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

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Two players were added into the Chinese League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998. Right fielder Mingqi Dai was the star of the ballot with 86.1% and a first ballot nod. Closer Huyi Gao joined him with 72.6%, making the cut in his fifth ballot. Fellow closer Junwei Zhu was close in his debut, but short at 59.5%. Also above 50% was RF Zhengyu Peng at 55.1% for his second go.



Dropped after ten ballots was SP Guicaho Li, who was a three-time Pitcher of the Year winner with Xi’an. Injuries derailed his career with two torn labrums and a partially torn UCL, giving him roughly six or seven full seasons worth of production in 13 seasons. Li had a 109-48 record, 1.92 ERA, 1591 innings, 1877 strikeouts, 146 ERA+, and 57.4 WAR. His rate stats were certainly HOF worthy, but the injuries meant Li just didn’t have the totals. He debuted at 44.8% in 1989, but was down at 9.1% by his last chance.

Also dropped was Wei Gao, who won seven Silver Sluggers at third base and an MVP. He played 12 seasons with Macau, retiring surprisingly early despite being in good health and still being a top player. He had 1832 hits, 778 runs, 347 doubles, 264 home runs, 893 RBI, a .269/.320/.449 slash, 154 wRC+, and 89.2 WAR. By WAR, he’s one of the more notable snubs, still leading all CLB third basemen in career WAR as of 2037. However, he peaked with 37.3% in his debut and plummeted to 4.1% by the end. The CLB voters remained particular harsh against batters with the deflated stats in the low offense environment.



Mingqi “Bumblebee” Dai – Right Field - Tianjin Jackrabbits – 86.1% First Ballot

Mingqi Dai was a 6’0’’, 195 pound left-handed outfielder from Tai’an, a city of around five-and-a-half million people in East China’s Shandong Province. Dai was a very solid contact and power hitter with an above average eye. He had a tremendous pop in his bat, averaging 28 doubles, 13 triples, and 30 home runs per 162 games. Dai had good speed and was an intelligent baserunner who knew how to stretch out for extra bags. He was considered an ironman, playing 145+ games in all but his final season. Dai was a career right fielder and considered reliably above average defensively. His impressive talent and work ethic made Dai one of the most beloved figures of Chinese baseball.

Dai’s talent was unmistakable during his amateur career ahead of the 1979 CLB Draft. Tianjin picked him fourth overall and he would be a full-time starter for the next 13 years for the Jackrabbits. Dai had some growing pains as a rookie, but was very good by his second year and elite by his third. 1982 would be the first of six seasons with double-digit WAR and the start of nine straight seasons of 7+ WAR.

During his remarkable career, Dai led the Northern League five times in runs scored, once in hits, once in doubles, twice in home runs, thrice in RBI, five times in total bases, once in batting average, thrice in OBP, five times in slugging, five times in OPS, five times in wRC+, and once in WAR. In 1983, he was one RBI short of a Triple Crown season. That season also had career bests in runs, hits, total bases, triple slash, OPS, wRC+, and WAR. Remarkably, his 13.3 WAR was second to Libo Li that season. It sits as the 12^th best as of 2037.

Dai became the second player in CLB history to win four MVPs. As of 2037, only nine players have reached that mark. Dai took the top honor in 1983, 86, 88, and 90. Dai was second in 1984 and 1985 and third in 1989. He won eight Silver Sluggers (1982-86, 88-90). After the 1984 season, the Jackrabbits locked him up long term with an eight-year, $5,142,000 extension.

The mid 1980s in Chinese League Baseball was defined by the rivalry between Tianjin and Beijing. These two teams won the CLB title thrice each between 1983-88. The Jackrabbits made the playoffs six straight seasons in that stretch with finals berths in 1983, 84, 86, and 88. Tianjin won it all in 1983, 86, and 88; beating the Bears in 1986 and falling in 1984. Dai was a two-time China Series MVP, taking the award in 86 and 88. In his playoff career, Dai had 60 starts, 63 hits, 40 runs, 8 doubles, 11 triples, 15 home runs, 48 RBI, a .284/.355/.622 slash, 221 wRC+, and 4.3 WAR.

Dai continued to look great into his 30s, but Tianjin would fade as the 1990s dawned. 1990 was their first losing season in a decade and they hovered around .500 in his last two years. In his last season with the Jackrabbits, Dai posted 9.2 WAR. With Tianjin looking to rebuild for the immediate future, he and the franchise opted to part ways. Dai would remain a beloved franchise icon for decades to come and his #13 uniform would be retired after the 1996 season.

His dominance in China was noticed worldwide, despite Dai not participating in the World Baseball Championship outside of the 1994-95 editions. Dai left for Major League Baseball with a four-year, $9,120,000 contract with Calgary. The Cheetahs had just won the American Association pennant the prior season and wanted to start a new run of dominance comparable to their 1980s success.

Dai had an excellent debut season in MLB with 6.7 WAR and 34 home runs. Calgary won the pennant again, this time winning the World Series over Toronto. Dai was solid again in 1994 and the Cheetahs won 106 games, but suffered an upset loss in the second round. Age started to catch up to Dai, as he had below average offensive numbers in 1995. For 1996, Dai was only a part-time starter. As his Calgary contract expired, he opted to retire at age 38. For his MLB run, Dai had 541 hits, 358 runs, 93 home runs, 290 RBI, a .265/.328/.478 slash, 116 wRC+, and 14.0 WAR.

For his Tianjin and CLB career, Dai had 2009 hits, 1065 runs, 359 doubles, 177 triples, 389 home runs, 1095 RBI, a .278/.338/.539 slash, 194 wRC+, and 114.7 WAR. As of 2037, Dai is eighth in hitting WAR, 12^th in runs scored, and 11^th in RBI. For his entire pro career, Dai saw 2550 hits, 1423 runs, 458 doubles, 206 triples, 482 home runs, 1385 RBI, a .275/.336/.525 slash, 176 wRC+, and 128.7 WAR. Dai was one of the finest players not only in China in the 1980s, but in any world league. The strict CLB voters gave him only 86.1%, but he still easily secured his deserved first ballot induction.



Huyi Gao – Pitcher – Xi’an Attack – 72.6% Fifth Ballot

Huyi Gao was a 6’5’’, 200 pound right-handed relief pitcher. Like his Hall of Fame classmate Mingqi Dai, Gao was also from Tai’an. He had excellent stuff with terrific control, although his movement was subpar. Gao had a dangerous 99-101 mph fastball and an incredible changeup, along with a great screwball and a decent curveball and knuckle curve. His stamina was terrible though, which led to him being primarily a reliever even though five-pitch guys usually were effective starters. Gao was a good defensive pitcher as well. He often clashed with teammates though and was viewed as a mercenary type.

Gao was signed as a teenage amateur in 1973 by Xi’an. The Attack brought him up in 1977 at age 21, where he largely struggled in relief. He would toss four scoreless innings in relief, although the defending champ Xi’an fell in the semifinal. The Attack would make the playoffs again the next two seasons with Gao posting a 1.97 ERA over 32 playoff innings, but they were unable to advance. Xi’an remained good into the 1980s, but not good enough for playoff berths.

In his second season and third seasons, Gao was used as a starting pitcher. He had nice results, leading the league in WHIP both years. Gao was a starter again to start 1980, but suffered a torn flexor tendon in late April, knocking him out nine months. The next year in spring training, a torn triceps cost him three months. These injuries also took a huge toll on his already iffy stamina. Thus, the decision was made that Gao would be a reliever for the rest of his career.

Gao was respectable in middle relief in 1981, then was moved to the closer role for his remaining three seasons with the Attack. He led the league with 45 saves in 1983. Then in 1984, Gao finished third in Reliever of the Year voting. Xi’an struggled though in 1984, posting their first losing season since 1971. The Attack looked to rebuild and in the process traded Gao to Beijing for 3B Zhifeng Li and SP Qing Hu. For his Xi’an tenure, Gao had a 52-43 record, 135 saves, 2.14 ERA, 1206 strikeouts, 836 innings, 124 ERA+, and 24.2 WAR. The franchise would later retire his #31 uniform as well.

Only a few weeks after acquiring Gao, Beijing gave him a three-year, $1,414,000 extension. The Bears were the defending China Series champion and in their arms race against Tianjin. Gao spent four years as Beijing’s closer, earning his lone Reliever of the Year in 1986. He took second in 1987 and 1988.

The Bears made it to the championship each year from 1985-87, winning the title in 1985 and 1987. In 21 playoff appearances for Beijing, Gao had a 1.36 ERA, 8 saves and 15 shutdowns, 33 innings, 48 strikeouts, and a 187 ERA+. For his Beijing tenure, Gao posted 158 saves and 204 shutdowns, a 1.57 ERA, 400.2 innings, 591 strikeouts, a 161 ERA+, and 13.0 WAR.

Gao’s contract expired after the 1988 season and the 33-year old became a free agent for the first time. No team in China would match the money or contract length Gao was looking for, so he opened up his search internationally. He found a buyer in the Oceania Baseball Association, signing a three-year, $1,860,000 deal with Auckland. Gao was decent with the Avengers, but his one season saw shoulder bursitis and a partially torn labrum plague him.

Auckland decided to move on, trading Gao to Tahiti in November 1989 for two prospects. He was alright in two seasons with the Tropics, but he missed notable time in both seasons to injury. He posted a 2.48 ERA and 119 ERA+, 116 innings, 149 strikeouts, and 2.8 WAR with Tahiti. Gao decided to retire that winter at age 35,

For his entire pro career, Gao had a 110-94 record, 353 saves, 2.04 ERA, 1423.1 innings, 2038 strikeouts, 132 ERA+, and 41.5 WAR. For just his time in China, he had 293 saves and 370 shutdowns, a 91-72 record, 1.96 ERA, 1236.2 innings, 1797 strikeouts, 187 walks, 134 ERA+, 64 FIP-, and 37.2 WAR. Gao’s accumulations were somewhat comparable to other CLB Hall of Fame relievers, but a good chunk of his value was in his initial stint as a starter. Removing or minimizing those innings made his case much more borderline. Gao’s playoff success with Beijing helped him though, keeping him above 50% for his entire run on the ballot. He narrowly missed out on his third try with 64.2% in 1996. Gao dropped to 59.3% in 1997, but made it across the line in 1998 at 72.6% for a fifth ballot induction.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Two players earned inductions for West African Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1998. Pitcher Addise Assefa was nearly unanimous at 99.7%, while RF Vincent Langat picked up a first ballot induction with 74.5%. SP Issaka Camara was one percentage point short of joining them, getting 65.0% in his second ballot. CF Stephen Tshukudu received 57.3% in his ninth try, a new high in his slow climb. SP Moussa Sidi was the other player with more than half of the vote, getting 51.0% in his second go.



Dropped after ten ballots was LF Mario Duc, who was hurt by having his official WAB career start when he was already 31 years old. In nine seasons, he won one MVP, four Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and helped both Port Harcourt and Lagos win WAB titles. Duc had 948 hits, 776 runs, 136 doubles, 87 triples, 361 home runs, 817 RBI, a .228/.318/.563 slash, and 50.9 WAR. The low accumulations and high strikeout rate hurt him, although Duc would’ve probably been a lock had he been able to record stats in his 20s. He got as high as 44.4% on his sixth ballot and ended at 31.8%.



Addise Assefa – Starting Pitcher – Bamako Bullfrogs – 99.7% First Ballot

Addise Assefa was a 6’0’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Boditi, Ethiopia; a small city of around 60,000 in the country’s southwest. Assefa had very good stuff with solid control and above average movement. His fastball regularly hit 99-101 mph and was part of a five-pitch arsenal featuring a slider, curveball, slider, and splitter. Pitchers in WAB typically don’t go as deep in games as other leagues, but Assefa bucked that trend. He led his league in innings pitched five times and complete games thrice. For much of his career, Assefa was viewed as very durable. He was a fan favorite, popular for his intelligence and work ethic.

When Assefa was growing up, the baseball scene in his native Ethiopia was very limited. It wouldn’t be until the African Association of Baseball was formed in 1995 that his country had affiliated pro baseball. His skill was obvious though, so he went westward for his amateur career. Assefa quickly established himself as a top prospect and was picked ninth overall by Bamako in the 1978 WAB Draft. He was kept on the reserve roster in 1979, then made his debut as a full-time starter in 1980.

There were some growing pains, but quickly Assefa emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers in West Africa. From 1982-88, he led the Western League in strikeouts each year. That stretch also saw him lead in wins thrice, innings four times, WHIP four times, quality starts thrice, ERA once, shutouts three times, and WAR three times. Assefa had a stretch of eight consecutive seasons worth 6.5 WAR or more.

Four times Assefa won Pitcher of the Year, taking the award in 1983, 84, 87, and 89. He finished second in voting in 1985 and 1986 with a third place in 1988. Assefa was also second in MVP voting in 1984. He was the first WAB pitcher to strike out 400+ batters in a season. Since 2037, there have been seven such seasons; three by Assefa. His 427 strikeouts in 1984 remains the single-season record. That season also saw a 22 strikeout game against Accra, which was the WAB record until 2022. .

Assefa was a huge reason Bamako was a contender in the mid 1980s. He signed a six-year contract extension to stay in Mali in April 1985 worth $3,580,000. The Bullfrogs had five playoff berths in a row from 1983-87. They took the Western League pennant in 1983 and 1986, although both times they were defeated in the WAB Championship. Assefa was excellent in his 11 playoff starts for Bamako with a 1.90 ERA over 85.1 innings, 5-2 record, 125 strikeouts, 182 ERA+, and 2.8 WAR. The 1986 run saw 51 strikeouts and 1.43 WAR, which are still WAB playoff records.

Bamako’s era of success ended as the 1980s closed, dropping to 65-97 by 1990. Assefa remained solid, but suffered his first major setback with a torn rotator cuff in April 1990. He decided to decline his contract option that winter, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 34. Assefa remained popular with Bullfrogs fans and his #1 uniform would be retired later. With Bamako, Assefa had a 184-105 record, 2.57 ERA, 2701.1 innings, 3599 strikeouts, 553 walks, 138 ERA+, 73 FIP-, and 73.3 WAR.

Assefa went to Nigeria with a two-year, $1,660,000 deal with Lagos. He won his lone Gold Glove in 1991 with the Lizards and pitched solidly, although not as dominantly as before. Still, Assefa played a big role as Lagos won the WAB Championship in both of his seasons there. He was terrific again in the postseason, posting a 0.89 ERA in 30.1 innings with 38 strikeouts. In total with Lagos, he had a 24-21 record, 3.18 ERA, 463.2 innings, 548 strikeouts, 115 ERA+, and 9.8 WAR.

Notable milestones were also reached during the Lizards run. Assefa became the third WAB pitcher to pass 200 career wins and was the first to 4000 strikeouts. For his playoff career, he had 3.56 WAR, which is still the career high in WAB as of 2037. He had an 8-3 record, 1.63 ERA, 115.2 innings, 163 strikeouts, and a 213 ERA+. Assefa is second all-time in playoff Ks, behind only Power Bonou’s 173.

This would be the end of his WAB career, as he received MLB offers as a 36-year old free agent. Assefa joined Columbus on a three-year, $5,820,000 contract. A ruptured finger tendon cost him three months of the 1993 campaign, which saw below average production. He rebounded and looked respectable in 1994 for Columbus. Assefa had a 3.38 ERA in 16 playoff innings as the Chargers got to the National Association Championship Series. In total with the Chargers, he had a 3.05 ERA, 20-12 record, 318.2 innings, 192 strikeouts, 117 ERA+, and 4.7 WAR.

1995 marked the first time his native Ethiopia qualified for the World Baseball Championship, with Assefa pitching for them in 1995 and 1996. Columbus cut him in 1995 and he ended up signing with Tampa. He still gave you innings, but with very middling production as his velocity had dropped off significantly. Assefa pitched poorly in one final season with Phoenix in 1996. He retired at 40 after going unsigned in 1997. For his MLB run, Assefa had a 34-37 record, 3.67 ERA, 672.1 innings, 331 strikeouts, 103 ERA+, and 7.6 WAR.

For his WAB run, Assefa had a 208-126 record, 2.66 ERA, 3165 innings, 4147 strikeouts, 613 walks, 288/397 quality starts, 109 complete games, 134 ERA+, 74 FIP-, and 83.2 WAR. His ERA is among the best for any eventual WAB Hall of Famer. As of 2037, he’s still second all-time in strikeouts, sixth in wins, first in shutouts (34), and third in pitching WAR. Assefa certainly deserves a mention when considering who WAB’s GOAT pitcher is, especially when you look at his postseason dominance. He was nearly unanimously inducted into the 1998 class with 99.7%.



Vincent Langat – Right Field – Cotonou Copperheads – 74.5% First Ballot

Vincent Langat was a 6’6’’, 200 pound left-handed hitting right fielder from Lamu, Kenya; a small town of 25,000 inhabitants on the southeastern coast. Langat was an excellent power hitter who averaged around 40-45 home runs and 25-30 doubles per season. He was great at drawing walks, but he was a subpar contact hitter and had a horrible strikeout rate. Langat was one of the first “three-true outcomes” guys in West African Baseball. He was very slow on the basepaths, but still was intelligent about picking his spots.

Langat was viewed as an ironman, starting 147+ games in all but his rookie season (where he still started 136). He was a career right fielder and viewed as a mediocre defender. He had an incredibly strong arm, but lousy range. Langat was a team captain, becoming of the most respected players in the league with his work ethic and leadership. That personality, plus dingers, made Langat extremely popular and one of WAB’s first superstars.

Like his Hall of Fame classmate Langat, he had to move west to chase an amateur career. Langat’s native Kenya didn’t have much in the way of organized baseball in the 1970s and would not have proper pro teams until AAB’s formation in 1995. His big frame and power earned him plenty of attention, getting picked sixth overall in the 1978 WAB Draft by Cotonou. Langat made his debut in Benin and struggled with strikeouts quite a bit early on. He got marginally better as he aged at avoiding Ks, but he improved greatly at making hard contact.

Langat was third in 1979 Rookie of the Year voting. He won three Silver Sluggers with the Copperheads (1981, 82, 84). 1984 was his first time leading the league in home runs with 43, although it was his third straight season with 40+. From 1982 through his final season in 1992, Langat hit 40 or more homers each season. 1984 also saw him lead the Eastern League in slugging for the first time.

Despite Langat’s best efforts, Cotonou was terrible during his tenure, rarely sniffing a winning record. Langat entered 1985 with one year left on his contract and Copperheads officials weren’t expecting him to stick around beyond that. They opted to trade him to Kano in exchange for four prospects. With Cotonou, he had 771 hits, 486 runs, 228 home runs, 531 RBI, a .238/.342/.502 slash, 137 wRC+, and 24.1 WAR. Langat was inducted in the Copperheads hat as it was his longest run, although many fans would remember him in different colors.

1985 saw Langat win his fourth Silver Slugger. The Condors were ousted in the wild card round, but it was Langat’s first postseason experience. He had 47 home runs and 4.9 WAR in his one year there. Langat became a free agent for the first time at age 30. Abidjan ended up being the buyer, bringing Langat to the Ivory Coast on a five-year, $3,150,000 deal.

It ended up being a weak era for the Athletes sandwiched between two eras with multiple pennants. Abidjan didn’t make the postseason in Langat’s tenure, generally hovering around .500. His best season was 1989, which saw a Silver Slugger and a third place in MVP voting. Langat smacked 62 home runs this year to tie the single-season record, which held until 2003. It was his third time leading in homers and his only time also leading the league in RBI, OPS, total bases, and wRC+.

For his time with Abidjan, Langat had 639 hits, 493 runs, 226 home runs, 519 RBI, a .232/.324/.527 slash, and 20.1 WAR. While there, he also became the career home run leader and the first to reach 500. Langat also was the first to 1000 runs scored and the second to 1000 RBI. A free agent again at age 35, he signed a two-year, $1,820,000 deal with Port Harcourt.

Langat led in runs and homers in his first year with the Hillcats, winning his sixth and final Silver Slugger. Port Harcourt would make the playoffs in both of his seasons there, but were unable to advance both times. In two years, Langat posted 265 hits, 189 runs, 83 home runs, 200 RBI, a .233/.321/.511 slash, and 7.3 WAR. He was also the first player to reach 1000 walks drawn in a career. Langat’s bat still seemed respectable, but he went unsigned in 1993 and retired that winter at age 37.

For his career, Langat had 1815 hits, 1254 runs, 371 doubles, 584 home runs, 1351 RBI, 1068 walks, 2765 strikeouts, a .236/.332/.516 slash, 139 wRC+, and 56.4 WAR. At retirement, he was the all-time leader in the young league in runs, homers, RBI, walks, and strikeouts. Langat fell down those leaderboards into the 21^st Century, especially as offense exploded in WAB. He does remain ninth in walks and strikeouts as of 2037. Advanced stats aren’t too favorable and he ranks low on later comparisons due to his high strikeout rate, poor average, lack of team success, and lousy defense. However, Langat was one of the first great sluggers of West African Baseball, worthy of his Hall of Fame spot. The 74.5% isn’t high, but it was enough to get him in on the first ballot with the 1998 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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On his fifth try, SP Ramesh Kohinoor made it into the South Asia Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the lone inductee in 1998, seeing a huge bump up to 87.7% with very few options to choose from. The only other player above 50% was closer Jason Mayekar at 51.5% on his seventh try. Only one player debuted on the ballot in 1B Harto Ohorella, getting a paltry 5.6%.



Ramesh Kohinoor – Starting Pitcher – Bengaluru Blazers – 87.7% Fifth Ballot

Ramesh Kohinoor was a 6’4’’, 215 pound right-handed pitcher from Pune, India; the country’s ninth most popular city with more than three million people in the city limits. Kohinoor had respectable stuff, control, and movement. His 98-100 mph fastball was his most impressive pitch, mixed with a splitter and slider. Kohinoor had excellent stamina and was viewed as a good defensive pitcher. He was also considered very durable and didn’t miss a start in his brief SAB run.

Kohinoor was already 28 years old when his “official” career began with the formation of South Asia Baseball in 1980. By that point, he was already known and established within India’s semi-pro circuits. Kohinoor signed a four-year, $890,000 deal with Bengaluru to begin his run. He would lead the Indian League thrice in innings pitched. Kohinoor also was the leader in wins, complete games, and shutouts in 1981. He took third in Pitcher of the Year voting in 1980 and second in 1981; his only times as a finalist.

Bengaluru was an early contender, winning the South Division in its first seven seasons. The Blazers won the 1982 SAB Championship with Kohinoor posting a 2.78 ERA over 22.2 innings with 30 strikeouts. He took the ILCS MVP for his efforts. His other playoff appearances weren’t great, posting a 4.81 ERA over 43 innings in total over the four years. Kohinoor’s most impressive moment with Bengaluru came on June 29, 1982, throwing a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and two walks against Kanpur.

For his time in Bengaluru, Kohinoor had a 68-39 record, 2.77 ERA, 1061.2 innings, 1104 strikeouts, 122 ERA+, and 17.3 WAR. He was a free agent at age 32 and signed a four-year, $1,512,000 deal with Dhaka. Kohinoor had four respectable seasons as a Doberman, posting a 66-44 record, 3.38 ERA, 1000 innings, 1052 strikeouts, 111 ERA+, and 22.3 WAR. Dhaka won the Southeast Asia League pennant in 1984, falling to Pune in the SAB Championship. Kohinoor had an impressive playoff run, going 4-1 in five starts with a 2.02 ERA in 40 innings with 40 strikeouts

From 1983-87, Kohinoor also pitched for India in the World Baseball Championship. His WBC efforts weren’t good though with a 6.39 ERA over 31 innings and 35 strikeouts. He was a free agent again for 1988 at age 36 and inked a two-year, $552,000 deal with Ahmedabad. The Animals had just started their dynasty run, having won the SAB title in 1986 and 1987. They would get upset in the ILCS by Kanpur in 1988.

Kohinoor led the league in complete games and shutouts in his one season pitching for Ahmedabad. His 2.3 WAR was a career worst though with a middling 102 ERA+. He would toss his second no-hitter, fanning six with one walk against his hometown team Pune on June 11. Kohinoor remained under contract in 1989, but Ahmedabad opted to keep him on the reserve roster all year. He decided to retire that winter at age 37.

The final line for Kohinoor was a 149-97 record, 3.09 ERA, 2303.1 innings, 2310 strikeouts, 554 walks, 193/282 quality starts, 98 complete games, 26 shutouts, a 115 ERA+, 89 FIP-, and 41.8 WAR. His accumulations are on the lower end, but like a lot of early days Hall of Famers, he missed out on some prime seasons based on when he entered. Still, the advanced stats are borderline even when adjusting for that. Although his playoff career was a mixed bag, he did play on notable teams. Kohinoor debuted at 50.3% and dropped to 43.2% the next year. He bounced back with 63.3% and 59.5% in the following years. With no standouts in 1998 and many voters loath to leave ballots blank, Kohinoor earned a massive bump up to 87.7%. This made him a fifth ballot selection and the lone member of SAB’s 1998 class.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Voting continued for the Asian Baseball Federation in 1998 with little progress made towards inducting its first Hall of Fame member. SP Abbas Nadim was the leader at only 23.6% in his fifth try. The top debut was catcher Shah Sharif at 13.7%.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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The 1998 World Baseball Championship was the 52^nd edition of the event. It returned to Mexico for the first time since 1967, this time centered in Juarez. In Division 1, Taiwan took top honors at 8-1, two ahead of second place Ukraine. It is the sixth time the Taiwanese have advanced and the fourth time in the 1990s. The two-time defending world champion United States secured D2 at 8-1, holding off a 7-2 Turkey and 6-3 efforts by Bangladesh and the Philippines. The Americans have gotten to the elite eight or further 44 times now.

Australia tore through Division 3 at 9-0 with only 7-2 Poland really competing. This was only the fourth division title for the Australians, who last did it with their runner-up 1982 campaign. Division 4 had Ghana and England tie for first at 7-2, while both Ecuador and Russia were 6-3. The Ghanaians had the head-to-head tiebreaker, moving forward for the second time-ever (1995). Over in Division 5, Canada (8-1) edged Italy (7-2), Malaysia (7-2), and India (6-3). The Canadians have advanced 32 times and six times in the 1990s.

The other team to go unbeaten in divisional play was Brazil at 9-0 atop Division 6. This was Brazil’s 28^th time in the elite eight, the most appearances apart from the US and Canada. D7 had Mexico and Switzerland tied at 7-2. The Mexicans advanced on the tiebreaker for repeat division titles and their 22^nd elite eight berth. Lastly in a competitive Division 8, neighbors Portugal and Spain tied for first at 6-3. Cuba, Indonesia, and Thailand were each one back. The Portuguese had the tiebreaker for their first-ever division title. They became the 67^th unique nation to advance at least once. The US and Mexico were the only teams to make it back to the Round Robin from the prior edition.

The Americans were atop Group A at 5-1, advancing along with 3-3 Brazil. Both Portugal and Canada finished 2-4. It was the 38^th time the United States had been to the final four and the 16^th for the Brazilians. Mexico and Taiwan both prevailed in Group B at 4-2, while both Ghana and Australia were 2-4. It was the 12^th time to the semifinals for the Mexicans and the sixth for the Taiwanese.

In the semifinal, the United States topped Taiwan 3-1 and Mexico beat Brazil 3-1. Officially, the Taiwanese were third and the Brazilians were fourth. The Americans advanced to their 34^th championship berth, holding an impressive 29-4 record in their previous finals. The Mexicans earned their ninth trip, having gone 4-4 previously. This was their first time in the championship though since all the way back in 1981.



The 1998 World Championship between the traditional powers. Mexico defeated the United States in their first finals clash in 1950. Two years later, the Americans got them back. The US took their third meeting in 1961 and claimed the 1981 battle. In the 1998 finale, the Americans were on top yet again, taking the series 4-2. It was the 30^th world title for the US and gave them a three-peat.



Despite being the runner-up, Mexico had the Tournament MVP in Julio Villa. A 32-year old MLB veteran in his second year with Portland, the left fielder had 32 hits, 23 runs, 7 home runs, 14 RBI, 17 walks, 16 stolen bases, a .333/.439/.594 slash, and 2.1 WAR. Canada’s Daniel Grondin won Best Pitcher in an impressive debut. The righty was the 26^th overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft by Calgary and hadn’t even debuted in MLB yet. Grondin tossed 19.2 WBC innings with a 4-0 record, 0.46 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and 1.4 WAR.

Other notes: Poland had a 1.12 team ERA in their nine games, setting a WBC record. Among their great outings was a 14 strikeout, 2 walk no-hitter by Wojciech Grzybek against China. Panama’s Aitor Moran also had a no-hitter with nine strikeouts and five walks over India. Nigeria’s Segun William had a four home run game against DR Congo. Taiwan’s Yi-Cheng Sun became the eighth player to hit for the cycle, doing it against Costa Rica.

Below are the all-time tournament stats. Mexico’s effort allowed them to enter a tie for fourth place in total points with China.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

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Only three teams in the African Association of Baseball’s Southern Conference finished above .500 in the fight for the two playoff spots. Cape Town was on top at 102-60, earning a third straight playoff berth. After taking third the prior two seasons, the inaugural AAB champ Johannesburg made it back to the playoffs. The Jackalopes were 98-64, taking the spot by four games over Luanda. Reigning conference champ Dar es Salaam was a distant fourth at 79-83. Notably, Harare set a still-standing conference record for a pitching staff by allowing only 1122 hits. Their offense was abysmal though, thus the Hustlers were at the bottom of the standings at 69-93.

Luanda had the top awards winner despite taking third. Third-year LF Marley Mubiri won Southern Conference MVP with the Ugandan switch hitter leading in runs (121), hits (178), total bases (395), triple slash (.320/.425/.710), OPS (1.135), wRC+ (220), and WAR (10.9). Mubiri also had 60 home runs and 129 RBI, becoming the third AAB hitter with a 60+ homer season. Cape Town DH Titi Kolikoli would beat him with 62 homers, setting the new single-season record. Djedoboum Sanoussi won his second Pitcher of the Year, having also taken it in the inaugural 1995 season. The 30-year old Chadian lefty led in wins (22-6), and ERA (2.39), posting 258 strikeouts in 252 innings with 7.5 WAR.



Defending Africa Series champ Kinshasa finished first in the Central Conference at 106-56, making the Sun Cats the only team in the playoffs in each of AAB’s first four seasons. Mogadishu was second at 98-64 for their first-ever playoff berth. The Mighty Mice had a 3.03 team ERA, which would be the conference record until 2013. Kinshasa’s 3.05 was close behind. Nairobi was third, eight games back. Bujumbura, last season’s first place team, fell to fifth at 85-77.

Central Conference MVP went to veteran 1B Laurent Kouakou of Brazzaville. The 36-year old Ivorian was in his fourth season with the Blowfish after a decade in West African Baseball. Kouakou set the AAB RBI record with 139 and also led with 59 home runs and 347 total bases. He added a .253/.339/.619 slash and 6.4 WAR. Kinshasa’s Michael Mukasa was Pitcher of the Year, leading in wins (27-4), ERA (2.23), innings (278), quality starts (28), and WAR (8.6). The 34-year old Ugandan lefty had 231 strikeouts in his one year with the Sun Cats. The 27 wins is still the AAB single-season record, only finally matched in 2036.

In the Southern Conference Championship, Johannesburg upset Cape Town in a seven-game classic, becoming two-time pennant winners (1995). Kinshasa downed Mogadishu 4-1 to give the Sun Cats their third Central Conference pennant in four years.



Kinshasa would go onto be the first repeat AAB champion. In the fourth Africa Series, the Sun Cats defeated Johannesburg 5-3. LF Evander Solomon was finals MVP, redeeming himself after a negative WAR season. The 34-year old Australian had 21 hits, 9 runs, 4 doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 12 playoff starts.



Other notes: Johannesburg’s Chifundo Manda had 46 saves, setting the AAB record. It would be matched five more times in future seasons, but hasn’t been surpassed as of 2037. Brazzaville’s Hicham Al Khouga had an opponent’s slugging percentage of .241; this is still the AAB record as of 2037. Al Khouga also had one of the two no-hitters in the 1998 season. Harare’s Kasuri Sukhi became the first AAB batter to have a six hit game.

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The best record in the Arab League’s Western Conference went to 95-67 Amman. The Aviators won their third Levant Division in three years, bouncing back from only 80 wins the prior year. Casablanca also reclaimed its hold on the Mediterranean Division after falling below .500 in 1997. The Bruins were 91-71, topping Tunis by two games and Tripoli by five. Casablanca has won the division seven times through ALB’s first nine seasons. Reigning conference champ Khartoum repeated as Nile Division champs. The Cottonmouths fell from the prior year to 86-76, narrowly holding off Cairo by one game.

Taking Western Conference MVP was Casablanca right fielder Amer Waleed. The 24-year old Iraqi lefty led in RBI (137), total bases (397), slugging (.696), OPS (1.069), and wRC+ (196). He added 7.7 WAR, a .316 average, and 55 home runs. Khartoum ace Mohamed Wael won his third Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old Egyptian lefty was the ERA leader at 2.18 and had the best WHIP (0.91) and FIP- (62). Wael added 316 strikeouts in 231.1 innings, 7.8 WAR, and a 16-5 record. Also of note, Amman’s Khemais Khalid became a three-time Reliever of the Year winner.

In the first round of the playoffs, Khartoum topped Casablanca 2-1. The defending champs then went on the road and rolled Amman in the Western Conference Championship, sweeping them 3-0. The Aviators are now 0-2 in their WCC berths, having also fallen in 1996. Khartoum is the second team to earn repeat pennants in the West, joining the Bruins (who three-peated from 1993-95).



For the third consecutive season, Mosul had the top record in the Eastern Conference. The Muskies finished 102-60 to win a fourth straight Iraq Division title. It wasn’t easy though, as they had to fend off a 98-64 effort by Basra. Defending Arab League champ Doha repeated in the Gulf Division. The 93-69 Dash finished five games better than Dubai. The Saudi Division had a first-time playoff berth from Jeddah. The Jackals took it at 91-71, beating out Riyadh by six games. Medina, who had won the division in seven of the prior eight seasons, dropped to 79-83.

Basra may have missed the playoffs, but they had the Eastern Conference MVP in LF Nordine “Hawk” Soule. In time, he emerged as an all-time slugger in pro baseball history. The 23-year old Comoran led in home runs (54), total bases (424), slugging (.748), OPS (1.200), and wRC+ (226). Soule added 11.1 WAR, a .372 average, and 125 RBI. Doha’s Ali Al-Shakal earned Pitcher of the Year in only his second season. The 24-year old Yemeni righty led in wins (20-13), WHIP (0.90), complete games (14), and shutouts (6). Al-Shakal added a 2.40 ERA over 273.2 innings, 306 strikeouts, and 8.2 WAR. Also worth noting, Basra’s Khadir Seif became a three-time Reliever of the Year winner.

Doha downed Jeddah 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs, setting up a rematch in the Eastern Conference Championship with Mosul. Last year, the Dash pulled off the stunning upset. The Muskies were determined not to see that happen again, sweeping Doha 3-0. This was Mosul’s second EC pennant in three years.



In the ninth Arab League Championship, we were guaranteed to have the seventh different champ. Khartoum had been the runner-up in 1997, while Mosul took second in 1996. The two top records battled to a 4-2 Muskies victory. Three-time conference MVP Mohammed Mohamed was the finals MVP. In 9 playoff games, the 24-year old Saudi shortstop had 11 hits, 8 runs, 6 home runs, and 11 RBI.



Other notes: Bilal Hamdan became the first ALB batter to 400 career home runs. He also won his sixth Gold Glove at first base. Pitcher Fahed Al-Eryani won his seventh Gold Glove.

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Hyderabad had a record-setting season atop the Pakistan League in 1998. The defending league champs set a new PL record and Asian Baseball Federation record with a 113-49 mark. As of 2037, this remains the best record by a team in the PL or its predecessor. The Horned Frogs earned a fifth straight playoff berth and set PL team pitching records with a 1.92 ERA, 915 hits, 345 runs, and 314 earned runs allowed. Those marks, plus a 0.868 team WHIP, all hold as all-time league records. The second place spot went to 87-75 Lahore for their first playoff berth since 1987. The Longhorns were three games ahead of Karachi and six better than Multan. Last year’s wild card Faisalabad fell off a cliff, taking last at 65-97.

Karachi’s Rizwan Qureshi won his third Pakistan League MVP. The 28-year old right fielder led in runs (116), doubles (36), home runs (61), RBI (122), total bases (403), slugging (.691), OPS (1.056), wRC+ (253), and WAR (11.1). Qureshi had two more great seasons, then was traded to Isfahan after the 2000 season. The fan favorite would shock the baseball world though by retiring from the game days later at only age 31 Qureshi would not be eligible for the Hall of Fame with just under nine years of major service, but he finished with 3 MVPs and 5 Silver Sluggers, 1450 hits, 784 runs, 345 doubles, 343 home runs, 845 RBI, a .293/.360/.579 slash, 218 wRC+, and 75.3 WAR. He remained extremely popular throughout the country for years after, but dedicated himself to other pursuits.

Pitcher of the Year went to Hyderabad’s Ahmad Oorzhak, who earned his third straight honor. He led in ERA for the third straight year with a career best 1.27. This was the second lowest by a qualifying pitcher behind Dhofar Ghaffar’s 1.22 in 1989. As of 2037, Oorzhak’s mark is still the third best season. The 25-year old was also the WARlord at 7.6 and had 322 strikeouts over 213 innings with a 17-5 record. Oorzhak pitched one more year with the Horned Frogs, then left for an unremarkable MLB run.



The Turkish League had a fierce battle for the top spot between Bursa and Adana. The Blue Claws ended up with repeat titles, taking it at 103-59. Adana ended five back at 98-64. Reigning Asian Baseball Federation champ Isfahan earned a fourth consecutive Persian League crown. The Imperials were 94-68, topping Tabriz by six games and Tehran by seven.

Adana LF Humayun Kahil won West Asia Association MVP. He was in his fourth year as a starter despite being still only 21 years old. The Pakistani lefty led in RBI (122), total bases (403), OBP (.435), and WAR (11.8). Kahil added 49 home runs, a .352 average, and 200 wRC+. Isfahan’s Yazeed Anwari secured a fourth straight Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first four-time winner in ABF. The 25-year old righty led in ERA (1.95), WHIP (0.85), K/BB (13.4), FIP- (43), and WAR (11.2). Anwari added 361 strikeouts in 240 innings with a 21-6 record.

With their record-setting season, Hyderabad cruised to a sweep of Lahore in the Pakistan League Championship Series. In a West Asia Association Championship rematch, Isfahan again bested Bursa. This time, the Imperials took the series 4-2. This also set up a rematch in the Asian Baseball Federation Championship.



Like the prior season, Hyderabad entered by record as a significant favorite over Isfahan. It was the fourth finals battle between the two, as the Horned Frogs repeated as champs over the Imperials in 1986 and 1987. Also like the prior year though, the Imperials prevailed. Isfahan won the 14^th ABF final in six games, becoming the fourth franchise to repeat as champions. 1B Faramarz Noushzad was finals MVP, as the 29-year old Iranian had 16 hits, 3 runs, 2 doubles, and 9 RBI in 12 playoff starts.



Other notes: Tehran’s Mohammad Kasravi tossed ABF’s eighth perfect game, striking out eight against Bursa on September 10. Hasan Afshin became the first ABF pitcher to 2500 career strikeouts. RF Yakup Gunduz won his eighth Gold Glove, becoming the first eight-time winner at any position.