[FuzzyRussianHat]

Two players picked up additions in 2005 into Beisbol Sudamerica’s Hall of Fame. Ageless outfielder Diego Fernandes was a first ballot nod with 83.2%. 3B Nicolas Carnicas joined him on his second try, just breaching the 66% requirement with 67.2%. Two other debutants were above 50% with SP Gonzalo Argueta (57.6%), and 2B Leonardo Salvador (51.9%). RF Jairo Vincente was right at 50% in his sixth ballot.



Dropped after ten failed ballots was RF Dani Manzanares. He had a 19-year career almost exclusively with Salvador, winning one Silver Slugger with 2544 hits, 1279 runs, 496 doubles, 583 home runs, 1345 RBI, a .291/.340/.558 slash, 167 wRC+, and 81.1 WAR. He was a part of three championship teams and was great in the playoffs with a 181 wRC+ and 2.4 WAR in 46 starts, winning Copa Sudamerica MVP.

His accumulations don’t look out of place by any means, but Manzanares was a terrible defender who lacked major awards or many league-leading stats, winning one batting title and leading in doubles twice. When he debuted on the ballot at 60.2%, many figured it was a matter of time. However, Manzanares never got higher and ended at 49.2%, banished to the Hall of Pretty Good.

Also dropped was pitcher Augusto Tavaco, who led in wins and WHIP twice in a decade run with Sao Paulo. He had a 161-83 record, 2.65 ERA, 2291.2 innings, 2154 strikeouts, 128 ERA+, and 46.0 WAR. He left for MLB with his final four seasons with injury issues. Tavaco was good, but didn’t have the longevity or any major awards despite winning two rings with the Padres. He got as high as 43.7% on his second ballot, but plummeted to a paltry 4.2% at the end.



Diego Fernandes – Outfielder – Sao Paulo Padres – 83.2% First Ballot

Diego Fernandes was a 6’0’’, 195 pound right-handed outfielder from Londrina, a city of roughly 588,000 people in southern Brazil’s state of Parana. In his prime, Fernandes was a quite solid contact hitter with a low strikeout rate, although he was below average at drawing walks. Fernandes wasn’t a big bopper, but he would get you a nice assortment of extra base hits most year with a 162 game average of 30 doubles, 10 triples, and 22 home runs.

Fernandes was lightning quick and considered one of the craftiest baserunners and stealers of all-time. He had remarkably impressive conditioning and maintained his base stealing abilities even into his mid 40s. Despite his legendary longevity, Fernandes was criticized by some for being lazy and a bit dumb. Even with those flaws, he is believed to be the oldest man to ever play in one of the major leagues.

Fernandes was primarily an outfielder, making roughly 40% of his starts in left field, around 30% in right, and around 20% as a designated hitter. The rest were sporadic starts in right field, first base, and shortstop. Fernandes’ best spot was LF, but he was still firmly subpar there. However, he was lousy elsewhere with his glove. Fernandes’ unique batting profile and his longevity would make him one of the more fascinating players of his era. Because his pro debut was 1979, Fernandes ended up playing in four different decades.

Fernandes was picked 16^th overall by Sao Paulo in the 1978 Beisbol Sudamerica Draft. The Padres were a solid squad at that point, having won pennants in 1976 and 1977. They would go on a five-year playoff drought after that, but were always above .500. Fernandes couldn’t crack the lineup much in his first three seasons, making a total of 75 starts. In 1982, he finally became a full-time starter and was so for the next two decades, only missing time to occasional injuries.

Fernandes’ base running was especially noticeable, leading the Southern Cone League four times from 1983-87 and cracking triple-digits four times. 1983 would be his finest effort with career bests in steals (105), WAR (9.9), and wRC+(193). Fernandes also had a .344 average, 31 home runs, and 105 RBI. He took a Silver Slugger as a center fielder and took second in MVP voting.

Most importantly, Sao Paulo broke its playoff drought. The Padres won Copa Sudamerica in 1983 and Fernandes was the LCS MVP. In 10 playoff starts, he had 15 hits, 8 runs, 4 doubles, 8 RBI, and 7 steals. 1986 was another impressive effort for Fernandes with league and career-bests in hits (217), doubles (42), and batting average (.360). He was third in 1986 MVP voting, his final time as a finalist. Fernandes did win additional Silver Sluggers with the Padres in CF in 1984 and 1986.

Sao Paulo fell just short of the playoffs in 1984 and 1985, but began a five-year playoff streak in 1986. The Padres won the Southern Cone pennant in 1986, but lost to Cali in Copa Sudamerica. They were one-and-done in Fernandes’ remaining years. In his playoff tenure with SP, Fernandes had 22 starts, 30 hits, 13 runs, 5 doubles, 14 RBI, 16 steals, a .361/.402/.506 slash, and 161 wRC+.

Fernandes also had emerged as a great player for Brazil in the World Baseball Championship, making his debut in the 1984 edition. He had 208 games and 186 starts from 1984-01, posting 233 hits, 148 runs, 43 doubles, 36 home runs, 87 RBI, 120 stolen bases, a .309/.365/.517 slash, 152 wRC+, and 10.3 WAR.

He was second in 1984 MVP voting and led both that year and in 1990 with 36 hits. In 1990, Fernandes earned the MVP, also leading with 27 runs, 22 stolen bases, and 2.2 WAR. He had three world titles for Brazil in 1987, 1989, and 1990. As of 2037, his 120 WBC steals are seventh most all-time and his 233 hits are 16^th.

Fernandes finally inked a long-term deal with Sao Paulo in September 1986 for five years and $5,770,000. He decided to opt out quite early, entering free agency after the 1988 season at age 31. It disappointed Padres fans, but they would later make up and his #7 uniform would be retired in Sao Paulo. Fernandes finished with 1427 hits, 670 runs, 208 doubles, 78 triples, 181 home runs, 628 RBI, 609 stolen bases, a .325/.355/.531 slash, 159 wRC+, and 44.3 WAR.

Fortaleza signed Fernandes to a six-year, $7,560,000 deal. The Foxes would be a one-and-done wild card in 1989, but sit just outside the playoffs in his other years. Fernandes was a good starter there, but not a league leader, winning one Silver Slugger in 1989 in left field. The run lasted five years, finishing with 907 hits, 446 runs, 143 doubles, 69 triples, 91 home runs, 367 RBI, 430 stolen bases, a .321/.350/.517, a 150 wRC+, and 24.5 WAR.

Fernandes declined the contract option year and entered free agency again at age 36. Belo Horizonte gave him a two-year, $2,760,000 deal, where he picked up his 2500^th BSA hit and 1000^th run. He also won his fifth and final Silver Slugger in 1994 at LF, leading the league that year with 98 steals. A strained hamstring cost him two months of 1995, but he posted two very strong seasons. With the Hogs, Fernandes had 342 hits, 143 runs, 54 doubles, 35 home runs, 151 RBI, 158 stolen bases, a .336/.365/.515 slash, 159 wRC+, and 11.5 WAR.

He was a free agent again at age 38 and had international suitors. That marked the end of his South American career, although very few probably could’ve guessed he’d play another nine seasons of pro ball. Fernandes’ final BSA line was 2676 hits, 1259 runs, 405 doubles, 159 triples, 307 home runs, 1146 RBI, 1197 stolen bases, a .325/.354/.524 slash, 156 wRC+, and 80.3 WAR.

As of 2037, he’s seventh in steals specifically in BSA. His post-BSA career didn’t matter to most voters and thus, he ended up with less eye-popping BSA accumulations. They were still firmly strong enough for most voters to give Fernandes the first ballot nod, highlighting the 2005 BSA class at 83.2%. His final years though gave him a more unique place in the greater annals of baseball history.

The 38-year old Fernandes got a three-year, $9,520,000 deal with MLB’s Nashville starting in 1996. Nagging injuries cost him small chunks of his Knights run, where he posted very league-average stats. With steals far more deemphasized in MLB, Fernandes’ best talents were perhaps wasted. He did get to compete in the 1996 American Association Championship Series, although again was unremarkable. In 364 games, he had 392 hits, 204 runs, 50 doubles, 41 home runs, 160 RBI, 100 steals, a .279/.313/.425 slash, 100 wRC+, and 2.9 WAR.

A free agent again at age 41, Fernandes still wanted to play and was still quite nimble. Few pro teams considered guys at that age regardless of their remaining talent. He would find a home just as the Arab League season started in 1999, signing a two-year, $1,460,000 deal with Mosul. This was in the midst of a dynasty run for the Muskies, who had won two conference pennants and one ALB title in the prior three years.

Mosul’s dynasty rolled on with Fernandes playing a notable role. The Muskies were 1999 and 2001 Arab League champs. They had a record-setting 121-41 2000 season, but suffered a shocking conference finals defeat to 83-win Kuwait. During this, Fernandes was a very good starter, posting three straight 4+ WAR seasons to start his run. Mosul had given him a three-year, $5,000,000 extension in September 2000.

Fernandes’ speed was timeline, remarkably stealing 92 bases in 2000 at age 42. He would swipe 73 bags in 2003 at 45, an absolutely absurd accomplishment. He was strong in the 1999 title run and in 26 playoff starts in total, posted 26 hits, 14 runs, 5 doubles, 4 home runs, 12 RBI, a .274/.324/.474 slash, and 121 wRC+.

Mosul’s playoff streak ended in 2003 at eight seasons. Fernandes was weaker, but still a fine start in 2003 and even started all 162 games. Father time finally caught up in 2004 with a -0.6 WAR effort over 63 games. He finally officially retired only a few days after his 47^th birthday. Historians believe Fernandes is the oldest-ever player in a major pro league.

In six years with Mosul, all in his 40s, Fernandes had 804 hits, 426 runs, 155 doubles, 43 triples, 101 home runs, 345 RBI, 346 stolen bases, a .300/.341/.502 slash, 131 wRC+, and 17.6 WAR. That’s a strong run for any player, but doing that in your 40s and winning two league titles is unprecedented.

For his entire pro career, this gave Fernandes 3872 hits, 1889 runs, 610 doubles, 218 triples, 449 home runs, 1651 RBI, 1643 stolen bases, a .314/.347/.508 slash, 144 wRC+, and 100.8 WAR. At retirement, only Ishmael Perla (1721 in BSA-MLB) and Jun-Seong Noi (1656 between EAB-MLB).

Fernandes also at that point had the third most hits of any player in pro baseball history. Only the legendary Prometheo Garcia (4917 between CABA/MLB) and Stan Provost (4133 in MLB) had him beat. They were among a very short list with more games than Fernandes and Garcia is about the only guy close in terms of retirement age, calling it quits just after his 46^th birthday.

Fernandes does have him beat in terms of major service at 25 years, 58 days compared to Garcia at 24 years, 59 days; although Garcia played a few hundred more games. Fernandes won’t be in the GOAT conversations like Garcia is, but he’s certainly one of the more fascinating stories in pro baseball history.



Nicolas Carnicas – Third/First Base – Rio de Janeiro Redbirds – 67.2% Second Ballot

Nicolas Carnicas was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed corner infielder from Soure, a town of 25,000 people in northern Brazil’s Para state. The town is on an island at the mouth of the Amazon River. Carnicas graded out as an above average contact hitter with solid power. He had a decent eye for walks, but a below average strikeout rate. Carnicas had 10 seasons with 30+ home runs and topped 40 thrice. He was also good for around 25-35 doubles per year.

Despite being a more of a power guy, Carnicas was a very crafty and intelligent baserunner. He successfully stole on 74% of his attempts, but had to pick his spots with merely average speed in his prime. Carnicas made around 3/4s of his starts at third base and was considered reliably good there. He started some at first early in his career and was terrific there, winning two Gold Gloves. Like most Hall of Famers, he had very good durability and became a popular figure in his time.

Carnicas was picked 13^th overall by Rio de Janeiro in the 1980 Beisbol Sudamerica Draft. In his first two seasons, he was used only in a limited role and struggled in his few at-bats. By 1983, Carnicas took over a full-time starting job and excelled, posting 6.1 WAR in his first full year. It was the first of nine consecutive seasons worth 5.5+ WAR. Carnicas got his two Gold Gloves at first base in 1984 and 1985. While reliably great, he wasn’t an award winner or league leader otherwise. Sharing a league with eventual nine-time Silver Slugger winner Dyjan Rondo didn’t help Carnicas acquire hardware.

Part of that could be chalked up to Rio de Janeiro being lousy in the 1980s generally. The Redbirds gave Carnicas a five-year, $7,300,000 extension in June 1988 and he was a regular all-star for them. He was extremely popular in Rio, but became a national star around that time for his work in the World Baseball Championship for Brazil. He played on the team from 1986-98, although he was only a full-time starter from 1986-90.

In that run though, Carnicas helped Brazil win three world titles (1987, 1989, 1990). He was the WBC MVP in 1989, smacking 13 home runs with 24 RBI and 65 total bases in 26 starts, as well as 23 hits and 20 runs. In total, Carnicas had 145 games, 117 starts, 103 hits, 72 runs, 19 doubles, 39 home runs, 85 RBI, a .239/.321/.555 slash, 147 wRC+, and 4.7 WAR.

In 1990, Carnicas posted a career best 46 home runs and had 9.7 WAR, but still didn’t get awards consideration. Then in 1991, he was the WARlord with 10.6 WAR, finally winning his lone Silver Slugger and taking second in MVP voting. Rio ended a 15-year playoff drought, but lost to Belo Horizonte in the Southern Cone Championship. Carnicas had 12 hits, 7 runs, 2 homers, and 6 RBI in 11 playoff starts. This would be his only playoff action in his 15 year stint with the Redbirds.

Carnicas signed another three years at $4,140,000 for Rio de Janeiro after the 1993 season, but the team fell back into the mid-tier. Now in his mid 30s, Carnicas’ power had dropped considerably, although he still delivered around 4-5 WAR reliably. In 1995, he posted 4.1 WAR, the worst full season of his impressive career. Rio won only 71 games that year and decided to move Carnicas in the offseason, trading him to Sao Paulo for two prospects.

In total with Rio, Carnicas had 2095 hits, 1146 runs, 401 doubles, 444 home runs, 1101 RBI, 351 stolen bases, a .280/.331/.524 slash, 151 wRC+, and 90.7 WAR. He would remained beloved by Redbirds fans for years to come and his #22 uniform would get retired at the end of his career. But now 37 years old, Carnicas found himself in different colors.

Carnicas had a remarkable renaissance in his one year with Sao Paulo, leading the league with 10.1 WAR and taking second in MVP voting, adding 38 home runs, 94 RBI, and 183 wRC+. The Padres made the league final, but couldn’t compare to 115-win Recife. He did struggle in the playoffs, going 3-31.

Carnicas was a free agent again at 38, but that remarkable regular season effort raised his stock considerably. Santiago gave him a two-year, $5,040,000 deal. Carnicas was a great starter in 1997 with 5.8 WAR, but dropped to 3.1 WAR in the second year with merely average batting stats. His power sank in the second year with a career worst 15 home runs. He was good in 11 playoff games for the Saints with a .326/.326/.721 slash and 228 wRC+. However, Santiago lost in the 1997 LCS and lost in the 1998 first round.

Carnicas had 8.8 WAR, 51 home runs, and 117 wRC+ with Santiago. He was a free agent again for 1999, but the dwindling power and age didn’t help his cause even if he still was a reliable defender. After going unsigned in 1999, Carnicas retired at age 41 that winter.

Carnicas finished with 2518 hits, 1394 runs, 492 doubles, 533 home runs, 1342 RBI, 447 stolen bases, a .276/.327/.516 slash, 149 wRC+, and 109.6 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 23^rd all-time in WAR among BSA position players. Carnicas’ great numbers almost surprised many voters, as he generally wasn’t a league leader or flashy guy.

Advanced stats were strong, but the accumulations without big awards or playoff success meant there were detractors. Carnicas missed the cut on his ballot debut in 2004 at 64.8%. He only barely crossed the line in 2005 at 67.2%, but earned the second ballot induction.