Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Encyclopedia
The is a baseball
team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japan
ese Pacific League
in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten (楽天). The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes
, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties, leaving the Pacific League with five teams, causing the biggest crisis in the traditional two-league structure in NPB and finally caused the historical-first baseball player strike in Japan. The team is based in Sendai, in Miyagi Prefecture
. It inaugurated its first season with a 3 – 1 victory over Lotte
. The team is owned by the Internet shopping company Rakuten
.
The team's manager was Katsuya Nomura
, the oldest manager in NPB history, but he was replaced as of the 2010 season by Marty Brown the former manager of Hiroshima
. Brown was in turn replaced by Senichi Hoshino
after a last place finish in 2010.
The stadium was heavily damaged by floods during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
on March 11.
idol group Morning Musume
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team founded in 2004; it played its first season in the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
in 2005. It is simply called Rakuten (楽天). The team was created to fill the void left by the merger of the Orix Blue Wave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes
Kintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
, after the 2004 season due to financial difficulties, leaving the Pacific League with five teams, causing the biggest crisis in the traditional two-league structure in NPB and finally caused the historical-first baseball player strike in Japan. The team is based in Sendai, in Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
. It inaugurated its first season with a 3 – 1 victory over Lotte
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
. The team is owned by the Internet shopping company Rakuten
Rakuten
operates and manages business to consumer electronic commerce site, Rakuten Ichiba, and consumer to consumer auction site, Rakuten Freemarket. Its business is centered in Japan, although it has began international expansion through acquisitions. The chief executive officer is Hiroshi Mikitani...
.
The team's manager was Katsuya Nomura
Katsuya Nomura
was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:...
, the oldest manager in NPB history, but he was replaced as of the 2010 season by Marty Brown the former manager of Hiroshima
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
. Brown was in turn replaced by Senichi Hoshino
Senichi Hoshino
, 22 January 1947, is a former Japanese professional baseball player and current manager.In 2003, he led the Tigers to their first Central League pennant in 18 years before retiring for health reasons. Since 2007, He had managed the Japanese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.In October,...
after a last place finish in 2010.
The stadium was heavily damaged by floods during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
on March 11.
Retired numbers
- 10 - This number is worn by both team mascots, Clutch and Clutchina, and is considered the number of the fan, the 'tenth man' on the field. It is the first retired number in NPB involving a fan, inspired by some teams in other sports which retire "12" (for the 12th man). It should be noted that there are ten starting players in the Pacific League as the league uses the designated hitterDesignated hitterIn baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
. The Chiba Lotte MarinesChiba Lotte MarinesThe are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...
has the #26 retired in similar fashion (MLB's Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
has retired #26, in similar fashion, for the original owner Gene AutryGene AutryOrvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
).
Records
| Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | ||||||||||
| Year | |Games | |Losses | |Pct. | |BA | |Place | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Yasushi Tao | 136 | 38 | 97 | 1 | .281 | 51.5 | .255 | 5.67 | 6 |
| 2006 | Katsuya Nomura Katsuya Nomura was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:... |
136 | 47 | 85 | 4 | .356 | 33.0 | .258 | 4.30 | 6 |
| 2007 | Katsuya Nomura Katsuya Nomura was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:... |
144 | 67 | 75 | 2 | .472 | 13.5 | .262 | 4.31 | 4 |
| 2008 | Katsuya Nomura Katsuya Nomura was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:... |
144 | 65 | 76 | 3 | .461 | 11.5 | .272 | 3.89 | 5 |
| 2009 | Katsuya Nomura Katsuya Nomura was one of Nippon Professional Baseball's greatest players as a catcher and was also a long-time manager for the Yakult Swallows, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles of NPB's Pacific League.-Career:... |
144 | 77 | 66 | 1 | .538 | 5.5 | .267 | 4.01 | 2 |
| 2010 | Marty Brown | 144 | 62 | 79 | 3 | .440 | 15.0 | .265 | 3.98 | 6 |
| 2011 | Senichi Hoshino Senichi Hoshino , 22 January 1947, is a former Japanese professional baseball player and current manager.In 2003, he led the Tigers to their first Central League pennant in 18 years before retiring for health reasons. Since 2007, He had managed the Japanese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.In October,... |
144 | 66 | 71 | 7 | .482 | 22.5 | .245 | 2.85 | 5 |
| Total | ||||||||||
| 992 | 422 | 549 | 21 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
Golden Eagles Fan Club honorary members
- Shirō AsanoShiro Asano (politician)is the former governor of Miyagi, Japan, and currently university professor & political commentator.-Early life and Administrative career:Asano was born in the northern port town of Ofunato, Iwate, where his father was a town doctor. His father moved to nearby Tome, Miyagi and at age 4 to Sendai,...
- Hajimu Fujii
- Great Sasuke
- Takanori HatakeyamaTakanori Hatakeyamais a former professional boxer.Hatakeyama turned pro in 1993 and captured the WBA Super Featherweight Title in 1998 with a majority decision win over Yong Soo Choi. He lost the belt in 1999 to Lakva Sim via TKO, and moved up in weight to capture the WBA Lightweight Title with a TKO win over...
- Hiroshi Ikushima
- Junichi InagakiJunichi Inagakiis a Japanese popular music singer.- Biography :Inagaki was born and raised in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture, and graduated from Miyagi Prefectural Technical High School. One of his earliest musical influences was Stevie Wonder. While a student in middle school, he joined a local band...
- Shūhei Mainōmi
- Hiroya MasudaHiroya Masudais a Japanese politician who was Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications from August 2007 to September 2008. Unlike many other members of the Cabinet, he is not a member of the Diet of Japan . A native of Tokyo, he graduated from the University of Tokyo and served as governor of Iwate...
- Shingo MimuraShingo Mimurais the governor of Aomori Prefecture in Japan. A native of Momoishi, Aomori and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he was elected to the post in 2003 after serving as mayor of Momoishi for one term since 1987 and then in the House of Representatives in Diet since 2000.- External links :* in...
- Masatoshi Nakamura
- Toshiyuki NishidaToshiyuki Nishidais a Japanese actor. Outside of Japan, Nishida is best known for his portrayal of Pigsy in the TV series Monkey.Toshiyuki Nishida has received ten Japanese Academy Award nominations, winning twice, for Dun-Huang in 1988 and Gakko and Tsuribaka Nisshi 6 in 1993...
- Itsurō Ōizumi
- Kōhei Ōtomo
- Sanpei
- Hiroshi Saitō
- Eisaku SatōEisaku SatoThis article is about the Prime Minister of Japan. For the governor of Fukushima Prefecture of Japan of the same name, see Eisaku Satō ....
- Masao Sen
- Mayo SuzukazeMayo Suzukazeis a Japanese film and television actress from Ishinomaki. Suzukaze has also done some voice work as a voice actress, namely as the voice of Himura Kenshin in Rurouni Kenshin. She was previously a Takarazuka Revue stage actress and the Top Star of Moon Troupe...
- Yoshitake Tanaka
- Sukeshiro TerataSukeshiro Teratawas the governor of Akita Prefecture. A native of Ōmagari, Akita and graduate of Waseda University, he was first elected to the post in 1997 after serving as mayor of Yokote, Akita since 1991....
- Suzuki Udo
- Kōichi YamaderaKoichi Yamaderais a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's...
See also
– the first Golden Eagles' official cheer song, recorded and released as a single by J-popJ-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
idol group Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
.
- Let's Go Rakuten Eagles Let's Go 楽天イーグルス- the second Golden Eagles' official cheer song, recorded by J-popJ-pop, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
idol group DEF.DIVADEF.DIVADef.Diva was a "special group" formed in 2005 from the Hello! Project idol umbrella, and consisted of Aya Matsuura, Maki Goto, Natsumi Abe and Rika Ishikawa. The band's name is an abbreviation of the phrase "Definite Diva"....
of Hello! ProjectHello! Projectis the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
. – the third Golden Eagles' official cheer song, recorded by J-popJ-pop, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
idol group GAM. – the fourth Golden Eagles' official cheer song, recorded by J-popJ-pop, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
idol group C-ute.