Tommy Lasorda, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Hank Aaron, Sadaharu Oh (Wangjeongchi), Tatsunori Hara, Hideo Nomo. If you are a baseball fan, they are baseball players that you cannot know. In the major leagues and Japanese professional baseball, he achieved brilliant results as a player and leader, set great records, and built a reputation. They have something in common. He pitched the first pitch before the opening game of the Japanese national team’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) or major games. It is closely related to Japanese baseball, the cause of the WBC tournament, which advocated globalization of baseball.
Lasorda, former manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is the first pitcher in the opening game of the 2006 WBC. That year, he climbed the mound in the first match of the first round against China at the Tokyo Dome. In the game against Taiwan that followed the next day, Sasaki, the ‘Great Demon’, who played an active role as a finishing pitcher for the Yokohama Baystars and Seattle Mariners, was the main character. In addition, Aaron, who held the record for the most home runs (755) in the major league career at the time, took the opening pitch for the final match against Cuba. Japan defeated Cuba to win the title.
Sadaharu Oh, chairman of the Softbank Hawks, who led the team to the first championship as head coach, was next. He threw the first pitch at the 2009 WBC Opening Day. Another opponent was China. President Sadaharu Oh also threw the first pitch in the 2013 WBC match. In the semi-final match against Puerto Rico, President Oh Sadaharu and coach Hara, who won the 2nd tournament, came together.
In addition, Nomo, who is called the “pioneer” of the major leagues of Japanese baseball, pitched the first pitch before the semifinal match against the WBC United States in 2017. It was a game held at Dodger Stadium, where he played.
The Japanese baseball team is aiming 메이저놀이터for the first championship in 14 years by forming the strongest power. Gather a special pitcher different from before
put on. Japan national soccer team coach Hajime Moriyasu (55) throws the first pitch at the 2023 WBC China match at the Tokyo Dome on March 9. It is Japan’s first match in Group B of Round 1.
Coach Moriyasu brought Japanese football to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He broke the expectation that he would be eliminated early in the group stage, and directed a drama like a lie. The Japanese national team won a come-from-behind victory over Germany and Spain, and advanced to the round of 16 for two consecutive tournaments, a first for an Asian country. Recognized for his leadership, coach Moriyasu extended his contract until the next World Cup.
In the first game of the first round, which draws the attention of baseball fans, he has cast the best thrower. The Japanese media said of director Moriyasu, ‘It boasts absolute popularity across all generations. He is the right person to bring WBC fever not only to the arena but to all of Japan,’ he wrote. The intention is to carry on the hot atmosphere of the soccer world cup to the baseball world cup, the WBC.
In Japan, baseball, which is called ‘national flag’, is the most popular sport. Interest in baseball is high enough to be called ‘the country of baseball’. However, Japanese soccer left an unexpectedly strong impact at the Qatar World Cup.
Coach Moriyasu has a relationship with Japanese baseball team coach Hideki Kuriyama (61) after appearing on a TV program after the World Cup. The two leaders were not star players during their active years,
successful as a leader.
The Japanese national team will begin camp training at Miyazaki Camp on the 17th. Of the five major league players, only Darvish Yu (37, San Diego Padres) will participate.