[FuzzyRussianHat]

Pitcher Antonio Desir made history in 2005 as the first-ever unanimous selection into the Central American Baseball Association Hall of fame. He was joined in the 2005 class by 1B/DH Yohnny Galaz, getting his own solid first-ballot nod at 85.5%. 3B Bienvenido Ramon barely missed the 66% requirement with a 65.2% mark for his fifth ballot. The other player above 50% was LF Luis Martinez with 53.4% on his third go. No player was dropped after ten failed tries.



Antonio Desir – Starting Pitcher – Monterrey Matadors – 100% First Ballot

Antonio Desir was a 6’6’’, 195 pound left-handed pitcher from the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. Desir was known for having outstanding pinpoint control, which graded out as a 9/10 for most his career. He had above average to good stuff and movement as well. Desir’s fastball peaked in the 96-98 mph range and was mixed with a slider, changeup, cutter, and curveball.

Desir’s stamina was weak compared to traditional CABA aces. However, his control and durability were strong enough to give him reliable regular innings regardless. He was a great defensive pitcher and won three Gold Gloves (1995, 97, 98). Desir was considered a leader and was a key figure in Monterrey’s dynasty run.

In February 1976, Desir was spotted at a camp in Haiti by a scout from Monterrey. He signed a developmental deal with the Matadors and spent six years training in their academy. Desir debuted in 1982 at age 22 and was split between the rotation and relief with respectable results. He was made a full-time starter for the next 16 years.

Desir was a decent starter in his first four seasons. 1985 was his first time in the playoffs, as Monterrey lost in the Mexican League Championship Series to Hermosillo. Desir posted a 3.43 ERA over 21 innings with 16 strikeouts. 1986, Desir emerged as a true ace, leading the league in wins (19-10), ERA (1.87), WHIP (0.87), quality starts (30), FIP- (67), and WAR (7.6). He won what would be his only Pitcher of the Year of his career.

Desir would post ten more seasons worth 5+ WAR with seven of those worth 6+ WAR. After the 1987 season, Monterrey signed him to a four-year, $5,280,000 extension. In 1988, the great Matadors dynasty began with their first of a CABA-record 18 consecutive playoff berths. Desir had a 0.00 ERA in 15 innings, but Monterrey lost the MLCS to Juarez.

They would drop the wild card round series in 1989. That year, Desir had a career and league best 1.66 ERA, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. It would be 1990 that the dynasty began in earnest and Desir emerged as an all-time great playoff pitcher. Monterrey won 110 games in 1990 and won the CABA title. In that postseason, Desir was 3-0 in 26 innings with a 0.35 ERA and 22 strikeouts, taking MLCS MVP. That earned him another six years and $9,380,000 signed in May 1991.

Monterrey won three straight CABA titles from 1990-92, then won back-to-back in 1995 and 1996. They also were Mexican League champs in 1993 and MLCS runner-up in 1994. Desir put up big playoff numbers over his career, finishing with a 15-8 record in 33 games, 2.10 ERA, 226.2 innings, 230 strikeouts, 171 ERA+, and 7.9 WAR. As of 2037, he’s the al-time playoff career leader in pitching WAR. Desir is also fifth in wins and fifth in strikeouts.

Desir also was a regular for his native Haiti from 1983-98 in the World Baseball Championship. He had a 2.20 ERA over 192 innings with a 12-10 record, 250 strikeouts, 25 walks, 166 ERA+, 47 FIP, and 7.9 WAR. As of 2037, he’s Haiti’s WBC leader in WAR, innings, and strikeouts and sits second in wins.

Because of his pinpoint control, Desir’s game aged very well. At age 33 in 1993, he earned his third ERA title (2.10) and led in WHIP. He led in both stats in 1997 as well at age 37. Desir also would have the best K/BB in five different seasons. He took third in 1992 Pitcher of the Year voting, second in 1993, and second in 1998. Desir’s three Gold Gloves came in 1995, 97, and 98.

He didn’t seem to be slowing down, so Monterrey signed Desir to three more years and $7,360,000 after the 1996 campaign. After a career of great durability, disaster struck on August 29, 1998. Desir was diagnosed with a damaged elbow ligament with 14 months of recovery time expected. Many figured that was the end of his career, but Desir was determined to make it back.

With a lot of hard work, Desir did return to make five starts at the end of the 1999 season. However, he looked firmly mediocre and wasn’t used in the postseason as the Matadors lost in the MLCS. Desir retired that winter at age 40 and his #28 uniform was immediately retired for his role in the great dynasty.

Desir ended up with a 255-130 record, 2.45 ERA, 3784.2 innings, 3652 strikeouts, only 365 walks for a 10.0 K/BB, 395/510 quality starts, 61 complete games, 138 ERA+, 78 FIP-, and 91.9 WAR. As of 2037, Desir sits 18^th all-time in pitching WAR, ninth in wins, and 28^th in strikeouts. He’s also CABA’s only Hall of Fame starter to toss more than 3000 innings and give up fewer than 400 walks in his career.

All of that, plus the great playoff numbers and four rings made Desir an obvious Hall of Fame choice. It was surprising that he was the first unanimous pick though, since despite his greatness, Desir isn’t coming up in the GOAT conversations. Regardless, his spot was well deserved to headline the 2005 CABA class.



Yohnny “Flip” Galaz – First Base/Designated Hitter – Trinidad Trail Blazers – 85.5% First Ballot

Yohnny Galaz was a 6’1’’, 200 pound left-handed slugger from San Jose de las Matas. It is a municipality of around 109,000 people in the Dominican Republic’s Santiago province. Galaz was renowned for his home run power, which some scouts called a 10/10 at his peak. Five times, Galaz smacked 50+ dingers in a season. He was also a good to sometimes great contact hitter with a respectable ability at drawing walks and average strikeout rate. Galaz would also get you around 25-30 doubles most years, but he wasn’t going to leg out extra bases often. His speed and baserunning ability were both absolutely abysmal.

That also translated to lousy defense at first base, where Galaz played exclusively. About ¼ of his total career starts would come as a designated hitter. He didn’t have that option in his later years, but was about 60/40 DH/1B during his Trinidad prime. Galaz was a very durable player, setting 130+ starts each year from 1983-98. Galaz was one of the most beloved players of the era because he worked hard and socked dingers.

Galaz’s power was very evident in his amateur days, making him a hot commodity ahead of the 1980 CABA Draft. Trinidad picked him with the #2 overall pick, but he wasn’t considered fully formed yet. The Trail Blazers barely used him in 1981 or 1982 with a combined 26 games and 9 starts between the two years. He was rostered enough though for his rookie year to have been considered pass.

1983 was his first full season and he thrived, winning a Silver Slugger at DH and taking second in MVP voting. Galaz had his first of five 50+ homer seasons and his first of seven seasons worth 6+ WAR. He hit only 45 homers in 1984, but was the league leader for the first time as he won a Slugger at first base. In 1985, Galaz led with 61 homers and 395 total bases, getting his third SS (2^nd at 1B) and a second in MVP voting.

With that, Trinidad signed Galaz to an eight-year, $8,490,000 extension after the 1985 campaign. The Trail Blazers still seemed no closer to contention though. Since 1975, Trinidad had absolutely stunk with no winning seasons from 1975-87 and only three seasons in there where they cracked 70 wins. There was hope Galaz could fix that, but 58 and 64 win efforts in 1986 and 1987 didn’t leave many with optimism. Galaz regressed in those years as well, only getting 26 homers in 1986.

In 1988, Galaz exploded with a record-setting season. He smacked 72 home runs, breaking Lobo Villanueva’s CABA record from 1990. No one would top this mark in CABA until 2034, although two would match it in the interim. Galaz also led in runs, hits, RBI, total bases, slugging, OPS, wRC+, and WAR. The 11.1 WAR was especially remarkable from a DH season. Galaz was Player of the Month thrice that year, won his fourth Silver Slugger, and his lone MVP.

This also turned things around for Trinidad, who went from only 64 wins the prior year to a division champ at 94-68. The Trail Blazers went on a playoff run and earned the franchise’s first CABA championship, beating Juarez in the final. Galaz continued his tear into the postseason, winning CLCS MVP. In 17 playoff starts, he had 21 hits, 12 runs, 2 doubles, 7 home runs, and 15 RBI. That run alone forever made him a Trinidad hero, as the 1988 season is their only CABA ring as of 2037.

Galaz won three more Silver Sluggers as a DH from 1989-91. He led in runs and OPS in 1989; and homers, RBI, and total bases in 1991. Trinidad was out of the cellar now, but they were stuck just above .500 during these seasons. Galaz also played for his native Dominican Republic from 1983-92 in the World Baseball Championship. In 85 games and 76 starts, he had 75 hits, 49 runs, 6 doubles, 34 home runs, 62 RBI, a .259/.336/.631 slash, 171 wRC+, and 4.0 WAR.

1991 would be his final season with Trinidad, as Galaz surprised many by opting out of the remainder of his contract. He’d still be a beloved franchise icon with the distinction of being the first Hall of Famer wearing the Trail Blazers hat. His #11 uniform was retired at career’s end. With Trinidad, Galaz had 1569 hits, 865 runs, 214 doubles, 456 home runs, 1008 RBI, a .293/.347/.596 slash, 166 wRC+, and 59.6 WAR.

No one was sure what was next for the 32 year old Galaz. Few would have guessed his next move, as he left CABA for the Oceania Baseball Association. Very few had gone from CABA to OBA with most observers considering that a move “backward” in terms of talent level and pay. Galaz made a lengthy move to New Zealand, inking a four-year, $4,240,000 with Christchurch.

Galaz lived up to the deal, winning four Silver Sluggers at first base in his four seasons with the Chinooks. That gave him 11 total Sluggers for his career. He led the Australasia League with 43 home runs in 1992, but otherwise wasn’t a league leader and was never an MVP finalist. Galaz was a reliable slugger in the low offense environment of OBA.

Christchurch won AL pennants in 1992 and 1996, but lost in the Oceania Championship both years. Galaz was merely okay in his 13 playoff starts there with 10 hits, 8 runs, 4 homers, and 6 RBI. In total with Christchurch, Galaz had 645 hits, 331 runs, 115 doubles, 143 home runs, 399 RBI, a .276/.331/.527 slash, 160 wRC+, and 20.8 WAR. His Chinooks deal would expire after the 1995 season.

Now 36 years old, Galaz put out feelers for a CABA return. Certainly, he was well remembered and the Mexican League’s Guadalajara gave him a two-year, $4,720,000 deal. He had a strong return season worth 6.9 WAR and the Hellhounds made the playoffs, although they lost in the wild card round. Guadalajara ultimately kept Galaz around four seasons, where he reached the 500 home run, 2000 hit, and 1000 run milestones.

Galaz was merely good in 1997 and 1998. Then in 1999, his power had gone and he was firmly a below average bat. Guadalajara benched him and Galaz made only 61 starts that final season. With the Hellhounds, he had 493 hits, 259 runs, 82 doubles, 111 home runs, 261 RBI, a .285/.347/.543 slash, 155 wRC+, and 14.7 WAR. He retired in the winter of 1999 at age 40.

For his entire pro career, Galaz had 2707 hits, 1455 runs, 411 doubles, 710 home runs, 1668 RBI, a .287/.343/.570 slash, 163 wRC+, and 95.1 WAR. Being a member of the 700 home run club for a career is an impressive accomplishment to be sure. The four-year excursion to New Zealand would keep him from shining more prominently on the CABA leaderboards.

Still, in CABA Galaz had 2062 hits, 1124 runs, 296 doubles, 567 home runs, 1269 RBI, a .291/.347/.583 slash, 164 wRC+, and 74.3 WAR. The accumulations weren’t at the very top and some voters are iffy on DHs. However, lots of homers, the single-season homer record, and helping a newer franchise to its first-ever title are achievements worthy of enshrinement. Galaz picked up 85.5% to secure his spot in the 2005 CABA Hall of Fame class.