Japanese Baseball

8 Pages 1948 Words

adaharu hit a total of 868 home runs, surpassing Babe Ruth's 714 and the 755 held by U.S. Major League record holder, Hank Aaron. (Brown) There was Kaneda Masaichi, a left-hander who won over 400 games. (Brown) There is the Japanese “Iron Man” Kinugasa Sachio of the Hiroshima Carp; he played in 2,215 consecutive games. (Brown) The most popular player in all of Japan is Nagashima Shigeo, he was an infielder with the Yomiuri Giants. Known as baseball's, "Mr. Giants," Nagashima led his team to 9 consecutive national championships between 1965 and 1973. (Brown)
Japanese baseball differs from the version that we know in many ways. Their rules are generally the same, but the way the game is played is different. In Japan if a player is traded it is considered a disgrace and he should be ashamed. (Drenched) The baseball its self is different. First of all it’s smaller than the U.S.’s and there is no single, official ball sanctioned by either league or by the Commissioners office. (Hung) Instead, the commissioners’ office certifies that the balls of different sporting goods manufacturers are eligible to be used in official games, provided they meet the commissioner's specifications. Each team is allowed to use balls, from up to three different makers, during each season for their home games. (Hung) The home team must select the balls from one maker only to be us...