One thing I failed to mention was the "Legend" vs "Super Seasons" distinction. Simply out, before 1990 and the card, got the NPB Legend logo and look and after 1990 they got the Super Season logo and look. Rather arbitrary. Just like the order these cards are presented in.
Struggled to get going in his short time with the Mariners and Reds, but had a long productive career in Japan. His 2013 season is legendary (although the juiced balls they secretly introduced may have inflated his numbers...although he still easily outpaced any other hitter that year). As he broke Sadaharu Oh's sacred home run record. 60 home runs in 130 games. He never quite reached those heights again, but his .917 career OPS speaks for itself.
Shohei Ohtani. Enough said.
Yoshi Tsutsugo came over during the 2020 Covid season and whether that contributed to making a difficult transtion even more difficult or whether he couldn't hack it for another reason, well...he just hasn't been able to hack it. He's show flashes of brilliance, but overall the adjustment has been a struggle.
The one pitcher card in the set with a home run on the chart.
Member of the 2005 world series winning White Sox team, he will always have a place in my heart. This play is legendary. Current manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Nakamura had 41 PAs as a Dodger back in 2005 and did very poorly and that was that for his MLB career. Bat flipper extraordinaire. Formed a nasty duo with Tuffy Rhodes in 2001.
Very short career with the Cubs and Rangers from 2013 to 2015 before retuning to Japan. His peripherals weren't terrible, but didn't quite translate. Had a 5 year stretch from 2005 to 2009 with a WHIP under 1.
Koji Uehara had a baller rookie season in 1999 as a starting pitcher and went to the Majors at the ripe age of 34, but still had stretches of dominance. His 2013 season is legendary.
One of my favorite cards from the 2001 Base set. Sasaki was a monster for a long time in Japan before becoming a 2-time All-star for the Mariners.
A mostly good career, but his 2004 season stood out for a sudden power surge.
Signed with the A's in 2013, and spent extended tine in Double and Triple A before returning to Japan. He's playing in his 19th season currently, although his shortstop days are long gone.
Former Red Sox All-star.
Long successful career in Korea, before making it big in Japan.
Very mediocre in his 119 big league innings, and bounced around the Mexican Leagues before landing in Japan. His WHIP in 2015 was 0.63 and in 2017 was 0.67.
Former big league player and long-time manager in the bigs (winning the World Series with the Phillies in 2008). From Wikipedia:
"He was on pace to break the Japanese record of 16 home runs in a month. At a game against the Lotte Orions on June 19, 1979, he was beaned by a pitch from Soroku Yagisawa, effectively stopping Manuel from breaking that record. The pitch broke Manuel's jaw in six places. He was wearing a dental bridge, as a result of an earlier accident in the minor leagues. There was nothing for doctors to wire together, so they inserted three metal plates in his head and removed nerves from his face. Manuel was discharged from the hospital after six weeks and immediately began playing again, against the advice of doctors and worried family. The Buffaloes were struggling to stay in the Pacific League lead and had never won a pennant. To protect his jaw, Manuel wore a helmet equipped with a football facemask. He wore the helmet for the first few games but stopped using it because it obscured his vision at the plate. He finished the 1979 season with 37 home runs to win the home run title. He led Kintetsu to its first pennant win. He was voted the Most Valuable Player, the first American to receive the honor since 1964, hitting .324/.434 (2nd in the league)/.712 (leading the league) with 65 walks (2nd), 37 home runs (leading the league) and 94 RBIs (5th)."
A short, but really solid career as a Met (and then less successful with Rockies and Red Sox. He would have gotten a Showdown card in 2000/1 if not for him being a scab during the 1994 lockout.
Current Mariner, an All-star in 2021.
Extremely popular in Japan and known for his over the top style, "Big Boss" is now the manager for the Nippon Ham Fighters. He had a few original Showdown cards.
A very short-lived and not good career with the Twins back in 2011/2.
Classic tale of foreign player who didn't quite get his big-time power to translate in the Bigs (had a brief stint with the Nationals in 2005), but went off in Japan.
We all know Tony Batista from the original sets. His Japanese card isn't all that different from his 7 OB slugger cards. This classic video is always worth posting again.
He didn't pitch much (or all that effectively) in Japan before signing with the Red Sox as a 23 year old. He lasted a fairly long time in the Majors, but was just okay. Also received original Showdown cards.
Had to include him since he is part of the original set.
Had a very solid 19 season career, got 33 PA in the Florida International League in 1965.
Nicknamed "Second Helpings". Still active and recently reached the 450 home run mark in Japan. From 2009 to 2011 he hit 46, 48, 25 (only played 85 games), and 48 home runs, respectively.
Still going in 2022.
Love everything about this card.
Defensive wizard. Genda's defensive metrics are always so head and shoulders above the other players it's sometimes hard to believe. Part of the Lions Championship team (hence the fun alt logo). Also, part of the Olympic Gold Medalist team.
Long-time Cardinal and two-time World Series winner with them (and one Japan Series win too).
Another member of the 2005 World Series White Sox. He burst onto the scene in 2004 (at age 35), but struggled in 2005 and was replaced as closer by Bobby Jenks. And the rest is history.
Known as "Mr. Zero" as he never gave up a run in his 11 Japan series appearances. Current manager of the Swallows, where he helped lead to them a championship in 2021.
He pitched 9 years in the MLB, and was an All-Star in 2003. He has several original Showdown cards. His career in Japan was sort of unremarkable.
Still active and climbing the all-time hits leaderboard, he currently sits at 2,182 (good for 21st all-time). His 2008 was nasty, slashing .378/.416/.540/.956.
Ryosuke Kikuchi is a long-time veteran known for his defense (9 Gold Gloves to his name). A solid hitter too. Was on the Olympic team in 2020.
Pitched 5 years in the MLB before making a career in Japan.
Another familiar face from recent sets, another classic case of foreign player unlocking their power in Japan after a long minor league career and short big league stints. He hit 41 homers in only 107 games in 2018 (459 PAs).
A long-time Dragon and one of their all-time greats known for his defense...they aren't a very storied franchise.
Matt Murton was a somewhat decent prospect for the Cubs and had some success across 5 years in the big leagues. His debut season in Japan saw him become on ly the 4th player to record 200 hits in a season and more importantly he broke Ichiro's single season hit record. Murton had 214 hits in 144 games and Ichiro had 210 in a 130 game season.
The first Japanese player to play in the MLB. He had success as a rookie reliever for the SF Giants when he was 20 years old, and followed it up with a really solid sophomore season in 1965.
Bot card V1 for his 1965 season
A very hard thrower, in 2008 Kroon set the record for hardest pitch in the NPB at 162 km/h or 101 mph (I believe it's since been broken, probably several times). Apparently was also featured on the Showtime show, The Franchise, when he was in the SF Giants organization.
Raines is credited with being the first player to play professionally in the minor leagues, Negro Leagues, NPB, and MLB. He was a Negro League All-Star in 1952. And won the batting title in 1954 for the Hankyu Braves.
His 3 year stretch from 2002-2004 is about as good as it gets for relievers. He had a .61 WHIP and a 0.78 ERA in 57.1 innings in 2002. He struck out 66 batters and walked only 3. Allowed a single home run, as well.
Another staple from my recent sets. Kondoh is an on-base machine. He has a career OBP of .411 in 987 games.
Love the doubles range on the 2003 card. He had 50 doubles that season, two off the single season record.
Young slugger who has some holes in his swing, but has big-time power and his only 26, so I think could draw some interest from major league scouts should he want to come over. Having a down year in 2022 though.
Known for his Showdown cards mostly.
Big pop from Osugi. He hit 486 home runs in his career for 9th all-time. I think his defense kept him from cracking the Top 100 players list.
Owner of a 2001 Showdown card, Zuleta made a nice career in Japan and had an especially stand out 2005.
Nicknamed "Aguu" which as I understand it roughly means, "Pork dumpling". And that fits this thicc masher. One of my personal favorites, I love his swing. And he's absolutely crushing in 2022. Video
A member of the Red Sox since 2021 he's been a solid arm in their bullpen.
Had some fun Showdown cards in the original sets. Probably most famous for his time with the Yankees.
Mogi has had some really fun cards in the recent sets, and this is one of my favorite cutouts for this set.
Former White Sox great, has been a staple in Japan for awhile now.
The sensation of Dice-K was a lot when he first came to the Bigs. I was sick of hearing about the "gyroball". But he was a true ace in Japan.
Who wants to punt some defense?
Got a cup of coffee with the Mets and Royals, went off for 47 bombs in 2010, but never really killed it again. Does this card feel a bit cheap?
Led the league in saves in 2010.
We all know about Andruw Jones. Helped lead the Eagles to a title in 2013.
Several very useable Showdown cards to his name.
A solid contributor to the 2008 World Series losing Rays team. Iwamura had a very productive career in Japan, but exploded for 44 bombs in 2004 (he never hit more than 32 in any other season).
No comments:
Post a Comment