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The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime
I’m sure that many fans felt that Robert Whiting just had to write this book, and I’m sure glad that he did! In this unofficial sequel to You Gotta Have Wa, Whiting flips the script tells the fascinating stories of the trailblazing players that were part of the wave of Japanese players coming to MLB that started with Hideo Nomo in 1995. Whiting puts Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Irabu, Alfonso Soriano, and Hideki Matsui under the microscope, exploring each of their unique backgrounds and personalities and how they contributed to creating the star player you see on TV and in MLB stadiums.
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Wladimir Balentien Signed 4×6 Photo
$16.00Original price was: $16.00.$11.00Current price is: $11.00.Note: On January 22, Balentien announced that he would be leaving NPB. In recognition of his 11 seasons in Japan, we are offering this piece at 11% off the original price!
This photo was autographed by NPB superstar Wladimir Balentien in 2005, when he was a rising 21-year-old in the Seattle Mariners organization, playing centerfield for the Inland Empire 66ers. NPB fans may be surprised to hear that the now-humongous “Coco” was a centerfielder back then, especially if they knew that he was on the same team as Adam Jones. Balentien, however, was an athletic young player with a cannon for an arm out of Curacao (he has represented the Netherlands in the Olympics and World Baseball Classic), and Jones was still playing shortstop.
Balentien made it to the big leagues at just 23 years old, but he never could quite stick over his three seasons with the Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. In 2011, he signed with NPB’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and the rest is history. Balentien is one of the best power hitters in NPB history, exemplified by his amazing 2013 season when he shattered Sadaharu Oh’s famed single-season home run record with 60 homers. Now with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Balentien expects to reach 300 NPB home runs in 2021.
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Adam Jones Signed Orix Buffaloes Card
$19.00Original price was: $19.00.$14.00Current price is: $14.00.The photo inserted into this custom-made trading card was autographed by MLB and NPB (and Team USA!) superstar Adam Jones in 2005, when he was a budding 19-year-old in the Seattle Mariners organization, playing shortstop for the Inland Empire 66ers. MLB and NPB fans may be surprised to hear that he was playing shortstop at the time; he wasn’t moved to the outfield until later that year when the Mariners sent him to the Arizona Fall League to work on the new position.
Well, that sure worked out! Jones is one of the all-time greats in centerfield, with four Gold Gloves awards to prove it. He also was five times an American League All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles and won a Silver Slugger award in 2013. Many fans will always remember him for the catch he made with Team USA to lead the Americans to the 2017 World Baseball Classic title.
In December 2019, NPB’s Orix Buffaloes signed Jones to a two-year contract and he became an instant sensation in Japan.