[illeracula]

Hall of Fame Voting Results
The ballots are counted and the results are in. This year we will witness three players added to the Hall of Fame. Paul Brown, Manuel Petrelia, and Matt Hollis received the ultimate honor this year in being voted as the newest members of the Hall of Fame.

The full voting results are included here. Players require 75% of ballots cast to be elected to the Hall, may stay on the ballot for up to 10 years if they receive at least 5% of the votes. Players must be retired for 5 years before they are eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame.

SP Paul Brown 89.6 (1st year) Inducted HOF
CL Manuel Petrelia 83.9 (1st year) Inducted HOF
SP Matt Hollis 82.6 (9th year) Inducted HOF
SS Pedro Galván 64.4 (1st year)
SP Seth Bennett 60.3 (1st year)
SS Errol Williams 37.9 (1st year)
C Richard Taylor 30.6 (9th year)
CL Arturo Ramírez 30.0 (2nd year)
1B Yann Gosselin 18.0 (1st year)
SP Robert Walker 17.0 (4th year)
SP Brad Rose 15.5 (1st year)
SP Pablo García 11.4 (3rd year)
LF Jorge Alonso 7.6 (3rd year)
SP Guillermo Alfonso 5.4 (3rd year)
SP Ben Sanford 3.8 (1st year) Dropped
SP Greg Schmidt 3.5 (1st year) Dropped
CL Alberto Gonzáles 2.5 (1st year) Dropped
RP Mike Hanson 2.5 (1st year) Dropped
CL Rhys Kennerley 2.2 (1st year) Dropped
SP Shawn Brock 2.2 (2nd year) Dropped
C Alejandro Díaz 1.6 (1st year) Dropped
SP Irving Mills 1.3 (1st year) Dropped
SS Manuel Martínez 0.3 (1st year) Dropped
3B Pepe Martínez 0.0 (1st year) Dropped

Brown Honored by First Ballot Selection to DBL Hall of Fame:
The journey took a while, but he finally arrived -- one of baseball's finest hurlers, Paul Brown, is now a member of the DELMARVA Baseball League Hall of Fame.

Commenting on his election, one of his longtime managers said, "My idea of managing is giving the ball to Paul Brown and sitting down and watching him work. He certainly made my job easier. And he certainly made me a better manager."

And pitch he certainly did -- Brown appeared in 411 games in his career, tossed 2642 innings with 2543 strikeouts and compiled an impressive 209-79 record and 3.30 ERA.

One of his opposing managers had this to say about Brown, "Paul was one of the greatest pitchers I ever saw. He had knowledge, movement and form. It was wonderful to watch him pitch when he wasn't pitching against you. It was poetry in motion."

The newest member of the Hall of Fame retired at age 38 and will be inducted at ceremonies this weekend.

Petrelia Joins Greats in DBL Hall of Fame:
Good relievers can often go unappreciated and unnoticed. That was not the case today when Manuel Petrelia was inducted into the DELMARVA Baseball League Hall of Fame. He will go down in history as one of the more dominant relievers of his generation. Petrelia was 37 when he retired from baseball.

Speaking at his induction, one of his managers observed, "A guy who throws what he intends to throw, that's the definition of a good pitcher. That's why Manuel was such a great pitcher."

In an illustrious career Petrelia nailed down 498 saves, appeared in 1115 games, fashioned a 75-75 won-loss record with a 3.02 ERA, and had 1040 strikeouts in 1159.1 innings.

Hollis Now Hall of Famer:
Matt Hollis has just become immortal -- the star pitcher has just been selected to the DELMARVA Baseball League Hall of Fame.

What a fabulous career he has had. Hollis's career record shows a 145-78 won-lost mark and an ERA of 3.03. In 315 game appearances he fanned 1875 batters in 2037.2 innings and held opposing hitters to a .220 average.

His name will now added to the list of legends this weekend at the induction ceremonies at the Hall of Fame. Hollis was 36 when he retired from baseball.

One of his former manager commented on what it was like to hit against the new Hall of Famer. "When you think it's a ball, it's a strike. When you swing at what you think is a strike, it's in the dirt. He was a remarkable pitcher.

Hollis was well-known for winning ballgames and for pitching inside. "Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser." Writers once asked him on Mother's Day if he would brush back his mother. He curtly replied, "Only if she was diggin' in."

-----------------------------------------
Hall-of-Famers by Team
-- 2040 we see two more Cavaliers from their early dynasty era. --
-- We see our first Brewer get elected.
-- There are now 26 Hall-of-Famers --

Annapolis Admirals: 1
Baltimore Barons: 1
Chesapeake Blue Crabs: 2
Dover Generals: 3
Ellicott City Express: 1
Georgetown Sixteens: 1
Lewes Braves: 1
Milton Brewers: 1
Newark Millers: 1
New Castle Colonials: 1
Norfolk Cavaliers: 7
Ocean City Tourists: 3
Washington Senators: 2

There probably aren't many more that are going to come from those Cavaliers team of the teen's and early 20's. It was nice to be a part of those teams and see them get their props by being elected. Paul Brown was a beast during his prime, Petrelia is one of the top 3 closers of all time, and Matt Hollis may have been the most dominant lefty in the game for 5-years. I am glad to see Hollis get elected, I truly believe he deserved it, waiting 9-years had to be tough but he got his plaque!

I am quite surprised that Galvan, and his 700 steals, and Yann Gosselin and his 506 HR's didn't get more recognition. Galvan will make it into the Hall within the next 2 seasons, but Gosselin may never make it. Only 18%? Wow. He is one of 6-players with over 500 HR's and one of 20 players with over 1200 RBI's... We will see what the future brings, every year there are more candidates and 2041 won't be any different.

Congrats goes out to Brown, Petrelia and Hollis.