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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.
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Tom O’Malley Signed Hanshin Tigers Card (1993 TOMY I.D.)
$13.00In six NPB seasons, Tom O’Malley hit over .300 six times (including leading the league once), was a Central League All-Star three times, won the All-Star game MVP, and won a Gold Glove at first base. He was MVP of both the 1995 Central League regular season and the 1995 Japan Series. He is one of the greatest and most beloved import players in NPB history.
O’Malley used a bat-control approach to shoot through the minor league ranks of the San Francisco Giants, earning a big league roster spot at age 21 in 1982 and then becoming the primary third baseman in 1983, when he had only 47 strikeouts against 52 walks. He bounced around after that, always performing well at AAA but never receiving enough playing time to get into a groove in the major leagues.
He finally became a regular after signing with the Hanshin Tigers for the 1991 season, and instantly become a fan-favorite of the Koshien faithful.
Four years in the black and gold made him a Tigers legend, but Tigers fans reluctantly had to say goodbye to him after the 1994 season, when he left for the Yakult Swallows. The Tigers apparently wanted more power from their first baseman, and O’Malley suddenly became a prodigious home run hitter, hitting 31 for the Swallows en route to earning Central League MVP. Even worse for the Tigers fans, O’Malley led the Swallows to the Japan Series title. He was now a Swallows legend too, and added to his legacy with another productive year in 1996.
O’Malley returned to the states and managed the Newark Bears before the Tigers asked him back to work with their hitters. He subsequently became a hitting coach and scout with the Tigers, much to the delight of Tigers fans who were happy to see him back with the franchise.
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Es Con Field Hokkaido Ballpark Blueprint
$45.00 – $195.00Es Con Field Hokkaido is the newest and most modern ballpark in the NPB, it officially replaced the Sapporo Dome as the home of the Fighters in March 2023. The highlight of this state-of-the-art stadium is a massive glass wall beyond the outfield, which supports a traditional Hokkaido-style gable roof. Scroll down to read more.
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Es Con Field Hokkaido Ceramic Mug
$23.00 – $25.00Es Con Field Hokkaido is NPB’s newest and sleekest ballpark, officially replacing the Sapporo Dome as home of the Fighters in March 2023. The state-of-the-art ballpark’s showcase piece is a massive glass wall beyond the outfield wall that supports a traditional Hokkaido-style gable roof. Inspired by the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field, Es Con Field is NPB’s first foray into the suburban ballpark village concept; it is surrounded by 80 acres of green space and retail.
For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Es Con Field Hokkaido profile.
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Hanshin Koshien Stadium Ballpark Blueprint
$60.00 – $195.00Hanshin Koshien Stadium – one of baseball’s most legendary ballparks, right up there with the likes of Boston’s Fenway Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field. It is one of few ballparks in the world still in use where Babe Ruth played; in fact, a monument to The Babe stands in the plaza outside of the ballpark.
Opened in 1924 to host Japan’s annual high school baseball championship, nearly 100 years late Koshien Stadium still hosts that event and, in doing so, temporarily kicks out its more frequent home team – NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. For an in-depth look at the Koshien high school championship tournament, read this first-hand experience or check out the amazing documentary by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.
With ivy on its outside walls, one of the most raucous baseball fanbases in the world, and a team with a fascinating history, Koshien Stadium is a treasure. For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Koshien Stadium profile.
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Hanshin Koshien Stadium Ceramic Mug
$23.00 – $25.00Hanshin Koshien Stadium – one of baseball’s most legendary ballparks, right up there with Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. It is one of few ballparks in the world still in use where Babe Ruth played; in fact, a monument to The Babe stands in the plaza outside of the ballpark.
Opened in 1924 to host Japan’s annual high school baseball championship, Koshien Stadium still hosts Japan’s two premier annual high school tournaments and, in doing so, temporarily kicks out its more frequent home team – NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. For an in-depth look at the Koshien high school championship, read this first-hand experience or check out the amazing documentary by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.
With ivy on its outside walls, one of the most raucous baseball fanbases in the world, and a team with a fascinating history, Koshien Stadium is a treasure. For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Koshien Stadium profile.
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Hanshin Koshien Stadium Hoodie
$58.00Hanshin Koshien Stadium – one of baseball’s most legendary ballparks, right up there with Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. It is one of few ballparks in the world still in use where Babe Ruth played; in fact, a monument to The Babe stands in the plaza outside of the ballpark.
Opened in 1924 to host Japan’s annual high school baseball championship, Koshien Stadium still hosts Japan’s two premier annual high school tournaments and, in doing so, temporarily kicks out its more frequent home team – NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. For an in-depth look at the Koshien high school championship, read this first-hand experience or check out the amazing documentary by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.
With ivy on its outside walls, one of the most raucous baseball fanbases in the world, and a team with a fascinating history, Koshien Stadium is a treasure. For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Koshien Stadium profile.
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Hanshin Koshien Stadium Insulated Steel Travel Mug
$36.00Hanshin Koshien Stadium – one of baseball’s most legendary ballparks, right up there with Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. It is one of few ballparks in the world still in use where Babe Ruth played; in fact, a monument to The Babe stands in the plaza outside of the ballpark.
Opened in 1924 to host Japan’s annual high school baseball championship, Koshien Stadium still hosts Japan’s two premier annual high school tournaments and, in doing so, temporarily kicks out its more frequent home team – NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. For an in-depth look at the Koshien high school championship, read this first-hand experience or check out the amazing documentary by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.
With ivy on its outside walls, one of the most raucous baseball fanbases in the world, and a team with a fascinating history, Koshien Stadium is a treasure. For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Koshien Stadium profile.
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Hanshin Koshien Stadium Sherpa Blanket
$75.00This heavenly-soft, 50×60 inch, fleece blanket depicts Hanshin Koshien Stadium – one of baseball’s most legendary ballparks, right up there with the likes of Boston’s Fenway Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field. It is one of few ballparks in the world still in use where Babe Ruth played; in fact, a monument to The Babe stands in the plaza outside of the ballpark.
Opened in 1924 to host Japan’s annual high school baseball championship, nearly 100 years late Koshien Stadium still hosts that event and, in doing so, temporarily kicks out its more frequent home team – NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. For an in-depth look at the Koshien high school championship tournament, read this first-hand experience or check out the amazing documentary by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.
With ivy on its outside walls, one of the most raucous baseball fanbases in the world, and a team with a fascinating history, Koshien Stadium is a treasure. For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Koshien Stadium profile.
To learn more about the NPB ballparks, check out our stadium profiles.
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Hanshin Koshien Stadium Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Hanshin Koshien Stadium – one of baseball’s most legendary ballparks, right up there with Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. It is one of few ballparks in the world still in use where Babe Ruth played; in fact, a monument to The Babe stands in the plaza outside of the ballpark.
Opened in 1924 to host Japan’s annual high school baseball championship, Koshien Stadium still hosts Japan’s two premier annual high school tournaments and, in doing so, temporarily kicks out its more frequent home team – NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. For an in-depth look at the Koshien high school championship, read this first-hand experience or check out the amazing documentary by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.
With ivy on its outside walls, one of the most raucous baseball fanbases in the world, and a team with a fascinating history, Koshien Stadium is a treasure. For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Koshien Stadium profile.
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JapanBall Logo Pin
$4.99This acrylic pin provides the perfect way to represent JapanBall at the stadium or around town. Plus, we’ve found that they make great gifts to new friends made at the ballpark!
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Koshien Stadium (Hanshin Tigers) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the Hanshin Tigers with this comfy shirt, available in both team colors! The shirt depicts Hanshin Koshien Stadium, home of the Tigers, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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Kyocera Dome Osaka (Orix Buffaloes) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the Orix Buffaloes with this comfy shirt, available in both team colors! The shirt depicts the Kyocera Dome Osaka, home of the Buffaloes, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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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.
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JapanBall Logo Baseball Bat Made by Yanase
$94.00Original price was: $94.00.$74.00Current price is: $74.00.Yanase Bat Company is one of the largest and most respected bat suppliers in Japan. There is no other bat company in the world with the customization, expertise, and quality of Yanase baseball bats. And for that, we are honored to partner with them on this exclusive bat, created especially for JapanBall.
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Koji Uehara Custom Art Card
$51.00Original price was: $51.00.$37.00Current price is: $37.00.A unique piece of original art, featuring Koji Uehara of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants.
Ever since being picked by the Yomiuri Giants with the first pick of the 1998 draft, Uehara was a sensation, performing well 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. We ranked that glorious 2013 season as one of the best ever MLB seasons by a Japanese pitcher.
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 not only goes down as one of the all-time beloved greats in Japan, but also as the sixth-best Japanese import in MLB history.
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Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima (Hiroshima Toyo Carp) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the Hiroshima Toyo Carp with this comfy shirt, available in both team colors! The shirt depicts Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima, home of the Carp, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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Meiji Jingu Stadium (Tokyo Yakult Swallows) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the Tokyo Yakult Swallows with this comfy shirt! The shirt depicts Meiji Jingu Stadium, home of the Swallows, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi (Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles with this comfy shirt, available in both team colors! The shirt depicts Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi, home of the Eagles, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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Es Con Field Hokkaido (Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Represent the Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters with this comfy shirt, available in both team colors! The shirt depicts the beautiful, state-of-the-art Es Con Field Hokkaido, home of the Fighters, in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can.
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Sapporo Dome (Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters) Unisex T-Shirt
$35.00Show your support for the Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters with this awesome shirt available in both team colors! The shirt features a stunning depiction of the Sapporo Dome, the former home of the Fighters, created by Ballpark Blueprints.
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Ballparks of NPB Insulated Steel Travel Mug
$36.0020oz. stainless steel tumbler depicting blueprints of the 12 Nippon Professional Baseball parks. Scroll down for product details.
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Es Con Field Hokkaido Hoodie
$58.00Es Con Field Hokkaido is NPB’s newest and sleekest ballpark, officially replacing the Sapporo Dome as home of the Fighters in March 2023. The state-of-the-art ballpark’s showcase piece is a massive glass wall beyond the outfield wall that supports a traditional Hokkaido-style gable roof. Inspired by the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field, Es Con Field is NPB’s first foray into the suburban ballpark village concept; it is surrounded by 80 acres of green space and retail.
For more on this legendary ballpark, read our Es Con Field Hokkaido profile.
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Es Con Field Hokkaido Insulated Steel Travel Mug
$36.0020oz. stainless steel tumbler featuring a blueprint of Es Con Field Hokkaido. Scroll down for product details.
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page