1994 Japan Series
Encyclopedia
The 1994
Japan Series
was the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) championship series for the 1994 season. It was the 45th Japan Series
and featured the Pacific League
champion Seibu Lions
against the Central League
champion Yomiuri Giants
. The series was the eighth time the two franchises played each other for the championship.
Because this year's edition of the Japan Series took place during the Major League Baseball strike that scuttled the entire postseason
, including the World Series
, it received much more attention than normal in the United States
. Most memorably, the cover of the October 31 issue of Sports Illustrated
featured Lions pitcher Hisanobu Watanabe
along with the tagline "The World's Series", in the Lions' 11-0 win in Game One.
Two members of the winning Yomiuri Giants team -- Hideki Matsui
(2009) and Dan Gladden
(1987, 1991) -- also won a World Series.
This was the first Japan Series to feature night games, and the first with a reduction in extra innings. The Series, which had an 18-inning limit before a tie game, adopted a 15-inning limit before Series games were tied.
1994 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason is played...
Japan Series
Japan Series
, or is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a seven-game series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League....
was the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) championship series for the 1994 season. It was the 45th Japan Series
Japan Series
, or is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a seven-game series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League....
and featured the Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
champion Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
against the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
champion Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
. The series was the eighth time the two franchises played each other for the championship.
Because this year's edition of the Japan Series took place during the Major League Baseball strike that scuttled the entire postseason
1994 Major League Baseball season
The 1994 Major League Baseball season ended with the infamous players strike ending the season on August 11, 1994.-Strike:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ended prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason was played...
, including the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, it received much more attention than normal in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Most memorably, the cover of the October 31 issue of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
featured Lions pitcher Hisanobu Watanabe
Hisanobu Watanabe
Hisanobu Watanabe is the manager of the Saitama Seibu Lions. He played baseball for most of his pitching career with the Lions...
along with the tagline "The World's Series", in the Lions' 11-0 win in Game One.
Two members of the winning Yomiuri Giants team -- Hideki Matsui
Hideki Matsui
is a Japanese Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York...
(2009) and Dan Gladden
Dan Gladden
Clinton Daniel "Dan" Gladden III is an American former Major League Baseball player and current radio broadcaster.-Baseball career:Gladden is a graduate of Westmont High School in Campbell, California...
(1987, 1991) -- also won a World Series.
This was the first Japan Series to feature night games, and the first with a reduction in extra innings. The Series, which had an 18-inning limit before a tie game, adopted a 15-inning limit before Series games were tied.
Summary
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
External links
- Nippon Professional Baseball--Official website (in English)