Japanese Baseball League
Encyclopedia
For the current Japanese Professional League, see Nippon Professional Baseball.
was a professional baseball
league in Japan
.
It was established on February 5, 1936 as "Japan Occupational
Baseball League". Then it was renamed "Japanese Baseball League" in 1939. It was run until 1949. There was no League Play in 1945. The league played fall and spring seasons in 1937 and 1938.
Four of the franchises formerly in this league currently play in the Central League
, and four others are in the Pacific League
.
Yomiuri Giants, Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers are the only surviving major clubs that have always been based in their respective cities. Additionally, the current Orix Buffaloes is a merger of two clubs which never left their current hometown.
was a professional baseball
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...
league 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...
.
It was established on February 5, 1936 as "Japan Occupational
Works team
A works team is a sports team that is financed and run by a manufacturer or other business. Sometimes, works teams contain or are entirely made up of employees of the supporting company.-Africa:...
Baseball League". Then it was renamed "Japanese Baseball League" in 1939. It was run until 1949. There was no League Play in 1945. The league played fall and spring seasons in 1937 and 1938.
Four of the franchises formerly in this league currently play in 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...
, and four others are in 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...
.
Teams
- Dai Tokyo (1936) → Lion Baseball Club (1937–1940) → Asahi Baseball Club (1941–1944) → Pacific Baseball Club (1946) → Taiyō Robins(1947–1949) → To the Central League (later renamed the Shochiku Robins; present: Yokohama BayStarsYokohama BayStarsThe are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
, relocated)
- Korakuen Eagles (1937s) → Eagles Baseball Club (1938–1939) → Kurowashi Baseball Club (1940–1941) → Yamato Baseball Club (1942–1943) → Broken up
- Nagoya Baseball Club (1936–1943) → Sangyo Baseball Club (1944) → Chubu Nippon (1946) → Chubu Nippon Dragons (1947) → Chunichi DragonsChunichi DragonsThe 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:...
(1948–1949) → To the Central League
- Nagoya Kinko (1936–1940) → Merged into the Tsubasa Baseball Club
- Osaka Tigers (1936–September 24, 1940, Nicknamed "Tigers") → Hanshin Baseball Club (September 25, 1940–1944) → Osaka Tigers (1946–1949, Nicknamed "Hanshin") → To the Central League (Present: Hanshin TigersHanshin TigersThe are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
)
- Tokyo Kyojin (1936–1944; 1946) → Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
(1947–1949) → To the Central League
- Tokyo Senators (1936–1939) → Tsubasa Baseball Club (1940) → Taiyō Baseball Club (1941–1942) → Nishitetsu Baseball Club (1943) → Broken up
- Hankyu Baseball Club (1936–1944; 1946) → Hankyu Bears (January, 1947–April, 1947) → Hankyu Braves (April, 1947–1949) → To the Pacific League (Present: Orix BuffaloesOrix BuffaloesThe are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
)
- Nankai Baseball Club (1938f–May 31, 1944) → Kinki Nippon (June 1, 1944–December 31, 1944) → Kinki Great Ring (1946–May 31, 1947) → Nankai Hawks (June 1, 1947–1949) → To the Pacific League (Present: Fukuoka SoftBank HawksFukuoka SoftBank HawksThe are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
, relocated)
- Gold Star (1946) → Kinsei Stars (1947–1948) → Daiei Stars (1949) (present: Chiba Lotte MarinesChiba Lotte MarinesThe are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
)
- Senators Baseball Club (1946) → Tokyu Flyers (1949) → Kyuei Flyers (1948) → Tokyu Flyers (1947) → To the Pacific League (Present: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, relocated)
- Kintetsu Pearls (1949) → To the Pacific League (Present: Orix BuffaloesOrix BuffaloesThe are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
)
Yomiuri Giants, Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers are the only surviving major clubs that have always been based in their respective cities. Additionally, the current Orix Buffaloes is a merger of two clubs which never left their current hometown.
Defunct Japanese baseball teams
Former Japanese Baseball League teams:- Nagoya Golden Dolphins 1936-1940 - formerly Tokyo Senators 1936-1940; Tsubusa 1940, merged with Nagoya Kinko to form Taiyo 1941-1942 (merged with Tsubasa in 1940, Tsubasa later became Nishitetsu 1943.)
- Nishitetsu (dissolved in 1943.) Nishitetsu reestablished a team in 1950 for the new Nippon Professional Baseball circuit and it eventually moved to Tokorozawa, SaitamaTokorozawa, Saitamais a city in Saitama, Japan. It is located in the central part of the Musashino plain, about 30 km west of downtown Tokyo. Tokorozawa can be considered part of the greater Tokyo area; its proximity to the latter and lower housing costs make it a popular bedroom community.-Location:Tokorozawa...
becoming the Seibu LionsSeibu LionsThe 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...
. - Yamato 1943-1944 - formerly Korakuen Eagles 1937-1938 and Eagles 1938-1940 and later Kurowashi (Black Eagles) 1940-1942 (dissolved in 1944.)
MVPs
- 1937 Spring: Eiji SawamuraEiji SawamuraEiji Sawamura was a Japanese professional baseball player...
, Tokyo KyojinYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
, P - 1937 Fall: Harrison McGalliard, Korakuen Eagles, C
- 1938 Spring: Hisanori Karita, Tokyo Senators, 2B
- 1938 Fall: Haruyasu NakajimaHaruyasu NakajimaHaruyasu Nakajima was a Japanese baseball player. He is one who played an active part most in the Nippon Professional Baseball of the dawn....
, Tokyo KyojinYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
, OF - 1939: Victor Starfin, Tokyo KyojinYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
, P - 1940: Victor Starfin, Tokyo KyojinYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
, P - 1941: Tetsuharu KawakamiTetsuharu Kawakamiis a former Japanese baseball player and manager. Born in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, he was nicknamed "God of batting" as a player. In 1951, he had whiffed only 6 times, which is the Japanese single-season tie record. He was ruthless as a manager, but it made his team strong...
, Tokyo KyojinYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
, 1B - 1942: Shigeru Mizuhara, Tokyo KyojinYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
, 2B - 1943: Shosei GoShosei GoShosei Go was a baseball player from Taiwan.Go was a leadoff man who played for the Tokyo Giants , Hanshin Tigers and Mainichi Orions . Only 5-foot-6 and 140 pounds, he was nicknamed "The Human Locomotive" due to his speed...
, Tokyo KyojinYomiuri GiantsThe 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...
, OF - 1944: Tadashi WakabayashiTadashi WakabayashiTadashi Henry Wakabayashi was a professional baseball player from Oahu, Hawaii. He was a second generation Japanese-American.-Biography:...
, HanshinHanshin TigersThe are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
, P - 1946: Kazuto Tsuruoka, Kinki Great RingFukuoka SoftBank HawksThe are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
, 3B - 1947: Tadashi Wakabayashi, Osaka TigersHanshin TigersThe are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
, P - 1948: Kazuto Tsuruoka, NankaiFukuoka SoftBank HawksThe are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
, 3B - 1949: Fumio FujimuraFumio Fujimurawas a Japanese right-handed pitcher for the Osaka Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.In the 1933 National High School Baseball Championship, Fujimura's team reached the quarterfinals but his opponent Masao Yoshida pitched a shutout in the game. In the final of 1934 National High School...
, Osaka TigersHanshin TigersThe are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
, OF
Champions
- 1936 (spring): No standings
- 1936 (summer): No standings
- 1936 (fall): Tokyo Kyojin
- 1937 (spring): Tokyo Kyojin
- 1937 (fall): Osaka Tigers
- 1938 (spring): Osaka Tigers
- 1938 (fall): Tokyo Kyojin
- 1939: Tokyo Kyojin
- 1940: Tokyo Kyojin
- 1941: Tokyo Kyojin
- 1942: Tokyo Kyojin
- 1943: Tokyo Kyojin
- 1944: Hanshin
- 1945: No league play because of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- 1946: Kinki Great Ring
- 1947: Osaka Tigers
- 1948: Nankai Hawks
- 1949: Yomiuri Giants