Pennant Race! Collecting and Translating 1974 Calbee Series 1 (Part 7)

Indulge me if you will in a moment of sartorial solicitude. Several NPB teams changed uniforms in 1974, maybe most distinctly the Whales, who went from pretty innocuous whites and grays to what I’ll call their “carrot duds.” I’m not sure who thought this green and orange headache was a good idea, but thankfully these lasted only four years. That’s in stark contrast to Tokyo’s “other team” who changed from the Atoms to the Swallows with a basic aesthetic that has lasted half a century and counting. The loss of the Atoms name is unfortunate in my opinion. Some of the uniforms from that relatively short-lived era featuring Osamu Tezuka’s famous character Astro Boy were absolute drip.

#16  Shibata - Outfielder (Giants)

Shibata is the Giants’ veteran in the five-hole. As a switch hitter, his bat is particularly valuable.

[Baseball Museum]  Summer High School Baseball Tournament Record for Highest Batting Average by Team = Naruto High (32nd Tournament, 1950) and Takamatsu Commercial (52nd Tournament, 1970) with .362.

 

#40  Yamashita - Shortstop (Taiyo)

Yamashita had an illustrious career at Shimizu Higashi High and Keio University. What comes next will be a greater challenge, with fans expecting him to be front-runner for Rookie of the Year.

 

Yamashita did not win Rookie of the Year, but he did go on to have a very good career for the Whales, winning a Diamond Glove at shortstop 8 consecutive years (‘76-’83) and hitting .262 career with 129 HR.

 

#41  Sipin - Second Baseman (Taiyo)

A standout offensively and defensively, Sipin will also take on a new role of helping to turn shortstop Yamashita into a star. Along with Matsubara and Eto, he rounds out the order’s formidable heart.

 

American John Sipin had a cup of coffee with the Padres in 1969 at 22 years old, but opted for NPB rather than continued seasoning in Triple-A. He would go on to hit .297 with 218 HR for his career in Japan.

 

#43  Hiramatsu - Pitcher (Taiyo)

Add a palmball to that razor shootball and the heater, and Hiramatsu should be well on his way back to 20 wins. More motivated than ever, he’ll be leading Taiyo’s rotation on.

[Baseball Museum]  This season, Hiramatsu has logged his 6th win, which is his 100th overall (59th all-time).

 

#45  Matsuoka - Pitcher (Yakult)

Last year, Matsuoka finally broke through with 20 wins and now has the aura of an ace. He’ll be looking to get 20 more and lead his team to not just a top three finish, but all the way to a championship.

[Baseball Museum]  Yakult’s name has changed. Back in the Kokutetsu days, they were known as Tsubame. They have switched back from the Atoms to the English version of their previous moniker— the Swallows.