Introduction
Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki took the Major Leagues by storm in 2001, winning both the American League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards while leading the Seattle Mariners to an American League-record 116 wins. For good measure, he also took home the AL batting title and a Gold Glove Award. Read more »
Sadaharu Oh
Although he managed Team Japan to the World Championship at the first-ever World Baseball Classic in 2006, Sadaharu Oh is still best known as the All-Time Home Run King who hit 868 home runs in his 22-year Japanese professional career. He led the Japan Central League in home runs 15 times (13 of them consecutive). He won League Most Valuable Player honors 9 times, made 18 All-Star Teams, won 5 batting titles, and even won the Triple Crown (leading the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in) twice in a row.... Read more »
Daisuke Matsuzaka
In March 2006, ace pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka led Team Japan to the World Championship at the first-ever World Baseball Classic, where he also won the Tournament's Most Valuable Player award. His performance may have shocked the world, but it did not surprise the people of Japan, who still remember with awe what he did on Japan's biggest stage, eight years before. Read more »