The Hawaii Lei of Honor
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 5:16 pm
Marquise Futon was drafted in the 2nd round of the draft by the Honolulu Typhoon (Hawaii Tropics) in 1973. He recorded his first BBA hit off of Ricky Vaughn of the Valencia Stars on April 1, 1973. He hit his first homer off of Gerald Benson (VAL) on April 3, 1973.
Futon finished that season with 217 hits, 46 doubles, 11 triples, 22 homers, 89 RBI and 110 runs scored to help lead Honolulu to the first Landis Series Championship.
Futon played three and half more seasons with Honolulu before being traded to the first incarnation of the Phoenix Talons (Yellow Springs Nine).
Futon finished his Honolulu/Hawaii career with 686 games played with 820 hits, a .312 BA with 99 homers and 360 RBI. He posted 18.7 WAR from 1973 to 1976.
Futon finished his BBA career with 1791 hits, 401 doubles, 70 triples, 205 homers, 818 RBI and scored 896 runs. He had a 38 career WAR and was inducted in the BBA Hall of Fame in 1996.
Roy Hobbs, Jr, was drafted in the first round (7th overall) by the Honolulu Typhoon (Hawaii Tropics) in 1973. Hobbs earned his first win on April 1st, 1973 against the Valencia Stars.
Hobbs, Jr. finished the 1973 season 15-10 with 241 IP a 3.39 ERA and 300 Ks to also help lead Honolulu to the first Landis Championship.
Hobbs, Jr. pitched his first no hitter against the Valencia Stars on July 7th, 1974 striking out 12 batters.
Roy Hobbs, Jr was traded to the Montreal Blazers on July 11th, 1977 in exchange for five pitchers.
Hobbs played for the Blazers until Honolulu in 1982 for his final season. He finished his career with Honolulu/Hawaii with a record of 85-70 and a 3.18 ERA while striking out 1697 batters. He posted a 47.6 WAR.
Combined with Montreal, Hobbs, Jr. finished 177-115 with a 2.95 ERA and 3,156 Ks, a WAR of 95.1 and two no hitters. Hobbs was inducted into the BBA Hall of Fame in 1996. He was a winner of the 1978 Johnson League Steve Nebraska Golden Arm Award.