers with 1000+ career innings.

Chen fairly quietly put together an excellent career. Even though he didn’t have the awards and playoff accolades, his stats spoke for themselves regarding how good he was in his prime. The voters agreed, giving Chen 83.8% for a first ballot induction with CLB’s 2013 Hall of Fame class.



Tao Yang – Left/Center Field – Kunming Muscle – 74.6% First Ballot

Tao Yang was a 6’4’’, 205 pound left-handed outfielder from Hangzhou, China. Yang was a prolific home run hitter, especially in the incredibly low-scoring world of Chinese baseball. He led the Southern League in homers eight times and topped 40+ homers in ten different seasons. In his prime, some scouts gave Yang’s home run power a 10/10. He was especially dominant against right-handed pitching with a 223 wRC+ and .928 OPS in CLB. He wasn’t a bum against lefties with a 139 wRC+ and .662 OPS.

Yang was above average against righties as a contact hitter, but firmly below average against lefties. He was quite solid at drawing walks, but had a lousy strikeout rate. Yang’s power was generally focused on dingers with only 15 doubles and 11 triples per his 162 game average. He had average speed, but his baserunning ability was lousy.

Defensively, Yang had around 2/3s of his starts in left field with most of the rest in center. He graded as a very good defender in left and a poor one in center, lacking the range needed to cover the middle. Yang had some injury woes, but his adaptability and work ethic pushed him through it for an excellent 20 year career. Yang was also known for being outspoken, especially for speaking truth to power. This often rubbed powerful figures in the league and Chinese government the wrong way, but made him popular with many fans and teammates.

Yang was hitting towering home runs even in the amateur ranks, soaring up the prospect charts by the 1991 CLB Draft. Kunming picked him second overall and he was an immediate star. Yang’s rookie year of 1992 saw 42 home runs and 7.7 WAR, picking up a Silver Slugger and Rookie of the Year. His sophomore season saw a significant setback with a stretched elbow ligament costing him nearly the entire season. Yang returned with a good effort in 1994.

1995 was an historic effort with 55 home runs, a mark that had been reached only thrice prior in CLB. Yang also led the league and posted career bests in runs (92), total bases (356), slugging (.650), OPS (.985), wRC+ (263), and WAR (12.0). He led with 95 RBI and his .270 average would be a CLB career high. Yang won his first MVP and his second Silver Slugger. Kunming knew they had a superstar on their hands and signed Yang to an eight-year, $18,820,000 extension that winter.

From here, Yang led the league in home runs in seven of the next eight seasons. He also led in RBI twice more, walks once, and total bases twice. Yang won additional Silver Sluggers in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. With Kunming, Yang topped 7+ WAR in eight different seasons. Despite his efforts, the Muscle were stuck just outside the playoffs in the 1990s, averaging 84 wins per season from 1992-1999.

Kunming finally became a contender and made it to the China Series in 2000, 2002, and 2003. Yang won his second MVP in 2000, leading in home runs (52), total bases (323), slugging (.619), OPS (.956), and wRC+ (225) while adding 9.8 WAR. He was the first in CLB history to breach 50+ homers twice and was the only one until the mid 2010s. 2000 was an impressive bounce-back for Yang, as he suffered a torn PCL in August 1999 that shelved him seven months.

A strained oblique kept Yang out for part of the 2000 playoffs, although he had three homers and four RBI in five games. Kunming lost to Guangzhou in the final. They just missed the 2001 playoffs, although Yang still took second in MVP voting. He won his third MVP in 2002 with 47 home runs and 8.2 WAR. The Muscle would win their second CLB title, besting Shenyang in the China Series. Yang was merely okay in the 2002 playoff run with a 106 wRC+ and 0.3 WAR over 12 starts.

Yang was second in 2003’s MVP voting on a 44 homer, 8.8 WAR season. He put the 100-win Muscle on his back in the playoffs, where they ultimately fell 4-2 to Harbin in the China Series. Yang was semifinal MVP with an all-time playoff run over 12 starts, getting 17 hits, 15 runs, 8 home runs, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 11 RBI, a 1.443 OPS, 410 wRC+, and 2.0 WAR. This tied the then playoff record for playoff homers.

This also marked the end of his playing days in Chinese League Baseball. Yang had passed Hao Lan’s 437 career home runs in 2002 to become CLB’s home run king, setting three shy of 500. His Kunming deal expired heading into his age 35 season and he had worldwide attention. There were also those in CLB who disliked his outspoken nature and didn’t want such a vocal guy to keep soaring up the all-time leaderboards. All of this prompted Yang to leave for Major League Baseball.

He remained one of China’s most popular baseball stars even if he was outspoken. Even after leaving, the national team had to keep him on the World Baseball Championship squad despite the reluctance of some government officials. Yang’s beastly power had helped the Chinese team to their mid 1990s dominance. They won world titles in 1993 and 1994 and were runner-up in 1995 and 1996. Yang was also there for the 2002 world title and 2007 runner-up finish.

Yang also was second in 1994’s MVP voting with an impressive 13 home runs, 22 run, 26 RBI performance over 26 starts with a 1.144 OPS. For his WBC career from 1993-2008, Yang had 219 games, 198 starts, 158 hits, 129 runs, 14 doubles, 82 home runs, 150 RBI, 85 walks, a .219/.311/.588 slash, 151 wRC+, and 7.5 WAR. As of 2037, he ranks 11^th in all WBC players in home runs and 22^nd in RBI.

For 2004, the soon-to-be 35-year old Yang signed a four-year, $41,200,000 deal with MLB’s Austin Amigos. A hamstring strain cost him more than a month in 2004. At full strength the next two years, he hit 39 and 42 home runs, peaking with a 5.5 WAR effort in 2006. Yang had a good pace in 2007, but lost half of the season from a strained abdominal muscle.

He wasn’t an award winner with Austin, but was a solid veteran slugger over 505 games with 451 hits, 281 runs, 124 home runs, 278 RBI, a .250/.313/.514 slash, 124 wRC+, and 15.5 WAR. A free agent again nearing age 39, Yang stayed in Texas on a three-year, $30,500,000 deal with Houston.

Age started to catch up with various injuries costing him roughly half of both the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. Yang was back for the 2008 playoffs with Houston, but was pedestrian with a 97 wRC+ over 13 games. The Hornets lost the American Association Championship Series to San Diego. Yang didn’t meet the vesting criteria for the third season, becoming a free agent again heading into his 40s.

With Houston, he had 169 games, 153 hits, 88 runs, 33 home runs, 110 RBI, a .250/.312/.466 slash, 114 wRC+, and 4.1 WAR. For his six seasons in MLB, he had 604 hits, 369 runs, 58 doubles, 39 triples, 157 home runs, 388 RBI, a .250/.313/.502 slash, 121 wRC+, and 19.6 WAR. This was a very solid run for a guy who entered arguably the top league in the world in his mid to late 30s.

Yang still wanted to play somewhere and eventually found a home in Australia as OBA’s Brisbane gave him a three-year, $9,200,000 deal. He was merely decent in 2010 with 1.4 WAR over 143 games. Yang would struggle in 2011 with -1.1 WAR over 86 games. The run ended in disaster with a ruptured Achilles tendon on August 31. This effectively ended his career. Yang tried to make a 2012 comeback after rehabbing, but was unsigned. He officially retired in the winter of 2012 at age 43.

For his combined pro career, Yang had 2585 games, 2213 hits, 1298 runs, 232 doubles, 171 triples, 682 home runs, 1424 RBI, 796 walks, 158 stolen bases, a .243/.307/.531 slash, 172 wRC+, and 112.2 WAR. Just in CLB with Kunming, he had 1416 hits, 843 runs, 148 doubles, 115 triples, 497 home runs, 945 RBI, 539 walks, 131 stolen bases, a .240/.306/.556 slash, 203 wRC+, and 92.4 WAR.

Yang stayed the CLB home run king until the early 2020s with the “dead ball” Chinese League seeing a slight uptick in offense from the 2020s onward. Still, as of 2037 Yang ranks seventh in dingers. He also sits 31^st in RBI and 32^nd in WAR among position players. Among all hitters with 3000+ plate appearances, Yang sits 24^th in slugging percentage.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Yang was THE home run hitter of Chinese baseball. Had he stuck around, his final overall tallies likely would’ve placed him more favorably among CLB’s tip-top greats. The lower final accumulations and his outspoken nature probably are why Yang only got 74.6%. That was plenty though for the deserved first ball Hall of Fame nod in 2013.

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West Africa Baseball didn’t add any players into the Hall of Fame in 2013 for the first blank ballot since 2007. The top performer was RF Ada Nwankwo at 59.2% on his fourth ballot. The top debut was 3B Yakubu Odiye at 53.7%. SP Alusine Sadiq also topped 50% with 52.9% for his fifth ballot.



Dropped after ten failed ballots included LF Ferdinand Chihana, who had a 14-year career between Lome and Port Harcourt. The Malawian switch hitter was MVP in 1989 and won six Silver Sluggers while also helping the Hillcats win the 1995 title. Chihana had 1848 hits, 1027 runs, 392 doubles, 112 triples, 382 home runs, 1096 RBI, 507 stolen bases, a .275/.305/.538 slash, 136 wRC+, and 47.9 WAR.

Advanced stats weren’t kind to Chihana, who struck out a lot and played terrible defense. Injuries also cost him some potential longevity. Chihana debuted at 38.2% and never fell below 30%. He peaked with 48.3% on his final shot, getting banished to the Hall of Pretty Good.

SP Akeem Adeniran also fell off after ten ballots, peaking at 31.9% on his second ballot and ending with a mere 13.8%. He was hurt by leaving for CABA in his final four seasons with Monterrey. With Kumasi in ten WAB seasons, Adeniran had a 133-102 record, 3.09 ERA, 2057 innings, 2611 strikeouts, 410 walks, 124 ERA+, and 55.9 WAR. As of 2037, he still ranks 35^th in pitching WAR.

With his four seasons in Mexico, Adeniran had a 197-133 record, 3.03 ERA, 3007.2 innings, 3634 strikeouts, 125 ERA+, and 75.6 WAR. That full line probably gets him in, but his WAB run just didn’t have the accumulations. Adeniran also the lacked black ink and awards that could’ve gotten him in despite low final tallies.

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South Asia Baseball had back-to-back blank Hall of Fame ballots for the first time since their first inductee in 1992. SP Raja Ahmad Saari barely missed the 66% cut with a debut at 63.8%. 1B Sunil Lamichhane was close as well on his fifth try at 62.3%. Also cracking 50% were C Kumar Patel at 58.4% on his sixth ballot, RF Han Kywe Khant debuting with 56.4%, and RF Teerapat Siriyakorn with a 51.4% second try. No players were dropped after ten failed tries.

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The Asian Baseball Federation had a four-player 2012 Hall of Fame class, but that left them with an empty group in 2013. Only two got close to the 66% requirement, led by a debuting catcher Alireza Omidvar at 64.8%. S Sa’id Farahani had 62.8% in his third attempt. No one else topped 50% and no players were dropped after ten failed ballots.

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SP Ahmed Khandour was the lone addition into the Arab League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. On his third ballot, Khandour reached the 66% requirement with a nice 69.3%. SP Nacerdine Rahim was the next closest with 58.3% on his eighth ballot. 2B Ahmad Abbas was the other player above 50% with a 53.9% third try. The top debut was SP Ali Al-Shakal with 42.6%. No players were cut from the ballot after ten tries.



Ahmed Khandour – Starting Pitcher – Alexandria Astronauts – 69.3% Third Ballot

Ahmed Khandour was a 6’5’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Talkha, Egypt, a city of 413,000 located about 120 kilometers northeast of Cairo. Khandour was a balanced arm with above average to good stuff and movement along with average control. He reached 97-99 mph peak velocity with an arsenal of cutter, splitter, curveball, and slider.

Although complete games are less common in ALB than other leagues, Khandour very rarely went the distance relative to his peers. He was one of the most respected guys in the game, known for excellent leadership and adaptability, plus an excellent work ethic.

Khandour quickly emerged as one of the top overall prospects for the 1993 ALB Draft. The other Egyptian teams took notice of their countryman with Alexandria selecting him ninth overall. Khandour’s entire pro career came with the Astronauts. He also regularly represented Egypt in the World Baseball Championship from 1994-2003, posting a 3.23 ERA over 122.2 innings, 7-8 record, 124 strikeouts, 47 walks, 112 ERA+, and 2.1 WAR.

Khandour was a full-time start immediately and had an excellent rookie year with a 2.62 ERA, 20-7 record, and 6.9 WAR. He finished third in both Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year voting. Khandour was more efficient in 1995, but missed nearly two months to injuries. Alexandria won their first-ever Egypt Division title, but lost in the Western Conference Final to Casablanca. Khandour had a 2.02 ERA over 13.1 playoff innings. Alexandria was solid in the next seven seasons with an average of 88 wins per season, but they couldn’t crack the playoff field.

Khandour’s lone Pitcher of the Year came in 1996, winning an ERA title at 2.13 and leading in quality starts at 28. This also saw Khandour’s career best WAR at 8.1. He would top 6+ six times in his career. Khandour placed second in 1997 and 2000’s POTY voting. 2000 saw another ERA title with a career-best 2.02. Khandour also led with a career-best 0.91 WHIP, 196 ERA+, and 31 quality starts while also posting 7.9 WAR and 306 strikeouts.

2001 saw a career-best 310 strikeouts, taking third in POTY voting. Alexandria gave him a four-year, $9,220,000 extension with that. Heading into his age 31 season, the Astronauts figured their ace would continue to roll on. However, 2001 proved to be his final full season.

Khandour had 25 starts in 2002 with decent results, although his 3.24 ERA was his first time above three. The season ended with rotator cuff inflammation in late July. Alexandria would take the top seed and win the conference title, falling in the Arab League Championship to Dubai. Khandour had to watch the festivities in a sling.

2003 started with a strained oblique in spring training, then a strained abdominal muscle in May. In June, Khandour tore his rotator cuff, knocking him out 12 months. When he returned in 2004, he only saw nine relief appearances in the regular season. Khandour did make a quality start in the playoffs as Alexandria lost in the conference final to Beirut.

Khandour’s control was ruined by the rotator cuff tear, but he still tried to make it work in 2005. A ruptured finger tendon kept him out almost the entire season. Khandour only had four relief appearances, allowing six runs in 3.1 innings. He was unsigned in 2006 and retired that winter at age 35. Alexandria would honor him by retiring his #31 uniform; the first to be taken out of circulation by the Astronauts.

The final stats saw a 152-72 record, 2.60 ERA, 2011 innings, 2345 strikeouts, 412 walks, 213/307 quality starts, 14 complete games, 148 ERA+, and 59.8 WAR. The rate stats show how excellent Khandour was and even though he only won Pitcher of the Year once, he was a regular finalist in his prime. As of 2037, he ranks ninth in ERA among any pitcher with 1000+ innings. Khandour also ranks 15^th in WHIP and even sits 28^th in WAR despite the injuries.

However, the overall accumulations were on the low-end, sitting 41^st in wins and 65^th in strikeouts. Some voters felt he just didn’t have the required longevity, thus Khandour got 57.5% and 65.1% in his first two ballots. His brief dominance and his respected leadership was enough for the majority of voters though. Khandour got 69.3% on his third ballot, earning his spot as the lone ALB Hall of Fame inductee of 2013.

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The African Association of Baseball still didn’t add its first Hall of Famer in 2013, but they got as close as they ever have. On his third ballot, CL Jaures Ibara received 65.6%, less than a full percent short of the 66% requirement. CF Bawaka Ngoie also had 61.3% on his fourth ballot, slightly down from the 62.0% the prior year.



1B Abebe Chekol was the top debut at 60.7%. SP Hendrik Jongman had 59.5% in his sixth ballot and 1B Boubacar Mavinga saw 50.9% on his second ballot. No one else cracked 50% and no players were dropped after ten failed ballots. The next year would finally see someone break the AAB HOF seal.

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The 67^th World Baseball Championship was hosted in Nanning, China. Division 1 saw Guatemala emerge from a very competitive field at 7-2, finishing one game ahead of last year’s runner-up Italy, the DR Congo, and Taiwan. This was the fifth division title for the Guatemalans, who last did it with a fourth place overall finish in 2009.

England and the United States tied at 7-2 in Division 2, while Sweden was 6-3. The English had the head-to-head win to advance for the eighth time. This was only the third time in WBC history that the Americans missed the Round Robin in back-to-back WBCs, joining 1986-87 and 1969-70.

Myanmar secured D3 at 7-2, edging host China and Spain at 6-3. This was the second-ever division title for Myanmar, who took fourth in 2001. The defending world champion Romania struggled to 3-6 in D3. Ethiopia went 8-1 atop Division 4 with both Afghanistan and Kazakhstan their closest foes at 6-3. It was the third division title for the Ethiopians, who most recently had finished fourth in 2008.

Division 5 had a three-way tie for first at 7-2 between Canada, India, and Australia. The Canadians took the tiebreaker, advancing for the 37^th time and the first time since 2010. D6 went to 8-1 Ukraine with their nearest foe being 6-3 Czechia. That gives the Ukrainians nine division titles with their last coming in 2007.

All ten teams were within two games of first in Division 7. Scotland prevailed at 6-3, followed by Malaysia, Nigeria, and Slovakia at 5-4, then everyone else at 4-5. The Scots grabbed their fourth division title, ending a drought dating back to 1977.

In Division 8, Poland tied with Russia at 7-2, followed by Iran at 6-3. The Poles had the tiebreaker for their sixth division title; their first in 44 years going back to 1969. No teams were unbeaten in divisional play in 2013 and eight different teams advanced compared to 2012. The last four years had seen significant parity with the 32 division titles claimed by 27 different nations.

England took first in Double Round Robin Group A at 4-2. Ethiopia and Canada were 3-3, while Scotland was 2-4. The Ethiopians had the tiebreaker to advance to their second-ever semifinal, joining the fourth place from 2008. The English moved to the semifinal for the fourth time (1963, 1975, 2011, 2013).

Group B was dominated by Ukraine at 5-1. The Ukrainians earned a third trip to the final four, having taken runner-up in both 1958 and 1983. Guatemala advanced as well at 3-3, topping 2-4 efforts by Myanmar and Poland. This was the third semifinal for the Guatemalans, who took third in 1968 and fourth in 2009.

England cruised to a semifinal sweep of Guatemala, while Ukraine outlasted Ethiopia 3-2. The Ethiopians officially took third, their highest-ever finish. The 67^th World Championship was guaranteed to crown the 14^th unique nation as champ. Both countries had been there before with the English losing two years prior to the United States and Ukraine losing to the US in 1958 and to Germany in 1983. It was also back-to-back finals between two European nations and the third all-Europe final.



For the first time since 2002, the finale needed all seven games. England edged Ukraine for the title, led by Tournament MVP Harvey Coyle. The 25-year old shortstop had won four straight EBF Northern Conference MVPs with Oslo. In 25 games, Coyle had 33 hits, 20 runs, 4 doubles, 14 home runs, 30 RBI, a .333/.383/.798 slash, and 2.0 WAR.

England also had the Best Pitcher winner in Leo Bhagwan, a 24-year old closer in the Second League with Liverpool. He had 13 appearances with a 0.76 ERA over 23.2 innings, 5-1 record, 7 saves, 11 shutdowns, 47 strikeouts, and 9 hits allowed for a 502 ERA+ and 1.5 WAR.



With the loss, Ukraine joins Italy at 0-3 in their finals appearances; the most defeats by a nation without a world title. Their top performer was LF Anatoliy Kucherenko, twice a Second League MVP with Odessa. In 27 starts, he had 25 hits, 23 runs, 13 home runs, 21 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.

Other notes: Japan’s Heihachiro Okasawa struck out 22 over 8.1 innings against Kazakhstan. It was the 12^th time in WBC history that a pitcher had 22+ Ks in a game and the third time it had happened in fewer than nine innings. Greece’s Stefanos Emmanoulidis became the 15^th player to hit for the cycle in the WBC, doing it against Peru.

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Rome took the top spot in the European Second League’s Western Conference at 109-53. Valencia gave them a run at 105-57 with the Vandals earning a third straight playoff appearance. The other two spots went to Cardiff (95-67) and Stuttgart (89-73). The Crew bounced back after a lousy 69-93 the prior year. The Silver Sabres earned their third playoff appearance in four years. Berlin (82-80), Turin (81-81), and Toulouse (80-82) were just short in the wild card mix.



Four wins separated the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. Tirana took first at 100-62, besting Tbilisi by one game at 93-63. Both Brno and Ljubljana were next at 96-66. It was repeat playoff appearances for all but the Bandits, who had their first-ever winning season. Dnipro (91-71) and Odessa (89-73) were the only other teams that were competitive with that group.

Advancing from the Round Robin in the Western Conference were the top two as Valencia went 5-1 and Rome was 4-2. Stuttgart finished 2-4 and Cardiff went 1-5. The Vandals then upset the Red Wolves 4-3 in a classic for the conference title and a guaranteed promotion. Valencia had been the first Second League champ and spent four seasons in the EBF Elite before getting relegated back for four seasons.



Brno and Tirana advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship with 4-2 Round Robin records, while Tbilisi and Ljubljana both were 1-5. The Bandits then downed the Trojans 4-1 to earn their first-ever promotion. In the Second League Championship, Valencia defeated Brno 4-2, making the Vandals to first franchise to win the E2L title twice.



Ultimately, five EBF Elite teams had 100+ losses, which enabled five promotions out of the E2L. Semifinalists Rome and Tirana both were promoted as was Tbilisi as the top performer of the remaining playoff teams. The Red Wolves and the Trains return to the top tier after four seasons in E2L. The Trojans’ Second League stay lasted three seasons.

Other notes: Turn’s Christopher Goddard set still-standing E2L records for batting average (.369), hits (232), and singles (171). Valencia’s Felipe Macias set the OBP record at .476. The Vandals’ Odon Torgyan set the E2L playoff record for wins, going 5-0 in his five starts. He had a 0.88 ERA with 32 strikeouts. His Valencia teammate Spencer Matebwe set the playoff saves record with 8. He had a 0.81 ERA over 22.1 innings with 32 strikeouts.

Sheffield’s Don Ransom had the ninth Perfect Game in E2L history, striking out six against Palermo on August 15. Stuttgart’s Dieter Launhardt tossed his fourth no-hitter, a mark no one else has reached. He also won his third Pitcher of the Year award for the Silver Sabres. Odessa’s Yannick Thomas repeated as POTY in the Eastern Conference. Cardiff’s Charlie Gray won his second MVP.