Prem League Number Retirements

With Russell Westbrook’s recent jersey retirement in OKC let’s take a look at potential number retirements in the CBA’s Premiership.

 

Los Angeles Chilis

C Jordan Olguin 21

If number retirements were strictly about stats then this pick would be Abe Caputo the only problem is no one likes the dude. Management doesn’t like him, clubhouse attendants around the league say he is one of the worst players to work for. He is also a pretty bad teammate with some calling him moody and stand-off-ish. So instead the pick is the Cowboy. Yes it is tough to picture Olguin in anything other than a Royals uniform being the franchise’s first ever selection. He led them to promotion then was dealt before he could play a game at the top level. Now after 3 seasons leading the young Chilis out of the BL he is finally back and he couldn’t be more excited to finally play in the Premiership. Winning 4 Surge awards in his five seasons Olguin is still one of the best offensive catchers in the league at the age of 35. He is 3rd All time for LA in both RBIs and HRs he also has a .297 career average for LA. But he will most be remembered for what a brought when he came from Cincy and that was legitimacy. He was the first bonafide star for the franchise and for that his 21 should be hung up when he is done.

 

Denver Wolves

SS Bob Pisano 5

Remember this the first number, Rake Rayos is only 28 he has some time. Mike Becklin hasn’t been the same player for about 3 years now so that leaves us with Pisano. The Wolves SS has been a mainstay in the lineup for the Wolves entire existence. Slashing .300/.354/.427 career. He leads the club all time in G, GS, SB. He is second in H, 2B and 3rd in Runs. While he brings the bat to work everyday it’s his glove that Pisano is really known league wide for. He has logged over 5500 innings at short , with a career fielding percentage of .972 a range factor of 4.36 and a ZR +22.6, but his crown jewel is his 1.027 efficiency career at short. Year in year out and day in day out Pisano has been and continues to be one of the most consistent players on the field and in the batter’s box. I think in the end the result will be his number won’t be worn by anyone else.

 

Chicago Gale

LF Rory Blas 16

You wouldn’t think Chicago would be so tough to pick. The team that won the first ever season must have some stars with some staying power. Not so fast, much of that roster has been deconstructed. No starter is the same from the first season. With SP Juan Vargas being traded a season ago, that was the last regularly contributing piece left on the roster in an everyday role. So with all that turnover, longevity as well as production factor into my choice of Rory Blas. Blas is the Gales all time leader in G,GS,H,2B,BB,OBP*,and WAR. No Blas isn’t a power threat his career high in HR on a season is 5 but that isn’t his role.He smacks the ball all over the place and doesn’t swing unless it is a strike. One of the most patient hitters in CBA history. Every season in which he has been at least a platoon starter he has had 100 hits. Missing 3 months a year ago with a Bone Marrow Edema in his knee and a torn ligament in his thumb his production dropped as did Chicago’s success. But he came back to help keep Chicago in the PL going 3-9 with 4 walks and hitting his only HR of the entire year in the relegation series. He’s an emotional leader as well as one who leads by example. Known league wide for his legendary work ethic he is a guy that young players look up to. So whenever Slouch decides to retire he will immediately be missed in the Windy City.

 

Cincinnati Royals

SP Brad Limbach 94

Andy Baca is only 30, Limbach will retire first and I think he deserves to be honored in Cincy. He is the Franchise leader in GS,W,CG,SHO,IP,SO, as well has games pitched as a starter. He spent 4 years at the top of that rotation and during that time he spent a whole 3 days injured during that entire period. Didn’t ever miss a start was ready to go every time his name was called. Heck he even has the SL pitcher of the year named after him after winning it in its inaugural season. We also haven’t even talked about his off the field accolades, he was the leader of the Royals clubhouse from day one. Known for his offseason workout routine as well as his many visits to the children’s hospital in Cincy,  on top of that he runs offseason youth camps in his hometown of Mission Viejo. He was and continues to be the consummate professional in Portland. He will be 33 to start the season and shows no signs of slowing down. But whenever he does his number 94 will be retired in the Queen City.

 

Miami Warriors

SP Seth Paddock 14

Miami is one of the youngest teams in the CBA aka no one who helped build this franchise is retiring anytime soon. The one guy who totally changed Miami though was Seth Paddock, taken 2nd overall out of LSU he was ready to go. But management wanted to take it slow, after 6 starts in the minors they couldn’t wait any longer Paddock got the call up to the Big Club and never looked back. Helping to earn his team 2 promotions in 4 season as well as winning pitcher of the year awards in both the Silver and Bronze Leagues respectively. You can look back at Miami’s history and Paddock’s emergence is a direct correlation to their success. He is the Franchise leader in GS,CG,SHO,IP,K,W, and starter ERA. The man is an animal and is just starting to get his footing in the PL. His numbers are even more impressive when you remember just how hitter friendly of a park he pitches in. At only 26 I’m not saying his career will end anytime soon but whenever it does his number will retire with him.

 

Florida Giants

SP Craig Meister 97

For the Giants it comes down to two players, 2B Ramon Rangel and Mr. Meister. Craig is 35 so he gets the nod. But this isn’t one of those times when I just picked an older half decent player. Meister has been dominant at times during his 5 years in Florida. His numbers look a little inflated compared to other dominant starters of the time but I chalk that up to Florida’s less than stellar defense. He leads the Franchise in GS,W, and IP. Relying on a nasty Cutter/Slider combo to induce groundballs. Meister seems to have a huge year every other year so if that pattern continues this year he is due for a down year. But if he can put together another season like he did a year ago then I think he will cement himself in Florida Giants history. Having only missed 1 start due to injury in his entire career expect Meister to start around 28 games again this year and play a big role for the dark horse contender Giants.

 

Arizona Thunderbirds

3B Jimmy Bloomfield 3

Name 5 Players for Arizona not named Abel Kennedy or Chris Abbott I’ll wait… Yep I couldn’t either. Arizona has quietly never even been to a relegation series and Jimmy Bloomfield is a big reason why, when he is healthy that is. The 36 year old they call “Blackjack” is one of the better CBA players you haven’t heard of. He has a career slash line of .300/.366/.442 he has a career WAR of 14.1. He has walked more than he has struck out 188/166. He is also the Franchise’s leader in both 2 and 3 baggers. As he has gotten older his fielding has declined except for the cannon he has for a right arm. Boasting one of the best arms the league as ever seen and what used to be a slick glove to match Bloomfield dazzled in the desert at the hot corner for the Thunderbirds for multiple years. Then the injuries hit causing him to miss 2 months in 2024 and 2026 respectively. Now that he is once again fully healthy and possessing one of the best work ethics in the league Bloomfield looks ready to contribute again every day this year. Furthering his case for the retiring of his number 3 when he is done.

 

DC Eagles

1B Jon Wagner 3

This pick is easy, “Moondog” is the face of the Eagles and always has been. Seemingly always on the loan market in the beginning. Wagner weathered the storm that was the first two seasons of DC baseball in the CBA, but boy has he reaped the rewards of his patience. Being an integral part of an Eagles team that earned promotion in back to back years. He is the consummate professional moving from 2B to 1B when management asked, Wagner said about the move at the time, “I’d sell hot dogs if they asked me to” provin that fact Wagner even caught for the first time since HS in 2023 when the Eagles found themselves in need of an emergency replacement. DC’s All Time leader in G,GS,R,H,3B,SB,BB,OBP and WAR. The recipient of both a DDD award as well as a Surge award at two different positions. Wagner is the most beloved Sports Star in Washington since 2 time Stanley Cup Winner Alex Ovechkin. At 31 years of age Moondog still has some spring in those legs and the move to first should allow him to play even longer but whenever the end comes that #3 shouldn’t be worn again.

 

Dallas Devils

SP Keith Bush 99

The only reason this isn’t Adam Borne is because Bush retired this past offseason and Borne is still going. Eventually both of these great players will have their numbers retired in Dallas but Bush will come first. Keith Bush was the best pitcher the CBA has ever seen. Over a 3 year stretch his line is as follows, 60-17, 2.91 ERA, 689 IP, 758 K, 239 BB, 19.2 WAR won 2 pitcher of the year awards which are named in his honor. At the top of his game  he was the best pitcher to ever reside in the CBA, anyone who argues otherwise borders on being laughed out of the conversation. He is Dallas’ All Time leader in W,ERA,GS,SHO,IP,SO, and WAR. The problem is he probably played one year too long. Some of these records may be broken depending on how much longer Chris House can be dominant but that shouldn’t take away from what Bush did. If this was what he was like at ages 33+ I can’t imagine what is numbers would be if he had another 10 years in front of that. I for one am happy he exercised his playoff demons in 2024 because now there isn’t much of an argument against his eventual HoF induction and his number retirement to boot.

 

Detroit Motors

SP Hector Tovar 4

Yes I know this isn’t the sexiest pick, but Detroit built young from the start so most if not all of the household names still have many many years left. The elder statesman of the group is the 34 year old Tovar. He came to the Motor City in one of the sneaky best trades ever just months into the CBA’s history. In Detroit’s 3 Championship season’s Tovar has been an extremely important and consistent piece towards the front end of Detroit’s rotation. He is the Franchise leader in W,GS,IP,SO and WAR. Doing this all for the best team in the CBA. The Motors rotation has been a revolving door of sorts with names like Kman,Steckel,Piatt, Guzman, Golden etc. floating in and out due to either trade or injury but Tovar has been a constant. The Venezuelan national is very popular locally and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. He does have a DDD award in the trophy case next to his three rings, and someday a jersey retirement awaits him as well.