[FuzzyRussianHat]

Pitcher Isaac Tague stood alone for induction into the Oceania Baseball Association’s Hall of Fame in 2026 with a slam dunk 97.5%. LF Samson Gould (58.2%) and SP Raj Marple (55.7%) were the next closest in their debuts, missing the 66% requirement for induction. Two returners were above 50% with SP Joel Wilson at 55.7% for his second ballot and CL Nolan Gilmoon at 51.3% on his eighth try. No players were removed from the ballot after ten failed tries.



Isaac Tague – Starting Pitcher – Guadalcanal Green Jackets – 97.5% First Ballot

Isaac Tague was a 6’3’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Perth, the largest city of Western Australia. Tague’s raw stuff was exceptional and was graded as a 10/10 by some scouts at his peak. His control and movement were merely average, but his ability to change speeds and fool hitters made up for that. Tague’s 99-101 mph fastball was excellent, but it was a stellar circle change that drew the most whiffs. He also had a good regular changeup and occasional sinker in the arsenal.

Tague’s biggest drawback was poor stamina, throwing only nine complete games in his entire career even with OBA’s four-man rotation. His durability was strong so he rarely missed starts, but he didn’t have the 300+ inning seasons one expected out of OBA aces. Tague had a solid pickoff move, but was a subpar defensive pitcher otherwise. Some peers also thought he could be selfish and that his work ethic was unimpressive.

His raw stuff stood out even as a teenager in Australia, earning attention from several OBA clubs. Guadalcanal had the winning pitch, signing Tague to a developmental deal in April 2000. He spent most of five years in their academy in the Solomon Islands, debuting in 2005 at age 21 with 31 innings mostly in relief. Tague was a full-time starter the next year, his first of six seasons worth 8+ WAR. Each of his full seasons were worth at least 5.9 WAR and all but one had 300+ strikeouts.

Tague’s highest strikeout total came with 408 in 2008. His ERAs started to go down and Guadalcanal began primed for a legit run. They had been more bad than good over the prior 30 years with their most recent Pacific League title back in 1977. Tague helped end that drought as the Green Jackets went 113-49 in 2010. They fell to Melbourne’s dynasty in the Oceania Championship with Tague struggling to a 5.06 ERA in his two starts.

He was a big reason they got there though and the Green Jackets gave him a five-year, $33,900,000 extension in May 2011. Guadalcanal finished second in 2011, then won back-to-back PL titles in 2012-13. The Green Jackets got revenge over the Mets in the Oceania Championship in 2012, but were defeated by Christchurch in 2013 despite a franchise-best 115-47 season.

Tague fared better in the later playoff runs, finishing with a 2.94 ERA over 33.2 innings with 45 strikeouts. He also was excellent in the 2012 Baseball Grand Championship with a 1.34 ERA over 33.2 innings, 53 strikeouts, and 2.1 WAR. Guadalcanal finished 12-7 as part of a five-way tie for the top spot, officially taking second via tiebreakers.

Tague was solid in the 2013 event as well with a 2.52 ERA and 39 Ks in 25 innings. The Green Jackets were again 12-7, this time officially taking fifth. From 2007-20, Tague was also a regular in the World Baseball Championship pitching for Australia. He tossed 162.2 innings with a 13-4 record, 3.10 ERA, 261 strikeouts, and 3.7 WAR. Australia’s deepest run with Tague was a fourth place in 2012.

2012 also saw Tague’s first ERA title in the PL at 2.22 along with a league-best 0.90 WHIP, placing third in Pitcher of the Year voting. He was second in 2013 with his finest season by ERA (2.05) and FIP- (47) as well as his second-best WAR of 10.6. Guadalcanal remained solid for the rest of the 2010s and didn’t post a losing season until 2023. However, they didn’t reclaim the throne, typically hovering around third or fourth in the ten-team standings.

Tague signed a four-year, $33,600,000 extension before the 2016 season. That June, he threw a no-hitter against Tahiti with 11 strikeouts and two walks. It was one of only three shutouts he had his entire career. In 2017 at age 33, Tague posted his career best WAR at 10.8 and won his second ERA title at 2.35. He finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting, ultimately never taking the top honor.

He had two more years for Guadalcanal with a bit of a decline in velocity in late 2019. The Green Jackets decided to decline the team option, sending Tague to free agency for the first time at age 36. The franchise was still grateful overall for his 15 years of service and role in their titles, retiring his #5 uniform shortly after his playing career ended.

Tague still thought he had plenty left and signed for three years and $31,100,000 with Honolulu. He was shockingly bad though with a 5.24 ERA in 99.2 innings for the Honu, also missing eight weeks to a strained hamstring. Tague opted to retire that winter shortly after his 37^th birthday.

The final stats saw a 234-146 record, 2.75 ERA, 3661.1 innings, 4866 strikeouts, 775 walks, 349/554 quality starts, 9 complete games 132 ERA+, 66 FIP-, and 113.0 WAR. As of 2037, Tague ranks 17^th in wins, 20^th in innings, 7^th in strikeouts, and 6^th in pitching WAR. His .603 opponent’s OPS ranks 58^th among those with 1000+ career innings and his ERA ranks 70^th.

Tague’s K/9 of 11.96 ranks 4^th among qualifiers, showing he was one of the most efficient strikeout starters of his era. His 6.89 H/9 ranked 40^th. Some argue he was the best OBA ace to never win Pitcher of the Year, although sharing a league with the likes of Timothy Manglona, Akira Brady, and Austin Jong didn’t help his cause.

He won’t crack many top five pitcher lists among OBA scholars, but he rarely misses a top ten list. Tague was somewhat under-rated in his time and a big reason Guadalcanal had their success in the early 2010s. At 97.5%, Tague stood alone for induction into the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2026.