Motonobu Tanishige the Cerebral Catcher - NPB Record Holder with 3,021 Career Games
Motonobu Tanishige, the cerebral catcher who holds NPB's all-time games played record at 3,021 across 27 seasons with Yokohama and Chunichi.
Motonobu Tanishige, the cerebral catcher who holds NPB's all-time games played record at 3,021 across 27 seasons with Yokohama and Chunichi.
Behind NPB's draft system, the problem of teams making illicit payments to amateur players and their associates has repeatedly surfaced.
The Taiyo Whales were born in Shimonoseki in 1950 and supported NPB's Central League for 42 years until they were renamed the Yokohama BayStars in 1992, moving their home base across Osaka, Kawasaki, and finally Yokohama. With the fishing conglomerate Taiyo Fisheries as their parent and the distinctive 'Whales' team name, this nomadic franchise's history stands out within NPB. We trace 50 years of the Taiyo Whales through the lens of relocations and reorganizations.
Revisiting Takuro Ishii's unusual pitcher-to-position-player conversion and 2,432 career hits with Yokohama.
Revisiting Hisanori Suzuki's batting title and contribution to Yokohama's 1998 championship as the team's offensive symbol.
Takashi Saito's remarkable reinvention from Yokohama starter to MLB closer at age 36, posting a 2.07 ERA with the Dodgers in his debut season.
Revisiting Daisuke Miura's 172-win pitching career across 25 Yokohama seasons and his Hama Bancho presence.
DeNA's 2011 acquisition of the Yokohama BayStars brought IT-driven marketing that transformed attendance and culminated in the 2024 Japan Series championship.