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The Chrysanthemum and the Bat by Robert Whiting (Personalized Signature fom the Author)
Acclaimed author Robert Whiting is best known for his bestseller You Gotta Have Wa!, published in 1989. And he burst back onto the Japanese baseball scene with 2004’s The Meaning of Ichiro. But it all started with The Chrysanthemum and the Bat: The Game Japanese Play.
We are working with Mr. Whiting to make this book available to you with a personalized messaged in your name (or whatever name you request) and signature from the author!
Whiting moved to Japan in 1962 and found that whenever he talked to his friends back in the U.S., they always wanted to hear more of his stories of Japanese baseball. Nothing about the country’s fascinating history of rulers, the rapid transformation of Tokyo, or the perfect balance between Buddhism and Shinto – just baseball. But Whiting found that baseball was actually the perfect vehicle to talk about Japan’s unique national character.
Motivated by a $500 bet that he wouldn’t write a book within a year (as explained to JapanBall’s “Chatter Up” audience in August 2021), Whiting compiled his observations of Japan’s culture- exemplified through baseball – into this wonderful book that TIME named its 1977 sports book of the year.
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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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Through a Diamond: 100 Years of Japanese American Baseball
The history of Japanese American baseball is nearly as long as the history of the game itself. This book chronicles the many iterations of Japanese American baseball, starting at the turn of the century, when Japanese immigrants used baseball as a way to garner respect from – and feel a sense of inclusion with – their white American counterparts. Baseball became a community staple in America’s Japanese communities and then became a vehicle for survival in the Japanese American concentration camps of WWII.
Author Kerry Yo Nakagawa is the founder of the Nisei Baseball Research Project, which seeks to preserve the history of Japanese American baseball and educate about the Japanese American concentration camps during World War II. Kerry Yo was a special guest on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” in April 2021, and his episode was the most powerful in our series. You can watch the video on YouTube or read the recap here.
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Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys . . . and Baseball
40+ years after The Chrysanthemum and the Bat, which TIME Magazine named the best sports book of the year in 1977, and 30+ years after You Gotta Have Wa, an absolute must-read for any baseball fan, Robert Whiting is at it again. The original English-language written voice of Japanese baseball now has a lifetime’s worth of perspective, wisdom, and observations from straddling the American and Japanese cultures, and this book encapsulates it all.
Read our review of the book here.
As Whiting puts describes it in the book’s prologue, the “story is part Alice in Wonderland, part Bright Lights, Big City, and part Forrest Gump, among other things. It is a coming-of-age tale as well as an account of a decades-long journey into the heart of a city undergoing one of the most remarkable and sustained metamorphoses ever seen.”
Arriving in Tokyo in 1962, Whiting entered a metropolis that was on the cusp of bursting onto the world stage, most visibly via the 1964 Olympics. Since then, the city has flourished and grown almost exponentially in so many ways, but not without its share of dark secrets and growing pains.
Whiting’s unique perspective as a curious, thoroughly-adapted foreigner who also happens to be a critical observer and world-class writer makes him the perfect person to document the city’s modern history.
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Tokyo Yomiuri Giants Cartoon Logo Adjustable Hat
This cap is Japanese baseball in a nutshell – NPB’s most famous team, and an adorable team mascot. The rabbit is Giabyi, leader of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants’ family of rabbit mascots.
This hat is a great conversation starter at the ballpark, especially around San Francisco, which is full of SF Giants fans. It’s not uncommon for this hat to lead to a conversation about how cool Japanese baseball is!
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Travel Laundry Detergent
I take pride in packing light, but I couldn’t do so without these. Humid climates like those in Japan and the Dominican Republic make re-wearing clothes without washing them a disservice to your fellow travelers, but it’s often impractical to do laundry when we’re traveling up and down the country watching baseball games. These detergent packs let you do a small load of laundry in your hotel room’s sink or bathtub. Hang the wet clothes overnight, especially with the AC on, and you’ll be fresh and ready to sweat again in the morning.
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Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball
In a sea of baseball biographies, this one is a shimmering tropical fish! Rob Fitts certainly picked a good subject in Yonamine, the standout baseball and football player from Hawaii. The history of Japanese baseball couldn’t be told without Wally Yonamine, but his story is uniquely American too. I just wish that I could have seen Wally play in person!
Rob Fitts appeared on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” Zoom call in 2020 – check out our recap of that episode here.
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Warren Cromartie Autographed 1986 Calbee Tokyo Yomiuri Giants Card with Beckett Authentication (BAS)
$49.00Original price was: $49.00.$39.00Current price is: $39.00.A first-round draft pick in 1973, Warren Cromartie shot straight to the major leagues, debuting with the Montreal Expos at age 20 one year later. He was a fixture in the Montreal lineup from 1977 to 1983, endearing himself to Expos fans for his charisma and excellent performance in the 1982 NLDS.
When he decided to go to Japan for the 1984 season at age 30, “Cro” became arguably the first American player to transfer to NPB in the middle of his prime. And what a brilliant move it was! Cromartie became a legend in Japan, leading the iconic Yomiuri Giants franchise to the 1989 Japan Series title after a Central League MVP season. With his competitive flare, clutch bat, and willingness to acclimate to the Japanese culture (including learning the language fluently), Cromartie is still revered by Giants fans.
His final NPB stats over seven seasons are the stuff of legend: batted over .300 five times, slugged 171 home runs, and led the team in home runs and batting twice and RBIs three times. He was a three-time Central League All-Star and “Best Nine” in addition to winning the 1989 MVP.
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Warren Cromartie Autographed 1990 Calbee Tokyo Yomiuri Giants Card with Beckett Authentication (BAS) Auto Grade 10
$59.00Original price was: $59.00.$49.00Current price is: $49.00.A first-round draft pick in 1973, Warren Cromartie shot straight to the major leagues, debuting with the Montreal Expos at age 20 one year later. He was a fixture in the Montreal lineup from 1977 to 1983, endearing himself to Expos fans for his charisma and excellent performance in the 1982 NLDS.
When he decided to go to Japan for the 1984 season at age 30, “Cro” became arguably the first American player to transfer to NPB in the middle of his prime. And what a brilliant move it was! Cromartie became a legend in Japan, leading the iconic Yomiuri Giants franchise to the 1989 Japan Series title after a Central League MVP season. With his competitive flare, clutch bat, and willingness to acclimate to the Japanese culture (including learning the language fluently), Cromartie is still revered by Giants fans.
His final NPB stats over seven seasons are the stuff of legend: batted over .300 five times, slugged 171 home runs, and led the team in home runs and batting twice and RBIs three times. He was a three-time Central League All-Star and “Best Nine” in addition to winning the 1989 MVP.
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Warren Cromartie Signed Yomiuri Giants Photo w/ “1989 Japan Series Champs”
$44.00Original price was: $44.00.$38.00Current price is: $38.00.A first-round draft pick in 1973, Warren Cromartie shot straight to the major leagues, debuting with the Montreal Expos at age 20 one year later. He was a fixture in the Montreal lineup from 1977 to 1983, endearing himself to Expos fans for his charisma and excellent performance in the 1982 NLDS.
When he decided to go to Japan for the 1984 season at age 30, “Cro” became arguably the first American player to transfer to NPB in the middle of his prime. And what a brilliant move it was! Cromartie became a legend in Japan, leading the iconic Yomiuri Giants franchise to the 1989 Japan Series title after a Central League MVP season. With his competitive flare, clutch bat, and willingness to acclimate to the Japanese culture (including learning the language fluently), Cromartie is still revered by Giants fans.
His final NPB stats over seven seasons are the stuff of legend: batted over .300 five times, slugged 171 home runs, and led the team in home runs and batting twice and RBIs three times. He was a three-time Central League All-Star and “Best Nine” in addition to winning the 1989 MVP.
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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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Worldwide AC Power Adapter + USB Charger
This worldwide AC adapter is an indispensable accessory for modern globetrotters and baseball tourists alike. This single adapter includes five plug types and works in 150 countries, including some of our favorite places for baseball tours like South Korea, Japan, Europe, and more!
Simply pack this all-in-one adapter for your trip and use it to charge phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, headphones, e-readers, and more. The two USB ports ensure that you can lighten your travel load by leaving bulky charging blocks at home and gives you the ability to charge multiple devices simultaneously.
I like the peace of mind knowing that I’ll be able to charge my devices anywhere in the world with this adapter. I keep it with my travel stuff, and it goes wherever I go!
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Yellow & Black Fever: Life, Love and Baseball in the Land of the Rising Sun (Two-Part Series)
I relate to this book in many ways, and I bet you will too! James McKnight, a longtime member of the JapanBall community, writes about his transformative experience at a Hanshin Tigers game during a vacation to Japan. After that game, James got caught up in the Japanese baseball experience, inspiring him to move to Japan and devote himself to cheering for the Tigers. The book is a genuine human story – not just a baseball story. It’s about loneliness and camaraderie, drifting and finding purpose, the challenges and rewards of living abroad, and much more.
Part 2 in the series: Bad Foreigner: More Stories of Life, Love & Baseball in Japan.
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You Gotta Have Wa
This is the book that really opened my eyes to the uniqueness of Japanese baseball. It is the definitive book on the subject in the English language; a must-read for anyone that wants to learn about the intricacies of the Japanese game. Acclaimed author Robert Whiting put it all in here, from the very beginning of Japanese baseball to the international powerhouse that it is today. The book’s most entertaining chapters are told through the wide-eyed – and often frustrated – perspective of gaijiin (foreign) ballplayers that played professionally in Japan.
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Complete Set: Hideo Nomo 1996 Upper Deck Oversized Cards
$10.00After five dominant seasons pitching for NPB’s Kintetsu Buffaloes, Hideo Nomo trailblazed his way to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 1995 season. His first year in MLB earned him National League All-Star and Rookie of the Year honors.
Following that historic season, Upper Deck created the beautiful “Hideo Nomo Collection.” This set features 16 oversized cards that depict his phenomenal season.
You are purchasing an opened, complete set that has the wear and tear of something that has been admired for 20+ years.
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Es Con Field Hokkaido Sherpa Blanket
$75.00 – $105.00The 12* ballparks of Nippon Professional Baseball – have you visited them all yet!?
This heavenly-soft, 50×60 or 60X80 inch, fleece blanket depicts the 12 NPB parks in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can. From the brand new state-of-the-art Es Con Field Hokkaido, to the five in the Tokyo region, and all the way down to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, each ballpark has its own unique architectural charm or flare, and it’s captured on this map!
To learn more about the NPB ballparks, check out our stadium profiles.
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Gift Card for Tour Credit
$50.00 – $5,000.00Give the gift of a baseball adventure to yourself or a friend! Gift cards are redeemable as credit for you or someone else on any future JapanBall tour.
Note: If the gift card amount you want to purchase is not listed as an option, use “Quantity” and “Add to Cart” to add up the correct amount. For example, if you want to purchase a $2,200 gift card, select two $100 options and then “Add to Cart” and then one “$2,000” option and “Add to Cart.” The total in your cart will be $2,200.
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Hanshin Tigers Adjustable Twill Baseball Cap with Japan Flag
This ivory-colored, twill cap is an instant classic. It screams retro, which is appropriate since the Hanshin Tigers are one of Japan’s oldest teams. With it’s Japan flag patch and unique color scheme, it will certainly be a conversation starter at Koshien Stadium!
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Masanori Murakami Signed San Francisco Giants Card
$20.00Baseball is a romantic game that lends itself to tradition and hero worship. The game’s many pioneers and legends are immortalized in halls of fame, books, and films. However, the tale of Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese MLB player, is not known well enough. Murakami’s story is one of adventure, under-the-table dealings, international conflict, and thrilling moments on the playing field.
When “Mashi” debuted for the San Francisco Giants in 1964, the 20-year-old lefty didn’t speak English or have a dedicated interpreter, which helped him ignore the racist taunts directed at him. He pitched well for the Giants, convincing them that he would be a steady contributor to their pitching staff. However, the Nankai Hawks, Murakami’s original team in Japan, felt that their young prospect was being stolen from them. Murakami became the focal point of a tug-of-war not just between the Hawks and the Giants but also between MLB and NPB. Murakami reluctantly returned to Japan, and the icy relations between the two leagues created a freeze of players coming from Japan to the U.S. until another brave, young hurler crossed the Pacific 30+ years later: Hideo Nomo.
Interested in learning more about Murakami’s story? Check out Rob Fitts’s excellent biography. Still not sure? Read our review of the book here. Want to know more about Asian baseball trailblazers? Read our article, “The Importance of Asian Americans in Baseball.”
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NPB Stadium Map by Ballpark Blueprints
$45.00 – $195.00*We offer two different versions of this map:
- Kyocera Dome Osaka as the stadium of the Orix Buffaloes
- Both the Kyocera Dome Osaka and Hotto Motto Field (the Buffaloes second home).
This beautiful print depicts the 12* NPB parks in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can. From the brand new state-of-the-art Es Con Field Hokkaido, to the five in the Tokyo region, and all the way down to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, each ballpark has its own unique architectural charm or flare, and it’s captured on this map!
To learn more about the NPB ballparks, check out our stadium profiles.
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NPB Stadium Map Sherpa Blanket
$75.00 – $105.00The 12* ballparks of Nippon Professional Baseball – have you visited them all yet!?
This heavenly-soft, 50×60 or 60X80 inch, fleece blanket depicts the 12 NPB parks in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can. From the brand new state-of-the-art Es Con Field Hokkaido, to the five in the Tokyo region, and all the way down to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, each ballpark has its own unique architectural charm or flare, and it’s captured on this map!
To learn more about the NPB ballparks, check out our stadium profiles.
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NPB Stadium Map Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00*We offer two different versions of this map:
- Kyocera Dome Osaka as the stadium of the Orix Buffaloes
- Both the Kyocera Dome Osaka and Hotto Motto Field (the Buffaloes second home).
This T-shirt depicts the 12* NPB parks in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can. From the brand new state-of-the-art Es Con Field Hokkaido, to the five in the Tokyo region, and all the way down to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, each ballpark has its own unique architectural charm or flare, and it’s captured on this map!
To learn more about the NPB ballparks, check out our stadium profiles.
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NPB Stadium Map with JapanBall Logo Unisex T-Shirt
$39.00We couldn’t be more thrilled to collaborate with Ballpark Blueprints on this unique T-shirt! Represent JapanBall and Nippon Professional Baseball with this comfy, double-sided shirt.
The front of the shirt has JapanBall’s logo and the back depicts the 12 NPB parks in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can. From the brand new state-of-the-art Es Con Field Hokkaido, to the five in the Tokyo region, and all the way down to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, each ballpark has its own unique architectural charm or flare, and it’s captured on this map!
To learn more about the NPB ballparks, check out our stadium profiles.
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Belluna Dome (Saitama Seibu Lions) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the Saitama Seibu Lions with this comfy shirt, available in both team colors! The shirt depicts the Belluna Dome, home of the Lions, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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Bobby Valentine Hand-Painted and Autographed Oversized Cartoon
$109.00Original price was: $109.00.$89.00Current price is: $89.00.Hand-painted cartoon (approximately 16″x20″ on sturdy canvas board) autographed by Chiba Lotte Marines manager “Bobby V.” Bobby signed his name in both English and Japanese (Katakana).
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 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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JapanBall Logo Face Mask
$14.99Original price was: $14.99.$1.50Current price is: $1.50.This polyester face covering / mask is super comfy with great coverage! It is elastic and breathable, with double-layer fabric. The bands are adjustable drawstring style, wrapping around your head rather than your ears, for maximum comfort and fit.
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Koji Uehara Signed MLB Trading Cards (two variations)
$15.00 – $18.00Ever since being picked by the Yomiuri Giants with the first pick of the 1998 draft, Uehara was a sensation, performing consistently during the regular season and stepping up to the moment in the biggest games in NPB, MLB, and the World Baseball Classic.
His NPB resume is enough to make him one of the most decorated pitchers in history:
- 9× All-Star (1999–2005, 2007, 2018)
- 2× Japan Series champion (2000, 2002)
- 2× Eiji Sawamura Award (1999, 2002)
- Triple Crown (1999)
- Central League Rookie of the Year (1999)
- 2× Golden Glove (1999, 2003)
- 2× Best Nine Award (1999, 2002)
- 2× NPB wins leader (1999, 2002)
- 2× NPB ERA leader (1999, 2004)
- 2× NPB strikeout leader (1999, 2003)
Uehara took a few years to find his groove in the U.S., but cemented his place in Boston sports lore for his lights-out performance in the 2013 MLB playoffs. He earned the ALCS MVP award in helping the Red Sox to the World Series championship.
Uehara earned his first and only MLB All-Star Game selection in 2014 and returned to Japan in 2018 to end his career with the Giants. He made one final NPB All-Star Game appearance in 2018 and then retired at the beginning of the 2019 season, in front of his adoring Giants fans. He retired as one of the best Japanese import MLB pitchers and best NPB pitchers of all time.
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Shogo Akiyama Rookie Card – 2020 Panini Chronicles Contenders Optic Season Ticket
$1.00Over nine seasons with the Saitama Seibu Lions of NPB’s Pacific League, Shogo Akiyama was the leadoff/outfield prototype that managers’ dreams are made of. His bat-to-ball skills and blazing speed made him a pest to opposing pitchers, while his range and steady glove in the outfield made him one of the best defenders in the league. He did all of the “little things,” and the flashy ones too! From 2011-2019, he amassed an impressive number of accomplishments, including:
- 6× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2013, 2015–2019)
- 4× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2015, 2017–2019)
- 5× NPB All-Star (2015–2019)
Before the 2020 season, he signed with MLB’s Cincinnati Reds. While it took him a while to adjust to MLB pitching in the Covid-affected 2020 season, he was highly productive in the second half of the season and was named a finalist for the National League Gold Glove Award for left field. Reds fans got a taste of all the ways he can contribute to a winning ballclub, and we look forward to him becoming a fan favorite in Cincinnati, just as he was in Tokorozawa.
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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.
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Fukuoka PayPay Dome (SoftBank Hawks) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the SoftBank Hawks with this comfy shirt, available in both team colors! The shirt depicts the Fukuoka PayPay Dome, home of the Hawks, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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Hiroshima Toyo Carp Retro Logo Beanie
I like this old-school Hiroshima Carp logo, which first appeared on official team jackets in 1970, because it combines the cool Japanese-style carp and a subtle baseball reference.
Made by American Needle, this beanie is premium quality and features a lofted embroidered throw-back logo of the Hiroshima Carp. Made from 100% acrylic, it’s super lightweight which means you’ll be looking and feeling great! It’s perfect for crisp evenings at the ballpark or out on the town. Regardless of where you’re wearing your new Toyo Carp retro beanie, it’ll be sure to become an instant favorite, and a bit of a head-turner as well!
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Jack Howell Signed Tokyo Yakult Swallows Card (2 variations)
$9.00 – $12.00Despite not being selected out of the University of Arizona in the 1983 MLB draft, Jack Howell was signed by the California Angels as an amateur free agent and quickly worked his way up the Angels system, making his Major League debut early in the 1985 season. He quickly established himself as a reliable and versatile player. From 1987-1989, he averaged 20 home runs per season.
Before the 1992 season, “Cactus Jack” signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows Nippon Professional Baseball. In 1992, he became the first foreigner to win MVP in his first season, when he led the league in home runs and batting average, and led the Swallows to the Japan Series, where they lost in seven games to the Seibu Lions.
In 1993, hit for the cycle and set an NPB record with five “sayonara” home runs, en route to another Japan Series, where this time they beat the Lions in seven games. It’s safe to say that with the MVP season and clutch performances in the championship season, Jack is forever beloved by Swallows fans. He played on more season with the Swallows and then in 1995 played with the Yomiuri Giants. He returned to MLB and the Angels from 1996-1997, and Houston Astros from 1998-1999.
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Orestes Destrade Signed Seibu Lions NPB Card (1991 BBM)
$11.00At the age of six, Orestes Destrade and his family emigrated from Cuba to the United States in search of a better life. At the age of twenty-six, Orestes Destrade went to Japan in search of a better baseball career.
And what a decision he made! Destrade is one of the greatest switch-hitters in NPB history and forever endeared himself to Seibu Lions fans with his role in helping the team to three straight championships from 1990 to 1992. He is the only player to ever homer in his first series at-bat three years in a row! The clutch hitter was named MVP of the 1990 Japan Series.
In five seasons in Japan, Destrade was three times named “Best Nine” and led the Pacific League in home runs three times and RBIs twice. He was an All-Star in 1992.