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.)

At approximately 3:25 p.m. on January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport, carrying 155 passengers and crew. However, shortly after takeoff, while still flying at a low altitude of just 850 meters, a bird strike caused a complete loss of thrust in both engines. Naturally, the flight was impossible, and the altitude was insufficient to turn and return to LaGuardia. Attempting to return would have resulted in a crash into downtown New York. Despite the dire situation, the experienced and capable pilot remained calm and made a decision that would later be lauded: to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River, which flows between New York and New Jersey. After the pilot successfully completed the emergency landing, the New York City Police Department's dive unit and a private ferry operating on the Hudson River rushed to the scene and rescued all passengers and crew. While watching the American film “Sully” (2016), which depicts this miraculous true event, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Whoa!" at one scene. One of the seven ferries that rushed to the scene on the Hudson River was named after a man who had a major impact on my life. That ferry's name was “Yogi Berra” When I was eight years old, I watched a New York Yankees game live at the stadium when they came to Japan in 1955. That experience sparked my lifelong interest in Major League Baseball, and among the Yankees who came to Japan was Yogi Berra (who passed away in 2015 at the age of 90), a legendary catcher who remains a shining light in the history of Major League Baseball. Yogi Berra played amazingly and fascinated me. By the way, the script for this movie is really brilliant. There's no way a non-existent ferry would appear in such a movie. But just to be sure, I looked it up on the Internet and found that a ferry named Yogi Berra did exist. It was the summer of 2017. I visited New York City for the first time in a while, and my main purpose was to get on the “Yogi Berra”. I'm sure there will be people who will nitpick and say, "What's the point of getting on the Yogi Berra?" To such nitpickers, I can only answer, "There's no point. But I want to get on it." So, after arriving in New York City, I called NY WATERWAY, the company that owns the “Yogi Berra”, to find out what time and where I should be to board the “Yogi Berra”. The person who answered the phone was very kind, but... I went to Pier 79 at 1:30, bought a ticket, and decided to wait while chatting with a young white woman who was working as a guide near the ticket counter. Pier 79 "I'm a tourist from Japan, and I was surprised at how few people use the ferry," The woman replied with a smile. "Many people use the ferry for work, so it's quiet at this time of day. It gets quite crowded in the mornings and evenings." However, when I told her that I was an avid Major League Baseball fan and had bought a ticket to get on the “Yogi Berra”, the lady said "Wait a minute," and began to operate her computer seriously. What? After finishing her operations, the lady explained with an apologetic look on her face. All ferry routes operate on schedule, but the ferries that operate on each route are subject to change. The Yogi Berra's route for that day had also changed. However, I was told that if I went to Pier 11 and took the 3:30 ferry to a town in New Jersey on the other side of the Hudson River, I could return to Pier 11 on the Yogi Berra, which departs from that town at 4:03. I hurried in a taxi from Pier 79 to Pier 11, which is quite far, and took the 3:30 ferry. However, when I arrived in the town in New Jersey, the 4:03 ferry was not the “Yogi Berra”. It had changed again. But I wasn’t going to give up just because of something like this , and I decided that I would keep trying until I was able to get on the “Yogi Berra”. Passengers disembarking from the NY Waterway ferry at Pier 11 There are three routes from that city to New York City. If I wait for the last ferry on all three routes, the “Yogi Berra” might arrive. I resolved to wait until after 1 a.m. The NY Waterway ferry on the Hudson River New York City skyscrapers as seen from the NY Waterway ferry running on the Hudson River. But after about 20 minutes of waiting, a "miracle" happened. An intelligent-looking middle-aged man wearing a neat suit came up to me. He introduced himself as someone from the ferry company and said, "The Yogi Berra you wish to take will be arriving soon. You can take it and return to New York. The Yogi Berra will definitely be arriving this time. As an exception, this time you can take the Yogi Berra without a ticket." I was surprised, but at the same time, I was very happy and touched. The young female guide at Pier 79 must have been concerned about me and informed the company about my circumstances, appearance, and clothing, and the company must have checked the Yogi Berra's operating status. The man had then gone out of his way to find me. I replied, "Thank you for your kind consideration. However, I have already purchased tickets for all three routes to New York, so I will use my tickets to get on the Yogi Berra. Which route is the upcoming Yogi Berra?" The man looked a little surprised, then smiled. As we parted, I looked him in the eye, expressed my gratitude, and shook his hand. And so, I was finally able to get on the long-awaited “Yogi Berra” and returned to Pier 11 in New York. The ferry named Yogi Berra When US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency water landing in the Hudson River, a company called NY Waterway did an amazing job rescuing the passengers and crew. They also made an amazing effort to allow me to get on the “Yogi Berra”. I am extremely grateful to this company. Now, let me honestly write down what I thought after finally getting on the Yogi Berra. Other than its name, there is nothing about the Yogi Berra that makes it different from other ferries. So, I have to admit that the only thing that made it special was that I was on a ferry named Yogi Berra. For example, there was no difference between the ferry I took from Pier 11 heading to the city in New Jersey and the Yogi Berra, and the skyscrapers of New York City looked the same from both ferries. That's only natural, isn't it? Still, I was very happy to be on a ferry named after someone who had a major impact on my life. Finally, I'd like to mention one more thing. There were also ferries named after well-known presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. I was happy to see that Yogi Berra, the man who had a major impact on my life, was being treated equally with these great presidents. The ferry named Thomas Jefferson (If I  ' ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I  ' ll try to make corrections or additions.)

From the late 1940s to the early 1960s, the New York Yankees had a great catcher named Yogi Berra, who was selected as the regular season MVP three times and whose name will forever remain in the history of MLB. The Yankees were in a golden age during Yogi Berra's time with the team, and he won the World Series a total of 10 times. Yogi Berra is also an unforgettable Major League Baseball player for me. I became an avid MLB fan after watching a Yankees game live at the stadium when they visited Japan in 1955, and Yogi Berra was among the visiting team. At the time, a magazine was published introducing the Yankees' visit to Japan, and I still vividly remember the image of Yogi Berra in the magazine, standing up and holding up the catcher's mitt on his left hand. Yogi Berra was such an impressive player. Seeing him play at the stadium was also captivating. Yogi Berra passed away in 2015 at the age of 90. Now, Yogi Berra will go down in history for more than just his great play. He uttered many famous and perhaps strange(?) quotes. These quotes may seem full of meaning, but in fact they are just obvious things, or they don't mean anything at all, or they are simply mistakes in wording. But they are interesting. Yogi Berra's sayings have been dubbed "Yogi-isms" and have been passed down through the generations. Here are some concrete examples: "It ain't over'til it's over" (This is a very obvious statement, but it somehow seems meaningful, doesn't it?), "You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six" (The amount of pizza is the same whether you cut it into four or six, right?), and "If people don't want to come to the ballpark, how are you going to stop them? " (I understand what he is trying to say, but the way he uses words is a bit of a problem, isn't it?). By the way, there is a really interesting book titled "The Yogi Book" (Workman Publishing) that mainly features Yogi Berra quotes. There is one thing in this book that I think is a bit problematic. It is a quote from Nolan Ryan, the legendary pitcher who holds the Major League record for career strikeouts with 5,714, about Yogi Berra, in which he says, "If Yogi had gone to college, they would have made him talk clearer, but not better." "THE YOGI BOOK"by Yogi Berra (WORKMAN PUBLISHING Company, 1999) I love and respect the great Nolan Ryan, but I think this statement is a bit problematic. Isn't it a problem if studying at university only teaches you to speak clearer, but not better?  If you study at university, you should also be able to speak better. Otherwise, what's the point of studying at university? Nolan Ryan may have simply said this to clearly convey the fun and greatness of Yogi-isms , and he may have simply brought up college education for that purpose. If that's the case, then my comment would be extremely rude. ...I'm beginning to think that this is not if, but true and that my comments are rude. ( If I've made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I'll try to make corrections or additions.)

Last year, in 2025, Paul Skenes was selected as the National League Cy Young Award winner. I think that was a predictable and natural selection. However, in Japan, many people were very disappointed that Yoshinobu Yamamoto did not win the award. These people seemed to assume that Yamamoto's postseason performance would be considered for the Cy Young Award, even though that is not the case. A Japanese sports magazine features Yoshinobu Yamamoto on its cover at the moment of the 2025 World Series victory (in Japanese, Sports Graphic Number, BUNGEISHUNJU Ltd., November 20, 2025, Tokyo, Japan) So, will Yamamoto be able to win the Cy Young Award in the future? This time, I'd like to consider the answer to this question by looking at Yamamoto's performance during his time in Japan. In a column titled " Pitcher's Triple Crown " included on this website, I wrote about how Yamamoto won the Pitcher's Triple Crown (leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts) in each of his final three years in Japan (2021, 2022, and 2023) before moving to the Major Leagues. I also wrote that not only has Yamamoto been the only pitcher in Japanese professional baseball to win the Pitcher's Triple Crown three consecutive years, but also that no other pitcher has ever won the Pitcher's Triple Crown three times, and that while there are pitchers in the Major Leagues who have won the Pitcher's Triple Crown three times, no one has done so three times in a row. I didn't mention in that column that Yamamoto won Japan’s prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award during the three years he won the Pitcher's Triple Crown. The Eiji Sawamura Award is awarded in memory of the legendary Eiji Sawamura, a pitcher who flourished in the early days of Japanese professional baseball in the 1930s and 1940s. In the United States, the Eiji Sawamura Award is often described as the equivalent of Major League Baseball's Cy Young Award, which is not incorrect. However, there are several differences between the Cy Young Award and the Eiji Sawamura Award, which I will briefly explain here. The Cy Young Award is given to two pitchers, one from each of the two leagues, but the Eiji Sawamura Award is given to only one pitcher from across both leagues. The Cy Young Award is primarily given to starting pitchers, but it can also be given to relief pitchers, although the number of recipients is quite small. On the other hand, the Eiji Sawamura Award is exclusively given to starting pitchers. Unlike the Cy Young Award, which is voted on by reporters, the Eiji Sawamura Award is selected by deliberation by a five-member selection committee. Furthermore, the selection criteria are clearly stated: number of games pitched (25 or more), number of complete games (10 or more), number of wins (15 or more), winning percentage (60% or more), number of innings pitched (200 or more), number of strikeouts (150 or more), and ERA (2.50 or less). The award is made based on these criteria, but the winner does not have to meet all of them. As the division of roles between pitchers, such as starters, setup pitchers and closers, is progressing in Japanese professional baseball, just like in Major League Baseball, the number of complete games required will be eight or more, and the number of innings pitched will be 180 or more, starting from 2026. Five pitchers, including Yamamoto, have won the Eiji Sawamura Award three times, but only one other pitcher has won it three years in a row (Masaichi Kaneda, the Japanese record holder with 400 career wins). Incidentally, other Japanese pitchers who have also played in the Major Leagues and received the award besides Yamamoto include Koji Uehara (twice), Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kei Igawa, Kenshin Kawakami, Yu Darvish, Hisashi Iwakuma, Kenta Maeda (twice), Masahiro Tanaka (twice), and Tomoyuki Sugano (twice). Eleven pitchers have won the Cy Young Award three or more times (including some incredible pitchers like Roger Clemens, who won it seven times, and Randy Johnson, who won it five times!), but only Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson have won it for three or more consecutive years, both of whom won it four years in a row. I hope what I’ve written so far has made it clear to you just how outstanding a starting pitcher Yamamoto was in the history of Japanese professional baseball, but Yamamoto didn't immediately become a star after joining a professional baseball team. Yamamoto joined a professional baseball team in 2017, but he began to stand out in 2019, his third year with the team. That was the year he cleared the required number of innings pitched for the first time and had the best ERA in the league. Then, in 2020, his fourth year, he led the league in strikeouts. From 2021, his fifth year, two years after clearing the required number of innings pitched for the first time, he became the pitcher's triple crown winner for three consecutive years and won the Eiji Sawamura Award. Yamamoto moved to the majors in 2024, but due to an injury midway through the season, he only pitched 90 innings with a 7-2 record and a 3.00 ERA, which wasn't particularly impressive. However, in his second year in 2025, he stayed in the rotation throughout the season, posting a 12-8 record with a 2.49 ERA and 201 strikeouts, clearing the required number of innings pitched (173.2 innings). While none of these results were league-leading and he missed out on the Cy Young Award, they were still impressive. A book about Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s pitching techniques during his time in Japan (by Daisuke Nakajima, in Japanese, SHINCHOSHA Publishing Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 2023) Considering Yamamoto's overwhelming performance in Japan, winning the Pitcher's Triple Crown and the Eiji Sawamura Award for three consecutive years starting two years after he first cleared the required number of innings pitched, it's safe to expect that Yamamoto, who cleared the required number of innings pitched for the first time in the major leagues last year in 2025, will perform even better in 2026 than he did last year and begin to produce results worthy of the Cy Young Award. I truly hope that this will be the case. ( If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll make corrections or additions.)

In June 2013, while on a road trip around the United States, I visited Demorest, Georgia, a small city with a population of less than 2,000. Johnny Mize (who died in 1993 at age 80), one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history, was born and raised in Demorest. He studied at Piedmont College in Demorest, where he devoted himself to baseball and became a major leaguer. Piedmont College houses the “Johnny Mize Athletic Center”, a memorial to him. Johnny Mize played in the Major Leagues from 1936 to 1953, playing for three teams during that time: the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants), and the New York Yankees. During his prime, he missed three years of playing time due to military service during World War II, but during his 15 years as a player he achieved impressive results, winning the batting average title once, the home run title four times, and the RBI title three times. His career batting average of .312 is also impressive. He was also inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. When I arrived in Demorest, I got lost. Despite being a small city, it seemed to be a major transportation hub, with many impressive roads intersecting in a rather complicated manner. “This is bad,” I thought, panicking and decided to run into a gas station to ask. When I asked a young white man at the gas station how to get to Piedmont College, he grinned and said, “Where are you from?” “From Japan.” “I see, so it's no wonder you didn't know where it was.” The man continued, pointing to the road in front of the gas station. “Piedmont College is just a few minutes down that road. By the way, what do you want there?” “I'm a huge Major League Baseball fan, and I wanted to see Johnny Mize's alma mater.” “Wow. I'm so happy that you made the effort to come all the way to our town for that reason. Is Johnny Mize famous in Japan?” “No, unfortunately he's not that famous, I don't know why.” I honestly don't know why Johnny Mize is so unknown in Japan; I don't think anyone would know him unless they're a big fan of Major League Baseball I arrived at a beautiful university surrounded by greenery that was enough to make me envious. At the same time, I was amazed and overwhelmed. Even though Piedmont College isn't specifically an athletics university, it boasts a total of three baseball fields: one spacious, full-scale baseball field (with luxurious spectator seating behind the backstop and even an electronic scoreboard at the back of center field), one spacious, full-scale softball field (which also has an electronic scoreboard at the back of center field), and one full-scale soccer field. It was truly breathtaking. The baseball field on the Piedmont College campus The “Johnny Mize Athletic Center” was a beautiful, single-story building. There was a plaque on the wall near the entrance that read, “Erected in the fall of 2000 in memory of Demorest native and Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize.” A notice posted at the entrance to the Johnny Mize Athletic Center As I opened the entrance door and entered, my eyes were drawn to a large sign in the window of the cafeteria at the back of the spacious lobby. The sign had Johnny Mize's famous nickname, “BIG CAT,” emblazoned in large letters. It was a reminder of first baseman Johnny Mize's agile fielding, almost like a cat. "Big Cat" written in large letters on the window A side note: when I said to a Japanese friend who claims to be a Major League Baseball expert, “Johnny Mize's defense was superb, wasn't it?” my friend looked at me skeptically and said something really ridiculous: “That can't be true, because Johnny Mize never won a Gold Glove Award.” The Gold Glove Award was established in 1957, four years after Johnny Mize retired. If the Gold Glove Award had existed when Johnny Mize was still playing, he would have won it multiple times. This is a good example of how ignorant history can lead to some pretty ridiculous mistakes. The spacious lobby of the “Johnny Mize Athletic Center” also serves as the “Johnny Mize Museum”. But as I entered the lobby, I thought, “Huh? Something's strange.” There was no one there. There was no one in the cafeteria, either—staff or customers. It was eerily quiet. Come to think of it, the entire university campus was deserted, too. “What on earth is going on?” I wondered, but after thinking about it for a while, I realized the reason: it was already summer vacation. I had completely forgotten that, unlike in Japan, universities in the United States begin their summer vacation after mid-June. But still, was it really okay to be so careless? Aren't they worried about someone sneaking in and stealing the baseball equipment and photographs used by Johnny Mize that are on display in the museum?  Well, I'm not that kind of guy, so I decided to take a good look around. As I began to look at the exhibits, a middle-aged white man suddenly appeared, so I tried to call out to him, but although he must have been aware of my presence, he completely ignored me and walked past me at an incredible speed as if he were taking part in a racewalking, and disappeared somewhere. I was surprised, but then I thought, “If that man doesn't seem to mind my presence, then I guess it's okay for me to look around this building as I please,” and so I did. First, I took my time looking at the exhibits in the “Johnny Mize Museum”. There was an impressive display shelf for each of the three teams Johnny Mize played for, and each one was filled with photographs, newspaper articles, uniforms, gloves, and other items documenting Johnny Mize's achievements. Looking through them in order, I got a really good understanding of Johnny Mize's career as a major leaguer. This was possible because the display method was excellent. An exhibit about Johnny Mize's time with the St. Louis Cardinals An exhibit about Johnny Mize's time with the New York Giants An exhibit about Johnny Mize's time with the New York Yankees In addition to the museum, the center also housed a magnificent basketball arena (so impressive it could easily host NBA games!), many office-like rooms, and a gym equipped with luxurious equipment. I was amazed and envious that even a university in a small city in the United States could have such excellent facilities. Another thing I envy is that a museum commemorating the major leaguer is located at the university he graduated from. I’m not aware of any examples in Japan of a museum commemorating a professional baseball player being located at the player’s alma mater. I suspect there are no such examples at all. It even seems as if Japanese universities don't feel the need to openly pay tribute to any professional baseball player. ( If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)