In commemoration of their 5,000th victory in the history of the franchise, the Yomiuri Giants will wear throwback uniforms during some interleague games next month.
Hanshin Tigers pitchers Shinobu Fukuhara (left) and Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi model the new uniforms the team
will wear during Japan pro baseball's upcoming interleague season, which begins May 22.
The Giants will use the look from 35 years ago when they were in the midst of their "V-9" era during which they won not only the Central League pennant, but also the Japan Series, every year from 1965 through 1973.
On June 8 and 9 at Tokyo Dome, the Kyojin will wear the old-fashioned white home unis against the Rakuten Eagles. Then on June 10 and 11, the Giants will sport their old blue-grey road jerseys with "Tokyo" across the front, even though they will be the home team.
Other clubs who have worn throwback uniforms — or specially designed suits for inter-league games — are the Hanshin Tigers and Yokohama BayStars. The Tigers this interleague season will wear — not throwbacks — but maybe we can call them "throw-ahead" jerseys with pinstripes for home and road games. They look kind of futuristic.
The home version is white with black pinstripes on the shirt and pants, and the visitor jersey is black with white stripes.
The name "Tigers" appears in yellow on the front of both in the script of a Hanshin logo used since 2005.
Kind of snazzy, don't you think? (See photo).
The Giants also marked the 5,000th win (notched May 2 at Nagoya Dome over the Chunichi Dragons) by presenting media members and fans with an oiribukuro during their three-game series at Tokyo Dome against the Yakult Swallows May 4-6.
An oiribukuro is a small, decorative envelope with a coin inside; in this case a 5 yen piece.
Several years ago, every team gave the souvenir item to all media people working a game that was a sellout. In those days, the packet contained a 100 yen coin.
Sadly, it is a tradition seldom recognized these days, so it was nice and nostalgic to receive the 5,000th-win oiribu kuro.
Schedule oddities: Nippon Professional Baseball has pretty much decided to play this year's Gulliver All-Star Game No. 2 in the afternoon at Fullcast Stadium Miyagi in Sendai on July 22.
It would be the first time in 52 years for an All-Star day game, with starting time to be announced later, but most likely 2 p.m.
Game No. 1 will be played at Tokyo Dome on July 21, at night.
In the "Only in Japan" department, the Kansai-based Orix Buffaloes will play two "home" games at Tokyo Dome — on May 19-20, against the Seibu Lions.
Manager Terry Collins will guide the Buffs beginning at 1 p.m. each afternoon.
May 20 will be the last day of play prior to the start of 2007 interleague play, which begins on May 22, and runs through June 24.
There is a makeup period from June 25-28, and regular Central and Pacific League games resume on June 29.
A reminder for fans in the Tokyo area about the best bargain for tickets to see a Japanese pro ball game: the Yakult Swallows sell "Pair Tickets" to their home games at Jingu Stadium. You get two for the price of one.
For example, infield reserved A seats that cost 3,600 yen are reduced to 1,800 yen when you buy a couple.
If you're getting up a group to see a Yakult game, make sure you have an even number of fans attending to get the best deal.
The "Pair Ticket" discount is good for all Swallows games at Jingu, except for when the visiting team is the Yomiuri Giants or Hanshin Tigers. Interleague games are OK.
According to an article by John Shea in the San Francisco Chronicle and passed along to me by The Japan Times sports editor Jack Gallagher, former Oakland A's manager Ken Macha has begun a new job serving as an analyst on pre- and post-game programs featuring the Red Sox on the New England Sports Network (NESN).
Macha, also a one-time (1982-1985) Chunichi Dragons player and ex-manager of the Red Sox Triple-A club, was fired by Oakland after the Athletics were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 American League Championship series last October.
Finally this week, ABC newscaster Paul Harvey reported last week the Metrodome in Minneapolis has set aside a section of seats at Minnesota Twins games to be "peanut-free" in deference to those allergic to — well — peanuts.
OK, then buy me some pretzels and Cracker Jacks.
Contact Wayne Graczyk at: [email protected].
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