Seibu's Dynasty Slugger
Koji Akiyama joined the Seibu Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1981, converting from pitcher to outfielder. He won the 1987 home run title with 43 and formed the 'AK Cannon' with Kazuhiro Kiyohara during Seibu's seven consecutive pennants. His rare combination of power and speed produced two 30-30 seasons. His backflip home plate entry in the 1990 Japan Series remains NPB's most iconic scoring play.
Second Career with the Hawks
Traded to the Daiei Hawks in 1994, Akiyama contributed to their 1999 championship. He retired in 2002 with career totals of .270/437 HR/1,312 RBI/303 SB, numbers reflecting his unique power-speed combination.
Managing to the 2011 Championship
As SoftBank manager from 2009, Akiyama led the team to the 2011 Japan Series title over the Chunichi Dragons in the year of the Great East Japan Earthquake. His player-trust management style produced two pennants and one championship in six seasons.
Legacy
Akiyama left his mark as both player and manager in Hawks history. His backflip home entry endures as an iconic NPB moment, and his power-speed profile set the standard for the ideal outfielder. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.