Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

Year Founded: 1946

Current Home Stadium: Es-Con Field Hokkaido (Capacity: 35,000)

Previously Known As: Senators (1946), Tokyu Flyers (1947), Kyuei Flyers (1948), Tokyu Flyers (1949–1953), Toei Flyers (1954–1972), Nittaku Home Flyers (1973), Tokyo Nippon-Ham Fighters (1974–2003)

Championships Won: 3 – 2016, 2006, 1962

All-Time Record vs. Hanshin: 33-34-1 (2-1 in 2023)

Playoffs vs. Hanshin: 1962 Nippon Series (win)

Notable Players in Common With Hanshin: Yutaka Enatsu (Tigers 1967-75, Fighters 1981-83); Tsuyoshi Shinjo (Tigers 1990-2000, Fighters 2004-06); Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi (Fighters 1996-2002, Tigers 2003-11); Yoshinori Tateyama (Fighters 1999-2010, Tigers 2014); Ryota Imanari (Fighters 2006-11, Tigers 2012-2018); Yoshio Itoi (Fighters 2004-12, Tigers 2017-22)

Current Uniforms:

 Away – Home –

Top Players in Team History:

1) Isao Harimoto, OF: 1959-75 (Hall of Fame, 3085 career hits – NPB record), 1962 PL MVP, 15 x All-Star Team, 14 x Best Nine.

2) Katsuo Osugi, 1B: 1965-74 (Hall of Fame, 1000+ career hits in PL & CL, 6 x All-Star Team, 5 x Best Nine)

3) Yukio Tanaka (Mr. Fighters), SS, OF, 1B: 1986-2007 (9 x All-Star Team, 4 x Best Nine, 5 x Diamond Glove)

4) Yu Darvish, SP: 2005-11 (2 x PL MVP, 2007 Sawamura Award, 3 x All-Star Team)

5) Michihiro Ogasawara, 1B & 3B: 1997-2006 (2006 PL MVP, 2 x PL Batting Champion, 2006 PL HR & RBI King, 5 x Best Nine, 6 x Golden Glove, 8 x All-Star Team

Most Famous Manager:  Keiji Ozawa (1976-84, 1993-94) – Most Wins in Franchise History

Current Manager: Tsuyoshi Shinjo (since 2022)

Current Top Hitters: Chusei Mannami (23, OF): .265/.321/.467, 25 HR, 74 RBI, Golden Glove and Best Nine Awards in 2023

Current Top Pitcher: Takayuki Katoh (31, LHP): 163.1 IP, 7 W 9 L, 83 K 16 BB, 2.87 ERA in 2023

Brief History:

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters were birthed in the year 1946 as the Tokyo Senators. In 1947 the Senators were purchased by the Tokyu Corporation, a well-to-do private railway company in Japan. Their name was changed to “Flyers” which they would be called for the next 25 years even though they would be purchased by the Toei Company in 1954. Through their first several years of existence, the Toei Flyers had joined the Pacific League and played at Komazawa Stadium in the Setagaya Ward of Tokyo. The stadium was torn down in 1961 to make room for venues for the 1964 Summer Olympics. In 1962, the Flyers played in Jingu Stadium (current home of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows) and won their first and only Japan Series (against the Hanshin Tigers) while playing in Tokyo.

In 1964 the team moved to Korakuen Stadium, home of the Yomiuri Giants, which they shared from 1964-1987. In 1974, the team was purchased by the Nippon Ham Company and became the Tokyo Nippon Ham Fighters. For nearly forty years, the Fighters played second fiddle to the ever popular Central League Tokyo teams, the Yomiuri Giants and Tokyo Swallows. In 1981 the Nippon Ham Fighters won their only Pacific League pennant (under the Nippon Ham Company, that is) while in Tokyo and lost in the Japan Series to their big bad roommates, the Giants. In 1988, both the Fighters and Giants moved into the brand new Tokyo Dome. For the next 15 years, the Fighters never really enjoyed much success and played to many sparse crowds in their new home.

In 2004, it was time for the Fighters to find a new home. They headed north to the island of Hokkaido. Sapporo, Japan’s fifth largest city, became home to the Fighters. Since that time the Fighters have created a huge fan base in Hokkaido, playing in the Sapporo Dome. They have enjoyed much success, including 2 Japan Series championships (in 2006 and 2016), and consistently produce some of the top talent in NPB, including recently exported pitchers Yu Darvish, Shohei Ohtani, Kohei Arihara, and Naoyuki Uwasawa.

The new move to Es-Con Field in 2023 yielded a last-place finish, but the team aims for relevance with its exciting young lineup in 2024.

About The Author:

My name is Max. I was born, raised and currently live in Los Angeles, CA. I am a huge fan of the game of baseball and grew up a Dodger fan. I have been following Japanese baseball since I was a kid but have gained a more serious interest in it over the last several years. Thank you to T-Ray and the Hanshin Tigers English News website and all the other English-speaking fans of NPB for sharing your continued knowledge and passion for the game of baseball in Japan. If you would like to follow me on X you can do so @MistaMaxG.

CL: Chunichi Dragons / Hiroshima Toyo Carp / Tokyo Yakult Swallows / Yokohama DeNA BayStars / Yomiuri Giants

PL: Chiba Lotte Marines / Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks / Orix Buffaloes / Saitama Seibu Lions / Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles