NPB Tracker

Here is the much-anticipated followup to my earlier uniform roundup post.

• Here’s a look at this year’s All-Star uniforms.
• As pointed out by the always on-time passerby, Orix is dusting off the old Kintetsu Buffaloes uniforms later this season.
• The Seibu Lions will be feature 1951 throwbacks, from the team’s Nishitetsu era.
• Lotte is going with mid-90’s throwbacks, featuring the old CLM logo.
• I don’t know if these are alternates or what, but Rakuten recently wore uniforms that were unfamiliar to me. They are different from the 1980’s Astros knock-offs that they wore in interleague play, but do feature that rainbow motif.
• Softbank is wearing baby blue alternative uniforms this year (seen here game action). Maybe it’s because I’m a San Jose Sharks fan, but these have grown on me. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: Softbank needs to revive these helmets.
• Yokohama will be wearing these “Summer Uniforms” until the end of August.

It’s time again for my semi-annual NPB uniform roundup. This year, I’ve decided to break things up into two posts, so look out for another one later in the season, after more alternative unis are introduced.

• Orix has been wearing these throwback Hankyu Braves uniforms off and on. The most retro-looking guy is probably Mike Hessman.
• I hope to one day see Orix revive the old Kintetsu Buffaloes uniform and logo. I figure if they can advertise one Osaka-area railway (Hankyu) they can do the same for another (Kintetsu).
• Rakuten has only been around for seven seasons, so they don’t exactly have throwback uniforms… but that isn’t stopping them from running out these 1980’s Houston Astros knock-offs.
• I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to Nippon Ham’s gold road uniforms. One thing that’s kind of cool about the new Fighters uniform is the tag on the inside of the collar, which has four stars representing the Japan Series title and three Pacific League titles that Nippon Ham has won in recent years.
• Hanshin has a spotty record when it comes to alternative uniforms, but this they’re going with these classic Osaka Tigers threads.
• This one isn’t an NPB uniform, but former Yomiuri and Yokohama closer Marc Kroon suited up in this Homestead Grays throwback for a 3A game a few weeks ago.
• Here’s last year’s uniform post. And 2009’s. Results may vary with the links on those pages.

Well, it was an off-day in Japan today and I don’t have any essay type material ready, so here’s my version of NPB Web Gems.

• An 18 year-old Daisuke Matsuzaka blows away Atsushi Kataoka with a 97 mph heater in his debut game.
• The 2001 Kintetsu Buffaloes clinched the 2001 Pacific League title in dramatic fashion. Highly recommended viewing.
• Tsuyoshi Shinyjo homers to send the game into extra innings, moves from the outfield to 2nd base , and then… watch the clip.
• Masafumi Yamamori scales the outfield fence to save a home run… twice. The first play is in the Major League Hall of Fame.
• Koji Akiyama used to back flip on to home plate after going deep for Seibu. Here’s one he did in the 1986 Japan Series. Impressive, yes, but definite beanball fodder if it happened in MLB.
• Sherman Obando once took out a Seibu Dome camera with a home run.
• The 7th inning stretch is a little different in Japan — rather than sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, fans release balloons. The Hanshin Tigers fans put on the best show.