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For the first time since 1923, no players were inducted in the MLB Hall of Fame. The 1939 voting had Juan Haro falling just short on his ninth try with the New York Yankees pitcher getting 63.9%. Another pitcher, Ray Biedermann, was at 61.3% on his seventh try. On their first tries, 3B Franz Bolt was at 60.2% and SP Dee Walters was at 56.1%.

Two players were dropped after making it 10 years on the ballot. Closer Travis Nagai peaked at 39.6% on his debut but ended at 10%. He was a three time Reliever of the Year between MLB and CABA and had 415 career saves and a 2.06 between the two. His 254 saves in the MLB wasn’t enough to get him over the hump. 1B/DH Jean-Michel Lachance was also dropped at 8.9% on his final go, peaking at 31.2% on his second try. With Memphis, Albuquerque, and Montreal, he had 2916 hits, 1390 runs, 347 HR, 1441 RBI, a .319/.366/.492 triple slash, but only 51.4 WAR.



Two players made the CABA Hall of Fame in 1939, both first ballot guys in a relatively weak field. Pitchers Darrell Acosta made it at 75.5% and Jhon Diaz at 73.2%. One player was dropped after a 10^th ballot, closer Morgan Champney. He peaked at 34.9% on his second try with 309 saves between CABA and MLB, but not enough in either one to make the cut.

No one made the cut in the 1939 EAB Class with two coming very close on their first try. RF In-Seong Kim was at 66.0%, barely missing the 2/3s threshold, while closer Moon Kim was at 63.6%. No players were on their 10^th ballot in EAB for 1939.



Darrell Acosta – Starting Pitcher – Honduras Horsemen – 75.5% First Ballot

Darrell Acosta was a 6’0’’ 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Metepec, Mexico; part of grater Toluca. Acosta was a bit of a late bloomer, whose velocity capped out around 92-94 mph. Later in his career, Acosta developed stellar control, allowing him to find sustained consistency despite a lack of power. He mixed a fastball, slider, and changeup.

Acosta was first drafted in the 1911 CABA Draft in the third round, 64^th overall by Leon. Acosta didn’t sign with the Lions and pitched in college, getting picked again 59^th overall in the 1913 Draft by Monterrey. He spent three seasons with the Matadors as a bottom of the rotation guy, getting traded before the 1917 season to Nicaragua.

He spent six seasons with the Navigators and did alright for the struggling Nicaragua squad to finish his 20s. He put up 22.5 WAR with 3.24 ERA and 1508 over those seasons. He then went to Honduras as a 32-year old free agent to start his signature run in 1923.

He spent seven seasons with the Horsemen and was a reliable veteran starter, but not an ace. But Acosta was finally on a winner, as Honduras won five division titles during his tenure, taking the Caribbean League crown in 1924 and 1926, and the CABA crown in 1926. In nine playoff starts with the Horsemen, he six quality starts despite a 2-5 record, 70 innings, 58 strikeouts, and a 0.97 WHIP. His best season came in 1928 at age 37 with a 17-8 record, 2.28 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, placing him third in Pitcher of the Year voting.

Honduras entered a rebuilding phase in 1929 and traded the now 38-year old Acosta to Ecatepec midseason. He made three respectable postseason starts as the Explosion won the CABA title for the first time in franchise history. In 1930, he had close to a career-high 5.2 WAR at age 39 for the Explosion.

In early 1931, a torn UCL put the veteran out for the year, although he did receive his third CABA ring as the Explosion continued their dynasty and won it all again. He got his fourth ring at age 41 as Ecatepec made it three titles in four years, although he was a rarely-used reliever post injury. He tried his hand as a closer with Mexico City the next season but struggled, retiring after the 1933 campaign at age 42.

The final line for Acosta: 244-224, 3.03 ERA, 4319.2 innings, 3900 strikeouts, 559 walks, a 0.99 WHIP, 361 quality starts out of 537 and a 62.6 WAR. He was never a dominant pitcher, but he was a tenured and reliable one, respected for his contributions in his second half particularly. Helping win titles with Honduras and Ecatepec made him deserving in the eyes of the voters, getting in on the first ballot even if only at 75.5%.



Jhon Diaz – Starting Pitcher – Mexico City Aztecs – 73.2% First Ballot

Jhon Diaz was a 5’10’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Valente Diaz in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Diaz threw 97-99 mph with good control and a stellar fastball that he mixed with a respectable curveball and splitter, along with the occasional changeup.

Highly touted as an amateur, Diaz was Mexico City’s third overall pick in the 1916 CABA Draft and he’d spend nearly his entire career with the Aztecs. He only had 5.2 innings in 1917, then in his first full season in 1918 won Mexican League Rookie of the Year with a 2.79 ERA over 274 innings. He very rarely led the league in any statistics, but put up seven seasons of 5+ WAR and five of 6+ WAR, earning seven All-Star appearances.

Mexico City was a bottom-tier franchise mode of Diaz’s tenure, as he was gone just before the Kiko Velazquez dynasty began. But in 1924, Diaz had a great season in helping the Aztecs on their surprise CABA Championship run; their only playoff appearance of the 1910s or 1920s.

Diaz avoided injuries in the early part of his career, but in his 30s recurring back and elbow issues caused him to miss large chunks of the 1926, 1928, 1929, and 1931 campaigns. Mexico City let him go after the 1932 season at age 37 and Diaz pitched one year with Monterrey, where he won his 200^th game. He called it quits after 1933 at age 38.

The final line for Diaz was 209-188, 2.71 ERA, 3645.2 innings, 3434 strikeouts, 629 walks, 1.01 WHIP, 317 quality starts out of 449, and a 74.6 WAR. He was arguably more impressive than his HOF classmate Darrell Acosta, although not as tenured. But he was a well-liked pitcher with his #23 retired by the Aztecs. Diaz was a solid enough performer over a 16-year career to get selected at 73.2% on the first ballot to the CABA Hall of Fame.