Kevin Appier
‘Apes’
Detroit Tigers; Kansas City Royals; Minnesota Twins; Pittsburgh Pirates; Seattle Mariners; Cleveland Indians; Florida Marlins; San Diego Padres; Anaheim Angels EJMA 1990-2004
2008 Hall of Fame Class
Robert Kevin Appier becomes the EJMA’s equivalent of Christy Mathewson & Walter Johnson as the first pitcher to be inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame. He spent the prime of his career as the ace of Brian Feig’s Tigers and later the Royals pitching staffs. It was with Feig’s Detroit Tigers that Appier locked up two Cy Young’s becoming the first hurler to win multiple Cy awards (later joined by Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana). In both Cy seasons, Appier tallied 21 wins. He notched a career-best 2.50 ERA in 1992, and finished second in the league in ERA twice. A prototype workhorse, he is third all-time in wins with 183 and fourth in innings to go with 127 complete games. His 2,108 strikeouts rank 7th in league history.
"It is some kind of weird. I'm like an old dog around here. I've never been through anything like this before, but I'm excited."
--Kevin Appier
Jeff Bagwell
‘Bagpipes’
Houston Astros; Philadelphia Phillies
EJMA 1992-2006
2008 Hall of Fame Class
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell was a two-time MVP (1995, 1997) winner during his prolific tenure with the Houston Astros. He drove in 190 runs, led the league in runs scored and won the batting title in 2000, and drove in 183 in ’95, two of the top run-producing seasons in history. He was the second player to top 60 home runs when he finished second to Matt Williams in 1995, the same season he hit .366. While his official EJMA stats reflect only 297 career home runs, which proved to be more than enough to sway voters, his actual career total is well over 400, and likely close to 500. Records indicate Bags has at least 358 but that only covers nine seasons including 61 (’95), 31 (’97), 48 (’98), 29 (’99), 59 (’00), 37 (’01), 30 (’03), 32 (’04) and 31 (’05) in his last hurrah, a year split between Houston and Philadelphia. Bagwell's all-time OBP and OPS (.963) are among the league's best. His career average is .295.
"I'm a professional ballplayer and what I see as my responsibility is to be ready to, play. All the rest of that stuff, being a star or whatever, is never something I've been interested in."
--Jeff Bagwell
San Diego Padres; Atlanta Braves, EJMA 1988-2002
2006 Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Tony Gwynn spent the majority of his career starring for the Atlanta Braves. His astounding .424 average in 1995 stands as the best hitting performance in EJMA history. He nearly matched that mark three years later by hitting .422. He also established the single-season hits record (269) in ’95. His .361 effort in 1997 was good for second in the league. While his all-time numbers aren’t nearly a complete profile of what he actually accomplished in the league, Gwynn was an annual batting title threat and officially retired with a .366 average, another EJMA record.
Rickey Henley Henderson
Henderson spent his entire EJMA career in the same organization, and as the leadoff hitter for the duration of that time, he established the all-time record for stolen bases (804) after becoming the first player to steal over 100 bases (1989, 1990) in a season. He also is the league’s career leader in walks, his specialty, and second in runs scored. He collected more than 1,600 hits, though his average (.259) suffered from a couple of very sub-par years in the ‘90s, but the name of his game was getting on base (.380) frequently. As Henderson went, so did his team. He drew more than 100 walks in a season four times. His two finest seasons were 1991 (.325/.427/.562 with a career-high 25 HR and 69 SB), when he led the Yankees to their first playoff berth, and for the Marlins 109-win season in 2000 (.338/.441/.490 with 41 2B and 115 R).
Bill James was once asked if he thought Rickey Henderson was a Hall of Famer. James' reply: "If you could split him in two, you'd have two Hall of Famers."
Orel Hershiser
Orel Hershiser, also known as the “Bulldog,” pitched in the EJMA from 1988-1999, the entire time for the Seattle Mariners. Originally drafted in the first round of the 1988 dispersal draft, Hershiser had a record of 135-82, with 59 complete games and 12 shutouts. He also had 1235 strikeouts in 2001 innings pitched. His best years were in 1989, when he won a career-high 22 games with an ERA of 2.95, and in 1994, with a 2.60 ERA (and he struck out a career high 170) and in 1992, with a 3.16 ERA. He pitched the Mariners to the EJMA Championship in 1989, and played an integral part in the championships of 1990 and 1991.
Edwin N. Januszkiewicz (d. 1987)
"Ed"
Edwin N. Januskiewicz was the original founder of the EJMA. He named the league the Babe Ruth Hot Stove League and served as its first Commissioner. After organizing the league, he tragically died during an emergency appendectomy in the summer of 1987. The league is named after his memory and his love both of simulation gaming and of baseball in general.
Larry Walker
Houston Astros; Cincinnati Reds; Boston Red Sox; Kansas City Royals; San Diego Padres
EJMA 1990-2006
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker tormented the league in the heart of the Houston Astros lineup in the mid-1990s, forming one of the EJMA’s most potent offenses along with fellow 2008 Inductee Jeff Bagwell, and future Hall candidates Roberto Alomar, Kenny Lofton and Craig Biggio. Injuries slowed Walker in the end, but not enough to stop him from stroking an all-time high 518 doubles over his brilliant career. He was a regular MVP finalist, and claimed the award in 1998 when he made a run at the Triple Crown. He won the batting title in 2000 by hitting .387. His career .564 slugging and .953 OPS rank among the best in history.
"Hockey was my favourite sport when I was a kid. I dreamed of playing in the NHL. But I made it to Major League Baseball and had a pretty good career. It's a great honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame."
--Larry Walker
Kirby Puckett
A constant in the middle of the Twins lineup throughout his career, Puckett collected 1,580 hits and finished with a .309 average. Always a steady producer at the plate, he also played Gold Glove caliber defense in center field. He led the Twins to their only World Series title in 1995. A perennial all-star performer, he led the league in hits twice-(242 in 1989 and 246 in 1993), and paced the league in doubles three times. Glaucoma in his right eye ended his career at the age of 35 and prevented him from adding onto his impressive EJMA resume.
“Don't take anything for granted, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us.”—Kirby Puckett (March 14, 1960 – March 6, 2006)
Robert D. Manduchi (1933-1988)
"Bob"
Robert Manduchi served as Co-Commissioner after Ed Januszkiewicz’s death in 1987, and played the most important role in maintaining the league after Januszkiewicz’s death. He is responsible for continuing the league during those trying times. He tragically lost his life in a domestic dispute during the league’s first dispersal draft. The league championship is named in his memory.
We were honored to have his granddaughter, Charlene, contact us about Bob. This is what she wrote:
I came across your website, noticed that you knew my grandfather. The man who loved the game. It seems baseball was always on his TV screen. Although if we were too loud he would go out to watch the game. My name is Charlene, his daughter Dawn's child. I have to say it is very honorable you give a trophy in his name. I know he would be honored.
I am trying to trace back his family tree...but you know, never realized that it would be so difficult. If any of you knew him or is family well, please give me any information. I would really appreciate it.
You guys weren't the only one trying to reach him on the day he was killed, my sister and I were. We were playing ball not to far from his house and wanted him to go. Thank you for you thoughts of him, it means a lot to those who know and love him dearly.
W. Aaron Peck
Jim Thome
2016 Hall of Fame Class
Jim Thome had a long and productive career and did it all as a member of the Brewers. He is among the all time leaders in many offensive categories. His 623 HR's are 3rd all time, 1680 runs 4th all time, 1740 RBI's are 6th all time, and he is 1st all time in BB's. Thome finished with a .956 career OPS, good for 9th all time. Thome helped lead the Brewers to three WS Championships and was one of the most feared LH power bats in the EJMA throughout his career. Jim played his entire 20+ years EJMA career with the Brewers.