Japan is currently in the midst of the National High School Baseball Championship Tournament, a major annual event. First held in 1915, and—with the exception of a few interruptions (such as during World War II)—it has taken place every year; this year marks the 108th tournament. Qualifying tournaments have been held since June across all 47 of Japan's prefectures (equivalent to the 50 U.S. states)—with a total of 3,363 high schools participating nationwide. The 49 high school baseball teams that emerged victorious—two each from Tokyo and Hokkaido, and one from every other prefecture—are competing in a tournament spanning 15 days, starting August 5, at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. This National High School Baseball Championship enjoys immense popularity among the public; every game is broadcast live nationwide to high ratings, and throughout the tournament, throngs of enthusiastic fans flock to Hanshin Koshien Stadium every day to watch the games. For Japanese high school baseball players, winning local qualifiers to reach the main tournament and play at Hanshin Koshien Stadium is a cherished dream. For students aiming to become professional baseball players, participating in this main tournament offers a prime opportunity to catch the eye of professional scouts. Many Japanese Major League Baseball players—including Ichiro and Hideki Matsui—participated in this main tournament during their high school years. Among active MLB players, Yu Darvish, Yusei Kikuchi, Shohei Ohtani, Masataka Yoshida, Yuki Matsui, Munetaka Murakami, and Kazuma Okamoto all have experience playing in it. I do not believe there is an equivalent to Japan's National High School Baseball Championship Tournament in the United States. Given that the U.S. is a vast country—roughly 25 times the size of Japan—organizing a nationwide tournament would likely be difficult. Instead, winning a state championship appears to be the primary goal and dream for high school baseball players in the U.S., and some schools have gained fame for achieving that very goal. In May 2017, while on a road trip across the United States, I was driving along a main road in Iowa when I spotted a sign indicating that a right turn would take me to Norway—just four miles away. I turned right and headed for Norway. A sign indicating it is 4 miles to Norway Norway, Iowa. A man named Osman Tuttle—an immigrant from the "Norway" in Europe—laid the foundations of this town in the 19th century and named it after his homeland; that name has remained unchanged to this day. It is a small town. After all, the population is less than 600. No matter which direction you drive—north, south, east, or west—you pass through the entire town in about five minutes. Naturally, there is no McDonald's or Starbucks. The main street looks rather desolate and unremarkable. Yet, facing that main street is the "Iowa Baseball Museum of Norway." You might wonder if it's appropriate for a museum in such a tiny town to bear a name that implies it represents all of Iowa baseball—but it is entirely appropriate. After all, this is a town where a baseball "miracle" took place. Exterior of the "Iowa Baseball Museum of Norway" In fact, four Major Leaguers (Hal Trosky, Mike Boddicker, Bruce Kimm and Hal Trosky Jr.) and seventeen Minor Leaguers have emerged from this small town. It might well be said that, on a per capita basis, this town has produced the highest number of professional baseball players in the United States. So, was there a reason for such a "miracle"? The best way to find out is to visit the museum. The museum isn't particularly large; the building is something of a hybrid between a single-story structure and a two-story one. When I opened the door, a man who had been sitting and working on a computer turned around. He was a middle-aged white man serving as the caretaker. He seemed surprised to see me; his eyes went wide. When I called out, "Hi! Do you remember me?" he smiled and replied. "Of course I remember you. You've come back." "I'm so happy you remembered me from two years ago." We shook hands. The caretaker, who remembered me, smiled just as he had two years ago and said, "The people of this town have always loved baseball. They're absolutely crazy about it." A tour of the facility reveals a remarkable history that reflects the residents' love of baseball: the baseball team from the local Norway High School has won the Iowa state championship twenty times. While many of the exhibits chronicle the history and achievements of the Norway High School baseball team, the state championship plaques and trophies neatly arranged in the display cases are truly impressive. State championship trophies and plaques won by the Norway High School baseball team Numerous photographs displayed on the wall Most of the Major Leaguers and Minor Leaguers hailing from this town came out of the Norway High School baseball team-including three of the four Major Leaguers: Hal Trosky (a first baseman who led the American League in RBIs in 1936), Mike Boddicker (a pitcher who led the American League in wins and ERA in 1984), and Bruce Kimm (a catcher who played four seasons in the Majors). Dedicated spaces have been set up within the facility to showcase their careers in detail. Display dedicated to Major Leaguer Hal Trosky Display dedicated to Major Leaguer Mike Boddicker Display dedicated to Major Leaguer Bruce Kimm In fact, Norway High School no longer exists; it was merged into a high school in a larger neighboring district after its final year in 1991. The story of the Norway High baseball team playing its last season just before the school closed was made into the 2007 film *The Final Season*. A poster for the movie was displayed inside the museum, and the tagline written on it—"586 PEOPLE. 100 H.S. STUDENTS. 14 BASEBALL PLAYERS. 1 LAST CHANCE...."—is truly wonderful and stirring. Poster for the movie "The Final Season" The film was never released in Japan, nor have DVD or Blu-ray versions been made available there. It makes me wonder why, given how popular high school baseball is in Japan. I believe that if it were released in Japan—even now—it would attract a great deal of attention. Just as I had two years ago, I took my time looking at the exhibits and caught up with the caretaker—a middle-aged white man—over a conversation about baseball before heading outside. Then, I drove slowly toward the baseball field located at the edge of town. Although Norway High School is gone, the baseball field—where the team once trained and played—remains, having been renovated. A lovely information board stands nearby. The field used by the Norway High School baseball team A sign standing near the field Just as I had two years ago, I walked around the deserted baseball field, thinking to myself: "This is truly a wonderful town. I hope they keep this baseball field here forever." (If I've made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I'll try to make corrections or additions.)

In this column, I would like to outline the process and results of my personal analysis regarding the slugging percentage (SLG) and isolated power (ISO) of players who lead the league in batting average. In 2001, Ichiro moved to the United States as the first Japanese position player in Major League Baseball. At the time, there was considerable debate in both Japan and the U.S. about whether Ichiro could succeed in the majors. Although Ichiro had achieved remarkable success in Japanese professional baseball—leading the league in batting average for seven consecutive years—the overwhelming majority of people believed he wouldn't be able to put up significant numbers in the MLB. However, I consistently voiced an opinion that ran directly counter to that view: "Ichiro is bound to succeed in the majors; he'll win the batting title in his debut season in 2001. The only real question is when he'll break George Sisler's MLB record of 257 hits in a single season." An incredibly wonderful interview with Ichiro by Yuta Ishida. "Ichiro Interviews: Complete Edition” (in Japanese, Bungeishunju Co., Ltd., March 2026) As it turned out, my prediction was correct. Yet, something happened that I hadn't anticipated at all—though I never voiced it publicly.... During his seven-year run leading the Japanese league in batting average, Ichiro's SLG never once dropped below .500, and he consistently ranked among the top ten in that category. However, after moving to the MLB in 2001, while his batting average of .350 led the American League, his SLG fell to .457—ranking 40th in the league. This was a result I hadn't foreseen in the slightest. I was shocked that Ichiro's SLG had dropped so drastically; it made me keenly aware that the level of play in the MLB is indeed different from that of Japanese professional baseball. SLG can be said to reflect how hard a batter swings the bat and how powerfully they hit the ball. Consequently, it is fair to say that, unlike during his time in Japan, Ichiro was not hitting the ball with the same level of power in the major leagues. Wondering how other players who led the league in batting average compared, I examined the league rankings for SLG among all players who had topped the league in batting average since the modern era of Major League Baseball began in 1901. I discovered that Ichiro's ranking of 40th—his position in 2001—tied for the lowest ranking in history for a batting average leader. The player who shared that 40th-place ranking was Willie Wilson, the American League leader in batting average in 1982. Since learning this result in 2001, I have continued to track the SLG rankings of the league's batting average leaders every year. In 2004, Ichiro led the American League with a .372 batting average but ranked 42nd in SLG—the lowest ranking ever for a league batting leader. I plotted the results from 1901 to 2004 on a graph. The horizontal axis represents SLG ranking, and the vertical axis represents the number of players with the highest batting average in the league. This graph reveals a clear trend: the player ranked first in batting average is most often ranked first in SLG as well, and the number of top-ranked hitters in batting average decreases as the ranking for SLG drops. You can also see that Ichiro's SLG rankings in 2001 and 2004 were exceptionally low. I have continued this research ever since. Here, I present a graph showing the results from 1901 through last year (2025). Surprisingly, a player has emerged who leads the league in batting average yet ranks 57th in slugging percentage—a position even lower than the 42nd place held by Ichiro in 2004. That player is Luis Arraez, the 2024 National League batting average leader. By the way, while conducting this analysis, I noticed someFthing that took me by surprise. There are batting average leaders who hit zero home runs. You might naturally expect such players to rank extremely low in SLG, but that is not actually the case. Take, for example, the renowned Rod Carew, who led the league in batting average seven times. In 1972, he topped the league in batting average despite hitting zero home runs; yet, he ranked 25th in SLG. When comparing this to Ichiro in 2004 (8 home runs, 42nd in SLG) and Arraez in 2024 (4 home runs, 57th in SLG), I was somewhat surprised to find that Carew's SLG ranking was not particularly low. An excellent autobiography by Rod Carew with Jaime Aron. (2021, Triumph Books) Upon learning this, I became genuinely interested in ISO (Isolated Power)—a metric I had previously paid little attention to. SLG is calculated by dividing total bases by at-bats. Expressed as a formula: (1B + 2B×2 + 3B×3 + HR×4) / AB. In other words, hitting a large number of singles (1B) will result in a reasonably high SLG. This means it does not accurately reflect the ability to hit extra-base hits, such as home runs. ISO, on the other hand, excludes singles and focuses solely on the rate of doubles, triples, and home runs, thereby providing a more accurate measure of a batter's power. The formula is: (2B + 3B×2 + HR×3) / AB. I examined and graphed the ISO rankings of every player who led their league in batting average from 1901 to 2025. Players with the highest batting averages most frequently rank at the top in ISO as well. There is a tendency for the number of top-batting-average players to decrease as their ISO ranking drops. However, compared to the graph for SLG rankings, the ISO rankings of top-batting-average players show greater dispersion, with many appearing in lower-ranked positions. In terms of all-time ISO rankings, the lowest position is 75th (Ichiro, 2004), followed by 69th (Arraez, 2023), 66th (Ichiro, 2001), and 65th (Arraez, 2024). Do you know why Ichiro ended up with the lowest ISO ranking, even though Arraez ranked lowest in SLG? The explanation is simple. There are two key points. First, since Ichiro had significantly more at-bats than Arraez, the denominator used to calculate ISO is larger for him. Incidentally, Ichiro's 704 at-bats in 2004 and 692 at-bats in 2001 rank first and second all-time among players who led the league in batting average. For more on this, please refer to my column, "The Essence of Ichiro's Batting," published on this website. Next, while Ichiro has significantly more hits than Arraez, the difference consists entirely of singles; consequently, the numerator used to calculate Ichiro's ISO does not increase. The combination of these two factors results in Ichiro having a lower ISO—and thus a lower ranking—than Arraez. Rod Carew ranked 25th in SLG in 1972 but dropped to 46th in ISO. Why wasn't Carew's ISO ranking lower than Ichiro's or Arraez's, given that he hit zero home runs? The primary reason is that Carew had fewer at-bats than either Ichiro or Arraez. Through these analyses, I believe I have gained a concrete understanding of the difference between SLG and ISO, as well as the relationship of both metrics to batting average. I also came to appreciate just how unique Ichiro and Arraez are as hitters in the history of Major League Baseball. (If I've made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I'll try to make corrections or additions.)

Previously, I published a column on this website highlighting Joe DiMaggio as a representative Major League Baseball player whose name often appears in films that aren't directly related to Major League Baseball. This time, I'd like to focus on Jackie Robinson, who, like Joe DiMaggio, is also a representative Major League Baseball player whose name often appears in films that aren't directly related to Major League Baseball. But I'd like to start with a Jackie Robinson biopic. "42" (2013). In Japan, many people have seen this movie, mainly Major League Baseball fans, but also people who are not Major League Baseball fans. DVD of the movie "42" (Japanese version) There is something interesting about "42." Perhaps because many people in Japan have no idea what the title "42" means, it has been given a subtitle. This subtitle is Japanese for "The Man Who Changed the World." Not only is this subtitle appropriate for Jackie Robinson, but I think it is a wonderful one that will attract the interest of many people. A side note here. I saw "42" on November 1st, 2013, the day it was released in Japanese cinemas. As a collector of American film DVDs, I buy DVDs even for films I've seen in cinemas, so I headed to the store at the end of March 2014, expecting the DVD of "42" to be released around that time. However, it didn't seem to be in stock, so I asked the clerk what the situation was. After a bit of research, the clerk said, "It will be released on April 15th." I couldn't help but grin and say, "Wow, that's pretty impressive. That's the day Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut." Just to be clear, Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut on April 15, 1947. April 15th is now designated as "Jackie Robinson Day" by Major League Baseball. As the Japanese subtitle of "42" suggests, Jackie Robinson changed the world. I believe his impact on American society in particular was immeasurable. I would like to highlight two American films that beautifully convey this impact: one that conveys it subtly, and one that deeply moves the heart. Neither film has a direct connection to Major League Baseball. First, the film that conveys it subtly is "Men of Honor" (2000). This film is based on the true story of the first African-American man to become a master diver in the history of the U.S. Navy. The son of a poor farmer, the protagonist faces severe discrimination and harassment from many white people, but overcomes this and continues to work hard to achieve his dream. During a scene in which he is making these efforts, a live radio broadcast of Jackie Robinson's exploits plays casually in the background. It's a brilliant insertion that beautifully demonstrates Jackie Robinson's presence. Few Japanese people have seen this film, and almost none of them notice that Jackie Robinson is featured in the film. I wonder how it is in the United States? DVD of the movie "Men of Honor" (Japanese version) Next is the deeply moving film "Conrack" (1974). This film is also based on a true story, and the main character, Conrack, is a young white teacher. The story is set on a small island in South Carolina, in the southern United States. The island is inhabited by all black people except for the owner of a general store. When the protagonist is assigned to teach at the island's elementary school, he is shocked by the apathy of the 21 black students. They can't even recite the alphabet properly, don't know the name of their own country, and don't even know that the sea beyond the island is the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Conrack adopts a completely different educational method from that used on the island up until then. He speaks to his students on an equal footing, teaching them the joy of learning and the importance of living with pride. The students gradually become more energetic and begin to experience the joy and pleasure of learning for the first time. However, the school board, opposed to this educational method, dismisses the teacher. DVD of the movie "Conrack" (Japanese version) Early in the morning, the students come to see their teacher off as he leaves the island by boat. The teacher, eager to test the results of his teaching, asks his students a series of questions in a lively tone, the first of which is, "Who is the greatest baseball player of all-time?" When the teacher points to a black male student to answer, he answers without a moment's hesitation: "Jackie Robinson!" It's a truly moving and wonderful scene. When I first saw this movie, this scene brought me to tears. I've watched it many times on DVD since then, and I still can't hold back the tears. I don't think there is any other major leaguer who can inspire such emotion, or who has such a strong presence. Not many people in Japan know about this movie, and even among Major League Baseball fans, very few remember the moving scene at the end in which Jackie Robinson's name appears. It's such a shame. I wonder how it is 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.)

In the previous column on this website, I wrote about my visit to the "National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame" in Chicago. I also mentioned how, while there, I thought of a certain Italian-American Major League Baseball player who was neither honored in the Hall nor featured in any of its exhibits. He was a player I had truly loved. This time, I would like to talk about him. Jason Giambi. He made his Major League debut with the Oakland Athletics in 1995 and quickly made a name for himself as a powerful hitter. He moved to the New York Yankees in 2002, where he continued to excel as a slugger. Later, he played for teams such as the Colorado Rockies before finally retiring in 2014. "Sports Illustrated" featuring Jason Giambi on the cover (purchased via Amazon) It was after Giambi moved to the New York Yankees that the issue of steroid use among Major League players erupted into a major scandal. After this issue came to light, Giambi admitted to using substances such as anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, and he apologized.However, there is no denying that his image as a slugger suffered a severe blow; one could even say he became a "fallen idol." It may be because of this drug scandal that the "National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame" has chosen not to honor Giambi or display any exhibits related to him. And yet, it is a terrible shame—because I believe Giambi could have achieved outstanding results without ever using drugs like steroids or human growth hormone. There are two American films that serve not only to remind us of Giambi’s poignant and tragic situation but to highlight it even further. The first is "25th Hour" (2002). Set in New York, the film centers on a protagonist who has been convicted of drug trafficking and has only one day left before he must report to prison. The film depicts how a man spends his final day, and there is a scene where, overcome by a sense of emptiness, he rants to himself in a restaurant restroom. DVD of the movie "25th Hour" (Japanese version) New York is home to a vast array of races and ethnicities. Inside the restroom, the man hurls insults at these various groups one after another; regarding Italian-Americans, he rants as follows: "Fuck the Bensonhurst Italians with their pomaded hair, their nylon warm-up suits, their St. Anthony medallions, swinging their Jason Giambi Louisville Slugger baseball bats trying to audition for ‘The Sopranos’." In other words, the film positions Giambi as a hero to New York’s Italian-American community. The film was released in the U.S. in late 2002—after Giambi had finished his first season with the New York Yankees but about two years before the steroid scandal came to light. ...Had the film’s production been delayed by even a few years, Giambi likely wouldn't have been portrayed as a hero to Italian-Americans. Reflecting on this situation highlights just how drastically Giambi has become a "fallen idol," evoking a sense of sadness and melancholy. Next is *Moneyball* (2011). While the film focuses on the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, it repeatedly depicts what an extraordinary player Giambi was—having left the Athletics for the Yankees the previous year—and the immense struggle the team's staff faced in trying to fill the void he left behind. Watching these scenes conveys the sense of emptiness surrounding Giambi—because it appears he began using anabolic steroids in 2001. DVD of the movie "Moneyball" (Japanese version) Something similar is happening with other Major Leaguers as well. Consider the 2001 American film *Hardball*, set in Chicago. A young white man, obsessed with gambling, unexpectedly becomes the coach of a baseball team made up of boys from a low-income Black neighborhood. After hitting it big with a bet, he takes these impoverished boys—who have never seen a Major League game—to Wrigley Field to watch the Chicago Cubs play. Naturally, the boys are overjoyed. Upon entering the stadium, they go wild when they spot their idol, Cubs star Sammy Sosa. Sosa himself appears in the film, waving to the boys. ... ...After this film was produced and released—regrettably—suspicions arose that Sosa had used performance enhancing drugs. I wonder if Sosa remains an idol for young Black boys in Chicago to this day? At times, movies—even unintentionally—highlight the poignant and tragic circumstances of real-life figures, leaving us with a sense of emptiness. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

The American film *Somebody Up There Likes Me* (1956) is unforgettable to me. Not only is the content superb, but it stars the late Paul Newman—one of my absolute favorites—and marks the film debut of the late Steve McQueen, another of my all-time favorites. It saddens me that in Japan today, there is a rapidly growing number of young people who ask, "Who is Paul Newman?" or "Who is Steve McQueen?" I wonder if young people in the United States are more familiar with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen than their Japanese counterparts. *Somebody Up There Likes Me* is a biographical film about Rocky Graziano, an Italian-American boxer who became the world middleweight champion in the late 1940s. The movie features an incredibly stylish line of dialogue. It is spoken by a trainer trying to encourage Rocky Graziano, who is feeling down after getting caught up in a minor incident in the mid-1940s: "You're the world's most popular Italian with the possible exception of Michelangelo and Frank Sinatra." I imagine you would agree that it is a truly stylish line. Unfortunately, in Japan these days, many people fail to grasp the significance of this remark. An increasing number of young people ask, "Who is Sinatra?" There are even some truly clueless youths who ask, "Who is Michelangelo?" I wonder how it is in the United States? Just to clarify, Frank Sinatra was an Italian-American and a legendary popular singer who had already achieved massive fame by the mid-1940s. Michelangelo, of course, needs no introduction. That said, I do think there is a slight issue with this stylish line. It pairs Michelangelo with Sinatra—but why not Major League Baseball player Joe DiMaggio? Joe DiMaggio was also an Italian-American; he became a massive celebrity in 1941 after achieving the immortal record of 56 game hitting streak. Sinatra was born in 1915 and DiMaggio in 1914—just a year apart. By the mid-1940s—the era when a trainer famously offered words of encouragement to Rocky Graziano—both men had already risen to superstardom while still in their twenties. So, why Sinatra instead of DiMaggio? To put it bluntly, I suspect that even a Major League superstar who achieved an unbreakable record couldn't quite match an entertainment superstar in terms of sheer popularity. I believe a major factor was the way throngs of young women were captivated by the handsome Sinatra's smooth, sweet voice. It goes to show that, then as now, young women exert an immeasurable influence on society. However, I believe DiMaggio is also a great figure who deserves to be mentioned alongside Michelangelo. As a brief aside... Sinatra shares a curious connection with baseball. He was born in Hoboken, New Jersey—a city famous as the site of the first organized, competitive baseball game. That was a long preamble, but now for the main topic. In the summer of 2018, I visited Chicago for the first time in a long while and took the opportunity to visit the "National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame". I was particularly interested to see how Joe DiMaggio was represented there. The Hall began as the "Italian American Boxing Hall of Fame" before expanding to cover all sports, so I knew Rocky Graziano would certainly be honored there. I was curious to see which of the two—DiMaggio or Graziano—was given more prominence. Of course, they weren't the only ones I was interested in. I also wanted to see how other athletes—particularly those associated with Major League Baseball—were being honored. When I visited in 2018, the "National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame" was located in the "Little Italy" district on Chicago's West Side (it appears to have since moved to the city's Northwest Side). "Little Italy" is the area where many Italian immigrants settled to begin their new lives in the United States. Shops displaying signs in Italian were strikingly numerous. Upon arriving at the Hall of Fame, I immediately realized that the issue regarding DiMaggio and Graziano had been easily resolved. Across the street from the Hall of Fame building lay a park-like space named "Piazza DiMaggio," featuring a statue in the center that depicted DiMaggio in the middle of a full swing. There is no need to spell out what this signifies. The plaza directly across the street from the “National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame” building There is a sign in the plaza that reads "Piazza DiMaggio". Incidentally, a plaque at "Piazza DiMaggio" briefly recounted how many Italian immigrants had settled in "Little Italy" to start new lives, and noted that DiMaggio—the son of Italian immigrants—was a magnificent baseball player. A front view of the statue of Joe DiMaggio A side view of the statue of Joe DiMaggio The Hall of Fame was a lovely three-story building, though not particularly large. Its many windows were a distinctive feature. At the time of my visit, a large banner displaying the names of the new inductees hung on the building's exterior wall—Joe Girardi, for instance. He is a former Yankees catcher who also served as the team's manager for a decade, from 2008 to 2017. Exterior view of the "National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame" building. Names of inductees and honorees for 2018 displayed on a section of the exterior wall of the "National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame" building. Admission was $5 for adults, but $4 for seniors like me. Once inside, I found spacious exhibition halls spanning two floors, featuring numerous photographs and uniforms of athletes from various sports—baseball, basketball, American football, ice hockey, ice skating, and boxing. Baseball and boxing were particularly prominent among them; naturally, there were exhibits dedicated to DiMaggio and Graziano. There were quite a few figures from Major League Baseball featured in the exhibits—a diverse group that included those who had passed away, retired players who were still alive, and active players. Let me cite a few examples: a large photograph of Tommy Lasorda; a display featuring a magazine cover starring Joe DiMaggio alongside a photo of his younger brother, Dom DiMaggio; a display pairing photos of Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra; a section showcasing photos and playing-era uniforms of Joe Torre, Mike Piazza, and Jim Fregosi; and a display dedicated to Anthony Rizzo, who was starring as the Chicago Cubs' first baseman back in 2018. An exhibit about Tommy Lasorda Joe DiMaggio on the cover of Life magazine (left) and a photograph of his brother Dom DiMaggio (right) Exhibits featuring Joe DiMaggio (right) and Yogi Berra (left) A photograph of Joe Torre and his Mets uniform with number 9, a photograph of Mike Piazza and his Mets uniform with number 31, and a photograph of Jim Fregosi and his Angels uniform with number 11 Anthony Rizzo's exhibit from his time with the Cubs The exhibits dedicated to each of the figures were magnificent and truly impressive, leaving me thoroughly satisfied; I felt from the bottom of my heart that visiting this hall of fame was a wonderful decision. As I took my time examining each display, a thought suddenly crossed my mind: "Come to think of it, that man is Italian-American too, yet he doesn't seem to be honored in this Hall of Fame, nor does there appear to be any exhibit dedicated to him." Next time, I plan to write about that man. (If I've made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I'll try to make corrections or additions.)

There's a major league baseball player's autobiography that deeply moved me. It's the most moving athlete autobiography I've ever read. It's the autobiography of a man who accomplished something unthinkable in Japan. "Breakout: From Prison to the Big Leagues," by Ron LeFlore with Jim Hawkins (1978, Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc.) Japanese translation version of "Breakout" (1978, translated by Akio Inaba, Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) According to this autobiography, LeFlore was a delinquent born and raised in a black slum in Detroit. He barely attended school. He spent his days fighting, extorting, and stealing, and was finally sent to prison at the age of 19 when he was arrested for robbing a bar with a rifle. However, it was while in prison that LeFlore took up baseball seriously for the first time, and his talent blossomed. Released on parole in 1973, at the age of 23, he joined a minor league team and was promoted to the Detroit Tigers in major league baseball a year later. In 1976, he played in the All-Star Game and joined the ranks of top players. During his nine-year career in the major leagues, LeFlore led the league in stolen bases twice (1978, 1980) and runs once (1978), and also held the impressive record of hitting in 31 consecutive games from 1975 to 1976. Now, I think that LeFlore's success in the baseball world was largely due to the fact that he was able to fit in well with the first minor league team he joined. While a lot of that was due to LeFlore's reformed, cheerful personality, I also think that the presence of the man who served as his manager cannot be overlooked. LeFlore's autobiography doesn't go into much detail about this man, but I think his attitude and treatment of LeFlore was admirable. He never showed too much special consideration for LeFlore, a player with an extremely unusual background, and yet he always seemed to care for LeFlore and watch over LeFlore with warmth. This man gave up his dream of becoming a major leaguer and became a minor league manager. He was only 28 years old when he took on the 23-year-old LeFlore. ...When he met LeFlore, did he not curse an unfair God? LeFlore, a robber who was blessed with talent, and himself, who had devoted himself to baseball but was not blessed with talent? Or had he reached a state of mind at the young age of 28 where he was free from such curses? This man later became a coach for a major league team, and in 1986 rose to the position of manager of a major league team. This man's name was Jim Leyland. In 2007, at the age of 62, Leyland served as the American League manager in the All-Star Game. At that moment, I remembered his relationship with LeFlore, and was moved that Jim Leyland, much later than LeFlore, finally made it to the All-Star Game. It seemed like a drama written by God to me that two completely different men, Ron LeFlore and Jim Leyland, met and each achieved such remarkable success, albeit at different times. Later, I realized how careless I had been. I learned that Jim Leyland had already served as the National League manager in the 1998 All-Star Game. Furthermore, Leyland served as the American League manager again in the All-Star Game in 2013, and in 2017 he managed the United States national team in the World Baseball Classic, leading them to their first championship. And in 2023, Leyland was inducted into the "National Baseball Hall of Fame". While I am very happy to learn of Leyland's spectacular success, I will never forget the first time I was moved by remembering LeFlore and Leyland at the 2007 All-Star Game. That was the event in Major League Baseball that made me think the most about life. I worry that I may have made a huge misunderstanding or written something rude about Ron LeFlore and Jim Leyland. Please forgive me if I have misunderstood or been rude, as I have nothing but admiration and respect for the two. In Japan, it seems impossible for someone to become a professional baseball player after graduating from prison. I don't think anyone would have the guts to try something like that, and Japanese society doesn't seem to have the tolerance to give anyone a second chance. Also, in Japan, it is unthinkable for someone who has not been a successful professional baseball player to be selected as a manager of a professional baseball team. In other words, I think the lives that LeFlore and Leyland led could never happen in Japan. But I hope that the time will come when such things can happen in Japan. (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 long been curious about home run hitters. It's often said that home run hitters also tend to strike out and walk a lot, but to what extent is this true? Certainly, home run hitters likely focus on powerful swings, which could lead to more strikeouts. However, there are players like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams who hit many home runs but strike out infrequently. And while pitchers are likely to be more wary of home run hitters, leading to more walks, the degree of this likely varies from hitter to hitter. To investigate these issues, I decided to independently examine how many players who led the league in home runs also led the league in strikeouts, walks, and both. I researched all players who have led the league in home runs at least once between 1901, when modern Major League Baseball began, and last year (2025). Among players who have led the league in home runs at least once, 43 players (including three active players: Aaron Judge, Jorge Soler, and Kyle Schwarber) have also led the league in strikeouts at least once, regardless of whether it was in the same year or different year that they led the league in home runs. Of these 43 players, the following 14 players led the league in strikeouts three or more times. Jimmie Foxx (7 times) Babe Ruth (5 times) Hack Wilson (5 times) Mickey Mantle (5 times) Reggie Jackson (5 times) Mike Schmidt (4 times) Dolph Camilli (4 times) Andres Galarraga (4 times) Jake Stahl (3 times) Duke Snider (3 times) Dave Kingman (3 times) Dale Murphy (3 times) Sammy Sosa (3 times) Jim Thome (3 times) I am deeply moved that these 14 players include some of the most famous home run hitters in history. And I am a little surprised that Jimmie Foxx has more times than Babe Ruth. A wonderful biography of Jimmie Foxx by W. Harrison Daniel (2004, McFarland & Company, Inc.) This ranking changes dramatically if we limit it to the number of times a player led the league in both home runs and strikeouts in the same year. Of the 43 players listed above, 26 have led the league in both home runs and strikeouts in the same year (among active players, Aaron Judge, Jorge Soler, and Kyle Schwarber each achieved this once). Of these 26, 19 achieved this only once, and 7 achieved it multiple times. Arranging these 7 in descending order of frequency, we get the following: Babe Ruth (5 times) Mike Schmidt (4 times) Hack Wilson (3 times) Jimmie Foxx (2 times) Mickey Mantle (2 times) Tony Armas (2 times) Dave Kingman (2 times) I find it quite moving that these 7 players include some who have left their mark on history as home run hitters. If we consider the number of times a player led the league in both home runs and strikeouts in the same year, Babe Ruth, not Jimmie Foxx, comes out on top. A concise but well-written biography of Babe Ruth by Clayton Geoffreys (2020) I conducted a similar investigation for walks. Among players who have led the league in home runs at least once, 40 players (including four active players: Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber) have also led the league in walks at least once, regardless of whether it was in the same year or a different year that they led the league in home runs. Of these 40 players, the following 13 players have led the league in walks three or more times. Barry Bonds (12 times) Babe Ruth (11 times) Ted Williams (8 times) Mel Ott (6 times) Mickey Mantle (5 times) Harmon Killebrew (4 times) Mike Schmidt (4 times) Eddie Mathews (4 times) Aaron Judge (4 times) Lou Gehrig (3 times) Rogers Hornsby (3 times) Ralph Kiner (3 times) Dwight Evans (3 times) Jim Thome (3 times) What stands out most is undoubtedly the number of times Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth led the league in walks. As for the other hitters, it's noteworthy that Aaron Judge, who is still active, is included among the 13. Of these 13, six have never led the league in strikeouts (Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, Mel Ott, Rogers Hornsby, Lou Gehrig, Dwight Evans). This ranking changes dramatically when considering the number of times they led the league in home runs and walks in the same year. Of the 40 players listed above, 21 have led the league in both home runs and walks in the same year (only Aaron Judge among active players). Of these 21, 12 achieved this once, and 9 achieved it multiple times. Arranging these 9 players in descending order of frequency, we get the following: Babe Ruth (9 times) Ted Williams (4 times) Mel Ott (3 times) Ralph Kiner (3 times) Aaron Judge (3 times) Hack Wilson (2 times) Mickey Mantle (2 times) Mike Schmidt (2 times) Harmon Killebrew (2 times) Babe Ruth’s 9 times is far ahead of the others. Incidentally, Barry Bonds only did it once. It's also noteworthy that Aaron Judge is on this list. An outstanding biography of Barry Bonds by Jeff Pearlman (2007, Harper Perennial) A concise but well-written biography of Aaron Judge by Clayton Geoffreys (2020) Finally, there are only six batters who have led the league in home runs, strikeouts, and walks in the same year. Babe Ruth (4 times) Hack Wilson (1 time) Mickey Mantle (1 time) Mike Schmidt (1 time) Dale Murphy (1 time) Aaron Judge (1 time) Only Babe Ruth had multiple times; the other five had only one. There are home run hitters who weren't included in the analyses conducted this time—　home run hitters who don't strike out or walk particularly often. No one can say what kind of home run hitter is good or bad. However, to me, home run hitters with many strikeouts and walks have a certain dramatic quality, a mysterious charm. I am sure there are people who have completely different opinions than mine. I wonder what those people think? The analyses conducted this time has made me realize once again how outstanding Babe Ruth's appeal is. Babe Ruth is truly in a class of his own. And I've also realized that Aaron Judge possesses a charm that rivals that of the most famous home run hitters in history. (If I've made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I'll try to make corrections or additions.)

No one would dispute that Babe Ruth was the greatest superstar in Major League Baseball history. He had numerous nicknames. No other major leaguer had as many nicknames as he did. It would be endless to list all of Babe Ruth's nicknames, so here are just a few: "The Bambino", "The Sultan of Swat" and "The King of Crash". Speaking of which, even though "Babe" wasn't his real name but a nickname, it somehow came to be used as if it were his real name. Surprisingly, there is an American woman who was called "Babe" as if it were her real name, simply because it was her nickname. What's more, she was a great athlete who demonstrated incredible abilities and whose name shines brightly in history: Babe Didrikson Zaharias (died of cancer in 1956 at the age of 45). ...She apparently said that she was given the nickname "Babe" after Babe Ruth because as a young girl she would hit five home runs in one baseball game. "Babe" was born in Port Arthur, Texas, and at the age of four moved to Beaumont, also in Texas, not far from Port Arthur, where she lived until she graduated from high school. In Beaumont, there is a museum commemorating "Babe" along Interstate 10 (I-10). I visited the museum in early fall of 2013. As I drove east on I-10 from Houston, Texas, into the city of Beaumont, I slowed down and kept glancing to the left side of the road, knowing that the "Babe" museum would be visible. When the museum's distinctively shaped building came into view, I exited the I-10. The museum is located on the edge of a vast piece of land, and the entire area is designated "Babe Zaharias Park." Most of the land is taken up by several soccer fields. It was a Sunday, so many people were enjoying soccer. Most of the people there were Hispanic. I asked one of them, "Don't you guys play baseball?" but he didn't understand English and it seemed I had to speak Spanish, which I don't speak at all. I asked the other one, who understood English, and he replied, "We are not interested in baseball at all." As a baseball lover, I was disappointed. The entrance to the expansive Babe Zaharias Park I walked towards the museum. It was a unique and beautiful cylindrical building. A unique cylindrical museum commemorating "Babe". When I went inside, I saw just one cylindrical room with a counter in the middle and a young black woman. I thought this was bad. I've always had a good relationship with elderly women, but I often don't get on well with younger women. I'm particularly not good with young, beautiful, cool women. The young black woman working the counter was a cool beauty, so I thought this was really bad. Sure enough, when I approached, she just glanced at me and quickly went back to what she was reading. Inside the museum Above the counter where the woman was sitting, on the wall behind her, hung a large painting of "Babe" playing golf. A painting of "Babe" playing golf On one wall of the room was a list of Babe's achievements as an athlete, chronologically listed. It was truly impressive. It showed her incredible records and achievements in so many different sports. A list of Babe's accomplishments There were also display cases lining the walls, filled with photos and medals commemorating her achievements as an athlete. "Babe" competed in three track and field events at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, setting four world records and winning two gold medals (80-meter hurdles and javelin throw) and one silver medal (high jump). Display cases with numerous exhibits A display of the medals "Babe" won at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics However, the overwhelming majority of the exhibits were about her remarkable achievements in golf, a sport she took up after achieving great success in athletics. "Babe" won many prestigious tournaments (for example, 10 major LPGA tournaments in total), and was even inducted into the Women's Golf Hall of Fame. Exhibits highlighting Babe's outstanding achievements in golf I asked the beautiful woman at the counter if I could take photos of the museum's interior and exhibits. She looked up, said "yes," and quickly went back to reading. I was almost moved by the indifference this young, cool, beautiful woman showed to me. "Babe" was also active in other sports besides golf, such as basketball, baseball, and tennis, but there were only a few exhibits related to those. As for baseball, there was only a description that she also played baseball, but I couldn't find any baseball-related photos or items on display. That's a bit disappointing...Maybe something like that was on display and I just missed it. Above the display cases were photographs with the names of all the athletes who had received scholarships established in Babe's honor (all female students at Lamar University in Beaumont). This was the exhibit that made the biggest impression on me. ...By the way, Babe never studied at university. As I was about to leave the museum, the woman at the counter said to me in a bright and gentle voice, "Have a nice day." I was surprised, but I was happy. So I replied in a bright and gentle voice, "You too," and headed out the door. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find any baseball-related photos or items on display in the museum, but I was impressed that the woman who was called the name of a great Major League Baseball player was truly a great all-around athlete, and that her existence continues to support young women who follow in her footsteps in the form of scholarships. I'm really glad I visited the museum. (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 often written about American films in the columns I've published on this website. Some of them are set in MLB, while others have no direct connection to baseball or MLB, but contain scenes that reference MLB or major leaguers. This time, I'd like to talk about what I personally consider to be the greatest of the latter. Before I discuss that film, "Murder in the First" (1995), I'd like to first say something: Even in American films that have no connection to baseball or MLB, there are often scenes that reference baseball, Major League Baseball, or Major League players. Joe DiMaggio is one of the most frequently mentioned Major League players in such films. I don't think anyone would disagree with that. Take, for example, "The Long Goodbye" (1973). This is a film adaptation of Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled novel of the same name, published in 1953, directed by Robert Altman and starring Elliott Gould as the main character, private detective Philip Marlowe. In this film, Philip Marlowe has the following conversation with his friend: "Who were the three DiMaggio brothers?" "Vince, Don...and Joe?" "Joltin' Joe, yeah." Just to be clear, it is a well-known fact that Joe DiMaggio has two brothers who became major leaguers, Vince DiMaggio and Dom DiMaggio. (The English subtitles on the DVD I have say Don instead of Dom, but I don't know why.) Joe DiMaggio is not mentioned at all in the original novel, but I guess they included this scene because Joe DiMaggio would suit a hard-boiled film. DVD of the movie "The Long Goodbye" (Japanese version) I think it is quite well-known that Joe DiMaggio's name appears in the film "The Long Goodbye." At least it is widely known among fans of hard-boiled films in Japan, though not so widely known among fans of MLB. I wonder how it is in the United States? There is an even more famous film in which Joe DiMaggio's name appears: Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled novel, "Farewell, My Lovely," published in 1940. The novel was adapted into a film of the same name (1975). It was directed by Dick Richards and stars Robert Mitchum as the protagonist Philip Marlowe. DVD of the movie "The Long Goodbye" (Japanese version) In this film, Philip Marlowe is interested in Joe DiMaggio's consecutive game hitting streak, and there are scenes that touch on the hitting streak, including that it ended after 56 games. The original novel was published in 1940, the year before Joe DiMaggio achieved his 56-game hitting streak in 1941, but there is no mention of Joe DiMaggio and his 56-game hitting streak. Nevertheless, just like "The Long Goodbye," it seems that Joe DiMaggio is a good fit for a hard-boiled film. In Japan, this film is very popular among fans of hard-boiled films and MLB, but what about in the United States? Now, I'd like to finally talk about "Murder in the First." I absolutely love this movie. It's my favorite of all the movies that feature scenes that touch on MLB or major leaguers. Furthermore, it's in my personal top 20 of all the American movies I've ever seen, regardless of genre. I think the script, direction, and camerawork are all excellent, and the performances by Kevin Bacon, who plays the murderer, and Christian Slater, who plays the young lawyer, are also outstanding. DVD of the movie "Murder in the First" (Japanese version) I would like you to actually watch the movie to find out what it's about, but here I will give a very brief explanation. A man commits a theft due to poverty, but is imprisoned in Alcatraz prison and suffers unimaginable abuse, which leads to him becoming mentally unstable and killing a fellow prisoner. Everyone thinks he will be sentenced to death for first-degree murder. However, a young, rookie lawyer who graduated from an elite school decides to do his best to save the man. Baseball is an important catalyst for the development of a friendship between these two men from very different backgrounds. Their first and last conversations are about Joe DiMaggio. The ending is hardly a happy one. But both men are pure in soul, noble in heart, and full of pride. This film is based on a true story from 1941, so not only does it mention Joe DiMaggio's name, but it also touches on the progress of his 56-game hitting streak. For example, there's a scene where the young lawyer says that on June 17th, DiMaggio's consecutive game hitting streak reached 32. However, I think this is incorrect. I think the correct number for the consecutive game hitting streak on June 17th was 30, not 32, and that 32 occurred on June 19th. However, these mistakes do not affect the value of the film in any way...It may be that the film is not wrong in this regard, and that I am. If so, I apologize. I don't know of any other film that shows such great respect for baseball, MLB, and Joe DiMaggio. However, I think it is virtually unknown among baseball, MLB, and Joe DiMaggio fans in Japan. I don't know how widely known this film is among MLB fans in the United States, but I would like many MLB fans in the United States to know about it. This film "Murder in the First" teaches us that MLB and major leaguers have the power to change and support people's lives. (If I've made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I'll try to make corrections or additions.)

This year, 2026, Shohei Ohtani's low home run count has become a major topic of discussion in both Japan and the US. In 2024, Ohtani hit a league-leading 54 home runs, and in 2025, he hit a career-high 55 home runs, ranking second in the league. It's fair to say that everyone recognized Ohtani as a hitter capable of hitting many home runs. However, as of the end of May 2026, Ohtani’s home run count is only 10. If he continues at this pace, he will finish the season with 27 home runs, which is half of the number he hit the year before last, or last year. The Japanese magazine "SLUGGER" featured Shohei Ohtani on its cover and included a special issue on the 2026 Best Player Ranking (in Japanese, Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc., 2026) Is this drastic decrease in home runs due to the fact that, unlike the year before last or last year, he has been consistently playing as a two-way player since the start of the season, as many people are saying? Will he be unable to hit more than 50 home runs if he continues as a two-way player? Would he be able to hit more than 50 home runs if he stopped being a two-way player? Whether he plays as a two-way player or not, is it impossible for him to hit more than 50 home runs anymore? No one can say for sure whether playing as a two-way player is affecting his hitting, and if so, to what extent. Ohtani himself denies that playing as a two-way player is affecting his hitting. So, this time, I'd like to consider whether Ohtani can hit 50 or more home runs again, based solely on his batting statistics. Let's compare Ohtani's batting statistics this year (as of the end of May) with those from last year. AB HIT HR AB/HR AVG 2025 611 172 55 11.1 .282 2026 207 58 10 20.7 .280 (AB: at bat, HIT: hit, HR: home run, AB/HR: at-bats required to hit one home run, AVG: batting average) Although his batting average this year is only .002 lower than last year, meaning his hit frequency is almost the same, the number of at-bats required to hit one home run has worsened to 20.7. Does this trend in batting average and AB/HR suggest that he may never again be able to hit more than 50 home runs? Now, let's compare Ohtani's trend with that of other players who have hit more than 50 home runs. In Major League Baseball history, only 34 players, including Ohtani, have ever hit 50 or more home runs in a single season. Let's look at 27 of these players who have already retired. The following shows the changes in AB/HR and batting average for all 27 players in the year they last hit 50 or more home runs and the following year (the year they started to be unable to hit 50 or more home runs again). AB/HR AVG Babe Ruth 9.9→10.8 .323 →.345 Hack Wilson 10.4 →30.4 .356 →.261 Jimmie Foxx 11.3 →13.3 .349 →.360 Hank Greenberg 9.6 →15.2 .315 →.312 Johnny Mize 11.5 →14.0 .302 →.289 Ralph Kiner 10.2 →11.6 .310 →.272 Willie Mays 10.7 →14.9 .317 →.288 Mickey Mantle 9.5 →12.6 .317 →.321 Roger Maris 9.7 →17.9 .269 →.256 George Foster 11.8 →15.1 .320 →.281 Cecil Fielder 11.2 →14.2 .277 →.261 Albert Belle 10.5 →15.8 .317 →.311 Brady Anderson 11.6→32.8 .297 →.288 Mark McGwire 8.0→7.4 .278→.305 Ken Griffey Jr. 11.3→12.6 .284→.285 Greg Vaughn 11.5 →12.2 .272 →.245 Sammy Sosa 9.0→11.3 .328→.288 Alex Rodriguez 10.8→14.6 .314→.302 Luis Gonzalez 10.7 →18.7 .325 →.288 Barry Bonds 6.5 → 8.8 .328 → .370 Jim Thome 9.2 → 12.3 .304 → .266 Andruw Jones 11.5 → 13.8 .263 → .262 Ryan Howard 10.0 → 11.3 .313 → .268 David Ortiz 10.3 → 15.7 .287 → 332 Prince Fielder 11.5 → 17.3 .288 → .276 Jose Bautista 10.5 → 11.9 .268 → .302 Chris Davis 11.0 → 17.3 .286 → .196 Of the 27 players, 15 saw their batting average drop by 0.01 or more, while 12 saw their average drop by less than 0.01 or even increase. Therefore, it's impossible to say that a player who hit 50 or more home runs in a given year will never be able to hit 50 or more home runs again based on his batting average the following year. Conversely, the fact that Ohtani's batting average has barely declined doesn't mean we can make optimistic predictions. The AB/HR value in the year following the last year a player hit 50 or more home runs varies considerably. Therefore, a change in AB/HR doesn't necessarily indicate a high probability of never hitting 50 or more home runs again. However, only two players have seen their AB/HR worsen to over 20 (Hack Wilson and Brady Anderson). So, while Ohtani's AB/HR ratio has worsened to 20.7, it doesn't necessarily mean he'll never be able to hit more than 50 home runs again, but Ohtani’s deterioration in AB/HR is quite severe compared to other players and puts him in the minority. In summary, while it's impossible to definitively predict whether Ohtani will ever hit over 50 home runs again, it's safe to say the prediction is pessimistic. However, we still need to examine the most important examples. Of the 27 players listed above, nine had more than one season in which they hit 50 or more home runs (Babe Ruth 4 times, Jimmie Foxx 2 times, Ralph Kiner 2 times, Willie Mays 2 times, Mickey Mantle 2 times, Mark McGwire 4 times, Ken Griffey Jr. 2 times, Sammy Sosa 4 times, Alex Rodriguez 3 times). Of these nine, three (Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., Sammy Sosa) had consecutive years with 50 or more home runs, meaning there were no years with fewer than 50 home runs between years with 50 or more. The remaining six (Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Ralph Kiner, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Alex Rodriguez) had years in which they hit fewer than 50 home runs after years with 50 or more home runs, but still managed to hit 50 or more home runs again. The data from these six players is very useful in considering whether Ohtani can hit 50 or more home runs in a season again. Of these six players, five never had a year with AB/HR exceeding 20. Mickey Mantle hit 52 home runs in 1956 and 54 again in 1961, and his AB/HR was 17.5 in 1959 when he hit 31 home runs. This is the worst AB/HR among these five players So, who is the remaining one? Actually, the data from this one player provides a promising example for Ohtani's future. It's Willie Mays' data. A great book about the life of Willie Mays. "24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid" by Willie Mays and John Shea (2021, St. Martin's Griffin) HR AB/HR AVG 1955 51 11.4 .319 1956 36 16.1 .296 1957 35 16.9 .333 1958 29 20.7 .347 1959 34 16.9 .313 1960 29 20.5 .319 1961 40 14.3 .308 1962 49 12.7 .304 1963 38 15.7 .314 1964 47 12.3 .296 1965 52 10.7 .317 1966 37 14.9 .288 Mays had two years where his AB/HR exceeded 20 after a year with over 50 home runs, yet he still managed to hit over 50 home runs again. Comparing his batting average in those two years with over 20 AB/HR to his batting average in those two years with over 50 home runs, there was no difference in one year, and his average increased in the other. While Willie Mays is the only player to have hit over 50 home runs again after having a year with over 20 AB/HR following a year with over 50 home runs, the fact that he's one such player is a promising example for Ohtani's future. Furthermore, as of the end of May this year, Ohtani's batting average is almost unchanged from the previous year, which also seems similar to Mays's situation. ...Am I overthinking it? In the years Mays' AB/HR ratio exceeded 20 (1958 and 1960), it doesn't seem like he was suffering from fatigue or any physical problems, nor was he in a batting slump. In 1958, he was batting well, even competing for the top spot in batting average until the final game of the season (actually, he was second in the league, .003 behind the leader). In 1960, he even led the league in hits. It seems there was some kind of technical problem specifically with hitting home runs. I secretly believe that Ohtani's home run numbers have drastically decreased this year not because of the effects of being a two-way player or a decline in his batting ability, but because there's some kind of technical problem specifically with hitting home runs (it would be bad for me, an amateur, to publicly state what that technical problem is). I believe that once that technical problem is resolved, he will surely start hitting over 50 home runs a year again, just like Willie Mays. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

Seiya Suzuki, a Japanese Major League Baseball player who has been playing for the Chicago Cubs since 2022, is a renowned player in Japanese professional baseball, having achieved the league’s top batting average twice and the league’s highest on-base percentage twice. Furthermore, he has achieved a batting average of .300 or higher and 25 or more home runs for six consecutive years in Japanese professional baseball. This is a record achieved by only three players in Japanese professional baseball history, including Suzuki. A collection of interviews with Seiya Suzuki during his time in Japan (in Japanese, Special Edition of Hiroshima Athlete Magazine, Athlete Magazine Co., Ltd., 2020) I have always hoped and supported Suzuki, who has achieved such remarkable results in Japan and is also a very likable person, to succeed in Major League Baseball. And last year, 2025, his fourth year in Major League Baseball, he hit 32 home runs, becoming the first right-handed Japanese player to hit 30 or more home runs in a single season in Major League Baseball, which made me very happy. I look forward to his future success and intend to continue supporting him. My sister is holding a towel featuring Seiya Suzuki, which was produced for the 2025 Tokyo Series (purchased from the official MLB online shop). Now, I recently learned for the first time that in September 2024, Suzuki was interviewed in the United States and asked to name the greatest team of all time in Japanese professional baseball history. The interview video with Suzuki can still be found online. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKdGjksSrw8/ Let’s list the all-time best Japanese professional baseball roster that Suzuki selected. Pitcher: Yu Darvish Catcher: Kenji Johjima First Baseman: Sadaharu Oh Second Baseman: Tadahito Iguchi Third Baseman: Munetaka Murakami Shortstop: Kazuo Matsui Left Fielder: Hideki Matsui Center Fielder: Yuki Yanagita Right Fielder: Ichiro DH: Shohei Ohtani Selections of this kind are largely based on personal preference, and evaluating people is incredibly difficult; there’s no standard that everyone will agree on. Therefore, I think we should not criticize these kinds of selections. And I have absolutely no intention of criticizing Suzuki’s selection. However, I can’t help but have the strong feeling of strangeness about Suzuki’s selection. Here, I’d like to explain my strong feeling of strangeness about Suzuki’s selection. First, there are an unusually large number of players who have played in Major League Baseball since the 21st century, seven out of ten (Yu Darvish, Kenji Johjima, Tadahito Iguchi, Kazuo Matsui, Hideki Matsui, Ichiro, Shohei Ohtani). Two of these seven are still active players (Yu Darvish, Shohei Ohtani). Regarding the remaining three: Munetaka Murakami hadn’t yet moved to Major League Baseball at the time of Suzuki’s selection in 2024, but he is now an active Major Leaguer. Considering the current situation, there are eight players who played in Major League Baseball in the 21st century, and three of them are still active. Yuki Yanagita has never played in Major League Baseball, but he is an active player in Japanese professional baseball. In summary, 9 out of the 10 players played in the 21st century, and 4 of those 9 are still active players. Sadaharu Oh is the only player who is neither an active player nor has ever played in Major League Baseball. I can only conclude that Suzuki’s selections are too heavily biased towards players who have played in Major League Baseball since the 21st century. Until Hideo Nomo started playing in Major League Baseball in 1995, many excellent Japanese players, no matter how much they wanted to, were unable to play in Major League Baseball. My strongest feeling of strangeness stems from the fact that only Sadaharu Oh was selected from among the players who excelled in 20th-century Japanese professional baseball. While I acknowledge that all the players Suzuki selected are great players, I don’t believe they are all superior to the players who excelled in the 20th century, and I can’t help but have the strong feeling of strangeness about Suzuki’s selection. To help people in the United States understand how strange I feel about the members selected by Suzuki, I’d like to try selecting the greatest all-time Major League Baseball roster using Suzuki’s method. Below is my selection of the greatest all-time Major League Baseball roster. Since I’m imitating Suzuki’s method, nine of the players played in the 21st century, and four of those nine are still active players. Only one player played in the 20th century. Pitcher: Justin Verlander (An active player. Selected over players in the 20th century like Cy Young, Pete Alexander, Walter Johnson, and Sandy Koufax.) Catcher: Yadier Molina (A catcher who played and retired in the 21st century. Selected over players in the 20th century like Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, and Johnny Bench.) First Baseman: Albert Pujols (A player who played and retired in the 21st century. Selected over players in the 20th century like Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, and Jimmie Foxx.) Second Baseman: Jose Altuve (An active player. Selected over players in the 20th century like Rogers Hornsby and Joe Morgan) Third Baseman: Miguel Cabrera (A player who played and retired in the 21st century. Selected over players in the 20th century like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Wade Boggs) Shortstop: Brandon Crawford (A player who played and retired in the 21st century. Selected over players in the 20th century like Honus Wagner, Ozzie Smith, and Cal Ripken Jr. And selected over Derek Jeter who played in the 20th and 21st century) Left Fielder: Ryan Braun (A player who played and retired in the 21st century. Selected over Ted Williams) Center Fielder: Aaron Judge (An active player. Selected over players in the 20th century like Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle) Right Fielder: Babe Ruth (A player who played in the 20th century) DH: Shohei Ohtani (An active player. Selected over players in the 20th century like Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz) What do you think of this selection? I think that many MLB fans in the United States probably have the feeling of strangeness. That feeling of strangeness is the same feeling I feel about Suzuki’s all-time greatest Japanese professional baseball roster. Finally, I’ll list my all-time greatest Japanese professional baseball roster. I haven’t included any active players, because I believe active players whose career statistics haven’t been finalized shouldn’t be included in an all-time greatest roster. Only two players have played in Major League Baseball. Pitcher: Masaichi Kaneda (400 career wins, 4,490 strikeouts – Both are the highest records in Japanese professional baseball history) Catcher: Katsuya Nomura (The first Triple Crown winner in Japanese professional baseball after World War II. Played in 3,017 games, 2,921 of which were as a catcher) First Baseman: Sadaharu Oh (868 career home runs) Second Baseman: Kazunori Shinozuka (He led the league in batting average twice. Seven seasons with a batting average above .300 including five consecutive seasons, career batting average .304. Also famous for his brilliant fielding) Third Baseman: Shigeo Nagashima (The greatest superstar in Japanese professional baseball history. As a rookie, he captivated Japan with his phenomenal performance, leading the league in home runs and RBIs, and ranking second in batting average, dramatically increasing the popularity of professional baseball. The current popularity of professional baseball in Japan largely depends on him, and he is known as "Mr. Professional Baseball." He led the league in batting average six-times, home runs twice, and RBIs five times) Shortstop: Kazuo Matsui (He is considered the greatest switch-hitter in Japanese professional baseball history. Also played in Major League Baseball for 7 years) Left Fielder: Isao Harimoto (The only player to achieve 3,000 career hits in Japanese professional baseball. Also achieved 500 career home runs.) Center Fielder: Yutaka Fukumoto (106 stolen bases in a single season, and 1,065 career stolen bases are both the highest records in Japanese professional baseball history. He led the league stolen bases for 13 consecutive years and hits four times) Right Fielder: Ichiro (Achieved 3,000 hits in Major League Baseball.) DH: Hiromitsu Kadota (He led the league home runs three-times, RBIs twice and on-base percentage three times. At the age of 40, he achieved the incredible feat of leading the league with 44 home runs and 125 RBIs.) I’m sure there will be people who disagree with my selection of the greatest Japanese professional baseball players of all time. That’s fine, because, as mentioned above, this kind of selection is largely based on personal preference, and there are no selection criteria that everyone will agree on. However, there is one last thing I absolutely want to say. Those who believe that respect for the many great players who have appeared in the history of Japanese professional baseball and fair judgment of records are important will likely agree with my selection over Suzuki’s. (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)

I have visited several museums commemorating MLB players on college or university campuses around the United States, and I have published my visits to these museums on this website. ...In the United States, museums commemorating MLB players are often located on college or university campuses, which I believe is completely different from Japan. I am not aware of any examples of museums commemorating professional baseball player on Japanese college or university campuses. Some U.S. universities have baseball halls of fame on campuses, which sometimes honor MLB players. ...This, too, is completely different from Japan. I am not aware of any Japanese university campuses with baseball halls of fame that honor professional baseball players. This column is an account of a visit to a baseball hall of fame on a university campus in the United States that also honors MLB players. In June 2013, while driving around the United States, I stopped in Jasper, Indiana. In this city, there is Vincennes University, and its campus houses the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. Entrance to Vincennes University with a sign indicating that this is the location of the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. The campus of Vincennes University was so beautiful that it made me envious. Beautiful buildings, including school buildings, were scattered across the lush green grounds, making me feel like I had entered a fairy tale land. The building where the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame is located. A sign indicating that the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame is located. The Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame was also located in a beautiful building. Entering the building, the Hall of Fame’s small entrance was immediately on the right. Unfortunately, the shutters were down, so I couldn’t get in. Oh dear, I’d come all the way here, and it’s closed? As I was at a loss, two middle-aged white women happened to pass by. I explained the situation to them and begged them if they could open it for me. At times like these, middle-aged women in the United States can be incredibly kind. "Oh dear, that’s a shame!" The two women said, and went to the Hall of Fame’s management office to discuss the matter. After a while, they returned with smiles on their faces and told me, "Don’t worry. They say it opens at 11 o’clock." So that’s how it was. It only took about an hour to wait. When I thanked them, the two of them left with happy smiles on their faces. I went into the large cafeteria inside the building and ordered a coffee. The middle-aged white woman working there smiled and asked, "Are you a teacher here?" "No, I’m a tourist from Japan." The woman looked surprised. When I returned to the entrance to the Hall of Fame at 11 o’clock, a middle-aged white woman working as an admissions attendant smiled and said, "I think you’re the first person here from Japan." She opened the shutter for me. ...It was my lucky day when middle-aged women treated me kindly, anytime, anywhere. I went inside the Hall of Fame. I later learned that visitors had to pay an admission fee. But I got in for free. ...Was the middle-aged white woman treating me specially because I was from Japan and didn’t charge me an admission fee? The entrance to the Hall of Fame was small, but once inside, it was quite spacious. The first thing that caught my eye were the numerous reliefs on the walls. Each relief is shaped like a person’s face, and underneath it is the person’s name and achievements. I began to look at each relief, wondering, "Were there really that many famous major leaguers from Indiana?" After looking at them for a while, I realized my mistake. Many reliefs on the wall. Those honored in this Baseball Hall of Fame are selected by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association, so not only major leaguers but also high school baseball coaches, umpires, etc. are selected. At the very back were two special corners, one for Don Mattingly and one for Scott Rolen, major leaguers from Indiana. These corners featured dolls that bore no resemblance to the players themselves, uniforms believed to have been worn by them, and device that displayed videos of their achievements. Don Mattingly's Corner Scott Rolen's Corner Both Don Mattingly and Scott Rolen were great players. During his 14 years as a player, Mattingly led the league in batting average and RBIs once each. Rolen is known as a highly skilled defensive third baseman and has been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. As I toured the hall of fame, I wondered: Is there a baseball hall of fame in Japan where the high school baseball organization selects the people to be honored, regardless of whether they are amateur or professional? I don’t think there is one, whether it’s on a university campus or not. This difference between Japan and the United States may reflect the different levels of maturity, popularity, and establishment of baseball culture in the two countries. Am I overthinking it? (If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)