SIMBL HALL OF FAME

AKIRO HIKARU, MICHAEL KILBANE, RICARDO CAMACHO, MICHAEL MARTIN & KENT BENNETT ELECTED TO SIMBL HALL OF FAME AS CLASS OF 2051

Controversial Candidate Carl Chaulk Shunned Again By A Few Votes For Induction From SIMBL GMs For Seventh Straight Season

OF Akiro Hikaru
2027-2049
Drafted In 2024 SIMBL Draft Round 1 Pick 5 5th Overall By Charlotte Landsharks
2027-2032 Tampa Bay Silverbacks
2033-2037 San Diego Warewolves
2038-2040 Asheville Smokies
2041-2048 Calgary Clippers
2049 Knoxville Lumberkings

.296 AVG 46 HR 1033 RBI (85th)
3294 G (3rd) 3828 H (1st) .770 OPS 92.9 WAR (3rd)
.394 OPS (12th) 12923 AB (2nd) 2216 R (1st)
4580 TB (13th) 3007 1B (1st) 666 2B (3rd) 109 3B (8th)
1470 SB (2nd) 2077 BB (1st)

Postseason:
179 G (1st) 696 AB (1st) 189 H (2nd)
127 R (1st) 243 TB (5th) 145 1B (2nd) 36 2B (1st)
6 3B (4th) 70 SB (2nd) 112 BB (2nd)

2028 SL Rookie Of The Year
13-Time All-Star
2-Time Gold Glove (2028, 2034)
2-Time Silver Slugger (2041, 2042)
2037 SLCS MVP
Led His Teams To 16 Consecutive Postseasons (2029-2044)
4-Time SIMBL Champion (2033 San Diego Warewolves, 2041-2043 Calgary Clippers)

Akiro Hikaru played baseball a long time and he played it well. Then at the age of 42, he called it a career. In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, Hikaru has been voted into the Hall of Fame, with 80.0% of ballots voting him in.

"There is so much to love about this game," the newest honoree said during his induction speech at the SIM Baseball League Baseball Hall of Fame. "I couldn't imagine anything greater than my first major league game. Then I hit my first home run. Then the other landmarks came. But nothing tops today... to think that I made it to the Hall of Fame."

One of the league's all-time most decorated players, the 13-time All-Star is the SIMBL's all-time hit king with 3828 hits with four 200-hit seasons.  He is the SIMBL's career leader in several regular season categories including hits, runs scored, singles, bases on balls and is second all-time in league history with 1470 career stolen bases.

A four-time SIMBL champion, the 2028 SL Rookie Of The Year led teams to the postseason for a SIMBL-record 16 consecutive seasons from 2029 to 2044 with Tampa Bay, San Diego, Asheville and Calgary.

The Hyuga, Japan import is also the SIMBL's career leader or in the top five career leaders in several postseason statistics including games played, hits, runs scored, singles, doubles, bases on balls and stolen bases.

Hikaru led his league in hits twice and averaged 188 hits a season for his career.  Hikaru led his league in bases on balls and on base percentage five times and in runs scored four times.  He is the SIMBL all-time leader in walks and runs scored as he had twelve seasons of scoring 100 or more runs and also had ten seasons with 100 or more bases on balls.

Not only could Hikaru hit, he was ranked among the best defensive center fielders in the league for over a decade and won two Gold Gloves spanning six seasons apart in 2028 and 2034.

The legendary center fielder and two-time Gold Glove winner put up some impressive numbers. Hikaru played in 3294 games, compiled a .296 batting average, hit 46 home runs, drove in 1033 runs and scored 2216 times during his career.

SP Michael Kilbane
2030-2049
Drafted 2029 SIMBL Draft In Round 1 Pick 1 1st Overall By Texas Roadrunners
2030-2048 Texas Roadrunners
2049 River City Rascals
2049 Ann Arbor Wolverines

266 (6th)-209 3.24 ERA 1.17 WHIP
4507.2 IP (4th) 2742 K (18th) 98.5 WAR (7th)
610 G (6th) 144 CG (2nd) 35 SHO (T-1st) 1.7 BB/9 (T-5th)
0.78 HR/9 3.2 K/BB 393 QS (5th) 64.4 QS% 23.6 CG%

Postseason:
23 GS 10-8 3.30 ERA 1.06 WHIP
172.0 IP 0.9 HR/9 2.1 BB/9 2.9 WAR 15 QS 65.2 QS%
First Player In SIMBL History To Win All Three Postseason MVP Awards
ULDS, ULCS & SIMBL CS In One Postseason In 2036 Postseason

4-Time Hurler Of The Year (2036, 2037, 2041, 2044)
11-Time All-Star
3-Time Gold Glover (2031, 2034, 2043)

Michael Kilbane was a happy-go-lucky hurler that didn't seem to take baseball too seriously. But Kilbane was good enough to chalk up 266 victories. Much to the dismay of his managers, the gifted pitcher was fond of making esoteric and philosophical observations like, "People are too hung up on winning. I can get off on a really good helmet throw."

He received 86.7% of the vote after retiring at the age of 42 after the 2050 season.

Kilbane is a four-time Hurler Of The Year Award winner and is one of four pitchers in league history to win four or more awards for being his league's best pitcher.

Whether he believed that or not, the baseball writers took his accomplishments on the mound seriously and voted him into the prestigious SIM Baseball League Hall of Fame.  Kilbane is one of only six pitchers in SIMBL history to have won 260 or more games with his 266 career wins being the 6th-most in league history.  His 35 career shutouts are tied for the most in league history while his 144 complete games are the second-most all-time.

Known as one of the best control pitchers in the history of the league, he averaged 1.7 walks and 0.78 home runs per game for his entire 20-year career.  His 393 quality starts are fifth-most all-time.  He led his league in ERA five times. Kilbane, taken #1 overall by the Texas Roadrunners in the 2029 SIMBL Draft, became the 6th #1 overall pick and third pitcher to make it from #1 overall pick to the SIMBL Hall Of Fame.  He played the first 19 seasons of his 20-year career with the Roadrunners.

Not only did Kilbane's pitching brilliance win his teams a lot of games but he was one of the best defensive starting pitchers in SIMBL history winning three Gold Glove awards over a 13-year span.

At his induction today the 11-time All-Star told the press, "I played the game for fun. That didn't mean I wasn't giving it my all. I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't given it my all."

The Fairview Park, Ohio native led Texas to the postseason seven times and was instrumental in helping the charter SIMBL franchise Roadrunners win their first and only SIMBL championship in the 2036 season.  Kilbane's 2036 postseason was historic as he became the first player to sweep the LDS, LCS and SIMBL CS MVP awards capping a season in which he won the first of his four Hurler Of The Year Awards.  He went 5-1 with a 1.94 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in seven starts and in 55.2 innings pitched in the 2036 and is one of only five pitchers to have won five games in any SIMBL postseason in the league's 46-postseason history. "Irish Mike's" 2036 postseason is remembered as one of the best all-time postseason pitching performances in SIMBL history.  Besides winning three Hurler Of The Year Awards, he came in second in the voting by SIMBL GMs two other seasons.

Kilbane won 15+ games eight seasons in his career, 17+ six times, 18+ games five times and 19 games three seasons with a career-high 21 wins once in the 2042 season when he went a career-best 21-9 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.18 WHIP

Kilbane retired at age 42 and in his superb career compiled a fine ERA of 3.24 with 266 victories and 209 defeats and held opponents to a .258 batting average. All total he pitched in 618 games and struck out 2742 batters in 4507.2 innings.

The eccentric and irreverent pitcher closed out his speech in style. "Baseball's a very simple game. All you have to do is sit on your butt, spit tobacco and nod at the stupid things your manager says."

Little wonder that none of his managers were at the Hall of Fame today.

SP Ricardo Camacho
2029-2047
Drafted In 2026 SIMBL Draft Round 1 Pick 4 4th Overall By Hawaii Pineapples
2029-2035 Hawaii Pineapples
2036-2041 New York Enforcers
2042-2045 Hawaii Pineapples
2046-2047 Bend Bandits

221-154 3.41 ERA 1.12 WHIP
3438.3 IP 2711 K 72.0 WAR
633 G 448 GS 61 CG 17 SHO 81 SV
2.1 BB/9 0.7 HR/9 3.4 K/BB 290 QS 64.7 QS 13.6 CG%

Postseason:
35 G 29 GS 13-10 3.45 ERA 1.09 WHIP 3 SV
203.2 IP 1.0 HR/9 1.7 BB/9 4.6 WAR 18 QS 62.1 QS%

2030 SL Rookie Of The Year
8-Time All-Star
1-Time Gold Glove (2043)
2030 SLCS MVP
1-Time SIMBL Champion (2039 New York Enforcers)

Ricardo Camacho was a giant among pitchers and retired at the age of 40. Today his baseball career culminated in the ultimate -- induction in the SIM Baseball League Hall of Fame.

The 19-year veteran received 73.3% of the vote in his fourth ballot attempt after retiring after the 2047 season.

"My dad told me as a kid, 'To dream big and dream always'. That's something I never forgot. It's what got me here today at the Hall of Fame."

One of his former teammates said when he introduced Camacho to the audience, "I have never seen such dedication to perfection. Anything less than perfect and he was not happy."

During his outstanding career Camacho, an eight-time All-Star, appeared in 633 games, struck out 2711 batters and walked 729 in 3438.1 innings of work. His lifetime won-lost record was 221 victories and 154 defeats. He had a 3.41 ERA, and opposing hitters batted .241 against him.

Camacho helped lead his team to the postseason eight times.  He went 13-10 with a 3.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 35 games and 203.2 innings pitched.  The #4 overall pick of the 2026 SIMBL Draft's 13 wins are tied for third-most in SIMBL postseason history.  He went 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in five starts and in 32.2 innings pitched with only 4 walks and 23 strikeouts in being a big part of the New York Enforcers winning the 2039 SIMBL Championship and making it back to the 2040 SIMBL CS during a four-season playoff run from 2038 through the 2041 season.

A model of consistency, the Puerto Rico native won 15+ games in a season eight times, 16+ games seven times, 18+ games four seasons and won a career-high 19 games in 2040 at the age of 33 years-old.  Camacho shown a forecast of a great career to come by throwing a no-hitter at the age of 22 year-old in his rookie season becoming one of the youngest players in SIMBL history to throw a no-hitter which helped him be voted the 2030 SL Rookie Of The Year.  Despite being rated as one of the best pitchers in the SIMBL for over a solid decade and being one of the most consistent pitchers in the league, Camacho never received any love from SIMBL GMs who never voted him in the top three for any Hurler Of The Year Award voting in his entire Hall Of Fame career.

Later Camacho told the audience during his installation speech, "I'm not trying to be cocky, but I set such a high standard for myself. I wasn't happy when I pitched seven innings and gave up two runs and got a win."

Dreams, dedication and strong desire combined with talent can get you to the Hall of Fame or wherever you want to go. Just ask the newest member of the Hall of Fame.

Camacho retired from baseball at the age of 40 after believing that he had nothing left to prove in the game.

SP Michael Martin
2030-2048
Drafted In 2025 SIMBL Draft Round 1 Pick 18 18th Overall By San Diego Warewolves
2030-2040 San Diego Warewolves
2041-2044 Austin Dark Horses
2045-2046 Indianapolis Rams
2047-2048 Hawaii Pineapples

270 (5th)-239 3.36 ERA 1.14 WHIP
4792.0 IP (2nd) 3443 K (6th) 131.5 WAR (1st)
645 G 631 GS (2nd) 35 SHO (T-1st) 178 CG (1st) 1.5 BB/9 (T-5th)
8.69 K/9 0.76 HR/9 4.14 K/BB 401 QS 63.5 QS% 28.2 CG%

Postseason:
24 G 13-8 3.61 ERA 1.11 WHIP
179.2 IP 1.1 HR/9 1.3 BB/9 4.3 WAR 13 QS 54.2 QS%

3-Time Hurler Of The Year (2035, 2036, 2037)
11-Time All-Star
1-Time SIMBL Champion (2033 San Diego)

The newest member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame looked impressive standing in front of the assembled crowd. The bronze plaque shined in the bright sun, gleaming from the fresh polish. "Man, that guy is handsome!" Michael Martin commented. "I never realized that I looked so good!"

He received 73.3% of the vote in his second ballot attempt after retiring from the baseball after an illustrious 19-year career ending after the 2048 season.

Martin was one of the most used workhorses in SIMBL history being second all-time with 4792 innings pitched and his 3443 career strikeouts make him one of only six pitchers with 3400 or more sit downs.  The 11-time All-Star's 35 career shutouts are tied for the most in the league's 47-year history.  Martin, who helped lead San Diego to eight postseason appearances and the 2033 SIMBL championship, had 178 complete games which are the most in SIMBL history.  His 401 career quality starts are the third-most in SIMBL history.

One of the most colorful characters in league history, Martin was also one of the league's most dominant starting pitchers. Racking up a career record of 270-239, he was a pitcher that no manager ever worried about while he was on the mound. Off the field, however...

"We always had to be careful in the locker room," one of his former managers remembered with a laugh. "If you weren't paying attention, you would fall victim to one of his infamous pranks. There was never a dull moment when this guy was around."

"I always felt that if I could bring the guys together by making them laugh, then I was doing my job on the days I wasn't pitching," Martin explained. "We play a kids' game after all, so why shouldn't we have some fun? In fact, it was probably the key to my success. I just hope the other statues in the Hall are prepared; I'm sure this guy will keep them on their toes."

Many felt that Martin could've gone on to putting up some of the best numbers for a pitcher in SIMBL history had he not left the team that drafted him and that he played his first 11 years and left via free agency to sign with Austin, Indianapolis and Hawaii, all teams that were rebuilding and fighting for respectability more than contention at the time, which severely hampered his win totals in the final eight seasons of his career.  Despite pitching for struggling franchises during the last half of his career, The Galveston, Texas native still put up very decent ERA and WHIP numbers indicating that he was more capable of more wins if he had adequate run support.

The #18 overall pick of the 2025 SIMBL Draft, Martin led his league in WAR seven times including six straight seasons between 2032 and 2037.  Martin's 131.5 career WAR is the most in SIMBL history and a very accomplished accolade considered the great pitchers in SIMBL history that he placed in front of the list.  Martin took off early in his career by displaying his excellence by throwing a no-hitter in his second season in at the tender age of 23 years-old.

Martin is one of only four pitchers to win three Hurler Of The Year Awards and one of eight to win three or more of the coveted best pitcher awards in league history.  He won the award in three straight seasons in the 2035, 2036 and 2037 seasons and is one of only three pitchers to have won the Hurler Of The Year Award in three consecutive seasons joining SIMBL Hall Of Famers Vinny Corleone, Richard Dicks Jr. and Alan Alexander Anderson.  Martin also was a top three finisher for the award voted by SIMBL GMs for the 2041 season.

He retired at the age of 42. In his outstanding career Martin appeared in 645 games, pitched 4792 innings, fanned 3443 batters, walked 831 and compiled a 3.36 ERA.

3B Kent Bennett
2030-2048
Drafted In 2027 SIMBL Draft Round 3 Pick 18 79th Overall By Westbury Cannons
2030-2042 Westbury Cannons
2043-2044 Oregon Pioneers
2045 Indianapolis Rams
2046 River City Rascals
2047-2048 Montreal Mavericks

.299 AVG (T-16th) 254 HR 1424 RBI (T-19th)
2907 G (7th) 10759 AB (8th) 3212 H (4th) 78.9 WAR (9th)
1461 R (15th) 4582 TB (17th) .384 OBP (28th) 2376 1B (3rd)
.810 OPS 556 2B (9th) 1424 (T-19th) 836 EBH (33rd)

Postseason:
59 G 223 AB .291 AVG 3 HR 23 RBI .771 OPS 1.1 WAR

1-Time Slugger Of The Year (2036)
11-Time All-Star
3-Time Silver Slugger (2041, 2042, 2043)
2-Time Gold Glove (2032, 2040)
2035 ULDS MVP
.360 AVG In 2035 3rd-Highest Single-Season

"From the first time I saw him play, I knew he had the potential to be one of the best," Kent Bennett's first manager said, "and the more I saw him play, the more certain I was that he would reach that potential."

The 19-year veteran was inducted in his third ballot attempt after retiring after the 2048 season receiving 66.7% of the votes.

He was just one of the people there at Bennett's enshrinement in the SIM Baseball League Hall of Fame. It was a celebration of the career of one of the shining stars of his generation. His former teammates loved him and opposing fans loved to hate him, but respect followed him everywhere, as evidenced by the large crowd at the ceremony. Not only were many of his former Westbury Cannons friends there, but opposing players and managers as well, along with a large throng of fans.

The 2036 UL Slugger Of The Year's 3212 career hits are fourth-most in league history and he was only one of eight players at the time to have 3000 hits in his career.  An 11-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger Award and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, he helped lead the Westbury Cannons to the 2035 SIMBL championship.

Bennett hit .349 with 1 HR 12 RBI and a .945 OOPS in 18 games and and 63 AB during his first of six career postseasons in 2035 in which he won the 2035 ULDS MVP en route to leading Westbury to their first SIMBL championship in franchise history.

The Queens, New York native was a four-time league batting champion, led his league in on base percentage three times, OPS twice and WAR twice including a 9.6 WAR in his 2036 MVP season which is tied for 9th-best in a single-season in the SIMBL New File Era (2019-current).

Never known for prototypical splashy power slugger statistics, one of the best hitters in SIMBL history and more of a pure hitter than an overall slugger, Bennett was consistently in the top ten in several categories for several seasons and also posts in the top ten in several career categories including third all-time in career singles as 2376 of his 3212 total career hits were singles which rank third all-time in SIMBL history.

The third round pick and 79th overall pick in the 2027 SIMBL Draft led his league in batting average four times with his .360 clip in his 2036 MVP season being the third-highest in SIMBL history for a single-season.  He had eight .300 seasons in his career including five straight from 2033 to 2037.

After finishing second in UL Slugger Of The Year MVP voting in the 2035 season when he hit .330 with 15 HR 110 RBI and led his league in batting average and on base percentage, the seven-year veteran at the time then was voted the 2036 UL Slugger Of The Year MVP the following season when he hit .360 with 26 HR 101 RBI and led the UL with a 455 OBP and posted one of the few 1.000 OPS seasons in league history leading the SIMBL with a 1.030 OPS. The 19-year veteran also was voted in the top three in UL MVP voting later in his career finishing second in 2041.

The man of the moment was overcome with emotion when he finally took his turn at the podium to speak. "This is one of the greatest moments of my life and to share it with all of you here is...simply amazing. I would just like to thank my family and all my teammates for their support during my journey here. Individual honor was never my goal, winning was, but this is more than I could have ever dreamed."

Bennett retired at the age of 39 with a .299 career batting average. He mainly played third baseman, participated in 2907 games, hit 254 home runs and batted in 1424 runs.

2051 SIMBL HALL OF FAME VOTING RESULTS: