One of the joys for Yomiuri Giants fans who packed the stands at Korakuen Stadium during the final years of the ballpark, before the team moved into the shiny new dome being built next door, was to see Warren Cromartie hit a home run then trot out to his spot in the outfield between innings and lead enthusiastic cheers of "Banzai!"
"What a place, my God, what a place, so electric, so intimate," Cromartie told The Japan Times in a recent telephone interview from his Florida home, "all the championships won, (Sadaharu) Oh-san hit all those home runs, lot of history was there."
Cromartie was a fan favorite with the Giants, from 1984-90, much like had been in the majors with the Montreal Expos. Cromartie, now 62, still hears from Japanese fans and says many tell him how much they enjoyed watching him play.