JapanBall

11/05/2024

Congratulations to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on winning the 2024 Japan Series!

It was one of the most improbable Cinderella runs in NPB history as they took down the defending champion Hanshin Tigers on the road, the pennant-winning Yomiuri Giants on the road, and the mighty SoftBank Hawks after falling behind 2-0.

It’s their first title since 1998 and just their third in franchise history. They’re the first three-seed to win in the playoffs since the 2010 Lotte Marines.

Foreign players going home with a championship include Tyler Austin, Mike Ford, Andre Jackson, Anthony Kay, Rowan Wick, and J.B. Wendelken.

11/04/2024

NPB Newsletter: The Yokohama DeNA BayStars shock the baseball world!

Read about their improbable Japan Series run 👇

Discover the highlights of another exciting week of Japanese baseball. Find out which players shined and which teams excelled this week.

11/01/2024

🇯🇵⚾️ Japanese Players in MLB Postseason!

Ohtani, Yamamoto help lift Dodgers to World Series title

Discover the impact of Japanese players in the MLB playoffs. Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, and more made significant contributions to their teams.

10/28/2024

NPB Newsletter: 2 Down, 2 To Go for SoftBank Hawks in Japan Series!

Discover the highlights of another exciting week of Japanese baseball. Find out which players shined and which teams excelled this week.

10/25/2024

Experience the best of Japan’s southern islands next spring with NPB and KBO Spring Training! Visit Okinawa and Miyazaki for tropical beaches, rich culture, and local cuisine, combined with up-close baseball action.

Watch workouts, attend games, and enjoy special fan opportunities like autographs and photos. Beyond baseball, join cultural activities like glass-blowing and sweets-making, plus visit famous museums and parks. Korean Baseball Organization teams will also be there! Check out our 2024 tour recap for a glimpse of what to expect!

February 18 to March 4, 2025: https://japanball.com/baseball-tours/japan/npb-kbo-spring-training/

10/24/2024

JapanBall's Leon DeHaven remembers the late Fernando Valenzuela

JapanBall Hall of Famer Leon DeHaven pays tribute to the late Fernando Valenzuela. Read our profile of Leon: https://japanball.com/articles-features/internat...

10/23/2024

RIP Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers Mexican pitching sensation.

Before Nomo Mania, there was . His 1981 campaign remains among the most decorated pitching seasons of all-time as he was the National League Rookie of the Year, the NL Cy Young Award winner, and a World Series champion.

This season, S***a Imanaga became only the second pitcher in the last 70 years to post an ERA of 0.80 or lower in his first six career starts, joining, of course, Valenzuela.

10/22/2024

Happy 51st birthday to the world hit leader, Ichiro!

A true symbol of dedication, mastery, and excellence in Japanese baseball, Ichiro’s journey from NPB to MLB has not only broken records but also bridged cultures, inspiring fans across the globe. He still participates in exhibition games a few times a year and throws over 85 mph!

If you’d like to witness Ichiro’s historic induction into Cooperstown next year, join us on our Hall of Fame tour! https://japanball.com/baseball-tours/usa/cooperstown/

10/22/2024

NPB Newsletter: Hawks Sweep Fighters, BayStars Upset Giants in Championship Series to Setup Japan Series!

Discover the highlights of another exciting week of Japanese baseball. Find out which players shined and which teams excelled this week.

10/20/2024

The New York Yankees will play in the World Series for the first time since 2009 when Hideki Matsui won MVP.

Godzilla went 8 for 13 with 3 HR and 8 RBI in the series! He slashed .615/.643/1.385. What a monster!

10/16/2024

Today would have been the 103rd birthday of Tsuneo “Cappy” Harada.

Born on October 16, 1921, in Santa Maria, California, Harada played a progressive role in advancing Japan-U.S. baseball relations. From revitalizing Japan’s post-war love for the game to bridging the gap between Major League Baseball and Japan, Harada was an important force behind the scenes. He brought legends like Joe DiMaggio to Japan, mentored groundbreaking figures like Emmett Ashford, and helped sign Masanori Murakami, MLB’s first Japanese player.

He was the first Japanese American to be named Baseball Executive of the Year by The Sporting News in 1966 as he was GM of the Lodi Crusaders of the Pacific Coast League.

10/15/2024

NPB Newsletter: BayStars, Fighters Advance to Championship Series

The NPB playoffs are off to a cracking start!

Discover the highlights of another exciting week of Japanese baseball. Find out which players shined and which teams excelled this week.

10/15/2024

New video on our YouTube channel about the Tokyo Big6 League!

With the NPB Draft coming up, find out why Japan's top college league is such a big deal.

Full article: https://japanball.com/japanese-baseball-introduction/tokyo-big6-college-baseball-league-its-a-big-deal/

10/13/2024

Congratulations to and , the winners of our Hanshin Tigers championship print giveaway in collaboration with the wonderful .art.waikiki

10/13/2024

Congratulations to and on Instagram, the winners of our Hanshin Tigers championship print giveaway in collaboration with the wonderful .art.waikiki!

10/08/2024

Last month, Kumar Rocker made his big league debut to become the first player of Indian 🇮🇳 descent in history.

“It definitely means a lot to me," Rocker, the son of an Indian mother and Black father, told USA TODAY Sports. “I think it means more to my mom. She always let me know that I was Indian growing up, being half and half. And I think she’s going to be really happy about it."

Drafted 3rd overall in 2022, Rocker is known for his overpowering fastball and devastating slider, which made him a star at Vanderbilt University. Rocker’s father, Tracy, was an NFL defensive lineman and currently coaches in the NFL, adding to the family’s rich sporting background. Though his path to the majors faced some setbacks due to injuries, Rocker is expected to feature heavily in the Texas Rangers rotation in the coming years.

10/07/2024

NPB Newsletter: NPB Postseason Set to Begin.

The playoffs start this weekend!

A brief look at the Nippon-Ham Fighters vs. Lotte Marines and Hanshin Tigers vs. DeNA BayStars matchups.

Discover the highlights of another exciting week of Japanese baseball. Find out which players shined and which teams excelled this week.

10/03/2024

Want to witness Ichiro's Hall of Fame induction? We are partnering with Sports Travel and Tours (STAT), the official tour provider of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cooperstown in July 2025!

This exclusive package offers VIP reserved seats at the induction ceremony, access to special events, and unique opportunities to meet baseball figures. Experience this incredible weekend with fellow JapanBallers and Japanese fans, celebrating Ichiro’s legacy and engaging in a cultural exchange centered around baseball.

Bookings open now: https://japanball.com/baseball-tours/usa/cooperstown/

10/02/2024

👉 Our final regular season recap of Japanese MLB players!

Ohtani Reaches Historic 50-50 Milestone. Kikuchi and Imanaga Shine. Darvish and Yamamoto Return Strong.

Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50-50 milestone, standout performances from Kikuchi and Imanaga, and strong September returns from Darvish and Yamamoto.

10/02/2024

On this day in 1992, Mr. Baseball premiered in US theaters.

For many Americans, Mr. Baseball is their gateway into Japanese baseball, Jack Elliot, played by Tom Selleck, is a talented but aging Major League Baseball player who finds himself traded to the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball. The movie showcases Elliot’s challenging adjustment to life in Japan and features many comical moments as he tries to acclimate to the cultural differences and customs of Japan and Japanese baseball.

If you’re a fan of the classic sports underdog story and comedy, Mr. Baseball is a heartwarming and humorous watch. It's partially based on the experiences of star foreigner Leon Lee, who played 10 seasons for three NPB teams,

“Sure, Japan’s different, but different is not always bad,” Lee said. “If you get anything out of the movie, you see that Jack Elliot makes an adjustment and you realize you, too, can adapt and adjust to a different culture.”

Stream it here: https://japanball.com/shop/mr-baseball/

10/02/2024

After 21 seasons between MLB and NPB, 42-year-old Nori Aoki is retiring.

Aoki debuted with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2004 and had his first 200-hit campaign in 2005. He won three CL Batting Titles and left Japan to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012. He made the World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 2014.

He returned to Yakult in 2018, where he continued to be a star player for several seasons, winning his first Japan Series title in 2021. He played in his retirement game tonight in front of a packed crowd at Meiji Jingu Stadium and added two hits to his career total of 2,730 while playing all three outfields.

What a legendary career! Happy retirement!

09/30/2024

RIP Pete Rose, the all-time MLB hits leader.

When Ichiro surpassed him in NPB + MLB hits, Rose was adamant that he still deserved the title of Hit King.

Ichiro responded, “I was actually happy to see the Hit King get defensive. I kind of felt I was accepted.”

09/30/2024

NPB Newsletter: SoftBank Hawks & Yomiuri Giants Clinch Pennants

Discover the highlights of another exciting week of Japanese baseball. Find out which players shined and which teams excelled this week.

09/29/2024

On this day in 2023, Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts and San Francisco Giants’ interim manager Kai Correa became the first managers/coaches of Asian descent to face each other in the Big 4 North American professional sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL).

Roberts, born in Okinawa, is half-Japanese. Correa, now a coach for the Cleveland Guardians, is of Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, and Japanese descent.

09/28/2024

Oakland Baseball 💚⚾️

A bittersweet finale at the Coliseum.

Many Japanese 🇯🇵 players have represented Oakland in the past. They won’t have that opportunity anymore, but the Oakland faithful will never die.