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Yokohama Baystars
League Central League
Location Yokohama
Ballpark Yokohama Stadium
Year Founded 1950
Nickname(s) Yokohama (横浜), BayStars (ベイスターズ), Bay (ベイ)
League championships 1960, 1998
Japan Series championships 1960, 1998
Former name(s) Taiyō Whales (1950–1952, 1955–1977), Shochiku Robins (1950–1952), Taiyō-Shochiku Robins (1953–1955), Yokohama Taiyō Whales (1978–1992)
Colors Blue and white
Uniforms
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Team colors Team colors Team colors
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Home
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Team colors Team colors Team colors
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Away

The Yokohama BayStars (横浜ベイスターズ Yokohama Beisutāzu?) are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. The or is one of Japan 's two major professional Baseball leagues the winner of which plays the Japan Series against the winner of the other league the is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area is a Stadium in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan. It is primarily used for Baseball, and is the home field of the Yokohama BayStars or is a seven-game championship played by the teams of Japan 's two professional baseball leagues (the Central League and Pacific League) Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The or is one of Japan 's two major professional Baseball leagues the winner of which plays the Japan Series against the winner of the other league the Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. is a Stadium in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan. It is primarily used for Baseball, and is the home field of the Yokohama BayStars is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area The clubhouse is located near the stadium.

The team mascot is Hossy, the character with the star-shaped head seen on the team logo. A logo ( Greek el λογότυπος = el-Latn logotypos is a graphical element ( Ideogram, Symbol, Emblem, Icon, Sign)

The minor league team is named, the Shonan Searex, and plays in the Eastern League. The is one of the two minor leagues of Japanese professional baseball The minor league home field is Yokosuka Stadium, located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. It is located at the mouth of Tokyo Bay in the Miura Peninsula, and the city stretches across

The team's name has changed from: Taiyō Whales (大洋ホエールズ Taiyō Hoeeruzu?) (1950-1952), Taiyō-Shochiku Robins (大洋松竹ロビンス Taiyō Shōchiku Robinsu?) (1953), Yō-Shō Robins (洋松ロビンス Yō-Shō Robinsu?) (1954), Taiyō Whales (大洋ホエールズ Taiyō Hoeeruzu?) (1955-1977), Yokohama Taiyō Whales (横浜大洋ホエールズ Yokohama Taiyō Hoeeruzu?) (1978-1992) to the current name, Yokohama BayStars, adopted in 1993.

Contents

History

Origin (1930s-1949)

The team originated from the amateur team of the Taiyo Fishing Company (current Maruha Corporation). The amateur team began to appear in national tournaments in the 1930s, and won the National Sports Festival in 1948 to obtain national recognition. In the 1949 off-season, the Japanese professional baseball league drastically expanded itself, and many players from the Taiyo amateur team were recruited to join the professional leagues. The owner of the Taiyo company decided to enter the amateur team into the newly expanded Central League, which was established in 1950. The or is one of Japan 's two major professional Baseball leagues the winner of which plays the Japan Series against the winner of the other league the The team officially became professional as the Maruha Team, and the franchise was based in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu

Taiyo Whales (1950-1952)

The team name was changed to Taiyo Whales, shortly after the start of the 1950 season. The Whales received several veteran players from the Yomiuri Giants to compensate for their lack of players, but ended up in the bottom half of the standings each year. The is a Nippon Professional Baseball team based at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.

In 1951, there was talk of merging with the Hiroshima Carp, which had experienced serious financial problems. The are a professional Baseball team in Japan 's Central League. Thankfully, the merging never occurred due to massive protests from Hiroshima citizens. The Japanese city of ( is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan 's

Taiyo Shochiku Robins (1953) and Yo-Sho Robins (1954)

In 1952, it was decided that teams ending the season with a winning percentage below . 300 would be disbanded or merged with other teams. The Shochiku Robins fell into this category, and were merged with the Taiyo Whales to become the Taiyo Shochiku Robins in January, 1953. The are a professional Baseball team in the Japanese Central League. However, the team's re-organization was not completed in time for the 1953 season, and the team ended up continuing its offices in both Shimonoseki and Kyoto. is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. Home games took place in Osaka for geographical reasons, and the team's finances were managed by both the Taiyo and Shochiku companies until the franchise was officially transferred to Osaka in 1954 to become the Yō-Shō Robins. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū is a Japanese Movie studio and production company for Kabuki. is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū

The Shochiku Robins had won the 1950 Central League championship before being merged. The are a professional Baseball team in the Japanese Central League. The or is one of Japan 's two major professional Baseball leagues the winner of which plays the Japan Series against the winner of the other league the

Taiyo Whales (1955-1977)

The Shochiku company discontinued its support in December, 1954, and the team name returned to Taiyo Whales. is a Japanese Movie studio and production company for Kabuki. The franchise moved to Kawasaki, Kanagawa, and obtained an exclusive home field (Kawasaki Stadium), but ended up in last place six years in a row from 1954-1959. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. was a Stadium in Kawasaki Kanagawa, Japan. It was primarily used for Baseball and was home of the Taiyo Whales until they moved to Yokohama

In 1960, the team recruited Osamu Mihara, who had been manager of the Nishitetsu Lions the previous year. The are a Professional baseball team in Japan 's Pacific League. Mihara led the team to its first pennant in 1960, and swept the Pacific League champions in the Japanese championship series. The or is one of Japan 's two major professional Baseball leagues the other being the Central League. The team had been in last place the previous year.

However, this success did not last long, and the team quickly fell back into last place in 1961. The Whales made a comeback in 1962, but trailed four games behind the Hanshin Tigers to end up in second place. The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. They lost the league championship again to the Tigers in 1964, only 1 game (. 008 winning percentage) away from first place.

The team produced countless star players during the 1970s, but rarely ended the season above the . 500 mark. The small Kawasaki Stadium made the Whales one of the most offensively productive teams in Japanese baseball history, but a weak pitching staff, and lack of financial support put the team out of serious contention. was a Stadium in Kawasaki Kanagawa, Japan. It was primarily used for Baseball and was home of the Taiyo Whales until they moved to Yokohama

By 1976, the team had been planning on moving from Kawasaki to Yokohama, and support from the mayor of Yokohama allowed the team to gain financial support from the Kokudo Company. is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area 55% of the team's share was retained by Taiyo, and the other 45% went to Kokudo.

Yokohama Taiyo Whales (1978-1992)

The Yokohama Stadium was newly created in Yokohama with the support of the Kokudo Company, and added the city into the team name to become the Yokohama Taiyo Whales in 1978. is a Stadium in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan. It is primarily used for Baseball, and is the home field of the Yokohama BayStars is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area The Kokudo Company bought the Crown Lighter Lions in 1978, and sold its shares of the Whales team to the Nippon Broadcasting System and TBS. The are a Professional baseball team in Japan 's Pacific League. Nippon Hōsō redirects here For Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai see NHK. For other uses see TBS. ( or TBS, is a Television network in Tokyo, Japan. The Nippon Broadcasting System obtained 30% of the shares, and TBS bought 15%, while Taiyo kept its 55%. Nippon Hōsō redirects here For Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai see NHK. For other uses see TBS. ( or TBS, is a Television network in Tokyo, Japan. The team enjoyed far more popularity during this period than previous years, but continued to post only meager results in the standings, with their best placing being in 1979, when they finished second behind the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The are a professional Baseball team in Japan 's Central League.

Yokohama BayStars (1993-present)

In November, 1992, Taiyo changed its name to the Maruha Corporation, and renamed the team as the Yokohama BayStars. The BayStars remain the only Japanese professional baseball team to not include the name of the parent company into the team name.

Originally, the team was going to be renamed the Yokohama Whales, but new restrictions on whaling convinced the company to drop the original name. Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC Some superstitious fans had believed that dead whales put a curse onto the team, (the Maruha Corporation was famous for its whale meat products) preventing the Whales from winning championships. In his visit to the United States, Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa remarked to former president Bill Clinton (who had proposed international restriction on whaling) that the Maruha Corporation's decision was reflective of Japan's change in attitude towards whaling. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The is the usual English-language term used for the Head of government of Japan, although the literal translation of the Japanese name for the office is Prime was a Japanese Politician and the 78th Prime Minister from November 5, 1991 to August 9, 1993. William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC

The BayStars remained a non-contender during the early 1990s, but gradually assembled the players that would contribute to the team's championship in 1998. Akihiko Oya became manager in 1996, and almost caught up to the Yakult Swallows in 1997, ending in second place. are a professional Baseball team in Japan 's Central League. The Swallows are named after their corporate owners the Yakult Corporation Hiroshi Gondo (a pitching coach the previous year) became manager in 1998, and the BayStars won their first league championship in 38 years in 1998, defeating the Seibu Lions to win the Japanese championship series. The are a Professional baseball team in Japan 's Pacific League. The team's consistent hitting, impeccable defense, (players from the BayStars won five golden glove awards in 1998) and solid pitching staff (rounded by closer Kazuhiro Sasaki) contributed to an epic 1998 season. Kazuhiro "Daimajin" Sasaki (佐々木主浩 Sasaki Kazuhiro, born February 22, 1968 in Natori, Japan) is a retired

The team dropped to third place in 1999, and has not been in serious contention for the championship ever since. In 2001, the Maruha Corporation sold its remaining shares to TBS, giving TBS full control of the team's finances. For other uses see TBS. ( or TBS, is a Television network in Tokyo, Japan. For other uses see TBS. ( or TBS, is a Television network in Tokyo, Japan. The current manager is Akihiko Oya, who returned in 2007 after leaving the team in 1997.

Current Roster

This is a partial list.

Mike Wood

Managers

Former Players

Taiyo Whales Era

Yokohama Taiyo Whales Era

Yokohama BayStars Era

Retired numbers

See also

External links

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