SIMBL HALL OF FAME

HUE HENDERSON, KEITH PATTERSON, CHRIS ROSS, BOBBY PAPESH & LUIS FRANCO ELECTED AS CLASS OF 2047 INTO SIMBL HALL OF FAME

After voting in only two players in the past three seasons, five new entries (Hue Henderson, Bobby Papesh, Keith Patterson, Chris Ross and Luis Franco) will be added by SIMBL GMs as the Class of 2047 into the SIMBL Hall Of Fame.

The SIMBL First File Era's Luis Franco (above) was the most dominating shortstop of the First File Era and retired in second-place all-time with 374 home runs which ranked second to Daryl Ryles' 561 blasts in the 14-season First File Era.  Franco played in 11 SIMBL seasons from 2005 to 2015 and posted 100 RBI seasons in every season of his career besides his rookie season when he drove in 91 runs in 2005.  Franco was a nine-time All-Star and was voted the UL Slugger Of The Year in 2007 when he hit .323 with 44 HR and 116 RBI for the Toronto Rush in the SIMBL's third season of play.

1B Hue Henderson
2029-2045
Drafted 2024 SIMBL Draft Round 1 Pick 25 25th Overall By Calgary Clippers
2029-2044 Calgary Clippers
2045 Toronto Rush

.270 AVG 511 HR 1540 RBI
2336 G 2460 H .822 OPS 38.3 WAR
2034 UL Slugger Of The Year 2038 UL Slugger Of The Year
2031 UL Rookie Of The Year
2033 & 2035 Gold Glove
2040 & 2042 Silver Slugger Award
8-Time All-Star
4-Time SIMBL Champion

One of the best players ever, first baseman Hue Henderson, has received the ultimate honor for a baseball player -- being inducted into the SIM Baseball League Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony, which was held today, included tributes from his former teammates. One of them recognized his unparalleled work ethic, another his "naturally pure" swing, and yet another, his love for the game.

Henderson received numerous awards during his playing days, but he said nothing can compare to being enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

In a career spanning 2336 games, Henderson batted .270 with 2460 hits, 511 home runs, 1540 RBIs and 1269 runs scored.

He retired in 2046. He was elected to the Hall on his 1st try, with 73.7% of the vote.

SP/RP/CL Keith Patterson
2024-2045
Drafted 2022 SIMBL Draft Round 1 Pick 15 15th Overall By Whitby Battalion
2024-2033 Whitby Battalion
2034-2040 Westbury Cannons
2040-2045 Calgary Clippers

1047 G 3385.1 IP
215-151 3.15 ERA 1.12 WHIP 2835 K 282 SV
2025 UL Fireman Of The Year 2029 UL Fireman Of The Year
2035 UL Hurler Of The Year
2042 UL Middle Reliever Of The Year
2039 UL Gold Glove
13-Time All-Star
5-Time SIMBL Champion

Only Pitcher In SIMBL History To:
Win 200 Games & Save 200 Games
Win Hurler Of The Year, Middle Reliever Of The Year & Fireman Of The Year Awards

Another pitcher was inducted into the SIM Baseball League Hall of Fame today, but this time it wasn't a starting pitcher. Instead, Keith Patterson proved that relievers were worth such a distinction for a career that spanned 1047 appearances. His dominating presence led to 282 saves and a 3.15 ERA, while he struck out 2835 in his 3385.1 innings. During his career Patterson also chalked up a 215-151 record.

"A lot of people think that relievers aren't important enough to be considered Hall of Fame material," the bullpen ace said during his speech. "But my teammates knew differently. All the starters loved having me come in after one of their good performances because they knew they'd get a win that day. I'm just glad that there are other people that agree with them."

Keith Patterson ended his career at the age of 43.

CL Chris Ross
2022-2045
Drafted 2020 SIMBL Draft Supplemental Round Pick 9 35th Overall By Calgary Clippers
2022-2039 Knoxville Lumberkings
2040-2041 Westbury Cannons
2042-2043 Sacramento Giants
2044 Tampa Bay Silverbacks
2045 Montreal Mavericks
2045 Boston Revolution

1386 G 1517.2 IP 2.67 ERA 1.20 WHIP
652 SV (3rd) 88.9 SV%
2027 SL Fireman Of The Year
17-Time All-Star (SIMBL Record)

Chris Ross joined SIM Baseball League's Hall of Fame today. The overpowering reliever relied on 652 career saves and a lifetime ERA of 2.67 to secure his induction.

"Relievers are an important part of the game," Ross said in his induction speech. "We might only get a couple, three outs a game, but they're usually when the game is on the line."

In his career Ross registered a 111-120 mark and struck out 1535 in 1517.2 innings while appearing in 1386 games.

He retired from baseball at the age of 43.

OF Bobby Papesh
2026-2045
Drafted 2023 SIMBL Draft Round 1 Pick 10 10th Overall By Oregon Pioneers
2026-2040 Oregon Pioneers
2041 Boston Revolution
2042 Tampa Bay Silverbacks
2043-2045 Knoxville Lumberkings

.282 AVG 553 HR 1730 RBI
2714 G 2955 H .856 OPS 88.9 WAR
2035 UL Slugger Of The Year
9-Time All-Star
2-Time Silver Slugger
2040 ULDS MVP

What a career and what a ballplayer.

Bobby Papesh truly was one of the best to play the game, and today he was enshrined into the SIM Baseball League Hall of Fame with 89.5% of writer's ballot votes.

"It is an honor to be mentioned with the greatest players of all time. I want to thank my family, friends and teammates for supporting me throughout this long career," the outstanding left fielder said at the induction ceremony.

In his career, Papesh played in 2759 games with a .282 lifetime batting average. Among his 2955 hits were 541 doubles, 39 triples and 553 home runs. He also scored 1577 runs and drove in 1730 runs.

Bobby Papesh retired from baseball at the age of 43 in 2047.

SS Luis Franco
2005-2015
2005-2007 Toronto Rush
2008-2015 Brooklyn Cyclones-New Orleans Notes

.276 AVG 364 HR (2nd All-Time At Time Of Retirement) 1189 RBI
1725 G 1715 H .888 OPS
2007 UL Slugger Of The Year
4-Time All-SIMBL Team
3-Time All-Star
3-Time Gold Glove Award

2047 SIMBL HALL OF FAME VOTING RESULTS

The full voting results are included here. Players require 66% of ballots cast to be elected to the Hall, may stay on the ballot for up to 10 years if they receive at least 0% of the votes. Players must be retired before they are eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame.

LF Bobby Papesh 89.5 (1st year) Inducted HOF
CL Chris Ross 84.2 (2nd year) Inducted HOF
CL Keith Patterson 73.7 (1st year) Inducted HOF
1B Hue Henderson 73.7 (1st year) Inducted HOF
CL Steven Pfleuger 63.2 (5th year)
SP Manuel Cabrera 63.2 (1st year)
SP Jimmy Wagner 63.2 (1st year)
3B Carl Chaulk 52.6 (3rd year)
SP Francisco Martinez 52.6 (3rd year)
CL Juan Carlos Bermudez 52.6 (7th year)
SP Casey Barker 47.4 (4th year)
CL Otto Orf 42.1 (1st year)
C Joe Gibbs 42.1 (5th year)
LF Logan Pickard 36.8 (1st year)
SP Brock Vinci 36.8 (2nd year)
1B Cody Taylor 31.6 (2nd year)
1B Marcos Guerrero 26.3 (3rd year)
3B Ramiro Sanchez 26.3 (1st year)
RF Octavio Abreu 26.3 (2nd year)
2B Tad Jackson 21.1 (3rd year)
SS Michael Caldwell 21.1 (3rd year)
C Steven Dawson 15.8 (4th year)
LF Kody Ware 10.5 (7th year)
RF Joe Hayes 10.5 (7th year)
CL Scott Williams 10.5 (8th year)
CL Santiago Rivera 10.5 (2nd year)
SP Bartolo Carrasco 10.5 (1st year)
1B Jake Albert 10.5 (3rd year)
SP Pierce Ryan 10.5 (1st year)
SP Kelly Hoskinson 10.5 (1st year)
CF Lance Stanley III 10.5 (7th year)
SP Fernando Martinez 10.5 (5th year)
CF Josh Robertson 5.3 (1st year)
LF Brady Underwood 5.3 (4th year)
RF Michael Blackwell 5.3 (4th year)
CF Willard Rivard 5.3 (1st year)
RF Richard Jackson 5.3 (1st year)
SS Gran Moulder 5.3 (5th year)
1B Jon LaMontanage 5.3 (6th year)
CF T.J. Rose 5.3 (1st year)
CF Manny Foster 5.3 (4th year)
1B Juan Santos 5.3 (4th year)
SP Sammy Flynn 5.3 (6th year)
2B Dante Dawson 5.3 (7th year)
SP Ross Brooks 5.3 (8th year)
CL Jim Bentley 5.3 (7th year)
SS Victor Cruz 5.3 (5th year)

No other players received a vote.