In Japan, there is a famous saying that has been passed down in relation to baseball. It is known by all baseball fans, and it is not uncommon to hear it uttered by announcers and commentators during live broadcasts of baseball games on radio and television, even during live broadcasts of Major League Baseball games. The saying goes, “The most entertaining score in baseball is 8 to 7.” Is this also said in the United States? I have never heard of it being said in United States. So, is this saying true? Who first coined the phrase, and on what basis? In Japan, it’s believed to have been first coined by U.S. President Roosevelt. “As President Roosevelt said, the most entertaining score in a baseball game is 8 to 7,” is often heard not only among baseball fans but also on radio and television broadcasts. So, who was it, the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, or the 32nd president, Franklin Roosevelt? While the overwhelming majority of Japanese people believe it was Franklin Roosevelt, there are also quite a few who believe it was Theodore Roosevelt. Regardless of which group they were, none of them knew the solid basis or original source for saying that President Roosevelt said it. Many people wanted to know the basis or source but didn’t know, and there were baseball experts who tried hard to find out but just couldn’t figure it out. No. 075 of Weekly 100 People Who Made History: Franklin Roosevelt (in Japanese, K.K. DeAgostini Japan, 2004) I was the first in Japan to discover which President Roosevelt was correct, and the basis and source, and published my findings in the Asahi Shimbun (a well–known national newspaper in Japan) on September 24, 2014, but it seems that quite a few people have not read the article. I found the basis and original source on the Internet that President Franklin Roosevelt first said it. The website is written below, so if you would like to see it for yourself, please go to the link below: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/letter-baseball-sports-and-sportsmanship On January 23, 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt wrote a letter to New York Times reporter James P. Dawson. It was an apology for being unable to attend the 14th annual dinner of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, but it also passionately detailed his passion for baseball. Toward the end of the letter, after explaining that while he doesn’t dislike 1–0 pitching duels, he prefers games with a large number of runs, he writes the phrase that became the basis for a famous Japanese saying: “In short, my idea of ​​the best game is one that guarantees the fans a combined score of not less than 15 runs, divided about eight to seven.” I’m sure that after someone once introduced this phrase to Japan, the saying “The most entertaining score in baseball is 8–7” has become established in Japan. However, reading this letter, it becomes clear that what President Franklin Roosevelt wrote has a different nuance than the saying that became famous in Japan. Whatever the case may be, when many people spread something without properly checking the original source, a different nuance from the actual meaning becomes established in society. I think that the famous Japanese saying discussed here is one such common example. Even now, there are many people in Japan who say, “The most entertaining score in baseball is 8–7.” It is difficult to change something once it has been established. Is the content of this letter from President Franklin Roosevelt widely known among Major League Baseball fans in the United States? (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

"Baseball: A History of America’ s Favorite Game" by George Vecsey is a fantastic book, and I think it’ s a must—read for anyone interested in Major League Baseball or who is thinking about becoming interested in it. “Baseball: A History of America’ s Favorite Game” by George Vecsey (2008, Random House Publishing Group) Japanese translation version of “Baseball: A History of America’ s Favorite Game” (translated by Yasuo Suzuki, Random House Kodansha Co., Ltd., 2007)   There is a sentence in this fantastic book that surprised me a little: "While my employer, the New York Times, does not permit reporters to vote for any award —a sensible policy, since the Times wants us to report news, not make it—we are allowed to express our opinions.” I’ m sure there are many people who read this article and think, "That’ s certainly a wise policy, as expected from The New York Times." However, I’ m not impressed. I have a lot of respect for the New York Times and think it’s a great newspaper, but I don’ t think that policy is appropriate for a prestigious newspaper like the New York Times. It would be a major problem if reporters fabricated news or distorted the facts when reporting it. If they did that, I would get angry and say, "Stop making up the news!" However, I think that reporters voting for awards is fundamentally different from those things, and I don’t feel angry at all. I don’ t think there’ s any problem as long as the voting results aren’t fabricated or distorted, and it’ s announced in advance that the decision will be made by voting. If those conditions are met, I would actually encourage reporters to vote. For example, the MVP of Major League Baseball is selected by a vote of members of the Baseball Writers’  Association of America (though New York Times reporters probably do not vote in accordance with company policy). This selection method is made public in advance, and everyone acknowledges that the voting results are not fabricated or distorted. So I don’ t see anything wrong with this selection method. However, I sometimes get angry at the voting results, because sometimes a player other than the one I had in mind is chosen. Passionate Major League Baseball fans have their own opinions, and they can get angry no matter who selects which player as MVP. I believe that only newspaper reporters are worthy of taking on the task of selecting the MVP, even if it means incurring such anger, and I want newspaper reporters to take on the task with dignity and have the courage and pride to do so. The New York Times is a great newspaper, so I want its reporters to have that kind of courage and pride. ...Because newspaper reporters select the MVP, I can get as angry as I want, because I trust newspaper reporters. If someone other than newspaper reporters were to select the MVP, I wouldn’t have that kind of trust, so my anger might end up being half—hearted. That would be boring. Finally, there is something I really want to say. I don’ t think the New York Times realizes something important: the articles it publishes become news. For example, what the New York Times writes in its editorials is broadcast around the world as news. Even in Japan, when various issues are discussed, it is not uncommon to hear people say, "This is what the New York Times says." For example, which books the New York Times Book Review features as the subject of its review becomes news, as do which books make it onto the bestseller list and which don’ t. Furthermore, New York Times reporters can also become news. For example, the Cuban Missile Crisis is an unforgettable event for people of my generation. In the film "Thirteen Days," which depicts the Kennedy administration’ s response to the crisis, New York Times reporter James Reston appears as a newspaper reporter who provides incisive coverage of the Kennedy administration. For example, there is an award in memory of James P. Dawson, a reporter for The New York Times, “James P. Dawson Award”. Introduced in 1956, this award is presented annually to the New York Yankees’ best rookie at the end of spring training. The winner makes the news, and James P. Dawson’ s name is always mentioned in the news....Speaking of which, my next column will be about the historical fact in which James P. Dawson played an important role. As a great respecter of the New York Times, I would like to see New York Times reporters vote for Major League Baseball—related awards. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

In 2008, while driving around the United States, I stopped off in Minneapolis, Minnesota, because there was a place I really wanted to see. Since 1982, the home stadium of the Minnesota Twins, a major league baseball team in Minneapolis, Minnesota, had been the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (commonly known as the Metrodome), but since 2010 it has been the newly constructed Target Field. So, what was the home stadium before the Metrodome? And what is it like now? Until 1981, the Twins played at Metropolitan Stadium. That stadium was demolished and its site became the Mall of America, one of the largest shopping malls in the United States. I wanted to visit this Mall of America. The main entrance to the Mall of America I wasn’t particularly surprised when I saw the Mall of America’s exterior and the flashy sign at the entrance. There are malls of a similar size in Japan, and I’ve seen flashy signs there too. But when I went inside, I was blown away. There was a great theme park with attractions for both adults and children, and even a roller coaster. It was truly eye-opening. I had never seen such an amazing shopping mall in Japan. A theme park with a roller coaster inside the mall Now, there was something on the floor of the walkway in the theme park that excited me. A monument has been installed where the home plate of the Metropolitan Stadium once stood. It’s a monument in the shape of home plate. But unfortunately, I was the only one whose heart was excited by the home plate monument. Some people noticed and stopped, or glanced at it, but most people just walked past without noticing. Quite a few people even stepped on the home plate monument. "Hey! Don’t step on something sacred!" I thought, but there was nothing I could do. Everyone has different interests, after all. Someone trampling on the home plate monument My heart pounding, I approached the home plate monument. I stood quietly to the right of home plate. And thus, amidst the bustling theme park, I found myself standing in the right-handed batter’s box at the Metropolitan Stadium. I then cast my eyes in the direction of where the Metropolitan Stadium’s outfield seats once stood.... Me standing to the right of home plate On June 3, 1967, Minnesota Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew, standing in the right-handed batter’s box at Metropolitan Stadium, hit an incredible 520-foot home run. The outfield seat where the ball hit still remains. To commemorate Killebrew’s epic home run, the seat was relocated to its original location in the theme park. However, standing in the right-handed batter’s box at the old Metropolitan Stadium, I couldn’t see the seat because the theme park’s attractions blocked my view. I trudged toward the seat. The seat was displayed quite high up on the wall of the theme park, It was painted red. However, there was a water chute in front of the wall, so I could only see the red seat from afar. I tried to take a photo of the red seat, but no matter how I tried to zoom in on my digital camera, it only appeared tiny. The red painted seat I got on the water chute to get a closer shot of the red seat. Photography is prohibited in the water chute, but I pretended not to know that rule. The water chute was swaying, and the water was splashing, so my photos were out of focus and full of water droplets. I tried three times, but failed. The water chute attendant noticed my violation of the rules, but he didn’t get angry, just smiled and let me do what I wanted. Thank you! After leaving the theme park, I was taking pictures of the red seat from the third floor of the Mall of America when someone called out to me from behind. I turned around and saw three smiling black men, likely in their twenties, standing there. One of them said, "What are you so intent on taking pictures of?" I briefly explained the history of the red seat, and that I had come from Japan to see it. The men seemed to know nothing about the red seat, and were surprised to hear my story. They were also surprised that I had come all the way from Japan to see it so enthusiastically. One of the men said, "I’ll take a picture of you with the red seat in the background." Me with the red painted seat in the background After the photo shoot, I shook hands with all three men and said goodbye. Then I returned to the theme park and had a great time. My time at Mall of America has become a wonderful memory for me. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

This time, I’d like to talk about baseball slang. As a Japanese person living in Japan, I’m not sure how often what’s known as English baseball slang is actually used in the United States. Let me give you some examples of such slang. 1) The protagonist of the American film “Meet John Doe” (1941) starring Gary Cooper is a baseball player. As for what level of baseball player he is, the protagonist himself refers to himself as a “bush league” baseball player. In this old 1941 film, the term “bush league” is used to mean minor league, but is the term “bush league” still used in everyday life to mean minor league in the United States? DVD of the movie “Meet John Doe” (Japanese version) Speaking of which, the term “bush league” is included in English-Japanese dictionaries published in Japan, and is explained as minor league slang, but I think very few Major League Baseball fans in Japan are aware that “bush league” is slang for minor league. 2) In the American film “The Rookie” (2002) starring Dennis Quaid, there is a scene in which the protagonist, the manager of a high school baseball team, comes out of the dugout to announce a pitcher change during the game and shouts “Blue!” Furthermore, there is a scene in a minor league game where the manager comes out of the dugout to announce a pitcher change and shouts “Blue!” DVD of the movie “The Rookie” (Japanese version) I once read in a book that, because baseball umpires wear blue uniforms, “blue” has long been slang for umpire in the United States. Even in The Rookie, which was made in 2002, the term “blue” seems to be used to mean umpire, but is the term still actually used to mean umpire in the United States today? And is this something that all baseball fans in the United States know?   Speaking of which, I don’t think there are many Major League Baseball fans in Japan who know that blue is slang for umpire; it’s not even listed in English-Japanese dictionaries published in Japan. Now, onto the main topic of this article. “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” (2003) by Michael Lewis is a masterpiece of nonfiction. It was so fascinating that I read it in one sitting with excitement. I don’t think I need to explain what it’s about, since any baseball fan knows it. “MONEYBALL” by Michael Lewis (Japanese translation version, translated by Yu Nakayama, Random House Kodansha Co., Ltd., 2004) There’s just one thing that bothers me about this wonderful book: the title. I once read in a book that there is a slang term in the United States called “money ball,” which means “home run.” So, to me, the title doesn’t seem to fit the purpose and content of this book. To be clear, this is just my personal opinion and may be wrong. It seems that there are several other slang terms for “home run” in the United States that have existed for a long time. Let me introduce one more of them. “MADE IN AMERICA: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States” by Bill Bryson (1994) is a masterpiece that explains a great many words in various fields in the United States. It was while reading this book that I first learned of a slang term for home run: “dial 8.” ...In hotels in the United States, when making a long-distance call from a room, it was required to dial 8 first. So, “dial 8” became slang for a home run because the ball of a home run flied a long distance. However, I think this slang has fallen out of use recently, as I think that nowadays how to make a long-distance call changed and most hotels and motels in the United States require long distance calls to be made by dialing 9 first. “MADE IN AMERICA” by Bill Bryson (Japanese translation version, translated by Tetsuo Kinoshita, Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishers inc., 1997) But is “dial 8” still used as slang for a home run in the United States? And do all baseball fans in the United States know that “dial 8” is slang for a home run? (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

The home run-robbing catch, where an outfielder jumps at the fence to catch a ball that is far enough away to be a home run and make an out, is a truly fascinating play for fans. It may even be said that this is the play in outfield defense that delights fans the most. Unfortunately, however, home run-robbing catches are extremely rare in Japanese professional baseball. Because the outfield fences are so high in Japan, outfielders often can’t make home run-robbing catches simply by jumping. To pull it off, they have to climb the fence or even stand at the top of it. Here, I’d like to introduce a spectacular example of a home run-robbing catch made by actually climbing the fence and placing one foot on top of the fence. This home run-robbing catch was made by Hankyu Braves outfielder Masafumi Yamamori during a game between the Hankyu Braves (now the Orix Buffaloes) and the Lotte Orions (now the Chiba Lotte Marines) at Nishinomiya Stadium on September 16, 1981. This home run-robbing catch apparently stunned baseball figures in the United States, and the video of this play is now being shown at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. I was delighted to see the video playing when I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Below is the YouTube link for this home run-robbing catch, so please take a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv2nO7QHwCs On the other hand, at Major League Baseball stadiums, the outfield fences are often low, so it’s not that uncommon to see a home run-robbing catch. In the United States, children undoubtedly often watch these home run-robbing catch scenes on television, and it seems that it’s not uncommon for children to dream of one day becoming a Major League outfielder who can make a masterful home run-robbing catch. Here, I’d like to introduce a scene from the American film ““It Could Happen to You” (1994). The protagonist invites a group of young boys to Yankee Stadium, which he has rented out, and the boys want to make home run-robbing catches. However, because the boys are short, they can’t make home run-robbing catches by simply jumping. So what do they do? They grab the ball in their gloves, jump onto a trampoline placed in front of the fence, and have their photo taken as they jump over the fence. They want to go to such lengths to feel like they’ve made home run-robbing catches. DVD of the movie “It Could Happen to You” (Japanese version) When I was a child, I used to dream of becoming a professional baseball player and hitting a walk-off grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. But, in today’s Japan, where Major League Baseball games can be watched on television almost every day, children may dream of becoming a Major League outfielder and making a home run-robbing catch. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

In the summer of 2009, I finally got to visit Alvin, Texas, a place I had always wanted to visit. It's the hometown of Nolan Ryan. A legendary pitcher with seven no-hitters and a career total of 5,714 strikeouts, Nolan Ryan is a hero to me, and I continue to feel a strong affinity for him, as he was born in 1947, the same year as me. I'd also like to mention something else: I have a friend (a Japanese woman younger than me) who saw Nolan Ryan when he was still playing and fell in love with him, saying, “What a wonderful man!” and has been an avid Nolan Ryan fan ever since. Upon arriving in Alvin, I realized my mistake. There were several Nolan Ryan-related places I wanted to visit, but I'd arrived without researching exactly where they were in Alvin. So, I drove slowly, realizing I'd have no choice but to ask someone where they were. I found the perfect person to ask: a police officer standing next to a patrol car. He was a slightly overweight black man with a sharp gaze. He looked like he'd just finished dealing with a speeding car. When I got out of the car and approached the officer, he gave me a look that asked, “What can I do for you?” When I explained my purpose, he quickly replied, “Okay.” He then sat in the driver's seat of the patrol car and operated the onboard computer, displaying maps of the places I wanted to visit one after another on the screen. The officer rolled down the passenger-side window, so I could peer through and take notes. The officer who'd told me everything then asked me something unexpected: “Aren't you going to see the statue in front of City Hall?” I had no idea about this statue, so when I asked, “Where is City Hall?” the policeman said, “I'll take you there, so follow me.” So I got in my car and was led to City Hall by a police car. What a kind police officer! When I arrived at City Hall, sure enough, there was a bronze statue of Nolan Ryan in pitching pose in front of the building. I thought it was a lovely statue that recreated his pitching form from his active days. As I started to take pictures of the statue, a police officer said, “I'll take a picture of you with the statue.” I was very grateful for the offer, so I handed the officer my digital camera and stood next to the statue and posed. After the kind officer drove off, I realized my mistake. The computer in the patrol car was made by Panasonic, a Japanese company. I should have asked if all of Alvin's patrol cars were equipped with Panasonic computers. Big mistake! Me and the Nolan Ryan statue in front of City Hall I drove towards my next sightseeing spot, Texas Highway 288. Part of this highway is named the “Nolan Ryan Expressway”. To fully understand the interest of this name, I should explain a little. Nolan Ryan made his major league debut with the New York Mets in 1966, but didn't perform particularly well. However, after transferring to the California Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels) in 1972, his talent blossomed. He threw fastballs exceeding 100 mph , and even earned himself the nickname “California Express”. Knowing this nickname, the name of the road, “Nolan Ryan Expressway”, seems stylish and lovely. As I got onto Highway 288, I thought, “That's not good.” I wanted to park on the shoulder of the road and take a photo of the “Nolan Ryan Express” sign, but there wasn't enough space on the shoulder. That meant I had no choice but to drive along and take the photo. And because it was a highway, I had to go at a pretty high speed. I wondered if taking a photo was worth risking my life for, but I decided to give it a try. As I got closer to the sign, I raised my digital camera and prepared to take a quick photo. However, a car passed the sign before I could press the shutter. I thought about trying again, but decided against it because I was so scared, I didn't want to lose my life over something like this, and I realized the difference between being bold and being reckless. I decided to get off the highway and take the photo from a side road, looking up at the sign. Even on a side road, it's dangerous to drive along and take photos. However, when I stopped at a red light, I was able to see the sign. So I took a quick photo. ...The middle-aged woman in the car next to me was looking at me suspiciously, so I looked back and smiled, but she completely ignored my smile. “Nolan Ryan Expressway” sign My next stop was the “Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center” on the campus of Alvin Community College. In front of the center stood a bronze statue of Nolan Ryan, taking off his hat and addressing the crowd. Major League Baseball buffs will recognize Nolan Ryan just by seeing this pose, as it's a fairly famous Nolan Ryan pose. Behind the statue were the American flag, the Texas state flag, and the flags of the Major League Baseball teams Nolan Ryan played for. Nolan Ryan statue in front of the Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center After paying the $5 admission fee, I went inside. It was a very impressive, spacious exhibit center. By walking through the exhibits in order, I was able to retrace Nolan Ryan's footsteps. Photographs and baseball equipment showcasing his achievements were on display one after another. Of all the Major League Baseball memorial museums and exhibit centers I have visited, this one had the most extensive and comprehensive collection of exhibits. Inside the Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center. A large space is filled with photographs and various items. Exhibition sections related to Nolan Ryan's time with the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. An exhibition section featuring photos, uniforms, and baseball equipment from his time with the Rangers. His uniform numbers for his three teams. All of them are retired. (From left: 30 for the Angels, 34 for the Rangers, and 34 for the Astros) I had planned to explore the exhibits to my heart's content, but... There was one other couple inside the center besides me. Judging by their ages, I thought they were father and daughter, but after a while I realized that wasn't the case. They started making out. It seemed they were a rich old man and his young mistress. “You have no right to be making out in such a sacred place!” I thought annoyed, so I pointed my camera at them and pretended to take a photo. This harassment worked perfectly. They hurried outside in a panic. Now I was alone and could look around the exhibits to my heart's content. The last place I visited was “Nolan Ryan Junior High School”, which had just opened the previous year, in 2008. Although a police officer in a patrol car had told me where this junior high school was, I got lost on the way. So I parked my car at a gas station and asked a middle-aged white woman working there. She replied, “I've never heard of such a junior high school.” Surprised, I said, “What? You don't know? You live in Alvin, don't you?” “I just work in Alvin. I don't live there.” Perhaps feeling sorry for me as I was standing there in a daze, disappointed, the woman continued, “I'm sure the owner of the barber shop over there knows where it is.” It was a small barber shop. I opened the door and went inside, and the middle-aged white man who seemed to be the owner was cutting the hair of a middle-aged white male customer, and looked at me with a puzzled expression. I knew it was rude of me to ask him while he was working, but I asked anyway. The owner stopped what he was doing and politely explained the location of the junior high school. I thanked the owner and apologized to the customer whose hair was being cut, and was about to leave when the customer called out to me. “Where are you from?” I answered, “From Japan.” “Really?” “Yeah.” “Is Nolan Ryan famous in Japan?” “Of course!” “That makes me happy.” Finally, I arrived at the junior high school. To a Japanese sensibility, it's such a beautiful and impressive building that it's hard to believe it's a school. Perhaps because it was the middle of summer vacation, it was awfully quiet and not a soul in sight. So I continued to take photos in silence from various angles. Nolan Ryan Junior High School I think it's amazing that a junior high school, and a public one at that, is named after a Major League Baseball player. I think this alone shows how proud the people of Alvin are of Nolan Ryan. In Japan, it's unthinkable to name a public junior high school after a professional baseball player. I think there would be fierce opposition to doing so. There's an epilogue to “Nolan Ryan Junior High School”. On May 12, 2016, I was road tripping in the United States. That night, I was watching the New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals game on TV at a motel. The Yankees' starting pitcher was Nathan Eovaldi (26 years old at the time; Eovaldi now plays for the Texas Rangers). The play-by-play announcer kept repeating the same thing about Eovaldi: “He's from Alvin, Texas, Nolan Ryan's hometown.” As I listened to the play-by-play announcer's repeated introduction, something struck me: Did Eovaldi graduate from Nolan Ryan Junior High School? I looked it up online. I found out that Eovaldi graduated from Alvin High School, just like Nolan Ryan, but I just couldn't figure out the name of the junior high school he attended. So I decided to try another method. I sent an inquiry email to the Yankees, and faxed inquiries to Alvin High School and Nolan Ryan Middle School (I found fax numbers, but not email addresses, on the Internet). But I received no response from any of them. Did they think I was creepy for wanting to know which junior high school Eovaldi attended? Then I realized my mistake. “Nolan Ryan Junior High School” opened in 2008. That means there's no way that 26-year-old Eovaldi in 2016 was studying at Nolan Ryan Junior High School. I have a bad habit of obsessing over things that don't matter to other people and trying to find out every last one. I need to reflect on this. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

Munetaka Murakami, a talented hitter who played in Japanese Professional baseball, will be playing for the Chicago White Sox starting this year. I imagine that baseball fans in the United States don't know much about what kind of baseball player Munetaka Murakami is. So, I'd like to talk about him from my own personal perspective. A magazine featuring all 56 home runs hit by Munetaka Murakami in 2022 (in Japanese, 2022, TAKARAJIMASHA, INC., Tokyo, Japan) When talking about Murakami in Japan, the first thing that comes to mind is probably his Triple Crown win in 2022. So, I'd like to start with that. Including Murakami, there are six Japanese players who have won the Triple Crown at least once in Japanese Professional Baseball. Two other foreign players have also won the Triple Crown in Japanese Professional Baseball. (These are Boomer Wells, who came to Japan after playing a total of two years with the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins, and Randy Bass, who came to Japan after playing a total of six years with five teams, primarily the San Diego Padres.)  Of the six Japanese players, four were in their 30s to win the Triple Crown (the two foreign players were also in their 30s). Only two were in their 20s: Murakami and Hiromitsu Ochiai. Hiromitsu Ochiai is, in my opinion, the best right-handed hitter in the history of Japanese professional baseball, and the only player in the history of Japanese professional baseball to have won the Triple Crown three times (even Sadaharu Oh, who is famous in the United States, only won the Triple Crown twice), and he was 28 years old the first time. Murakami, on the other hand, was 22 years old. This means that Murakami is the youngest Triple Crown winner in the history of Japanese professional baseball. For reference, let me mention the ages of MLB Triple Crown winners. Of the 12 players who have won the Triple Crown at least once, 10 were in their 20s. The remaining two were in their 30s: Lou Gehrig, who was 31, and Frank Robinson, who was 30. In other words, unlike Japanese professional baseball, many Triple Crown winners in MLB are in their 20s. The youngest player to win the Triple Crown in MLB was 22-year-old Ty Cobb. He was the same age as Murakami when he won the Triple Crown in Japan. An excellent biography of Ty Cobb, “Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty” by Charles Leerhsen (2016, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks) Of the 12 MLB Triple Crown winners, four are players who throw right-handed and bat left-handed: Ty Cobb, Chuck Klein, Ted Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski. Meanwhile, of the six Japanese Triple Crown winners, Murakami is the only one who throws right-handed and bats left-handed. Many people may be wondering what this means, so let me explain. In the past, many of Japanese players who throw right-handed and bat left-handed took advantage of their proximity to first base to increase their infield hits and raise their batting average, but few hit many long hits like home runs. Since 1950, when the two-league system began in Japanese professional baseball, only seven Japanese players who throw right-handed and bat left-handed led their league in home runs. Of those seven, only two came in the 20th century, and five came in the 21st century. One of those five is Murakami. Furthermore, of the Japanese players who have hit 50 or more home runs in a single season in Japanese Professional Baseball, only two have been players who throw right-handed and bat left-handed. Both of them achieved this in the 21st century. Hideki Matsui, who played in the MLB for a total of ten years, mainly for the New York Yankees, achieved it in 2002 before moving to MLB, and Murakami achieved it in 2022. For comparison, in MLB, of the players who have hit 50 or more home runs in a single season, nine have been players who throw right-handed and bat left-handed. Of these nine, the first to achieve this was Johnny Mize in 1947. In Japan, it was generally accepted that a player who throws right-handed and bats left-handed Japanese could have a high batting average but not hit many home runs, making it impossible for him to win the Triple Crown. However, in 2022, Murakami maintained a high batting average and hit many home runs, becoming the first Japanese player who throws right-handed and bats left-handed in Japanese professional baseball history to win the Triple Crown. Murakami's record of 56 home runs that year is the highest number of home runs in a single season by a Japanese player in Japanese professional baseball. When it comes to Japanese players who throw right-handed and bat left-handed and hit many home runs, Shohei Ohtani is surely the first name that comes to mind for many people. There's no doubt that Shohei Ohtani is the greatest hitter who throws right-handed and bats left-handed Japan has ever produced, but during his time in Japanese Professional Baseball, he never led the league in home runs, nor did he hit more than 50 home runs—both of which he achieved after moving to MLB.  The cover of a unique and interesting book that teaches English through the achievement of Shohei Ohtani (2024, Author: Masaaki Tachikawa, Publisher: Asukashinsha, Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) It's only since the 21st century that a number of Japanese players who throw right-handed and bat left-handed and hit many home runs have emerged, including Ohtani and Murakami. I plan to publish a future column that explains in detail why such batters were so rare in the 20th century and why their numbers have increased since the 21st century, along with the issue of switch hitters... Unlike in MLB, in Japanese Professional Baseball, a switch hitter who hits many home runs has yet to appear. I hope you've figured out by now that Murakami is the youngest Triple Crown winner in Japanese Professional Baseball history, the only Japanese player to win the Triple Crown as a player who throws right-handed and bats left-handed, and the holder of the record for most home runs by a Japanese player in a single season with 56. Many people point out that Murakami strikes out a lot, and say that this is a problem. It's true that Murakami strikes out a lot. He led the league in strikeouts in four of his eight seasons in Japanese Professional Baseball. However, his strikeout rate fluctuates significantly from season to season. Calculating his AB/SO (number of at-bats divided by number of strikeouts, indicating strikeout frequency) over the eight seasons yields the following results: 2.40 (2018), 2.78 (2019), 3.69 (2020), 3.76 (2021), 3.88 (2022), 2.95 (2023), 2.78 (2024), 2.92 (2025). In 2022, when he hit 56 home runs and won the Triple Crown, he struck out once every 3.88 at-bats, a decent number. However, his rate has worsened since the following year. It's unclear why this happened, but perhaps he began to feel the pressure of winning the Triple Crown. However, some say that the reason is that when he played for Japan in the WBC in the spring of 2023 and witnessed the incredible batting skills of Major Leaguers, including his teammate Shohei Ohtani, he became keenly aware that his own batting level was not up to par with theirs, which caused him to become confused and worried. Whatever the reason, I hope Murakami can return to his 2022 form and strike out even less. Murakami turned 26 in February of this year. That's a good age for a major league rookie, and some people believe that in the United States, it's desirable to train in the minor leagues and then be promoted to the major leagues by the age of 26. For reference, here are the ages of some notable Japanese major leaguers when they made their major league debut: Hideo Nomo, 26; Ichiro, 27; Hideki Matsui, 28; Yu Darvish, 25; Shohei Ohtani, 23; and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25. Murakami is loved by many Japanese people. The “kami” part of his name, Murakami, is pronounced the same as the Japanese word for “god.” When you add the Japanese honorific “sama” to this “kami,” it becomes “kami-sama.” Japanese people often refer to God as “kami-sama” with respect. Japanese baseball fans also call Murakami “mura-kami-sama,” meaning “Mura-God.” This phrase, “mura-kami-sama,” has been recognized as the most popular phrase in Japan in 2022. This shows how much Murakami is loved and highly anticipated by many Japanese people. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

In my previous column, I wrote about my visit to the house where Joe Jackson spent his final years, which is preserved in the city of Greenville, South Carolina. The couple who manage the house told me the following about the house: The house where Jackson spent his final years was originally located about five kilometers away, but it was moved to its current location in 2006, 55 years after Jackson’s death. The reason for this was that an impressive ballpark, Fluor Field at the West End, was completed that year, and it was thought it would be better to have the house nearby. So now Jackson’s house is located directly across the road from the impressive ballpark. ...I actually had toured the ballpark before touring the inside of Jackson’s house. Fluor Field at the West End I arrived at Jackson’s house on Thursday, but couldn’t go inside; it was only open on Saturdays. So, that day, I was leisurely admiring Jackson’s house from outside. Then, I heard a voice call from behind me: “Hey, hey.” When I turned around, a smiling, elderly white man stood there and started talking to me. “You’re Japanese, aren’t you?” I was surprised by the sudden question, but I answered, “Yes, I am.” “I thought so. My son is married to a Japanese woman.” The elderly man showed me a photo of his granddaughter on his cell phone. Shocked by the sudden and unexpected turn of events, I remained silent, but then I regained my composure and said, “What a cute granddaughter you have.” The man was pleased. After we had been chatting amiably for a while, looking at photos, the man said, “Let me show you around the ballpark.” The ticket booth at the ballpark directly across the road the man pointed to was closed, and only part of the entrance gate was open. In front of the entrance gate, there were only people setting up tents for food stalls for tonight’s game. There was no way I could enter the ballpark without permission. Or perhaps the man had some special connection to the ballpark, which is why he was allowed in? Without regard for my feelings, the man briskly walked through the partially open entrance gate. Wow, he can really get in! Well, I guess I’ll go in too. A street stall tent was set up in front of the entrance gate of Fluor Field at the West End, which was partially open. I went through the gate and up the stairs, and emerged into the aisle of the spectator seats. Below me, the green grass shone in the sunlight, creating a beautiful field. There were a few people on the field getting ready for tonight’s game. The ballpark, Fluor Field at the West End, is the home stadium of the Greenville Drive, a minor league team affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. The man told me that it was built to resemble Fenway Park, the home stadium of the parent team, the Red Sox. It certainly does look surprisingly similar. But then a question suddenly occurred to me. There’s a green wall on the left field that mimics Fenway Park’s giant left field wall (widely known by its nickname, the Green Monster), but it looks lower than the one at Fenway Park. I asked the man, “Isn’t the Green Monster lower than the original one?” The man looked a little surprised, and also impressed. “You noticed it well. It’s definitely lower than the original one. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to see the neighboring building very well. But the other dimensions of this ballpark are the same as Fenway Park.” The man then pointed to the right field side and added, “That Pesky’s pole is also the same dimensions as the one at Fenway Park.” On the left side of the beautifully maintained field is the Green Monster. The Green Monster is lower than the one at Fenway Park, so you can see the neighboring building very well. The right field foul pole at Fenway Park is named “Pesky’s pole” after Boston Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky. I wasn’t sure if the right field foul pole the man was pointing to was the same dimensions as Pesky’s pole at Fenway Park, but as the man said, they were probably the same dimensions. (Later, I looked up the dimensions of the Green Monsters at Fenway Park and Fluor Field at the West End. The one at Fenway Park is 37 feet tall, while the one at Fluor Field at the West End is 30 feet.) After touring the ballpark for a while, the man said, “Please stay and look around for a little while.” The man disappeared, but soon returned with something in his hand. “This is a souvenir for you.” It was a red T-shirt with the Greenville Drive logo on it. I gratefully accepted it. I didn’t ask about the man’s connection to the ballpark. I thought it would be rude to ask when he himself wouldn’t say anything. When we finished our tour and parted ways in front of the gate, the man began chatting with the people setting up tents for food stalls for that night’s game. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

Joe Jackson is one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history. His career batting average of .356 is the third-best in history. However, he was permanently banned for his involvement in fixing games in the 1919 World Series. There are many different opinions and endless debate about whether Jackson actually participated in fixing games. If he wasn’t actually involved, then Jackson would be a tragic hero, and many fans think so. I’m one of them. Now, it was the spring of 2014. I was on a road trip in Iowa in the Midwest of the United States, and one morning I was sitting in a motel, unfolding a map and thinking about where I should go next. Then, I suddenly realized, “Today is Tuesday! That means I can get there by Friday night. Okay, this time I’m definitely going to go there!” The house where Joe Jackson spent his final years remains in Greenville, a city in South Carolina in the southern United States, and is now a museum. I had tried to visit the museum twice before, but it was only open on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and I was never able to fit it into my schedule both times. But this time, it looked like I could finally make it. Iowa in the Midwest and South Carolina in the southeast are quite far apart. But it’s not a big distance for me. All I have to do is drive, and it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I like driving like that. I drove and drove, and arrived in front of the museum (the house where Joe Jackson spent his final years) on Thursday afternoon, earlier than expected. It’s not very big, but it’s a beautiful, single-story house that’s been well-maintained. Since it was Thursday, I couldn’t go in. I’d have to wait until Saturday. The house where Joe Jackson lived So, I stayed in a motel for two nights. Then, at exactly 10:00 AM on Saturday, I knocked on the door of the house where Jackson spent his final years. A refined old lady came out with a kind smile and spoke to me in a gentle voice. “Makio?” “Yes.” “We’ve been waiting for you. Come on in. I’m so glad you came all the way from Japan.” I had contacted her in advance by email to make sure that it wasn’t a special closing day or something. When I went inside, the old lady’s husband offered to show me around the museum. Feeling embarrassed, I said, “Nice to meet you,” He replied with a smile, “I used to live in Wakkanai, Hokkaido.” I wasn’t surprised at all to hear this out of the blue. Having driven all over the United States, I’ve heard similar stories all over the place. So, I asked the husband right away. “Do you work in connection with a military base?” “Yes.” There is no US military base in Wakkanai, Hokkaido now, but there once was. I’d like to explain something here. Many US servicemembers served at US military bases established in several parts of Japan after World War II. These servicemen returned to the United States and are living all over the country. They often greet me, a Japanese person on a road trip, in a friendly manner. I am very happy that they do so. Still, it really makes me realize how small the world is, being shown around the house where a famous Major League Baseball player once lived by someone with ties to Japan. After showing me around the house, the husband said, “I think you should feel free to look around on your own.” This kind of consideration, without being too intrusive, is truly appreciated. I was able to comfortably explore the five rooms of various sizes, from corner to corner. There were a great many photographs and mementos on display. One photo of Jackson as a boy, born into an economically disadvantaged family and working in a factory without a proper education; another photo of Jackson looking full of energy after finding his calling as a baseball player; a photo of the surprisingly heavy bat with a thick grip that Jackson, with his long arms and large hands, used; and a photo of Jackson’s unique batting form, which is said to have been imitated by Babe Ruth. All of them moved me, but I was most moved when I entered one room.  A photo of Joe Jackson as a boy working in a factory The heavy bat with thick-grip that Joe Jackson used A photo of Joe Jackson’s unique batting form It was the room where Jackson, aged 64, took his last breath in 1951. There were only photographs and mementos, but no bed. As I was in that room, I was struck with a deep thought. What thoughts did Jackson have as he passed away in this room? Regardless of whether he really took part in match-fixing, it’s clear that he did something that could easily raise suspicion. Taking all of that into account, what state of mind was Jackson in when he passed away? No matter how much I think about it, there’s no way I can know. But there are some things I can understand. The sense of loss he must have felt when the glory he achieved through hard work despite growing up in underprivileged circumstances was gone, and the despair he must have felt when he could no longer do what he wanted to do.　 The room where Joe Jackson died   As I was holding back tears in that room, thinking about Jackson’s life, I heard a surprisingly cheerful voice coming from the next room. Wondering who it was, I went into the next room and found a male tourist talking to the old lady. He was a middle-aged American man, and looked cheerful and friendly. I love talking to men like this, so I approached him, and the old lady thoughtfully introduced me to that cheerful man. “He is visiting from Japan.” The cheerful man immediately started talking to me, “So, you know Balentien, right?” Balentien? What’s that? As I stood there dumbfounded, the cheerful man continued, “Balentien is a friend of mine, and he became a champion in Japan, right?” I finally understood. He was talking about Wladimir Balentien. After playing for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds for a total of three years, Balentien came to Japan in 2011 and joined a Japanese baseball team. In 2013, he hit 60 home runs, a new Japanese professional baseball record. I wasn’t sure if “champion” was the right word, but I knew I had to please him, so I answered, “Yes, Balentien achieved an incredible record in Japan and became a champion.” But I felt that this answer alone might not be enough to please him. So I thought about what else I could say, and then I found something good. Right next to me was a picture of Jackson in his prime talking with Babe Ruth. Pointing to the picture, I said, “Babe Ruth was the first player in the Major Leagues to hit 60 home runs in a season, and Balentien was the first player in Japan to hit 60 home runs in a season.” The man was delighted. Joe Jackson talking with Babe Ruth (left) Still, I was surprised at how small the world really is. In a small city in the United States, I met a friend of a player who had set a new Japanese professional baseball record. As I left the house where Joe Jackson lived, I headed to my car, remembering Jackson’s famous words, which were on display inside the house: “God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise.” A display of Joe Jackson’s famous words (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

This is a sequel to my last column. In my last column, I wrote about my personal analysis of the “rankings in eight batting categories.” Every year, I research each player’s league ranking in eight batting categories: hits, walks, home runs, runs, RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. I believe that players who achieve the top five in the league in all eight categories can be considered the best hitters in MLB. This is merely one example of what kind of players are considered the best hitters, as there are other ways to evaluate hitters. However, I think that my perspective of being in the top five in the league in all eight categories can be used as a reference when considering the best hitters. In the modern era of MLB, which has a history of over 120 years, only 23 players have finished in the top five in the league in all eight categories at least once. I introduced a list of these 23 players last time. I consider these 23 players to be the best hitters in MLB. This time, I’d like to introduce players who have at least once finished in the top 10 in the league in all eight batting categories. However, I’m excluding the players I introduced last time who finished in the top 5 in the league in all eight categories at least once. In other words, I’m including players who never finished in the top 5 in the league in all eight categories, but who finished in the top 10 in the league in all eight categories at least once. For example, Ted Williams, who finished in the top 5 in the league in all eight categories six times, also finished in the top 10 in the league in all eight categories three times in addition to those six times. In total, he finished in the top 10 nine times, but I’m not including Ted Williams in the list of this time. Here are some other similar examples: Lou Gehrig, who finished in the top 5 six times, also finished in the top 10 three times, for a total of nine top ten finishes. Rogers Hornsby, who finished in the top 5 three times, also finished in the top 10 five times, for a total of eight top ten finishes. Babe Ruth, who finished in the top five three times, also had four top ten finishes, for a total of seven top ten finishes. Jimmie Foxx, who also finished in the top five three times, also had two top ten finishes, for a total of five top ten finishes. None of these players are included in the list of this time. There are 67 players who have never finished in the top 5 in the league in all eight batting categories, but have finished in the top 10 in the league in all eight categories at least once. I believe these 67 players can be considered great hitters, second only to the 23 who finished in the top five in the league in all eight categories at least once. I’m sure many of you looked at the previous list of 23 players and thought, “That player isn’t on it!” Please take a look and see if such a player is among the 67 players this time. If he is not on it, it doesn’t mean that he is not a great hitter, because my perspective is merely one way of evaluating players. So, below is a list of those 67 players, along with the years in which they finished in the top 10 in the league in all eight categories. Honus Wagner 1901, 1908, 1909 Ed Delahanty 1901, 1902 Elmer Flick 1901, 1905 Sam Crawford 1902 Jimmy Sheckard 1903 George Stone 1906 Harry Davis 1906 Frank Chance 1906 Ed Konetchy 1909 Nap Lajoie 1910 Joe Jackson 1913 Eddie Collins 1915 Ross Youngs 1920 Ken Williams 1921, 1922, 1923 Jack Fournier 1921, 1924, 1925 Harry Heilmann 1923, 1924, 1927 Cy Williams 1924 Kiki Cuyler 1925 Lefty O’Doul 1929 Hack Wilson 1930 Don Hurst 1932 Mel Ott 1934, 1942 Charlie Gehringer 1935 Hank Greenberg 1935, 1937, 1940 Arky Vaughan 1935 Bob Johnson 1939, 1944 Enos Slaughter 1942 Whitey Kurowski 1946 Ralph Kiner 1947 Lou Boudreau 1948 Monte Irvin 1951 Duke Snider 1953, 1954 Ted Kluszewski 1954 Al Kaline 1955 Willie Mays 1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963 Roy Sievers 1957 Eddie Mathews 1959, 1961 Norm Cash 1961 Bill White 1963 Rocky Colavito 1965 Harmon Killebrew 1966 Ron Santo 1966 Frank Howard 1969 Dick Allen 1972 Jeff Burroughs 1974 Dave Winfield 1979 Dale Murphy 1983, 1985 Eddie Murray 1984 George Brett 1985 Barry Bonds 1993 Tim Salmon 1995 Mo Vaughn 1996 Carlos Delgado 2000 Todd Helton 2000, 2001 Jason Giambi 2001 Luis Gonzalez 2001 Sammy Sosa 2001 Alex Rodriguez 2005 Derrek Lee 2005 Albert Pujols 2005, 2009, 2010 Joey Votto 2010,2017 Matt Kemp 2011 Bryce Harper 2015 Ronald Acuña Jr. 2023 Mookie Betts 2023 Juan Soto 2023 Marcell Ozuna 2024 A few things I would like to mention here. 1) Willie Mays is the player who has achieved this most frequently, achieving it six times. Of those six times, there were two years in which he was in the top five in seven categories but sixth or lower in just one category. In 1955, he was eighth in walks alone, and in 1958, he was sixth in hits alone. A great book about Willie Mays “24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid” by Willie Mays and John Shea (2021, St. Martin’s Griffin) Following Willie Mays’ six achievements are six other players who have achieved it three times: Honus Wagner, Ken Williams, Jack Fournier, Harry Heilmann, Hank Greenberg, and Albert Pujols. Looking at Albert Pujols, in the three times he ranked in the top 10 in the league in all eight categories, he ranked in the top five in seven categories and sixth in only one. In 2005, he was sixth in walks only, in 2007 he was sixth in hits only, and in 2010 he was sixth in batting average only. A wonderful book about Albert Pujols “Pujols: more than the game” by Scott Lamb & Tim Ellsworth (2012, Thomas Nelson) As the examples of Willie Mays and Albert Pujols show, among the 67 players there are some who are just one step away from achieving the top five in the league in all eight categories. 2) Among active players, there are five: Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts, Juan Soto, and Marcell Ozuna. Of these five, two were in the top five in the league in seven categories but sixth or lower in one category. In 2015, Bryce Harper was in the top five in seven categories and ninth in hits only. In 2023, Mookie Betts was in the top five in seven categories and sixth in home runs only. Of these five, two, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto, are still in their 20s. These two may achieve this feat many times in the future. They may even finish in the top five in all eight categories. A concise but well-written biography of Juan Soto by Clayton Geoffreys (2023) A concise but well-written biography of Ronald Acuña Jr. by Clayton Geoffreys (2022) 3) Of the 12 players who have won the Triple Crown at least once in the modern era of Major League Baseball, 10 finished in the top five in the league in all eight batting categories, and one did not finish in the top five but finished in the top ten in the league in all eight batting categories. Joe Medwick is the only player to have won the Triple Crown, but he has never finished in the top ten in the league in all eight batting categories. The reason he was unable to finish in the top ten in the league in all eight categories was because he had few walks. There was a year when he was not in the top ten in walks alone, and a year when his walks and on-base percentage were not in the top ten. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

I’ ve been steadily conducting various analyses of Major League Baseball records for a long time, but they’ re all based on my own personal preferences. One of these analyses is the “rankings in eight batting categories.” Each year, I examine each player’ s league ranking in eight categories: hits, walks, home runs, runs, RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. It’ s difficult to achieve high rankings in all eight categories. For example, a player who hits a lot of home runs will walk more because pitchers avoid challenging him, but he will have fewer opportunities to hit, so his number of hits will decrease. Also, even if a player takes a short rest due to injury, his batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage will not decrease, so there will not be much change in his ranking, but his number of hits, walks, home runs, runs, and RBIs may be overtaken by other players, causing his ranking to drop. It is extremely difficult to finish in the top five in the league in all eight categories, and only extremely amazing players can achieve this. I believe that players who achieve this can be called the best hitters in Major League Baseball. Just to be clear, I am not saying that only players who finish in the top five in all eight categories are the best hitters in Major League Baseball. There are various ways to evaluate hitters, and what people emphasize in evaluations will naturally differ from person to person. However, I think my perspective of finishing in the top five in the league in all eight categories will be helpful when considering who the best hitters in Major League Baseball are. Now, in the modern era of MLB, which has a history of over 120 years, only 23 players have achieved a league ranking in the top five in all eight categories. Below are the 23 hitters, along with the years they achieved this. Ty Cobb 1910 Sherry Magee 1910 Tris Speaker 1912, 1923 Babe Ruth 1923, 1924, 1931 Rogers Hornsby 1925, 1927, 1929 Lou Gehrig 1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934 Chuck Klein 1932 Jimmie Foxx 1932, 1933, 1938 Johnny Mize 1939 Ted Williams 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951 Stan Musial 1949, 1951 Al Rosen 1953 Mickey Mantle 1956 Frank Robinson 1962, 1966 Hank Aaron 1963 Carl Yastrzemski 1967 Frank Thomas 1994 Jeff Bagwell 1994 Miguel Cabrera 2013 Paul Goldschmidt 2015 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2021 Aaron Judge 2022, 2024, 2025 Shohei Ohtani 2024 There are a few things I would like to say about the 23 hitters mentioned above. The 23 hitters finished in the top five in the league in all eight categories a total of 44 times. The players who achieved this most frequently are Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams, each with six. No player has achieved it four or five times, so you can see how outstanding these two are by having six. A wonderful biography of Lou Gehrig by Jonathan Eig (Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2006) Revised edition of the classic “The Science of Hitting” by Ted Williams and John Underwood (Simon & Schuster, 2013) The most consecutive years is three, by Lou Gehrig. There are players who have finished in the top three in the league in all eight categories (some have achieved this multiple times): Lou Gehrig (twice), Jimmie Foxx (twice), Ted Williams (three times), Hank Aaron (once), Frank Robinson (once), Miguel Cabrera (once), Shohei Ohtani (once), Aaron Judge (once). As you can see, the most is Ted Williams with three. Of course, there is no god-like player who has finished first in the league in all eight categories. However, in 1942, Ted Williams finished in the top two in all eight categories, bringing him one step closer to becoming a god. I thought that no one would ever achieve such an incredible feat again, but then, in 2024, 75 years after Ted Williams, one player did achieve it: Shohei Ohtani. A press photo collection of Shohei Ohtani from the first half of 2024 (in Japanese, Sports Nippon Newspapers Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 2024) Furthermore, there were two years in which Ted Williams was third in hits but first in the other seven categories. Among active players, four have achieved this: Paul Goldschmidt, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Aaron Judge, and Shohei Ohtani. I would like to comment briefly on each of these four. A concise but well-written biography of Aaron Judge by Clayton Geoffreys (2020) A concise but well-written biography of Paul Goldschmidt by Clayton Geoffreys (2024) When Paul Goldschmidt ranked in the top five in the league in all eight categories in 2015, it seems I was the only one who thought, “Goldschmidt did it! Amazing!” It seems that other fans and experts alike didn’ t realize that Goldschmidt had accomplished it. I think the reason is that Goldschmidt wasn’ t number one in any category. He’ s not the first player to finish in the top five in all eight categories without being number one in any of them. Two other great players in Major League history have also accomplished the same thing: Tris Speaker in 1923 and Lou Gehrig in 1932. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the youngest active player to finish in the top five in all eight categories. While the other three are already in their 30s, Guerrero Jr. turns 27 this year. It will be exciting to see if he will again finish in the top five in all eight categories. Aaron Judge has already finished in the top five in all eight categories three times. If Judge achieves this feat again to bring his total to four, he will be solely in third place in the number of achievements. If he achieves this year, he will tie Lou Gehrig’ s record of three consecutive years. Judge turns 34 this year, but his prime is still likely to be here, so it will be interesting to see how many more times he can achieve this feat. Other examples include Tris Speaker, who achieved it at age 35, and Babe Ruth, who did so at age 36. As mentioned above, in 2024, Shohei Ohtani achieved the remarkable feat of finishing in the top two in the league in all eight categories, the first and only player to do so since Ted Williams in 1949. This means that it’ s not surprising that Shohei Ohtani could finish in the top five in all eight categories multiple times like Ted Williams, and it’ s reasonable to assume that he will. However, he has only finished in the top five in all eight categories once, in 2024, and he may not be able to achieve this feat again. The reason for this, of course, is that Shohei Ohtani is a two-way player. In 2024, Shohei Ohtani achieved this feat because he focused on batting, but if he were to return to being a two-way player, it may be difficult for him to finish in the top five in all eight categories. However, in 2024, Shohei Ohtani clearly demonstrated that he has the ability to match Ted Williams’ s feat if he focuses on batting. This is noteworthy and something that we should never forget. Finally, let me say something about the relationship between finishing in the top five in the league in all eight categories and winning the batting Triple Crown (top in batting average, home runs, and RBIs). In the modern era of Major League Baseball, there have been Triple Crown winners who never finished in the top five in the league in all eight categories: Nap Lajoie and Joe Medwick. However, all five Triple Crown winners after World War II finished in the top five in the league in all eight categories: Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski and Miguel Cabrera. However, there have been also players who finished in the top five in the league in all eight categories but did not become Triple Crown winners. I will be keeping an eye on whether a Triple Crown winner will emerge in the future, and if so, whether that player will finish in the top five in the league in all eight categories.   (To be continued in the next column) (If I’ ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know, I’ ll try to make corrections or additions.)

I was eight years old in 1955. That fall, the New York Yankees came to Japan to play against Japanese professional baseball teams. I watched one of those games live at the stadium and was captivated by the Yankees' play. I became an avid Major League Baseball fan, and the Yankees who visited Japan that time remain unforgettable to me. Among them was Yogi Berra, the legendary catcher whose name will forever be remembered in Major League Baseball history. In August 2017, I visited New York City for the first time in a long while and also went to Montclair, New Jersey, which is nearby. Montclair is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, with a population of approximately 40,000, and could also be considered within commuting distance of New York City. “The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center” and “Yogi Berra Stadium” opened on the Montclair State University campus in 1998. I made the trip to Montclair to visit them. Yogi Berra passed away in 2015, two years before my visit to Montclair in 2017, at the age of 90. Yogi Berra was born and raised in Missouri, not Montclair. However, after getting married, he settled in Montclair and lived there with his family for many years. It seems there was a time when he commuted from his home to Yankee Stadium. It's likely that this connection is why there's a museum named after him in Montclair. As you can see, Yogi Berra is not a graduate of Montclair State University (he did not study at any university), yet a museum named after him is located on the Montclair State University campus. I think this is a great example of the respect that universities show to outstanding athletes in the United States. Unfortunately, I don't think there are any universities in Japan that do this. Now, I arrived at Montclair State University around 10:30 on Sunday, August 20th. The campus was beautiful and spacious, filled with enviable greenery, and in one corner was the “Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center”. It was a very attractive building with a glass exterior, and a bronze statue of Yogi Berra was placed in front of the edge of the building. Exterior of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center A bronze statue of Yogi Berra is located at the edge of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center. Bronze statue of Yogi Berra Right next to the museum was “Yogi Berra Stadium”. It's a magnificent baseball stadium that is the home field of the Montclair State University baseball team. When I visited in 2017, it was also the home field of the independent league team, the New Jersey Jackals, but it appears the Jackals' home field has now moved to another location. The front of Yogi Berra Stadium. When I visited, it was also the home stadium of the New Jersey Jackals. Interior of Yogi Berra Stadium Since there was still over an hour until the museum opened at noon, I decided to have a coffee in the campus cafeteria while I waited. When I entered the cafeteria, I found it to be buffet-style, with an incredibly wide variety of menu items that would be unthinkable at a Japanese university. I was just hoping to have a coffee, but the food on display immediately whetted my appetite, so I paid $10.15 and ate to my heart's content. It was summer vacation, and a Sunday, so there were only a few other customers in the spacious cafeteria. So, I ate without worrying about what others thought, and everything on the menu was absolutely delicious. 12 o'clock. Filled, I returned to the museum, paid the $5 admission fee, and went inside. The young black woman working as the receptionist smiled when I spoke to her, so I decided to ask her a few questions. She was very kind and answered all my questions. She explained to me why there's a museum named after Yogi Berra in Montclair, even though it's not his hometown. She also explained why it's not just called the Yogi Berra Museum, but also a Learning Center. It's because Yogi Berra himself often came here to teach children about the importance of sportsmanship and contributing to society, in addition to displaying exhibits. Amazing! I was happy to learn that someone I'll never forget had done such a wonderful thing. When I asked the young black woman, “Can I take photos inside the museum?” she smiled and replied, “Of course you can.” So I decided to take lots of photos inside the museum. Photos of Yogi Berra on display at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center The museum wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't cramped either. There were a great many exhibits, including various photos of Yogi Berra from his playing days and after he retired, baseball equipment from his playing days, the plaque commemorating his three season MVP awards, and photos of him with Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter. An exhibit highlighting his three MVP awards Babe Ruth and Yogi Berra Derek Jeter and Yogi Berra All of the exhibits were well worth seeing, but the one that most captivated me was one photo. It was of Yogi Berra relaxing with his sons after returning to the United States from a visit to Japan. Yogi Berra is wearing a traditional Japanese coat called a “hanten”. The long, thick collar even has the kanji for Tokyo's former name written on it. Looking at this photo, I was delighted to think that Yogi Berra must have been pleased to have visited Japan. Yogi Berra relaxing with his sons, wearing a traditional Japanese coat called a " hanten " I spent about an hour and a half looking around the museum, and during that time there was not a single other visitor. So, in the very quiet museum, I was reminded of myself as an eight-year-old, and was able to look around and be deeply moved by each exhibit related to my hero, Yogi Berra. It was the best time. (If I've made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I'll try to make corrections or additions.)