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

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Pitcher Samuel Fernandez was the lone addition into the Central American Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2001, grabbing the first ballot nod at 96.5%. 3B Pedro Pizarro narrowly missed the 66% cut with 63.5% on his sixth attempt. The one other guy above 50% was pitcher Gabe de Kroon at 52.8% on his third ballot.



Dropped after ten failed attempts was 3B Hugo Vegas, who was one of a short list of guys to win an MVP in both CABA and MLB. He was hurt by the split career with seven years in Panama and one in Honduras, along with a decade in MLB. In CABA, Vegas had 1086 hits, 658 runs, 136 doubles, 353 home runs, 781 RBI, a .260/.318/.554 slash, 140 wRC+, and 41.5 WAR. It was an excellent stretch, but nowhere near the accumulations neded. He did have 71.4 WAR, 2305 hits, 1447 runs, 725 home runs, and 1624 for his combined career, which very likely gets you in if in one league. Vegas debuted at 33.6% and ended at a high of 47.5%.

Reliever Reynaldo Alvarado also fell off the ballot after ten years, also being hurt by a split CABA/MLB career. He had eight seasons with Guatemala, winning four Reliever of the Year awards and leading in saves thrice. Alvarado had 239 saves, 2.01 ERA, 586 innings, 908 strikeouts, 180 ERA+, 43 FIP-, and 28.5 WAR. His MLB run was merely decent. Alvarado also lacked the accumulations, but was good enough in a short burst to get as high as 52.8% on his ninth ballot. He plummeted to 12.4% for his final try. As of 2037, he is only one of eight in CABA with four or more Reliever of the Year awards, earning Alvarado a special mention.



Samuel Fernandez – Starting Pitcher – Leon Lions – 96.5% First Ballot

Samuel Fernandez was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Oaxaca, Mexico City, a city with around 715,000 in the country’s south. Fernandez had remarkable stuff that broke the scale, in his prime he was an 11/10. He had a great 99-101 mph fastball with a phenomenal forkball, good curveball, and rarely used changeup. Fernandez’s movement was solid, although his control was average at best. His stamina was merely okay and he was plagued with injuries at various points, limiting his potential. Fernandez was a very good fielder that was decent at holding runners. He was considered a strong leader that was willing to speak his mind, although his outspoken nature did rub some the wrong way.

Fernandez’s stuff was undeniable in his amateur career with many observers viewing him as a generational talent. Leon had the #1 overall pick in the 1982 CABA Draft and used it on Fernandez, who spent his entire pro career as a Lion. He was a full-time starter immediately and took second in 1983’s Rookie of the Year voting. Fernandez had some inconsistency early on, but looked like a true ace by his third season.

1986 saw an impressive no-hitter on April 6 with 17 strikeouts and two walks against Guadalajara. Shoulder issues would cost him nearly three months, but he’d be back in time for the postseason. Leon ended a six-year playoff drought and won the Mexican League title, falling to Costa Rica for the CABA crown. Fernandez would post a 2.83 ERA over 28.2 playoff innings with a blistering 51 strikeouts.

He was at full strength in 1987 with arguably his finest season, leading in wins (20-7), strikeouts (405), and quality starts (29) with a career-best 10.8 WAR and 1.83 ERA. It was only the eighth time in CABA history that a pitcher fanned 400+. Fernandez would take second in Pitcher of the Year voting despite that, overshadowed by Junior Vergara’s 11.2 WAR at age 33 in a comeback from a major injury. The next spring, Fernandez earned a seven-year, $8,540,000 extension with Leon.

He had a very good 1988, but lost two months of 1989 to elbow tendinitis. Fernandez stayed healthy from 1990-92 and led twice in strikeouts and WHIP, while also leading in WAR and wins in 1991. Fernandez was second again in 1991 in Pitcher of the Year voting, never winning the top honor. Leon got back to the playoffs in 1991 after being mediocre in the prior four years, falling to the Monterrey dynasty in the MLCS.

That was the last hurrah for Fernandez, who suffered a partially torn labrum in late April 1993. It required surgery, costing him eight months. In 1994, a herniated disc kept him out most of the year, although he still looked good when he did pitch. Fernandez partially tore his labrum again in early 1995 and looked lousy in his limited innings that year. He didn’t want it to end like that, but Fernandez realized his goose was cooked and retired that winter at age 35. Leon immediately announced that his #14 uniform would be retired.

Fernandez’s final stats: 156-93 record, 2.39 ERA, 2307.1 innings, 3377 strikeouts, 472 walks, 232/298 quality starts, 138 ERA+, 61 FIP-, and 75.4 WAR. Very few starters in the CABA Hall of Fame have a sub 2.40 career ERA and his strikeout rate is impressive. At his peak, Fernandez was electric, but he was overshadowed by Junior Vergara’s generational dominance and being on some forgettable Leon teams. Still, Fernandez’s peak was so impressive that the voters didn’t mind the lower accumulations. He was the lone 2001 inductee with an impressive 96.5%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Two players got slam dunk inductions into the East Asia Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. 1B Jun-Seong Noi had 98.3% and 3B Ju-Kan Yoo received 95.1%, easily picking up the first ballot honor. SS U-Seong San came very close on his second try, but missed the 66% requirement at 64.7%. LF Seong-Jae Kang and LF Jay-Hoon Cho both also had nice showings on their sixth ballots, but missed at 62.2% and 60.5%, respectively.



Two fell off after ten ballots. 1B Yuma Watanabe had a 14-year career mostly with Chiba, winning three Silver Sluggers and posting 1937 hits, 1151 runs, 384 doubles, 558 home runs, 1351 RBI, a .278/.341/.585 slash, 163 wRC+, and 61.4 WAR. Watanabe was hurt by being on some weak Comets teams and being at a position with more impressive sluggers. He still got as high as 51.6% on his second ballot, but was down to 26.2% by his last attempt.

Pitcher Hisataka Otsuka also fell off the ballot. He had a 14-year career with four teams and won 1979 Pitcher of the Year, winning two EAB titles with Kyoto and one with Sapporo. Otsuka had a 191-139 record, 3.06 ERA, 3021.1 innings, 2468 strikeouts, 116 ERA+, and 52.4 WAR. He had a lot of playoff opportunities as well with a 14-8 record, 3.25 ERA, 185.1 innings, 133 strikeouts, and 110 ERA+. Otsuka wasn’t overly dominant outside his POTY season, leading some voters to view him as a Hall of Pretty Good type. He made it to an even 50% on his second ballot as a peak, but was down to 19.9% by the end.



Jun-Seong “Sonny” Noi – First Base – Changwon Crabs – 98.3% First Ballot

Jun-Seong Noi was a 6’3’’, 195 pound right-handed first baseman from Incheon, South Korea. Noi was a very good contact hitter that was great at putting the ball in play, although he rarely drew walks. He had incredible speed with outstanding baserunning and base stealing ability. Noi still had a strong pop in his bat and wasn’t a singles slap hitter. His 162 game average saw 29 doubles, 14 triples, and 18 home runs per year.

That was an unusual profile for a guy that played exclusively at first base in his career. Noi was a reliably good gloveman as well. He’d become renowned as his era’s Iron Man, starting 148+ games in all but his first two seasons. Noi was always available and had a tremendous work ethic, making him one of Korea’s most beloved baseball figures in a career that spanned three decades.

Noi attended Woosung High School and his unique talents were evident even as a teenager. Changwon picked him fourth overall in the 1972 EAB Draft out of high school. The Crabs kept him in developmental in 1973, but used Noi as a part-time starter in 1974 at age 20. He struggled and clearly wasn’t ready yet, spending 1975 back on the reserve roster. He looked decent in 1976 with 62 starts, which earned him a starting job for the next 19 years after.

Noi finally reached his potential in 1978, his first of four straight seasons leading the Korea League in hits. He had the best batting average in 1980 and thrice led in stolen bases. Noi won Silver Sluggers in 1979 and 1980. In 1980, he earned Korea League MVP, helping the Crabs end a 15-year playoff drought. They fell in the first round, but Changwon extended their fan favorite with an eight-year, $5,220,000 deal.

Noi was popular throughout South Korea as well, although he only sporadically played in the World Baseball Championship for the national team. In six WBCs, he only had 37 games and 21 starts with forgettable results. Noi got noticed even though Changwon was outside of the playoff mix in the next few years. They usually were above .500 in the early 1980s, but not quite good enough to make the cut. Noi remained a good starter, but wasn’t an award winner for the next few years.

Noi would opt out of his Changwon contract after the 1985 season, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 32. It disappointed some Crabs fans, but he remained extremely popular and would see his #13 uniform later retired. In a decade with Changwon, Noi had 1953 hits, 878 runs, 272 doubles, 145 triples, 173 home runs, 840 RBI, 883 stolen bases, a .326/.348/.506 slash, 134 wRC+, and 47.7 WAR. He would end up signing a five-year, $4,300,000 deal to join Busan.

The Blue Jays didn’t break through in Noi’s run and he only spent two years there, again eventually opting out of his deal. He was plenty good in his two seasons with 12.2 WAR, 407 hits, 180 runs, and a .331/.360/.515 slash. While in Busan, he crossed 1000 career stolen bases. Now 34 years old, he signed a five-year, $5,300,000 deal with Ulsan.

The Swallows had won the Korea League pennant the prior year and Noi hoped this would get him closer to a championship. Alas, Ulsan fell to 82-80 in 1988 and bottomed out at 60-102 in 1990. Noi was his usual reliable self in the first two years, but struggled to a 95 wRC+ in 1990. With Ulsan, he had 567 hits, 245 runs, a .310/.326/.478 slash, and 11.9 WAR. Looking to rebuild completely, the Swallows traded Noi to Gwangju before the 1991 season for two prospects.

Noi had a remarkable career resurgence in 1991, winning his second Korea League MVP 11 years after his first one. He also had his third Silver Slugger, leading the KL in hits, stolen bases, and batting average with 8.2 WAR. The Grays won 101 games, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs. The next year, Gwangju got to the KLCS, but lost to Suwon. This was the closest Noi would get to a pennant in his career.

Notably in that 1992 season, he became EAB’s all-time stolen base king, passing Taek-Hyun Kim’s mark of 1347 that had been finalized in 1989. In only two seasons with Gwangju, Noi had 14.1 WAR with 402 hits, 195 runs, a .343/.362/.538 slash, and 151 wRC+. That showed he could still play at a high level even as he approached age 39. The iron man would earn a nice payday with a two-year, $4,480,000 MLB deal with Virginia Beach.

Noi was a respectable starter in his two years with the Vikings, posting 4.3 WAR and a 110 wRC+. The highlight came in 1994, hitting for the cycle against Washington. He came back to South Korea for 1995 on a one year deal with Seoul. Noi had a nice season and reached numerous milestones; 1500 stolen bases, 3500 hits, 1500 runs scored, and 1500 RBI. He hoped to play in 1996, but went unsigned and retired that winter at age 42.

Noi’s final stats in EAB saw 3519 hits, 1576 runs, 481 doubles, 251 triples, 318 home runs, 1554 RBI, 1557 stolen bases, a .325/.347/.504 slash, 134 wRC+, and 89.7 WAR. He remains EAB’s stolen base king as of 2037 and still sits fourth in hits. At induction, his combined 1656 stolen bases from EAB/MLB was the second most of any player in pro baseball history behind only Ishmael Perla, the 1973 Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Famer with 1721 steals between BSA and MLB. Few players in EAB history were more exciting to watch on the basepaths, earning Noi the easy first ballot induction at 98.3%.



Ju-Kan Yoo – Third Base – Hamhung Heat – 95.1% First Ballot

Ju-Kan Yoo was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Singpyong, North Korea; a county of around 63,000 people in the country’s North Hwanghae Province. Yoo was known as a strong home run hitter with respectable contact ability. His strikeout rate and ability to draw walks were both above average as well. Yoo averaged 35 home runs per 162 games with around 21 doubles and 9 triples. Despite his bigger frame, he had solid speed, although he was around 50/50 on steal attempts.

Yoo exclusively played at third base and as of 2037, is the EAB all-time leader at the position in games, starts, assists, putouts, total chances, and innings. He had a rocket arm, but weak range, grading out as below average for his career. Yoo was an iron man with outstanding durability, playing 144+ games every year from 1977-94.

Yoo attended Kamimura Gakuen High School and got noticed even as a teenager. In the 1969 EAB Draft, he was picked in the second round by Hamhung with the 43^rd overall pick. He officially debuted in 1973 at age 21, but he had only 16 at bats in pinch hit appearances between 1973 and 1974. After going back to the reserve roster in 1975, he spent half of 1976 active with 28 starts. Yoo earned the full-time gig in 1977 and was the fixture at third for the Heat for the next 17 years.

1978 was his finest year and only year as a league leader, topping Korean baseball in runs (105), RBI (122), and batting average (.336). Yoo won his first of seven Silver Sluggers and finished second in MVP voting. He won additional sluggers in 1979, 80, 81, 84, 88, and 89. Yoo was the definition of reliable. He also played for North Korea in the World Baseball Championship from 1978-95 with 138 games, 106 hits, 69 runs, 40 home runs, 75 RBI, a .235/.307/.534 slash, and 3.3 WAR.

Hamhung was stuck in the middle tier in the early 1980s, but Yoo was still a popular attraction. In April 1979, he signed a four-year, $2,102,000 contract extension, Yoo became a free agent after the 1983 season, but re-signed with the Heat on a five-year, $3,350,000 deal. At this point, Hamhung finally found some sustained success. From 1986-90, the Heat won four North Division titles. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs each time. Yoo was unremarkable in 23 playoff games with a 98 wRC+ and 0.1 WAR.

Hamhung regressed hard after their last division win in 1990, spending the rest of the century in the bottom of the standings. Yoo inked a three-year, $3,000,000 extension after the 1988 campaign, followed by another three years at $3,840,000 before the 1991 season. His numbers stayed remarkably steady through his 30s, finally seeing a notably dip in 1993. That would be his final year with the Heat.

In total with Hamhung, Yoo had 2808 hits, 1535 runs, 360 doubles, 589 home runs, 1774 RBI, a .283/.329/.528 slash, 136 wRC+, and 83.9 WAR. The Heat would later retire his #13 uniform. They were in full fire sale mode after the 1993 campaign, trading Yoo to Suwon for three prospects. Despite coming off his worst year, the Snappers still extended Yoo two weeks later to a three-year, $4,980,000 extension.

Yoo had an impressive bounce back year in 1994, turning back the clock and tying his career best with 39 home runs at age 42. The Snappers won 100 games and the division, but fell in the first round of the playoffs. Yoo would struggle the next year and get relegated to a bench role. He would reach notable milestones with Suwon, becoming the 24^th to 600 home runs and the 16^th to 3000 hits. Yoo retired after the 1995 season at age 44, having posted 6.4 WAR and 53 home runs with the Snappers.

For his full career, Yoo had 3009 hits, 1656 runs, 383 doubles, 160 triples, 642 home runs, 1889 RBI, 603 stolen bases, a .282/.329/.529 slash, 137 wRC+, and 90.3 WAR. As of 2037, he’s the all-time leader among EAB third basemen in total bases and RBI. At induction, he was sixth in EAB in RBI and still sits 10^th as of 2037. Yoo’s remarkable longevity and consistency gave him totals you couldn’t deny, earning the first ballot pick at 95.1%

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Beisbol Sudamerica saw three first ballot inductees for the 2001 Hall of Fame class. IF Dyjan Rondo was nearly unanimous at 99.4%, joined by pitcher Arnau Emilio at 94.3% and LF Rafael Gasso at 81.6%. Two others were very close to the 66% threshold with 1B Bastian Martin at 62.7% for his second ballot and CL Andreo Ferrari at 62.0% for his debut. RF Yago Prata also notably had 56.3% in his second ballot. No players were dropped following ten tries in 2001.



Dyjan Rondo – Third Base/Infield – Fortaleza Foxes – 99.4% First Ballot

Dyjan Rondo was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed infielder from Sao Jose dos Pinhais, a municipality of around 330,000 people in southern Brazil. Rondo was a great contact hitter with a great pop in his bat. He regularly got you around 35-45 home runs and around 25-35 doubles per season. Rondo was talented at drawing walks, but he did still have a below average strikeout rate.

On the basepaths, he was sluggish and lackluster. Despite his poor speed, he proved to be a versatile defensive infielder. Rondo primarily played at third base and was very talented, winning six Gold Gloves. He had starts at all of the infield spots in his career with average results at first and second and subpar results at shortstop. Rondo was incredibly durable and played 130+ games in each year of his 16 year professional career. His skillset helped make him one of Brazil’s most beloved baseball figures on his era.

Rondo showed great potential in his amateur career, earning the seventh overall pick by Fortaleza in the 1983 Beisbol Sudamerica Draft. His entire 12-year BSA career was as a Fox, earning a full-time starting gig as a rookie. Rondo was the 1984 Rookie of the Year and had his first Silver Slugger in 1985. He won nine Sluggers in total (1985-90, 92-95) and six Gold Gloves (1989-94).

In 1987, Rondo was second in MVP voting as he dominated the Southern Cone leaderboards, posting the top mark in runs, doubles, walks, total bases, OBP, slugging, OPS, wRC+, and WAR. He would be the WARlord thrice in his career and also lead in RBI thrice, runs twice, walks thrice, total bases twice, and OBP twice. Rondo was second again in MVP voting in 1990, 1994, and 1995.

Rondo’s national popularity came from the World Baseball Championship, playing for Brazil from 1989-98. He helped them to world titles in 1989 and 1990, taking third in WBC MVP voting. Over 147 games, he had 124 hits, 101 runs, 15 doubles, 56 home runs, 117 RBI, a .244/.345/.603 slash, 171 wRC+, and 7.2 WAR.

He helped Fortaleza to playoff berths in 1987 and 1989, although his playoff numbers were poor. The Foxes fell in the LCS in 1987 and the first round in 1989. Fortaleza hoped Rondo could take them to the promised land, signing him to an eight-year, $8,930,000 extension after the 1987 season. Rondo continued to play great into the early 1990s, although the Foxes found themselves stuck just outside of the postseason. Rondo would post a remarkable 57-game on-base streak from 8/30/90 to 5/3/91.

Fortaleza fell to 73-89 in 1993, but bounced back with a wild card appearance in 1994. Rondo’s playoff stats weren’t great, but the Foxes made a run to the Southern Cone championship, falling to Quito in Copa Sudamerica. They just missed the playoffs in 1995, but Rondo exploded with career bests in runs (116), home runs (52), RBI (133), total bases (375), and WAR (10.6). That earned him his lone MVP award at age 34. It also happened to be the final year of his deal with Fortaleza.

Rondo decided to leave for free agency and ultimately left Brazil. He would remain beloved by Foxes fans and his #39 uniform would later be retired. As a reigning MVP, Rondo had plenty of suitors worldwide. He ended up going to MLB on a three-year, $9,960,000 deal with the Charlotte Canaries. Rondo had a great debut season with 36 home runs, 6.5 WAR, and an all-star game appearance.

1997 was still a good year as a starter for Rondo, but his third year was the weakest of his career with 1.5 WAR and 103 wRC+. In total with the Canaries, he had 474 hits, 253 runs, 93 home runs, 253 RBI, a .277/.329//.487 slash, and 11.6 WAR. His defensive range had also significantly slipped at this point, lowering his stock as a 38-year old free agent. Rondo ended up in Morocco of all places, signing with the Arab League’s Casablanca. He spent one season as a slightly above average designated hitter. Rondo still wanted to play, but was unsigned in 2000 and retired that winter at age 40.

For his BSA career, Rondo had 2138 hits, 1105 runs, 361 doubles, 446 home runs, 1292 RBI, a .319/.386/.586 slash, 174 wRC+, and 105.0 WAR. As of 2037, he has the best OBP among all BSA third basemen. At induction, he was 16^th among BSA position players in career WAR and still ranks 28^th as of 2037. Rondo was one of the finest bats of his era and a surefire Hall of Fame pick, taking 99.4% to leadoff the three-player 2001 ballot.



Arnau Emilio – Starting Pitcher – Santiago Saints – 94.3% First Ballot

Aranu Emilio was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from the capital of Chile, Santiago. Emilio had great stuff with above average to good movement and control. His best pitch was a 97-99 mph cutter, but he also had an excellent changeup and a good curveball. Emilio’s stamina was okay, but he threw fewer complete games than most other great BSA starters. He had great durability though, allowing for 220+ innings each year sans his rookie season. Emilio was also a stellar defensive pitcher, winning seven Gold Gloves in his career.

Emilio was a successful amateur in Chile and was picked by his hometown Santiago 12^th overall in the 1979 BSA Draft. His entire BSA career was with the Saints, becoming well known throughout the capital. Emilio remained on the reserve roster in 1980, then debuted primarily as a reliever in 1981. He was moved to the rotation full time in 1982 and stayed there for 14 years with Santiago.

Emilio’s great defense got noticed early on, winning his first of seven Gold Gloves in 1983. He won it again in 1984, 85, 86, 94, 95, and 97. While not typically a league leader, his pitching quickly earned notice too. Emilio was third in 1984 Pitcher of the Year voting. That winter, Santiago extended him for five years at $2,738,000 total. Emilio also tossed 206.2 innings for Chile in the World Baseball Championship from 1982-96. He had a 2.70 ERA, 267 strikeouts, 74 walks, 137 ERA+, and 5.2 WAR.

In his late 20s, Emilio was consistently good, but not in the awards conversations. Still, in August 1989, the Saints gave Emilio a six-year, $6,960,000 extension. After a down period, Santiago finally started contending again in 1990. From 1990-95, they won five division titles, although they didn’t do anything in the postseason. 1993 saw an LCS defeat, while the other years were first round exits for Santiago. Emilio in the playoffs was unremarkable with a 3.93 ERA in eight starts, 52.2 innings, 55 strikeouts, and a 83 ERA+.

However, Emilio had his best seasons during this stretch with four seasons worth 7+ WAR. He led in wins in 1990 and 1991, had the best WHIP and most quality starts in 1991, and was the WARlord in 1992. Emilio picked up Pitcher of the Year honors in 1991 and 1992, cementing his legacy as an all-time great. He was a rare case of someone seeing their best years come in their mid 30s.

Emilio’s Santiago run ended with the 1995 season and to the surprise of many, he left South America. The Saints would retire his #26 uniform two years later. Emilio ended up leaving for Australia, signing a two-year, $3,080,000 deal with Melbourne. He was merely average in one season with the Mets, who traded him in the offseason to Samoa. Emilio was still respectable with the Sun Sox, but saw his season ended with a torn meniscus. He opted to retire with that at age 40. His two-year OBA stint saw a 3.30 ERA over 548.2 innings, 102 ERA+, and 8.6 WAR.

In his Santiago and BSA run, Emilio had a 242-139 record, 2.72 ERA, 3602 innings, 4076 strikeouts, 638 walks, 325/446 quality starts, 92 complete games, 124 ERA+, 77 FIP-, and 86.6 WAR. Emilio put together a very solid resume with his hometown team, earning his spot in the 2001 Hall of Fame class on the first ballot at 94.3%.



Rafael Gasso – Left Field – Brasilia Bearcats – 81.6% First Ballot

Rafael Gasso was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed left fielder from Dois Corregos, a small city of around 27,000 people in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state. Gasso was a strong slugger that had 11 seasons with 40+ home runs. He was an above average contact hitter with an okay strikeout rate, although he didn’t draw nearly as many walks as you’d expect from a power guy, Gasso’s gap power was merely decent with around 20-25 doubles/triples per year.

Despite that profile and frame, Gasso was a crafty baserunner with better speed than you’d think. He was a career left fielder known for having a very strong arm. Gasso graded out as a consistently good defender. He was quite durable and reliable, making 135+ starts in 16 straight seasons. Gasso kept his head down and worked hard, making him very popular throughout his career.

Gasso was picked in his late teens by Brasilia with the 19^th pick in the 1976 BSA Draft. The Bearcats kept him on the reserve roster for almost all of his first three years, apart from eight games in 1979. Gasso’s proper debut came in 1980 and it was an excellent one with 40 home runs and 6.6 WAR. He was Rookie of the Month thrice and ran away with Rookie of the Year honors. Gasso became a fixture for Brasilia for the next decade and change.

His second full year saw him lead the Southern Cone League with 50 home runs. Gasso also had a career high 116 RBI and 8.0 WAR, taking third in MVP voting. He had a career best 51 homers in 1982 and 375 total bases, earning his first Silver Slugger and a second in MVP voting. Gasso didn’t lead the league in stats the rest of his run, but you could expect very reliably solid power. He won additional Silver Sluggers in 1986, 87, and 90.

Gasso was also a key slugger during Brazil’s success in the World Baseball Championship in the 1980s. He played 179 games with 177 starts from 1981-93, posting 149 hits, 100 runs, 49 home runs, 109 RBI, a .234/.299/.505 slash, 129 wRC+, and 5.0 WAR. Gasso won world titles with the 1987 and 1989 Brazilian squads and was third in 1988’s WBC MVP voting.

Brasilia committed long-term to Gasso on an eight-year, $5,463,000 extension starting in 1985. Despite his efforts, the Bearcats never made the playoffs in his tenure, averaging 78 wins per season. The fans loved him and his #3 uniform eventually would be retired. Gasso’s power numbers did start to drop a bit as he entered his early 30s, but he still provided solid value throughout his whole run. He signed another four-year extension after the 1991 season worth $5,400,000.

For his Brasilia run, Gasso had 2144 hits, 1123 runs, 249 doubles, 513 home runs, 1163 RBI, 413 stolen bases, a .289/.318/.552 slash, 158 wRC+, and 74.8 WAR. After winning 90 games in 1991 and showing playoff potential, the Bearcats dropped to 73 wins in 1992. They were sellers and moved Gasso in late June to Rosario for four prospects.

The Robins were making a late push and Gasso’s addition paid off. They were a 90-72 wild card, but went on a postseason run and won Copa Sudamerica for the first time in franchise history, beating Ciudad Guayana for the title. Gasso stepped up in his only postseason, winning MVP in their LCS win over Belo Horizonte. In 14 playoff starts, Gasso had 18 hits, 11 runs, 4 doubles, 5 home runs, 11 RBI, and 0.9 WAR; forever earning a warm place in the hearts of Rosario fans.

The Robins regressed to the bottom of the standings the next three seasons. Gasso still provided positive value, posting 449 hits, 254 run, 129 home runs, 301 RBI, a 126 wRC+, and 11.8 WAR during his tenure. His deal ran out after the 1995 season and he decided to call it quits at age 38.

Gasso finished with 2593 hits, 1377 runs, 304 doubles, 642 home runs, 1464 RBI, 530 stolen bases, a .279/.308/.540 slash, 151 wRC+, and 86.5 WAR. He was the ninth player in Beisbol Sudamerica history to join the 600 home run club and was seventh all-time at induction. He’s still 19^th as of 2037 even with the 21^st Century explosion in offense. The man socked dingers and helped Rosario win a title. Gasso wasn’t THE star of the era, but he was strong enough to get a first ballot induction at 81.6% to round out the impressive 2001 Hall of Fame class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Three players were added into the European Baseball Federation Hall of Fame in 2001. Two were no-doubt slam dunk first ballot guys with SP/LF Edgar Miranda at 99.6% and LF Jack Kennedy at 98.5%. They were joined by SP Johannes Soderberg, who narrowly crossed the 66% requirement. In his fourth ballot, Soderberg got the jump to 69.7%. 2B JF Bourelly had a nice debut, but fell short at 59.2%. Also above 50% was SP Cornelius Danner at 50.9% on his eighth try. No players were dropped from the ballot after ten tries.



Edgar “Slap” Miranda – Starting Pitcher/Left Field – Seville Stingrays – 99.6% First Ballot

Edgar Miranda was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher and outfielder from Leganes, Spain; a city of around 185,000 inhabitants within metropolitan Madrid. Miranda was well rounded on the mound with very good stuff, movement, and control. His fastball regularly hit 97-99 mph and he countered it with an all-time epic 10/10 changeup. Miranda also had a strong curveball he could go to, but the one-two punch earned plenty of whiffs. He had great stamina and durability, tossing 270+ innings each season except his first and last.

Miranda’s pitching alone was elite, but his two-way ability made him a true legend. He was a great batter with a .301 career average and 38 home runs per 162 games. Miranda had a solid eye, respectable strikeout rate, and good gap power, especially against lefties. He was a smart baserunner, but was pretty slow. Still, Miranda managed to have respectable range in left field, where he started when not pitching. He graded out as above average defensively in left and below average as a pitcher, as his ability to hold runners was iffy.

There had been a few two-way guys in EBF’s early years, but none that could call themselves elite at both spots. Miranda emerged in the Spanish amateur ranks as someone who had the tools to be special. Seville had the #1 overall pick in 1981 and used it on Miranda, who would spend nearly his entire pro career with the Stingrays. He was a full-time two-way starter immediately and his durability would be legendary. Every year with Seville had 30+ starts on the mound and 110+ starts at the plate.

Miranda took second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1982. He was easily the top hitter among regular pitchers, winning his first of nine consecutive Silver Sluggers in his rookie campaign. He would post 11 straight seasons worth 4+ WAR offensively despite losing some games due to the nature of the split. He had eight seasons with 30+ home runs.

That didn’t slow the workload down, leading in innings pitched in his second and third seasons. In his fourth season, he topped the Southern Conference in strikeouts with a career-best. Seville snapped a seven-year playoff drought, although they lost in the first round. The Stingrays would sign him after this campaign to a six-year, $6,050,000 contract extension.

Miranda also was a rarely-seen two-way player in the World Baseball Championship for Spain from 1982-95. As a pitcher, he had 213.2 innings with a 12-10 record, 3.33 ERA, 285 strikeouts, 110 ERA+, and 5.5 WAR. Miranda had 58 games at the plate with 53 hits, 35 runs, 12 doubles, 16 home runs, 39 RBI, a .265/.336/.585 slash, 160 wRC+, and 2.5 WAR.

1986 was his best year by WAR at 9.7 on the mound, plus 5.8 at the plate. He led in quality starts and complete games, but took third in Pitcher of the Year voting and second in MVP voting. The next year, he led in wins at 24-5, which Miranda grab his first MVP. He continued his two-way excellence, but Seville couldn’t get over the hump, missing the playoffs from 1986-91. Still, Miranda received a four-year, $6,320,000 contract extension in March 1991.

In 1992, Miranda was the leader in innings, strikeouts, and WAR, while posting a career best 2.35 ERA. He also had 35 home runs and 4.9 WAR at the plate. This got him his second MVP and his lone Pitcher of the Year at age 33. Seville made it back to the playoffs and Miranda had a 2.65 ERA in two starts, but they again were one-and-done. This would be his last time playing in the postseason.

Miranda had two more solid seasons, but the Stingrays retreated back to the middle of the standings. He decided to decline the contract option remaining, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 36. He would remain popular with Seville and see his #36 uniform eventually retired. Miranda surprised many by signing with Belgrade, who had been a bottom-rung team in recent memory. He inked a three-year, $7,680,000 deal with the Bruisers.

He only lasted one season with Belgrade. Miranda looked surprisingly pedestrian on the mound with the Bruisers, although his batting numbers remained quite good. However, on July 27, 1995, Miranda suffered a torn labrum. This ended his season and also his career, as he decided to retire that winter at age 37.

As a pitcher, Miranda finished with a 246-160 record, 3.21 ERA, 3822.2 innings, 3936 strikeouts, 663 walks, 309/480 quality starts, 178 complete games, 118 ERA+, 81 FIP-, and 89.5 WAR. At induction, he was ninth all-tie in wins, ninth in strikeouts, and 12^th in pitching WAR. He’s still top 20 in each as of 2037, boasting a pitching resume that on its own would get Miranda a Hall of Fame spot.

Offensively, he had 1834 hits, 1021 runs, 280 doubles, 416 home runs, 1069 RBI, a .301/.365/.563 slash, 158 wRC+, and 68.1 WAR. If Miranda had just his batting numbers, you could still credibly argue in favor of induction. His combined WAR of 157.6 placed him at induction only behind Jacob Ronnberg (169.2) and Christophoros Zarkadis (164.0).

At this point, only EPB legend Igor Bury had him beat in combined WAR for a two-way guy (180.0 total, although he was more skewed with 138.9 on the mound. As of 2037, he has the third most WAR of any two-way player and the second most offensive WAR. When discussing two-way guys, Miranda is a top-five level guy in world baseball history. His lack of playoff success was probably the one thing keeping him from being a unanimous Hall of Famer, getting 99.6%.



Jack “Fingers” Kennedy – Left Field – Zurich Mountaineers – 98.5% First Ballot

Jack Kennedy was a 6’0’’, 195 pound left-handed left fielder from Newbridge, Ireland; a town of 24,000 people located about an hour southwest of Dublin. Kennedy was a prolific home run hitter that also hit effectively for average. He had seven seasons with 50+ home runs and 12 with 40+. Kennedy was good at drawing walks, but did have a poor strikeout rate. He wasn’t just about dingers, averaging around 25-35 doubles/triples per season.

Kennedy was a very savvy and crafty baserunner despite having subpar speed. He was a career left fielder and was firmly mediocre with his glove. Kennedy had good durability though and socked dingers at a remarkable clip, making him extremely popular. His notoriety among the general public almost approached that of another famous Jack Kennedy.

Kennedy’s power potential caught the eye of a scout from Zurich in attendance at a prospects camp in Dublin. As a 16-year old, he signed a developmental deal with the Mountaineers in late 1970. It would be one of all-time great finds, as Kennedy played a huge role in Zurich’s historic division title streak. He became one of a select few to debut at age 19 with 39 games and 5 starts in 1974. That would be the second year of the record 21-season streak.

Kennedy was a full-time starter in 1975 and immediately succeeded with 6.6 WAR and a career and conference best 38 doubles. This earned him his first of three straight Silver Sluggers. In 1976, he took third in Southern Conference MVP voting with a 10.3 WAR, 54 home run season. Kennedy had 9.1 WAR in only 130 games in 1977 and led in slugging at .682. That earned him second in MVP voting.

A hamstring strain and elbow inflammation cost Kennedy half of the 1978 campaign. Kennedy bounced back to take third in 1979 MVP voting and third in 1982. Just before the 1980 season, Zurich inked him to an eight-year, $5,350,000 contract extension. The Mountaineers hoped he could finally get them over that hump. During their historic division title streak, Zurich had 12 Southern Conference Championship appearances. They won the pennant in 1976, 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1984. However, each time they were denied in the European Championship.

In his playoff career, Kennedy played 162 games with 158 starts, picking up 145 hits, 79 runs, 21 doubles, 38 home runs, 84 RBI, a .233/.276/.454 slash, 110 wRC+, and 3.7 WAR. Although not bad numbers, he did get some flack for not being more dominant in the postseason, shouldering some blame for their lack of a title. He also played for Ireland from 1976-96 in the World Baseball Championship and dominated that field. In 175 games, he had 169 hits, 127 runs, 83 home runs, 145 RBI, a .265/.341/.700 slash, 188 wRC+, and 10.5 WAR.

From 1982-84, Kennedy led the conference each year home runs and led twice in runs. 1983 also had the lead and career bests in RBI (137), slugging (.726), OPS (1.121), and wRC+ (225) along with a blistering 11.8 WAR. This finally won Kennedy the MVP, a tough egg to crack sharing a conference with guys like Richard Rautenstrauch and Jacob Ronnberg. 1984 had a career high 65 home runs and 129 RBI. Kennedy won Silver Sluggers in 1983 and 1984 and took second in 1984 MVP voting.

In 1987, the 32-year old Kennedy suffered a ruptured MCL in early August, knocking him out nine months. Still, Zurich gave him another five years and $5,120,000. He was still great in these next few years, but generally less dominant and bothered by nagging injuries. From 1985-92, the Mountaineers’ playoff woes were more pronounced with five one-and-dones and three conference finals defeats.

Kennedy started racking up career accolades. In 1990, he was the third to reach 700 career home runs and the 11^th to 2500 hits. By 1992, he was EBF’s home run king, passing Zarkadis’ career mark of 795. Kennedy had a resurgence with 54 homers in 1992, leading the conference for the fourth time in his career. In 1993, Kennedy crossed 2000 RBI, a mark only reached by Ronnberg a month earlier. It was now a battle between Kennedy and Ronnberg seemingly as to who would finish atop the leaderboards. 1993 also had Kennedy join the 3000 hit club.

1993 was the 21^st season of the Zurich division title streak and the year they finally got over the hump. The 38-year old Kennedy stepped up in the playoffs with 15 hits, 9 runs, 3 homers, and 10 RBI in 13 games, finally earning the European Championship. It was the crowning moment in an all-time career, grasping the ring after having so many shots.

Kennedy’s contract expired with that title and he was a free agent for the first time at age 39. He didn’t want to end his career yet, signing a two-year, $3,880,000 deal with Amsterdam. Kennedy was merely okay in one season with the Anacondas. This season, Kennedy crossed 2000 career runs, a mark only reached by Ronnberg two months earlier.

After one season with Amsterdam, he was traded in the offseason back to Zurich for two pitchers. Unfortunately, he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in April 1995, effectively ending his career. Kennedy tried to find a home in 1996, but went unsigned. He played one final WBC with Ireland in 1996, then retired that winter at age 42. Zurich immediately retied his #31 uniform.

Kennedy’s final statistics were 3155 hits, 2021 runs, 553 doubles, 124 triples, 875 home runs, 2107 RBI, 1008 walks, 364 stolen bases, a .299/.362/.623 slash, 173 wRC+, and 140.3 WAR. Kennedy retired the home run king and would only be passed by Harvey Coyle in the 2020s. He retired second to Ronnberg in both RBI and runs scored and as of 2037 still sits fourth and third, respectively. Kennedy also was the all-time doubles leader at retirement and remains fifth. He was third in WAR among position players and remains fifth in 2037.

In the playoffs as of 2037, Kennedy is also second all-time in home runs, fifth in RBI, fifth in runs, and sixth in hits. Any conversation about EBF’s all-time best hitters includes Kennedy, who makes the top five list of just about anyone putting such a list together. He received 98.5% to join the 2001 EBF Hall of Fame class.



Johannes Soderberg – Starting Pitcher – Stockholm Swordsmen – 69.7% Fourth Ballot

Johannes Soderberg was a 6’0’’, 170 pound left-handed pitcher from Gothenburg; Sweden’s second largest city with around 600,000 people. Soderberg was known for having outstanding movement on his pitches and very good stuff, although his control was below average. His fastball only was 93-95 mph, but he was a very rare guy with six different pitches. Soderberg’s curveball was his best pitch, but his forkball, splitter, slider, and changeup were all threats.

Soderberg’s stamina was decent, but he didn’t have as many complete games as most other all-time greats. Injuries did cost him chunks of many seasons, but his ability to change speeds and switch between pitches allowed him to still thrive.

Soderberg stood out in high school career as one of Sweden’s rising baseball stars. Stockholm decided to pick him out of high school with the 10^th overall pick in the 1971 EBF Draft. They kept him on the developmental roster for 1972 and 1973. Soderberg debuted at age 21 with four starts in 1974 with limited success. He would then be a part-time starter in 1975 and struggled with a 4.64 ERA.

In 1976, Soderberg looked like the ace that Stockholm hoped he could be, leading the Northern Conference in ERA with 1.66. However, he suffered a torn flexor tendon in late July. A setback in his recovery required surgery, keeping Soderberg out 19 months in total and putting his career future in doubt. He missed the entire 1977 season.

Soderberg made a remarkable comeback in 1978, leading the conference with 9.2 WAR and posting career bests in wins at 23-8 and 328 strikeouts. He won Pitcher of the Year and helped Stockholm extend their postseason streak to five years. The Swordsmen again went one-and-done though. They had a seven-year streak from 1974-80 with five one-and-dones and two defeats in the conference final.

Soderberg earned a three-year, $1,510,000 contract extension beginning in 1980. 1979 would see another major injury with a fractured elbow in August. He bounced back with good efforts and had a huge 1982 postseason. Stockholm snuck into the playoffs that year at 83-79, but put together an unexpected run to the European Championship. Soderberg went 4-1 in five playoff starts with a 2.48 ERA over 36.1 innings, 32 strikeouts, and 140 ERA+. 1982 also featured a no-hitter on July 6 against Athens with six strikeouts and two walks. Two weeks after the no-hitter, Soderberg signed a five-year, $3,900,000 extension.

In addition to his Stockholm run, Soderberg regularly pitched for Sweden in the World Baseball Championship. From 1979-91, he had 29 appearances with 170.2 innings, 14-10 record, 3.06 ERA, 219 strikeouts, 121 ERA+, and 5.1 WAR. In 1983 and 1984, Soderberg led the Northern Conference in ERA both years. He was third in 1983 Pitcher of the Year voting and won the award for the second time in 1984.

Stockholm fell to the bottom of the standings soon after, bottoming at 64 wins in both 1986 and 1987. A strained triceps cost Soderberg three months in 1986. The Swordsmen looked to be sellers as they were rebuilding and traded Soderberg in May 1987 to Munich for three prospects. He looked solid with the Mavericks, but was beat up in his one playoff start for Munich. For his entire playoff career, Soderberg had a 3.49 ERA over 90.1 innings with 66 strikeouts.

Between Stockholm and Munich in 1987, Soderberg had 7.1 WAR and still looked to be a top-level arm. Now 35 years old, Soderberg was a free agent for the first time. MLB came calling and Cleveland signed him to a three-year, $4,460,000 deal. Soderberg was delightfully average in his one season as a Cobra. Cleveland would trade him and CF Aaron Gale to Atlanta in the offseason for three prospects.

Soderberg looked okay in four starts with the Aces, but they decided to cut him. He was unemployed for only six days, signing with Brooklyn. Soderberg had decent success with the Dodgers, but a herniated disc cost him the second half. His efforts were good enough though for Brooklyn to give him a two-year, $3,600,000 extension.

A sprained ankle cost Soderberg half of 1990, but he still was a serviceable arm in the back of the rotation. In May 1991, he suffered a torn rotator cuff, putting him out for ten months. That ended his four year run in MLB with a 25-29 record, 3.31 ERA, 585.1 innings, 412 strikeouts, 107 ERA+, and 8.8 WAR.

Soderberg wanted to keep pitching and Stockholm brought him home on a one-year, $1,440,000 deal. Sadly, the injury tanked his velocity with his fastball now at 86-88 mph. Soderberg stunk with a 5.33 ERA and retired after the season at age 40. Still, the Swordsmen honored him by retiring his #12 uniform.

For his EBF tenure, Soderberg had a 169-120 record, 2.74 ERA, 2788.1 innings, 2977 strikeouts, 739 walks, 262/374 quality starts, 59 complete games, 129 ERA+, 72 FIP-, and 76.2 WAR. His rate stats were very good, but his accumulations were on the low end compared to other Hall of Famers. Soderberg was above 60% in his first three ballots, but fell just short each time of the 66% requirement. In 1999, he was less than a point shy at 65.5%. 2001 saw the bump to 69.7%, giving Soderberg a fourth ballot induction as part of a strong EBF class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Eurasian Professional Baseball had an impressive four-player Hall of Fame class for 2001 with each player earning a first ballot induction. All four guys were starting pitchers as well. Jaylan Harrell led the way at 98.2%, closely trailed by Pavel Bely at 94.3%. Nikolai Nikiforovich had a solid 81.0%, while Vasif Agharahimov narrowly crossed the 66% requirement at 68.2%. The only other player above 50% was another pitcher in Maxim Aivazyan, who got 59.2% on his sixth try. No players fell off the ballot after ten tries in 2001.



Jaylan Harrell – Starting Pitcher – Minsk Miners – 98.2% First Ballot

Jaylan Harrell was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harrell was a fireballer with a fastball that regularly hit the 100+ mph mark. He had great stuff and developed excellent control with good movement. Harrell had a fastball, slider, changeup arsenal. His stamina was decent, but his great durability meant he regularly got you plenty of innings. Harrell was also a solid defensive pitcher. He was a fan favorite with a strong work ethic, ultimately becoming a beloved part of Minsk’s 1980s and early 1990s success.

Harrell took a strange career path to end up a star in Belarus. He grew up in Philadelphia and played college baseball at the University of Michigan. Harrell was unremarkable with a 4.75 ERA over 134.2 innings with a 2-12 record, 112 strikeouts, 84 walks, and a 75 ERA+. His velocity was good, but his control was terrible at this point, leading most scouts to dismiss him as a prospect. After his senior year with the Wolverines, Harrell was picked late in the 7^th round of the MLB Draft by Tampa; the 329^th overall pick.

Harrell was unimpressive in spring training and the Thunderbirds cut him. It looked like the dream may be over before it even got started. Harrell spammed his information to any and every pro baseball team he could find, hoping someone would give him a chance. A scout from Minsk managed to notice Harrell’s velocity and thought that if they could fix his control, that he could excel. The logistics of an American going to the Soviet Union were complicated, but Harrell defected to chase his baseball dream, joining Minsk on a one-year deal in May 1979.

He spent that year in development and debuted in 1980. His control was still poor, but his stuff was still good enough to show flashes as a part-time starter. That winter, Harrell finally put it all together and fixed his mechanical issues. He went from a guy graded 3/10 in control to one that was an 8/10. The better control meant better, faster stuff too. All of a sudden, Harrell had blossomed into a stud.

In his second season with Minsk, he led the European League in strikeouts, wins, and WAR; taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. The Miners bounced back from a rare playoff miss the prior year, winning the EL pennant and falling in the championship to Dushanbe. Harrell posted a 2.18 ERA over 41.1 playoff innings with 44 strikeouts. He would get plenty of chances to prove himself in the postseason, as Minsk began would ultimately would be a 24-season playoff streak.

Harrell was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1982, then won it for the first time in 1983. He was also third in MVP voting in 1983, posting only the fourth Triple Crown season by an EPB pitcher with a 25-6 record, 1.44 ERA, and 354 strikeouts with 11.5 WAR. From 1981-84, he led the EL in wins thrice, strikeouts twice, WHIP thrice, and WAR twice. Minsk signed him to a six-year, $1,906,000 deal after the 1983 campaign.

The Miners won the EPB Championship in 1985, then started a new dynasty with four EL pennants in a row from 1988-91. Minsk took it all in 1988, 1990, and 1991. For his playoff career, Harrell had a 19-11 record, 2.33 ERA, 298 innings, 355 strikeouts, 32/37 quality starts, a 125 ERA+, and 8.4 WAR. As of 2037, he’s still the EPB all-time playoff leader in innings, shutouts (50), and strikeouts (335). Harrell also retired as the playoff pitching WARlord, although Matvey Ivanov would eventually catch him.

Harrell was second in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1987, leading in wins that year. He signed a five-year, $4,150,000 extension before the 1989 season. In 1990, Harrell had an all-time great season with career bests in ERA (1.35), strikeouts (383), WHIP (0.63), quality starts (31), shutouts (10), and WAR (11.8). This year also featured an incredible 46 consecutive scoreless innings in the early summer. Amazingly, he didn’t win Pitcher of the Year with this effort, taking second in both POTY and MVP voting.

Harrell’s 1991 was weaker, but still statistically very excellent with a 1.80 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 365 strikeouts, and 9.0 WAR. He tossed a no-hitter on September 26 in the playoffs against Warsaw with 14 strikeouts and 1 walk. Minsk won the title and Harrell earned his second Pitcher of the Year. That was his last award winning campaign ultimately. Harrell was on his way with an excellent 1992, but he missed the final two months and the playoffs due to a fractured elbow.

Harrell’s velocity dropped significantly after this injury, going from triple digits to mid 90s. He looked very average in 1993, which was ultimately his final year with Minsk. Harrell became a free agent for the first time at age 37. He would remain a very popular figure in Belarus and his #9 uniform would get retired. Harrell would return to the United States for the first time in 15 years, signing a two-year, $5,920,000 deal with MLB’s Brooklyn.

Harrell’s one year with the Dodgers was unremarkable, split between starting and the bullpen. He posted a 4.10 ERA and ended up cut in spring training 1995. EPB teams were willing to give him another shot based on his prior success and he went to Russia with Irkutsk. He saw very limited use with only 35.1 total innings. Harrell wasn’t used in the postseason, but did earn his fifth EPB Championship ring as the Ice Cats won it all. He retired that winter at age 39.

Harrell’s EPB statistics saw a 253-124 record, 2.02 ERA, 3714 innings, 4422 strikeouts, 499 walks, 369/443 quality starts, 154 complete games, 144 ERA+, 65 FIP- and 114.5 WAR. As of 2037, he’s ninth in pitching WAR, 19^th in strikeouts, and 12^th in wins. Harrell’s ERA is among the lowest of any starting pitcher in the EPB Hall. Becoming a legend in Belarus isn’t what he would’ve expected when he was struggling in his 20s at the University of Michigan, but Harrell posted an all-time EPB career. He was the first member of the impressive 2001 Hall of Fame class with 98.2%.



Pavel Bely – Starting Pitcher – Minsk Miners – 94.3% First Ballot

Pavel Bely was a 5’11’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from the capital of Belarus, Minsk. Bely had great stuff with 98-100 mph peak velocity with a cutter, slider, changeup arsenal. He had good movement and developed strong control especially later in his career. Bely had decent stamina and was a good defensive pitcher, although he was weak at holding runners. He was hard working and adaptable while also boasting terrific durability.

Bely stood out as an amateur in Belarus and his hometown team Minsk selected him 28^th overall in the 1979 EPB Draft. He was called up part-way through the 1980 season and was iffy in his rookie campaign. Bely was a full-time starter for the next 14 years and looked great from year two onward, beginning a streak of ten years of 6+ WAR seasons. With Minsk, he was third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1982 and second in 1983. in 1982, Bely tossed a 10 strikeout, two walk no-hitter against Riga.

Bely was also a regular for Belarus in the World Baseball Championship, splitting time between starting and relief. He tossed 135.2 innings from 1981-95 with a 3.58 ERA, 194 strikeouts, 102 ERA+, and 3.5 WAR. Bely made history in the 1984 WBC, tossing the second-ever WBC Perfect Game with 16 strikeouts against Honduras.

With Minsk, Bely was part of their 1981 and 1985 European League pennants with the EPB title in 1985. In the playoffs with the Miners, he had an 8-3 record, 2.11 ERA, 111 innings, 116 strikeouts, and 139 ERA+. He ultimately played six seasons with his hometown squad with a 2.44 ERA in 1521.1 innings, 91-58 record, 1753 strikeouts, 121 ERA+, and 44.1 WAR.

The Minsk run came to a surprising end as just before the 1986 season started, Bely was traded. The Miners sent him to Krasnoyarsk for first baseman Igor Portnyagin and 2B Denys Bakay. Bely had three seasons with the Cossacks, taking second in 1988 Pitcher of the Year voting. 1988 saw career bests in wins (26-6), WAR (10.5), and strikeouts (368).

Krasnoyarsk made the playoffs in 1987 and 1988, falling in the Asian League final to Omsk in 1987. Bely had a 0.87 ERA in 31 playoff innings with the Cossacks. For his Krasnoyarsk run, he had a 66-23 record, 2.34 ERA, 825.1 innings, 1048 strikeouts, 130 ERA+, and 25.0 WAR. He left for free agency after his outstanding 1988 season, becoming a hot commodity at age 31. Bely signed a six-year, $6,960,000 deal with Yekaterinburg.

Bely continued to pitch at a high level for the Yaks, helping them win the EPB Championship in 1989. In the playoff run, he was 3-1 in 40 innings with a 2.02 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Bely also took second in 1990’s Pitcher of the Year voting. He ended up pitching five years in Yekaterinburg with an 84-47 record, 2.30 ERA, 1378 innings, 1672 strikeouts, 128 ERA+, and 35.5 WAR. The Yaks would buy out the final year of his deal after the 1993 season, making Bely a free agent again at age 36.

Bely signed a three-year, $4,400,000 contract for Irkutsk. While there, he crossed the 250 win and 4500 career strikeout milestones. Bely won his third EPB Championship ring as the Ice Cats won the 1995 title. For his playoff career, Bely had a 15-5 record, 1.97 ERA, 219.1 innings, 250 strikeouts, 23/27 quality starts, a 151 ERA+, and 6.5 WAR.

In two seasons with Irkutsk, Bely had a 28-17 record, 2.74 ERA, 407.1 innings, 435 strikeouts, and 8.2 WAR. He had a good first year with the Ice Cats with 6.5 WAR, but was below average in 1995. Bely was moved out of the full-time rotation towards the end of the season and made only three relief appearances in the playoff run. Bely retired after the season ended at age 38.

Bely retired with a 269-145 record, 2.40 ERA, 4132 innings, 4908 strikeouts, 703 walks, 391/515 quality starts, 141 complete games, 123 ERA+, and 112.8 WAR. He was perhaps overshadowed by the many great contemporaries and because he bounced around between teams. Still, Bely as of 2037 is still tenth all-time in EPB pitching WAR, tenth in wins, and ninth in strikeouts. He’s also sixth in WAR and seventh in strikeouts in the postseason. Bely was an easy choice even with many other great pitchers on the ballot, joining the 2001 class at 94.3%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Nikolai Nikiforovich – Starting Pitcher – Novosibirsk Nitros – 81.0% First Ballot

Nikolai Nikiforovich was a 6’1’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Novoblagodarnoye, a small village of around 3,000 people in Russia’s Stavropol Krai in the North Caucasus region. Nikiforovich was best known for having pinpoint control, allowing him to succeed despite having average to above average stuff and movement. His fastball only hit the 93-95 mph range, but he countered it well with a great curveball, good slider, and occasional changeup. Nikiforovich had respectable stamina and was great at holding runners. He was also viewed as pretty durability for most of his run.

Nikiforovich earned attention in his amateur career as one of the more promising Russian prospects. In the 1981 EPB Draft, Nikiforovich was picked seventh overall by Novosibirsk. He pitched 37.2 innings in 1982 with iffy results, but looked great when becoming a full-time starter the next year. Nikiforovich had 5.6 WAR to earn the 1983 Rookie of the Year. He helped the Ntiros end a 25-year postseason drought, falling to Bishkek in the ALCS.

1984 didn’t see a full load because of personal issues, but Nikiforovich looked like a beast in 26 appearances. He led the Asian League with a career-best 1.30 ERA and posted seven shutouts. Nikiforovich took second in Pitcher of the Year voting. 1985 would see a career-best 9.2 WAR.

Novosibirsk would win their first-ever Asian League pennant in 1988. Nikiforovich posted a 1.54 ERA over 35 playoff innings with 34 strikeouts. The Nitros signed Nikiforovich to a three-year, $2,890,000 extension in spring 1989. A month later, Nikiforovich tossed a no-hitter striking out eight with two walks against Tashkent on June 29. In 1989, Nikiforovich led in wins at 24-4 with a 1.86 ERA and 8.0 WAR. This gave him another second in Pitcher of the Year voting.

Novosibirsk would start making the playoffs more regularly with six berths from 1988-94. Apart from their 1988 AL pennant, the Nitros usually went one-and-done with an ALCS loss in 1991. Nikiforovich had mixed playoff numbers in 13 starts and 105.1 innings. He had a 3-9 record, but 2.56 ERA, 106 strikeouts, and 113 ERA+. Nikiforovich continued solid numbers into the early 1990s, inking a two-year extension $2,320,000 in April 1992.

In June 1994, Nikiforovich suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee. That ended his run with Novosibirsk, who didn’t re-sign him at the end of the season. The Nitros would retire his #1 uniform once his playing career was over. Before the injury, Nikiforovich still looked pretty good at age 35. Almaty gave him a four-year, $5,120,000 contract. He only played one season with Assassins, posting average results. Nikiforovich opted to retire that winter at age 35.

Nikiforovich had a 198-125 record, 2.31 ERA, 3118.2 innings, 3183 strikeouts, 474 walks, 286/380 quality starts, 157 complete games, 126 ERA+, 81 FIP-, and 69.1 WAR. His stats weren’t as dominant of his 2001 Hall of Fame classmates Harrell and Bely, but still had rate stats that looked worth. Nikiforovich wasn’t appreciated perhaps in his time, but he had a fine career and helped Novosibirsk become a regular contender for the first time. Nikiforovich received a first-ballot induction at 81.0% as the third of four pitchers in the 2001 class.



Vasif Agharahimov – Starting Pitcher – Bishkek Black Sox – 68.2% First Ballot

Vasif Agharahimov was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Ryskulov, Kazakhstan; a village of around 3,000 people in the Almaty region. Agharahimov was known for excellent movement on his pitches with solid stuff and above average control. His fastball peaked at 95-97 mph and was mixed with a great slider, good curveball and knuckle curve, and okay changeup. Agharahimov’s stamina was considered weak compared to most EPB starters, but strong durability meant he still gave you plenty of innings. He was very outspoken, making Agharahimov a polarizing figure in the clubhouse.

Agharahimov managed to draw attention to himself as an amateur despite growing up in obscurity. At age 19, he was picked 18^th overall by Bishkek in the 1979 EPB Draft. The Black Sox kept him in developmental for 1980 and 1981, calling him up in 1982 at age 22. Agharahimov had a nice rookie campaign with 3.9 WAR in only 22 starts. He also tossed 8 shutout innings in the playoffs, although the Black Sox fell in the Asian League Championship Series. He would be a regular starter for the next 12 seasons for Bishkek.

Agharahimov’s second season was arguably his best with career highs in ERA (1.65), WAR (8.5), and FIP- (54). 1983 also featured a 38 inning scoreless streak in the spring. He finished second in Pitcher of the Year voting; the only time he was a finalist. Agharahimov would be steady with 10 straight seasons worth 6+ WAR. He also pitched for Kazakhstan from 1983-97 in the World Baseball Championship, although his stats weren’t great with a 4.51 ERA, 149.2 innings, 178 strikeouts, and 81 ERA+

However, Agharahimov ended up being a terrific postseason pitcher for Bishkek. The Black Sox made the playoffs nine times from 1980-90 with eight ALCS appearances. Bishkek never won the EPB Championship, but they won Asian League pennants in 1980, 83, 84, 86, and 90. Agharahimov had a 10-8 record over 196 playoff innings with a 2.39 ERA, 217 strikeouts, 122 ERA+, and 5.1 WAR. He earned ALCS MVP honors in 1994.

Agharahimov tossed a no-hitter on May 13 against Almaty with nine strikeouts and one walk. He signed a four-year, $3,010,000 extension in the summer of 1988. After more sustained success, Agharahimov inked another four years at $3,700,000 in September 1992. 1993 would see the first major setback of his career with severe shoulder inflammation, putting him out for six months.

Agharahimov bouced back for two more seasons with Bishkek, although he wasn’t quite as strong as his prime years. The Black Sox voided the team option year in his contract, making Agharahimov a free agent for the first time at age 36. Although he clashed with team officials at points with his outspoken nature, Bishkek would later retire his #27 uniform.

That would end his EPB career, as he ended up leaving for Venezuela. Agharahimov signed a three-year, $4,720,000 deal with Caracas. He had a very good debut year, leading the Bolivar League in FIP- (62) and posting 6.2 WAR. His velocity dropped a little bit for 1997 and he offended the wrong person, getting benched despite being healthy. He only had one weak relief appearance for all of 1997, retiring that winter at age 37.

Agharahimov’s EPB and Bishkek stats were a 206-129 record, 2.24 ERA, 3083.2 innings, 3494 strikeouts, 576 walks, 326/419 quality starts, 54 complete games, 129 ERA+, 70 FIP-, and 85.8 WAR. He quietly put up great numbers that were overshadowed by people like his 2001 Hall of Fame classmates. His lengthy tenure with Bishkek and playoff success was plusses, but some voters shunned him for being a loudmouth jerk. Agharahimov barely became a first ballot guy, but pulled in 68.2% to round out the four-pitcher 2001 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

With no new standouts on the ballot, closer Lorenzo Amaru was the lone inductee into the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2001. On his sixth try, Amaru got the notable bump to 78.5%. RF Dede Hayati came close on his tenth and final try, but fell short at 61.1%. The only other player above 50% was RF Ryan Whatley at 56.3% in his fifth try. The top debut was 1B Netani Mohammed at only 29.3%.



For Dede Hayati, 61.1% on his final ballot was the highest number he got. He usually hovered somewhere between 45-60% in his tries. He had a 19 year career mostly with Auckland, winning five Silver Sluggers with 2885 hits, 1370 runs, 454 doubles, 368 triples, 216 home runs, 952 RBI, 1083 stolen bases, a .281/.327/.459 slash, 139 wRC+, and 76.3 WAR. Hayati retired as the all-time triples leader in OBA, only getting passed once. He also won a title with Auckland in 1981. As of 2037, he’s also seventh in stolen bases. However, Hayati’s lack of home run power and porous defense sunk him with enough voters to banish him to the Hall of Pretty Good despite a solid resume.



Lorenzo Amaru – Closer – Sydney Snakes – 78.5% Sixth Ballot

Lorenzo Amaru was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed relief pitcher from Faaa, a commune of around 30,000 people on the island of Tahiti. He became the first and as of 2037 only Tahitian member of the OBA Hall of Fame. Amaru had a legendary 99-101 mph cutter and a great curveball as a counter pitch. His stuff graded as outstanding with very good movement and control.

Amaru was noticed at a camp as a 16-year old in fall 1974 a scout from Sydney. They brought him to Australia on a developmental contract, keeping him in system until 1979 at age 21. He debuted largely in middle relief in 1979, but looked promising. He was third in both Reliever of the Year and Rookie of the Year voting. Amaru became the full-time closer for the next six years for the Snakes.

Sydney had some of the best years yet in Amaru’s run, but still couldn’t earn that first-ever pennant. He was widely viewed as the best reliever in OBA in this time, leading in saves thrice and games twice. Amaru won Reliever of the Year in 1980, 83, and 85. He was third in 1981, second in 1982, and second in 1984. Amaru was also third in 1983’s Pitcher of the Year voting and third in 1985. He had a streak of 40 successful save opportunities from May 4, 1983 to April 30, 1984. That stretch also had a 28-inning scoreless streak and a 23-inning streak mixed in.

After this run, Amaru decided to leave Australia and enter free agency at age 28. Multiple teams worldwide were interested and MLB’s Kansas City Cougars won the bidding war with a three-year, $2,740,000 deal. Amaru had a good 1986, then a stellar 1987 with a career best 0.95 ERA and 5.5 WAR. This earned him the fourth Reliever of the Year of his career. He also had two saves in the playoffs, although the Cougars lost in the second round.

Amaru also was a stellar pitcher in the World Baseball Championship from 1980-94. Tahiti is a part of French Polynesia, making Amaru a French citizen. He mostly pitched in relief, but he occasional started, including a 22 strikeout game in 1987 against the Czech Republic. Amaru also was the 1986 Best Pitcher, tossing 18 scoreless innings with 33 strikeouts. Over 139 WBC innings, Amaru had a 11-3 record, 22 saves, 1.55 ERA, 269 strikeouts, 19 walks, a 233 ERA+, 18 FIP-, and 8.8 WAR.

Kansas City regressed in 1988 and traded Amaru at the deadline to Baltimore for four prospects. After finishing the year with the Orioles, Amaru signed a two-year, $3,320,000 deal with Oakland. He wouldn’t be a full-time closer for the rest of his career. Amaru had only 32.1 innings with the Owls, declining his contract option after one year. He then signed a three-year, $5,520,000 deal with Philadelphia.

Amaru did middle relief in 1990, then got the closer job back in 1991. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn UCL in July 1991, costing him the rest of that season and part of 1992. In total over three seasons, Amaru had 2.12 ERA and 21 saves in 118.2 innings. He had looked solid in his limited innings, which led to New York singing him for the 1993 season on a one-year deal at age 35.

Amaru was decent in 46.2 innings with the Yankees. He signed with Toronto in 1994 with 47.2 innings with poor results. Montreal picked Amaru up for 1995, but he looked no better, getting cut in August. Toronto signed him back for a minor league deal to finish out the season. Amaru would retire that winter at age 38. For his MLB stints, he had 126 saves and 200 shutdowns, a 2.47 ERA, 520.2 innings, 550 strikeouts, a 143 ERA+, 61 FIP-, and 17.2 WAR.

For his entire pro career, Amaru had 362 saves and 468 shutdowns, 2.07 ERA, 1100 innings, 1500 strikeouts, 172 walks, 164 ERA+, 52 FIP-, and 43.2 WAR. That line would get him into just about any Hall of Fame, but his OBA tenure was only seven seasons with Sydney. As a Snake, he had 236 saves, 1.71 ERA, 579.1 innings 950 strikeouts, 95 walks, a 189 ERA+, 43 FIP-, and 26.1 WAR.

It was very impressive over a short burst, but the accumulations were quite low with the other Hall of Famers having 400+ saves apiece in OBA. The rate stats were outstanding and as of 2037, he’d have the third best ERA of any Hall of Famer. He just wasn’t around long enough for many voters, leaving Amaru in the 40-50% range his first few ballots. He got a big jump to 64.3% in 1999, but fell back to 52.6%. In 2001, no one stood out on the ballot and some voters reconsidered Amaru. Enough gave him credit for his WBC dominance and decade in the MLB, bumping him up to 78.5% for a sixth ballot induction.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Three pitchers picked up additions for the 2001 Austronesia Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. The standout was starter Samuel Dau at 83.5% in his debut. The other two spots went to relievers who just barely crossed the 66% threshold after multiple tries. Stallion Ricciardi earned 69.5% on his fourth ballot and Afriza Bachdim had 66.9% for his fifth go. Two other relievers were above 50% on their fifth tries with Hong Quinonez at 59.4% and Ting-Wei Ping at 57.9%.



Dropped after ten ballots was starter Mahdi Rohmah, who won three Gold Gloves in a 12 year career between Davao and Semarang. He had a 156-148 record, 2.92 ERA, 2773.2 innings, 3094 strikeouts, a 97 ERA+, 92 FIP-, and 47.3 WAR. A torn labrum ended his career after his age 33 season, but he still posted respectable tallies. However, he was merely consistently average, not elite. He debuted at 30.0% on the 1992 ballot and ended at 7.9%, but does get credit for making it ten years.



Samuel Dau – Starting Pitcher – Quezon Zombies – 83.5% First Ballot

Samuel Dau was a 5’11’’, 190 pound left-handed pitcher from Semarang, Indonesia; the capital of the Central Java province. Dau wasn’t amazing at anything, but was above average to good in terms of stuff, movement, and control. He wasn’t a hard thrower with only 92-94 mph on his fastball, but he was effective at switching between the fastball, forkball, and changeup. Dau had outstanding stamina and was quite good at holding runners.

Dau was signed as a teenage amateur in fall 1975 by Quezon. He was a late bloomer, staying in the Zombies’ developmental system until 1981. Dau officially debuted with a few relief appearances in 1981 at age 24. He would see one start in 1982 and nine starts in 1983. In 1984 at age 27, Dau was moved to the rotation full-time for the first time.

He had an impactful debut as a full-timer, leading the Taiwan-Philippine Association in wins at 20-10. Dau had a tremendous postseason with a 0.36 ERA in three starts, going 3-0 in 25.1 innings with 25 strikeouts. Dau was MVP of the TPA Championship and helped Quezon win their first-ever Austronesia Championship over Medan. Dau also had two solid starts in the 1987 playoffs for the Zombies, although they lost to Taichung in the TPA Championship.

Dau led the TPA in innings pitched in 1987 and took third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Quezon gave him a four-year, $1,604,000 extension that fall. 1988 saw an 8.5 WAR effort by Dau, his best during his Zombies tenure. He took third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Dau looked solid the next two years, but Quezon began to struggle, falling to 74-88 in 1990. With that, the Zombies decided to be sellers and traded Dau in early July to Semarang for RF Mahisa Anam and CF Galih Rahayu.

For his time with Quezon, Dau had a 114-80 record, 2.55 ERA, 1911 innings 1883 strikeouts, a 111 ERA+, and 40.4 WAR. His part in their title in 1984 left a big impact though and Dau’s #5 uniform would eventually get retired. He would leave a playoff impact for his new squad Semarang as well. Dau had a great second half and finished the season with a career-best 8.9 WAR between both stops. The Sliders would claim the Austronesia Championship over Cebu, giving Dau his second ring. He posted a 1.57 ERA in 23 playoff innings with 23 strikeouts.

Semarang was more middling for the rest of Dau’s run. They would commit to him though with a five-year, $6,000,000 extension just before the 1991 season. Dau had respectable 1991 and 1992 efforts, although he struggled in 1993 and led the Sundaland Association in losses. Dau would bounce back with a solid 1994, but he suffered a torn labrum in September to end the season.

Dau was determined to come back from the injury and made it back for a full 1993 campaign at age 38. However, his production was below average. He also suffered biceps tendinitis to cost him the final few weeks of the season. Dau decided retire with that, having posted a 76-68 record, 2.19 ERA, 1406.2 innings, 1381 strikeouts, and 20.0 WAR with Semarang.

Dau’s career stats saw a 190-148 record, 2.40 ERA, 3317.2 innings, 3264 strikeouts, 514 walks, 302/399 quality starts, 195 complete games, 111 ERA+, 89 FIP-, and 60.4 WAR. On the surface, his stats were borderline compared to other eventual APB Hall of Famers. He didn’t win Pitcher of the Year or generally post big stats. However, Dau’s role in titles for two franchises and great playoff success went a long way. He had a 1.10 ERA over 65.2 playoff innings with 69 strikeouts, 235 ERA+, and 2.1 WAR. The big game performances, plus a fairly unremarkable batch of newcomers on the 2001 ballot, helped push Dau to the first ballot selection with 83.5%.