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Ricardo Antonio – Starting Pitcher – Perth Penguins – 81.3% First Ballot

Ricardo Antonio was a 5’10’’, 195 pound left-handed pitcher from Willemstad, the capital and largest city of Curacao. Antonio had strong stuff and decent movement, but he struggled with control issues. He was able to make his control passable enough as he aged to succeed.

Antonio’s fastball hit 96-98 mph and was countered by a strong slider and changeup. Antonio’s stamina was average, but he had excellent durability and didn’t see any injury issues until his final years. He learned how to hold runners quite well, often getting out of jams caused by his wildness.

He took a very unusual path to end up as a pro in Australia. Antonio picked up the game and thrived as a youngster in Curacao. Instead of going the CABA route, he moved to the United States and earned a scholarship at Michigan State University. As a Spartan, Antonio was merely decent with a 16-12 record over 239 innings, 4.10 ERA, 190 strikeouts, 86 ERA+, and 3.9 WAR.

Antonio was picked in the 1987 MLB Draft late in the fifth round, going 269^th overall to Tampa. The Thunderbirds staff hoped maybe they could fix his control and get value out of him. However, they were underwhelmed by Antonio’s performance in spring training. He pitched one inning in the minor leagues, then was cut in April 1988.

Only a few days later, Perth decided to give Antonio a shot, bringing him to Western Australia. They also saw him as a project and only pitched him 1.2 innings in 1988 and 43 innings in 1989. Antonio earned a full-time rotation spot in 1990 and would be a fixture atop their staff for the next decade. He would have eight seasons worth 5+ WAR.

Antonio got innings and strikeouts, even leading the Australasia League with 356 Ks in 1991. He did also lead in walks in 1990 with 106, but would slowly improve upon that. That year, he still managed to earn second in Rookie of the Year voting. Antonio led in quality starts in both 1991 and 1993.

Antonio never won Pitcher of the Year, but was a regular finalist. He took third in 1993, third in 1994, second in 1997, and second in 1998. In the summer of 1995, Perth gave him a six-year, $13,200,000 contract extension.

The Penguins found success in the 1990s with Antonio atop the rotation. They won back-to-back OBA Championships in 1993 and 1994 and were the runner-up in 1997. Antonio’s playoff stats saw a 3.14 ERA in 43 innings and six starts, 2-2 record, 46 strikeouts, 104 ERA+, and 0.9 WAR. 1997 was his best season by WAR at 8.2. Antonio led in wins in both 1997 and 1998.

Perth fell towards the mid-tier to close out the 1990s. Antonio dealt with a sprained ankle in 2000 and a strained abdominal in 2001, both costing him six weeks. Antonio’s velocity also started to dip in these final years, leading to below average production.

In his last year, he did become the 12^th OBA pitcher to 200 career wins and the 10^th to 3500 strikeouts. Antonio’s deal was up after 2001 though and he struggled to a 4.47 ERA that year. He decided to retire that winter shortly after his 35^th birthday. Perth quickly honored him by retiring his #29 uniform.

Antonio had a 200-148 record, 2.97 ERA, 3411.1 innings, 3593 strikeouts, 870 walks, 111 ERA, 90 FIP-, and 60.4 WAR. Like his HOF classmate Corbin Acupan, Antonio didn’t have the dominance or longevity of a lot of other OBA greats. They have similar tallies and both helped their franchises win multiple titles. Most voters put them on fairly equal footing and most thought that was enough for the first ballot induction. Antonio got 81.3% to join Acupan in the 2007 OBA class.



Thomas Silverhawk – Third Base – Melbourne Mets – 66.1% First Ballot

Thomas Silverhawk was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Brisbane, Australia. Silverhawk had a strong bat, regularly getting 30+ home runs and around 30 doubles/triples per his 162 game average. He was a great contact hitter briefly in his early days, but was well below average for much of his career. Silverhawk’s eye and ability to avoid strikeouts were both mid. He was a pretty smart baserunner, but his speed was below average.

Silverhawk had an absolute cannon of an arm, serving him well as a career third baseman. His range and glove were both respectable and he graded as a reliably solid defender. Silverhawk had some sporadic injuries, but held up pretty well at a demanding spot for 18 years. He was a fan favorite and viewed as one of the most likeable guys in the game. Silverhawk was also known for his loyalty and work ethic.

Silverhawk very quickly was one of the top Australian prospects entered into the 1983 OBA Draft. He was picked fifth overall by Melbourne and started 62 games his rookie year. Silverhawk was the full-time starter by 1985 and generally held that spot for the rest of the Millennium, although he was briefly benched in 1992 and 1995.

In 1986, Silverhawk bust onto the scene with 7.0 WAR in only 123 games, earning his first Silver Slugger. He won his second in 1987 and had an impressive MVP season with the Australasia League led in hits (188), home runs (50), average (.313), and WAR (10.5). This effort led Melbourne to their first AL title since 1970, getting defeated by Samoa in the OBA Championship.

Silverhawk seemed to be on pace for a similar season in 1988, but missed some time to a fractured finger. He was strong again in 1989, but became wildly inconsistent in the next few seasons. Melbourne wouldn’t make it back to the finals during his tenure, but they went from a consistent stinker in the late 1970s-early 1980s to a regular winner in Silverhawk’s time. The Mets averaged around 83 wins per season during his tenure.

Silverhawk did also play a bit for Australia in the World Baseball Championship with 33 games and 23 starts over eight editions. He had 20 hits, 14 runs, 4 doubles, 9 home runs, 22 RBI, a .213/.288/.543 slash, 134 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR.

Silverhawk struggled to make contact in his early 30s and even was benched for parts of 1992 and 1995. When he was on, he still looked like a fine bat, eventually getting four seasons worth 5+ WAR in his 30s. Everyone wanted Silverhawk to succeed as he was so likeable. Melbourne gave him a two-year, $1,480,000 extension in March 1994. Silverhawk officially became a free agent after the 1996 campaign, but the Mets brought him back at four years and $5,920,000.

Silverhawk had an impressive late stage power surge in 2000 at age 38, spending most of that year as a DH. He led the league in homers (49), RBI (109), runs (93), and total bases (315). Melbourne gave him another two years and $4,640,000 solely based on that run. That year also saw Silverhawk cross 2000 career hits and 1000 runs.

He must have stopped eating a balanced breakfast though, as Silverhawk was abysmal the next year. In 2001, he had a .152 average and -1.4 WAR. He retired that winter at age 39. Melbourne quickly announced that Silverhawk’s #28 uniform would be taken out of circulation.

Silverhawk had 2170 hits, 1101 runs, 394 doubles, 472 home runs, 1226 RBI, a .249/.285/.471 slash, 126 wRC+, and 76.0 WAR. As of 2037, he’s 7^th in WAR among third basemen. His totals were borderline though and at that point, there had been only one OBA inductee with a sub .250 batting average. That guy though, Ping Janer, made up for it with Gold Glove defense and stellar baserunning. As of 2037, no OBA HOFer has a lower on-base percentage than Silverhawk.

That said, Silverhawk was one of the most likeable guys in the game. Plus, sticking with one franchise for your whole career is a major plus for some voters. A borderline candidate fittingly crossed the 66% line by the thinnest margin at 66.1%. Regardless, Silverhawk can say he was a first ballot Hall of Famer, rounding out OBA’s 2007 class.