As part of the celebration commemorating the 80 years of the Hanshin Tigers franchise, the ballclub will later this month remember the 30th anniversary of one of the most exciting moments in Japanese baseball home run history.
On April 17, the Tigers will host the archrival Yomiuri Giants at Koshien Stadium. It was on the same date 30 years ago in 1985, a Wednesday that year, when Hanshin sluggers Randy Bass, Masayuki Kakefu and Akinobu Okada slammed back-to-back-to-back homers to straightaway center field.
It was a magical event that seemed to instill confidence in the players and fans and the belief the team could win its first Central League pennant since 1964. It was as if the team had awoken from a 21-year slumber within a five-minute period. That feeling carried through to the end of the season when the Tigers were crowned Japan Series champions in early November.