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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!