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Bobby Valentine Signed 2005 Asia Series (Konami Cup) Official Program
$44.00Original price was: $44.00.$39.00Current price is: $39.00.2005 Konami Cup Asia Series official program, autographed by then Chiba Lotte Marines Manager Bobby Valentine. “Bobby V.” signed his name in English and Japanese (Katakana) and inscribed “2005 Champs” along with his autograph.
The Konami Cup was the inaugural tournament that pitted the champions of the four main professional Asian baseball leagues against each other to crown a true Asian champion. Following their Japan Series championship, Bobby Valentine guided the Chiba Lotte Marines to a victory over the winners of the leagues from South Korea (KBO), Taiwan (CPBL), and China (CBL).
Bobby Valentine Career Achievements:
- Manager for Chiba Lotte Marines for 7 seasons
- 2005 Japan Series champions
- 2005 Asia Series (Konami Cup) champion vs KBO, CPBL, CBL
- MLB Manager for 16 seasons
- Texas Rangers
- New York Mets (2000 National League champions)
- Boston Red Sox
- MLB player for 10 seasons
- 1968 1st Round Pick by Los Angeles Dodgers
- Manager for Chiba Lotte Marines for 7 seasons
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Bobby Valentine Signed Japanese Newspaper with Tsuyoshi Shinjo
$48.00Original price was: $48.00.$39.00Current price is: $39.00.This Japanese newspaper autographed by then Mets manager Bobby Valentine in English and Japanese (Katakana). The headline reads, “Shinjo will be the 3rd batter in starting lineup on opening day.” This edition is from the week that the Mets signed Shinjo to a Major League contract, making him and Ichiro Suzuki the first two Japanese-born position players in MLB.
Bobby Valentine Career Achievements:
- Manager for Chiba Lotte Marines for 7 seasons
- 2005 Japan Series champions
- 2005 Asia Series (Konami Cup) champion vs KBO, CPBL, CBL
- MLB Manager for 16 seasons
- Texas Rangers
- New York Mets (2000 National League champions)
- Boston Red Sox
- MLB player for 10 seasons
- 1968 1st Round Pick by Los Angeles Dodgers
- Manager for Chiba Lotte Marines for 7 seasons
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Bobby Valentine Signed Trading Cards – Chiba Lotte Marines & Texas Rangers
$4.50 – $6.66Bobby Valentine Career Achievements:
- Manager for Chiba Lotte Marines for 7 seasons
- 2005 Japan Series champions
- 2005 Asia Series (Konami Cup) champion vs KBO, CPBL, CBL
- MLB Manager for 16 seasons
- Texas Rangers
- New York Mets (2000 National League champions)
- Boston Red Sox
- MLB player for 10 seasons
- 1968 1st Round Pick by Los Angeles Dodgers
- Manager for Chiba Lotte Marines for 7 seasons
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Daisuke Matsuzaka Custom Art Card
$61.00Original price was: $61.00.$39.00Current price is: $39.00.A unique piece of original art, featuring Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Boston Red Sox.
Where shall we start with Matsuzaka? How about in high school, when he first earned national attention as the ace of Yokohama High School, a national powerhouse? That attention became superstardom when he etched himself into Japanese baseball lore with a 17 inning, 250 pitch performance in the quarterfinals of the 1998 Koshien tournament, and then threw a no-hitter to win the championship game.
After being drafted by the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka didn’t miss a beat: he won the Pacific League Rookie of the year in 1999 as an 18-year-old. From 1999-2006, he collected enough accolades to cement him as Japan’s premier pitcher, including:
- Pacific League Rookie of the Year
- 3× NPB win leader
- 4× NPB strikeout leader
- 2× NPB ERA leader
- Eiji Sawamura Award
- 3× NPB Best Nine Award
- 7× Mitsui Golden Glove Award
- 6× All-Star
- 2004 Japan Series champion
Then, in 2007, it was off to Boston after the Red Sox paid the Lions an astonishing $51MM just for the right to sign Matsuzaka and then inked the pitcher to a six-year, $52MM contract. While his MLB debut season had its up and downs, he combined with Hideki Okajima to form a 1-2 Japanese pitching combo that was vital to the Red Sox’s World Series championship run. He was the first Japanese pitcher to start and win a World Series game and set a Red Sox rookie record for strikeouts.
After a strong first two years in Boston “Dice-K” (as he became known to American fans), struggled to stay healthy. He pitched six years in Boston and two in New York with the Mets before returning to Japan with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, winning another Japan Series title in 2017. In 2018, he showed that there was still something left in the tank, as the elder statesman won the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Teenage heroics, NPB dominance, and a late-career run as the wise veteran made Matsuzaka a legend in Japan. But not to be overlooked are his efforts on the Samurai Japan national team, earning MVP en route to the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic titles.