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Three players were added in 2007 into the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame. Each were first ballot guys, led by pitcher Corbin Acupan at 86.8%. SP Ricardo Antonio was close behind at 81.3%. Meanwhile, 3B Thomas Silverhawk barely made it in at 66.1%, just breaching the 66% requirement. No one else was above 50% and no one was dropped after ten ballots.



A special mention goes to Adrian Delgado, who fell below 5% on his ninth ballot. His OBA run was only six years with Guam between CABA stints, but he did win an MVP, two Silver Sluggers, and four batting titles in that run. He had 37.3 WAR, 1120 hits, 501 runs, 191 doubles, 79 home runs, 424 RBI, 426 stolen bases, a .315/.350/.474 slash, and 161 wRC+. Six years just isn’t enough, although the Cuban did debut at 20.7% and last nine ballots.



Corbin Acupan – Starting Pitcher – Guam Golden Eagles – 86.8% First Ballot

Corbin Acupan was a 6’1’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Davao, the third most populous city in the Philippines. Acupan had excellent control on his pitches with very good movement, although his stuff was considered average at best. His fastball his 96-98 mph and was part of a five-pitch arsenal that included a forkball, cutter, curveball, and changeup. The forkball and cutter were generally viewed as his top pitches and he had an extreme groundball tendency.

Compared to other OBA aces, Acupan’s stamina was quite average. He was good at holding runners, but below average defensively. Acupan’s pinpoint control really blossomed in his later years, helping him to become a successful and popular pitcher in his time.

A visiting scout from New Zealand noticed Acupan as a teenage amateur at a prospects camp in Davao. Christchurch signed him in January 1982, removing the young man from the Philippines. He would later pitch for his country from 1991-2001 in the World Baseball Championship, posting a 3.14 ERA over 43 innings, 31 strikeouts, and 117 ERA+.

Acupan spent four full years in Christchurch’s academy, then debuted with 14 promising starts in 1986 at age 21. He was only used for six starts in 1987, ending that season with a disaster. On September 16, 1987; Acupan suffered a partially torn UCL. This put his career in doubt and cost him nearly all of the 1988 season, although he would make it back for five starts late in the year. The Chinooks made it to the OBA Championship and lost to Honolulu with Acupan not seeing any playoff innings.

Acupan was a full-time starter in 1989, but looked average at best. In 1990, a hamstring strain cost him two months late in the year. In 1991, Acupan finally had a full season where he looked like he could be more than a back of the rotation guy. That would be his last year with Christchurch though, finishing his time there with a 44-48 record, 3.18 ERA, 799.1 innings, 648 strikeouts, 105 ERA+, and 12.5 WAR.

During spring training 1992, the Chinooks traded the 27-year old Acupan to Guam for SP Emmett Kasahara and LF Darcy Danielson. This began what would be his signature run with the Golden Eagles. Guam was Pacific League champ in 1991, but lost to Brisbane in the final. They hoped Acupan could strengthen the rotation as they tried to take the PL mantle from Honolulu.

The deal paid off for the Golden Eagles, who became THE team in the Pacific League of the 1990s. From 1992-01, they won PL pennants in 1992 and 1994, then five straight from 1997-01. The misses for Guam still saw 90+ win seasons, but defeats for the top spot against the Honu. The Golden Eagles earned OBA rings in 1992, 1997, 1999, and 2000.

In his debut season for Guam, Acupan won his lone Pitcher of the Year in 1992, leading the PL with 34 quality starts. This also saw a career best 306 strikeouts. Acupan saw a career best 8.7 WAR in 1993, taking third in POTY voting. He finished second in 1994 and third in 1999, leading the latter season with career bests in ERA (2.08) and WHIP (0.79).

In February 1993, Guam gave Acupan a six-year, $6,960,000 extension. 1998 saw a major setback with radial never compression, putting him out for six months. Acupan bounced back with his excellent 1999 season at age 34 and the Golden Eagles gave him another three years and $3,900,000.

Acupan’s playoff starts were merely average and he did miss a few of the finals to injuries. Over 8 playoff games, he had a 3.35 ERA, 2-3 record, 53.2 innings, 45 strikeouts, 97 ERA+, and 0.8 WAR. Still, Acupan was a popular player for his role in making Guam a Pacific League powerhouse. The Golden Eagles retired his #37 uniform after his career ended.

Acupan’s control kept improving and his game seemed to be aging well. However, 2001 saw his body break down. Acupan had a ruptured finger tendon in April that cost him four months. When he came back, it was elbow inflammation putting him out six weeks. Then in late September, it was the big one with a torn rotator cuff.

He didn’t meet the criteria for the final year of his contract, becoming a free agent for 2002. Acupan decided not to try to rehab and make a return, retiring at age 36. For his Guam tenure, Acupan had a 161-94 record, 2.70 ERA, 2475.2 innings, 2116 strikeouts, 119 ERA+, and 55.5 WAR.

The career stats saw a 205-142 record, 3275 innings, 2764 strikeouts, 401 walks, 284/409 quality starts, 116 ERA+, 84 FIP-, and 68.0 WAR. Acupan’s injuries and forgettable early years meant his accumulations were somewhat underwhelming compared to some of the other all-time great OBA pitchers. But a decade of solid production for a dynasty run was plenty for most voters. Acupan received 86.8% for a first ballot induction, the top mark in OBA’s 2007 class.