Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Encyclopedia
The are a professional baseball
team in Japan
's Central League
. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda
founder Jujiro Matsuda
. Mazda is the largest single shareholder (34.2%), which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family (about 60%). Because of that, Mazda is not considered as the owner firm. However, the company connection is highlighted in the club name—until 1984, Mazda's official name was .
in December, 1949 as the Hiroshima Carp.
The team's first home field was a prefecture-funded stadium, and the team's lack of sponsorship made it extremely difficult to gather players. Manager Hideichi Ishimoto had to personally scout players just to form a starting lineup. The ragtag team ended up in last place from 1950 to 1951.
The team's lack of funding became an even more serious problem in 1951, and it was proposed that the team be disbanded, or merge with the Taiyo Whales team, which was based in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
at the time. Hiroshima citizens strongly protested against disbanding the team, and raised the money needed to keep the team through donations.
The Central League had 7 teams in 1952, making it difficult to form a coherent schedule for each team. Therefore, it was decided that any team that ended the season with a winning percentage below .300 would be disbanded or merged with another team. This agreement was obviously aimed towards the Carp, since the team had been in last place every season. The team won only 37 games in 1952, but ended with a .316 winning percentage to barely save itself from being disbanded. The Shochiku Robins ended the season in last place with a .288 winning percentage, and was merged with the Taiyo Whales.
The team's financial plight only worsened in the following years, and the team could only issue one uniform per player in 1953. Nevertheless, the team continued to play each season, and finally ended the season above the .500 mark in 1960. The team moved to Hiroshima Municipal Stadium
in July, 1957.
In 1968, Toyo Kogyo (current Mazda
) became the team's chief sponsor, and the company name was inserted to become the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The team ended the season above 3rd place for the first time the same year, but quickly fell back into last place from 1972 to 1974.
Red became the new team color in 1973, and the team's uniforms were completely redone to resemble the current team uniform. The team logo was also changed from a letter "H" to a red "C" in imitation of the Cincinnati Reds
logo.
The team hired its first non-Japanese manager, Joe Lutz
, in 1975. Lutz ordered the team's cap to be changed to red to symbolize a never-ending fighting spirit. Due to an umpiring dispute, Lutz left the team halfway into the season. However, the team won its first ever league championship in 1975 to begin a memorable series of championship berths.
The Carp team became a powerhouse in 1978, hitting over 200 home runs in one season for the first time in Japanese baseball history. Koji Yamamoto
, Sachio Kinugasa
, Jim Lyttle
, and Adrian Garrett
formed the powerful Akaheru (literally meaning "Red Helmet") lineup, which won two consecutive pennants and Japan Series from 1979 to 1980. A strong pitching staff led to another Japan Series win in 1984. Manager Takeshi Koba
retired in 1985, but the team still won the pennant the following year.
Star player Koji Yamamoto
became manager in 1989, and the team won yet another pennant in 1991. However, the team fell into last place in 1993, and Yamamoto resigned from his position.
won a league championship in 2006, making the Carp the team the farthest removed from a league championship. To make matters worse, the Chunichi Dragons
won a Japan Series
championship in 2007, making the Carp the team furthest removed from a Japan Series championship as well. They were the last Japanese team to send a player to Major League Baseball
when ace starter Hiroki Kuroda
joined the Los Angeles Dodgers
in 2007.
One of the major reasons for the team's recent demise is the lack of financial support it receives from its sponsors. The team has never signed any free agent
s, and is often forced to let go of star players because they can no longer pay their salaries (recent examples include Tomoaki Kanemoto
, Akira Etoh, Andy Sheets
, Nate Minchey
, John Bale, Greg LaRocca
, and Takahiro Arai
). The Hiroshima Carp was the last Japanese team to have a non-Japanese player on its roster (excluding Japanese-Americans). Zoilo Versalles
, the 1965 American League MVP
, was the first non-Japanese player to play for the Carp.
Marty Brown became the manager in 2006, becoming the first non-Japanese manager in 31 years since Joe Lutz
. The team set a new record in April, 2006, scoring only 2 runs for the first 9 games of the season. Through still not finishing above third, the team concentrated on developing potential young players. In 2008, even though they were expected to finish last place as both the ace Hiroki Kuroda
and slugger Takahiro Arai
were gone by free agency
, their chance entering of playoffs was not eliminated until the very end of the season (when only 3 games remained), and they finished fourth, closely following Chunichi Dragons
.
Since the 2009 season, their home ground has been the New Hiroshima Municipal Stadium.
team the Cincinnati Reds
.
in 1990, and Robinson Checo
became the first player imported to Japan from the academy in 1995. Checo achieved moderate success in Japan, leading to further imports which include Timoniel Pérez and Alfonso Soriano
.
(1975-1976)
(1977-1979)
(1978-1980)
(1977-1982)
(1969-1986), (1989-1993, 2001-2005 (as manager))
(1965-1987)
(1987-1988)
(1987-1988)
(1982-1991)
(1989-1991)
(1991)
(1976-1994)
(1992-1994),(2006-2009 (as manager))
(1993-1995)
(1984-1996)
(1995-1996)
(1997)
(1977-1998)
(1998)
(1996-1999)
(1999)
(1998-2000)
(2000)
(2000-2001)
(1992-2002)
(1996-1997, 2000-2002)
(1999-2002)
(2001-2002)
(2002)
(2003)
(2003)
(2003-2004)
(2003-2004)
(2004)
(1989-2005)
(2004-2005)
(2004-2006)
(2005-2006)
(1997-2007)
(1999-2007)
(2006-2007)
(2007)
(2007)
(2006-2008)
(2007-2008)
(2008)
(1987-2009)
(2008-2009)
(2008-2009)
(2008-2009)
(2009)
(2009)
(2009)
Retired :
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's 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...
. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
founder Jujiro Matsuda
Jujiro Matsuda
was a Japanese industrialist and businessman who founded automaker Mazda Motor Corporation.-Early life:The son of a fisherman, Jujiro Matsuda was born in Hiroshima. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith in Osaka at the age of fourteen and invented the "Matsuda-type pump" in 1906...
. Mazda is the largest single shareholder (34.2%), which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family (about 60%). Because of that, Mazda is not considered as the owner firm. However, the company connection is highlighted in the club name—until 1984, Mazda's official name was .
Early years
The Nippon Professional Baseball league was scheduled to be expanded into two separate leagues in 1949, and Hiroshima prefecture decided to establish a professional baseball team as part of the reconstruction process from the devastation of the atomic bomb. The team joined the Central LeagueCentral 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...
in December, 1949 as the Hiroshima Carp.
The team's first home field was a prefecture-funded stadium, and the team's lack of sponsorship made it extremely difficult to gather players. Manager Hideichi Ishimoto had to personally scout players just to form a starting lineup. The ragtag team ended up in last place from 1950 to 1951.
The team's lack of funding became an even more serious problem in 1951, and it was proposed that the team be disbanded, or merge with the Taiyo Whales team, which was based in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu across the Kanmon Straits....
at the time. Hiroshima citizens strongly protested against disbanding the team, and raised the money needed to keep the team through donations.
The Central League had 7 teams in 1952, making it difficult to form a coherent schedule for each team. Therefore, it was decided that any team that ended the season with a winning percentage below .300 would be disbanded or merged with another team. This agreement was obviously aimed towards the Carp, since the team had been in last place every season. The team won only 37 games in 1952, but ended with a .316 winning percentage to barely save itself from being disbanded. The Shochiku Robins ended the season in last place with a .288 winning percentage, and was merged with the Taiyo Whales.
The team's financial plight only worsened in the following years, and the team could only issue one uniform per player in 1953. Nevertheless, the team continued to play each season, and finally ended the season above the .500 mark in 1960. The team moved to Hiroshima Municipal Stadium
Hiroshima Municipal Stadium
is a stadium in Hiroshima, Japan. It is primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. It opened in 1957 and holds 31,984 people....
in July, 1957.
In 1968, Toyo Kogyo (current Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
) became the team's chief sponsor, and the company name was inserted to become the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The team ended the season above 3rd place for the first time the same year, but quickly fell back into last place from 1972 to 1974.
The "Akaheru" Golden Age
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
logo.
The team hired its first non-Japanese manager, Joe Lutz
Joe Lutz
Rollin Joseph "Joe" Lutz was an American professional baseball player and coach, who was the first Caucasian to manage a team in Japanese professional baseball.-Life:...
, in 1975. Lutz ordered the team's cap to be changed to red to symbolize a never-ending fighting spirit. Due to an umpiring dispute, Lutz left the team halfway into the season. However, the team won its first ever league championship in 1975 to begin a memorable series of championship berths.
The Carp team became a powerhouse in 1978, hitting over 200 home runs in one season for the first time in Japanese baseball history. Koji Yamamoto
Koji Yamamoto (baseball)
is a former Japanese baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League. A four-time home run king having played for Hiroshima Carp throughout his career, Yamamoto contributed to the team winning five league championships including its first-ever in 1975, and three titles...
, Sachio Kinugasa
Sachio Kinugasa
Sachio Kinugasa is a former Japanese baseball player with Hiroshima Carp. He is nicknamed Tetsujin, meaning "Iron Man"....
, Jim Lyttle
Jim Lyttle
James Lawrence Lyttle Jr. is a former major league baseball player from Hamilton, Ohio. He played as an outfielder for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Montreal Expos, and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, and Adrian Garrett
Adrian Garrett
Henry Adrian "Smokey" Garrett, Jr. is a former professional baseball player who played eight seasons for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and California Angels of Major League Baseball. Garrett later played for the Hiroshima Carp in Japan, hitting 102 home runs in three seasons...
formed the powerful Akaheru (literally meaning "Red Helmet") lineup, which won two consecutive pennants and Japan Series from 1979 to 1980. A strong pitching staff led to another Japan Series win in 1984. Manager Takeshi Koba
Takeshi Koba
Takeshi Koba is now the manager of Tokyo International University's baseball team and was formerly a professional baseball player and manager in Japan.-Career as Player:...
retired in 1985, but the team still won the pennant the following year.
Star player Koji Yamamoto
Koji Yamamoto (baseball)
is a former Japanese baseball player and manager of the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League. A four-time home run king having played for Hiroshima Carp throughout his career, Yamamoto contributed to the team winning five league championships including its first-ever in 1975, and three titles...
became manager in 1989, and the team won yet another pennant in 1991. However, the team fell into last place in 1993, and Yamamoto resigned from his position.
Dark Years
The team has not been in serious contention since their last championship in 1991. They remain the only team in the league to have never been above third place since the year 2000. The Hokkaido Nippon Ham FightersHokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
won a league championship in 2006, making the Carp the team the farthest removed from a league championship. To make matters worse, the Chunichi Dragons
Chunichi Dragons
The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:...
won a 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....
championship in 2007, making the Carp the team furthest removed from a Japan Series championship as well. They were the last Japanese team to send a player to Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
when ace starter Hiroki Kuroda
Hiroki Kuroda
is a professional baseball player from Osaka, Japan who is currently a free agent. He is a starting pitcher, who most recently pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers .-Early days:...
joined the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 2007.
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
s, and is often forced to let go of star players because they can no longer pay their salaries (recent examples include Tomoaki Kanemoto
Tomoaki Kanemoto
is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder with the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball.The Tigers' current cleanup hitter, Kanemoto is regarded as one of the most accomplished hitters in Japanese professional baseball history and has hit more home runs in his career than any other...
, Akira Etoh, Andy Sheets
Andy Sheets
Andrew Mark Sheets is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Seattle Mariners , San Diego Padres , Anaheim Angels , Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He played first base for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp , and Hanshin Tigers , of the Nippon Professional Baseball league....
, Nate Minchey
Nate Minchey
Nathan Derek Minchey is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1993 through 1997 for the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies...
, John Bale, Greg LaRocca
Greg LaRocca
Gregory Mark LaRocca is a second baseman for the Orix Buffaloes in the Nippon Professional Baseball league Pacific League....
, and Takahiro Arai
Takahiro Arai
Takahiro Arai is a Japanese professional baseball player of Korean descent for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.-External links:...
). The Hiroshima Carp was the last Japanese team to have a non-Japanese player on its roster (excluding Japanese-Americans). Zoilo Versalles
Zoilo Versalles
Zoilo Casanova Versalles Rodriguez , nicknamed "Zorro", was a Cuban shortstop in Major League Baseball, who was considered a solid leadoff man, and a good baserunner whose speed helped him to cover a huge area at shortstop...
, the 1965 American League MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
, was the first non-Japanese player to play for the Carp.
Marty Brown became the manager in 2006, becoming the first non-Japanese manager in 31 years since Joe Lutz
Joe Lutz
Rollin Joseph "Joe" Lutz was an American professional baseball player and coach, who was the first Caucasian to manage a team in Japanese professional baseball.-Life:...
. The team set a new record in April, 2006, scoring only 2 runs for the first 9 games of the season. Through still not finishing above third, the team concentrated on developing potential young players. In 2008, even though they were expected to finish last place as both the ace Hiroki Kuroda
Hiroki Kuroda
is a professional baseball player from Osaka, Japan who is currently a free agent. He is a starting pitcher, who most recently pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers .-Early days:...
and slugger Takahiro Arai
Takahiro Arai
Takahiro Arai is a Japanese professional baseball player of Korean descent for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.-External links:...
were gone by free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, their chance entering of playoffs was not eliminated until the very end of the season (when only 3 games remained), and they finished fourth, closely following Chunichi Dragons
Chunichi Dragons
The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:...
.
Since the 2009 season, their home ground has been the New Hiroshima Municipal Stadium.
Uniforms
The former uniforms of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp are similar to the Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Mascots and characters
- The team mascot "Slyly" bears resemblance to the Phillie PhanaticPhillie PhanaticThe Phillie Phanatic, is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team. He is a large, furry, green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a extendable tongue.-Creation:...
of the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Both Slyly and the Phillie PhanaticPhillie PhanaticThe Phillie Phanatic, is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team. He is a large, furry, green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a extendable tongue.-Creation:...
were designed by Harrison/Erickson,Inc.
- The first Japanese baseball dog "Micky" was employed in 2006. Micky brings new balls to the umpire from the dugout during the game.
- Hiroshima Municipal Stadium is closed every year on August 6 in memorial of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The team always plays in other stadiums, even if a home game is scheduled for that day.
Carp Academy
The Carp was the first Japanese baseball team to establish a baseball academy outside of Japan. The team was unable to recruit non-Japanese players from the major leagues due to financial constraints, and the academy was established to cheaply send young players to play in Japan. The Carp Baseball Academy was created in the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
in 1990, and Robinson Checo
Robinson Checo
Robinson Checo Pérez is a former pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from through . He batted and threw right-handed....
became the first player imported to Japan from the academy in 1995. Checo achieved moderate success in Japan, leading to further imports which include Timoniel Pérez and Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs....
.
Former players
(1975-1976)(1975-1976)
(1977-1979)
(1978-1980)
(1977-1982)
(1969-1986), (1989-1993, 2001-2005 (as manager))
(1965-1987)
(1987-1988)
(1987-1988)
(1982-1991)
(1989-1991)
(1991)
(1976-1994)
(1992-1994),(2006-2009 (as manager))
(1993-1995)
(1984-1996)
(1995-1996)
(1997)
(1977-1998)
(1998)
(1996-1999)
(1999)
(1998-2000)
(2000)
(2000-2001)
(1992-2002)
(1996-1997, 2000-2002)
(1999-2002)
(2001-2002)
(2002)
(2003)
(2003)
(2003-2004)
(2003-2004)
(2004)
(1989-2005)
(2004-2005)
(2004-2006)
(2005-2006)
(1997-2007)
(1999-2007)
(2006-2007)
(2007)
(2007)
(2006-2008)
(2007-2008)
(2008)
(1987-2009)
(2008-2009)
(2008-2009)
(2008-2009)
(2009)
(2009)
(2009)
Retired numbers
(1975-1987), (#28:1965-1974) (1971-1986,2001-2005), (#27:1969-1970), (#88:1989-1993 as manager)MLB Player
Active:- Hiroki KurodaHiroki Kurodais a professional baseball player from Osaka, Japan who is currently a free agent. He is a starting pitcher, who most recently pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers .-Early days:...
(2008-) - Colby LewisColby LewisColby Preston Lewis is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers.Lewis was originally a first-round draft choice of the Texas Rangers in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major league debut in...
(2002-2004, 2006-2007, 2010-)
Retired :
- Ken TakahashiKen Takahashiis a Japanese professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He also played for them in - & the New York Mets in .Takahashi was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. On February 6, , Takahashi declared himself a free agent and expressed his desire to play in Major League Baseball...
(2009)