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

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

The 1997 Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame ballot didn’t induct a single player, the first blank ballot for BSA since 1980. SP Rio Santiago finished less than a percentage point away from the mark at 65.3% on his debut. Fellow pitcher Robinson Moreira was at 62.7% for his eighth ballot. Also above 50% were RF Dani Manzanares at 57.9% on his second try and 3B Saul Puerta with 55.6% for his ninth go. No players were dropped after ten failed ballots.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Two players were honored from the 1997 European Baseball Federation Hall of Fame voting. SP Jacky Muro was a no-doubter with 97.6% in his debut. He was joined by 1B Charles-Olivier Mallen with 71.3% for his second ballot. Three others were above 50%, but shy of the 66% needed. LF Husnija Kojic had 53.4% for his debut, SP Cornelius Danner got 52.0% on his fourth ballot, and SP Jose Calderon was at 51.0% in his seventh attempt. The EBF ballot didn’t have any players dropped following ten stays on the ballot.



Jacky Muro – Starting Pitcher – Madrid Conquistadors – 97.6% First Ballot

Jacky Muro was a 6’4’’, 190 pound right-handed pitcher from Palma, Spain; the capital and largest city of the Balearic Islands with around 400,000 inhabitants. Muro had filthy stuff with a dominant 99-101 mph fastball mixed with a slider, curveball, and splitter. His movement was merely average with below average control, but his 10/10 stuff made Muro difficult to solve as a hitter. He also had very solid stamina and durability, throwing 230+ innings in all but his final season. Muro was considered smart and loyal, two traits that served him well.

After an excellent college career, Muro was picked 14^th overall in the 1977 EBF Draft by Madrid. He spent his entire pro career in the Spanish capital, while also putting up great numbers for his home country in the World Baseball Championship. From 1978-91 with the Spanish national team, Muro had a 20-7 record, 2.72 ERA, 238.1 innings, 380 strikeouts, 77 walks, and 7.3 WAR. He even had a no-hitter in the 1987 WBC, striking out 13 with four walks in a game versus Ghana.

Muro was a full-time starter immediately and posted 6.4 WAR and 303 strikeouts as a rookie, taking third in Rookie of the Year voting. During his run, he was almost always a top ten level pitcher and at times in the top five. He took second in 1981 Pitcher of the Year voting, third in 1982, and second in 1983. Muro finally won the award in 1984, leading the Southern Conference that season in ERA and WHIP. He had led in strikeouts and wins the prior year. Those were his only times atop the leaderboards despite his consistent success.

In his third season, Muro tossed a no-hitter on 8/31/80, striking out 17 with three walks against Naples. Madrid was generally solid throughout Muro’s tenure despite sharing a division with some very good Marseille teams. The Conquistadors made the playoffs in 1979, 83, 84, 86, 87, and 90 during his run. Madrid went one-and-done in those early years, but was convinced Muro would be a part of a champion one day. The Conquistadors signed him to a four-year extension worth $3,550,000 after the 1983 season, then another five-year, $5,800,000 extension just before the 1987 season.

Madrid made it to the Southern Conference Final in 1986, but lost to the Musketeers. In 1987, the Conquistadors got over the hump and won their first European Championship since their 1950s dynasty. Muro had a great 1987 postseason, winning conference finals MVP with a 2.33 ERA and three complete game victories in the run. The Conquistadors missed the playoffs the next two years, but won it all in 1990. For his playoff career, Muro had a 3.58 ERA over 118 innings, 5-9 record, 129 strikeouts, 108 ERA+, and 2.0 WAR.

1990 would ultimately be his last good year. His production had dropped some at that point, but he was still a fine starter. Despite not having any major injuries, Muro’s velocity began to drop significantly as 1990 winded down. By 1991, he was merely in the 94-96 mph range and his once untouchable fastball became quite hittable. Muro was moved out of the rotation after posting middling numbers. He opted for retirement after the 1991 season at age 36. Madird would immediately retire his #19 uniform.

Muro’s career had a 230-130 record, 2.88 ERA, 3423.1 innings, 4375 strikeouts, 897 walks, 295/427 quality starts, 110 complete games, a .209 batting average against him, 74 FIP-, and 89.7 WAR. At induction, he was fourth all-time in strikeouts and still sits sixth as of 2037. He was also ninth in pitching WAR at induction and sits 15^th in 2037. Muro had an excellent career and played a big role in returning Madrid to relevance in the 1980s. He was an easy pick for the voters, getting 97.6% on his debut.



Charles-Olivier Mallen – First Base – Paris Poodles – 71.3% Second Ballot

Charles-Olivier Mallen was a 6’3’’, 200 pound switch-hitting first baseman from Saint-Jean-le-Branc, a commune of around 8,000 people in central France. Mallen was a solid contact hitter with sturdy power, averaging around 35-40 home runs and around 30 doubles/triples per year. Despite a good average, his ability to earn walks and avoid strikeouts was both subpar. Mallen had below average speed but was fairly intelligent on the basepaths. He was a career first baseman and a very good defender, winning four Gold Gloves in his career. Mallen was an ironman type, starting 130+ games each year of his pro career. He was very dedicated, hardworking, and loyal; making him one of the most beloved figures in French baseball.

Mallen quickly became viewed as a great prospect coming out of France ahead of the 1975 EBF Draft. Paris picked up its countryman with the 23^rd overall pick and he’d spend nearly his entire professional career in the capital. Mallen also played for the national team in ten editions of the World Baseball Championship from 1977-86 and 1990. In 80 games and 63 WBC starts, he had 61 hits, 32 runs, 23 home runs, 48 RBI, a .230/.269/.509 slash, and 1.6 WAR.

Paris made Mallen a full-time starter immediately and he posted 5.4 WAR in his rookie season, taking second in 1976 Rookie of the Year voting. The Poodles were a wild card that year as well, although they were ousted in the first round. Despite Mallen’s success, Paris wouldn’t make it back to the playoffs for nearly a decade. But in his second year, he emerged as an elite player with career bests in runs (110), hits (202), home runs (46), RBI (118), batting average (.316), and WAR (9.2). This was the closest Mallen got to the MVP, taking second in the voting. He did secure his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

Mallen remained a solid and sturdy player, but he wasn’t a league leader or someone considered the absolute best of the best. He only won Silver Slugger once more in 1983 and had his four Gold Gloves in 1977, 78, 79, and 81. Mallen very much endeared himself to Parisian fans with his #4 jersey a regular sight. The Poodles would retire that uniform at the end of his career. Mallen would get his first contract extension after the 1979 season at five years, $2,330,000 dollars.

His second extension came after the 1984 campaign worth $4,700,000 over five years. 1984 saw the Poodles earn a wild card, but again they were eliminated in the first round. Paris had been generally in the mid-tier during Mallen’s tenure. They started to struggle towards the end of the 1980s, bottoming out at 60-102 in 1989. This was the final year of Mallen’s contract and the Poodles decided to look for trade value. They moved him and $2,060,000 to Dublin in exchange for three prospects.

In his short tenure in Ireland, Mallen earned his 2500^th career hit. The Dinos made it to the Northern Conference Championship and Mallen had a solid postseason, but they lost to conference powerhouse Amsterdam. Mallen had 11 hits, 6 runs, 4 home runs, and 11 RBI over 8 playoff starts. He was a free agent for the first time at age 37 before the 1990 season. The love was still strong between Mallen and Paris, and he signed a one year, $1,240,000 deal to return to the Poodles.

Mallen picked up his 500^th career home run and 1500^th RBI this season. His numbers were a bit down from previous highs, but still starter quality. However, Mallen suffered his first major injury with a fractured knee in September 1990. Paris didn’t re-sign him and Mallen was a free agent for 1991. He hoped to still play, but teams weren’t willing to pay for an aged slugger coming off a major injury. Mallen officially retired that winter at age 39.

Mallen’s stats had 2704 hits, 1312 runs, 395 doubles, 529 home runs, 1555 RBI, a .297/.323/.535 slash, 143 wRC+, and 76.0 WAR. He had a very steady career and was very well liked, but his tallies were still on the lower end of the Hall of Fame leaderboard. Mallen didn’t have the black ink many voters expected and his Paris teams weren’t contenders. His popularity and consistency were definite plusses. Mallen just missed the cut at 64.4% for his debut ballot, then got the bump to 71.3% on try #2 to secure his spot in the 1997 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Eurasian Professional Baseball inducted two into the Hall of Fame for 1997 with both guys getting in easily. LF/1B Darian Tasos got 99.7% and SP Azer Sattrali received 98.5% in their debuts, easily making the cut. A third debutant came close to joining them, but 1B Vyacheslav Afonin’s 64.4% fell just short of the 66% requirement. Also above 50% was 1B Bartlomiej Tarka at 59.8% for his eighth ballot and SP Maxim Aivazyan at 52.0% on his second go.



One player was dropped after ten ballots in relief pitcher Iosif Kusainov, who had a 19-year career between 12 teams. He debuted at 45.8% in 1988, but was down to merely 6.2% at the end. Kusainov had 314 saves and 410 shutdowns, a 2.42 ERA, 1158.2 innings, 1308 strikeouts, 83 FIP-, and 19.7 WAR. Impressive longevity for a reliever, but he had no major awards and wasn’t nearly as dominant as other contemporary relievers.



Darian “Horseface” Tasos – Left Field/First Base – St. Petersburg Polar Bears – 99.7% First Ballot

Darian Tasos was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed hitter from Bulqize, Albania; a small municipality of 32,000 people. Tasos was one of the top bats of his era with great power plus respectable contact ability. He had a solid eye for drawing walks, but did strike out a bit more than average. Tasos regularly averaged around 40 home runs per year while adding about 30 doubles/triples per 162 games. He had decent speed and base stealing ability, especially for a slugger. Tasos split his career nearly evenly between left field and first base. Defensively at both spots, he graded out as delightfully average. He was durable and reliable, becoming a fan favorite throughout his two decades of pro ball.

Despite being from humble beginnings in Albania, Tasos was able to get looks at various camps across the Eastern Bloc as a teenager. In May 1967, it would be St. Petersburg that noticed him, signing Tasos to a developmental contract at age 16. He made his official debut at age 20 in 1971 with a mere 24 plate appearances that year. Tasos also had three at bats in the postseason as the Polar Bears had a surprise playoff run as a wild card, winning the 1971 EPB Championship.

Tasos would be a full-time starter the next year and held a starting job for the next 19 years. Much to his chagrin, teammates and fans began calling him “horseface.” He eventually learned to take that moniker in stride. During his career in St. Petersburg, Tasos led the European League in runs scored thrice, hits once, home runs once, RBI thrice, total bases twice, OBP thrice, slugging thrice, OPS five times, and WAR three times. His biggest numbers would come in his 30s, but Tasos did start to win accolades in his 20s as well. 1973 was his first of six Silver Sluggers with the others in 1975, 76, 77, 82, and 84.

The Polar Bears missed the playoffs in 1972 and 1973, but finished out the 1970s with six consecutive playoff berths from 1974-79. St. Petersburg won the European League pennant in 1976 and 1977, taking the EPB title as well in 1977. Tasos was a big time player in the two pennant runs, posting 35 hits, 19 runs, 11 home runs, and 25 RBI between those 30 starts. In 54 playoff games for his career, Tasos had 56 hits, 26 runs, 5 doubles 16 home runs, 34 RBI, a .276/.310/.557 slash and 2.3 WAR.

In the fall of 1975, St. Petersburg locked up Tasos to an eight-year, $1,876,000 extension. He took second in MVP voting in 1975 and 1976. In 1977, Tasos won MVP for the first time, leading the EL in WAR at 8.9 and OPS at .998. 1978 would be his first setback in his career, suffering a torn ACL late in spring training. This knocked Tasos out 9-10 months, missing the entire 1978 season.

Tasos returned in 1979 and still looked good, taking third in 1979 MVP voting. But he wasn’t quite as dominant in the following two years. The Polar Bears retreated towards the middle of the standings in the 1980s. They were a wild card in 1983 and 1984, but were ousted in the first round both years. Tasos would see a resurgence though with the 1982 season, posting then-career bests in runs, home runs, RBI, OPS, and WAR. This earned him his second MVP and a payday. Early in the 1983 season, St. Petersburg signed Tasos to a five-year, $2,210,000 extension.

Tasos won his third MVP in 1984 with his best season and an all-timer. He posted 13.4 WAR, which set an EPB record by a position player that would only get topped once in the following 50 years. Tasos had career and European League bests in runs (107), hits (200), homers (58), RBI (125), total bases (419), OPS (1.098), and wRC+ (262). He also had a career best .340 average, falling 13 points short of a Triple Crown season.

The final three years of his run with the Polar Bears didn’t reach that obscene level, but were still very solid. With St. Petersburg, Tasos had 2278 hits, 1242 runs, 300 doubles, 127 triples, 570 home runs, 1409 RBI, a 281/.343/.560 slash, and 109.3 WAR. His #8 uniform would later get retired and he’d remain a beloved franchise icon for decades to come. But all good things do come to an end.

Tasos was 37 years old entering the final year of his contract in 1988. Hoping they could reload after being middling for a few years, St. Petersburg traded Tasos to Tashkent for three prospects. He picked up his 600^th home run in his first year with the Tomcats and posted similar production to what he had been doing. Tashkent decided to give Tasos a two-year contract extension worth $1,260,000.

He had a respectable 1989, but his tallies dropped a bit in 1990 while also missing a month to a strained oblique. The Tomcats extended Tasos again, but he would struggle in 1991 and eventually be used in a platoon role. Tasos opted to retire that winter at age 41. With Tashkent, he had 440 hits, 248 runs, 113 home runs, 251 RBI, a .240/.308/.467 slash, and 13.4 WAR.

Tasos’ final stats were 2718 hits, 1490 runs, 350 doubles, 141 triples, 683 home runs, 1660 RBI, a .273/.337/.543 slash, 174 wRC+, and 122.7 WAR. At induction, he was the EPB WARlord among position players and fourth all-time in home runs, third in RBI, fifth in hits, second in runs scored. Tasos still has the top WAR spot and remains in the top ten as of 2037 in all of the above mentioned stats minus hits. Few batters in EPB history can claim to be Tasos’ equal or superior, thus the obvious 99.7% first ballot induction into the 1997 Hall of Fame class.



Azer Sattarli – Starting Pitcher – Ulaanbaatar Boars – 98.5% First Ballot

Azer Sattarli was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Bratsk, Russia, city of 220,000 people in the Irkutsk Oblast. Sattarli was known for having very good stuff with above average control and okay movement. His fastball hit the 97-99 mph range, while he could fool you with four other potent pitches; slider, forkball, sinker, and knuckle curve. Sattarli’s forkball was the most effective of the five, but none of his pitches were poor. His stamina was quite solid and he was known as a very durable and reliable arm.

It wasn’t easy as a prospect in Siberia to earn a ton of attention as a teenager. However, a scout from nearby Mongolia caught wind of Sattarli and signed him to a developmental deal in Ulaanbaatar in 1070. He made his debut for the Boars with four relief appearances in 1975 at age 21. Sattarli was a full-time starter the next year and looked promising. Sattarli had five relief appearances in the 1976 postseason as Ulaanbaatar won the Soviet Series over St. Petersburg. He also took second in Rookie of the Year voting, although he’d be reduced to an emergency starter type role in the following two seasons.

1979 saw Sattarli back in the rotation full-time, a spot he’d hold for the rest of his Ulaanbaatar tenure. He became the ace at this point and became a master at mixing his pitches, leading the Asian League in strikeouts four times from 1980-84. He also led in ERA in 1983, WHIP thrice, and WAR in 1983 and 1984. Sattarli was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1981, then won the award three straight seasons from 1982-84. He was also third in MVP voting in both 1983 and 1984. One highlight was a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts and one walk against Krasnoyarsk on 5/18/83. Later that year, Sattarli had a 41 inning scoreless streak from late July to mid August.

Ulaanbaatar made it back to the playoffs in 1982 and 1984, falling in the ALCS in the latter. The Boars signed him to a five-year, $3,450,000 extension during spring training 1985, seemingly locking Sattarli down for the long haul. The Boars surprised many though when they traded him near the deadline to Kyiv for four prospects. It frustrated many fans in Mongolia, as the Boars remained middling after he left and bottomed out in the 1990s. The franchise would later patch things up and retire his #31 uniform at the end of his career. For his Ulaanbaatar run, Sattarli had a 139-97 record, 2.14 ERA, 2305.1 innings, 2937 strikeouts, and 62.7 WAR.

The Kings were in an arms race against their European League foes and hoped Sattarli could give them the edge. Although not an award winner or league leader with Kyiv, Sattarli was a solid veteran arm. He posted a 3.69 ERA and 6-3 record over 90.1 playoff innings with the Kings, striking out 103. Sattarli earned two championship rings as Kyiv won it all in 1986 and 1987.

Sattarli started to fade as his contract ran out and was only used as a part-time starter in 1990. For his Kyiv tenure, he had a 72-63 record, 2.60 ERA, 1315 innings, 1595 strikeouts, 29.3 WAR. A free agent for the first time at age 37, he signed a one-year deal with Dushanbe. He provided a lot of innings in his one year with the Dynamo, but his production was average at best. Sattarli decided to retire after the 1991 campaign at age 38.

For his career, Sattarli had a 228-172 record, 2.37 ERA, 3907.1 innings, 4817 strikeouts, 632 walks, 345/452 quality starts, 234 complete games, 123 ERA+, 76 FIP-, and 97.7 WAR. He was seventh all-time in strikeouts at induction and still sits tenth as of 2037. Sattarli doesn’t sit at the tip-top of the leaderboard for EPB Hall of Fame pitchers, but he’s definitely not at the bottom either. The voters didn’t hesitate to put him in at 98.5% as the second member of the 1997 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Pitcher Thomas Harrison was the lone inductee for 1997 into the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame at a strong 98.1%. Two others crossed the midway mark, but fell short of the 66% requirement. RF Dede Hayati had 58.6% on his sixth ballot and closer Lorenzo Amaru got 52.1% for his second attempt.



Thomas Harrison – Starting Pitcher – Guam Golden Eagles – 98.1% First Ballot

Thomas Harrison was a 6’0’’, 190 pound right-handed pitcher from Newcastle, Australia; a city of roughly 350,000 inhabitants in the Sydney Basin. Harrison was a well-rounded pitcher with solid stuff, movement, and control. His fastball hit around 97-99 mph and was his strongest pitch. Harrison mixed in a sinker and changeup to fool hitters. Compared to his contemporaries, his stamina was low and he didn’t toss many complete games.

Harrison was noticed as a teenage amateur by a scout for Guam, who signed him to a developmental deal in spring 1974. He officially debuted with one relief appearance in 1977 at age 21. Harrison was moved into the rotation full-time in 1978, although a strained oblique cost him two months. Still, he had enough innings to qualify for an ERA title at 1.58. This season, Guam fell two games short of the Pacific League title behind Port Moresby.

The next two seasons, the Golden Eagles won the Oceania Championship. They won 112-50 games in 1979, setting the top mark at the time for wins in a season. Harrison was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1979, then won the award in 1980. He missed the 1979 finals to a sprained elbow, but was a big part of their 1980 finals run, tossing 16 scoreless innings in his two starts. Guam remained solid for the next few years, but wouldn’t make it back to the final in the 1980s as Honolulu’s dynasty dawned. Harrison also started pitching for Australia in the World Baseball Championship, playing eight WBCs from 1981-91. He was mostly a reliever in the WBC, posting a 1.93 ERA over 56 innings with 87 strikeouts and 2.2 WAR.

Harrison signed a six-year, $3,016,000 extension in the spring of 1983. That season, he picked up his second Pitcher of the Year award, leading in ERA, wins, and WAR. Harrison led in wins thrice, WHIP thrice, K/BB twice, quality starts four times, and FIP- three times. He stayed solid over these next few years, although elbow and forearm inflammation cost Harrison a number of starts in this stretch. Guam finally bottomed out in 1987 at 64-98, needing to rebuild after having posted nine straight winning seasons. However, the Golden Eagles decided to keep Harrison around, adding a three-year extension for the 33-year old just before the 1989 season.

Sadly, 1988 was Harrison’s final full season. Elbow issues cost him much of early 1988, then he suffered a torn UCL in August 1989 to put him out 11 months. Harrison made it back for a few starts in late 1990, although his production was average at best. He looked good to start 1991, but had another torn UCL that ultimately ended his career. The Golden Eagles won the PL pennant in 1991, but Harrison was watching in a sling. He retired that winter at age 35. Guam retired his #12 uniform soon after.

Harrison’s stats saw a 203-108 record, 2.22 ERA, 3067 innings, 3030 strikeouts, 520 walks, 346/431 quality starts, 82 FIP-, 132 ERA+, and 67.3 WAR. He was the seventh pitcher to reach 200 wins and the 11^th to 3000 strikeouts. Harrison’s overall accumulations are a bit low compared to some others due to his injury issues, but his ERA and rate stats hold up very well against the best of the best. He was a big reason Guam was a consistent contender in the 1980s. The voters recognized this and gave Harrison the slam dunk first ballot induction at 98.1% as the lone member of OBA’s 1997 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Two pitchers made it into the Austronesia Professional Baseball Hall of Fame for the 1997 class. Both guys were first ballot selections, but both only narrowly breached the 66% requirement for induction. Ed Arua had 71.3% and Eka Mattalatta received 67.9%. Also above 50% on their debuts were three closers; Ting-Wei Ping (57.4%), Hong Quinonez (55.8%), and Afriza Bachdim (55.1%).



Dropped after ten ballots was designated hitter Po-Yu Shao, who played 14 years with his hometown Kaohsiung. Shao came very close, reaching 60.7% in his debut and in 1995. He ended at 53.2% and had a low at 45.9%. Shao won six Silver Sluggers, was finals MVP twice, and won four titles with the Steelheads. Shao led in home runs seven times and posted 1556 hits, 1015 runs, 592 home runs, 1160 RBI, 2304 strikeouts, a .218/.297/.497 slash, 154 wRC+, and 61.8 WAR. He was very much a “three true outcomes” type and there were enough voters who dinged Shao for being a DH and for his deficiencies. Still, it is surprising someone with his power was left out, especially considering his prominent role in Kaohsiung’s dynasty.

Also dropped from the ballot was closer Lee Tira, who bounced around between APB, MLB, and EPB in his career. In APB, he had 315 saves, 1.69 ERA, 859.1 innings, 1128 strikeouts, and 29.1 WAR. His stats were comparable to some others who got into the APB Hall, but Tira didn’t have any Reliever of the Year awards. He came close with 57.3% in his debut, but eventually ended at 37.0%.



Ed Arua – Starting Pitcher – Batam Blue Raiders – 71.3% First Ballot

Ed Arua was a 5’9’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from Surabaya, Indonesia. He was known for having very good control with solid movement and respectable stuff. His 94-96 mph cut fastball was his top pitch, although Arua also fooled batters with a strong screwball, good sinker, and okay changeup. He had solid stamina and was considered great at holding runners and a good defensive pitcher. However, Arua was very outspoken and controversial, known for his many inflammatory hot takes. Even with his talent, a lot of teammates and fans didn’t think Arua was worth the hassle.

Arua’s potential was evident as a teenager with Batam signing him in late 1972 as an amateur free agent. He spent just over five years in their developmental system, making his debut in 1978 at age 21 with 59 innings. The plan was to put Arua full-time in the 1979 rotation, but he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in May. Some worried that this could derail his career, but Arua returned from the injury as a legitimate ace.

In 1981, Arua took second in Pitcher of the Year by leading in wins, ERA, and WHIP. He never won the top award, but placed third in 1983, second again in 1984, and third in 1985. Arua led in wins twice and ERA twice and posted six straight seasons worth 6.5+ WAR. He also pitched for the Indonesian national team from 1981-88 in the World Baseball Championship, posting a 13-4 record, 3.01 ERA, 140.2 innings, 155 strikeouts, and 2.7 WAR.

On April 1, 1982, Arua tossed a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk against Pekanbaru. He one-upped himself on September 4, tossing a perfect game against his hometown team Surabaya with 14 strikeouts. Despite being a strong ace, Batam was middling in his run. Arua only had one playoff start in his career, getting rocked in 1985 with six earned runs against him in 2.2 innings. In total with Batam, Arua had a 112-81 record, 1.80 ERA, 1970.2 innings, 2166 strikeouts, and 52.1 WAR.

The Blue Raiders weren’t sure what to do with Arua. His talent was undeniable, but his outspoken nature was starting to cause trouble. In March 1986, Batam committed long-term to the 29-year old with a seven-year, $6,300,000 extension. The Blue Raiders dropped to 75-87 and started to have buyers’ remorse. They ultimately decided to go with a full rebuild, which did pay off as they would contend in the 1990s. Batam traded Arua after the 1986 season to Tainan for five prospects.

Arua was never nearly as dominant in his time with the Titans. He was average to below average in his first three seasons, allowing the most home runs in 1989. He flat out stunk in 1990 and was moved out of the rotation full-time. In early 1991, shoulder inflammation required surgery and effectively ended Arua’s career at age 35. With Tainan, he had a 46-57 record, 3.18 ERA, 894.2 innings, 830 strikeouts, 166 walks, and 8.7 WAR.

For his career, Arua had a 158-138 record, 2.23 ERA, 2865.1 innings, 2996 strikeouts, 438 walks, 266/346 quality starts, 126 complete games, 115 ERA+, 82 FIP-, and 60.8 WAR. Batam would later retire his #20 uniform and he was a legit ace during his Blue Raiders run. Still, Arua’s tallies are among the lower end of the APB Hall of Fame leaderboard, plus he lacked awards or playoff accolades. He definitely was a borderline choice, but the 1997 ballot didn’t have any no-doubt guys or strong returners. There were enough voters sold and those who didn’t want to leave the ballot blank, giving Arua the first ballot induction at 71.3%.



Eka Mattalatta - Starting Pitcher – Medan Marlins – 67.9% First Ballot

Eka Mattalatta was a 5’11’’, 195 pound right-handed pitcher from from Surabaya, Indonesia. Mattalatta wasn’t dominant at any facet, but gave you above average control and movement with decent stuff. He had 94-96 mph velocity on his fastball, but countered it with very good changeup. Mattalatta also had a forkball and slider in his arsenal. He had great stamina and was considered a good defensive pitcher that knew how to hold runners. Mattalatta also was a good hitter by pitcher standards with a .194/.208/.235 slash and 2.3 WAR in his career, winning Silver Sluggers in 1981, 82, and 83. He would clash with teammates though, considered thick-headed and greedy.

Mattalatta emerged as a top-end Indonesian prospect coming out of the amateur ranks. With the third pick of the 1975 APB Draft, Medan selected Mattalatta. They didn’t use him at all in 1976 though and only gave him four relief appearances in 1977. Mattalatta became a full-time starter from 1978 onward. His debut in the rotation was strong, leading the Sundaland Association in wins and quality starts. Mattalatta won Rookie of the Year and was second in Pitcher of the Year voting.

Mattalatta was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1980, but wouldn’t ever win the award or be a finalist again. He had steady production with the Marlins, but wasn’t a league leader. It was Mattalatta’s playoff success that earned him acclaim. Medan made the playoffs four times from 1980-84 and won the Sundaland Association pennant in 1981, 83, and 84. The Marlins were unable to win the APB title, but it certainly wasn’t Mattalatta’s fault. In nine playoff starts for Medan, he had a 1.32 ERA, 75 innings, 57 strikeouts, and 2.0 WAR. That effort was a big reason his #48 would be retired eventually by the Marlins.

For his Medan tenure, Mattalatta had a 119-98 record, 2.14 ERA, 2138 innings, 1984 strikeouts, 401 walks, 212/254 quality starts, and 38.1 WAR. He became a free agent after the 1985 season at age 32 and inked a six-year, $5,170,000 contract with Semarang. Mattalatta’s stats declined a bit with age, posting very average stats with the Sliders.

They would win two pennants in his tenure, 1988 and 1990. Mattalatta missed the 1988 postseason to injury, but was there to earn his first APB ring in 1990 as Semarang beat Cebu in the final. For his Sliders tenure, Mattalatta had a 65-49 record, 2.36 ERA, 1100.2 innings, 1013 strikeouts, and 7.2 WAR. Semarang would trade him in 1991, oddly enough to the team they beat in the championship. The Sliders sent him and 1B Dan Ong to Cebu for 3B Raymond Jo.

Mattalatta pitched one year with the Crows and posted 5.2 WAR, his highest since his Medan days. The Crows won the Taiwan-Philippine Association title again and bested Batam for the APB title. Mattalatta posted a 2.60 ERA over 27.2 playoff innings in the run, earning his second APB ring and sixth Association pennant. Mattalatta decided to retire with the title in winter 1991 at age 37.

Mattalatta had a 196-158 record, 2.25 ERA, 3490.2 innings, 3234 strikeouts, 632 walks, 329/412 quality starts, 190 complete games, 109 ERA+, FIP- of 96, and 50.7 WAR. His rate stats and WAR were very much among the weakest of those who made the APB Hall of Fame. Mattalatta’s playoff successes though won over many voters that were skeptical of his resume. He had more longevity than his HOF classmate Ed Arua, but was less efficient. A case could be made that the 1997 was an all-time weak class for the APB HOF, but APB voters a very pitcher-centric and were loath to leave a blank ballot. Mattalatta just narrowly crossed the 66% requirement at 67.9% to earn a first ballot induction.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Center fielder Libo Li received an induction into the Chinese League Baseball as the lone member of the 1997 Hall of Fame class. Li was a first ballot selection at 83.7%. The next closest to making it was closer Huyi Gao at 59.3% for his fourth try. Two others were above 50% with RF Zhengyu Peng at 54.8% and SP Xiabin Chen at 52.1%; both on their first ballots. No players were dumped from the ballot after ten failed tries.



Libo Li – Center Field – Qingdao Devils – 83.7% First Ballot

Libo Li was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed center fielder from Huaibei, a city of just under two million people in east China’s Anhui province. Li was a solid contact hitter with a terrific pop in his bat. He wasn’t a prolific home run hitter, but he added around 25 per 162 games. Li’s ability to find the gap made him very dangerous, posting upwards of 40-50 doubles/triples in his best seasons. He had a respectable eye for drawing walks with an average strikeout rate.

Li was also incredibly fast and was a terrific baserunner, adept at steals and stretching out for extra bags. He was a career center fielder and an excellent defender, winning six Gold Gloves in his career. Despite the physical demands of the position, Li rarely missed time to injury in his prime seasons. Although he started to break down some as he aged, Li had the very rare distinction as someone still capable of playing center effectively into his 40s. Li also was occasionally used as a pitcher, although he wasn’t a true two-way guy. He had a fastball and circle change combo, posting a 2.82 career ERA with 16 saves over 76.2 innings.

Li seemed to have all of the tools, making him the top prospect ahead of the 1974 Chinese League Baseball Draft. Qingdao had the first overall pick and used it on Li. He was a full-time starter immediately and posted an impressive 8.6 WAR in his debut, taking the 1975 Rookie of the Year. That year, he also became the third CLB hitter to have a six hit game. His great defense gave him impressive WAR totals with 11 consecutive seasons worth 8+ WAR to start his career. Li’s Gold Gloves were six straight from 1976-81.

Li very quickly added offensive excellence to his defensive greatness. He would lead the Northern League in runs scored twice, triples five times, home runs once, RBI twice, total bases twice, stolen bases twice, batting average once, OBP twice, slugging twice, OPS twice, wRC+ twice, and WAR five times. Li won eight Silver Sluggers (1977, 79-85).

These dynamic performances made him one of the most beloved figures in Chinese baseball. He also was a regular for the Chinese team in the World Baseball Championship. Li played in 18 editions of the event from 1977-96, playing 248 games and starting 247. He had 208 hits, 158 runs, 32 doubles, 13 triples, 53 home runs, 124 RBI, a .237/.331/.484 slash, 133 wRC+, and 8.5 WAR. Li was second in WBC MVP voting in 1979, helping China take the World Championship. He got a second world title with the 1994 team.

Li was a regular MVP finalist with Qingdao. He won the award in 1980 and 1985. Li took second in 1977, third in 1978, third in 1982, second in 1983, and third in 1984. In 1980, his staggering 15.8 WAR set the CLB record for the most in a season, a mark that still stands as the all-time best in 2037. Li scored 121 runs, which held as the CLB record until 2029. He also posted career bests in home runs (41), total bases (386), average (.311), OPS (1.020), and wRC+ (244).

He was beloved by Qingdao, but he couldn’t turn the Devils into a winner. 1982 would be their only playoff appearance in his entire run, falling in the semifinal to Hong Kong. Qingdao was usually just above .500 during Li’s run, but couldn’t get over the hump. Still, Devils crowds were full of #20 jerseys. They would eventually retire the #20 once Li’s impressive run was done. In the summer of 1982, he would sign a seven-year, $4,830,000 extension to stay in Qingdao.

In 1986, things would trend downward for the Devils. They finished at 66-96, their worst season in a decade. Li missed the second half of the season with a broken bone in his elbow. It didn’t look like Qingdao would be competitive in the coming years. Li disappointed many fans by opting out of the remainder of his contract, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 35. This would also end his time playing in China, although he still remained nationally popular as he left for the United States.

With Qingdao, Li had 1841 hits, 1002 runs, 239 doubles, 270 triples, 248 home runs, 841 RBI, 771 stolen bases, a .278/.334/.509 slash, 180 wRC+, and 130.6 WAR. As of 2037, he’s still fifth all-time in batting WAR. He was the all-time triples leader until 2035. Had his last decade of stats been still in China, Li might have totals atop the leaderboards to put him in the GOAT conversations. It was still more than enough to get him the first ballot induction, although some voters were against him for leaving and for his lack of playoff success with Qingdao. Li ended up at 83.7% as the lone inductee into CLB’s Hall of Fame in 1997.

He had another decade of baseball ahead, signing a four-year, $6,780,000 with MLB’s San Francisco. Li never was an award winner in MLB, but he still provided strong value, especially with his great defense. With the Gold Rush, he had 15.8 WAR, 441 hits, 251 runs, and a .270/.329/.497 slash. He struggled a bit offensively in 1989 with the Gold Rush and the team traded him early in the 1990 season. Li was traded to Tampa for two pitchers. His Thunderbirds season was plagued by injury, putting his future in doubt after the campaign. Li was a free agent at age 39, signing a one-year deal with Portland.

Li spend three season ultimately with the Pacifics, posting 6.3 WAR, 294 hits, 156 runs, 53 home runs, and a .233/.294/.418 average. In 1994, the now 42-year old signed with Washington and saw a resurgence, as he had been subpar offensively in the prior couple seasons. Li posted 5.1 WAR and 33 home runs in his one year with the Admirals. Toronto signed him for 1995 and he looked decent, but missed time to injury. Li ended up in Tampa in 1996 and finally looked cooked that season. He retired that winter at age 44.

For his MLB career, Li had 1077 hits, 610 runs, 149 doubles, 58 triples, 204 home runs, 593 RBI, a .248/.309/.451 slash, 111 wRC+, and 29.7 WAR. A pretty solid decade for a guy on the back end of his career. He didn’t have any better luck being on playoff teams in MLB, only seeing two playoff games in 1987 with San Francisco. For his entire pro run, Li had 2918 hits, 1612 runs, 388 doubles, 328 triples, 452 home runs, 1434 RBI, 994 stolen bases, a .266/.324/.486 slash, 152 wRC+, and 160.3 WAR. Li was one of the finest center fielders of his era and one of the absolute best players of any era to come out of China.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

For the first time since 1989, West African Baseball didn’t add a player into its Hall of Fame. Two debuting players led the 1997 ballot, but fell short of the 66% requirement. SP Moussa Sidi ended up with 57.4% and SP Issaka Camara had 56.6%. The top returner was CF Stephen Tshukudu at 56.6% on his eight try. That was the highest mark yet for Tshukudu, whose previous best was 52.4% in 1994. No one else was above 50% and no players were dropped after making it on ten ballots.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

For the second time in three years, no players made the cut into the South Asia Baseball Hall of Fame. Only one player was above 50% in 1997 as SP Ramesh Kohinoor received 59.5% on his fourth try. Interestingly enough, no new players qualified for the ballot in 1997. Closer Jason Mayekar was the only other player above ¼, getting 49.0% for his sixth ballot.



The Asian Baseball Federation seemed no closer to getting its first Hall of Famer. The top vote getter in 1997 was SP Abbas Nadim at only 24.1% for his fourth try. The best debut was SP Ali Dahir at a mere 13.5%