They aren’t Japan’s best team, nor the flashiest, but when the Hanshin Tigers roar, the entire Kansai region listens. Fresh off their 2023 NPB triumph—only their second in eighty-eight years—these perennial underdogs have traded curses for championships. Now, they’re stepping onto a global stage, eager to prove that their victory wasn’t just a historical accident.
Now that the Tigers are a part of the exhibition games for the Tokyo Series and will be facing both the Dodgers and Cubs, the interest in the team is increasing. With them going through all the ups and downs, let us take a deeper look into the Tigers and why they are facing the MLB teams.
Who are the Hanshin Tigers? Know the origin, foundation, ownership, history, and more.
The Hanshin Tigers were founded in 1934 which is older than the league itself. Originally the team was called Osaka Yakyu Club which later became the Osaka Tigers. But in 1961 they adopted the name of Hanshin Tigers. The name is so because the franchise is owned by a Japanese company called Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. However, securing the partnership deal with the company was not easy.
The company was a little hesitant about this doubting the potential of pro baseball in Japan and thought the name of their stadium would be tarnished. They were proved wrong by the fans who attended the game in large numbers and showed interest in pro baseball. This was enough for the company to finalize the deal and create one of the oldest pro baseball teams in Japan. When the Japan Baseball League started in 1936, the Tigers quickly became a force of nature winning 4 Japan Series between 1936 and 1950.
The team took a hit when the NPB started, and it was split into the Central and Pacific Leagues. This caused a lot of their players to shift into the Pacific League tweaking the team. Despite this, they made the Japan Series in 1962 and 1964 but fell short both times. The time became harder as their rivals Yomiuri Giants dominated Japan baseball winning the Japan Series 9 times in a row.
They hit rock bottom in 1978 when they finished last, but they did see a glimmer of hope in 191985 when Randy Bass led them to their first Japan Series win of the 20th century. But the so-called “Curse of the Colonel” followed, sending them into another long slump. In 2023, the curse was broken as the Hanshin Tigers were able to dominate the League and win the Japan series after a 64-year drought.
What is their current net worth?
As of 2024, the Hanshin Tigers are now worth a whopping USD 7.81 billion. They are one of the top teams with the highest net worth in the whole league. This is all thanks to their fan base and their dominant 2023 year which won them the Japan Series. It is also thanks to the owners who are not shying away from backing the team in any way possible. For a team that was worth just USD $1.15 B, this has been a huge step towards success.
The star players: All about champion players from their past and present
Since the time the franchise was founded, the Tigers have always had some great players. Early legends like Fumio Fujimura and Masaru Kageura are famous for their power-hitting and leadership qualities. They also had some great players like Masaaki Koyama and Gene Bacque. Koyama was one of the players who lead the Tigers to the 1962 Japan Series final and Bacque became the first foreign player to win the prestigious Sawamura Award in 1964.
They also had Randy Bass, the American slugger who led the Tigers to their first and only Japan Series title in 1985. He also won back-to-back Triple Crowns in 1985-86. They also had Tomoaki Kanemoto who is a legendary power hitter and was a key part of their 2003 and 2005 pennant-winning teams.
The Tigers also have some rising stars like Teruaki Sato and Shoki Murakami who were a main part of the 2023 Series winning team. They also had a top MLB prospect in Shintaro Fujinami who moved to the MLB in 2023. But his move was not very fruitful as his performances in the MLB were inconsistent and had ball-control issues.
Who are their rivals? How have they fared till now? All the questions were answered.
There are 3 teams that the Tigers have been battling with. One of the teams is the Yomiuri Giants. This rivalry is called an eternal rivalry and rightly so. This rivalry is usually compared to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry where it was money power against fan power. And just like the Yankees, the Giants outclass the Tigers with more league titles and Japan Series matchups.
They also have a rivalry with Chunichi Dragons, but it is not as heated as the one with the Giants. This is more of a competitive rivalry as the Dragons keep challenging the Tigers for a playoff spot. There is not much edge to any team as they have been on an equal stage over the years both dominating baseball occasionally.
They also have a rivalry with the Orix Buffaloes, and it is called the Kansai Rivalry. While not as intense as the Giants rivalry, it is a battle between two Kansai-based teams. While the Orix have not been dominant against the Tigers, their recent success has added a lot of weight to the rivalry. It was the most heated during the 2023 Japan Series as the Tigers defeated the Orix Buffaloes in a seven-game thriller.
What’s next for them? Tokyo series, title fight, and more
The Hanshin Tigers will start their 2025 with exhibition games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. While not a part of the Tokyo Series, the Tigers will have a great opportunity to show the talent they possess and maybe impress some scouts.
Further, the Tigers will start their season on 28th March against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. They will be trying to repeat the feat they achieved in 2023 and win the Japan Series again. The other question is with the rising demand for Japanese players in MLB, will the Tigers be able to keep their top talent or will the MLB teams come knocking at their door.
When and where to watch the Tokyo Series? All the details shared
The Tokyo series will kick off with some exhibition games on the 15th and 16th March. During these games, both the Cubs and the Dodgers will be facing the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants. All the games of the Tokyo Series will happen in the Tokyo Dome and the exhibition game can be caught live on the Marquee Sports Network in Chicago, SportsNet LA in Los Angeles, and Prime Video Japan. The games against the Tigers will start at 10:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 a.m. ET and the game against the Giants will start at 5:00 a.m. PT / 8:00 a.m. ET.
The MLB games against the Dodgers and the Cubs will start from the 18th of March. Both the games can be seen on Fox Sports in the USA and Prime Video in Japan. The first game will be on 18th March and will start at 3:00 a.m. PT / 6:00 a.m. ET. The second game will start at the same time but on the 19th of March.
With the games starting this early, the MLB fans in the USA will have to wake up early and it in front of the TV with breakfast instead of popcorn.
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