Induction Class of 2013

Barry Lamar Bonds
Born: July 24, 1964
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Played For: Texas Tortillas (2002-2003), Oakland Diamond Kings (2004-2007), St. Louis Red Birds (2008)
Elected to the SPIBL Hall of Fame by Members: 2013 (First year on ballot)

Biography:

Barry Bonds was the first player drafted in SPIBL league history (at the age of 36), and became the most dominant player of his era. Bonds displayed his mastery of the art of hitting by belting a (then) lifetime total of 314 home runs while compiling a lifetime .332 batting average. Bonds' lifetime on-base percentage of .502 will likely never be surpassed, and his single season marks of 82 home runs, 190 runs, 168 RBIs, and 217 walks are still the single-season benchmarks. Bonds won 4 Most Valuable Player awards and made 4 All-Star Games during his illustrious career.

Induction Class of 2014

Randall David Johnson
Born: September 10, 1963
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Played For: Seattle Pilots (2002), Texas Tortillas (2002), Baltimore Stars (2003-2005), Kansas City Monarchs (2006), Baltimore Stars (2007-2010)
Elected to the SPIBL Hall of Fame by Members: 2014 (First year on ballot)

Biography:

Randy Johnson was an extremely intense competitor with complete dedication to excellence.  He thrived on the mound by physically intimidating hitters with his giant stature and tremendous velocity and command.  His out-pitch, a hard, biting slider, complemented a superb fastball.  He won 120 games over his 9 year career, and his 1716 career strikeouts were best all-time at the time of his retirement.  "The Big Unit" notched three 20-win seasons, three seasons with 300 or more strikeouts, and was the first pitcher to win three Cy Young Awards.

William Roger Clemens
Born: August 4, 1962
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Played For: Baltimore Stars (2002-2004), Seattle Iron Birds (2005), Toronto Sharpshooters (2006-2009)
Elected to the SPIBL Hall of Fame by Members: 2014 (Second year on ballot)

Biography:

Roger Clemens was a consummate "winner" on the field and one of the most clutch pitchers in SPIBL history.  He won five World Series championships during his career, including four straight with Toronto.  Stirred controversy in the 2007 World Series by pitching out of the bullpen for Toronto, winning two out of the five games he appeared in during a six game series despite not having made a single relief appearance during the regular season, and leading to an off-season rule change.  Clemens was constantly able to get under the skin of his arch rival, St. Louis manager Whitey Herzog, and Clemens bested the Red Birds in many divisional matchups over the years.  He struck out 200 or more batters in five consecutive seasons, and won 12 or more games every season of his career.

Induction Class of 2015

Pedro Jaime Martinez
Born: October 25, 1971
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Played For: Detroit Fusion (2002-2004), Chicago Blue Knights (2005-2008), St. Louis Redbirds (2009-2010)
Elected to the SPIBL Hall of Fame by Members: 2015 (First year on ballot)

Biography:

In an era marked by outrageous offensive statistics, Pedro Martinez dominated from the pitcher's mound like few others in SPIBL history. A fiery competitor, Martinez won 101 games in 189 career starts, and compiled a lifetime earned run average that was almost a run and a half less than the league average. He struck out 200 batters in 5 straight seasons, and won 20 games twice. Martinez' finest season was on 2006, when he won 27 games, held opposing batters to a .193 average, and compiled a 2.48 earned run average, which was nearly two runs below the league average in a Cy Young winning season.

Gary Antonian Sheffield
Born: November 18, 1968
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Played For: Los Angeles Skyhawks (2002), Seattle Pilots (2002-2003), Florida Silencers (2003), Chicago Holy-Cows (2004), Pittsburgh Conspiracy (2005), Seattle Iron Birds (2006-2007), Boston Blizzards (2008-2010)
Elected to the SPIBL Hall of Fame by Members: 2015 (Second year on ballot)

Biography:

Gary Sheffield was the prototypical "mercenary" hitter, who parlayed a string of strong seasons for different teams into a SPIBL Hall of Fame career.  Sheffield played for 7 teams over parts of 9 seasons and put up a career slash line of .296/.394/.525.  He hit 25 or more home runs five times.  Sheffield's career numbers are even more impressive considering the fact that he played the majority of his home games in historically "pitchers'" parks.

John Andrew Smoltz
Born: May 15, 1967
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Played For: Florida Silencers (2002), Baltimore Stars (2003-2005), Los Angeles Skyhawks (2006-2007),
San Diego Black Sox (2008), Los Angeles Skyhawks (2008-2009), Baltimore Stars (2010)
Elected to the SPIBL Hall of Fame by Members: 2015 (First year on ballot)

Biography:

John Smoltz enjoyed a remarkable SPIBL career, and transitioned from one of the most feared closers in league history to a durable starting pitcher.  Smoltz is the only pitcher in league history to win 20 and save 50 games in a single season.  Smoltz led the Baltimore Stars to their first SPIBL World Series championship in 2003, saving 56 games and compiling a 1.04 earned run average.  He followed that up with an even more incredible 2004 season, saving 59 games with a 0.95 earned run average.  Smoltz was traded to the Los Angeles Skyhawks, transitioned to a starting pitcher, and immediately paid dividends by winning 15 games and earning a Gold Glove award.  The next year, he won 23 games and struck out 239 batters.  He finished his career with 72 wins and 170 saves.

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