Baseball: The World's Game (OOTP 22 Fictional World)

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The Eastern League was a battle at the top with six teams finishing within six games of the title. Pittsburgh ended up on top at 97-65, earning their first EL title and only third-ever playoff appearance (first since 1913). Defending Eastern League champ Montreal was one back and took second at 96-66. Washington won 95, New York and Toronto both 93, and Ottawa 91.

Minneapolis won the Midwest League, their first-ever league title and only second playoff appearance (1907). The Moose were 89-73. Cincinnati at 84-78 became the lowest-finishing National Association team to get a second-place playoff spot. The Reds were one-game better than Louisville and two over last year’s World Series champ Cleveland.

Cincinnati did have the Pitcher of the Year Wyatt Maman, who led the NA in ERA. Detroit outfielder Sandy Rainey at age 22 won the MVP as the leader in batting average, slugging, and WAR.

Despite their unremarkable record, the Reds stunned the Pirates in five games in the first round. Montreal swept Minneapolis and had no problem also sweeping Cincinnati, giving the Maples their third-ever National Association crown.



Defending American Association champ Atlanta took first in the Southern League at 90-72 for their third straight playoff berth. Miami at 87-75 took second place, beating out 84-78 Houston. The Mallards earned only their second playoff berth, joining the 1902 season.

Albuquerque and San Francisco both made the playoffs again but switched spots in the Western League; the Isotopes first at 105-57 and the Gold Rush at 102-60. Calgary and Los Angeles both were in the mix at 98-64. Albuquerque’s Crazy Legs Snider in his fourth season won his second Pitcher of the Year with the AA’s best 1.81 ERA, the lowest mark for anyone since 1902. Las Vegas second-year third baseman Nelson Bivens won the MVP with 53 home runs and a 8.7 WAR.

Miami stunned the Isotopes in five games and San Francisco topped the Aces in four. The AACS went seven games with the Mallards upsetting the Gold Rush for their first Association title. Miami continued their Cinderella run and knocked off Montreal 4-2 in the World Series for their 1928 World Series title.






Other notes: Philadelphia's Jax Sanders had a 37-game hit streak in the summer. This is the second-longest in MLB history, only behind Condela Gurrola's 40-game streak for Seattle in 1902.

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Only one player was elected into the MLB’s 1929 Hall of Fame Class; shortstop Kyle Bartz. He earned a first ballot nod at 84.8%. Third baseman Rick Montgomery was again barely short, getting 65.3% on his fifth try, Pitcher Lanny Roberts on his third try was also a point short at 65.0%.

Mario Sanchez ended up surviving ten ballots, although his highest was 31.8% on his debut. The former Denver, Houston, Vancouver, and Albuquerque first baseman was a three time Silver Slugger winner with 66.9 WAR, 2260 hits, 1319 runs, 406 home runs, and 1357 RBI. Respectable tallies and above average in three of the five metrics, but zero black ink.

CABA’s Hall of Fame voted in two. Shortstop Jhoyce Hidrovo got 83.6% on his first time on the ballot. And first baseman Manny Arroyo on his third try just made the 2/3s cut at 67.8%.





Kyle “Punch” Bartz – Shortstop – Phoenix Firebirds – 84.8% First Ballot

Kyle Bartz was a 5’10’’, 195 pound right handed shortstop from Paterson, New Jersey. Nicknamed “Punch,” Bartz had an interesting skillset. He was a excellent contact hitter with solid speed. He very rarely would strikeout, but even rarer were walks. The ball was almost always put in play, as he wasn’t a power hitter either. Defensively, he played almost exclusively at shortstop, only switching to third base near the end of his career. He was generally thought of as a good to above average defender.

Bartz played college baseball at Auburn and was drafted in the 1904 MLB draft ninth overall by the Phoenix Firebirds, where he’d play for the first nine years of his career. He was in the lineup immediately as a rookie, helping Jason Salvage and others turn the Firebirds into a contender. In his first six seasons in Phoenix, they made the playoffs six teams; made the American Association final five teams, and won the World Series in 1907. Bartz was third in MVP voting in both 1906 and 1910, and won two of his four Silver Sluggers with the Firebirds.

In 1911, Phoenix went from 104 wins to 62 wins and Bartz struggled like his team. With no one to spell him on a mismanaged roster, he picked up more than 2/3s of his career strikeouts over the 1911 and 1912 seasons, destroying his confidence. In 1913, he bounced back and looked more like his old self, but it was time to leave Arizona.

Bartz signed a five-year, $20,800 contract with the Chicago Cubs and won two Silver Sluggers while there, twice leading the National Association in hits. He was back to being a solid top-of-the-lineup guy, but the Cubs were a bottom tier team. Before his age 34 season, the Cubs traded Bartz to Charlotte for five prospects. After picking up his 2500^th career hit with the Canaries, he signed a four-year deal with Portland starting in the 1919 season.

Bartz spend three years with the Pacifics, then signed with St. Louis for his final two seasons in MLB. With Portland in 1921, he became the first MLB player to 3000 career hits and the eighth to reach 1500 runs scored. Injuries to his ankles and age caught up to him, as he was released at the end of 1923. In July 1924, he signed with Atlanta’s minor league affiliate, but was unproductive and retired at the end of the year.

At his retirement, Bartz was the all-time hit king, although Corey Patrizio and Elijah Cashman both passed him in the 1930s. His 230 triples was the all-time mark until Wei-Ju Wang passed him in the 50s and remains eighth all-time even a century later.

He finished with a .303 average, 3383 hits, 1657 runs scored, 437 doubles, 230 triples, 163 home runs, 1210 RBI, and 62.7 WAR. His lack of walks and home run power hurt him when looking at advanced metrics, but his hit and run total alone was going to get him into the Hall of Fame.



Jhoyce “Frosty” Hidrovo – Shortstop – Puerto Rico Pelicans – 83.6% First Ballot

Jhyoce Hidrovo was a 5’9’’, 190 pound infielder from Bayamon, a suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was a prolific batter, combining both excellent contact ability and power, along with a solid eye and good speed. He played most of his prominent years at shortstop with defense ranging from very good in his 20s to below average in his later 30s, eventually switching to first base in his later years.

Hidrovo became known around the island as one of the best players at the start of the century before more coherent leagues were around in the Caribbean. When CABA was formed to begin in 1911, his home team, the Puerto Rico Pelicans, were quick to bring him aboard. He signed an eight-year, $17,000 deal, beginning his CABA career at the age of 27.


Right away, he was a star, posting 11.9 WAR in his first season and taking second in MVP voting. He’d pick up seven Silver Sluggers and grab MVP in 1913, 1914, and 1916. He led the Caribbean in WAR four straight seasons, including a 13.7 mark in 1916 that stood as the all-time best for a CABA hitter until 1940. In 1914, the Pelicans would win the Caribbean League, falling to Tijuana in the CABA final.

Despite his efforts, 1914 was Puerto Rico’s only playoff appearance in his time. Now 34 entering 1918, the Pelicans traded him to Nicaragua for four prospects. Even missing a good chunk to injury, Hidrovo posted a 7.1 WAR season in 1918 for the Navigators, helping them earn a division title.

His contemporaries called him a greedy guy who didn’t have much loyalty. The allure of big money brought him to America, signing a four-year deal with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His previous top season salary was $2,600; he’d now be making $7,000 a year with the Dodgers. He provided a solid bat, but injuries and age started to catch up after his third year, leading Brooklyn to trade him that offseason to Kansas City. After one season with the Cougars, he played his final year back in CABA as a reserve for Merida.

His overall accumulation is low due to starting late and leaving CABA in his mid 30s, but he still amassed 1300 hits, 724 runs, 271 home runs, and a whopping 81.6 WAR in his CABA career. A key figure in expanding the game’s popularity in Puerto Rico, the three-time MVP Hidrovo earned his spot in the CABA Hall of Fame.



Manny Arroyo – First Baseman – Ecatepec Explosion – 67.8% Third Ballot

Manny Arroyo was a 6’0’’ 200 pound right handed corner infielder, born in Chetumal on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Often called a “sparkplug” by those who knew him, Arroyo was a well-rounded hitter with solid contact, power, and eye. He split his defensive career between first base and third, playing a bit more at the former. He was considered a very good defensive first baseman, thrice winning the Gold Glove, but thought of as a well below average third baseman.

Arroyo had already become known as one of Mexico’s better baseball players before CABA was formed. When it was created for the 1911, the 26-year old was signed by Ecatapec for five years, $10,640. His second and third seasons with the Explosion earned him MVP, both years getting the batting title and 10+ WAR. He wouldn’t reach those heights again, but picked up seven Silver Sluggers during his CABA run.

Ecatapec twice won the division during Arroyo’s decade with the team, but they were never able to make much postseason noise. Before the start of the 1921 season, he was surprisingly traded away to Costa Rica for three prospects. He won his final Silver Slugger in his lone season with the Rays, then decided to take the big money to play in the United States. His salary would more than double his two-year deal with Minneapolis.

While he never adjusted to the Minnesota cold, he did earn an All-Star appearance in a solid MLB debut at age 37 with the Moose. Before the 1923 season, he was traded to Kansas City, where he again was a respectable start. After one year there, he played his final two seasons in Memphis, where his skills had begun to diminish as he entered his 40s. He retired after the 1925 campaign.

His final CABA numbers were 1897 hits, 910 runs, 291 home runs, a .295 average, and a 74.5 WAR. A late start and final years in the US don’t put his totals as notable on the big leaderboards. But he was solidly a top-tier hitter in Mexico for CABA’s first decade, giving him a spot in the Hall of Fame.

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Yokohama was unable to make it six straight seasons above 100 wins in 1929, but the Yellow Jackets were able to extend their division title streak to six. At 88-74, they held off 86-76 Saitama to take the North Division again. Yasushi Matsu****a picked up the Pitcher of the Year for Yokohama, leading Japan in WHIP at 0.75 and finishing second in ERA and WAR.

Defending champ Fukuoka led the way again in the South, finishing 111-51. Frogs first baseman Kenzo Uemura earned MVP with the league lead in OPS at .928 and RBI at 96. In a JCLS rematch, Fukuoka defeated Yokohama for back-to-back seasons, winning the series in six. Little did either team know that this 1929 series would be the last playoff appearance for either squad for more than 30 years.



In the Korea League, Pyongyang earned their first division title since 1924, as the Pythons finished 113-49, topping defending EAB champ Hamhung at 101-61. Gwangju dominated the South Division again; their 97-63 mark earned them a sixth straight playoff berth.

Grays left fielder Shigeaki Kono was the Korean MVP, becoming the first EAB batter earning the Triple Crown. Kono finished with a .346 average, 43 home runs, and 121 RBI. Seongnam, who took third in the North Division, had the Pitcher of the Year Hyung-Mo So, who finished second in ERA (1.73), WAR (9.9), and third in strikeouts (295).

In the Korean League Championship Series, Pyongyang downed Gwangju in six, giving the Pythons their third Korean League title. They wouldn't get their third EAB title though, as Fukuoka defeated them 4-1 in the East Asian Championship. This is the first overall title for the Frogs.





Other notes: Saitama's Moon-Hwan Lee became the first EAB player to 400 career home runs. On August 21, Harukazu Fukushima of Hiroshima threw a perfect game against Kobe with seven strikeouts.

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The Mexican League had different faces at the top for the 1929 season. In the South Division, Ecatepec was the top team overall at 103-59, while the defending CABA champ Puebla and Guadalajara each finished 88-74.. It was the first playoff berth for the Explosion since 1918. Meanwhile, Juarez narrowly took a weak North Division at 85-77, only their second-ever division title (1912).

League MVP and Rookie of the Year both went to Mexico City right fielder Kiko Velazquez, who had an incredible debut with top three finishes in batting average, WAR, OPS, home runs, runs, hits, and total bases. Although the Aztecs were still at the bottom of the league, Velazquez gives them reason for optimism. Pitcher of the Year was Puebla's Martin Campos, who finished as the season's WARlord.

The Mexican League Championship Series went all seven games with Ecatapec defeating Juarez, giving the Explosion their first-ever league title.



Defending Caribbean champ Puerto Rico claimed back-to-back Island Division titles and their fourth playoff appearance in five seasons. At 101-61, the Pelicans beat out 93-win efforts from Havana and Jamaica. Despite his team taking fifth, Haiti third baseman Jonny Lucero won his third MVP, leading the way with 47 home runs. Jamaica's Jorge Aleman won his second career Pitcher of the Year, having won the 1927 Mexican League award with Monterrey. Aleman had the best ERA (2.34), WAR (10.0) and strikeout tally (330).

Honduras' stranglehold on the Continental Division ended as they won only 79 games. Costa Rica took first at 86-76 for their first-ever postseason appearance. The Rays would fall in six to the Pelicans in the Caribbean League Championship Series, sending Puerto Rico to the CABA final for the third time in four years and fifth time overall.

The Pelicans were unable to claim their second CABA title, as Ecatepec claimed their first in a seven-game classic series.





Other notes: Ulices Montero, now pitching for Juarez, became the first CABA pitcher to reach 300 career wins. Guadalajara's Adrian De La Rosa became the second to reach 250 later in the year. Leon's Hector Quinoz threw the seventh CABA perfect game on September 17 against Merida, striking out 14 in the win.

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The Canadian teams were atop the Eastern League in 1929. Toronto took first at 103-59, earning their fifth league title. One game back was Ottawa at 102-60, their fifth playoff berth in the last six years. Defending National Association champ Montreal took third at 94-68. St. Louis was the Midwest League champ at 105-57, the second playoff appearance in the Elijah Cashman era. Louisville took second at 91-71 for their third wild card in four years. The playoff teams from last year, Cincinnati and Minneapolis, both finished in the bottom half.

Cashman won his sixth MVP and earned Triple Crown honors with 56 home runs, a .382 average, and 149 RBI. Cashman became the first (and only as of a century later) MLB hitter to earn the Triple Crown twice. Meanwhile, Lynx pitcher Kadoor Saleem earned the Pitcher of the Year and pitching Triple Crown with a 21-8 record, 2.31 ERA, and 238 strikeouts. The 25-year old from Pakistan was only the second MLB pitcher to earn the honor, joining Josh Davis from 1911.

The Lynx upset the Timberwolves, sweeping them on the road. Meanwhile, Ottawa edged St. Louis in five, putting both second place teams in the National Association Championship Series. The Elks downed Louisville in five, giving Ottawa its third Association title in six years.



In the Southern League, Jacksonville took first at 94-68, their first playoff appearance since 1918 and only fourth-ever. They finished one game better than Houston, with the Hornets earning their eighth playoff berth in the last decade and 18^th total playoff berth. Defending World Series champ Miami was third at 87-75, while last year’s league champ Atlanta fell completely off a cliff, finishing 58-104. Veteran pitcher Dee Walters, who had been traded to Houston in the offseason after more than a decade in Hartford, earned his lone Pitcher of the Year award.

Phoenix won the Western League at 101-61, their first playoff appearance since 1917. San Francisco was second at 97-65 for a third straight playoff berth. Defending league champ Albuquerque was in a three-way tie for fourth at 94 wins. Isotopes center fielder Josh Chandler won the MVP at age 23 as the AA’s WARlord at 8.6.

The Western teams prevailed in the first round as Phoenix bested Houston in four and San Francisco knocked off Jacksonville in five on the road. Although the Firebirds were League champ, the Gold Rush easily took the American Association Championship Series in five games, the third AA title for SF. It would be no contest in the 29^th World Series though as Ottawa swept San Francisco for the Elks’ second MLB title.





Other notes: Elijah Cashman passed 500 career home runs, the 10^th player to do so. Las Vegas pitcher Bailey Johnson became the ninth to reach 3000 career strikeouts.

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Three players earned induction in the 1930 MLB Hall of Fame Class. Pitcher Regal Lewis was a first-ballot pick at 88.7%. Third baseman Rick Montgomery on his sixth try made it at 72.6%, while pitcher Lanny Roberts got in on his fourth go at 70.1%. Outfielder Jonathan Gillette was just short on his second try at 63.1%.

Getting dropped after his 10^th try was journeyman outfielder Stephen Flannery, whose best percentage was 31.4% in his second go. With eight teams, Flannery picked up 2361 hits, 1296 runs, 472 home runs, 1478 RBI, a .292 average and 61.0 WAR.

Two earned induction in CABA’s Hall of Fame; closer B.J. Medina and designated hitter Chris Barnett; both on the first ballot. Making it to his 10^th ballot but getting dropped was closer Carlos Fernandez. He only played five seasons for Panama, but twice earned Reliever of the Year and picked up 188 saves in five CABA seasons.



Regal Lewis – Starting Pitcher – San Diego Seals – 88.7% First Ballot

Regal Lewis was a 5’7’’, 175 pound left handed pitcher from Bordentown, New Jersey. At his career peak, Lewis consistently tossed 100 mph with four great pitches; a sinker, curveball, forkball, and changeup. His changeup was often considered one of the nest changes of all-time.

Lewis attended Kansas State and was second in college Pitcher of the Year voting in his sophomore season. In the 1907 MLB Draft, he was taken 52^nd overall in supplemental round #1 by San Diego. By his second season, he was a full-time starter and reliable top-of-the-rotation guy. In 1910 and 1915, he finished third in American Association Pitcher of the Year voting. In eight-and-a-half seasons with the Seals, Lewis picked up 53.2 WAR, 1899 strikeouts, with a 3.23 ERA.

While Lewis was successful, San Diego was a mid-tier team. At age 29, the Seals traded him to Indianapolis at the deadline for prospects. His first taste of the playoffs came with the Racers, who made it to the NACS. That offseason, Lewis entered free agency and signed a six-year, $33,800 deal with Brooklyn. With the Dodgers, he achieved his 3000^th career strikeout and 200^th career win.

His most impressive statistical seasons were in his five with Brooklyn, leading the National Association in strikeouts thrice. Entering 1922 at age 35, the Dodgers traded Lewis to Denver. After a season with the Dragons, he signed with Calgary for his final two seasons. His first year with the Cheetahs was a 7.9 season; his second-best mark, but struggles the next year led Lewis to retire after the 1924 season.

Lewis was never a big star as his teams tended to be towards the middle or bottom of the standings. But he put up 3965 career strikeouts, which when he retired was the all-time top mark. Lewis finished with 104.0 WAR with a 3.22 ERA and 242-170 record with 336 quality starts in 504 attempts. One of the most reliable pitchers of the 1910s era, Lewis earned his spot as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.



Rick Montgomery – Third Baseman – Memphis Mountain Lions – 72.6% 6^th Ballot

Rick Montgomery was a 5’11’’, 200 pound third baseman from Jacksonville, Florida. A left-handed batter, Montgomery was known as one of the all-time great contact and singles hitters. He wasn’t one who drew many walks or hit with much power, and he was a slow runner, but Montgomery very rarely struck out and knew how to put the ball in play. He was a designated hitter early in his career with Oakland, but spent his later time primarily as a third baseman, where he was considered a below-average to poor fielder.

Montgomery played in college at Bowling Green and excelled, earning him the fourth overall draft selection in 1903 by the Oakland Owls. In his second season in Oakland, he led the American Association with 231 hits and won the batting title at .343. He again was batting champ (.369) in 1908 and his 237 hits was the single-season record for a few years. This season earned him second place in MVP voting and one of three Silver Sluggers.

His production waned in his final two seasons with the Owls and he tested free agency, signing for the 1911 season a seven-year, $23,520 deal with Memphis. This became his signature run as a key part of the Mountain Cats’ 1910s dynasty. He hit a career-best .381 in 1913 as Memphis won their first World Series. The Mountain Cats won it all again in 1915 and were American Association champs additional in 1914 and 1917.

Although still a starter, an aging Montgomery saw his value dwindle at the end of the run. For 1918 at age 35, he signed with San Francisco. He started for one season, then found himself on the bench in 1919, retiring that offseason. He needed another decent full season to get to 3000 hits, which he could’ve been the first to do.

Still, 2849 career hits, 1327 runs, and a .317 career average isn’t anything to be ashamed of. Advanced stats put him as one of the weaker Hall of Fame members, thus having to wait until his sixth try. But being a three-time batting champ and an important piece of the Memphis dynasty was enough to get Montgomery into the Hall.



Lanny Roberts – Starting Pitcher – Hartford Huskies – 70.1% Fourth Ballot


Lanny Roberts was a 6’0’’, 185 pound right handed pitcher born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. One of the great fastball pitchers, he hit upper 90s often while also boasting a great splitter and curveball. Roberts was also known for having excellent pinpoint control. He attended the University of Central Florida and was the fourth overall draft pick in 1907 by the Hartford Huskies.

As a rookie, Roberts found himself as a regular starter and would be at the top of the Huskies rotation for more than a decade. A six-time All-Star, he rarely was a league leader, but always among the most productive pitchers. He finished second in National Association Pitcher of the Year voting in 1914 and 1916.

Hartford made the playoffs seven times during Roberts’ run, winning a World Series in 1916. That year, he led the NA with a 0.99 WHIP and had a career-best 9.3 WAR. The Huskies also won the NA title in 1920 and in the playoffs, he went 5-0 in his five start. That season, he hit 2500 career strikeouts.

Despite the team success in 1920, Roberts left and decided to cash in during free agency. At age 34, he signed a four-year, $28,000 just north with Montreal. With the Maples, he recorded his 200^th career victory. But in July 1921, he started dealing with severe shoulder inflammation that ended his season. Further setbacks with his shoulder forced Roberts to retire that offseason.

Even with the early retirement, Roberts still put up 90.8 career WAR with a 206-159 record, 3.05 ERA, 2620 strikeouts, and 307 quality starts in 462. Although his Montreal production was dwindling, many wondered if Roberts would’ve been more regarded with the greats if he had another few years of production. But he was solid enough and a big part of Hartford’s 1910s success to earn election on the fourth ballot.



B.J. “The Warden” Medina – Closer – Tijuana Toros – 82.9% First Ballot

B.J. Medina was a 5’10’’ 190 left handed pitcher from Celaya in central Mexico. He had one of the stranger professional baseball careers, but is remembered as an all-time great closer. He only threw two pitches; a 100 mph fastball and a changeup, but was amazing at changing speeds and leaving batters helpless.

Although a CABA Hall of Famer and someone born in Mexico, his early baseball career was in the United States. Medina came stateside for college and played for Maryland. After three years as a Terrapin, he went to Canada, picked by Calgary with the 52^nd overall pick in the 1910 MLB Draft. After a respectable rookie and sophomore year with the Cheetahs, his contract was purchased by Tijuana late in 1912.

His signature run was with the Toros, where he stayed through 1918. Tijuana dominated the Mexican League during Medina’s tenure, winning five Mexican League titles and three CABA titles with Medina, plus one more in 1919 after he left. He became known as “The Warden” then, picking up 213 saves and 264 shutdowns with a 0.92 ERA and 35.2 WAR with the Toros. In the postseason, he had 24 shutdowns in 32 appearances to collect three CABA rings. His last year in Tijuana earned his first Reliever of the Year after finishing twice second and third once prior.

At age 29 entering 1919, he came back to the US and signed with Cincinnati, where he won a World Series ring with the Reds. He only stayed the one year, signing with Kansas City for the 1920 campaign. The Cougars traded him to San Francisco to close the year. In 1921, he joined Las Vegas, but again was traded midseason, this time to Buffalo.

He played well in MLB, but tired of bouncing around, he went back to CABA and signed with Chihuahua in 1922. With the Warriors at age 32, he put up 7.7 WAR and 50 saves as the Reliever of the Year and earned another ring as Chihuahua won the CABA crown. But disaster struck in spring training 1923, suffering a torn UCL.

After missing 1923, he came back for Chihuahua in 1924 and was just as dominant as ever. He grabbed his third Reliever of the Year and also picked up Pitcher of the Year with 54 saves and a 0.39 ERA. Medina went to Canada the next year and pitched with Ottawa. After one year, the now 36-year old Medina signed with Atlanta and after four appearances, torn his UCL again to end his career.

His combined MLB and CABA numbers see 420 saves, 509 shutdowns, a 1.16 ERA and a 67.5 WAR. In CABA specifically, he had 317 saves and a 0.87 ERA with 50.2 WAR. One of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball history and a key part of the 1910s Tijuana dynasty, The Warden certainly is deserving of a spot in the CABA Hall of Fame.



Chris ‘Ratface’ Barnett – Designated Hitter – Jamaica Jazz - 74.0% First Ballot

Chris Barnett was a 6’1’’, 200 pound American right handed batter. It is unknown where he born, but he attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey. At his peak, ‘Ratface’ was one of the best pure hitters of his generation. He combined elite contact, strong power, and a very solid eye, making up for a lack of speed of fielding ability. He was almost exclusively a designated hitter, playing only 38 total games in his career in the field.

Barnett took the rare path of skipping college, going in the seventh round of the 1907 MLB draft out of high school, the 340^th overall pick, by Philadelphia. He spent four full seasons in their minor league affiliate Wilmington and finally got called up for a few games in 1912. But his MLB stay would be short-lived as his contract was sold, something allowed in the earliest days of CABA. He was sent to the Jamaica Jazz, which would become the run that earned him a CABA Hall of Fame spot.

The humble Barnett took his assignment with grace to an unfamiliar place and in a decade with the Jazz, he was named Silver Slugger at DH seven times. An All-Star game fixture, Barnett was the Caribbean League MVP in 1915 with the league lead in this, RBI, walks, average, and OBP. While Jamaica never had a losing season in his tenure, 1915 was his only chance to play in the postseason.

With the Jazz, he acquired 66.1 WAR, 1805 hits, 910 runs, 329 home runs, 1021 RBI, and a .301 batting average. These would be the numbers that put him in the CABA Hall of Fame, even as a pure DH and as someone whose time in CABA was only 10 years.

At age 33, Barnett left for the US but stayed somewhere warm, signing a four-year deal starting in 1923 with Miami worth $30,400; more than his earnings for the entire Jamaica run. He became a top-tier home run hitter with the Mallards, whacking 49, 54, and 45 in his three seasons. Still, Miami opted to trade him in spring 1926 to Denver. After a year with the Dragons, he spent his final three seasons with Atlanta.

Although hard to compare leagues; combined between MLB and CABA, Barnett hit 568 home runs, 2817 hits, 1683 RBI, and had 88.5 WAR as a pure DH. If he had stayed in either league his whole run, he might have been up near the top of the hitting leaderboards. Still, his decade of excellence with the stick in Kingston earned him CABA Hall of Fame honors.

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Saitama dethroned Yokohama atop the Japan League North Division. The Sting earned their first division title at 96-66. The Yellow Jackets fell to fourth place at 80-82. Meanwhile, Kobe was a first time division winner in the South at 94-68, finishing two games better than defending EAB champ Fukuoka and three ahead of Hiroshima.

Frogs outfielder Kota Takuda won his third MVP award, leading Japan in OBP and WAR. Sendai’s Yoshimatsu Sakamoto was the Pitcher of the Year in his first year with the Samurai with 9.9 WAR, taking second in ERA and strikeouts. It was the second PotY for the 31-year old lefty, who also took the title in 1927 with Chiba.

In the Japanese League Championship Series, Saitama defeated Kobe in six games for their first league title in franchise history.



In Korea, defending league champ Pyongyang dominated the North with a 115-47 record, their second straight division title. The Pythons had the MVP in veteran Hyeon-Seong Kang, who won the batting title and added solid defense in center. Teammate Kil-Sung Min was the Pitcher of the Year, the first for the 24-year old.

Gwangju won their seventh straight South Division title at 101-61, setting up a rematch in the Korean League Championship Series. The Grays got the better of the Pythons this time around, taking it in six for their fourth Korean title. They’d add their first East Asian Baseball crown to the list, as they swept Saitama. This would mark the end of the Gwangju dynasty, as they wouldn’t make the playoffs again until the 1950s.





Other notes: on September 10, Seung-Won Cho of Seoul threw a perfect game, striking out 10 against Changwon. Hamhung’s Chikara Ohkubo became the first EAB pitcher to 3000 career strikeouts. In-Seong Kim, also playing for the Heat, became the second to reach 400 career home runs.

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Defending CABA champ Ecatepec took their second straight Mexican League South Division title, going 104-58 for the best record in Mexico. 1928 champ Puebla was second at 96-66. The Explosion had the Pitcher of the Year Rayan Montes, as the 24-year old led in wins (24), strikeouts (350), quality starts (30), and WAR (9.0). Despite finishing last, Guadalajara;s Victor Valenzuela won his fourth MVP. It would be the final MVP for “Mr. Reliable.”

Hermosillo won their second North Division in three years, running away with it at 103-59. In the MLCS, the Hyenas defeated the Explosion in six games for Hermosillo’s first-ever Mexican title.



The top record in the Caribbean League in 1930 was Jamaica at 107-75, their third-ever playoff berth and first since 1922. Defending champ Puerto Rico tied for second at 88 wins with Santiago. Jazz pitcher Glen Anderson won Pitcher of the Year. Meanwhile, Haiti third baseman Jonny Lucero won his fourth MVP in the first six years of his career.

In the Continental Division, Salvador won their first division title since 1917. The Caribbean League Championship went seven with the Jazz edging the Stallions; Jamaica’s first league title. The CABA championship was a seven-game classic with game seven going 15 innings. Jamaica walked off Hermosillo for their first CABA crown.





Other notes: Guadalajara’s Victor Valenzuela became the second CABA hitter to 2500 career hits. Chihuahua’s Max Ramirez became the second CABA pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts.