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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.