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FuzzyRussianHat · 06-28-2024, 10:30 PM

In his tenth and final chance, pitcher Baoxian He finally got the phone call he was dreaming of. He received 74.4% to finally earn induction into the Chinese League Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the only addition in the 2007 voting with only two others getting above 50%. Both were debuting pitchers with Jun Tang at 59.9% and Martin Cui at 59.2%. No one was dropped after ten failed tries.

Baoxian “Blackjack” He – Dalian Gold Dragons – 74.4% Tenth Ballot

Baoxian He was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Wuhan, China. He loved to play cards with his teammates, earning the nickname “Blackjack.” Baoxian was known for having pinpoint control which graded as a 9/10 for the majority of his career. His ability to spot pitches gave him great longevity despite having merely average-at-best stuff and movement.

Baoxian’s velocity topped out at 95-97 mph on his fastball. He had a five-pitch arsenal that included a cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. Baoxian had excellent durability and had 30+ starts and 235+ innings in all but three of his 15 seasons. His stamina was considered good and his defense below average.

Many fans wouldn’t realize that He started his pro career with Hong Kong. Freshly removed from high school, Baoxian was picked 14^th overall by the Champions in the 1976 CLB Draft. He spent two years in their developmental system, but never made it to the big league club. In January 1979, He and three prospects were traded to Dalian for veteran OF and 1992 Hall of Fame inductee Hao Lan, plus $431,000.

Baoxian debuted as a part-timer in 1979 at age 22 for the Gold Dragons. He was mediocre as a rookie and didn’t look much better the next year as a full-timer. The patience paid off as Baoxian emerged as a reliable starter in t he 1980s. He led the league thrice in innings pitched, twice in quality starts, and once in shutouts. Baoxian was never dominant though was never a finalist for Pitcher of the Year. He would toss a no-hitter on July 15, 1985 with 8 strikeouts and no walks.

Dalian was happy with the results and gave He a six-year, $4,230,000 contract extension in May 1987. That would be his best season by WAR at 7.2. Baoxian led in wins in 1988 and his great control allowed him to age pretty effectively into his 30s. He tossed a second no-hitter with 10 Ks and 1 walk on June 29, 1989 versus Shanghai.

The Gold Dragons had a 13-year playoff drought from 1976-88, but emerged on the other side with a dynasty. Dalian made it to the China Series six straight years from 1989-94 and won it all in 1989, 91, 92, 93, and 94. He was around for the first three of those rings, chugging along.

In 1992, Baoxian was the China Series MVP with a 2.65 ERA over four playoff starts and 34 innings that year. For his entire playoff career, he was average with a 7-4 record in 14 starts, 103.2 innings, 2.69 ERA, 89 strikeouts, 14 walks, 95 ERA+, and 1.4 WAR. Sometimes though, just having a guy who can get reliable innings is enough. Baoxian was appreciated enough by Dalian to see his #86 uniform retired.

However, despite winning finals MVP in 1992, Dalian voided the team option year in his contact that winter. He was a free agent for the first time at age 36 and had trouble finding suitors with his velocity dropping into the low 90s. Baoxian ended up moving to Australia and signing with OBA’s Adelaide, but he’d only toss 18.1 innings for them in 1993. He retired that winter at age 37.

The final stats saw a 179-174 record, 2.35 ERA, 3610.1 innings, 3376 strikeouts, 482 walks, 354/448 quality starts, 146 complete games, 109 ERA+, 93 FIP-, and 58.4 WAR. Sticking with one team, helping them establish a dynasty, and two no-hitters were big plusses for He. However, Baoxian lacked the dominance expected of a Hall of Famer. Even the pitcher-friendly CLB voters were skeptical. Only two players with a weaker ERA had gotten the nod into CLB’s HOF.

Baoxian debuted at 49.0% and never dropped lower than 46%. He hovered between the 40s and 50s for his first seven ballots, seemingly peaking there. Then, He came painfully close at 64.4% and 65.1% in 2005 and 2006. 2007 was his last chance and Baoxian was helped by a relatively unremarkable group of newcomers. He finally crossed the finish line at 74.4%, becoming the first-ever CLB inductee to make it on the tenth ballot. Baoxian finally got his flowers as the lone addition in 2007.

06-28-2024, 10:30 PM	#1379
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,730	2007 CLB Hall of Fame In his tenth and final chance, pitcher Baoxian He finally got the phone call he was dreaming of. He received 74.4% to finally earn induction into the Chinese League Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the only addition in the 2007 voting with only two others getting above 50%. Both were debuting pitchers with Jun Tang at 59.9% and Martin Cui at 59.2%. No one was dropped after ten failed tries. Baoxian “Blackjack” He – Dalian Gold Dragons – 74.4% Tenth Ballot Baoxian He was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Wuhan, China. He loved to play cards with his teammates, earning the nickname “Blackjack.” Baoxian was known for having pinpoint control which graded as a 9/10 for the majority of his career. His ability to spot pitches gave him great longevity despite having merely average-at-best stuff and movement. Baoxian’s velocity topped out at 95-97 mph on his fastball. He had a five-pitch arsenal that included a cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. Baoxian had excellent durability and had 30+ starts and 235+ innings in all but three of his 15 seasons. His stamina was considered good and his defense below average. Many fans wouldn’t realize that He started his pro career with Hong Kong. Freshly removed from high school, Baoxian was picked 14^th overall by the Champions in the 1976 CLB Draft. He spent two years in their developmental system, but never made it to the big league club. In January 1979, He and three prospects were traded to Dalian for veteran OF and 1992 Hall of Fame inductee Hao Lan, plus $431,000. Baoxian debuted as a part-timer in 1979 at age 22 for the Gold Dragons. He was mediocre as a rookie and didn’t look much better the next year as a full-timer. The patience paid off as Baoxian emerged as a reliable starter in t he 1980s. He led the league thrice in innings pitched, twice in quality starts, and once in shutouts. Baoxian was never dominant though was never a finalist for Pitcher of the Year. He would toss a no-hitter on July 15, 1985 with 8 strikeouts and no walks. Dalian was happy with the results and gave He a six-year, $4,230,000 contract extension in May 1987. That would be his best season by WAR at 7.2. Baoxian led in wins in 1988 and his great control allowed him to age pretty effectively into his 30s. He tossed a second no-hitter with 10 Ks and 1 walk on June 29, 1989 versus Shanghai. The Gold Dragons had a 13-year playoff drought from 1976-88, but emerged on the other side with a dynasty. Dalian made it to the China Series six straight years from 1989-94 and won it all in 1989, 91, 92, 93, and 94. He was around for the first three of those rings, chugging along. In 1992, Baoxian was the China Series MVP with a 2.65 ERA over four playoff starts and 34 innings that year. For his entire playoff career, he was average with a 7-4 record in 14 starts, 103.2 innings, 2.69 ERA, 89 strikeouts, 14 walks, 95 ERA+, and 1.4 WAR. Sometimes though, just having a guy who can get reliable innings is enough. Baoxian was appreciated enough by Dalian to see his #86 uniform retired. However, despite winning finals MVP in 1992, Dalian voided the team option year in his contact that winter. He was a free agent for the first time at age 36 and had trouble finding suitors with his velocity dropping into the low 90s. Baoxian ended up moving to Australia and signing with OBA’s Adelaide, but he’d only toss 18.1 innings for them in 1993. He retired that winter at age 37. The final stats saw a 179-174 record, 2.35 ERA, 3610.1 innings, 3376 strikeouts, 482 walks, 354/448 quality starts, 146 complete games, 109 ERA+, 93 FIP-, and 58.4 WAR. Sticking with one team, helping them establish a dynasty, and two no-hitters were big plusses for He. However, Baoxian lacked the dominance expected of a Hall of Famer. Even the pitcher-friendly CLB voters were skeptical. Only two players with a weaker ERA had gotten the nod into CLB’s HOF. Baoxian debuted at 49.0% and never dropped lower than 46%. He hovered between the 40s and 50s for his first seven ballots, seemingly peaking there. Then, He came painfully close at 64.4% and 65.1% in 2005 and 2006. 2007 was his last chance and Baoxian was helped by a relatively unremarkable group of newcomers. He finally crossed the finish line at 74.4%, becoming the first-ever CLB inductee to make it on the tenth ballot. Baoxian finally got his flowers as the lone addition in 2007. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)