The way things have been going in the world recently, the timing of reviewing this book seems apt. Do you remember Japanese baseball? It really hasn’t been that long since we’ve watched the game, but it sure feels that way.
This “time off” has given me an opportunity to read through a book that I have had on my “must-read” list for years, literally. When I first learned that there was a Hanshin legend who won the Sawamura Award, Gene Bacque, and I wanted to know more about him, this book was near the top of the Google search. I found a way to read the chapter about Bacque online for free, but it was so interesting that I knew I needed to get my hands on the book and read it all.
So what is the book about, and why do you want to read it? Basically, Robert K. Fitts sat down with 25 legends of the game, most of whom were import players, and recounted their stories from start to finish: how they heard about baseball in Japan, what their first impressions were, some of their more interesting memories, how they feel about Japanese baseball now, and what they are up to. Or, what they were up to back around 2005 when the book was published.
Consider this a chance to sit down with your dearly beloved grandfather (or in the case of later chapters, your uncle or big brother) to hear about what life was like playing baseball in Japan back in the good old days. Who doesn’t love hearing old stories about the game we all love? It’s great to read about some of the circumstances of their signings, adjustments, successes, failures, and firings (or retirements).
Every chapter has the same basic flow to it, though each chapter has a different tone to it because it quite literally is an oral history of the game (as the subtitle implies). Each guy tells his own story in his own words, and the vocabulary choices make it feel like you’re listening to someone speaking the story as you sit on their lap (or on the sofa across from them). Unfortunately, many of these men have already passed on, but their stories have been preserved, thanks to Mr. Fitts’ hard work.
Just one thing I would change, and yet I wouldn’t. Every chapter has the same flow, and without fail, they talk about “this teammate of mine could have played in the majors.” Then again, if you’ve ever sat down and listened to your grampa tell story, there is a lot of repetition in it, is there not? You just roll with it, smile to yourself and say, “Yeah, you already told me that… but it still sounds great coming from you!”
So which Tigers get mentioned? Precious few, actually. As I already mentioned, Mr. Bacque gets a whole chapter. The rest of the mentions are all guys who spent just a year or two with the team, though they had longer and more successful careers with other clubs in Japan. Futoshi Nakanishi (1980-81) briefly managed the Tigers right after Don Blasingame (1979-80). Both of these guys get a chapter, and I was most impressed that Blazer harbored no ill feelings towards the Tigers and their fans, despite his mistreatment. Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese major leaguer, has a chapter but his one season (1975) with the Tigers only gets mentioned as part of his career path. No stories about it at all. I think I’ll have to buy the book Mr. Fitts wrote about him. Finally, Alonzo Powell spent a season (1998) with the Tigers after some amazing years with the Chunichi Dragons, and talks a little of his time with the team. He was relegated to pinch-hitting duties after a few months, and left the team before season’s end when they tried to farm him. Sound familiar?
All things said, this book is well worth the time and money of anyone who wants to confirm what Mr. Baseball and You Gotta Have Wa say about gaijin in Japanese baseball in the 20th century. Sit down on granddaddy’s lap and listen to him tell you all about the good old days, the Golden Age of Japanese baseball.